Saturday 30th June 2018

Wema Bank: Oloketuyi Steps Aside As CEO, Adebise Steps In Obinna Chima Wema Bank Plc has announced the retirement of its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, after almost a decade at the helms of the bank. Oloketuyi will be succeeded by the current Deputy Manag-

ing Director of the bank, Mr. Ademola Adebise. Adebise’s appointment is however subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The bank disclosed this in a statement yesterday. “On behalf of the Board and Management of the Bank, I

want to thank Mr Oloketuyi for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Wema Bank’s Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, Oluwole Ajimisinmi said. Oloketuyi was named the CEO of the bank in June 2009, with the task of returning Wema Bank to profitability

following the 2008 banking crisis which saw the collapse of many banks. At the time, Wema Bank had negative retained earnings in excess of N45 billion and was declared a bank in grave financial situation by the regulatory authority. “However, under his

led, the bank also regained its national banking licence from the CBN which has allowed it to expand to the Northern and Eastern parts of the country, significantly increasing its market share and customer base in the process,”

leadership, the fortunes of the bank were completely turned around, leading to the recapitalisation of the bank and its return to profitability. The bank is now positioned to deliver dividends to shareholders. “As part of a turnaround plan which Mr. Oloketuyi

Continued on page 6

Tanker Explosion: Osinbajo Visits Lagos, Says FG Saddened By Incident ... Page 8 Saturday 30 June, 2018 Vol 23. No 8472

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Let’sTeam Up to FightTerrorism, Buhari Implores ECOWAS Leaders Extremism transcends international boundaries; no country can combat the scourge alone Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in his Daura, Katsina country home, received

his Togolese counterpart, Faure Gnasingbe, who is also the current President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),

with a call on leaders of the sub-region, to collectively fight terrorism, which he described as the enemy of humanity. Buhari also welcomed the

proposal of a summit between ECOWAS and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to address security challenges in the

two regions. In a statement, the President's spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari told Gnasingbe that terrorism

transcended international boundaries, and no country could combat the scourge Continued on page 6

Governors to Security Chiefs: Brace Up or Face Sack Military Task Force assures of safety as tension envelopes Jos top of security challenges, Buratai assures Nigerians

Army on

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday in Jos, Plateau State, warned Nigerian security chiefs to rise up to the responsibilities of protecting Nigerians or lose their jobs, noting that if the widespread killings across the nation persist, they would have no option than to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to replace them. On the same day dominated by fear of an attack in Jos, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, assured the nation that the Army was on top of all security challenges, while urging Nigerians not to celebrate insecurity. The NGF was in Jos on a condolence visit to the government and people of Plateau State over the recent attack that claimed over 200 lives in the state. Speaking on behalf of Continued on page 6

OLAKUNRI GOES HOME IN GLORY... L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun during the funeral service of Chief (Mrs) Olutoyin Olakunri at St. Paul’s Church, Breadfruit, Lagos...yesterday

Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Removal of Kebbi Gov. Bagudu

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Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Removal of Kebbi Gov. Bagudu Alex Enumah in Abuja The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has dismissed a suit seeking the removal from office of Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State. Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who dismissed the suit in a judgment delivered yesterday, held that the plaintiffs failed to prove the criminal allegations preferred against the governor. Bagudu’s main opponents in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Kebbi State, Maj. Gen. Bello Sarkin-Yaki

(rtd.), Anthony Itanyi and Sahabi Sami, had, in the suit asked the court to declare Bagudu incompetent to contest the governorship poll in the state. Those joined as defendants in the suit are his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). But the court in the ruling held that all the documents (exhibits) placed before it by the plaintiffs failed to show that Governor Bagudu was sentenced or fined for any offence by any court or

tribunal "There are several Supreme Court judgments to the effect that no probative value should be attached to documents that are not tendered in court by the maker of such documents", the court held. According to Mohammed, the plaintiffs could not prove before the court that the information the first defendant (Bugudu) provided in form CF.001 to INEC was false adding that, "From the evidence of the plaintiffs, I am of the opinion that he has failed, through his witness

that the first defendant was convicted by a court in the United States of America for criminal offence Justice Mohammed said, the first defendant was arrested in May, 2003 for extradition, which he pointed out did not amount to a sentence of any kind and adding that nothing was before the court to suggest that the first defendant was convicted for any offence. The judge said the burden was on the plaintiffs to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the criminal allegations levelled against the governor .

"On the whole, I see no merit in the suit of the plaintiffs, and it is hereby dismissed. No order as to cost", the Judge held. The plaintiff had, in his suit challenged the eligibility of Bagudu as the governorship candidate of the APC in the 2015 state governorship election in Kebbi State. The plaintiffs asked the court to disqualify Bagudu as a candidate in the election and remove him from office on the grounds that the governor gave false information in the Affidavit of Personal

Particulars otherwise called Form CF.001 submitted by him to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The plaintiffs contended that claim by Bagudu in Form CF.001 to the effect that he was not under a fine for offence, “involving in dishonesty or fraud or any offence imposed by a court or tribunal is false". They claimed that contrary to Bagudu’s claim, it had been discovered that he was allegedly fined by a court in the United States of America (USA).

200 persons which threw the state into confusion, Plateau Elders and military Generals had kept mum, describing the development as sickening. Speaking yesterday after the show-of-force exercise around Jos and Bukuru metropolis, Spokesman of the STF, Major Adam Umar said the exercise had boosted the people's confidence and enhanced their feeling of safety. Umar advised the people to desist from peddling false rumours of further violence, saying that the force had been reinforced in terms of material and personnel to tackle any challenge, and that he was assured that they were capable of tackling any ugly situation that might arise. On the rumour that there would be violent protest by the Muslim community, he said it should be treated as mere rumour. He warned that anyone desirous of finding out facts should call the authorities rather than joining in spreading rumours. “We have not got that information, and besides, we have enough security apparatus to tackle such situation should it occur. “We recently received material and personnel support from the defence headquarters in Abuja. We received some special operation force unit, which has a broad and good training on security management and challenges, and we have already deployed them to the field. “In the same vein, the Nigerian Air force has deployed some helicopters to assist us in carrying out air surveillance. It is also good to know that the Inspector General of Police has deployed special operation personnel to strengthen our forces and apparatus on ground. So with all these, I believe that the peace we desire will surely return to the state," he said. He said contrary to the notion that Plateau residents were apprehensive, the look on the people's faces inspired confidence and show that the people had reassurance of their safety; adding that during the show of force, many people called him to express their joy and to let him know that their presence had actually calmed their tensed nerves. According to him, the town was secure and the people were peacefully going about their businesses without fear of intimidation or any kind of fright. In a related development, Plateau youths yesterday

expressed surprise that their elders had remained silent, leaving the security business to Governor Lalong alone. Chairman of the Forum, Pius Tongmaan said, “It is bad that all the elders of Plateau are divided and scattered along political lines.� The youths called for the immediate arrest and ques-

tioning of the North Central Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Ciroma “who has given a lead about the perpetrators of the attack by referring to it as retaliatory, where he justified the killing on the basis over 300 cows allegedly rustled by some natives of Barkin Ladi.�

GOVERNORS TO SECURITY CHIEFS: BRACE UP OR FACE SACK the forum, the Chairman, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State disclosed that the last meeting of the Forum centred on issues of insecurity in states. Accompanied by the governors of Delta, Imo, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Benue, Bauchi and Deputy Governors of Akwa Ibom, Edo, Oyo and Ondo, Yari noted that when he said he should not be addressed as the Chief Security Officer of his state, “it was because my hands were tied; when people were being killed by the marauders, security did not rise to the occasion as expected to defend them.� Yari continued: “We condemn what happened in Plateau State and other states; we are looking at how to fight on a common front to defeat the challenges seeking to undermine the Nigeria state. “Between March and June in my state, we had 115 incidents and 435 people lost their lives, our people are suffering. Within two hours, 235 people were killed, 80 found in one place. In Plateau State since 2012, this is the largest. These people must be brought to book because people have taken things for granted for too long because no one was brought to book, this must change. “I have done my best, so have my colleagues, the unfortunate thing is that security agents are not there until the deed has been done. We must do something as leaders; else the next target would be us, because people may turn against us. We will have a day interface with the security chiefs to make them understand our plights and sit up or we will have no option but to ask the President to drop them.� Also speaking, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal warned that until governments at both state and federal levels take a decisive action against the attackers to serve as deterrent, they will continue in their criminality. Before the Forum’s visit, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State and his state’s Council of Chiefs visited to condole with Governor Lalong and donated N10 million in support of the displaced persons. The NGF, which presented an undisclosed sum of money to the state government to assist the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), lamented the violence across states in the country, saying it is determined to overcome insecurity across

the nation, so that people would not rise up against the governors. Buratai: Army on Top of Security Challenges Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has said the Army was on top of all security challenges in the country. The COAS, who spoke yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State, at a press conference to mark the commencement of 2018 Nigerian Army Day Celebration, NADCEL, which has as theme: “The Nigerian Army and National Security: A Panacea for Nigeria’s Economic Development�, said it was wrong to start a blame game with insecurity threatening the existence of the nation, noting that: “If we celebrate insecurity, we will continue to live with insecurity.� He urged Nigerians to see the current insecurity in parts of the country as a challenge that everyone must see to an end. Buratai, who emphatically stated that Boko Haram had been degraded, expressed optimism that peace would be restored to the troubled Jos soon, as the military has moved in to sanitise the situation and return normalcy back to the area. The Army boss also advised all Nigerians to see security as a task for all and come out to play a role in the battle to bring peace back to the country. He enjoined journalists not to give publicity to Boko Haram and other groups and individuals that have interest in destabilising the nation, noting that insecurity would be history. “If we celebrate insecurity, we will continue to live with insecurity, it is better to look critically at issues and find solutions to them as a nation�, he mentored. According to him, the Nigerian Army Day Celebration was a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by troops who laid down their lives to ensure Nigeria remained united as a nation. This, he said, was in addition to projecting the Nigerian Army as an instrument of national unity, integration and development. This year, the Nigerian Army will be marking 155 years of its existence, dating back to its inception in 1863. process. He added: “The unfortunate 30-months long Nigerian Civil War was announced by a shot that was fired on the 6th of

July 1967 at Garkem, which is in present day Cross River State. "We are aware of the many security challenges that have bedeviled this country in the last decade or so. However I am pleased to state that the Nigerian Army has made giant strides in this regard particularly in the last one year. "Our security architecture as a country is one with a very positive outlook. We have not only consolidated on the gains established in the fight against insurgency in the North East but have progressed to the post stabilisation phase where all efforts are geared towards ensuring displaced persons return to their biological homes which are now safe. "That is why I directed that an operation codenamed Operation LAST HOLD be conducted in the fringes of the Lake Chad waters and Northern Borno. "This operation is a humanitarian one in which we seek to return the Internally Displaced Persons and also provide the much needed security and guarantee for them to return back to their economic lives of farming, fishing and trading. With the defeat of the insurgents, it is time to encourage our people to return to their ancestral home. "We therefore use the occasion of this celebration to solicit for the cooperation, prayers and goodwill of all. Let us join hands to collectively build and take this nation forward. "I therefore urge us all to desist from acts that are capable of truncating the peace. We must be tolerant of one another and learn to give peace a chance. Let us also remember that no nation can develop or be economically vibrant without security and peace. “We assure all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army is for you and will continue to work for the common good of the country while professionally carrying out its constitutional responsibilities�, Buratai added. Military Task Force assures of safety as tension envelopes Jos As fears heightened over alleged plot to extend attacks to Jos township by armed herdsmen, the military Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in the state has as sured residents of their safely. This is as Plateau APC Youths Online Forum has expressed shock that since the recent killings of over

WEMA BANK: OLOKETUYI STEPS ASIDE AS CEO, ADEBISE STEPS IN the statement explained. The outgoing Wema Bank chief executive prioritised the use of technology to deliver improved service to customers, culminating into the launch of ALAT, which offers branchless banking services. Oloketuyi will proceed on a terminal leave from July 1, 2018. Adebise has been part of the Bank’s Executive management team since 2009 and has played a pivotal role in the execution of the strategic turnaround plan of the bank. He has over 28 years’ experience in the banking industry (inclusive of 4 years in management consulting), and has worked in various capacities in Information Technology, Financial Control and Strategic Planning, Treasury, Corporate Banking, Risk Management and Performance Management. Before joining Wema Bank, Adebise was Head, Finance & Performance Management Practice at Accenture (Lagos Office), where he led various projects for banks in Business Process Re-engineering,

Information Technology and Risk Management. He is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Harvard Business School and a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos. He also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Lagos Business School. Adebise is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria). He is an honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB) and a member of the Institute of Directors. “The board of the bank expressed confidence that Adebise’s appointment will lead to the continued transformation and growth of the bank as it positions itself as a market leader in Nigeria’s retail banking segment through technology and innovation,� the statement added.

LET’S TEAM UP TO FIGHT TERRORISM, BUHARI IMPLORES ECOWAS LEADERS alone. He quoted him as saying, "we need to team up to fight common enemies. Terrorists in whatever form are enemies of humanity, and no effort must be spared to protect our people. I will always support anything that is meant to enhance security in our region." The statement which further stated that the security summit is billed to hold on July 30, this year, added that Gnassingbe said he was happy to be in Katsina, the homestead of the president, and thanked him for his help in calming the political situation in Togo. Adesina said Gnasingbe also briefed Buhari on Mali elections, billed for next month, saying ECOWAS would ensure that everything went smoothly.

According to him, the ECOWAS Chairman, also answered a question on what the sub-regional body could do to help Nigeria with the problem of clashes between cattle herders and farmers. He said Gnasingbe in response, said the problem was not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but rather common to a number of other countries including Togo. "It is not a religious or ethnic problem and must not be misconceived as such. We will discuss the matter, and try to find a solution," Gnassingbe was quoted. He said the Togolese President also condoled with Buhari on the fire disaster caused by a fallen petrol tanker in Lagos on Thursday which killed nine and burnt 54 vehicles.

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WE SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF ... L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, during a commiseration visit by the Vice President over the Otedola Bridge Tanker Explosion, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday

Tanker Explosion, Osinbajo Visits Lagos, Says FG Saddened by Incident Another 10 Injured in Lagos, 5 in Abuja Chiemelie Ezeobi Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday visited the Lagos House in Alausa Ikeja to convey the federal government’s condolences to the state government on the tragic tanker explosion on Thursday at the Otedola Bridge where nine people died and over 50 vehicles were burnt. Another accident yesterday on the same bridge injured 10 people. This is as another tanker inferno on Suleija-Minna Road, has left at least five persons with injuries. Osinbajo, who spoke shortly after a closed door meeting with the Lagos State Governor, Mr.

Akinwunmi Ambode, said the federal government was deeply saddened by the incident, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari had delegated him to visit the State to commiserate with the people of Lagos on the unfortunate incident. “I am here to commiserate with the government and people of Lagos State on the tragedy that occurred just yesterday. It’s a very terrible thing and all of us were deeply saddened by it. Before Mr. President left this morning, he asked me to express his sincere condolences to his Excellency and also to the people of the State. It’s a very deeply saddening event and we pray this sort of thing will

never repeat itself. “We also hope that all of those who have suffered injury will recover soon and we pray for comfort for those who lost their loved ones and properties in this very tragic event. That’s why I’m here. Responding, Ambode thanked the Vice President for finding time to visit to condole with the people of the State in this moment of grief, saying that it was a testament to the fact that the federal government was deeply concerned about the safety of lives and property of residents in the State. “We just want to say a big thank you to President Muhammadu Buhari

and also a big thank you to Mr. Vice President for finding out time to quickly commiserate with us in Lagos. Mr. President who is not able to be here personally has sent the Vice President, because they feel so strongly that this kind of incident is not what should be occurring at this time in Lagos and they feel so concerned that beyond the incident, if there are other remedies that we need to do, we have already discussed on those issues that we need to quickly put in place to avoid a recurrence,� he said. Ambode also assured Osinbajo that the situation had been brought under control and normalcy had

been restored within the axis where the incident occurred, saying that all hands are on deck to prevent such incidents in future. The Friday accident which injured 10 people occurred when commercial bus drivers, a yellow bus and a white Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) assisted mass transit bus, were said to be driving in opposite directions when the accident occurred. According to eyewitness account, the two drivers were impatient and attempted to have right of way at the same time and it resulted in a head-on collision. However, the accident affected the

yellow commercial bus more than that FGN transit bus as it recorded more injured passengers. Although details of the Abuja inferno were still sketchy at press time, eyewitnesses said the tanker belonging to Conoil was laden with kerosene collided with a trailer with no visible identification marks leading to loss of control and eventual crash of both vehicles before the tanker carrying kerosene burst into flames. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that some people were injured but no life was lost. The FRSC also said the injured people were rushed to different health institutions in Abuja for treatment.

Buhari: Lack of Accurate Data Affecting Emmanuel Macron to Visit Nigeria's Access to HIV/AIDS Global Grants Fela’s Shrine PaulObiinAbuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said that the absence of accurate data in Nigeria was affecting Nigeria's competitiveness in accessing HIV/AIDS global grants. The president stated this when he launched the National HIV/ AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS), which he said would reliably estimate the current status and spread of HIV, Hepatitis B and C in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The president explained that government was committed to investing huge resources to combat HIV/AIDS in order to eradicate the disease. He added that "despite spending these resources, coverage and access to persons living with HIV remains a challenge, leading to wastage of HIV commodities. "The importance of accurate data on HIV is very crucial for sustainable

solutions on HIV/AIDS. The lack of data on HIV epidemic has also compounded the country's ability to compete for HIV global grants," Buhari stressed. Also speaking at the event, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha stated that though Nigeria had made progress in generating data for planning and policy making, multi-sectoral response to health challenges, particularly, HIV/ AIDS was very important to addressing the problems. On his part, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire explained that the launch of NAIIS by the President marked the beginning of work in redefining the real status of HIV/AIDS, which required scientific survey to achieve. Director General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sani Aliyu harped on the need to overcome the current challenges in the fight against the virus.

He said: "There is no doubt we have a HIV problem in Nigeria. We have the second largest HIV burden in the world with about 3.2million people living with the virus. We estimate about 600 Nigerians are infected with HIV and about 400 Nigerians die from this infection daily. "Almost two-thirds of all new HIV infections in West and Central Africa occurred in Nigeria in 2016. We also contribute the largest number of HIVinfected babies in the world - one in every four babies born with HIV in the world in 2016 was a Nigerian child." Aliyu observed that "the number of persons on life saving medications has increased from about 100,000 to just over a million and the number of hospitals providing HIV/AIDS treatment sites have increased more than 10-fold, yet the epidemic burden has remained the same. We are making progress but it’s painful and slow because we are not sure where we should be looking.�

Dele Momodu

French President, Emmanuel Macron, will visit the African Shrine next week to soak-in Afrobeat music, as he prepares to open the new-look Alliance Francaise facility in Lagos. Macron is expected to touch down in Abuja on Tuesday and after a brief visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa, would head to Lagos in the evening and would be hosted at the Shrine by Trace Tv, according to sources familiar with the itinerary. Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, will be on hand to guide the visiting president and will use the occasion to promote Tourism in the state. Afrobeat was specially created by the legendary Fela Anikulapo, originally known as Fela RansomeKuti, a radical artiste who fought against injustice and executive

recklessness through his addictive brand of music. His sons, Femi and Seun have been able to sustain the popularity of the genre and President Macron will certainly have fun at the African Shrine. Next day at 9am, President Macron is expected to open the magnificent Alliance Francais building, which is located in Ikoyi. It is the biggest and best such facility that blends modern innovative and classy design with the traditions of the past, according to the sources. This scenic upgraded Chateaustyle Alliance Francaise means more Nigerians can learn about French culture and language in Lagos, the commercial capital. This is a welcome development which is bound to promote greater interaction between Nigeria and France and expand business opportunities, cultural exchange and employment.

The Alliance Francaise Foundation is the premier cultural organisation in the world, founded on 21 July 1883, it now has 800 local associations in about 133 countries. It is supported by grants from the French Government and the generosity of patrons, including its founding fathers who are notable Frenchmen like the scientist, Louis Pasteur, the publisher, Armand Colin and writers, Jules Verne and Ernest Renan. The renovated building, which is a villa, now has new additions which have transformed it almost completely. There are spectacular alterations done to the amphitheatre and the internal auditorium to give it a touch of timeless elegance. The Lagos accommodation has been improved, increased and enhanced, and sure to provide guests with an unforgettable experience.

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JUNE 30, 2͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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Adebowale Buhari, the Buck Stops on Your Table 07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Endless tears continue to flow in the 11 communities in Riyom, Barakin Ladi and Jos south local government areas of Plateau State where marauding herdsmen killed countless people last week. It is so depressing that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is our Chief Security Officer, is telling us that politicians should be held responsible for the carnage in Plateau. It is also shocking that six days after the zonal Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association confessed to the killings, not a single one of them was arrested. The North-central zone of the association, in unmistaken words, described the attacks in Plateau as “an act of retaliation,” a brazen confirmation of being behind the massacre. Danladi Ciroma, Chairman, Northcentral Zone of the cattle breeders, alleged that herdsmen in Plateau State had lost about 300 cows in the weeks leading to the attack in Plateau. “These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don’t support the killing of human being, the truth must be told that those who carried out the attacks must be on revenge mission… Fulani herdsmen have lost about 300 cows in the last few weeks – 94 cows were rustled by armed

Buhari

Berom youths in Fan village, another 36 cows were killed by Berom youths. “In addition to that, 174 cattle were rustled and the criminals disappeared with them to Mangu. Since these cows were not found, no one should expect peace in the areas. Even soldiers that went after the criminals to recover the

rustled cows were shot by the armed rustlers and eventually escaped with all the cows. Criminals thrive a lot in Berom communities, but when the Fulani, who are always victims of their crime, react with attacks, they blame the government,” Ciroma said with so much impunity. Following global outcry, the National Secretary of the cattle breeders, Othman Ngelzarma, tardily chided Ciroma. I am not sorry to say that Buhari has simply unleashed his kinsmen on the rest of the country, with defence minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, seemingly providing tactical and technical coverage for them. The service chiefs and our IGP have also compromised. Killer herders are emboldened by the actions and inactions of these public officers. To show that Buhari is not interested in punishing these monsters, he remarked on Monday that desperate politicians were responsible for the killings. Recall that our President had earlier blamed herders from other parts of West Africa, and later, Libyan civil war fighters for killings by herders. It is a shame that Buhari is unaware that he has to account for every Nigerian killed under his leadership. He also seems unaware that he is constitution-

ally-bound to dispassionately protect every Nigerian regardless of religion or tribe. Unfortunately, taking responsibility is still a big issue with Buhari. He is obstinately shifting blame for all the failings of his administration. Those around our President should encourage him to read about the life and times of the late President Harry Truman of the United States. Truman, who served as the 33rd President of the United States, had an inscription, “The Buck Stops Here” on his desk in the White House. This was meant to indicate that he would not pass the buck to anyone else but would accept personal responsibility for the way the country was governed. The phrase further refers to the notion that the President has to take decisions and accept ultimate responsibility for those decisions. Throughout his tenure, responsibility was never passed beyond Truman’s office. He was persistently plain-speaking. Our own President has spent almost his entire tenure blaming his predecessors and saboteurs for the flaws in government. Buhari must stop shifting blame and act as President to all Nigerians. He must act decisively against killer herders.

N’Assembly Legally Allowed to Subtract, Add to Budget The Executive is persistently weeping up sentiment and inciting Nigerians against the National Assembly when it comes to budget issues. This nauseating budget politics reared its ugly head again during the passage and signing of budget 2018. The Executive has been mischievously wailing that federal lawmakers distorted the budget by adding new projects and reducing figures for some others. Suddenly, it can no longer remember that a court of law in June 2017 ruled that NASS does not exist to rubber stamp Presidency and that NASS has powers to add, reduce and remove from budgets. Our lawmakers have the power to review budget estimates laid before it by the Executive arm of the federal government, so ruled the court. It is pertinent to shed light on this ruling so that this game of deceit by the Executive and some pretentious elite can crumble. In 2017, Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to determine whether by section 81 of the Constitution, the National Assembly can review upward any aspect of the estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Federation for the next financial year prepared and laid before it by the Executive In his prayers, Falana sought the court to declare unequivocally that the legislative arm cannot increase budget estimates, or audit accounts of the Federation, or appoint auditors to do same, summon corporate bodies and private individuals while conducting an investigation into any matter, or probe/investigate allegations of corruption, fraud, murder and other criminal offences committed by public officers, corporate bodies and individuals in Nigeria. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in his ruling, stated that the questions posed by Falana’s counsel, bordered on interpretations of the specific provisions of the Constitution which relate to the exercise of the National Assembly’s constitutional legislative powers, and that the essence of the suit was that NASS, under the guise of exercising oversight functions, usurps executive powers; an assertion which the judgment nullified.

The Judge stated: “The National Assembly was not created by drafters of the Constitution and imbued with the powers to receive ‘budget estimates’, which the first defendant is constitutionally empowered to prepare and lay before it, as a rubber stamp parliament. The whole essence of the budget estimates being required to be laid before Parliament is to enable it, being the Assembly of the representatives of the people, to debate the said budget proposals and to make its own well informed legislative inputs into it.” During the course of the case, Falana failed in his desire for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Assembly from increasing budget estimates laid before it by the Executive. It should be noted that all the seven reliefs sought by Falana were dismissed by Justice Kolawole. Evidently, the court concurred that the National Assembly has the constitutional power to subtract or add to budgets submitted to it by the Executive. Within the context of Sections 4, 80 and 81 of the Constitution, everything done to budget 2018 and previous ones are within its powers. Falana did not appeal this judgement. So, it stands. Unfortunately, most of our human rights activists have become pro-government activists and collect briefs from government agencies and departments. On the flip side, this is the first time in the history of this country that we are having a truly independent National Assembly; a strong and vibrant Legislature, working as an independent arm of government in conformity with the constitution of our land. This is what the Buhari-led Executive is finding too bitter to swallow. Many in this part of the world are used to seeing the Legislature working as an appendage of the Executive; we are used to seeing lawmakers operating as errand boys of the Executive and taking everything thrown at them by the President. Back then, the Executive changes the leadership of lawmakers at will, whether at state or federal level. As a result, some Nigerians think this current independent Legislature at the federal level is an aberration. I am shocked that some think it is wrong for the Senate to truly scrutinise, and if unconvinced, reject nominees of the

Saraki

President for appointments. This illinformed people also think it is wrong for the Legislature that has the power of appropriation to take charge of our annual budgets. For the record again, the Legislature has exclusive authority to amend budgets. It is appalling to see many unnecessarily excoriating the Legislature for asserting itself this time around and playing its constitutional role. Yes, this is the most powerful Senate in the history of Nigeria and it is good for our democracy. Way back, senators were mainly nominated by their godfathers. This 8thSenate is dominated by people who made it to the Red Chamber on their own. This is why the Senate in particularly, has been operating as an independent arm of government as prescribed by our laws. Because this strong Senate has refused to work as an appendage of the Executive, all sorts of steps are being taken to rubbish the red chamber and make the lawmakers look like criminals before Nigerians. One of cheap blackmail the

Executive has been peddling for almost two years now is saying that corruption in the Legislature is fighting back. Haba! I am not saying all federal lawmakers are saints, but to cast aspersion on the entire Legislature is most uncharitable. The Executive also uses the so called “huge” budget of the Legislature to paint them black before Nigerians. The Executive will not tell Nigerians that salaries of over 2000 civil servants working in the National Assembly are also paid from the budget of the Legislature. Capital and recurrent expenditures of the National Legislative Institute of Nigeria, The Public Complaint Commission and the National Assembly Service Commission are also covered by this budget. Now to the big question: Do we really need a very strong, vibrant and independent Legislature? The answer is an emphatic yes. A Legislature operating according to its constitutional role as an independent arm of government is “win win” for democracy and the people of the country. It is imperative for the success of any democracy, because democracy thrives on checks and balance. A strong Legislature is necessary to check the excesses, lawlessness and over-bearing influence of the Executive in this part of the world. For me, the Buhari-led Executive must learn to work with the National Assembly in the interest of our nation, instead of resorting to blackmail. Lobbying tools must be effectively used here. This is the standard in developed democracies. In fact, in the United States, the Executive engages professional lobbyist to smoothen relationship with the Legislature. In this part of the world, many think more of bribery when they hear somebody recommend “lobbying.” This is a misleading perception. Lobbying is not about giving bribe. It is more about goodwill and making concessions. For example, offering a new health centre to a Legislator in his constituency may see him contributing to swift passage of a particular Executive Bill. So, the Buhari-led Executive should move quickly and engage professional lobbyists capable of abiding by global standards. This is the way forward for our nation.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

SUPER SATURDAY IFEANYI KALU I Have a Crush on Genevieve Nnaji The cult following movie celebrities like RMD, Ramsey Nouah and Jim Iyke receive may arguably not define Ifeanyi Kalu’s present status in Nollywood. But he's sure on the streak of success with offers coming his way as he tells Ferdinand Ekechukwu in this encounter

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e is quite acceptable - cool, calm and convivial - in appearance. With a distinct look that stands him out from the pack, Ifeanyi Kalu represents a new hue on the canvass of Nollywood actors. Knowledgeable too and soft-spoken, he cuts the image of one born with silver-spoon. At first exchange, his character and charisma could leave you guesstimating. At some point during the conversation, he would chuckle. Sometimes he laughs out loud, like one catching up with an old friend especially when the subject touches on juicy spots. His vocation in the arts cuts across fashion, modeling, compering and acting, his main stay. “I actually started out as a model though I did TV adverts/commercials and billboards.

My latest movie, ‘Lurikos’ is big It’s very difficult to be a method actor in Nigeria

“That’s where I started from before I got into acting. Also, I’m a fashion designer that’s on the low right now. I’m pretty much doing a lot of movies these days. At the moment I’m trying to balance both so none would suffer for the other. So, I do fashion alongside acting and once in a while, the modeling gigs come but not like before. Also I compere events as well,” he revealed. With a second class upper degree in Computer Science, he just could not see himself sitting on the system writing computer programmes and all of those codes. Not even with the added qualifications from NIIT that certified him in Java and Oracle as well. So he quits. “I did come out with good grades, but it just wasn’t my thing. I just couldn’t see myself sitting on the system writing programmes. I was just trying and trying and trying. It just wasn’t me,” he sighed intermediately and laughed. “But that was me just trying to do a different thing. I stopped and went to a fashion school.” He would later enroll at the Royal Arts Academy run by renowned filmmaker, Emem Isong. Remarkably, Kalu’s foray into acting has been a fulfilling one that created his moment. All thanks to the filmmaker whom he described as a veteran. “I got introduced to her by my sister. This was in 2010 or there about. I had to enroll at her academy. And then this particular day there was an audition. I just did the audition and I was selected for the role after the audition and I got the role.” While at the film school he honed his talent and prepped his acting skills. Same year, he was cast in his first movie in a television series. Shortly after that came his first major appearance in the movie ‘Kokomma’, also from the academy. The film school is known to have churned out classy Nollywood movies like ‘Reloaded’, ‘Kiss and Tell’, ‘Weekend Getaway’, ‘Lagos Cougars’, and so many other movies. Kalu starred in the latter. “From there people started to look out and say ‘okay I think I like this guy, I think he can do this for me, he can do that for me’. I was also in ‘Tinsel’ for like a season or two. And then from there it just started coming, coming, and coming,” he crooned. “And here we are today and I’m very hopeful for a better tomorrow.” How far can the passion for acting take him? He took a deep breath and answered: “That’s a very broad question. Sometimes you never know how far you can go until you are told ‘okay we need you to do this or we need you to do that’. But with the much I know, I can go really far. Because for now I don’t really think, apart from taking my beards and everything off, there’s nothing I have done farther than that really. I think I would go far for it even to jump from a skyscraper all the way down for the movies I will do that as long as my safety is assured.” Speaking of passion, in a movie he starred recently, the handsome dude was made to take off his hair, beards and eyebrow everything just to tell the true story the way it ought to be so as to depict the real character. Inspired by true live events, the emotion-laden movie could have taken away from

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

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SUPERSATURDAY I shaved my beard and eyebrow for the love of the job him but as it is for the job. “I think if one is professional and you have the passion for this work you should be able to go any length. It wasn’t an easy thing for me to do because you know when you are known with a particular look and then all of a sudden you are told to have a completely different look it’s not very easy. You don’t know how the acceptance will be like from people. And then you don’t know how much it would probably have fetched at that particular period. You know your chances to land other roles because I didn’t just take off the beard even my eyebrow went off, but then, the love of the job was paramount. It was more important than my looks; I had to take it off completely.” He would reveal the movie Lurikos is actually his debut production.To him, “It’s my movie and it’s going to be out pretty soon, it’s going to be really big. It’s called Lurikos; is a Greek word for poetry. So the job like I said was more important so anyway I looked I did not care.” All he cared was just to get the job done; to fit that character…just to get into the character to fill every part of it. “It was more of me being a method actor on that set because it’s actually pretty difficult. A lot of people talk about being method actors in Nigeria but it’s very difficult to be a method actor in Nigeria. Because being a method actor requires that you are in character from the very start to the end of the movie. But you know on our set here in Nollywood there are a lot of things that happen on set, a lot of distraction and all that. “I dare to say it’s different but not totally. Some of the things I set out to do I wasn’t able to achieve a 100 per cent. But I dare to say it’s different. It’s something that when people see it, they will know it’s a Nollywood story/movie but it goes like a notch higher than the regular. We did so much to making sure that the set could interpret what the story is about. Everything just entangle … interwoven and it brings life to the story and makes the feel connect when people watch it.” Kalu To some extent, Kalu is very familiar with his face pretty much in the open. But may not be enjoying just yet the cult following superstars like RMD, Ramsey Nouah and Jim Iyke receive to want to appraise it with the acceptance he gets in public like being mobbed by fans and stuffs like that. “I cannot be compared to RMD or Ramsey Nouah,” he said laughing. “I think the demography comes to play, it’s a factor to this. There are some places you would go to and people do not know you. “While there are some places you go to people know you but they don’t want you to feel like you are a ‘star’. The place that I am most recognised in Nigeria so far that I have gone is Abuja. Anytime I’m in Abuja I have lots of recognition. In fact, there was a time I was doing a photo-shoot on the street of Abuja. “This wasn’t even main Abuja; this was Karu in Abuja and then just on the street and before I could know what was happening, some kids that were being carried by their parents I think from school had to stop their mum and they all rushed out of the car then I was even surprised like these 4-5-7 years old kids and felt really humble and grateful for that and just after they did that I took pictures signed autograph, they went and another set came. That day was like 4-5 different sets of kids I think I was shooting close to the school. And then at the airport

in Abuja and every other part of Abuja, I get that much recognition. In Lagos, I also get the recognition but then again you know in Lagos we have different kinds of people. “The thing with Lagos is a lot of Lagosians know who the celebrities are but a lot of times they don’t want to act like they know who they are. “But then again sometimes too, the scene of the place matters that you get to some places they want to be pretty much appreciative and some will just like okay… stare and quick glances and all that at you and just get going. But when it comes to recognition, it’s not that crazy like you would have an RMD or a Jim Iyke or Ramsey Nouah or all of those our senior brothers, it’s not that crazy. The acceptance people do know who I am,” he explained. For the fast rising actor, there’s this fondness he has nurtured for long. And that is to work with that one actress that makes Nollywood look good. Aside just wanting to work with the super actress, Kalu nurses more! “I have never worked with the female actress. If I had to work with one that would be Genevieve. I mean everybody crushes on Genevieve. I crush on Genevieve. I have never worked with her before. I hope too, I pray for that arrangement from God,” he confessed, albeit wittily. “I think she’s just in a class of her own; she’s defined

a class for herself and she’s super attractive. And now I don’t mean bodily, I mean her personae. She’s pretty attractive to me and I love to work with her someday.”

To some extent, Kalu is very familiar with his face pretty much in the open. But may not be enjoying just yet the cult following superstars like RMD, Ramsey Nouah and Jim Iyke receive to want to appraise it with the acceptance he gets in public like being mobbed by fans and stuffs like that

I Can Jump from a Skyscraper All The Way Down for the Movies

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COMMENTARY

CARNAGE AND POVERTY AS NATIONAL TRAGEDIES Sufuyan Ojeifo argues that government is evidently not doing enough

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wo existential issues -security and poverty-that bear great relevance to the assessment of performance of governments globally reared their heads back-to-back, last week, in Nigeria. Both issues were so tangible that they could not escape essential appraisal and indictment. While the carnage in Bakin Ladi local government area of Plateau State on June 23, 2018 was so self-evident such that it could not be denied by the federal government, the Brookings report that Nigeria has overtaken India as the global poverty capital has been rebutted by government through the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah. The impotence (or was it complacency and collaboration by soldiers with the bandits as alleged by General T.Y. Danjuma of our security architecture and executing machinery was once again exposed when gun-wielding Fulani herdsmen attacked Nekan, Kufang and Ruku villages in a coordinated fashion, killing well over 120 persons. The characteristic ease with which they have unleashed terror on the Middle Belt states in recent months, without the apprehension of the perpetrators, has questioned the non-complicity of President Muhammadu Buhari in what is largely perceived and interpreted as ethnic cleansing. In situations, such as we have consistently witnessed, where the security organs have failed woefully to protect the lives of Nigerians and/or moving on to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly acts of massacre, the reasonable conclusion is to lay the blame at the door step of the president. The buck stops on his table and he cannot, therefore, escape vicarious liability. And, quite unfortunately for him, he is of the same Fulani stock with the bands of Fulani gunmen that have been killing innocent Nigerians in the middle belt and other parts of Nigeria with reckless abandon. In truth, Buhari may have been too passive, cold and complacent in his disposition to the killings. I am at great pains to point a finger of guilt at him as having possibly endorsed the madness that has cast a slur on his government and contributed to the discounting of the nationwide goodwill that he enjoyed going into the 2015 presidential election. In the same vein, it is possible that his perceived nonchalance (read as tacit support) is the stimulant that has sustained the herdsmen to continue to unleash orgies of violence on the Christian populations on a grandiose scale in the middle belt and minimally in other parts of the country. Indeed, Buhari has a whole lot of assuring and reassuring to do to pacify the brutally-assaulted sensibilities of Nigerians, especially the Christian populations that have been at the receiving end of the serial massacres. Of all the reactions that have trailed the killings on the Plateau, Senator Shehu Sani’s innuendo cannot go unnoticed. His suggestion that the dead should be buried in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja where the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, the seat of power, is located is his writ large pointer to Buhari’s blameworthiness. Also instructive is the United States of America’s position via a statement by the spokesperson for the US Department of State, Ms Heather Nauret, which condemned “in the strongest terms the killing of civilians and destruction of property in Nigeria’s middle belt region over the weekend. We are concerned by the recent increase in armed violence against civilians and call on political and community leaders to lend their voices to peace and to work together to find lasting solutions to these rural conflicts.� It is heartrending that the federal government could not stave off this tragedy: it is tragic to our sense of humanity. What perhaps could

IF ETHNIC COLOURATION IS BEING READ TO THE PRICKLY SECURITY ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE FULANI HERDSMEN, WHAT ABOUT THE GROWING HUNGER IN THE LAND?

absolve Buhari of complicity in this danse macabre is that he also faces the risk of a discounted electoral goodwill in the 2019 presidential election. He therefore will logically not encourage such an albatross. Confidence by a vast majority of people who committed themselves to his presidential enterprise in 2015 has waned on account of this preventable tragedy. A politician who craves national support should be worried; except if the president is propelled more by a sense of ethnic than pan-Nigeria nationalism; and, perhaps, if he has a surefooted unconventional strategy to garner the critical votes countrywide that will make certain his re-election. But then, I have this surreal feeling that the president and his advisers are not getting some things right in their calculations. If ethnic colouration is being read to the prickly security issue that has been exacerbated by the Fulani herdsmen, what about the growing hunger in the land? The number of people that I see these days in the street of Abuja, begging for alms to be able to feed themselves and their children at home has increased exponentially. The practice is not anymore restricted to the Almajiris alone who have been doing that even in the midst of plenty. And, this is quite instructive in assessing the performance of the economy in pragmatic terms. The purchasing power of Nigerians has been eroded by inflation which, for instance, rose to 11.61 per cent year- on- year for the month of May 2018 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The productive base has been constricted as the sector has consistently witnessed collapse of manufacturing businesses. Millions of Nigerians have lost their jobs. The bazaar-canteen economic model that emphasises price indeterminacy continues to worsen matters. Those who have plenty money in their pocket end up buying few things as there is no pricing policy that fixes the marginal profits that can be made from the sale of products or goods. Indeed, the economic policies of the federal government promotes resource accretion and accumulation rather than expenditure on capital projects in real terms, not in terms of sexed up figures by government and its officials. Recently, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, announced that N1.6 trillion in the 2017 budget had been released for capital projects. She has not been able to provide the breakdown of this figure ministry by ministry at the behest of THISDAY newspapers. I believe that with this amount, a little bit of activities would have been on in the construction subsector with money passing through the hands of workers, artisans, etc., as salary and wages earned. This does not appear to be evident. If the economy is out of recession, as claimed, going by the salacious figures released by the NBS, the credibility of the figures should bear correlation with the situation on ground. They should practically result in food on the table for the masses. But where there is growing hunger and millions of Nigerian households find it difficult to afford a meal per day, then there is disconnect between the figures and actualities; a development which reinforces the verdict of the Brookings report that at the end of May 2018, Nigerians had about 87 million people in extreme poverty compared with India’s 73 million people. But expectedly, the federal government dismissed the report, saying it was compiled when Nigeria was in recession. Minister Enelamah advised Nigerians, the vast majority of who are hungry, not to be worried as government’s urgent infrastructure programmes and enabling environment for businesses would make poverty in the country to disappear. ojwonderngr@yahoo.com

SUPER EAGLES AND SET PIECES

The Super Eagles could do more by turning set pieces into victory songs, writes Ikechukwu James

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So, your prediction about the Super Eagles came to pass!� “I gave no prediction about the Eagles. I only made an objective and empirical analysis and came to the logical conclusion.� “They did crash out at the very First Round as you said. But most of the analysts thought Nigeria would do well in Russia, at least Second Round or Quarter Final. Some even didn’t rule out a SemiFinal or appearance at the Final!� “What should we do now to those analysts? They did give Nigerians a false hope?� “We should lock them up. After all a particular country in Europe attempted to jail its scientists for poor analysis of a potential earthquake.� “It’s clear they’ve burnt their fingers again. Unfortunately, if they don’t learn from this, they will lead the nation astray the next time.� “The good thing is that no one can blame the President for the poor results at Russia 2018.� “Indeed, under the present administration, they got unprecedented support. ‘Unprecedented’, in its true meaning, not the hackneyed use by politicians.� “No problem of match bonus, squabble over allowances or even players quarrelling with one another, as often the case in the past.� “The winning bonus was even increased from 10,000 Pounds to 15,000 Pounds at a time!� “The government did more than enough and the administration deserves all plaudits for that. But those players cannot give what they don’t have, as you pointed out before they departed the shores of this country to Russia� “Yes, most of these players don’t get a good deal when they move to European

clubs. Hence they have no good opportunity to develop their soccer talent and play in the top teams in Europe. Sitting on the bench or being on loan from time to time isn’t the best for our players.� “That’s true. I often wonder the role of the Nigeria Football Federation on this. The president can’t leave the most important affairs of government to come help you manage these boys.� “Have you asked why they don’t play in Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and so on? I think most of these players are average, and we need to accept that reality. Of course, they can improve with time.� “Yes, it’s not enough to say you play in the English Premier League, do you play for the top teams?� “But my major gripe with the Super Eagles’ managers and NFF over the years has to do with how the players waste set pieces - free kicks, corners, etc. It is most disturbing.� “Yes, I know you worry a lot over this for many lamentable years. You did write about this after the Nations Cup, tagged Ghana 2008. Unfortunately, the players continue to squander set pieces while other countries maximise theirs to coast home to victory.� “Of course, I remember my points then. ‘Although the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are hated world over for their rough tackles, we must not close our eyes on the sense of urgency with wish they played at that Ghana 2008. Every set piece was like a penalty - and that thrilled my heart.’ Just how many corners and free-kicks do Super Eagles usually fling away! What actually do you learn in training if you play 20 corner kicks and 20 free-kicks

without threatening a goalkeeper with any? � “It was the same situation in Russia 2018. The Super Eagles wasted all the corner kicks and free-kicks while other countries benefited from such. Not even one single corner kick moved close to threatening a goal-keeper or caused the spectators to rise in panic or joy of a near goal. It was not good at all. The coach and NFF ought to worry gravely about this. What exactly do you do in training? In the match against Iceland, the Eagles had no single shot on goal for the first 45 minutes. That was shocking to anyone!� “Yes, I watched Germany 2006. Watched Italy, Argentina and others. Set pieces were regarded almost as penalty kicks. So I began to wonder why over the years, Nigeria had not mastered the art of scoring through set pieces. So many goals were scored by great and serious teams through set pieces. We either balloon our free-kicks to the skies or in the hands of the goalkeeper. Perhaps one out of 200 may threaten a goalie and hit the back of the net! No, it’s damn shameful how the Eagles waste set pieces. How I wish we could learn to do it like Brazil, Italy, Argentina. But we need not go that far; even our own neighbour here, Cameroon, had mastered the art of turning set pieces into victory songs. Did we see how Ghana edged out Morocco and steamrollered their ambition of proceeding further in the competition through set pieces in Ghana 2008 Nations Cup? Look at that free-kick that Michael Essien converted into a TV goal! That, like the commentator remarked, only happens in training. That is the product of training. But when

you claimed you had a wonderful training but on the big occasion, you throw away free-kicks and corners, what should we make of that? And I have to calm my anger at this stage.� “Really, it’s unfortunate Nigeria couldn’t go far at the ongoing World Cup. Some small businesses will surely be affected, especially the Match Viewing Centres. You know enthusiasm will wane once Eagles are no longer in the competition.� “I did enjoy some of the meals served at one of the Viewing Centres, especially the Ofada Rice.� “I used to like the rice. But I had to give it up because of the stress my wife used to go through in picking out the stones before cooking.� “I didn’t see a single grain of stone in the one I ate at that Viewing Centre and I was told it was the Ofada Rice produced by the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture. As a matter of fact, I went to buy a bag after that restaurant experience. The name is MITROS Ofada Rice and you can buy a bag as low as N2,500. So nutritious and not a single grain of stone can be found in it.� “I guess that was the one launched last December by the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun. The man is really trying.� “I think so. A lot of people like Ofada. Buhari is really determined with this rice matter. But let’s hope the Eagles, the coach and NFF will absorb the lessons of Russia 2018 and perform better at the next tournament! They need to do something better with set pieces. We need to be scientific with the way we play soccer. Football has become a science.� James, a sport enthusiast and social commentator, wrote from Lagos

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ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Will there ever be an end to this madness?

Who Is Frustrating Jibiya/Itakpe Railway Projects?

Otedola Bridge and Articulated Vehicles

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n June 28, it was a Black Thursday in Lagos as tragedy struck at the popular Otedola Bridge along the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway. According to reports, a 33,000-litre articulated vehicle heading towards Ibadan had a break failure, skidded off the road and in the process had all its content spilled all over the road .Within seconds, there was a deafening explosion which ofďŹ cials alleged has claimed nine lives and resulted into razing of about 67 vehicles. Reports have it that some motorists abandoned their vehicles and fled in different directions as the inferno gathered momentum and there was panic across the scene. A most pathetic case was that of a woman who allegedly wailed uncontrollably as she was searching for her twin girls. Seeing part of the episode on television, it was such a gory sight that will certainly make hearts of steel to melt. The tragedy, which occurred around 6pm while most workers were returning home, led to a huge traffic gridlock that crept deep into the night, with most people getting home around 2:00 am or thereabout. The cost of the ill-fated incident is obviously enormous. Indeed, many are still counting their losses. Characteristically, a lot of people have alluded to many probable reasons as being responsible for the sad incident. One of such is a superstitious assertion that the Otedola Bridge is jinxed. Proponents of this view readily point to several gory carnages that have taken place around the now mythical bridge. For instance, they recounted a case of the horrific episode of a newly wedded couple who had a brutal accident on the bridge, leading to the instant death of the groom, with the bride helplessly watched the corpse of her husband of one day by the roadside. However, while it is true that the Otedola Bridge has recorded quite a number of bloody road accidents, it will be too simplistic to allege that carnages occur along the bridge because it is jinxed. Truth be told, disasters on the bridge are mostly products of human errors and carelessness. The Otedola Bridge is a slope that must be cautiously navigated by motorists. What usually happen is that most motorists, especially drivers of articulated vehicles descend the slope with such startling speed that it becomes a major problem gaining stability once an unforeseen mechanical fault occurs. Articulated vehicles’ drivers in particular need to be more careful and professional in their operation. Across the country, they are mostly notorious for the sloppy manner they function. Findings have shown that several carnages recorded on most roads in the country have been caused by their complicity. A recent research has indicated that out of about 358

transport accidents recorded in Nigeria between 1999 and 2002, 70 % involved articulated trucks and heavy duty vehicles. The survey further shows that about 32 per cent of truck drivers are below 30 years and probably immature and inexperience to handle such psychologically demanding task. Also, studies have equally confirmed that 62 per cent of fuel trucks involved in serious road mishaps that resulted in monumental disasters were of poor quality which probably aided fire outbreaks whenever there was an accident. Study has also shown that about 54 per cent of fuel spilling that had led to fire outbreaks was as a result of negligence on the part of truck drivers. For obvious reasons, Lagos will continue to attract articulated vehicles and trucks of all shades because of its prime socio-economic status. Lagos accounts for over 60% of Nigeria’s industrial and commercial activities; 70% of national maritime cargo freight, over 80% of international aviation traffic and over 50% of Nigeria’s energy consumption. The two seaports in Lagos account for 70 per cent of the sea trade in the country.

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

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hose of us around Jibiya in Kastina State and Itakpe in Kogi State interested in seeing the completion of the construction of National Freight OfďŹ ce Building at Jibiya and construction/provision of relevant facilities along the Railway Station Buildings in Itakpe – Ajaokuta - Warri railway stations are unhappy. The reason is simple: vested interests in the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Ministry of Transport who are bent on frustrating President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to see that development of these facilities get to Nigerians living around these axis have continued their vicious ploys unabated. It is particularly nauseating to realise that they have carried their mischievous acts of sabotage to the home state of President Buhari, in the case of the Jibiya projects situated in Kastina State. Recall that we had commented earlier in Daily Trust, Wednesday, May 9, 2018 and THISDAY, Thursday, May 10, 2018 on the dishonesty of these vicious elements within the purview of the Federal Ministry of Transport who have sworn that these projects in which their processes commenced in 2016/2017 but cancelled because of activities of these interests and reintroduced in 2018 as published in the Tenders Journal of August 21 – Sunday September 3, 2017 in line with Federal Ministry of Transport’s call

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

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 BOLAJI ADEBIYI, 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

for submission of Tender by contractors will not see the light of day. We are aware that the Bureau of Public Procurement as a government agency is empowered by law to correct abnormalities that come from government parastatals and ministries in the areas of procurement but from my checks, we can reliably state that elements within BPP and the Federal Ministry of Transport are frustrating the completion of these projects and working in blatant disregard to the directive of the president to see to the completion of these projects. Recall also that the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and his counterpart at the Ministry of Information, Alh. Lai Mohammed recently embarked on tours to some ongoing railway projects across the country in which they both made repeated declarations on how serious the present administration is to ensuring that the set completion/launching dates for the ongoing projects are realised. In fact, the ministers while briefing the media after visiting the Lagos - Ibadan railway projects stated categorically that work will be completed this year while full operations will commence January next year. The reassurance became necessary following fears that the set date for completion may not be feasible. “We hope this project will be completed within the life span of construction. Nigerians are putting us under immense pressure. The contract is for three years and we are doing it within one year and two months. Our target is December 2018, but at most in January 2019, Nigerians will start to enjoy the dividends of democracy.� Rotimi Amaechi had said. One then wonders how some individuals in both the ministry and BPP will be more ‘powerful’ than the president and put their selfish interests above the interest and development of the nation on projects that by now ought to have been at completion level. Fully armed with facts, we drew the attention of the public, Federal Ministry of Transport and the Presidency on the dilly- dallying between BPP and the ministry on very flimsy excuses as to why these projects are being delayed just to mislead the public and the president. Most mind boggling is that they have also taken their acts to frustrate projects at the doorstep of the President in Jibiya, Kastina State. We are in the know that President Muhammadu Buhari is 100% interested in seeing that projects undertaken by this administration are completed and inaugurated as promised before the end of this year but that can only happen when the hawks at BPP and Transport Ministry are dealt with. Kadiri Usman, Abuja

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚͜

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NEWS

In Brief SGF, SSG of 36 States, FCT Meet in A’Ibom

TheforumofSecretarytoGovernmentofFederation(SGF)andSecretaries toStateGovernment(SSG)ofallthe36statesincludingtheFederalCapital Territory(FCT),AbujaholdsinUyo,AkwaIbomStatecapitalonMonday,July 2nd,2018.Themeeting,whichisgoingtotakeplaceattheIbomFiveStarHotel andGolfResort,Uyoisgoingtobethesecondquarterlymeetingoftheforum. ThefirstmeetingofthebodytookplaceinYola,AdamawaStatecapital.The SecretarytotheAkwaIbomStateGovernment,Mr.EmmanuelEkuwen,who briefed Journalists yesterday in his office said the forthcoming meeting of theforumofSGFandSSGhadasitstheme,“Improvingaccesstoservicesat thenationalandsub-national(State)levels.“AlltheSecretariesofthevarious stategovernmentsaremeetinginUyotobrainstorm,deliberate,shareideas, look at how the pulse are felt in each of the state of the Federation. If SSG in the various states gather, there are a lot of documents, memo, proposal, projectstodiscussandcoordinate.Icantellyouattheendofthesession,we usually have a good idea of what we need to do.

Police Arrest 27 Hoodlums in Sokoto

GOING ACADEMIC ... L-R- President-Chancellor, Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisina, USA, Dr. Ray Belton Deputy President of the Senate, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu and Executive Vice President- Vice Chancellor, SU, Dr. James Ammons, after a meeting

Show What You did for S'East, S'South, Lai Mohammed Challenges PDP Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has attributed the poor state of roads in many parts of the South-east and South-south geo-political zones to the16 years of poor governance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking to reporters during an inspection tour of the ongoing construction of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, the minister scolded PDP for having nothing to show in the two geo-political zones in the area of infrastructural development. Mohammed also berated the opposition party for blaming the

current administration for allegedly neglecting the two regions without any verifiable proof. “I’m particularly glad that we came on this trip for two reasons. I think it has given the lie to those naysayers, who have painted the administration as having done nothing for the South-east and the South-south. “When we were coming on this (third) stretch of the road, I was informed that until this administration came, an entire lane was completely impassable after it was turned to a refuse dump. Now the question is: In 16 years, what did the PDP do on the Enugu-Port

Harcourt Road? ''Everything that we saw (along the Enugu-Port Harcourt road) today is what this administration has achieved, yet some politicians are so fraudulent. They sit in Abuja and accuse the administration of doing nothing for the South-east and the South-south,� he said. The minister said the intervention of the present administration in the provision of infrastructure in the South-east, in particular, had exposed the PDP for deceiving the people of the region during its 16 years of reign without commensurate results. He said the project tour had revealed that the administration had

done so much for the zone, adding the PDP was only misinforming the public. "I am glad that from the feedback we are getting, the people in the South-east knew what was going on for 16 years and they are also here in the last three years and they have seen the difference,� he said. He further assured that the federal government would remain steadfast in completing inherited projects across the country. “The most important thing is that this government has been faithful, sincere, passionate and committed towards infrastructural development," he said.

NRC MD Jailed 3 PCNI Initiates DeMonths for Contempt radicalisation of 260 Exyear informed the court that he Boko Haram Fighters Davidson Iriekpen was out of the country on official A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered that the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria, be remanded in prison for three months for contempt of court. The court presided over by Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun made the order following his persistent refusal to appear before the court despite several summons. In making the order, Justice Olatoregun said: "I have looked at the various affidavits placed before the court and have examined the papers filed from both sides. The contemnor in particular continued to disobey the law, even if he did not have the notice between February, March till date, he ought to have been guided by his lawyer. "He has not given reason to disobey the court. He treated the court order with levity. I’m left with no option than to convict him. "I hereby sentence him to three months imprisonment." Justice Olatoregun further ordered that he should be in custody till September 25, 2018, when the case will continue. Okhiria had through his lawyer sometime in March this

assignment, following which, the court ordered him to show evidence of being away on official assignment outside the country as he claimed. The former employee of the NRC, Mr. Benedict O. Iheakam, had approached the court through his counsel, Mr. Johnson Esezobo (counsel to judgement creditor), praying the court for an order committing to prison, the MD of the NRC, and the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Canise Oklahoma for alleged refusal to comply with court order for over 14 years. Justice Dan Abutu had in a suit no: FHC/L/CS/926/95 declared in a judgment delivered on February 18, 2003, that Iheakam, a Principal Technical Officer’s purported retirement letter dated, November 1, 1994 was contrary to the contract of employment and was therefore unlawful, null and void. However, since February 18, 2003 the management of NRC refused to reinstate the plaintiff and has also not paid his entitlements, notwithstanding that they lost in all their applications to appeal the judgment from 2005 to 2014 when the last application was struck out for incompetence.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Two hundred and sixty Boko Haram ex-combatants have been integrated into the society by the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative (PCNI) under the Operation Safe Corridor. This was revealed by the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, Maj. Gen. B.M Shafa, when he and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman, PCNI, Lt. Gen. T.Y Danjuma. Some of the de-radicalised Islamists were integrated by Adamawa and Bauchi States while Borno and Yobe states are in the process of reintegration of the remaining. Shafa further revealed that 150 repentant Boko Haram fighters were ready for Operation Safe Corridor programme and assured the PCNI of its partnership with various International development partners for international best practices of the de-radicalisation process. The Vice- Chairman, Mr. Tijjani Tumsa who received the delegation on behalf of Danjuma, said PCNI was currently spearhead-

ing a framework for transitional justice system for the North-east and would support Operation Safe Corridor programme which was a component of the security and peace programme of the Buhari Plan for the North-east. He assured the delegation that PCNI would facilitate meetings for successful integration of the repentant Boko Haram combatants to their communities. He pleaded that the process of de-radicalisation and integration of the ex-combatants should be handled with caution, so as not to send the wrong signal to the aggrieved communities that had lost loved ones. Shafa appreciated PCNI’s visit on two occasions to the Operation Safe Corridor camp. He said their visit was at the request of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin to partner and seek assistance of PCNI in areas of equipment for vocational training, fast track the speedy support of NEMA in the area of food supplies to the camp and advocate the amnesty of the repentant Boko Haram ex-combatants.

SokotoStatePoliceCommand,Fridayparadedanotoriouskingpinofagroup Aliyu BelloYaro and 26 other hoodlums that specialise in attacking citizens ofthestatewithoffensiveweaponsandinflictingvariousdegreesofinjuries onthem.ThePolicePublicRelationsOfficerandDeputy Superintendentof Police, Cordelia Nwawe, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Sokoto. Shesaidthehoodlumsalsospecialisedindispossessinginnocentmembers of the public of their valuables. Nwawe stated that the hoodlums were arrested in various parts of the Sokoto metropolis following massive raid on their hideout. She noted that the kingpin of the notorious gang popularly known as Aliyu Yaro had been on the Police wanted list for over eight years. "ThekingpinofthisnotoriousgangAliyuYarohasbeenonourwantedlistfor over eight years in various Divisions within the state and was arrested last weekbasedonmultiplecriminaloffencesallegedagainsthim.Heiswanted for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and causing grievous hurt reported by several persons.

Niger Assembly Summons Deputy Governor

NigerStateHouseofAssemblyonThursdaydirectedthedeputygovernor AlhajiMohammedAhmedKetsotoappearbeforeittoexplainwhythestate pensionershavenotbeenpaidtheirentitlements.Thedecisiontoinvitethe deputygovernorfolloweddiscoverythatanexecutivecommitteeheheaded onthereviewofthecontributorypensionschemeasitaffectedpermanent secretarieshadnotcompleteditsassignmentseveralmonthsafteritwasset up.Theinvitationwasthefirsttothedeputygovernorsincetheadministration cameonboard.Theactionoftheassemblyalsofollowedthesubmissionofthe reportofthecommitteeonlabourheadedbyAlhajiMadakiBossorepresenting Bosso constituency in the house.The committee in its report had said that severalpermanentsecretarieswhovoluntarilyretiredorwereforcedtoretire from the service had not been paid their entitlements.

‘Healthcare, Challenge of Rural Dwellers’

Qualityhealthcarehasbeenidentifiedasoneofthemajorchallengesfacing Nigerianslivinginruralareas.TheareawelfarespecialistofficerofChurchof Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Mr. Chidi Ibeakuzie stated this during the handingoverofarecentlyrenovatedcommunityhospitaltomembersofthe communityatNri,AnaochalocalgovernmentareaofAnambraState.Hesaid whileurbandwellershadlessproblemaccessinghealthcare,thisconstituted amajorchallengetothoselivinginruralarea,andthatthechurchhadstepped in to help affected communities. The church which is into the renovation and equipping of hospitals across Nigeria said that it took specific interest in providing quality healthcare for rural dwellers because of the dire need, faced by the people.

Natures Gentle Touch Unveils New Products

Natures Gentle Touch, one of the leading hair products manufacturers in Nigeria, has launched new range of products to cater for those with natural orvirginhair.Thenewproducts,MonoiOil,whichcomeinfivedifferentranges wereunveiledatRadissonBlue,GRA,andKieralastTuesdaywithtopofficials ofthecompanyaswellasthemediainattendance.Accordingtothegeneral manager,Mr.ChijiokeAnaele,thenewproductsbecameimperativeasasolution towomenlivinginNigeriaastheyrequiredspecifichaircaresolutionbecause of their unique hair condition which is influenced by Nigerian weather, diet andhairtexture.NaturesGentleTouchhestressed, usenaturalingredients and knowledge sharing to provide solutions to meet these special beauty needs of Nigerian women.

Unusual Praise 2018 Takes Place Tomorrow

The official unveiling of Unusual Praise will take place on Sunday, July 1. Parishioners of the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy will be treated to a day ofunforgettablespiritualconnection,singingandworshipinordertolaunch the event and get everyone set for yet another incredible night of praise and worship. Unusual Praise has quickly grown to become the biggest of its kind within the Catholic Community in Africa- with explosive and spirit filled performances by Megastar Acts such as Sinach, Nicole C Mullen, Don Moen, Olumide Dada, Frank Edwards, Sr. Agatha Ozah, Steve Crown and a plethoraofgloballyrecognisedgospelstarsinpreviousyears.Thisyear’sedition promisestotakethingstoanotherlevelwithsurpriseInternationalactsyou cannotaffordtomiss,qualitycontentandmostimportantlyarefreshingand uplifting experience in the presence of God.

Ezinne Victoria Passes on at 73

ThedeathhasbeenannouncedofEzinneVictoriaUgwuakanmaNzewuniye. She died on June 9, 2018, aged 73.According to a statement by the family, Ezinne Nzewuniye had her early education at Christ church Owerri where sheexcelledbeyondherpeers.AdevoutChristianandawomanofunflinching faith and a committed servant in God vineyard, she served for years at the All Saint Cathedral Egbu, Owerri where she stood out as a reliable and trustworthycommunityleader,Thefamilysaidtherewouldbeserviceofsongs attheOmeni-Nzewuihefamilyhome,Mpamavillage,Egbu,OwerrionJuly11. Her burial service takes place on July13 at All Saint Cathedral Church Egbu OwerriImoState.EzinneNzewuniyeVictoriaissurvivedbyninechildrenand 24 grandchildren among whom is Kelechi Nzewuihe.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚͜

NEWS

EFCC Docks Ex-Minister, Bulama, 4 Others for N229m Fraud Michael Olugbode, in Damaturu The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama before a Federal High Court in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on a seven-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N229million. Also arraigned alongside Bulama, a minister in Goodluck Jonathan administration, were Hon. Mohammed Kadai, a former Commissioner for Integrated and Rural Development in Yobe State and deputy coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Yobe State; Abba Gana Tata; Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn Jaks. Arraigning them before the Justice Hammada Isa Dashen of a Federal High Court Damaturu, Yobe State, on a seven-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N229million, the EFCC alleged that Bulama, who was also the coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, alongside the other defendants conspired to make

cash transactions above threshold without going through financial institution. The anti-graft agency said investigation was conducted and facts were established against the defendants. One of the counts read: “That you, Dr. Abdu Bulama, Hon. Mohammed Kadai, Abba Gana Tata, Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn Jaks on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 at Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree among yourselves to do illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit Money Laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended�. The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges. Consequently, counsel to the EFCC, Al’Qasim Ja’afar, asked the court to fix a date for the prosecution to present its witnesses. Justice Dashen therefore adjourned the matter to July 3, 2018 for hearing of bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the EFCC custody.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER ... L-R: President of Togo H.E. Mr Faure Gnassingbe and President Muhammed Buhari when the latter received him in audience in Katsina State

Mahmoud: 2019 Elections to Top NBA's Agenda

Lagos to Close Oshodi Flyover Sunday Night to Monday Morning

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Lagos State Government yesterday said there would be partial restriction of movements on Oshodi flyover to enable it advance the ongoing construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange. The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Habib Haruna said in a statement that the closure would be from 10:00pm Sunday, July 1st to 5:00am Monday, July 2nd, 2018. Haruna quoted the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, as saying construction work at the Oshodi Transport Interchange had entered critical stage and the contractor Messer Planet Projects Limited would be hoisting heavy structural steel trusses for the assembly of the Skywalk Bridge. “Men of LASTMA, FRSC, Police, LAGESC, VIO, etc. would

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Friday in Abuja, disclosed that the association would give all it takes to support the country in conducting a successful, credible and peaceful elections come 2019. Both the National President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud SAN and Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning, George Etomi made the pledge yesterday at the unveiling of the NBA's 2018 annual general conference logo and website. Mahmoud, in his address, charged lawyers to leverage on the conference to ensure that they made meaningful

contributions that would lead to the success of 2019 elections. According to the NBA President, the 2018 conference would focus on evolving solutions to address the current and contemporary issues affecting the country. He noted that the theme for the 2018 conference, "Transition, Transmission and Sustainable Institutions", was apt considering that the country was preparing for elections in 2019. "Last year's conference had the theme, ‘African Business: Penetrating through Institution Building’, so we are building on the theme of last year. "We are however, trying to address the more current and

more contemporary issue of transition and transformation and we are not only focusing on local transformation but global trends," he said.On his part, Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning, George Etomi, while stating that the NBA's annual conference was the largest gathering of lawyers in the world, maintained that the association played a pivotal role in reshaping and reforming the nation by analysing burning issues and evolving possible solutions. Etomi said that the theme for the 2018 conference was carefully chosen to afford the lawyers the opportunity to x-ray the role of lawyers in the country and on the continent as a whole.

be on ground to manage traffic and provide safety and security support during the seven-hour night operation. “The Skywalk Bridge, the longest free standing pedestrian bridge in Nigeria at 53.4m long and six metres wide, would link Terminal One and Two buildings at the Oshodi Transport Interchange. “The flyover would be completely closed in the direction of Anthony to the Airport, while the motorists (in both directions) would now make use of the second carriageway, that is, the one in the direction from Airport to Oshodi to Anthony,� the statement said. He said motorists coming from Anthony could either access Town Planning Way through Ikorodu Road or Apapa Oworonshoki Expressway and then turn to Ilupeju Industrial Avenue then link Agege

Motor Road via Ilupeju bypass and make a U-turn at Bolade and turn to Apapa Oworonshoki Expressway. “For motorists coming from Isolo/Airport Road, you can enter the service lane at Charity and turn to Agege Motor Road at Oshodi and then link Ilupeju Industrial Avenue via Ilupeju Bypass and then turn to Town Planning Way to link up Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway,� the Commissioner said. Besides, Akinsanya added that in the days and weeks ahead, there would also be closure on some certain section of roads within the axis to vehicular and human traffic, just as he solicited the cooperation and support of all road users plying the corridor to observe all the precaution signs on the road.

FG Approves Memorandum on Executive Order NBS: 134,663 Crime Cases Recorded in 2017 One, asks MDAs to Adopt 72hours Rule The National Bureau of followed by Abia and Delta offenses against persons are Statistics (NBS) has released states with 12,408 (9.2%) and those offenses against human beUgo Aliogo

Following the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of a memorandum directing the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government to follow through on executive order one in order to adopt a 72 hour rule in terms of whatever complaints that come through the online portal, Nigeria is now ready for its implementation. The Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, who stated this in Lagos at the First Bank Agric Expo 2018 with the theme: ‘Innovating for a Sustainable Green Economy’, noted

that the present administration was committed to the enabling environment initiative, adding that it required the partnership of the public and private sectors to drive it. He also stated that countries that had worked on the ease of doing and enabling business initiatives had realised that there was a correlation between enabling environment and economic prosperity. “What we have realised is that if you want to do enabling, you cannot do it alone, it has to be a partnership with the private sector and other stakeholders. Secondly, you have to break it

down; it has become a body of knowledge almost scientific that is why the World Bank measure the ease of doing business and enabling environment ranks and countries that have done it well has found that there is a strong correlation between the enabling environment and prosperity,� the minister stated. He explained that the ministry had taken a cross cutting approach for both the government and the people, adding that the singular responsibility of the administration was to create the right enabling environment whether for trade, investment, industry and others.

the crime statistics on reported offences which it said reflected a total of 134,663 cases in 2017. In the Crime Statistics: Reported Offences by Type and State (2017), released on NBS website, it stated that offences against property had the highest number of cases with a total of 68,579. It also reported that offences against persons recorded 53,641 cases, while offences against lawful authority recorded the least with 12,443 cases, respectively. The Bureau also said Lagos State had the highest percentage share of total cases reported with 50,975 (37.9%) cases recorded,

7,150 (5.3%) cases, respectively. While Kebbi State had the lowest percentage share of total cases reported with 205 (0.2%) cases recorded, Kogi and Bauchi states followed closely with 282 (0.20%) and 386 (0.30%) cases respectively. The NBS, however, stated that data on numbers of area commands, divisions, stations, police posts and village posts reflected that there were 12 zonal commands, 37 commands, 217 area commands, 1730 divisions head quarter, 1212 police stations, 2020 police post and 328 police village post as at 2017. “It is pertinent to state that

ings e.g. murder, manslaughter, infanticide, concealment of birth, rape and other physical abuse, while offenses against properties are those offenses against human belonging, properties of any kind e.g. stealing, receiving stolen properties, obtaining property by false pretense, robbery, burglary and house breaking. “Offenses against lawful authority are any offense commitment against any establishment of the law e.g failure to pay your tax (FIRS) amounts to an offense against lawful authority in Nigeria,� said NBS.

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Plus

pg. 20

Sally Mbanefo I Started Painting at 18, Inspired by Peace of Mind

pg. 22

Iyalode Soyinka ‘Wole Soyinka’s Frequent Detention Made Me Strong’

FAMILY HEALTH GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND TEENS CONNECT

pg. 28 pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 38

Datti Baba-Ahmed

Why I want to be Nigeria’s Next President

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

PLUS

As President, I’m Offering Leadership With New Thinking Enigmatic, fearless and blunt on issues of security, education and bad governance, Yusuf Datti BabaAhmed, the founder/ Pro-chancellor, Baze University, Abuja, is motivated to fight injustice, throw off tyranny, and if he can, lay down his life for a worthy cause. This British-trained economist, just 48, speaks with Adedayo Adejobi on why he wants to become Nigeria’s next President

W

hy are you seeking Nigeria’s top job? Because it’s only that office that has the power and authority for the work I want to do for Nigeria. Nothing less than the power of tha that office would allow me to do those grand d designs I have for Nigeria. What are those grand designs and what is the impulse behind them? My grand design for Nigeria is not impulse. It’s a long built up desire to put things right. Firstly, Security which allows a country exi exist is my dream of a Nigeria where people would sleep better with less fear of house households or communities being attacked at n night or in daytime. I dream of Nigeria w where there is minimal or no terror, militants militan groups or forces sabotaging the econo economy of Nigeria. I dream of a Nigeria wher where communities find no need to attack one another. By my nature natu and design, I have always been on natio national issues like security, economy and education which cut across. None of my point of focus is regional, state or local local. Everything about me is national. I’ve been a member, House of Representativ Representatives, Senator and I’m not cut out for gover governorship per- say. I have ticked all the boxes, constitutionally and locally. If you juxtapose that to the current situation in N Nigeria, I am one of those who genuinely fea fear that we have only a couple of years, to to total breakdown of law and order. And th the economy that this government found sstanding is now on its knees. The naira is i 40% of its value, so is the full worth of Nigeria. I strongly hold that something dr drastic has to be done now, else only a co couple of years before total breakdown. Aside your you professional pedigree and antecedents in politics and business, what other things do you think have prepared yo you for the top job? Education; not to say that I am that educated but I’ve been in the world of education. I’v I’ve built secondary schools and participa participated in the management of many. Ever ssince I left the House Of Reps in 2007, I’ve been working on promoting education na nationally through Baze, a private unive university I established, so this has prepared me. me If you wan want to destroy a country, you d do on’t need to attack it by air or bomb, don’t

Baba-Ahmed

simply attack the educational institutions and you have succeeded. Nobody had destroyed ours, but we found our education system deteriorating. Along with it goes the whole Nigerian society because the security forces are not doing their jobs well. So are medical doctors, nurses’ engineers, bankers, and some politicians. I want to lead a quality revolution through education, training and a vibrant economy to solve our security challenges. Could you kindly expatiate on this? Explaining the steps goes beyond an interview. Education and training are what will make every key player do their jobs a little better. If the security forces, custom, nurses are fairly educated, trained and properly compensated they will do their work a little better. It’s a quality revolution such that everybody now committed to do better than they used to before. The people want a leader who will not sit down and say governance is about policy, speeches, appointments and award of contracts. We want a leader who will not pretend he was never a human or a Nigerian before he became a leader. I intend to lead a quality revolution that I want to identify with every Nigerian and I want everyone to identify with my principle we should just do our work a little better. How are you different from other aspirants seeking the same office? I simply think I’m different because I mean what I say and when I say it, I do it. But I’m as human as they are, I’m not infallible, I’m not too special but when I say it, I mean it and I’m really going to do it. When I speak about living wage, within four years I aspire to quadruple the income of all federal public servants except of course, the likes of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Central Bank of Nigeria. Whatever they are paid will sustain them across the month and it includes good feeding, decent accommodation, clothing and mortgage. There can never be an egalitarian society without mortgages. I’ll use technology to stamp out ghost workers. I would eliminate waste and inflated contracts. If a police constable is earning 25000 monthly now, in 2019 he would be earning 100,000 legitimately, and with that I can tell a police constable to stop collecting N50 on the road and he will listen. I’ll equip them to fight crime, morally motivate and train them. The moment you have security agents doing their job, you

I have ticked all the boxes, constitutionally and locally. If you juxtapose that to the current situation in Nigeria, I am one of those who genuinely fear that we have only a couple of years, to total breakdown of law and order. And the economy that this government found standing is now on its knees. The naira is 40% of its value, so is the full worth of Nigeria. I strongly hold that something drastic has to be done now, else only a couple of years before total breakdown

JUNE 30, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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PLUS Buhari is Not Fighting Corruption. He is Promoting Corruption already have a better society for investment to come in. I intend to stabilise the naira for at least 10 years. Even if I serve one term, the naira must be stable and not fluctuate more than 5%. We are going to flood the Nigerian banking system with loanable funds and mitigate the foreign exchange fluctuation risk. Banks can source cheaper funds and are now more comfortable to lend in the long term. The second risk we have to mitigate is the identification of civic risks that individual or companies may disappear with scarce bank funds. The third risks we need to mitigate are business risk by building the economy, injecting money into the system, providing people with legitimate money to go and spend. Let everyone feel there is a bit of humanity and that they don’t have to engage in crime. Banks would lend for mortgages without affecting their profitability. I’m offering leadership with new thinking and it is not rocket science. It will happen if we get the right people. Terror and insecurity will reduce. You cannot wipe out crime totally in any human society. Whenever I see a problem, I see the solutions. The insecurity we are dealing with today will soak another 3 million not into the security forces, security communities, community services including all and everything, garbage collection, gardening and other things people can do and make legitimate income. Nigeria needs a leader who identifies generally with the people and not the kind of leadership we have today. Leadership is beyond setting up committees, drawing up framework for three years when you have four years in government. It is about action from day one and if you want to turn Nigeria around, the first thing you do is to end the award of inflated contract. Anybody who is fighting corruption and that person has not decisively ended it, you don’t need to go and draw up procurement law in seven to eight years to fight it. No, the person is joking. Right now, the Nigerian economic order is who you have in government. The moment you change that, you have changed Nigeria overnight and I believe I’m the leader who will do that because I’ve done it before. Of all the people who went to the National Assembly, I’m the only one who sponsored the bill to stop inflated contracts in 2004 and what we ended up with is this due process certification which is another layer of bureaucracy that had added cost. Do you see the possibility of a young president emerging with the not too young to run bill? Absolutely, let me correct you. It’s not that I’m relatively young to them, they are absolutely old to me because I’m at the right age. I would soon be 49 and this is the right age for me. If I don’t do it now, I’ll be categorised amongst the old later on. At the same time, I don’t belong to the young per-say. I’m not below 40 so they are absolutely old compared to me. People like Buhari have been in power for 40-50 years, what they haven’t done for 40 years; how can you convince me you are going to do it now. It is not possible. They have nothing to offer us; just ego. Now we are suffering the consequences of their own mis-governance for the past 40 years. If we don’t suffer now and make corrections, God knows how our children are going to be. In essence, I see the ideal age of a leader which is mine. In context, there are people who have overstayed adding no value, doing same thing and disallowing Nigeria to move forward. It is now left for us to take our future and destiny into our hands respectfully, and in a dignified manner demand power and take it away from them. It’s not out of disrespect that I’m challenging Buhari, but simply because

I cannot imagine that a self-respected Army Chief instead of bringing the sect leader, he is bringing the Quran of the sect leader. As a Nigerian, I feel highly insulted and for Buhari, a retired General to accept that an Army Chief to bring somebody and he came with his Quran, I have never ever seen Buhari descend so low. But in summary, the fight against Boko Haram has been a failure and it raises more questions than answers

Baba-Ahmed

he has not done what he’s supposed to do. He has served out his time again, and he is serving at our own time and destroying our future and our children’s. When Buhari came in, the dollar was sold in the black market for 220 and it went to 520 until Osinbajo brought it down to 360. That’s where education plays a role. Because Osinbajo is educated and he knows those in the southern Nigeria are those who are paying tuition fee abroad and not Buhari’s people in the north, so they are suffering more. Osinbajo is sensible. He knows what he’s doing and he listens to his people. They were making profits at our expense. Parents genuinely want to send their children to study but somebody is trying to make profit out of the forex until Osinbajo reduced it. Even at this, there are so many out there milking Nigeria dry. Your party has described the anti -corruption war as lopsided, gunning for the opposition party. What is your own assessment of his anti- corruption war? Permit me to put it this way and categorically, and you can quote me, Buhari is not fighting corruption. He is promoting corruption. Logically speaking, if you are in government, public funds are with you so only you can be corrupt. If you are outside government, they are not with you, so you cannot be corrupt. Buhari has never bothered to decompose and understand how corruption happens. It happens through inflated government contract. Even if you want to start arresting, nobody stops you, but run a government that everybody can see as accountable, transparent and non- corrupt. For one year at least, let us know you are serious. Buhari is not checking his own government. The first thing you do is to make sure that those who have public funds are not stealing. Buhari’s fundamental error is borne out of his

assumption that he is in government and his government is clean, case closed. The government before him were all thieves let’s go after them. The other areas that corruption thrives are unremitted revenue from customs, Federal Inland Revenue, stamp duties and everywhere. Has he deployed techniques to ensure Nigeria gets 100% of our revenue? He is still not fighting corruption. Has extortion ended? How about conversion of public properties, influence peddling, frivolities and mismanagement? No it hasn’t. Right from the life style of the president himself, I don’t know what to call it. But a country that is poor with all the health indices, imagine the number of aircraft in the presidential fleet. Is it not criminal? And it is not enough. When he’s going to Daura after using the aircraft, helicopter takes him into Daura just for Sallah holiday. Is that morally right, here in our hospitals there are no basic supplies? Fighting corruption but promoting corruption by covering them in the world of their own against questions of probity. Anti- corruption agencies are after shadows and his political enemies. Why should an All Progressives Congress governor be delivering a lecture on Anti -corruption, commissioning EFCC buildings when PDP governors are arraigned and in court, why? Oshiomole was an APC governor. I saw him deliver lecture on Magu’s invite. El-rufai who was a minister, Director General and now a governor in APC was picked by Magu to commission the EFCC building. Why? Does it make sense? Have you shown us a categorical break from the past? Let me say it once again I don’t know if they will come and arrest me, but Buhari is not fighting corruption, but has promoted corruption. What is your assessment of his seeming fight against Boko Haram, because he said technically, it has been

defeated? You’ll forgive me, I don’t discuss security in public and I despise anybody who plays politics with security. Because you asked and you are my friend, let me tell you that I know the meaning of an Army General. I cannot imagine that a self-respected Army Chief instead of bringing the sect leader, he is bringing the Quran of the sect leader. As a Nigerian, I feel highly insulted and for Buhari, a retired General to accept that an Army Chief to bring somebody and he came with his Quran, I have never ever seen Buhari descend so low. But in summary, the fight against Boko Haram has been a failure and it raises more questions than answers. But please mark my words, I don’t like to discuss security in public. With splinter group, your party, the PDP doesn’t seem to have gotten its grip. How is your party holding it up together? I joined PDP on 30th of November 2017 and comparatively as we speak today, PDP is more a national party than APC. There are many local governments and wards. APC does not have personnel and structure. PDP has in all of Nigeria, so it’s a national party. When my own political party is being frustrated and when I decided to quit APC, the prime consideration was that PDP has structures all over. Secondly, for a party to be so persecuted by the successor, PDP has done well in keeping what it is today. First thing Buhari did was to start arresting them up till today. He is after them and they all know it is political. Everybody knows that his fight against corruption defies every form of human justice including going to attack the residence of Justices. It’s brutish! You cannot do that in a civilised society. We are not tolerating corruption, but do it in a sensible way. I’m very happy money is being retrieved and I believe in probity. It goes without saying that the right decision by PDP will send that party out of power by presenting the right candidate. Who is the right candidate? The era of a former Head of State, former Vice President, former Governor, who have enriched themselves and think they can use money is over. It’s time for PDP to show the world that that’s no longer the case, by presenting the candidate whom Buhari will be no match. APC is over there is a new era for Nigeria Who is that candidate? Don’t push me to the point of immodesty.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

PLUS Sally Mbanefo

I Started Painting at 18, Inspired by Peace of Mind Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, a former Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) is a renaissance woman. Nothing g could be truer for the career woman man of today who is charting unknown territories unabashedly and fearlessly. ly. Be it in banking, investing, IT, administration among others, she is proceeding eeding with gumption and unbridled enthusiasm to make a difference with her ideas, seek solutions that have never been sought and give face to a new paradigm in the Anambra Culture and Tourism ministry. She opened ned the doors of her home to Omolola Itayemi in a rare interview where she he talked about her unknown side as a fine artist among her many callings

S

he welcomes me warmly to her Ikoyi apartment to the embrace of a Che Guevara painting, which hangs on a mantel. A waft of songs in peculiar percussions of Afrobeat hits the ear; one can easily hear Fela Anikulapo’s furious but mellifluous voice in the background. With various paintings and artistic designs, the house comes alive like a gallery; from stills to silhouettes to landscapes, she says she painted them all over the last three decades and eight years. A worn-out but strong easel, paint brushes and other art materials with her name engraved on them bear eloquent testimony that she has been there, done that. Her collection of books, proudly displayed on magazine racks placed at various points in the apartment spans the genres of art history to biographies and motivational books. Besides the books and paintings, delicately sits a bag – her boxing bag – at her reception. She boxes to ease off stress. “I started painting since I was 18 years old in England,” she recounts, walking me through her collection. “Art is a talent. People will say you are a lawyer, a banker how come you are in the arts. I began to think about it and said: “look at this gift God has given me. I have been painting since I was 18. I will be 53 years old this year, 2018. It is a gift. It is when you recognise what God has given you. You can’t be a musician unless God has given you the gift. You cannot learn to be an artist; I enjoy my company.” Every piece of art in her living room has a story behind it. Some of them show the trajectory of her sojourn as DG, NTDC in the

four years of her tenure and now her new assignment as Commissioner of Indigenous Art, Diaspora Affairs and Culture & Tourism. She has been inspired by her experience travelling through the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria when she was at the NTDC. Some others feature her romance with nature and love for undiluted human form while some recent paintings are from close collaborations with artisans in Anambra State. “What inspires me is peace of mind”, she says, adding, “If I have peace of mind, you can see the different aspects of art. Love also inspires me. Peace of mind. I do landscapes with still life drawing. You can see from my works that it is not just landscapes but my works are also about my life when I was in Europe.” In her collection are landscapes of Ondo and Anambra States, Badagary landscape of the first story building in Nigeria. “I have brought my art into tourism,” she adds. “I have painted tourism sites. In addition to what I have, when I am in love, I paint it. You can see the whole painting on the subtlety of love. Human form is a form of art. What inspired this is that if you go to an art school, they give you a nude image to draw or paint, because we were born nude. We were not born with clothes on. People have to show themselves. It is the innocence and simplicity of human being. You are not hiding.” Mbanefo’s love for the arts stems from her quiet nature. A nature that involves looking inwards and taking a retrospect on life. “I am a bit of a loner. I am designed like an extrovert but by nature I am happy in my own quiet little space. I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t do anything out of the way

Mbanefo

Mbanefo (arrowed) with Gov. Obiano and other cabinet net members during their swearing in

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ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS Anambra has rich tourist attractions like Owere Ezukala Waterfall and Cave, Ogbunike Cave, Aguve Trinity Tree at Enugwu Agulueri, Agulu Lake and Ojukwu bunker. Our state is also known for bronze works, we have many artistically talented youths, we are creating platforms to showcase these talents; we have been engaged in wow-factor exhibitions I Started Painting at 18, Inspired by Peace of Mind that some people get into trouble for doing. But I am happy in my own space and I like to reach out to people if I can be of h help to them and add value to their lives. I would w not like to meet people to gossip or to t just useless my time because our time on earth is short and we must use it judiciously.� Mbanefo’s comes from a close knit family no doubt. She professes her love for family eeffortlessly. ef f rtlessly. “I grew up amidst a lot fo lo of llove. lo ove. I am from the Uwechue family fam in D De l a State. My father, Owelle George lt G Delta U Uw echue, popularly hailed ‘O Uwechue, ‘Owelle th the he Law’ by Chief Arthur M Mbanefo, is a past chairman of the b body of be b enc n hers, member of the House benchers, off Representatives, o Representatives, a one-time o ssp peaker tempore and is speaker th current head o the of the U echue family. His imUw Uwechue m diate elder b me mediate brother was Ambassador Ambassa was R lph Uwechue, Ra Uwe Ralph a fo Oh former Ohaneze P esident GenPr President eral a of th eral the Igbos. Growing up, Growing all I rem al all remember to date date is that to none of o my none un uncles or aunti ever aunties fight Every fi fights. siblin is sibling very caring very towa to towards the other; o the th all they grew up in grew Kano, Sokoto Kano, and K Kaduna States, so they are very cosmopo cosmopolitan in their outlook. ou in You can im imagine the Mbanefo family came tw twice into the Uwechue Uwech famiily ly to marry our w women b ecause of our pedi because pedigree. M y father worked wi My with the ccolonial olonial masters. He was wa next in line. My parents all went wen to sschool chool in the north. My uncle uncles went to Raimi St. Johns including Ral Ralph U wechue who was a prefect every year. Uwechue They grew up not thinking I am Igbo, Igbo I am this. They grew up in an environmen environment where everybody was somebody not necessarily necess where you come from.� Mbanefo is passionate about the ar arts. Therefore, her appointment as the CommisCo sioner of Indigenous Art, Diaspora A Affairs and Culture & Tourism was not by accident. a She has put in some efforts to promote promo Nigeria as a tourists’ destination, som something she is very ecstatic about. She speaks about Anambra as a tou tourism destination, highlighting features like security, infrastructure, natural tourist sites and agriculture as magnets for tourist tourists to Anambra state. But first speaks for the th warm hospitality she has received. “Anambra is fabulous and treating me very well. I have been given a lovely green home and I am being pampered and looked after very well. I am popularly know known as the ‘Oyibo’ commissioner ‘ so it’s fun all the way and of course work. I dare say our cabinet is the most sophisticated and achieving a huge success su in bringing back so many disapora fr from out of the country to serve. Our governor is the only governor who has created a min ministry for diaspora affairs and we are tak fo taking it se eri riou o sly. seriously. He has appointed SSA o on d as di aspora affairs based in diaspora tthe th he USA and we are ccurrrently re ntly recruiting diaspora dia aam mba b ssadors all over ov the ambassadors worl r d. This gove world. government is taking taking Diaspo is Diaspora’s

Affairs, culture and Tourism to higher places. It’s a homecoming call to serve. Other commissioners are just very civilized and gentlemanly really have no choice but to emulate their governor who is a gentleman himself and lives his wife so much, professes his love for her publicly anytime he makes a speech. The cabinet is full of young enlightened and vibrant people. He has empowered so many young people and women. What I love about his government is the transparency and professionalism and I know this comes from his discipline as a banker. We are all workaholics, he inspects projects every day. Your mails are responded to instantly and he always encourages us to think outside the box. “Anambra has rich tourist attractions like Owere Ezukala Waterfall and Cave, Ogbunike Cave, Aguve Trinity Tree at Enugwu Agulueri, Agulu Lake and Ojukwu bunker. Our state is also known for bronze works, we have many artistically talented youths, we are creating platforms to showcase these talents; we have been engaged in wow-factor exhibitions. As part of our 100 days plans we have been working in alignment with the governor’s directives. So full force upgrade has begun with our first two major tourism site is Owerre Izukala caves and Ogbunike caves. Being an artist and painter and sculptor the artist community has been excited to have me as the HC because I understand their language and their needs. In addition to all this we are transforming our Minsitry of four ministries into a walk in exhibition Centre. For hotels, we plan to start hotel grading and classification in the next 100 days and will launch a new hotel solely owned by the govt Golden Tulip right by the crocodile lake to be launched by His Excellency. That we have artistic youths from Anambra is not surprising; remember it is from this our same state that we have the likes of Ben Enwonwu, Professor Uche Okeke, Professor Chinua Achebe, Alex Ekwueme, Laz Ekwueme, Chukwuma Soludo and Dora Akunyili,’’ she explains. Anambra boasts talents all over the world. “You can see that Anambra State is the only state that has created a Ministry of Diaspora. This is to make sure that we keep all our talents in a loop. Right now, we are going around the world identifying Diaspora ambassadors. We have Diaspora desks in the USA and we are now working with other parts of the world to ensure that Ndi (people of) Anambra are all connected to us.’’ Speaking on her ministry’s focus, she says, “we are focusing on creating and promoting the Anambra tourism brand; making celebrities from Anambra ambassadors, hosting Anambra talent shows, establishing a dance school, creating the Anambra portal, creating a painting club, training and sensitising tourism service providers and sensitising the tourism host communities.’’ She’s quite liberal about her passions. “The best book I have ever read is, ‘The Road Less Travelled’ by M. Scott Peck. It echoes my life philosophy, which imbibes values like discipline, delayed gratification and love for others in my daily life. Discipline has ruled my whole life; if you look at my CV, if you don’t have discipline, you can’t survive the types of jobs I have done. I’ve chosen, for example, not to wear expensive jewellery, except earrings, therefore, if I wear a rope around my neck, I will carry it more elegantly than a lady wearing chopard worth thousands of dollars or a 100-karat gold necklace. Psalm 24 verse 4, captures this very aptly in saying, ‘Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? The man with clean hands and a pure heart, who does not desire worthless things’. It’s very important that when one is in abundant resources, one does not spend foolishly forgetting that there are others who have nothing. When God blesses you, it is for a purpose. It is not the jewellery and diamond we wear that make us what we are but our actions and how we treat our fellow human beings.�

Mbanefo

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͝͸ , 2014

PLUS Iyalode Soyinka

‘Wole Soyinka’s Frequent Detention Made Me Strong’ Olayide, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s ďŹ rst wife, exudes class and contentment. Her sonorous voice can soothe a burdened heart. Born in Ibadan on May 19, 1938, the Iyalode of Omu-Ijebu has a mind and intellect that stand in deďŹ ance to the senility and failings of old age. At 80, she looks like she can spend another 80 years without inching. Her life is as dramatic as the man – the world renowned Soyinka’s trajectory. At every twist and turn of her life, she has remained staunchly loyal and loving. Like a book ďŹ lled with the intrigues of romance and suspense, every chapter of her life is enthralling. In this interview with Funke Olaode, Iyalode Soyinka talks about various episodes of her life Growing up in the ancient city of Ibadan ife, they say, is not a bed of roses, full of ups and downs, valleys and mountains, but the same life has treated me fairly because God has been behind my corner. One has faced some dangerous situations and one would get out of them unscratched. Today, I am alive. I was born in Ibadan on May 19th, 1938 into the family of the late Ayoola Adeneye Jackson Idowu from OmuIjebu and my mum was Christiana Morenike from Ota. By the time I was born, my father was a civil servant and my mother was a full house wife. My parents had 10 of us. Unfortunately, my two older brothers are dead. In fact, they were into journalism. Ademola Idowu was the Editor of now rested Sketch for a long time. Another brother, Olusola Akaraogun was also with Alhaji Jakande at the Daily Times. We all grew up in the Ibadan in the early 1930s and 40s. I am number three in the family of five girls and five boys. My parents lost one child and my two older brother are dead. I am now the oldest with six younger siblings who are alive. Growing up in the ancient city of Ibadan was interesting. We lived in Oke-Bola area of Ibadan with several families in the area. I went to St. Annes Secondary School and my two older brothers went to Government College Ibadan. My immediate younger sister went to Queens School Ede in Osun State.

L

Ordering Garri at home earned me a suspension in secondary school As we grew older, the reality of life

began to dawn on us that life itself is in phases. For instance, I was an active girl who loved to dress very well. But being raised in a school run by the white missionaries put us in check. As students we still engaged in one form of pranks or another. I would never forget the one that landed me in a hot soup. I wrote a note to my parents that they should bring garri for me in boarding house at St. Anne’s Secondary School, Molete in Ibadan. This was forbidden as we were not allowed to bring food from home except biscuit and sweet. My cousin who brought the garri just went straight to the “white House� where the principal lives. All the explanation that my parents sent it to me fell on the principal’s deaf ear as she insisted that I must have sent for it. Unfortunately for me, my mother replied my message through the letter sent earlier. So there was no escape route for me. That earned me a suspension for about a week. So I was lucky to be surrounded by disciplinarians both at home and at school. In our case (myself and siblings), we were lucky because he was an enlightened man who didn’t believed that the girl-child would end up in the kitchen. He sent everybody to school not that he had all the resources but he believed in it and would rather go hungry for his children not to go to school. As a civil servant, he started with bicycle and later graduated to having a motor cycle. And when a neighbour bought a car, we would all go there, touch it and pray that God should remember our parents too because it was a rare luxurious item in those days. My father played the organ when Queen Elizabeth ll visited Nigeria in

I wrote a note to my parents that they should bring garri for me in boarding house at St. Anne’s Secondary School, Molete in Ibadan. This was forbidden as we were not allowed to bring food from home except biscuit and sweet. My cousin who brought the garri just went straight to the “white House� where the principal lives. All the explanation that my parents sent it to me fell on the principal’s deaf ear as she insisted that I must have sent for it. Unfortunately for me, my mother replied my message through the letter sent earlier. So there was no escape route for me

Iyalode Soyinka...recently

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͝͸ ˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS ‘Wole Soyinka’s Frequent Detention Made Me Strong’

L-R: Iyalode Soyinka with eldest daughter, Mrs. Moremi Soyinka-Onijala, during her 70th birthday in 2008

1956 As said earlier, my father was a choir master and organist at St. James’s Cathedral Oke-Bola for several years. It was interesting when the present Queen Elizabeth ll visited Nigeria in 1956. I was about 18 years and she passed through Oke-Bola. She even worshipped at St. James’s Cathedral, Oke-Bola, Ibadan. I remember my father played the organ. He was working at the Public Works Department (PWD) then. They prepared the Queen Elizabeth road then which later lasted for years. I was among few female undergraduates at UCI in 1956 My parents moved to Osogbo where I began my early education. Osogbo was quite important during the colonial era as most senior civil servants lived there. I started my primary education in Osogbo but didn’t complete it there because my father was transferred back to Ibadan and I attended St. James’s School, Oke-Bola. Then we girls were later moved to Anglican Girls School, Orita- Mefa near the University College Hospital where I finished primary school. I took Common Entrance to St. Anne’s Secondary School in 1951 and graduated in 1955. We did concessional examinations to the UI straight from secondary school in 1956. It was another wonderful chapter in my life when I entered UCI as an undergraduate because it was very rare and a feat for us as few females to be an undergraduate. In fact, all the boys knew us. We first started at Sultan Bello Hall and later moved to Queen Elizabeth Hall with two students in a room. It was an era of the likes of Flora Nwakpa, Prof. Bimpe Aboyade. At UCI, I studied Arts-History, Latin and English, a combined honour. I missed my lectures because I couldn’t locate the lecture room University College Ibadan was and

still a training ground that prepares you for the future. Then, it was half colonial and half Nigeria and we were even awarded the London degrees because the school was affiliated to University of London. It was a happy occasion for me particularly going with people I had known before such as Mrs. Yetunde Esan who was my classmate. So, I saw it as a form of freedom for me coming from school where we lived a regulated life. You know St. Anne’s was a school where we go to the Chapel twice a day, then had a quiet moment where you read your bible. We were also taught gardening and etiquette as a lady on how to hold your cup, cutleries and so on. Of course, they would ring the bell to attend or end another classroom teaching. Entering UCI was a big change Entering UCI was a big change for me because I thought the system was the same. I remember a day Prof. Dike who was teaching us History met me outside the hall and asked me ’why didn’t you attend lectures?’ I replied that because I didn’t know where the lectures were being held. He just said ‘do you think you are still in St. Anne’s where you monitor the timetable or expect the bell to ring announcing the next lecture? Here, you look at the notice board. This is a university.’ I left UCI in 1960 and later went back in 1960/61 to do a post-graduate programme in education. I went back in 1969/70 to do Librarianship where I got stuck. My husband’s frequent detention made me a strong woman After I graduated, I dabbled into teaching particularly when my husband, Wole Soyinka, was being detained by the authority. I was moving from one job to another. I was at Yaba College of Technology at a time. I taught at an Institute in Apapa. In Ibadan, I was at St. Theresa then St.

Louis. But when I chose a career in Librarianship, I jettisoned teaching. I started my career in Librarianship in UI which coincided with when my husband, Wole, was detained by Gen. Gowon Administration in 1968. Before then, he had been in trouble with Akintola government in 1965 where he was in custody. We had one child in 1965, had my third daughter named Peyibomi in 1966. The notoriety of that era heralded her birth so he named her Peyibomi meaning you surround me with honour. It was after that the civil war started and Gowon descended on him and was released in 1970. So throughout the ups and downs, I was involved in teaching jobs. When my husband got a job in Lagos, we moved. Then, he got into trouble. We had to move to Ibadan when he got another job as Director of School of Drama at University of Ibadan. That was when they pounced on him. So I stayed on in Ibadan when I got another job with the University of Ibadan Library as Temporary Assistant Librarian. Having fond fulfillment in this new foray, I decided to do additional course in Librarianship and stayed in. I later became a full librarian in UI till 1984 when I transferred my service to Ogun State University. Best and low moments Life is full of ups and downs and being married to an activist was a challenge because I had to look after my children while he was in detention. He was not always around. And talking about best and low moments? There have been many best moments: getting married, having children and when the children graduated are good moments. And of course, the challenges of running up and down during the military era because Wole Soyinka would always get involved in all sorts of things. None of the children took after their father in activism

When my husband got a job in Lagos, we moved. Then, he got into trouble. We had to move to Ibadan when he got another job as Director of School of Drama at University of Ibadan. That was when they pounced on him. So I stayed on in Ibadan when I got another job with the University of Ibadan Library as Temporary Assistant Librarian. Having fond fulďŹ llment in this new foray, I decided to do additional course in Librarianship and stayed in. I later became a full librarian in UI till 1984 when I transferred my service to Ogun State I met Wole at the UI in the late 50s shortly before Nigeria’s independence when he came as post graduate student of Rockefeller Fellowship to do a research on the African Arts. He actually wrote the “The Dance of the Forestâ€? in celebration of the Nigerian Independence. And the attraction? He was an interesting man, very good looking and intelligent. One thing led to another and we got married in 1964. The marriage is blessed with four children but we lost our second child, Yetade, a daughter in December 2013 when she was 48. The oldest, Moremi, whom the father named after Moremi of Ife is a barrister at law, Yetade (deceased), Peyibomi is a professor of political science in a College in New York and Ilemakin our only son was born after his release from detention in 1971. Ironically, while their father is a renowned activist, the children are on a quiet side. No regrets about life Looking at my life trajectory, I don’t have any regrets. The one I could call regret is probably that I would have had more time to further my education like having a doctorate. My children have made it up for me. The lesson learnt really is to accept life as you find it and make the best of it. And talking about life aspirations‌well, I can’t say that all my life aspirations have been fulfilled. There are things I hope I am able to do. I am still in some of these organisations but not as active as I used to do. At 80, my life is in the hands of God. And if I die today, I hope and pray that I make it to heaven.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

LOUD WHISPERS

Buhari

MR. PRESIDENT, I BEG TO DISAGREE You have finally lost me on the restructure debate and that is the gospel truth. I once stood firmly against the issue of restructuring believing that if effected, we would lose the national cohesion needed to serve as a bulwark against the corrosive effect of disunity. But today, sadly Mr. President, you have lost me and your position thereof would remain highly weakened as a result. If too much power continue to be centralised and yet we are seeing all these wanton killings, then, let us try another style na. If we have been using one style all these years and it is not working, especially in this regard, won’t we remain foolish to continue with a strategy that doesn’t seem to be working? The other day, a state governor said he was no longer the Chief Security Officer of the state since he had no powers to mobilise security agencies within his state. We have heard reports of state governors, in the event of impending attacks, resorting to letter writing or even pleading for help from the centre and still they get smashed by these people we do not seem to know, and thousands get killed in the process. My Lord, I think the time has come for us to change tactics. Let’s devolve some of these powers to the states and let’s see if it will work na. No harm in trying. The deaths and flow of blood is just too much. Na beg my brother try look at another side. No vex. ADAMS OSHIOMOLE ON THE BLOCK I want to state here categorically that your emergence is simply the most tactical move carried out by your party as it heads towards the elections. You see my people, APC the way I have been watching them, have been suffering from a very weak leadership bereft of vision at the centre. A party structure led by a team that had lost the respect of some very powerful blocks within the party. A leadership that had been bypassed by the President as he sought to heal the wounds that characterised the party, a leadership that had been hounded

Oshiomole

D’banj

Super Eagles and the Killings So Musa scores two goals against a non-football playing country and suddenly all the wahala that disturbs us in Nigeria is over. We are now one united and indivisible country with very strong economy and growth potentials. I always laugh each time we attend these international jamborees and then you see otherwise very reasonable Nigerians lose their senses and start relying on a group of young lads running around the pitch to solve our problems. Immediately after the match, we as usual started hearing funny talk about how nobody cares where Musa or even the Goal keeper comes from and that for once football has brought Nigerians together as one. I was just looking o and pitying this country. I tell you Musa, hadn’t even finished taking his shower when our masters struck on the plateau. Over one hundred Nigerians were slaughtered senselessly in a macabre dance of violence. My question to the purveyors of unity fostered on

soccer was simple: At the point the murderers were about to slit the throats of their victims, did they think to remember those two goals that brought in the so called unity? Did they remember, that Mikel Obi, an Igbo man, had passed the ball to Musa a Kanuri man after getting it from Ekong a Calabar man. You see how we die on the altar of vacuous symbolism in this country? You see how we run around like headless chickens in the face of clear and present danger of total annihilation by our masters who would prefer we all bow and worship the cattle. Finally, we have been kicked out by Argentina, thereby losing our symbol of unity. Is it not better we are rudely woken from our momentary hallucination and begin to face squarely the real issues in this country? The National question today is simple: Does one cattle life equate the life of one Nigerian? Do we need another National confab to answer this question? I don run away……..

Gumsu Abacha

into submission by its own share lack of girth and purpose. So, you will begin to imagine my excitement when Oshiomole emerged. From his pedigree, you will agree that the man comes with a strong will, independent mindset and an uncanny ability to mobilise gathered from his labour union days and if you add his oratorical skills into the mix, then you will begin to see a reinvigorated APC. To me, what makes a good electoral process is the strategy employed by the gladiators. With this new burst of energy in the APC, we are now assured of excitement and serious politicking. Welcome sir, I sincerely wish you well in this your new role. Oya, PDP lets respond. D’BANJ, IT IS WELL Reports have reached us on the recent passing of the very young son of this superstar. Nothing can be this mind blowing I tell you. D’banj dotted after Daniel as could be gleaned from his various social media posts. No day passed without him posting pictures of the boy. Today, we have lost that very beautiful soul to the very cold hands of death. What can we do but to keep thanking the almighty. We cannot query him for he knows best. My brother, only the almighty can comfort you and explain to you just what happened. My prayers are with you, the whole of Shomolu is with you at this your time of need. God will keep you and your lovey wife, giving you the strength to handle this great loss. Stay strong my brother, I go call you. GUMSU ABACHA, LET US REST I won’t say much following a post I just saw from this France-based daughter of the late Abacha. She was quoted to have said that Nigerians were ungrateful to her papa despite all he had done for us. You see, it is not everything you respond to, so my people all of you that have been asking me to make a comment on this, all I will say is Askor. There are better things to do with my time. I dey go chop Afang for Onigbogbo. Join me.

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JUNE 30, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

SPY GLASS

with BAYO ADEOYE .... 08054680651 email: bayoolunla@gmail.com

OLUJONWO OBASANJO AND WIFE TEMITOPE

ZAINAB BAGUDU

REAL REASON TEMITOPE, OLUJONWO OBASANJO’S MARRIAGE CRASHED

Amidst controversy and fears, Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and beautiful Temitope Adebutu, daughter of billionaire businessman, Kessignton Adebutu, married in May, 2017. The elaborate wedding ceremony, which was witnessed by the crème of the society, had held in spite of the grave concerns expressed by Olujonwo’s mother, Mrs. Taiwo Obasanjo. Apart from her outburst in various interviews granted to some sections of the media, she had also employed legal means to stop the love-struck duo from going ahead with the planned wedding, including taking on her husband and the Adebutus. She had claimed that she received a spiritual warning against her son having a big wedding and that if he wanted to throw an elaborate wedding at all, it must be done after his 34th birthday in June, 2017. While many disapproved of her action, some others saw reason with her breath. But it appeared initially that she was making a mountain out of a mole hill, as there was no reported case of any hitch few months into their marriage; so, it was assumed that they had been able to ward off the danger that might have been predicted to rock their marriage. But shockingly, Olujonwo’s mother again raised the alarm that her son’s life would be endangered, if he remains in the marriage. She also accused Temitope of domestic violence, amongst others. Initially, Olujonwo had reportedly refuted al her mum’s claims, saying he is old enough to decide for himself. He even lamented his mother’s unsolicited intervention in his marital life. However, a few days ago, he himself disclosed that he was no longer interested in the marriage, after dragging Temitope before the Ogun State Judicial Service Commission and the Magistrate Court in Lagos Island over allegations of domestic violence against him. In view of the latest development, Temitope and her family have resolved to check what they described as Olujonwo’s excessive lies against them. Besides, the Adebutu family has risen in defence of GBENGA DANIEL

their daughter, accusing Olujonwo of being economical with the truth. ‘Temitope is a gentle lady with proper upbringing. She has never hurt a fly all her life. The man is just looking for a way to tarnish her hard-earned image,’’ a family source said. Also, another family source described Olujuwon as an ungrateful mind, who bit the hands that fed him, adding that “Junwo Obasanjo must have forgotten to tell the court that he married Tope Adebutu for material gains. “Before the wedding in 2017, he got a contract from Tope’s brother, Segun Adebutu, who is the CEO of Petrolex Oil and Gas. He was awarded the contract and was paid N35 million. But he didn’t execute the contract or refund the money. “Mr. Segun Adebutu did that to help Junwo who was living in his father’s house before and after the marriage. He lived in one of the apartments at the OBJ’s hilltop estate in Abeokuta. “If Tope was living just a stone throw from Baba Obasanjo’s apartment at the Hilltop mansion, then, how could she have assaulted her husband without his father getting to know? “Aside the fact that Juwon didn’t have enough money to maintain his home and wife, the marriage suffered constant interferences from his mum, Taiwo Obasanjo, who didn’t like her son’s choice of wife. “At some point in the marriage, after he had abandoned his home, he sent a separation letter to his estranged wife, asking for a separation and promising that they remain friends.” In a counter-affidavit sworn to by Temitope and made available to Spy Glass, it was alleged that trouble began to rear its ugly head immediately after the wedding when Olujuwon began to treat her with hostility. The ugly treatment, she further claimed, continued unabated so much so that Olujuwon was said to have travelled alone to Monaco on June 17, 2017 for their planned honeymoon and returned five days later. Temitope also alleged that she was subjected to the most unimaginable trauma worsened by the discomfort of living in his bedroom at his father’s house, with an unfulfilled promise to move into their matrimonial home after renovation. Lamenting Olujuwon’s hatred for her, she said: “On several occasions when we spent time together in the marriage, he was fond of calling me unprintable names

including but not limited to ugly, fat, smelly, cancer. He always tormented me with expressions such as ‘I married you out of convenience’, ‘our wedding was a sham’ and ‘If I didn’t marry you, no one else would.” She said he approached her last March, after allegedly being away from home for over four months, to say that he was no longer interested in the marriage.

BETWEEN OGD AND BURUJI KASHAMU The saying that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics may after all be true. In fact, with the current scenario playing out in the Nigeria’s politics as the 2019 election approaches, one cannot but agree with this axiom. Anyone who is familiar with the Ogun State politics would remember the ‘war’ between two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Buruji Kashamu. The war was about who controls the party structure of the state. While it lasted, both refused to see eye-to-eye. Efforts to settle the fight by many stakeholders proved abortive, as they vowed not to surrender. But as the next general election draws near, the warring factions have finally settled. This was made possible at a closeddoor meeting, which took place a few weeks ago in Abuja. The former Ogun State governor, Kashamu and Senator Ben Bruce had met with the sole aim of resolving the issues that had rocked the Ogun State chapter of the party for years. The reason for the reconciliation, it was also gathered, was not unconnected with their plans to pull resources to defeat Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

SOLOMON ADEOLA’S AWFUL ENCOUNTER

Until now, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, otherwise known as Yayi, had been tipped to slug it out with some other candidates to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Adeola is an incurable dreamer. And luckily, most of his dreams have come true, as shown by his current position. “He knows that there are many hurdles to cross and the odds against him are literally mountainous.

But like many others that he has crossed in the past, he was determined this time around too. But we gathered that the tasks have proven too much for him to cross and the senator currently representing Lagos West at the Upper Chamber has chickened out from the race, “even though a lot of money had gone down the drains’’. Consequently, he is now back in Lagos fighting to retain his seat as Senator. It was gathered that Yayi’s sudden U-turn was the result of political alliance among his major backers - former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and his godfather, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Amosun, who had earlier vowed that the Lagos Senator would never realise his ambition of governing the state while he is alive.

KEBBI STATE FIRST LADY’S BENEVOLENCE Kebbi State First Lady, Dr. Zainab Shikanfi Bagudu, has consistently been in the news for all the good reasons. Indeed, it was gathered that she would certainly remain in the minds of her people for many years to come, given the relative success of her pet project, The Medicaid Cancer Foundation. The Foundation, in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government, has carried out a free breast and cervical cancer screening programme for over 2000 women in the state, since inception three years ago. The screening took place across the state. This beautiful woman hits the ground running with her pet projects immediately her husband took the mantle of office. Since she became the Kebbi State First Lady, she has left no one in doubt about her vision and readiness to complement her husband’s efforts to further change the face of Kebbi State, while also bettering the lives of the indigenes. The easy going woman, a consultant pediatrician and Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer, Medicaid Radiodiagnostics, Abuja, is one of the children of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, head of the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) during the Shagari administration. SOLOMON ADEOLA

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T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY JUNE 30, 2018

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GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

LEE CHANGING THE FACE OF TENNIS

30.06.2018

Five Ways the Football World Cup Transformed Moscow

PAGE. 29

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2018 World Cup‌ 2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌2018

Five Ways the Football World Cup Transformed Moscow

"T

his is a Moscow I don't know" has become the rallying cry of the Russian capital's residents since the World Cup started. The tournament has seemingly pressed pause on laws – and has changed the city's public space. Just a few days before the football World Cup kicked off, I saw a workman hurriedly repainting the final burgundy brushstrokes of the letters "built-in Lenin's honor" under the name of a metro station in the center of the city. It was part of the final push to spruce up the capital for the arrival of foreign football fans. In some of Russia's host cities, there were reports of banners being hung and large fences being built to cover crumbling buildings. In Samara, people complained that traditional wooden houses were being given a makeover that left their windows painted shut but the back of their facades untouched. But despite the criticism and now that the World Cup is underway, changes seem to have gone deeper. Many of the tacit rules of conduct in the city are being broken. Say cheese! Since the World Cup began, smiling is no longer frowned upon in Moscow. Usually, a smile is simply not a cultural currency in Russia like it is in some countries in the West - particularly in public. When I first came to Russia, people always asked me "why do you smile so much?" There is even a Russian proverb that translates as "laughing for no reason is a sign of foolishness." Russians can hardly be called unfriendly – in fact, when you become friends with a Russian, they will often really and truly welcome you into their life. But on the streets, Russians can sometimes seem stony-faced. Now, smiling isn't unusual in Moscow. And not just by Red Square, where locals will pause to take a selfie with fans in sombreros. Moscow metro's silence broken Normally idle talk on the metro is met with angry stares. Older Rus-

sian women might even silence loud chatter. Of course, the noise in metro trains is itself sometimes so deafening that it makes talking nearly impossible anyway. But for the World Cup, the tacit rule on keeping mum seems off the table. And speaking a language other than Russian also doesn't evoke the stares it often does on Moscow's streets. Rainbow ags allowed There have also been changes in behavior on a more official level. Despite the so-called gay propaganda law that is in force in Russia, the World Cup's anti-discrimination officer Alexei Smertin has stated that during the tournament "there won't be a ban on carrying rainbow symbols in Russia." Several fans and activists, including Aleksandr Agapov, the president of Russia's LGBT sports federation, have been proudly flying the rainbow flag - an act that in normal circumstances would be considered illegal. Public spaces reclaimed? In recent years, the Russian government has ramped up protest laws – particularly since the mass anti-government marches that took place between 2011 and 2013. Any demonstration has to be authorized by the government, and even then, protesters can end up with jail sentences or large fines. In July, a protester holding a placard reading "Putin lies" was arrested at a march for online freedom of speech. Individual protesters can take to the streets in Russia without approval – but are routinely arrested as well. On the whole, it seems that police have been instructed to be much more tolerant for the World Cup. True, there is an even stricter authorization process for public events not connected to football during the World Cup. But considering how strictly controlled the public space usually is, it still feels like a breakthrough - or at least a huge contrast - to see spontaneous gatherings of people carrying flags and signs as police look on. Invisible walls crumbling – for now As a result of the police's restrained behavior during the World Cup so far, officers in Moscow feel surprisingly approachable. Most locals would usually not saunter up

to a policeman and ask for directions – and certainly not for a selfie. But the World Cup visitors have no reason to be wary of the police. And it seems to be a two-way street – I have even seen one policeman smile in a conversation. Still, at the opening match of the World Cup, it felt

surreal seeing officers of the National Guard, which reports directly to the Kremlin, marching by crowds of cheering South American fans at the fan zone. One fan even tried to get an officer to dance. With more than three weeks of World Cup action still ahead,

31

JUNE 30, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

8 World Cup…2018 World Cup…2018 World Cup…2018 World Cup…2018 World Cup…2018 World Cup…2018 World Cup…2018 World Cup…2018 World

Me

the question is whether any of the changes in Moscow will stay. It seems likely that the official regulations and the police will go back to business as usual when the World Cup ends. But perhaps at least the smiles will stay. Culled from DW

Hotshot

Fixtures TODAY France Uruguay SUNDAY Spain Croatia

v v

v v

Argentina Portugal

Russia Denmark

5: 00 pm 9: 00 pm

5: 00 pm 9: 00 pm

Harry Kane

England

5 goals

Romelu Lukaku

Belgium

4 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal

4 goals

Denis Cherryshev

Russia

3 goals

Diego Costa

Spain

3 goals

Eden Hazard

Belgium

2 goals

Artem Dzyuba

Russia

2 goals

Philippe Coutinho

Brazil

2 goals

Mohamed Salah

Egypt

2 goals

John Stones

England

2 goals

Ahmed Musa

Nigeria

2 goals

Luka Modric

Croatia

2 goals

Mile Jedinak

Australia

2 goals

Luis Suarez

Uruguay

2 goals

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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2018 World Cup ‌ 2018 World Cup‌ 2018 World Cup‌ 2018 World Cup‌ 2018 World Cup‌ 2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌2018 World Cup‌

Rumble in Kazan as France, Argentina Battle for Q’Final Ticket Kunle Adewale reporting from Moscow, Courtesy Star Times

T

wo former champions, France and Argentina will this afternoon at the Kazan Arena, in pursuit of a quarterfinal ticket of the 2018 World Cup. Both teams had contrasting results to their booking a place to the knockout stages. While France easily topped the Group C with seven points, Argentina needed a Marcos Rojo’s last-minute gasp against Nigeria to qualify as Group D runners-up with a meagre four points. With both sides still unconvincing that they are capable of lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy on July 15, they, however, head into today’s encounter with the chance to progress through to the quarter-finals. Finishing at the top of the World Cup group generally results in plenty of optimism ahead of the knockout stages, but that is not the case when it comes to France, who have had to battle their way through to the last 16. There are positives to take from seven points being recorded from three games without getting near to a performance

which would have been deemed acceptable by their supporters, but France's flair players are yet to show up at this tournament. Les Bleus showed a touch of class with their winner against Peru but aside from that, their other two goals - both against Australia came from a controversial penalty and an own goal, and three halves of football have now passed since France's last goal. Didier Deschamps will not be too concerned because his priority is not winning this tournament, but there is a large abundance of talent in his squad - chosen from arguably the deepest crop of quality in world football and it is currently perceived that Deschamps and his players are not meeting expectations. On the flipside, convincing performances may not have been the best preparation for attempting to negotiate this side of the draw. The winner of this tie goes on to play whoever prevails from the Uruguay and Portugal encounter, and both matches have the potential to be a war of attrition. Deschamps has also kept the majority of these players involved with 20 of his 23-man squad having all spent time on the pitch, although there was little benefit from featuring during

PLAYERS TO WATCH Paul Pogba

Pogba will return to the starting XI after France's fringe players failed to impress in the horror show with Denmark. Argentina's midďŹ eld has looked ponderous so far and an in-form Pogba could wreak havoc.

Lionel Messi

Who else? Argentina's captain, inspiration and best player by a country mile. The Barcelona superstar has faced criticism for his performances in Russia but his opening goal against Nigeria showed class is permanent.

FACTS ËžToday's showdown will represent the 12th meeting between these two nations, with Argentina recording six victories and France prevailing on just two occasions. ËžTheir ďŹ rst clash came at the ďŹ rst World Cup in 1930, while two matches have taken place since France emerged victorious in a friendly in 1986. Ëž Argentina has gone past the ďŹ rst round for the 12th time in its last 13 World Cup appear-

ances, the only exception coming in 2002. Its last four knockout games in the tournament have produced only three goals (2 goals for, 1 against).

Ëž Penalty shootouts excluded, France has lost only one of its last 11 games in the knockout stages of the World Cup; that came against eventual winners Germany in July 2014. Ëž France only conceded ďŹ ve shots on target in three group games at World Cup 2018. The

only goal it let in came from the penalty spot (Mile Jedinak for Australia).

Ëž Argentina forward Lionel Messi has never scored in the knockout stages of the World Cup: 666 minutes, 0 goals. He is the last Argentine player to score against France, back in February 2009 in a friendly Ëž France’s Olivier Giroud has failed to score in his last 357 minutes at a major tournament, with his last goal dating back to the Euro 2016 quarterďŹ nal against Iceland. He’s yet to register a shot on target at this year’s World Cup, having spent 200 minutes on the pitch. ËžDidier Deschamps will be taking charge of his 80th game as France manager, a new record as he overtakes Raymond Domenech.

the final 30 minutes of the Denmark game in which both teams barely played above walking pace. That is perhaps the biggest challenge for Deschamps - he now has to prepare a team who are ready to go into battle against opposition who have already received strong criticism back home and have overcome adversity to progress through their group. At some point, these two sides will showcase the kind of football that the world is expecting, but today's match could come down to desire and France will have to step up their performance to match an increasing belief within the Argentina camp. While there has been an element of control about the way that France had progressed through their group, the same cannot be said of Argentina who required a goal from an unlikely source to maintain their interest in this competition. Most of the attention has been focused on the indifferent performances of Lionel Messi, the treatment of Sergio Aguero and goalkeeping errors from Willy Caballero, but Rojo's well-struck volley during the later stages against Nigeria got Argentina and manager Jorge Sampaoli out of jail, for the time being at least. La Albiceleste and their passionate fans will not be satisfied with scrapping their way through to a stage of the World Cup which is still not regarded as the bare minimum, but there will equally be an air of relief with getting through to the knockout rounds. There is no getting away from the fact that Argentina have been desperately below par and that the outings from their backline will only provide encouragement for future opponents, but a win such as the one over Nigeria can unite a squad. Doubts remain over the strength of the relationship between Sampaoli and his players. However, the reality of the situation is that Sampaoli was minutes away from losing his job but Rojo's perfectly-timed strike in more ways than one leaves the national team coach still in contention for unlikely success over the next couple of weeks. Argentina find themselves in the toughest half of the draw but unlike in their previous matches where they have come up against opposition who do not necessarily stimulate motivation and pride, games against France, Portugal or Uruguay and potentially Brazil in the semi-finals are fixtures where Argentine players are prepared to live and die by the sword. The demands are there for the players to rouse themselves, but supporters will also be eager to see what answers they get from Sampaoli, who continues to divide opinion when it comes to his team selection and tactics. There does not appear to be a set strategy going forward, although that does not mean

that this Argentina team should be written off. France are marginal favourites to progress this weekend but an underdog tag is not something which you would usually associate with Argentina and they could relish it. Meanwhile, in other semifinals of the day, Uruguay and Portugal will meet in Sochi, with Uruguay the only team alongside Croatia from the completed groups at Russia 2018 to boast a 100 per cent record. La Celeste's strength is based on the twin pillars of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani up front and Atletico Madrid centre-back pairing Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, who will face up to a familiar foe. "They have great players like we do, but we have the best player in the world," Cedric Soares told FIFA.com, with Cristiano Ronaldo set to equal ex-Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger's record of 38 appearances combined in World Cup finals and European Championships. "We will study them. They're a strong team but we also have our qualities and we will try to win the game." Ahead of their return to the Black Sea coast, the more prosaic feel that ran throughout their slow march to Euro 2016 glory has returned, with Ronaldo giving Portugal an early lead it hung on to against Morocco before Ricardo Quaresma's sublime strike illuminated a VAR-fueled 1-1 draw with Iran. Uruguay, by contrast, seems to be easing its way through the gears after an unblemished group stage that suggests the best is yet to come. Gimenez and Suarez were respectively responsible for unremarkable 1-0 wins over Egypt and Saudi Arabia but the Barcelona striker and Cavani were both on target as host Russia was exposed to a gulf in class and a 3-0 defeat. "We are facing a very strong and powerful team," Inter midfielder Matias Vecino, who has started every game so far at Russia 2018, told FIFA.com "The match will be defined by details and we will try to limit their forwards."

Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă? Í’Í— ÓâÞĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? TODAY France

v Argentina - Kazan, 3p.m.

Uruguay

v Portugal - Sochi, 7p.m.

SUNDAY Spain Croatia

v Russia - Moscow, 3p.m. v Denmark - Nizhny Novgorod, 7p.m.

MONDAY Brazil v Mexico - Samara, 3p.m. Belgium v Japan - Rostov-on-Don, 7p.m. TUESDAY Sweden v Switzerland – St. Petersburg 3p.m. Colombia v England – Moscow 7p.m.

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GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

Second Set of winners in the on-going Glo’s “GO RUSSIAâ€? promo (L to R) Mr. Mayowa Akinbode, Mr. Maxwell Igwegbe, Mr. Kenechukwu Okonkwo, Miss Ebube Benson Uzoma, Mr. Muyideen Disu and Mr. Popoola AbdulraďŹ u Olaide holding their dummy tickets at a send o ceremony held at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos recently

Lee

Deaf Player Aiming to Play against Federer, Nadal at Wimbledon

I

magine the "thwack" of the racquet hitting the ball, the line judge calling "out", the umpire declaring "deuce" and the crowd clapping and cheering. And now imagine being a professional tennis player and not hearing any of it. That is the reality for South Korean player Lee Duck-hee, who is deaf and is hoping to qualify for the main draw at next week's Wimbledon. "I'm very proud of myself as being the only deaf professional tennis player in the world at the moment," the 20-year-old told BBC Sport. "I feel huge responsibility that my every step as a tennis player will influence other deaf people. I hope my career could give them a hopeful message that they could also overcome their disability and make their dream come true." Lee, who observes the way opponents swing for the ball as a way of reading the game and whose matches have been thrown off course because he has been confused by officials' hand signals, reached a career-high ranking of 130 in April 2017. Now ranked 233, he has come agonisingly close to Grand Slam main draws, reaching the final round of qualifying at the French Open last month where he had two match points before losing in a third set tie-break. This week he takes part in the Wimbledon qualifying event at Roehampton, where he will need to win three matches to reach the tournament at the All England Club. Lee, at the 2014 US Open junior event, made his debut on the professional ITF Futures Tour at the age of 14 From the moment he picked up a racquet at the age of seven because he had seen his cousin playing, Lee sought inventive ways to read the game he could not hear. He has said in the past that he was told he could never be a great player because he was deaf and that he sometimes felt like quitting but also wanted to prove the doubters wrong. “I focus on watching and expecting the opponent's swing and movement, which needs very intensive concentration of my eyes and fast decisionmaking for the next move," he

with KUNLE ADEWALE 08111813082

said. “I try to watch other players' matches on websites as much as possible when I have spare time - I need image training because it gives a better understanding than giving me verbal coaching, he added" Lee, who has not learned sign language, lip reads officials or looks at their hand signals - with often confusing and frustrating results. "Sometimes, I could not recognise whether it is 'let' or not because I cannot hear the sound from the net or the chair umpire's call, which leads to me missing the first serve," he said. "I rely on umpires' hand signals, but they also sometimes give me a hard time when their hand signals differ from country to country, which often has an influence on the match results. “I could communicate simple English through lip-reading with other players. However, it is impossible for me to communicate with ATP officials and referees when there is the need for long conversation." In the case of this interview, he has provided written responses through a translator. Not hearing the crowd - a possible advantage? Playing in front of a partisan crowd, there could be times when a player would really rather not hear the boos. "I think blocking out all potential distractions can be an advantage," said tennis coach Judy Murray, mum of two-time Wimbledon champion Andy. And what about facing a deaf player on the other side of the net? "It is possible playing an opponent who has a disability can be a distraction," said Murray. She has coached deaf players in the past and says it required her to take a different approach. "One of the biggest things I learned was to not shout instructions whether they were looking at me or if they had their back to me," said Murray, who was speaking as part of UK Coaching's Coaching Week earlier this month. "You get used to shouting the length of the tennis court, which is quite a big space but it helped me understand the impact of a really good demonstration." Match officials also need to adapt when making the calls.

"Deaf players are constantly looking at the umpire for scores and constantly checking the scoreboard," line judge David Bayliss told BBC Sport. "But there are problems, if you have a net on serve they don't always hear it and the umpire has to try and stop the rally. "And of course the player is focused, they are still watching the ball and still playing that point." Will Lee ever achieve his Grand Slam dream? Lee says he has three "shortterm" goals - breaking into the top 100, winning a Challenger title, and gaining direct entry to the main draws of ATP and Grand Slam tournaments. "Whenever I step on the court, I feel great," he said. "Also, I am curious about the feeling of becoming a champion of Grand Slam. I strongly believe that a day when I become a champion of a major tournament is coming if I keep up with training and my skills improve." He says his greatest achievement so far was reaching the final of the Kaohsiung Challenger in 2016, where he lost to Chung Hyeon - who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open this year and is ranked 20th in the world. Inspired to play tennis? He dreams of one day playing against world number one Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, who has praised him for his "strong determination and mental toughness." Lee says the Spaniard invited him to practice with him at the French Open in 2014 and "couldn't believe it" when he was first made aware of the South Korean. Judy Murray says she first saw Lee at the Australian Open in the juniors a couple of years ago and thinks he will be a great role model for other deaf players. "He plays incredibly well," she said. "Disability is not about what you can't do, but what you can do. "Clearly he had a huge talent and was not letting the fact that he couldn't hear have any impact on where he wanted to go with his game and that was wonderful to see."

Ahmed Musa Wins ASTYMIN ‘One Goal, One Million Naira’ ASTYMIN is rewarding Nigerian Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa, with one million Naira for each of the two goals scored against Iceland in Nigeria’s second match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia. This is in fulfilment of the earlier promise of the brand in the ongoing ‘One Goal, One Million Naira’ campaign. The CSKA Moscow FC Striker emerged the first player to cash-in on the handsome reward winning N2 million after scoring in the 49th and 75th minute of the highly-tensed game against Iceland, to revive Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the second round of the competition. ASTYMIN threw its weight behind the Nigerian Super Eagles, cheering the team to ‘GoTheDistance’ and make Nigerians proud at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia by rewarding every Super Eagles player with the sum of N1 million for every goal scored during regulation time. Astymin ‘One Goal, One Million Naira’ World Cup campaign is an offshoot of the brand’s 2018 #GoTheDistance campaign that emphasises the need for all Nigerians to harness their full potentials and be the best they can be in every area of their endeavour. According to the General Manager, Marketing and Sales, Mr. Ola Ijimakin, “The fulfilment of this promise to the Super Eagle’s forward is in the character of the brand that never fails to deliver on its promise to its consumers in its over 20 years in the market.� ASTYMIN shares the passion of Nigerians for football and the desire of the Super Eagles to ‘Go The Distance’ at the ongoing Mundial. The ASTYMIN World Cup campaign is not only for the Super Eagles players but also for soccer-loving Nigerians who have also been given the opportunity to win from myriads of mouth-watering prizes by participating in the special World Cup Quiz Competition and Match Predictions.

25 Talented Athletes Discovered at Lagos U-15 Deaf Sports School Games As part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode government's all-inclusive policy in sports development, a four-day multi sports games were organised for deaf students in the state at the Agege Stadium, christened the 'Soccer Temple'. At the end of the tournament tagged Lagos U-15 Deaf Sports School Games, a total number of 25 athletes were discovered in Badminton, Table Tennis, and Athletics. These set of athletes, though they were physically impaired, they proved that there is ability in disabilities as they did their various schools proud. Eight athletes were discovered in Badminton, eight in Table Tennis and nine in Athletics. These discovered athletes in the fourth edition of U-15 Deaf Sports School Games, according to the management of Lagos State Sports Commission, would be further groomed as the state gets set for the National Youth Games in September this year. Other highlights at the closing ceremony of the competition on Friday was the award giving moment for the Best Athletes in the competition. In Badminton, Muyideen Tijani of Sango Junior School was adjudged the best athlete in the boys’ category, while Nwalobu Nkiru of Sango Junior School won the girls’ category. In Table Tennis, Ajayi Israel of Ipakodo Junior Grammar School was the best athlete in the boys' event with Oseni Funmito adjudged the best athlete in the girls' category. In Athletics, Usifo Kenneth of Sango Junior School was the best in the boys 'category, while Nwalobu Nkiru was the best athlete in the girls' category. Mr. Kuye Gboyega, who represented people with disabilities on the board of Lagos State Sports Commission commended Governor Ambode for giving these set of students a sense of belonging in his government. "I can tell you that this action of His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has shown the depth of which he has interest in sports talents and overall development of people with disabilities in the state. This is fantastic. I'm so glad that as these students are progressing academically, they will be doing well in sports," he said. Director of Sports Development in the Sports Commission, Segun Kolawole, applauded the exemplary talent display of the deaf students. "We can all see the excitement on the faces of these students. This shows that they really enjoyed themselves in the last four days. I want to assure that all the athletes discovered in this competition will be further groomed for them to be useful to the state in future championships," Kolawole said.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž JUNE 30, 2018

EVENTS

O

lajide, son to Major General JOS Oshanupin (rtd) recently married his heartthrob, Adeola Cecilia Alagbada at Christ Apostolic Church zonal headquarters, Mafoluku Lagos. Guests were hosted at Event Place, Ikeja Lagos. The newly weds, Mr. and Mrs. Olajide and Adeola Oshanupin

Parents of the groom, Major General and Mrs. JOS Oshanupin

L-R:. Michael Alagbada, and Mr. Bayo Alagbada

Parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Alagbada

Col. Femi Mepaiyeda, General Ayo and Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN

Major Generals Kunle Akinyemi and Awala

L-R: Hon Kayode Olowomoran, and Col. Happy Bulus

L-R: Mr. and Mrs. Wale Ogunyemi, and Mr. and Mrs. Yinka Adebayo

L-R: Amb Babatunde Fadumiyo & a Guest

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

EVENTS

L-R: Major General Udoh, GOC 81 Division, and Chief Bayo Ojo SAN

Col. and Mrs. Emma Ndubueze

L-R: Hon and Mrs James Abiodun Faleke

Olori Fehintola Idowu, HRM The Olujumu of Ijumu Land Oba Ayeni Olusegun William and HRH The Olu-Adde of Ekinrin-Adde Oba Bamigbaiye Idowu

L-R: Prof. and Mrs Eyitayo Lambo, Former Minister of Health

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Princess Omolola Oyinlola

L-R Gen. JOS Oshanupin (rtd.) and Maj. Gen. S. Maina

Maj. Gen. and Mrs Funsho Owonibi (Rtd)

Vice Admiral Ajayi (rtd), Col. H.O.k Okunola (Rtd) and Maj. Gen. Shoboiki (rtd)

Mr. Oladele Oyelola and Mrs. Folashade Joseph

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚͜

FAIRGROUND

The Isale Eko Stage Play

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

he epic play, Isale Eko was shown at the Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre recently. It was a powerful display of culture, costume and drama. Produced by versatile Investment Banker cum Theatre Producer Joseph Edgar, the play pulled in an exciting audience. The presidential Spokesperson, Femi Adeshina was in company of the former Governor of Cross River State Mr. Donald Duke who was hosted by Mr. Ken Etete of the Century Group. Other prominent Nigerians who came to see the play included Mrs. Funke Osibodu, former MD at Ecobank and Screen Legend Joke Silva. The play was directed by William Benson and starred Yemi Shodimu, Yinka Davies and Omowunmi Dada leading a large cast of over 150 people on stage.

Yemi Shodimu (extreme right) playing Oba Akitoye on stage

Mrs. Abisola Longe and Mrs. Joke Silva

The full cast taking the curtain call

The Eyo masquerade in full parade

Participants at the stage play

Femi Adeshina, Joseph Edgar and Donald Duke

Yemi Shodimu and Ms. Yinka Davies

How Juliana Richards Built a Million Dollar Side Hustle

J

uliana Richards, CEO and founder of the Slim Girl Shapewear brand is set to launch an inspiring book about her life and journey to building a business empire. Building a Million Dollar Side Hustle, is to be launched in June, 2018 worldwide and despite its informative and educative nature on how to build a business from scratch, the narrative approach of the author is highly inspiring and will keep the reader stuck to its pages cover to cover. It’s a pure interesting and relatable narration of how she walked her way through the ladders to become a successful business woman while building a global brand.

Having gone through a lot while growing and building her brand, the book teaches the readers an interesting way to build a side hustle and successfully transform it into a global conglomerate. Exceptional tips on leveraging on the new media and technology are also included in this fantastic piece. “In this book, I shared my best kept secret to success and personal tips given to me by millionaires all over the world. This book contains the good, the bad and the ugly about being a business owner�, she said. Building a Million Dollar Side Hustle is available on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Walmart and would be available in Nigeria in July. This inspiring book is a must

have for everyone. About Juliana Richards Juliana Richards is the founder and CEO of Slim Girl Shapewear, a major player in the global shapewear and undergarments industry. She has also introduced a line of lingerie with the intention of leveraging her well-respected brand to gain market share. Born and raised in Nigeria, she moved to America with the American Dream and a hundred dollars. She started her company while still studying and that company, Slim Girl Shapewear has evolved into a million dollar enterprise. The company has been featured on the Wendy Williams show and The Real amongst others.

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FAIRGROUND

Highlife Crooner, Humblesmith Parade Stars in Debut Album

I

n 2016, the Nigerian Music Industry was agog with the monster hit song, Osinachi from Humblesmith. Weeks and months went by with fans demanding for a body of work that epitomised the artiste. The answer to that request is an album by the artiste titled Osinachi. The album was released on Friday, June 22, 2018 in all available music platforms nationwide. Humblesmith who hails from Abakaliki but has since become a force in the entertainment and Music Industry goes by the monica, the Golden Prince of Africa, probably a reflection of the colour of his skin. His new album titled, Osinachi is a 22 track album with star studded feature appearances from some of Africa’s music greats such as Tiwa Savage, Davido, Rudeboy, Patoranking Phyno, Umar Shareef, Nura m Inuwa, Harrysong, Olamide and Flavour. He was discovered and promoted by Bob Ovie Kelly led N-tyze Entertainment. He came into our ears and faces on the hit track, Osinachi featuring Phyno and later Davido. No wonder he names the album after that monster hit song. The album carries some of his already popular songs like Osinachi Reloaded, Attracta featuring Tiwa Savage, Jukwese featuring Flavour Nabania, Abakaliki 2 Lasgidi featuring Olamide and more. The talented musician is set to make a statement with this album. In 2017, he was nominated as Next Rated Artiste at the Headies Award and he has since

grown to carve a niche for himself in the industry. One of the top artiste on the album, Tiwa Savage recently gave kudos to the body of work on Instagram. While also reacting to finally releasing the album, Humblesmith was full of gratitude to Nigerians for their patience with him. “Since my single, Osinachi became a National Anthem, many people had been asking me for an album. I kept promising them that it will soon be ready. From then till now, many water has passed under the bridge but the most important thing is that myself and my label have finally delivered on that promise. We delivered the Osinachi album. I am extremely grateful to Nigerians and my fans all over the world, who have been extremely patient with me. I am certain that the album was worth the wait.� He also spoke on whether he had a favourite in the album. “I know it sounds like a cliche but all the song on that album have a different story and feel that makes it difficult for me to choose the best one. Is it the one that tells my Abakaliki2Lagos story with Olamide or the new song with Davido or is it that monster sound with Tiwa Savage. The truth is that when you settle down to listen to the album yourself, you will find it hard to choose a favourite because we did a good work on each of them,� he concluded. Humblesmith’s new album can be streamed from all music platforms both local and international.

Humblesmith

Akin Shuga Wins Humanity Music Service Award, Releases Music Video

I

n this season of World Cup, we can easily say that popular Band Leader and Rotary International Polio Ambassador, Akiin Shuga has scored two important goals in the space of just two days. The release of the visuals for his inspirational single, ‘I Can Walk’ and conferment of the humanity award in Toronto, Canada. It is normal for a man to be honoured in his own home but when you receive such a prestigious award like the Humanity Service Award in far away Toronto, we ought to give veteran band leader, Akin Shuga some accolades. He received the award on Saturday, June 23, 2018. The second goal was scored when he premiered the video of his Cobhams Asuquo produced inspirational single, ‘I Can Walk’ at the African Dinner on Sunday, June 24, 2018 to the delight of Rotary world delegates and key African representatives. The video has now been released on all platforms both online, cable and terrestrial television. The song, ‘I Can Walk’ by Akiin Shuga, gives the strength that is required at that challenging time; a song of hope dedicated to polio survivors and everyone who has been scarred, marred or shaken in the travails of life. It was produced and co-written by the legendary Cobhams Asuquo. Reacting to the double goals, the ace

band leader showed his excitement at finally being able to release the video to the public and bagging the prestigious award as well “My joy is full. I am excited that we can finally premiere and release the video to the public. Many people have been asking for it. I am also honoured to have been noticed from far away Toronto and recognised with this humanity music service award. I know it is a call to do more and by God’s grace, I won’t relent.� He went on to speak on the motive behind the song ‘I Can walk’. “However, beyond making music to make money, we made ‘I Can Walk’ for much more than that. We believe that one of the strongest needs of man is hope and faith. Once a person loses hope, he loses the drive to fight and work towards a better outcome. ‘I Can Walk’ song and video offers that hope and inspiration needed to maximise each day and make it count�, he said. Akin Shuga’s effort in the humanitarian sector despite being a polio survivor himself is innumerable. He is a known giver and carer for the cause of polio and to those who are disadvantaged. This award is seen in many quarters as a testament of his many efforts that have gone unrecognised. The video is seen as another one of his many gift of hope to those in despair.

Shuga

Lasgidi Cops Seasons 2& 3 Coming Soon

I

I’m happy to say Seasons two and three of ‘Lasgidi Cops Special Crimes Unit’ is in pre- production. A first of its kind Crime series on our screens is back. In Seasons two and three, we have a wholly pan African cast from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. Within Nigeria as well we have characters from all the Geo Political areas of Nigeria to reflect the cosmopolitan aspect of the State. We realised from the first season that we also have a great audience with Nigerians in diaspora hence we intend to market to all the Countries reflected in the series and international networks as well. In its first Season it featured award winning actors Ajoke Silva, Bimbo Akintola, Adesua Etomi, Kehinde Bankole, Keppy Ekpeyong, Wole Ojo, Olumide

Oworu and Kelechi Udegbe. Season 1 has been very well received in Nigeria. It was nominated for ‘Best Edit’ at the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2014 immediately it was released. It won ‘Best TV Series at the ‘Best of Nollywood Awards in 2016, and got voted as one of the top three best online series on Iroko TV. Now it’s shown on African Magic Prime channel 151 and African Magic Urban channel 153, Ericsson View On Demand, Iroko TV on line and Rok TV on DSTV Channel 168, ONTV Channel, Wazobia TV and it’s about to be shown on AIT. It is currently being dubbed into French for sale to French speaking Countries. Seasons two and three are being shot together because of the demand by the viewers, we don’t want there to be a long wait again between Seasons.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͝͸, 2018

TEENS CONNECT

the magazine for teenagers

with NKECHI IBENEME (08142358958) teensconnectmag@gmail.com

Sheri the Champion

Soliloquy! The Winning Word that Put the Crown on Master Sheri, as Best Speller in Africa Soliloquy is not just any word to Master Sheri Muhammad. It is a crown winning word. After series of word battles against his peers in Nigeria, Sheri qualiďŹ ed alongside four other teenagers to represent Nigeria in far away South Africa, where they locked horns in a word bout against an equally battle ready representatives from 12 other African countries. In the end of a long taxing grand ďŹ nale, Sheri emerged Champion by spelling that one last word, Soliloquy! The 15year old African Spelling Champion is in SS3 and the current Vice School Captain (Academics) of Kings College Lagos. For winning the coveted crown, Sheri got a full scholarship to Monash South Africa worth $20, 000, Cash prizes and bags of branded gifts from sponsors of the competition. In this chat with Nkechi Ibeneme, the Champ lets us into his world and thoughts for the future

Have you taken part in a similar or any other educational competition before then? Yes, I’ve taken part in some previous spelling competitions, some I won, and some I lost...I’ve also indulged in other educational competitions; debates, chess competition and essay competitions. How many stages did you have to scale through to qualify for the ďŹ nals? There were 3 tough competitive stages. How many of you represented Nigeria? We were five in all; three for the senior category, and two for the junior category. When you met the other ďŹ nalists were you not intimidated? Trust me, I was. But, it died off after some interactive sessions. What was the ďŹ nal like?

The finals was intriguing; I was the last contestant so I always got to see so many people fail, then, I’d be terrified, but then, I kept on spelling my words correctly till the very last word. It was full of enthusiasm at all stages, and the five minutes breaks that came in after every round were moments of anxiety for all the contestants. Which word gave you the winning edge? It was SOLILOQUY. I smiled before spelling this word because I was the last man standing and I was indeed happy that it was a word I knew. How long did you prepare for the contest? Let’s say, one week active preparation before the trip to South Africa, then, I practiced three hours daily before the competition. How did you prepare? I prepared simply by going through different wordlists from so many diverse sources such as the internet, the dictionary, previous competition wordlists, and I made it feel like a hobby. I remember using basketball to train, I’d always take a shot at an imaginary net before spelling a word (while

I was practicing), and this brought fun to the whole practice process. I also wrote down my words as I practiced them, writing them down helped me remember them. Which of the stages was the most difficult for you? The national finals, I guess. How eager are you to take up the offer at Monash South Africa? I’m totally eager and anxious to want to study at Monash, but, I’m totally open to a lot more interesting offers and opportunities at Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Yale and others, to broaden my horizons. What course do you intend to study and why? I would love to study Business Administration and Management because I’ve developed a passion for entrepreneurship and I’d like to run chains of businesses in future. After the contest, did you get the opportunity to visit any tourist destinations in South Africa? If yes, where and where did you visit?

“

The Nigerian government should pay more attention to the youths. A scheme where teenagers will feel more empowered should be initiated because there are lots of teenagers out there with potentials and our dear country will kill these potentials if the government and other agencies don’t realise this sooner

“

About the contest, what was the warm up like? At first, it was a little bit terrifying that I was about to compete with people from different countries, but, there was a shift and I trained well enough for the competition.

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JUNE 30, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

“

Sheriff (middle) with the Management of Kings College, at a symposium organised in his honour

“

Teenagers should discover their niche or passion, set upright goals, work towards it with synergy and energy , obviously with the assistance of God and they shouldn’t depend on government for assistance

We visited Cradle of Humankind Sterkfontein cave and we also went to one of their big shopping malls. Which of those places visited made the most impact on you and why? The Sterkfontein cave amazed me more because it was my first time in a cave. Also, I was startled by the way they displayed different forms of nature. The Sterkfontein cave has some myth that had some strings relating to our forefathers. It was really impactful and you could see it is well managed. Do you think the Nigerian government is doing enough to develop Nigeria compared to what you saw in South Africa? No! I don’t think so. The Nigerian government didn’t even appreciate us (the representatives). Other governments are a lot more serious about this competition than the Nigerian government. People do say Nigeria is the giant of Africa, I think they need to visit South Africa because it’s a lot more developed than Nigeria. What do you think they should do more? They should learn to appreciate their Ambassadors a lot more. The Nigerian government should also pay more attention to the youths. A scheme where teenagers will

feel more empowered should be initiated because there are lots of teenagers out there with potentials and our dear country will kill these potentials if the government and other agencies don’t realise this sooner. Who is your role model and why? I have lots of role models; each according to my different passions. For my chess life, my role model is Magnus Carlsen. For my public speaking life, my role model is Barack Obama. And, from a general view, my role model is Warren Buffett; I want to be a great investor like him. When you are not learning new words, how do you relax? I play Chess, Football and I watch movies. What advice do you have for fellow teenagers out there? There are lots of admonitions I could give, but most importantly, I’d say that all teenagers should discover their niche or passion, set upright goals, work towards it with synergy and energy , obviously with the assistance of God and they shouldn’t depend on government for assistance, because, they are likely to be disappointed. However, teens should be steadfast with their goals at heart and they should work towards it with an unquenchable determination.

Nigerian contingent at the competition, from left; Benebo Nchege(Joint-second) , Jeremiah (Joint-

Sheriff with mum

Sheriff…

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸͹΀

ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

FASHION FILE

The ES Collection

Elegant Serenity

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JUNE 30, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive ve e.cco om m

The ES Collection

T

he elegant-serenity collection brilliantly illustrates and interprets the side of the strong, emerging woman in these highly competitive and daring times. This can be seen through the choice and use of colours and the fusion of diverse fabrics and textures. The collection projects the strong, chic, sultry and classy fashion statements seen in different doses from the late 60’s to the 2000’s. Creatively selecting a range of colours from bright to strong dark colours, the bright colours effortlessly express the tenderness and burst of energy that precedes the young emerging woman. The choice of bright-soft colours nicely exposes the chic and sophisticated part imbedded

in every woman especially in her prime. Incorporating dark colours rs gracefully, that seamlessly defines the boldness and sultriltriness perfect for every confident dent woman who is discovering herself, has discovered herself elf and has already reached herr prime. Elegantly accentuating her er mild but strong curves, this beautiful collection finely gives ives details to designs that makess strong fashion statements but ut in the mildest and graceful way y of the real woman. Credits Brand : @JewelJemila Photographer : @felixcrown n Make Up : @tennycocostudio io Model : @adukebey__

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... ͸΀͚ͽͽ͚͚͝΀Ϳ͟

From left, Chief Sales Officer, Gbam Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Macaulay, Winner of Gbam lottery, Miss Fatima Binta Mohammed, Business Process Manager, Gbam Nigeria, Bukola Alao and General Manager, Sales, Mr. Gabriel Okoli during the presentation of N500,000 Cheque to winner of Gbam Lottery in Lagos...recently

L-R: Council Manager, Badagry Local govt, Mr. Sunday Amosu; Edacation Supervisor, Badagry local govt, Hon. Samson Apata; Convener, Bright Future Book Club, Miss Lolade Salvador; and Education Supervisor, Egbe/Idimu LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Olukeye during the launch of ‘Bright Future Book Club’ in Badagry, Lagos State ...recently

Comercio Invests in Public Cloud Service to Boost Economy With business growth in mind, Information Communication Technology company, Comercio Limited has invested in public enterprise, Cloud Service, to upgrade and support business operations in the country. The very first public cloud platform operated and hosted locally, the latest innovation is a testimony to ICT advancement in the country that would also offer relieve to entrepreneurs particularly in the area of reduced capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX). Speaking at the launch of the service, Chief Technical Officer of the firm, Mr. Aderemi Adejumo, stated that the present economic situation where profits maximisation, increased revenue/cost reduction is an essential performance indicator upon which business successes are measured, it was important that businesses adopt cloud technology which is the next logical step in technology evolution and undoubtedly, the future. He noted that despite the huge benefits that come with the innovation, the adoption

rate in the country is at minimal, whereas it is gaining more attention in foreign countries especially in Europe and America and has assisted their economies hugely. “With the economic challenges faced worldwide and especially in Nigeria, companies are looking to reduce their expenditure whilst trying to grow their business, global best practice is that most CIOs are moving to cloud platforms for data storage. Moreso, considering the reduction in the cost of accessing internet services, this service has come at a better time with more world class data centres to host cloud platforms. Comercio Public Cloud platforms offer enterprises the opportunity to move their IT expenditure from a CAPEX to an OPEX as well as only pay for what they consume. It is a perfect pay-as-you-go model to minimise expenditure and create great savings’’ Explaining other features of the local service that has existed in the market for three months, Adejumo said that the local platform comes with huge benefits that give it an edge over foreign ones that most companies in Nigeria

Firm Unveils New Energy Drink

Glo Moves to Reduce Unbanked Population, Backs Initiative

A new energy drink, Mamba, has been launched in the Nigerian market, with a mission to sweep the largest market share in the Nigerian energy drink sub-sector under one year. The new drink, which further lends hands to the tough competition in the sector proves to be unique in that it connects with the key emotion points of consumers as it connotes power, elegance, formality, strength and authority. Launched amidst pomp and fanfare, the General Manager of Mamba Drinks Limited, Ms. Titilola Adedeji, stated that the product was carefully formulated exclusively for the Nigerian and African consumers. She added that Mamba is configured to align with the lifestyle choice of health-conscious consumers, because of its taurine content. “The new product is more than just the typical energy drink. It contains Citric Acid, an oxidant which enhances skin tissue regeneration, smoothness and perfection. It is also healthy due to reduced caffeine and taurine content with increased Vitamin C.� Adedeji stated further that the company has chosen to be strategic and creative with its market entry approach in a way that will establish the brand’s identity in the conscious and the subconscious mind of the average energy drink consumers in the country. Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mr. Ayo Ojuroye explained that Mamba was the first energy drink formulated exclusively for the African consumer. He explained that the product announcement was delayed because of the need to test the market and lay a solid foundation for the products to ensure sustainability.

Telecommunications company, Globacom has thrown its weight behind federal government’s new cashless payment solution, mCash, in an effort to promote financial inclusion in the country. This is coming as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed that 37per cent of Nigerians are still unbanked. mCash is a payment system that allows sellers or merchants to collect money for their goods and services from buyers electronically, using telecommunications infrastructure and mobile devices. An initiative of the Nigerian InterBank Settlement System (NIBSS) in conjunction with telecommunication companies, mCash targets extending e-Payment to low income earners as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who transact businesses mainly in cash. Head of Mobile Money Financial Business at Globacom, Mr. Esaie Diei, stated the firm was committed to complementing CBN’s efforts in reaching the unbanked and the masses through mobile phone technology. “This is why we invested in a dynamic and secured USSD Gateway for financial services to which mCash is connected. Glo

subscribe to. “One of its greatest advantages is the time to market. In traditional computing, it takes four to 16 weeks to request, get appropriate approvals and procure hardware before installation and configuration of software, but on our platform, required hardware can be provisioned and available in less than 48 hours.� Managing Director of the company, Mrs. Aderonke Adeyegbe added: “Our platform has a lower latency than offshore platforms as it takes on average less than 25 per cent of the time to retrieve data from an offshore cloud platform. “We provide a bespoke service, which means we engage customers and guide their request to the most optimum solution. We also accept payment in local currency, ensuring stability in payments and in the event of Dollar fluctuation, there would be no anxiety of exceeding the budget. We meet the requirements for data localisation and if there are regulatory or compliance reasons for the data

subscribers are therefore assured of a very efficient and robust system on the network.� Diei further added the mCash initiative would make payment for goods and services easier and more convenient as the company would provide the requisite assistance for the payment scheme to succeed. On his part, Chief Executive Officer of NIBSS, Mr. Adebisi Shonubi, said the initiative was intended to extend digital payment to the large segment of the population who deal with cash on a daily basis. He said the initiative was the most convenient and cost-effective solution to address low value payment nationwide because it takes advantage of the networks of telecom operators which already have nationwide coverage. Unlike the current payment system where settlement takes place 24 hours later, mCash gives instant credit to sellers/ merchants. The solution is accessible via a Unified USSD Short Code,� he explained.

to be onshore, we are compliant. In addition, we meet the requirements for data sovereignty and in the event of a dispute or legal issue, we are bound by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.� Adejumo further identified epileptic power, lack of awareness and fear of insecurity as major factors hindering adoption level of cloud service in Nigeria but informed that the new platform boasts of nine layers of security, thus blocking access to all forms of security breaches. “Our platform stands tall in a very sophisticated security set up with a granularity that cannot be replicated affordably on a physical platform. The configuration of a centralised storage point for all the data means that it is much safer to secure and track the access and usage of data. Comercio Public Cloud adheres to international standards like PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data security standards), ISO 27001, (Information security management system) and ISO 9001 (Quality management system),� he said.

Lifemate Rewards Customers to Mark 11th Anniversary In celebrating its presence and consistency in Africa’s largest economy in the past 11 years, Furniture manufacturing firm, Lifemate, has concluded arrangements to roll out a customer centric reward programme tagged, ‘buy more and get more’ to appreciate customers’ loyalty. According to the firm, its 11 years journey which began at a small office space in Ikeja, Lagos, and had so far grown to become a household name in quality would not have been colourful without the commitment of customers. Managing Director of the company, Mr. Derek Dai, informed that the company presently boasts of 13 branches and five area head offices in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Warri and Port Harcourt as it continues to strategise on how to make Nigerians live a better life through its various products. “Lifemate products are manufactured here in Nigeria with global standards in mind. Though few quality accessories are sourced abroad, the raw materials for the company’s products are majorly sourced in Nigeria, thereby contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and enhancing the government’s efforts to revamp the nation’s economy.� Sales Director of the company, Mrs. Allan Fu, hinted on the firm’s plans to open more showroom to boost customers accessibility to the company’s products. She added that the company’s expansion move also include employing more Nigerians in its workforce to cope with the increasing demand for the products. Describing the ‘buy more and get more’ as a giveaway price season, the Head of Advertising at Lifemate, Mr. Yemi Akindele, said there would be sales discount promos, price slash, special gifts and stakeholders’ parties for its customers. “Most companies wait till festive periods to compensate loyal consumers, but we consistently give back to reward consumers loyalty,� he stated. According to him, throughout the anniversary period, customers will enjoy price slash of between 50 and 60 per cent on certain furniture items.

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘

AMARA MADUKA

The Weirdest Place I’ve had Sex was in Private Pool Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ě‹Ă?ÓäĂ?ĂŽ ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ËšĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?ĂœËœ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă•Ă‹Ëœ Ă“Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ÑÒÞ̋ËʰĂ?Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ×Ùà ÓĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁËœ ĂŽĂ?Ă?ÚÓÞĂ? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;ĂŒĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ åÓÞÒ Tosin CleggËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‹Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ‹ ÞËÞĂ?Ě‹ĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËœ ÖÙà Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăœ

C

an you mention some big movies you have done?

Maduka Daughters, Village Flavour, Okirika, The Israelite, Good marriage, 3 Bad Girls, to mention but a few. I joined the industry after school. I knew I have the talent and I decided to pursue it.

What were the challenges you faced at the early stage? My weight was a big challenge. I was very fat at the time and I didn’t get featured in characters I know I can deliver because all the producers saw was a fat, ugly girl. Not my talent.

How did you overcome it? Oh well, when you get tired of being fed bullshit, you get to make a change at some point. All that matters is how you see yourself. I knew I am more than they could see, and that image alone kept me going. I battled depression at some point. But like I said, if you know who you are, nothing can stop you. Not for too long.

Sexual harassment has also become a common trend in the entertainment industry, how did you scale through? I haven’t been sexually harassed by any producer. I’m one of the lucky ones, I guess.

Did you hit the gym or work on your size to fit in? I didn’t work on myself to “fit in�. I’m working on myself for me. I love to look good. And I’m only just getting started.

it good.

I have heard people say to sexually satisfy a plus-sized lady is a hard journey, how true? That’s based on individual differences. It’s wrong to generalise stuff like that.

What’s your spec when it comes to Mr. Right for marriage? I’m attracted to a person’s mind and rarely the body. If he’s got a good heart and a sound mind, that’s it for me. Physical appearances don’t really count. Doesn’t mean I’d marry a monster or a dwarf though. But his pocket counts. I can’t help the world if I’m helpless, if you know what I mean. I need a rich man.

You mentioned aspiring producer, anyone in the pipeline? Yes. I’m cooking up something good for my lovers, Alaba release though. I have to cut my coat according to my cloth for now.

Nollywood is indeed going places, but there are still some lapses, what’s the way forward? The way forward is finance. Everything boils down to money. We don’t have investors. All we get is criticism and little support. Nigerians keep comparing us to Hollywood and it baffles me. We do what we do out of little or nothing and we are able to get a result. Not Hollywood standard perhaps, but if we have half of what those guys have, we’d shake the world.

What would Amara be doing for a living, if she’s not an actress?

How supportive were your parents when you took the bold step to join Nollywood?

I’d probably be into fashion. Which I’m still gonna visit eventually though.

I have just my mum now. My dad wouldn’t have allowed it, but my mum is supportive.

What’s your best fashion accessory?

Did your boyfriend, at that time, give you the go ahead? I’ve never really dated, like dated anyone all my life. It’s funny but true. I’m just learning to truly give love a chance now. I’m too sensitive. I thought not dating at all was best to avoid heartbreaks and all.

So, you didn’t have an emotional attachment with your partners? From me to them? No. From them, well people pretend a lot in this country. So I wouldn’t know.

So how long can you stay without sex? Oh, I can stay for as long as I want to. I’m not a freak on sex. But when I get it, I get

I really love my fancy rings and chains. I intend going into plus-size clothing. It’s difficult for a fat girl to find trendy clothes and I can help that. And I draw inspiration from everything around me.

Days ago a colleague of yours made a confession of the weirdest place she has had sex. What’s yours? The weirdest place I’ve had sex was in the pool and it was a private pool. I love adventures, as adventures feed the soul.

Best moment as an actress? When someone looked me up on Facebook, asked for my account details and sent me money from London for making him and his family laugh.

Maduka

͸Ϳ͸͞ͺ΀͚͞Ϳ͝Ϳ Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ÞÙĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă?ÑÑ̜ÒÙÞ×ËÓÖ˛Ă?Ù×

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Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘

SHOWBIZFLAIR

͸Ϳ͸͞ͺ΀͚͞Ϳ͝Ϳ Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ÞÙĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă?ÑÑ̜ÒÙÞ×ËÓÖ˛Ă?Ù×

MY STORY ‘FANTASTIC NUMBERS’ HITS CINEMAS JUNE 29 Fantastic Numbers, a movie from the stables of 2effect Pictures, distributed by Blue Pictures is set to hit the cinemas, June 29, this year. The movie, which was produced by Uzee Usman, tells the story of a set of twins who were separated at birth, bump into each other in a seemingly dramatic circumstance and became sworn enemies instead of brothers that they are. In a similar fashion, a set of triplets who were thrown away by their biological mother, led their separate lives until fate brought them together at a time they needed one another the most. The movie, which was directed by Paul Apel Papel, features 2014 best actress in Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Ivie Okujaye, award-winning actor and Globacom ambassador, Sani Danja,

AMVCA 2017 best actor, Sambasa Nzeribe, actor and comedian Funny Mallam and Rahama Sadau. According to the executive producer, Yakubu Mohammed, who doubles as an actor in the movie, the Fantastic Numbers addresses cases of children who are rejected and thrown away by their parents because they appear to be a burden or have some questionable circumstances surrounding their birth. These children become orphans and are left to survive on their own. “However, there are relationships that go wrong; we see women suffer in their relationships because the man in their lives is the only hope for survival and so they keep quiet and swallow their bitter pill.� The N35-million-budget movie also strongly kicks against impersonation, while attributing suspicion as a killer in relationships.

YANNICK PHILIPPE

My Parents Are My Biggest Fans Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă Ă“ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞËÖĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă• ÒÓÖÓÚÚĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ ÞÙ Ă–Ă?Ăž ÞÒÓĂ? Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂŽ ĂŽĂ™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă?åËÖÖÙåĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă?Þ˛ Ă’Ă? Ě‹ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ÑÙÞ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă“Ăž ÞËÕĂ?Ă? ÞÙ ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă˜Ă™Ă™Ăš ÙÑ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă?ĂĄ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ăž åÓÞÒ Tosin CleggËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Þ̋ Ă?ÚÙÕĂ?Ă˜ ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂšĂ?Ăœ ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ?Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÖÙÞĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ?

‘TAI.LORE’ RELEASES NEW COLLECTION, R ESTRAIN T TAI.LORE is a minimalist, contemporary unisex bespoke and ready-to-wear African brand which have grown and expanded since inception into a reputable name for class, style and poise. The brand recently released a new collection which was basically inspired by the society we live in. It focuses on standards which are seeming restraints that try to impede you from expression and fighting all those and successfully being yourself is what the collection portrays. This collection expresses the depths of freedom in various ways; from the colours, transcending from subtle to bold, all having their emotional significance and to the Free From Fits of the garments that show a tilt out of the Norm. TAI.LORE’s brand is strong and is led by the best of hands in tailoring, finishing, and distinctive style, led by Tomini Tai - Osagbemi.

EMMANUEL SOMTO TO VISIT FEDERAL PRISONS Winner of Mr. Teen Nigeria 2016, Emmanuel Somto, has grown to be more than just an average model but an economy of many depositions after emerging winner. As of now, he boasts of 42 awards to his name, including the Nigerian heritage icons award as the teenage personality of the year, The Now Awards humanitarian of the year Prize, Nigeria Inspire Awards Male model of the year and others. He is also the CEO of TradzBySomto, a men’s wear brand he recently started, and Somto

Laundry Place. His recent project is known as Emmanuel Somto Foundation through which he plans to begin prison visitation to donate food, wears, provisions, toiletries, uniforms and other necessities to inmates. The Federal Prison in Owerri was the first that was visited and it has about 2,164 inmates. His last project was project Feedthebeggars which they took to over six. Somto and his team are planning other major projects which they would unveil in a couple of weeks.

T

ell us about your career‌

I have been in the industry for about five years now, dropping singles and shooting videos. I do Hip-hop, Rap music, Afropop and anything that I can vibe to.

Are you currently under any label or management?

My record label is called Yannick Philippe Music Group and my management is run by my manager. Right now I have a collabo with Terry Tha Rapman and Pherow, but I’m already planning to work with Mode9 on a new single which I believe is going to be a big hit. I’m also currently working on an EP of six songs.

Why the choice of music?

Because I grew up listening to rap music like Tupac, Snoop Dog, Mode9, Terry Tha Rapman and more. I got used to their music and started doing it. Asides music, I have a Higher Diploma in filmmaking and acting for TV/Film in Paris and London.

When do you intend to drop your next album?

Before the end of the year. Also, my parents are my biggest fans. My dad and mum have always been in full support.

What are the challenges you’ve faced as an upcoming act?

If you are not popular yet, no one wants to know you until you ‘blow’. Too many free shows to expose yourself and it’s not easy on me at all.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

VINTAGE G-Complex: A Threatened Conglomerate While the promoter of a N15 billion investment in Gunduma, Nasarawa State, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) engage in accusations and counter-accusations, Ndubuisi Francis reports that the enormous opportunities offered by the emerging industrial hub is being threatened

T

he vision of promoters of a sprawling business conglomerate, G-Complex Nig. Ltd, which is fast transforming the sleepy Gunduma village in Nassarawa State is being threatened . The multi-billion naira investment sited on tens of hectares of land, is an omnibus, multi-sectoral business venture. It boasts a world-class vehicle assembly plant, a 160-bed specialist hospital, a pharmacy, restaurants, supermarkets, a state-of-the-art bakery with the capacity to produce 120,000 loaves of bread every 12 hours, a mega filling station, banks as well as expatriate and local staff quarters. A private university designed to take off with 5,000 students is part of the conglomerate and is to sit atop 43 hectares of land. The promoter of this dream investment is an Abujabased businessman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Zari, who has also factored in a residential space for himself and his family in the Gunduma-based business empire. However, Zari laments that the complex with over N3 billion already sunk in and slated for completion November this year is being threatened since March 27, 2017 when EFCC operatives sealed off the complex. For him, the words of Macbeth, “fair is foul, and foul is fair” best describes the scenario since the complex was sealed by operatives of EFCC. Zari is pointing accusing finger on one Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu Madaki, the personal assistant to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, over alleged use of public office for personal benefits, extortion and perversion of the course of justice. In a petition to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, he is demanding the investigation of Madaki. The petition, which originated from the law chambers of Mike Ozekhome said “Our client is the Managing Director of G - Complex Nig. Ltd, a company that he has been using to develop Gunduma village, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, which incidentally is also the hometown of Abubakar Aliyu Madaki. “Our client had legitimately acquired some lands to build a multi-purpose complex that encompasses bakery, hospital, pharmacy, filling station, restaurants, supermarkets and a truck assembling plant. The complex also boasts of staff quarters and the personal residential quarters of our client, his family and relations. “Our client has, since 2008 when he arrived in Gunduma Community, always enjoyed a good relationship and peaceful co-existence with every member of the community, including the late Village Head, Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf, who accepted our client as his son,” part of the petition read. The petitioner alleged that Madaki had always solicited and sought for financial favours from him, adding that the bubble burst when the EFCC official approached him to buy 10 hectares of land at the price of N20 million, insisting he must pay the said amount since he had the financial capacity to pay, given the volume of his investments in the community. “Our client offered to pay the sum of Ten Million Naira only (N10,000,000.00) in respect of the said parcel of land. Our client decided eventually not to buy the said land which decision irked Abubakar Aliyu Madaki who was desperately in need of money at that time,” he alleged. Zari also alleged that it was at that point that Madaki allegedly decided to use the EFCC to frustrate his investments. When THISDAY contacted Madaki on phone on the allegations, he said he had nothing to say, adding that his response was already contained in newspaper publication of June 12, 2018. However, the EFCC, in a recent statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, had said Madaki was being framed up. “The commission wishes to state that there is no truth to this allegation, which is contrived to malign and impugn the reputation of Madaki, an operative who has handled several high profile investigations without blemish”, the statement said. “It will interest members of the public, who may have been misled by the mischievous story, to know that Zari had been crossed with Madaki over suspicion that he instigated the investigation leading to his arrest and detention by the commission,” the statement said. Meanwhile, Zari continues to lament that “the EFCC has failed to obey various court orders in respect of this matter.” “ The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/557/2017 in an application for the enforcement of my fundamental rights, directed the parties to maintain status quo. This notwithstanding, the next morning, the EFCC sealed my house, chasing my entire family away. It would further

Stalled construction work of G-Complex 1

Stalled construction work of G-Complex 2

interest you to know that upon the conclusion of the case, the court, in its judgment, made another order, directing the EFCC to remove the paintings on the walls of my premises. The EFCC has failed to comply with the said order till date. “My companies and I have been investigated by virtually all the departments of EFCC, namely Procurement Fraud Section, Economic Governance Section, and Land and Property Fraud Section. It would further interest you to note that EFCC has failed to disclose the results of all these investigations against my companies and I,” he said. While the businessman continues to be buffeted by the onslaught on his investments, he regrets that the interruption by the EFCC is a huge setback with the attendant humongous losses. According to him, the proposed university, already approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to be fully funded by his foreign partners would

have been at an advances stage of completion by now. When our correspondent visited the vast G-Complex recently, Zari, materials also procured for the take off of some of the investments had been left at the mercy of the elements. Mattresses for the 160-bed specialist hospital, most of the building materials used for construction work, valued at over N700 million have become a complete waste. Incidentally, G-Complex Nig. Ltd has become a good advertisement copy of how to be a good corporate citizen with its corporate social responsibility initiatives dotting the entire landscape of Gunduma. It has provided boreholes, constructed roads and bridges, built a mosque, drainages, and provided access road to a community school. But above all, its target of creating 3,000 direct and indirect jobs for the teeming army of unemployed Nigerians and turning a sleepy community into an industrial hub is being torpedoed.

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PERSPECTIV E

Baru’s Transformational Reforms in NNPC Kingsley Ukah

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has been depicted by its critics as a cesspool of corruption and for a good measure too. Over the years arguably, no agency has the axiomatic Nigerian strand of sleaze been more manifest than the state owned Oil giant whose reputation has been tarnished by unrelenting criticism of its less than transparent operations. At the height of this reign of impunity and vast corruption, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the present Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had in 2014, accused the NNPC of failing to remit $20 billion into the coffers of government. This was during the era of high Oil prices. Given empirical evidence and ongoing efforts by the present management of NNPC under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, the Group MÂşanaging Director, things have clearly changed. Baru and his management are working round the clock to turn around the fortunes of the Corporation. Asking angels to intervene in the affairs of men is not only escapist but defeatist. As a nation, we are blessed with honest hardworking leaders, who though may be in the minority are on daily basis given their best for the good of the nation. When Baru was appointed in 2016, he was not under any illusion as to the formidable challenges and task ahead. He inherited a Corporation in decay and in dire need of a new direction. Independent agencies such as the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) had raised the alarm about the lack of transparency and massive corruption in the Corporation. On assumption of office, Baru demonstrated the uncommon determination to steer a new and refreshing course for NNPC. In line with the anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration, he unveiled a well thought out 12-point agenda designed to

day occasioned by the improvement in security and the resumption of production operations in the Forcados Oil Terminal (FOT) and Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT) pipelines. By June 28th, 2017, NNPC attained a record peak production of 2.3 million barrels of oil and condensate per day. Under the leadership and guidance of Baru, the repayment agreement for JV cash call arears has been negotiated and executed for arrears has been negotiated and executed for arrears up to end 2015 all the IOC partners in NNPC’s JVCs. NNPC anchored repayment on incremental production. Also, for 2016, JV cash call shortfall, $400 million was paid to JV partners as a bullet payment in April, 2017 – with the balance to be paid in 12 installments. In the gas sector, NNPC has significantly increased gas supply to power plants and industries. This achievement was made possible as a result of the completion of the repairs of vandalised 20� ELPS – A pipeline which ramped up Chevron Escravos Gas Plants that were hitherto shutdown. These include Oredo Gas Plant, Sapele Gas Plant, Ovade Gas Plant and Oben and NGC Gas Compressors. Baru has addressed the issue of Baru condensate evacuation that had restricted the issue of condensate evacuation that cleanse the Augean Stable and reinvigohad restricted the ramping up of gas suprate the Corporation. ply from Oben, Utorogu and Ughelli gas The 12-point agenda as enunciated by plants. NNPC have also commissioned Baru is ambitious, revolutionary and rep- NPDC’s Utorogu NAG-2 and Oredo resents a concerted effort to make a clean EPF-2 gas plants. break with the past. Under his guidance, Under the leadership and guidance of NNPC commenced and completed the Baru, there has been exponential growth repair of critical Oil and gas infrastructure in domestic gas supply. NNPC has also leading to the deferment of about 700,000 made significant progress in the seven bpd. The Corporation commenced and critical Gas Supply Development projects completed the repair of the vandalised 36� with approval of consultants to support and 42� IT Export pipeline leading to the the projects. restoration of production operations from In the downstream sector, NNPC NNPC/MPN. stabilised the market with sufficient In 2016, when he took over the helm product availability nationwide. of affairs at NNPC, the national daily Through the concerted efforts of Baru average production stood at 1.83 miland his team, the modest refining efforts lion barrel, in 2017, it rose to about 1.88 of NNPC and the DSDP Scheme saved million barrels and in 2018 the nation the nation about 40 billion in 2017. The had achieved its projected target of 2.2 resuscitation of products transportation million barrels of Oil and condensate per pipelines network has enabled NNPC

to move products to depots at faster and cheaper rates. In spite of the string of impressive achievements scored by NNPC under the guidance of Baru, challenges still remain. The issue of subsidy payment has remained a recurring decimal. There is a consensus of opinion that racketeering which is widely believed to have bedeviled the subsidy regime has impoverished Nigerians. Despite aspersions cast on the NNPC from certain quarters, Baru insists that he and his team are above board in their dealings. The present NNPC management has consistently stated that all subsidy claims and entitlements by NNPC are duly verified and approved by PPPRA and relevant certificates issued. The petroleum ministry under the leadership of Ibe Kachikwu and the NNPC under the guidance of Baru are working hard to re-position and revamp the refineries through massive refurbishing of the refineries and strategic partnerships. By 2019, it is expected that these concerted efforts will lead to Nigeria being self-sufficient in refining petroleum products. The achievements recorded by NNPC under the guidance of Maikanti Baru was made possible through the concerted effort of a Nigerian patriot not by an angel. The situation in NNPC is not perfect, no human institution is; put clearly, Baru and his 12-point agenda is beginning to yield the desired results, to spur a paradigm shift. It was in recognition of his patriotic service to Nigeria and his untiring efforts to reposition the NNPC that he was awarded the Forbes Best of Africa Oil &Gas Man of the Year Prize. According to Forbes, it had followed with keen interest the rising profile and impressive career path of the NNPC GMD through the years. Forbes further stated: “For these and other landmark achievements which you have recorded throughout your enviable career, your nomination for this Prestigious Forbes 2017 Award has been approved by Forbes Custom’s Award Committee. –Ukah wrote in from Lagos

Soyinka: Drug Abuse, Trafficking Threatens Disastrous Consequences for Nigeria Bennett Oghifo

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rug abuse and trafficking could spell doom for Nigeria unless sustainble effort is made now to transform the mindset of the nation’s future generation. Drug abuse and trafficking “constitute two major concerns that have acquired critical dimensions in modern society all over the world, and threatens especially disastrous consequences for a society such as ours.� Soyinka stated this in a goodwill message he sent to the first ever Global Youth Action Day celebration in Nigeria, organised by Vision of the Child, a non-governmental organisation The programme was held with funding from the European Union and coordination by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Nobel Laureate, who could not attend the event, which took place in Lagos during the week, because of “a prior outof-town engagement,� said he regretted not being able to, “most especially as your theme involves the high-profile challenges of Drug Abuse and Trafficking.� Soyinka, represented by a Trustee, Jahman Anikulapo, also expressed his regret that, owing to adverse circumstances, the highly successful modes of cultural involvement by Vision of The Child would not take place this year. He said, “We must however endeavor to make such transformative exercises

Soyinka

a permanent feature in one form or the other. Society should not lose a channel for raising awareness on those impediments to the emergence of a healthy, focused and participatory generation. Your enthusiastic and creative envisioning of a future that many of us constantly wish would manifest itself even today, must remain an integral part of direction seeking for adult society.�

Seventeen change makers received awards at the Vision of the Child event and, according to the Executive Director, Foluke Debbie Michael, the Vision was conceived in 2011 under the leadership of Professor Wole Soyinka. “We started the narative of bringing up young Nigerians that will lead change in the future. Our main object is to see the next 15, 20 years of Nigeria with some of these young change makers are leading change with integrity.� She said the Vision of the Child took a new turn this year “because a topic needed to be treated. For us to raise new leaders, we don’t want them to be polluted. A lot of the youth and even children in Lagos are already using drugs.� They went round schools, listen to the students and we realised that there is one thing apart from corruption that will kill creativity, which is drug. This realisation led to collaborate with the European Union and the UNODC. At the event in Lagos, 17 female students emerged as change makers that worked on the Sustainble Development Goals (SDGs). They came up with 17 creative ideas and solutions to the drug problem, which they presented to the audience. “Each of these students approached the solution and the presentations from the angle of global good.� The UNODC’s Project Officer, William Wu Shiyin said the UN organisation assists member states to fight against drugs and crime, trans-national crime and ter-

rorism. They also assist in anti-corruption and threat to national security. He said each year they usually came up with a theme to celebrate the Anti-drug Day on June 26, stating that this year’s theme is “Listening to the Children and the Youth�. This is “because we think childern and youth are the future of our world.� A top official of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Williams, who represented the Commissioner, Bola Dabiri said they held a programme, about a week ago, titled ‘Kick Against Drug Abuse’. According to her, “The drug abuse pandemic has really eaten into the fabric of the nation and every hand needs to be on deck. I ask myself about the theme ‘Listen First’ and wonder who actually is doing the listening? Is it the parents or is it the youth?� She urged parents to listen to the youth and “their body language, check their bags, look at their bodies for marks, check their lips to see if they are darker which could be a sign that they are smoking or drinking things.� The youth, she said also need to listen to their parents, assuring the youth that no parent would mislead their children. “Your parents should be the first people you run to when there is trouble and not your peer groups. Your peer group is like you mate; I don’t see how they can know better than your parents. You should try and make your parents your best friends.�

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Toyota Continues to Lead the Way With Service Plan Innovation

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R-L: Vice President, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Olu Tikolo; Customer Relations Manager, Bukola Ukomadu; the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Sanjay Tatpati; and Marketing Manager, Mr. Wale Jimoh, at the media unveil of Kia’s upgraded maintenance facility in Isolo, Lagos‌ recently

oyota has not only been the sales leader in SouthAfrica for 38 consecutive years, but it has also been the pace-setter in terms of its service plans, which were first incorporated into the vehicle purchase price of the Corolla in 2002, as a margin sacrifice by the company. This development was a significant contribution to cutting the cost of ownership of a Toyota vehicle as service costs were covered for a prescribed number of kilometres travelled in a limited time. Now the company has gone even further, by improving the terms of the complimentary service plans which come as standard with new Toyota vehicles. Vehicles sold from 1 May 2018 now have a specific number of services for a given distance travelled. Servicing no longer has to be undertaken in a given time period as long as the vehicle is serviced at least once every 12 months. Service intervals are either every 10 000 km or 15 000 km, depending on the specific model. For instance, a Corolla will require six services by the time it reaches 90 000km. In the past these services had to take place within a five-year period. Now they can take place over six years, which significantly improves the overall cost-of-ownership offering for the customer. Using the example of a Hilux, which is serviced every 10 000 km then the benefit is even greater. It will require nine services in 90 000 km, which previously had a limit of five years for them to be carried out. Now the services can be spread over nine years if necessary, while still conforming with the requirement of servicing the Hilux every 12 months.

KIA Begins Prepaid Maintenance Package Nationwide Offers customers one year hassle-free service Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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ia Motors has promised to offer customers around the world a singular style of service designed after its service philosophy called, ‘Promise to Care.’ This initiative was unveiled to the local press in Lagos during the week. Thus, Kia Motors Nigeria, in its unalloyed bid to constantly enhance customer experience through hassle-free end-to-end service offerings, has launched an annual Prepaid Maintenance Package to Kia owners. Equipped to offer a cashless service and complete car maintenance, from periodic maintenance services to wheel alignment and balancing amongst other value-added services, the Prepaid Maintenance Package is in tandem with company’s drive to make Kia ownership affordable, flexible and above all delightful.

Widely revered as a customer-centric automobile company and a driver of continuous improvement on all customer touch points, the new Kia prepaid maintenance package is aimed at offering special discounts to the customer making their ownership experience worry-free and affordable. Customer service is germane and remains a critical factor for the brand’s success. For this reason, the prepaid maintenance package is one of the offers from the company to display best-inclass customer service offerings and to provide satisfactory services to their respective customers. Tagged as ‘Pay Less, Get More’, customers will only pay once at a discounted price and enjoy one year or four free services. Basking in the success of the recently held free service clinic, Kia Motors Nigeria has resolved continuously to reinforce its commitment to customers by offering a special, first of its kind, annual prepaid maintenance package, to reaffirm its continued drive to incentivise customers of

their loyalty to the brand. The successes of the Kia service clinics and the ever increasing customer expectations coupled with the request for more offerings by the customers have propelled the leading Korean automobile company in Nigeria, Kia, to become aware of the value and the need to offer the prepaid maintenance package to the teeming customers. Premised on the company’s culture to provide hassle-free service for its customers from sales to exceptional after sales service, the package is yet another testament to its unquenchable zest to exceed customers’ expectations. The Chief Operating Officer, Sanjay Tatpati said that the prepaid maintenance package will help provide peace of mind to owners, as the costs involved will be discounted and affordable. The package covers the standard maintenance schedule and includes wear-and-tear items such as brake pads, brake discs, and windscreen wipers in addition to other value-added services.

“With this package in place, owners need not worry about the maintenance of their Kia cars. This also reaffirms the commitment we have towards our customers – not just in strengthening our after-sales service, but also the Kia ownership experience for our owners,� added Sanjay. Kia’s ‘Prepaid Maintenance Package’ service initiative will offer benefits as per the vehicle age to cater to the requirements of different customers and will offer car check-up with the examination of the engine, transmission, electrical system, under-body, AC, exterior etc. Speaking on the initiative, Olawale Jimoh, Marketing Manager, Kia Motors Nigeria said, “being a Customer-Centric and a Caring Brand, Kia has always laid a strong emphasis on unique service initiatives. These efforts have made us reel in quite a number of awards and provide exceptional service delivery to customers. The prepaid maintenance package is a step further to make Kia ownership a delightful experience.

Jaguar Land Rover Testing Smart, Connected Cars on UK Roads to Prepare for Self-driving Cars

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he tests on public roads are part of ÂŁ7.1 million project aimed at creating the UK’s first fully connected infrastructure geared towards selfdriving cars. More than 40 miles of the M40, M42, A45 and A46 will benefit from a world-first combination of wireless technologies (DSRC, 3/4G mobile networks, WiFi and fibre optic networks), ensuring vehicles can always be connected to each other and to infrastructure. Connecting cars to each other and their surroundings (known as V2X) is a vital step for safe, large-scale deployment of self-driving cars. The latest connected technology complements other vehicle sensors and extends a vehicle’s ability to ‘see’ further down the road and ‘speak’ to other vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians and the network. For instance, warning that a car too far ahead to see has applied its brakes allows a following driver to avoid a potential accident. The system will work on both manual and autonomous driving and so will greatly improving road safety across levels of autonomy. Colin Lee, Jaguar Land Rover Connectivity Manager, said: “To realise the full benefit

of self-driving cars, we need to understand the infrastructure that’s required to support them. Connectivity not only takes us a step closer to making self-driving cars a reality but it also creates the platform to bring more connected safety features to our customers within the next few years. We’re working with some fantastic global experts across industry and academia and we’re eager to take the project into this next phase of testing.� Jaguar Land Rover will be trialling a range of intelligent connected features such as emergency electronic brake light warning (EEBL), emergency vehicle warning (EVW), and in-vehicle signage (IVS) for roadworks warning (RWW) and traffic condition warning (TCW). UK CITE is just one of the connected and autonomous projects which is helping Jaguar Land Rover to offer customers an increased choice of features, while maintaining an enjoyable and safe driving experience. This project forms part of the company’s vision to leverage connectivity as a segue to making the self-driving car viable in the widest range of real-life, on- and off-road driving conditions.

Jaguar Land Rover prepares for self-driving cars

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New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Family Continues to Grow

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Saudi woman gets behind the wheels

Historic Drive by Saudi Woman as Driving Ban Lifts Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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emale racing driver Aseel Al Hamad celebrated the end of the ban on women drivers with a lap of honour in a Jaguar F-TYPE. Aseel, the first female board member of the SaudiArabian Motor Federation, had never driven on a track in her home country before. Aseel joined Jaguar in a call for June 24th to be known as World Driving Day – a day when finally, the whole world can enjoy the thrill of being behind the wheel of a car. On World Driving Day Jaguar invites people to share a memory of their best driving moment

(image or anecdote) using the #worlddrivingday. Aseel said: “Having loved cars since I was a child, today is highly emotional for me. This is the best driving moment of my life. What better way to kick off World Driving Day than a lap of honour in my home country in a Jaguar F-TYPE – the ultimate car to roar around the track. I hope people around the worldwillshareinourjoytodaybysharingtheirmost memorable driving story using #worlddrivingday.� By creating World Driving Day, Jaguar urges people to remember this historic day and what it means to women, to Saudi Arabia and to world progress in general. As part of its ongoing work with over 40 Universities

andAcademic institutions globally on future mobility solutions, the company will also be partnering with University in Saudi Arabia to join this global network. The partnership, to be announced later this year, will be a unique exchange to tap into the brightest young minds in Saudi Arabia to shape the company’s future innovations as it moves to ACES (anAutonomous, Connected, Electrified and Shared future). Jaguar Land Rover spokesperson, Fiona Pargeter, Customer Experience Director comments: “It’s easy to forget and take for granted the enjoyment of driving and just what a privilege it is to get behind the wheel of a car.

he new Mercedes-Benz C-Class family continues to grow with more than 50 models available in total. Fuel consumption combined: 9.8-4.5 l/100 km;CombinedCO2emissions:223-119 g/km* Additional engines for the new C-Class can now be ordered at the dealers. This makes a total of more than 50 models of the new C-Class family available – 30 saloons and estates as well as 21 coupÊs and cabriolets. Regarding engines, the varied line-up currently ranges from the entry-level diesel C 180 d rated at 90 kW/122 hp (combined fuel consumption: 4.7-4.5 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 124-119 g/km)1 to the sporty C 43 4MATIC models from MercedesAMG rated at 287 kW/390 hp. (combined fuel consumption: 9.8-9.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 223-213 g/km)[i]. Entry to the world of the C-Class in Germany starts at 34,914.60 euro incl. 19% VAT for the C 180 d Saloon (combined fuel consumption: 4.5-4.2 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 119-110 g/ km)1. The Estate model with the same engine (combined fuel consumption: 4.6-4.2 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 122-112 g/km)1 starts at 36,580.60 euro. The CoupÊ and Cabriolet start at 40,066.95 and 46,130.35 euro, respectively. Be it as a classic saloon, a practical estate, a sporty coupÊ or an elegant cabriolet – the new C-Class is as varied as never before. With currently 13 engines, it offers 51 models and thus represents the largest family in the passenger car range of Mercedes-Benz. Now in its fifth year of production, the C-Class is the most successful model series from Mercedes-Benz and boasts a wealth of enhancements. In terms of looks, the focus of the redesign work was on the front of the vehicle as well as the design of the headlamps and tail lamps. There are also new petrol and diesel engines, partly with an additional 48-volt system with belt-driven starter alternator.

Porsche Enthusiasts Converge on Lagos to Celebrate 70 Years of First Sports Car

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orsche enthusiasts’, recently, defied the rains as they converged on Porsche Centre Lagos to pay tribute to the brand’s 70-year storied past, marking the day the first-ever Porsche 356 was registered as an automobile. Tagged ‘Sportscar together day,’ the event attracted a cluster of Porsche drivers in Nigeria in a gathering of crème de la crème, who in spite of the inclement weather, came to participate in the drive activity held to commemorate the birthday of the iconic brand. The Porsche obsessives later journeyed in a convoy of approximately 88 kilometers to the Epe Resort & SPA – a tourist suburb on the outskirt of Lagos, where the brand enthusiasts were hosted to a

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sumptuous breakfast. This is the first time Porsche iconic sports’ car owners are meeting to share experiences and be feted in union with the six-year-old Porsche dealership. Majority of the drivers are also from indication, for the first time, putting to the test, the potency of their iconic cars at a seeming racing encounter that reaffirmed Porsche’s supremacy on the road. One of the drivers who preferred anonymity said: “This is the first time ever I will be putting to the test the agility of my Porsche 911,� which had barely gone pass 3,000 kilometers in four years. The celebration continued in the afternoon at the Porsche Centre showroom after the drivers returned from the exhilarating drive, where they feasted and relaxed.

Porsche enthusiasts unwind at the Porsche Centre Showroom Lagos‌ recently

My Worry For Pedestrians

ast week I concluded by warning you to note that there is increase in pedestrian deaths and injuries globally which according to experts is coming despite improvements in vehicle safety such as the recent introduction of automatic emergency braking systems, rear-view cameras and collision-alert technology. Recent studies A study in the United States has identified poor headlights as a problem while poor design and failure to adopt lights that rotate with the curvature of the road are hurting especially at night. Despite these identified challenges, experts obverse that pedestrians are sometimes to blame. While it is okay to state that we have a handful of distracted drivers, I must also state again and again that we also have a handful of distracted pedestrians who are also not even literate on how to use the road. What we see daily on our roads are people both behind the wheel and walking in the street failing to take responsibility for their behaviour by learning to walk or drive without using the phone. Even okada and tricycle riders have joined the bandwagon In the case of the United State ofAmerica which I cited last week, increased use of marijuana was identified as another potential factor causing the increase in deaths. I know we are battling with increasing drug abuse with the use of codeine being a concern here in our clime. Only a study will unravel the number of traffic deaths that could be drug related similar to the development in America. The report from America shows that in states that legalized the drug for recreational purposes, pedestrian deaths rose 16.4% in the first half of 2017. At the same time,

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JONAS AGWU

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

deaths in other states fell 5.8percent. Meanwhile the craze for big, gas-guzzling SUVs has, lead to more fatal road accidents in addition to its effect on the environment according to studies. The study equally noted that pedestrian fatalities were also increasingly likely to involve powerful cars, which, it says, suggests speeding was a factor. Still in the case of the US, the increased fatal road traffic crashes occurred mostly in urban and suburban areas where SUVs are mostly driven and during dark hours on busy roads, like arterials, without proper pedestrian crossings. SUVs, pickups and vans we must note here which has also become the craze in Nigeria according to a study are linked to a higher risk of death or severe injury to pedestrians. The study notes that these vehicles have higher and often more vertical front ends than cars and are more likely to strike a pedestrian in the head or chest thus making crashes involving pedestrians both deadlier and more frequent in places where they predominate. This is why experts opine that improvements

in road design, vehicle design and lighting and speed limit enforcement are crucial road safety interventions. Since I began this focus last week, I have used the May 11 2018 tragedy as a silent reminder on the need for concrete actions against the backdrop of World Health Organizations (WHO) warning about road fatalities in sub-SaharanAfrica which is projected to increase by 112%, from approximately 243,000 in 2015 to 514,000 in 2030. This increase is said to be a far greater percentage increase than any other region of the world and is in stark contrast to the projected reduction in fatalities in Europe, Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific. Before I continue with that same WHO report please allow me to bring you up to speed with my near miss experience as a pedestrian which I shared in the piece ‘’STILL ON THE FOLLY OF JOGGERS’’ in April 2018.In that piece, I noted that ‘’ I was almost knocked down even though I complied with all of these safety rules. I am hoping that by sharing my experience with you, you will learn and adjust from any form of arrogance or showoff while jogging. As a personal rule of thumb, I comply with the rules for safety while driving or jogging. I am also careful to remember that there is the possibility of being knocked down by a crazy cab driver or even a private car owner even when all the rules have been complied with. I therefore do not joke with the sacred rule that says face oncoming traffic. On this fateful day, I was doing my stuff, jogging and sweating and very conscious that I had done everything possible to stay safe such as ensuring I am very visible to traffic. I guess I had forgotten the Nigerian maxim

that acknowledges the look left, look right rule but expands it by urging you to also look up, look front, and look back because you stand the risk of being run over from any direction within our clime. I was very sure that I had looked at all the possible directions but I missed one of the greatest caution and that is that whenever you are approaching a fuel station, or even a possible T-junction or Y-junction, you must watch out for drivers who after buying fuel would rather choose to drive against traffic instead of using the legalrouteofdriving.Suchdriversusuallyexhibit their deviant driving behaviour using the hard shoulders or even the walkway. What saved me on that fateful day was that even though I was jogging and facing traffic, I also ensured that I jogged very far away from the hard shoulder. I would have been a dead meat if I had been jogging as if I had a right of way of the hard shoulder like most of us do. My experience shows you that nobody is immuned from being a victim. We should be guided by The WHO Reports that road fatalities per capita are projected to increase by 51% over the period 2015-2030, at the same time fatalities per capita is projected to decline for both HIV/ AIDS (-18%) and malaria (-24%). As we tinker on curtailing road traffic crashes we must collectively promote safety of pedestrians while pedestrians themselves and drivers must take responsibly for their actions by being responsive while using the road. Remember that road fatalities are projected to overtake the number of malaria fatalities in the Africa during this period and according to WHO, “a key factor in tackling the growing road traffic injury burden is the creation of institutional capacity across a range of interlinking sectors, backed by both strong political commitment and adequate and sustainable resources�.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

POLITY

BishopBassey:WhatWeSeeinCrossRiverStateisShocking Bishop Josef Bassey is the President of the Cross River State Christian Leaders Forum (CRSCLF) and Bishop of God’s Heritage Centre Worldwide, with headquarters in Calabar. In this interview with select journalists including Bassey Inyang in Calabar, the CRSCLF President x-rayed the three years old Ayade administration and concluded that Governor Ben Ayade has failed to live up to the expectations of the people of the state. Excerpts

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re you Christians leaders or politicians? We are stakeholders in the Cross River State project, and rightly so too. And what are we here to do? In a short while from now, a few months from now or thereabout, all over this nation, there is going to be elections, and possibly power shift and so on and so forth. And wherever you go, town hall meetings are going on; people are discussing the way forward, and looking at what is going on in their land, in their states. But, very curiously, what we see in Cross River State is shocking. None of that is going on. People are not talking. Those who are crying are crying, those who are complaining are complaining, those who are jubilating are jubilating. They are all doing it in some clusters under the table, and all of that. But, for me and for us, as a people, it is very worrisome. Why is that possibly so? What is it that in a state that was hitherto known for petitions, pull him down, and all of that, but suddenly they can’t even talk. It directly points to one or two things. Number one; there is presence of poverty like never before. When a man is totally poor, all he thinks is about his survival, and at a point where you are thinking of survival, you can’t fight, you can’t do anything. It is like you grab anything you can hold onto. That is number one. Number two; it is the fear of intimidation, the fear of being killed, and the fear of different things happening or being bullied. There is such fear. But, if everybody is being cowed, the Church of Jesus Christ cannot be cowed because God holds his church accountable at every point in time for what is going on. And we think that whatever we have to talk about, whatever the issues may be, some of which, I think maybe, it could be that the government and the people in power do not even know, or are not aware of. Bassey Then we should be able to speak truth to power, make recommendations where necessary, and also discuss areas where there are issues because Cross River State, for us, needs to be rescued as a matter of urgency from sinking. We have been inundated with pressure of public complains. It is at different levels … people are crying, people are agonizing, all manner of things. Given the context of what you have said, it does not appear the Church as body of directly affected, so why not allow the politicians, and the people to bear their Cross? There is a spillover of these things, if you want to know it, go to churches. The average pastor from Obanliku to Bakassi, when you go to church for instance, what you find is that people come and queue for counseling, but actually nobody is coming for counseling. By the time they come in, it is my child, school fee, rent, this, that. These are no exceptional or isolated issues because when a state fails, the whole storage system of the church becomes the only shock absorber left. So, all of that bears on the church and that is what is going on. So, we need to speak truth to power. And we owe God that as a sacred duty, as a sacred responsibility, and also we owe our generation, we owe the state, and we owe even the government that; the government that we have prayed for, the government that we have stood by, the government that we are committed to because our commitment to the government and to the good of the people is irrevocable. Are you saying that Ayade’s administration has failed in all aspects? I am at a loss as to where to start because, precisely about three years ago, we saw a new governor being inaugurated that made promises. Discussed eloquently and passionately about the need to transform the state, about his signature projects, and how he was going to give his eye, I can’t remember what part of the body, whether his leg or his finger that he will give to see those things happen. But, I know that there is a part of his body and organ that he committed himself…. So, at different

times, it has been right eyes, right leg. It is okay. But, you know that was very passionate. You could go back home and feel this government needs every encouragement, this government we should pray for, this government we should stand for, and see how these things would work going by the things said. But, first year he made excuses, and assume that he is trying to settle in and he has done a few things and all of that; the second year the same thing. As fathers, you don’t rush to talk, you don’t rush to say things, you watch, you pray, you hope, and believe that, if that is a mistake, that somebody will make it right. Let’s even assume that somebody played and played away two years, that this person is likely to seek reelection, he should do his best in the next two years to get things right. But, unfortunately, that has not been so because, as I speak with you, I have stop about to think, what are the key areas where you can say this is where progress, meaningful progress has been achieved and actualised? Sincerely, and in all sincerity, I rally cannot find any. And I have been around here for a long time by the grace of God, from the days of the military administration whether you are going to talk about Ibim Princewill, the Kefas, whoever, the Agboneni to the days of Clement Ebri , the Donald Dukes, all of that . You can put all of them together. But, in my opinion, and our opinion, we have never had it this bad. It has never been this bad for a state, and it couldn’t be worse than this, so I think. So, something needs to be done. What area is there to commend; maybe of course the area of appointments. That there have been a lot of people being appointed into positions, and these appointments also, well, for those of us who understand public service, and understand procedures how things are done are also worried because, how are these things done? Never in the history of this state has the state civil service been so bastardised. I understand what civil service is about. When you now have a situation where a person is appointed a Director General and you go to his office and the person doesn’t have a chair, he doesn’t know where his office is. We should constantly work at developing stronger institutions than

stronger individuals. But, when we see our institutions being destroyed, the legacy, the heritage of the civil service for instance, being destroyed before our very eyes, something is wrong. When you tell me there is a government running where there are no memos, and that memos are by WhatsApp, then something is wrong. When there is a government running, and you say exco meetings should not hold, and when exco meetings hold, instead of exco being a brainstorming session for cross fertilisation of ideas, it becomes a forum where you are to sing the praise of, you know, maybe a particular player who becomes the know-it- all, and nobody can argue or say anything to the contrary, then we are in danger, we are in trouble, we are in trouble, nobody is safe. When you tell us that we are running a system today where cult activities are openly celebrated, and cultists are openly celebrated, and cultism has been elevated to a status where it is enjoying state applause, then there is a problem. So, I am asking you now, where to start from, because I am looking for where to say these are the areas that something has been done. Let’s look at the education. A few years back, this state by WAEC was rated third. Just three years; do you know where we are? 26. What happened under this space of time? How did we get there? Not only that. We have students who were on state scholarships in foreign countries, in Russia, in America and all over, and they were sponsored by government, sent there by government. They were on scholarship. And then a government comes into power; some of them in their fourth year. A government comes into power and suddenly stops it. So, you find that the child becomes stranded. He has done for years in school, three years in school abroad, and he is repatriated, and all of that and it doesn’t appear that government understands the implication of these things. There is no prioritisation. Okay, somebody wakes up and says we are doing Budget of Kinetic Crystallization. That, put in simple terms, means it will crystallize as we go. It will crystallize; it will become apparent as we go. Which means that, just don’t worry, as you see it, you take it. I don’t understand. So, gentlemen of the press, the state of our state right now couldn’t be worse. And there is need for an urgent intervention across board, across board, across board! Security, we can’t even go there. I want you to provide a straight answer to this question. Does Ayade deserve a second term in office? Absolutely no, absolutely no; and unequivocally no! Have you made adequate arrangement for your own personal security? Have I made provisions for my own security? Well, you know, cowards die a thousand times before their death. It is only a coward that runs away and leaves his house because somebody came chasing him in his own house. Cross River State belongs to us. So, if there is security to be made, I am in Cross River State, and it is the business of the government of Cross River State to provide security first. That is part of what they should do, and it is not my business to provide security for myself. That is on the one side. But, I also know where you are coming from because everybody that said anything about the government got bullied. If it was a rally, the rally is scattered, and all manner of things. I really want to believe that those things were mere coincidences. I really what to believe so, but unfortunately, I can’t. The coincidences would be too frequent to be near coincidences. Are you calling on Cross Riverians to produce a credible alternative to Ayade in 2019; is that what you are asking for? On the issue of credible alternative: Yes. We are calling on people to rise. We are calling on other political parties, we are calling on, not just the parties now, we are calling on even the citizens themselves. You must first begin to talk about what goes on in your party, in your state. You must. And even if you were under some form of spell, that spell is broken now.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 30, 2018

POLITY

Northern Youths Honour Jasper Jumbo Bennett Oghifo

T

he Executives of Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has presented a plaque of honour to Prof Jasper Jumbo, a front line crusader for the development of the Niger Delta

region. The organization honoured him with

the Sarduana Leadership Award as the “Sarkuwan Matasan Arewa” meaning the shied of the Northern Youth, in recognition of his selfless services to humanity. Presenting the award to him in his Port Harcourt residence, the youth leaders said: “Prof Jumbo is an emancipator of the common people, being the voice of the voiceless, helper to the helpless and his contribution

towards human capacity building is second to none in the Niger Delta. He is a man of many sides that can only be described based on the side one sees. Your indelible contributions to the Niger Delta will forever be in the annals of history as an emancipator to the region. “This kind-hearted individual has given so much to his society in terms of employment,

June 12 Movie Ready Ferdinand Ekechukwu

W

henever the event of June 12, 1993 poll is mentioned, one name that easily comes to mind is MKO Abiola. The reason to that is not farfetched. He is the acclaimed winner of the presidential election that checkered Nigeria’s

democratic terrain till date. Now imagine a feature film about that memorable incident without ‘Abiola’, the protagonist of that political episode, as the central focus of the story. That might just be the twist of the movie which is set to capture the exigencies, realities and the intricacies that shaped that political period and eventually

FGtoAssistKatsinaRainstorm,FloodVictims Francis Sardauna in Katsina

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday condoled with the people of Katsina State over the recent rainstorm and flood which claimed over 12 lives and destroyed property worth millions of naira. He said federal government would send officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ascertain the rate of damage caused by the natural disasters for prompt intervention. Buhari, who arrived Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport at about

9: 56am in company of Governor Aminu Bello Masari and other top officials, paid condolence visit to the Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman. Speaking at the Emir’s palace, the President sympathised with the Emir and the affected persons and assured them that he would do everything in his power to ameliorate the plights of the affected people. He said: “I’m here to commiserate with you over the loss you recorded. I want to assure you that the federal government will stand with you through this trying time. May God return what you lost and even more than what you had lost.”

marked as defining moment in Nigeria’s political history. This the Young Nigerians Against Greed (YNAG), the producing platform of the eponymous ‘June 12’ movie, explained at a press meeting to flag off the movie project. According to them, it’s a movie set to capture the pre, during and aftermath of the landmark June 12 election. Interestingly, the handlers of the ‘June 12’ movie project claimed it is not politically motivated neither is it government sponsored. In their words, “It is about the realities of the Nigerian political situation from the 1993 election debacle. It brings to clarity the events that marked this historical watershed based on the true life story.” “This movie promises to cast the finest actors and actresses in the movie industry both local and international”, the producers further noted. Thus the search for the right crew and cast is on for interested persons should mail info@june12.website. On this movie project are seasoned Nollywood practitioners Sola Fosudo and Desmond Eliot as the directors, with Adeoye ‘Bakky’ Bakare and Edward Olutoke as the movie producers.

scholarship helping the less privileged and always putting up blue print that will better the lives of his immediate environment and the nation at large.” In his response Prof Jumbo, a former aide to the late Dr K.O. Mbadiwe and Mazi S.G. Ikoku in the 2nd Republic, Director, Sustainable Development Agriculture and Environment Rivers State for the UNDP Regional Consultant Skills Acquisition Programme Rivers State Petroleum and Agency, Niger Delta Development Commission etc, expressed his gratitude to the Northern Youths for honouring him and pledged his continued support to various human development projects that uplift mankind in the country. The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria is a body of youths from the 19 Northern States including the FCT, saddled with the responsibility of fostering peaceful co-existence, building, training and celebrating good leadership in the nation at large.

Jumbo

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Public Affairs and Communications, Manager, Coca-cola, Amaka Onyemelukwe; Legal Public Affairs and Communications Director, (NBC), Sade Morgan; Regional Public Affairs and Communications Manager, East Central, Barnabas Eke; and Consumer Services Manager, Nigeria Bottling Company, Peace Emele at the NBC Mid-Year Media Parley held in Lagos...yesterday SUNDAYADIGUN

L-R: Executive Director, Investments, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd. Mr. Oladele Sotubo; Senior Manager, Benefits and Insurance, National Pension Commission, Mr. Louis Henshaw; Chief Executive, SIPML, Mr. Eric Fejemisin; and Head, Business Development, (SIPML), Mrs. Nike Bajomo; at the 2018 Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers pre-retirement seminar in Lagos , recently

L-R: Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Abuja branch, Mr. Emasealu Odun; President, MAN, Dr. Frank Jacobs; and Director-General, MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, during a press conference on MAN’s position on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in Lagos… recently

L-R: MD/ CEO Arm-Harith Infrastructre, Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma;Consultant, Mrs Folakemi Akinleye;; Commissioner for Cmmerce & Industry Ogun State, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Acing Director Presideney Infractrastuture Regutartry Commission, Engr. Chdi Izuwah and Partrer Aelex, Mr. Fubara Anga at the private Investment in Infrastucture the State as Emabers confernce hed in Lagos MUBO PETERS.

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťÍ¸Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

EXPRESSION/PEOPLE

MEDIAGAFFES

All-Expense-Paid Promo

EBERE WABARA

“W

E celebrate you today (a comma) 14th June, 2018 (another comma) on the occasion of your 80th Birthday Anniversaryâ€? (Full-page advertorial from the Board, Management and Staff of Metropolitan Motors Limited, Vanguard, June 4) ‘Birthday’ and ‘anniversary’ cannot co-function. “80 happy cheers to an accomplished entrepreneurâ€? (Source: as above) Are there ‘unhappy cheers? Perhaps, the script writer meant ‘hearty cheers’. Cheerfulness symbolizes happiness. â€œâ€Śappeal to the discredited tactics of past times also wreaks havoc on the procedural sanctity of the democratic path.â€? About three weeks ago, I inadvertently corrected ‘past times’ to ‘pastimes’ in my interventions. One of my ardent readers, Baba Ilesha, called my attention to it. The extract was right. I apologize for my fixation—not ignorance. â€œâ€Śhis wife and family members at the funeral mass of (for) their father, late (the late)‌.â€? (THISDAY Front Page Caption, May 19) Since it was a funeral mass, there was no point adding ‘late’ before the man’s name as fatality had been implied. “Herdsmen (Herdsmen’s) killings: Enough of condolence visitsâ€? (Source: as above) “AIG orders arrests (arrest) of 3 policemenâ€? “Fear as kidnappers lay siege on (to) Dandume, Sadumeâ€? “Anambra street traders, hawkers risk two weeks (weeks’) jailâ€?

“We drove into Chief’s house without any incidence.â€? (THISDAY Back Page Pendulum, May 19) There is a clinical distinction between ‘incidence’ and ‘incident’, which applies here. From THISDAY to DAILY SUN of May 23: “Halt your second term (second-term) campaign, CAN tells Buhariâ€? “Over 10,000 protests (protest) in Nsukka, demand end to violenceâ€? “The 12 basic demands of the Trump administration as enunciated by Secretary Pompeo on Monday was (were) proofs of American arrogance.â€? (Voice of The Nation EDITORIAL, May 23) “Fayemi suspends campaign to mourn late APC chieftainâ€? (Source: as above) Ekiti Guber (Governorship): Do we mourn the living? â€œâ€Śtells tales of woes, lives under bridgeâ€? (Abuja Metro, May 23) Get it right: tales of woe “Glo launches all-expenses-paid (allexpense-paid) promoâ€? “IN appreciation and thanksgiving to God Almighty for a life of accomplishment (accomplishments) we, the members of‌ do hereby announce the departure to eternal glory of our patriach (sic)‌.â€? Glorious exit: why not simply ‘we, the members of‌announce‌’ and this: patriarch. ‘Do hereby’ is Elizabethan English used in the civil service and judiciary as part of its legalese. “Eagles (Eagles’) camp bubbles as‌arrive (arrive in) Uyoâ€? “Whistle-blower (Whistle blowing): FG concludes investigation on (into) 534 cases‌ secures 4 convictions (conviction)â€? (Page Two Business, DAILY SUN, May 28) “Naval personnel kills suspected cult leader in Imoâ€? News around the City: ‘personnel’ is a collective noun and cannot be used as extracted. So, depending on the rank of the person involved, it becomes

BY

‘naval rating’ or ‘naval officer’—certainly not ‘personnel’. “NDLEA arrests father of 2 over (for) cannabis in Edoâ€? From National News of May 28 comes the next headline blunder: “Campaign against drug abuse, Buhari charges Governors’ Wives (Wives’) Forumâ€? Daily Sun Editorial of May 28circulated three lapses: “Apart from the NNPC, other revenue generating (revenue-generating) agencies affected by the order include‌.â€? â€œâ€Śsaid that (sic) the auditing of the agencies has (had) been extended to cover the period from 2015 to 2017‌.â€? “That is one sure way to ensure that the malfeasance does not occur again.â€? This way: the malfeasance does not recur. “Pilots raise alarm (the alarm) over landing safetyâ€? â€œâ€Śintegrity and humility to governance in Enugu State is an attestation of your sterling qualities as a visionary leader.â€? 3 years of giant strides: are attestations to your‌. “Giant strides in urban and rural development with a (sic) limited resources‌.â€? Daily Sun Editorial of May 30 assaulted the English language half-a-dozen times: “It is, indeed, senseless to attack the court, the sacred temple of justice (another comma) a few months before the 2019 general elections (election).â€? “The attack‌is an affront on (to) the judiciary.â€? “The police must make frenetic effort (a frenetic effort or frenetic efforts) to fish out those behind the attack as well as their sponsors.â€? “They should be prosecuted and severe punishment meted to (meted out to) those found guilty of the offence.â€? It would have been tidy if the sentence had ended at ‘guilty’.

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

Wrong: Christian wake-keeping Right: Christian wake or just wake â€œâ€ŚI have been to nearly 27 countries in Africa to study their economy (economies).â€? (Politics & Power, June 4) “Ekweremadu flags off (launches) water scheme to end scarcity in constituencyâ€? (South East News, June 4) “Truly, Mr. Projects (Projects’) Doctor’s (Doctors’) Quarters, Port Harcourt‌ “Over the counter (Over-the-counter) purchase of PTAâ€? (Full-page advertisement by Fidelity Bank PLC) “Catholic priests protest against killingsâ€? (National News, June 6) Yank off ‘against’ because it is otiose. â€œâ€Ślaws that hitherto vested the sole approving authority of mining licences and their regulation on (in) the Federal Government.â€? (Daily Sun Editorial, June 6) â€œâ€Śand those of other state governments which anniversary falls on same day (on the same day)â€? “Under bridge (Under-bridge) occupants: Abuja’s new threatâ€? (Abuja Metro Banner, June 6) “2 Anambra communities end over 90 years land disputeâ€? (Oriental News, June 6) For peace to reign: over-90 years’ land dispute “Nsukka council chair, others pays (sic) last respectâ€? Writing right: last respects “Rape for food (Rape-for-food): Fireworks over sex allegations against soldiers at IDP campsâ€? (Abuja Metro, June 6) “9mobile unveils vehicle tracking (vehicle-tracking) solutionâ€? “Osinbajo to intervene in Lagos, luxury bus owners (owners’) face-offâ€? “APC group sensitises (sensitizes, preferably) members on (to) party’s national conventionâ€? (Daily Sun Headline, June 6)

ÙÞĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹ĂŁĂ?Ă—Ă“ËŞĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă?à ÙÖĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă–ĂŁËœ Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÙĂ&#x;Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ™Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Þ˛ Femi Ogbonnikan ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?̋ÞÙĂ&#x;Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă™ ĂŒĂ‹ ÙÞĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹ĂŁĂ?Ă—Ă“

L

oved by all and sundry for his magnanimity, Omo Oba Dotun Babayemi stands out from the pack. He has demonstrated his love for the poor, especially the indigent students, from primary to tertiary institutions, the sick and aged, in ten local governments and 14 cities in Osun West Senatorial District of Osun State. Dotun, as he is fondly being called, began his life-touching programme, when he established Favour, Kindness and Grace (FKG), foundation. Babayemi subsequently distinguished himself as a selfless leader and one with a heart for the less privileged, with various empowerment programmes. Brilliant students from poor homes have benefited from his scholarship programme, with well over 400 students graduating from various higher institution of learning over the last eight years. Dotun has also driven the expansion of businesses belonging to Osun indigenes, leveraging resources available to him locally and internationally. His foundation has over the last five years conducted Annual Health Fair (free tests, diagnosis and free medication) across his senatorial district. The last edition of the health fair in November 2017 saw 27,000 people checked and treated free by senior consultants from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Teaching Hospital across 15 locations in the 10 local governments that make up Osun West Senatorial District. There were 121 post-fair surgeries and 203 post-fair glaucoma and cataract surgeries at the Eye Foundation Clinic in Ijebu Mushin. In the last five years, the foundation has provided over 18,000 pairs of medicated prescription glasses to the people of Osun West Senatorial district with sight impairment. Dotun has also sponsored multiple surgeries to treat life-threatening medical problems across the state for the poor citizens. His bosom friends pat him on the back for his benevolence to mankind. One of them, Olumide Taiwo, his secondary school classmate at St Patrick Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State, and Ogun State University (now, Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, described Dotun as a dependable ally. Taiwo said: “I have known Dotun for well over 40 years ago. We have been together since our secondary school days and we both got admitted at Ogun State University (OSU) in 1985. He is a good person, very reliable and dependable.

Dotun It is when you are down that you will know him. He is a good motivator. He is kind-hearted, and he is not elitist because he mixes with everybody. He does not like seeing people around him suffering or groaning. Once he knows or sees that, he takes up your problem, like his own, and he will come to the rescue. Also, he cherishes developing innate abilities in youths and he engages them positively. In a nutshell, he creates opportunities for youths and ensures they are gainfully employed to prevent them from joining bad gangs.� To avoid leaving the political space to only political jobbers and their cronies, Dotun ventured into partisan politics in

order to contribute his own quota to improving the lots of the less privileged in his state and beyond. Babayemi is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his active participation in partisan politics predated the emergence of the then defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), which later metamorphosed into Action Congress (AC), subsequently to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and to the current APC, for almost two decades. In no small measure, he has contributed his quota towards the development of the party, both at the local and national levels. Babayemi voluntarily designed and implemented intelligence capability for security decision making in Osun State in 2013/2014. He was also a key driver in the design, development and implementation of electronic voting monitoring platform for the 2014 governorship election in Osun State. He was a lead in the implementation of the election monitoring platform for the 2015 Nigerian Presidential, National Assembly and Lagos State gubernatorial election for the APC. This philanthropist participated in all the political activities that took place in all the nooks and crannies of Osun State, leading to the successful re-election of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in August 2014, sponsoring members of his senatorial district to the rallies and providing financial assistance at the ward, local, senatorial, state and federal levels to ensure Ogbeni was re-elected. Babayemi was born in 1966 in Gbongan, in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun state to the family of late Oba Solomon Babayemi, the (Akinrinola 1), the Olufi of Gbongan. His late father, the immediate past monarch of Gbongan, played a pivotal role in the creation of Osun State. In order to bring government closer to his people by representing them at the federal level, in May 2017, Omooba Babayemi threw his hat into the political ring and obtained the APC form for the bye election to represent Osun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, but the party opted for another candidate. Unperturbed, Dotun still supported the APC candidate. Driven by his desire to touch the lives of his people in Osun State, Dotun returned to Nigeria in 2007 with his family and joined Celtel Nigeria Ltd as Director of Strategy and thereafter as Group General Manager for Northern Nigeria. He left the organization in 2009 to set up his own group of companies with interests in security solutions, telecommunications and mining.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚͜

55

S'West PDP Condemns Arraignment of Faboyede, Ondo Chairman Bennett Oghifo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the arraignment in a High Court in Lagos, yesterday, of the Chairman of the Party in Ondo State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged laundering of N500 million, stating that it was the Party that was being tried. “We note the arraignment of Engr Clement Faboyede, PDP Chairman, Ondo State alongside Akogun Tokunbo Modupe, who was the Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Group in our State,� said a statement issued yesterday by PDP’s Zonal Publicity Secretary, South West, Ayo Fadaka. “It is imperative to clearly underscore the fact that the N500 million upon which this case is built is the campaign fund

TAPPING THEIR BLESSINGS ... L-R: The Primate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, His Grace Dr. Chukwuemeka Uche; Anglican Archbishop Magnus Atilade; Mr. Peter Obi and pastor Paul Adefarasin, at the 242nd American Independence Day celebration at the Consul General's residence in Ikoyi, Lagos...yesterday

Ibeshi to Resuscitate Tinapa, Obudu Ranch Bennett Oghifo

Court Orders EFCC to Unfreeze Nyako's Account Alex EnumahinAbuja Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the accounts of Senator Abdullaziz Nyako and a company linked to him. The order which should be carried out unconditionally is with immediate effect. Nengiofori Jumbo, Senator Abdullaziz Nyako and Blue Opal Nigeria Ltd (Applicants) had in June 2015, commenced legal action against the EFCC over the freezing of their accounts and sealing of the Hillview Estate, Abuja, owned by the Senator.

Abdullaziz a son to former Adamawa State governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), and a current Senator representing Adamawa Southern Senatorial District in the National Assembly, had instituted the fundamental rights suit against the anti-graft agency. Delivering judgement Thursday, the judge held that the action of the EFCC (respondent) amounted to gross violation of the fundamental rights of the applicants. Consequently, the court declared that the sealing and forfeiture of the applicants’ property (Hillview Estate) Abuja by the EFCC was "unlawful and oppressive", as the action of the Federal Government agency violated

the applicants fundamental rights as guaranteed under sections 36, 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. "In conclusion, the application has merit, same is hereby granted but with following indications, that is, only reliefs 1, 2, and 3 are expressly granted in toto while as regards reliefs 4,5 and 6 are refused. "But the commission is hereby ordered to unfreeze the account of the applicants, unconditionally and forthwith. "The commission having sealed up the premises of the applicants since July 2014 should unseal it forthwith or better still open up the Hillview Estate immediately" Justice Quadri

ordered. Justice Quadri noted that the case was such "where the issue of impertinent abuse of court process and issue estoppel are successfully raised and in my humble view, the order of Honourable Justice Evoh Chukwu (of blessed memory) was given per incurriam due to suppression and misrepresentation by the commission". Continuing, Justice Quadri said, "Based on these two issues, which I have found raised successfully in favour of the applicants herein the interim order of Late Justice Chukwu is hereby set aside and based on abuse of court processes and same issue already dealt with to finality by Justice Gabriel Kolawole (now JCA).

Nwankpa Fails in Court to Reverse Children Embrace Communication with Capri-Sonne Emoji Pouches Sack as Abia APC Chairman Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

Embattled factional chairman of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Donatus Nwankpa has failed in his bid to reverse his earlier sack as the state chairman of the party following the rejection of his application to upturn the restraining court order by an Abia State High Court. Instead, the trial judge, Justice Collinton Okoroafor affirmed that Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe remained the authentic chairman of the party in Abia. The APC has been engulfed in leadership crisis with two factions claiming supremacy. The faction that has Hon Nwankpa as chairman is

backed by the former governor of Abia, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu while the faction led by Dr. Ndukwe has the blessing of Chief Ikechi Emenike, a chieftain of APC. Nwankpa had gone to the court seeking extension of time to vacate the court order issued on March 8, 2018 which restrained him from parading himself as the Abia APC chairman. The then national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun was also restrained from recognising Nwankpa as chairman. But Hon Nwankpa did not obey the court order which he described as “kangaroo court order and a nullity� only to go back to the same court with an application seeking to set aside the restraining order.

Rebecca Ejiforma

Nigeria’s leading kids fruit drink, Capri-Sonne, is aiming to create further brand engagement with the launch of its Express Yourself Campaign. Renowned for offering unique experiences with its signature taste, playful pouch and exciting consumer engagements, the campaign which entails the introduction of Capri-Sonne Emoji Pouches, looks to encourage kids to creatively express themselves with iconic emoji symbols. The distinct Capri-Sonne pouches which are already generating a buzz of excitement are seen as an innovative way to build affinity with kids in an age where virtual

communication has revolutionised the way people communicate and express themselves. Emojis are small colourful digital images or icons used to express an idea or emotion. They are increasingly popular and widely adopted by kids as an unofficial universal language in everyday communication. With eight different “emojis�, the Capri-Sonne limited edition pouches portray various exciting expressions that will fascinate and stir interest in kids to express themselves whilst having a taste of fun. The campaign connects through its pouches that showcase heroic, stylish, artistic and other expressive emojis that offer opportunities for kids to gain more knowledge, as well as build confidence.

FG Plans 4 Power Sub-stations With 330KVA in Ogun FemiOgbonnikaninAbeokuta Determined to ensure regular supply for both domestic and industrial use, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said it has begun the construction of four new power sub-stations with 330KVA at different locations in Ogun state. The four sub-stations are located in Ogijo, MFM (Ibafo), Arigbajo and

Agbara. Speaking at the inauguration of the new 60MVA, 132/33KV transformer at Ijebu-Ode sub-station, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Friday, Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Mr. Usma Gur Mohammed, said the construction of the four new sub-stations was part of the expansion initiatives the government has put in place in view of the current ever-increasing industrialisation

in Ogun State. According to the MD, the Federal government took the bold steps in constructing additional sub-stations across the nation, noting that the targeted 100,000 megawatts have been earmarked to cater for the well over 170 million Nigerians populace to enjoy regular power supply. He said the reinforcement and rehabilitation project (RRP) at Ijebu-Ode

132/33KV sub-station contract was awarded alongside Ayede and Osogbo (both Osun State) TS respectively to Messrs Fedder Lloyd Engineering Company of India as NGP-T1 Lot 3 under the world bank-sponsored project at a cost of $9 million in addition to N166 million local content in January 2012, but it became effective in 2013 and was expected for completion within 24 months.

released by the Party to the Ondo State PDP through the Fidelity Bank and not in any manner a fraudulent issue. “It was these gentlemen who signed and withdrew the money on behalf of the Party and this is the reason why the EFCC is prosecuting them,� the statement said. The PDP said, “While we are not interested in the politics surrounding this matter, we however wish to state categorically that the APC is merely abusing the privileges of power to persecute the PDP endlessly, this we consider pedestrian and cheap. “We reiterate very firmly that these gentlemen are no criminals as they only acted on behalf of the Party, it is the PDP that is on trial here and as a Party, we continue to repose confidence in the ability of the judiciary to adjudicate on this matter.�

Two key assets in Cross River State, the Obudu Cattle Ranch and the Tinapa Business Resort could spring back to live to meet the aspirations of the state’s immediate past two governors, Mr. Donald Duke and Senator Lyel Imoke, if former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Emmanuel Ibeshi is elected governor of the state in the next election. Ibeshi who is set to declare his intention to run for governor in Cross River State presently has said that these two projects, which had been lying comatose in the last three years since Imoke left government,were at the core of a 12-prong economic, social and entrepreneurial transformation and rescue mission which are the pillars of his action plan as governor of Cross River State. Interestingly, it was learnt that Duke and Imoke, along with Ibeshi, together fashioned the new Cross River State vision with Duke picked to begin the state’s revival mission in May, 1999, an assignment he discharged and handed over to Imoke in 2007. “Truth be told, Donald Duke used eight years to put Cross River in the face of the world as the destination of choice for commercial travelers and a haven for tourism seeking foreigners as well as Nigerians,� Ibeshi was quoted as saying. He further said: “Duke revamped the Obudu Cattle Ranch and created the Tinapa project, a N200 billion annual economy aimed at creating thousands of jobs. These giant strides had set the pace for the economic and socio-political development of Cross River State as a destination of choice for investors,� Ibeshi was reported to have added. He regretted however that the pace of activities in the state in the last three years had reduced these enviable projects to mere historical monuments with nothing to show, a situation that has turned the state into a sleepy environment compared to the vibrancy with which it was known from 1999 to 2015. “Senator Imoke succeeded Duke and added value to the foundation laid by Duke. Imoke made access to rural communities his first target to enable rural dwellers commute through asphalted roads instead of earth roads that collapsed during heaven rains. “He partnered with the African Development Bank in the Rural Access Mobilisation Project (RAMP)

and reached almost all rural neighbourhoods in Cross River State with RAMP Phase 1. “Imoke created the Rural Development Agency (RUDA) that became the main fulcrum of his administration tending towards rural development and infrastructure. “Imoke established the Institute of Technology and Management Ugep and the Shonghai Farms. These two key projects of Imoke’s were aimed at tapping into the agricultural potentials of Cross River State using the Shonghai model. The Institute of Management and Technology was established to build capacity for the value chains realised from the Shonghai model. “Imoke established Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) to encourage young entrepreneurs by giving them soft loans in their various fields of endeavour in line with identified value chains “These are but a few amongst many other agencies Imoke’s administration created to give verve to making Cross River State sustain her enviable status that Donald Duke had placed her nationally and globally,� Ibeshi reminisced. He however regretted that all these projects had become comatose, thereby taking Cross River State almost back to pre-1999 era, a situation he promised to address as a matter of urgency, to resuscitate and re-launch the state back to its position of glory, and position it immediately to reclaim its once leading place as the destination of choice for tourism and commerce.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as CHINYERE JOY OKORO, now wish to be known and addressed as CHINYERE JOY OJI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UMOREN BENEDICT PAULINUS now wish to be known and addressed as UMOREN BENEDICT OGASA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

I ABIMBOLA MOBOLANLE ATUNRASE SMITH is the same as one as I ABIMBOLA MOBOLANLE ATUNRASHE SMITH ,MOBOLANLE ATUNRASE SMITH and ABIMBOLA MOBOLANLE SMITH, Now wished to be addressed as MOBOLANLE ATUNRASE SMITH. The general public should please take note.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

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MISSILE

CAN to Buhari “If communities can be attacked and hundreds slaughtered without security organisations providing rescue efforts, then it becomes obvious that Nigeria’s security system has been compromised.” –The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemning the killing of over 200 people in three local government areas of Plateau State by herdsmen last Sunday.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

An Evening with Two Presidential Aspirants in Abuja

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ellow Nigerians, nothing is more uppermost in the minds of Nigerians and friends of Nigeria than that of Nigeria’s general elections next year and, in particular, the Presidential race. I have had the honour of talking to a few of the Presidential aspirants in recent times, one or one or by telephone. So far, I have interacted with former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Cross River State Governor, Mr Donald Duke, the Chairman of BEN TV London, Mr Alistair Soyode, and my former running-mate, Dr Yunusa Tanko. Two nights ago, I succeeded in sitting down with two very formidable aspirants, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, at their homes in Abuja. The separate meetings, which took place one after the other, lasted till the wee hours of Friday morning. I was simply curious to catch a glimpse of their mind-set and, trust me, my efforts truly paid off. First to receive me two nights ago was Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Sitting down with this friendly leader is always a great delight. This occasion was not different. We discussed frankly and openly. His confidence level is truly that of a man who has been in the system, and in the race, longer than most of the other aspirants. Before I go into details of our latest conversation, let me do a recap of my general observations of the ruling party, APC, and the leading opposition party, PDP. I was one of those who suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari has no business seeking re-election, on account of age and diminishing stamina, but that advice seems to have been rubbished and dismissed by his apparent decision to go ahead, and contest again, next year despite the obvious. Though it is now belated, I wish to place it on record that the best way for APC to retain power is for President Buhari to do the unexpected, sacrifice his personal ambition and hand over to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was able to relatively stabilise and unite Nigeria while the President was away on medical vacation in Nigeria. I wish to assure the President that he would get accolades and a louder ovation than he did when he honoured Chief Moshood Abiola and June 12 recently. President Buhari, by this decision, would instantly kill several birds with one stone. He would have helped Nigeria kill the hydra-headed nonsense of unproductive zoning and ethnic jingoism. He would have also rubbished those who see and label him as a religious bigot and Islamic extremist which no one has been able to prove in concrete terms except through conspiracy theories. He would also have bequeathed to Nigeria a more than worthy successor who he can be confident will vigorously continue with the fight against corruption, whilst taking Nigeria to greater economic heights. Failing to do this, the President would lead his embattled and beleaguered party into a war they are not likely to win, and risk being humiliated out of power and totally demystified forever. For the sake of all the fervent supporters who laboured strenuously for his victory in 2015, this is not the road and route to take. But I know this simple and straight-forward and patriotic suggestion would be dismissed and derided by those who view power as the beginning and end of life, the present beneficiaries who are ruling our country from behind the “iron” curtain. In the next few weeks, as the melodrama begins to unfold and explode in the faces of those who have failed to learn the lessons and examples of history, let it be said and remembered that I said my own, even if my saying was considered a heresy and anathema to their obstinate position and ambition. Let’s now briefly move on to likely scenarios

Dele Momodu with Atiku and possibilities. It is certain that going by the recent National Convention of APC many formidable members of the ruling party are more than disenfranchised and disgruntled. The only option left is for them to carry whatever is left of their dignity and self-worth and find other parties to join. Most naturally, and definitely, the greatest beneficiary will turn out to be PDP. APC would be shooting itself in the foot to think PDP has become so weak and can no longer spring any surprises in the near and foreseeable future. History has an uncanny way of repeating itself and what I can see very vividly from my crystal-ball is that the same grand conspiracy that swept PDP out of government in 2015 is about to recur with mathematical accuracy. There is not a single State won by APC in 2015 that it can confidently say it would win bigger and better this time. Rather the figures would shrink and diminish. If in doubt, please, exercise patience. That is how divided the seemingly unifying party at the time has now become. The war of attrition within the party is eating at its very soul and core and it is making it to bleed and lose supporters and voters. The chickens will certainly come home to roost. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is upbeat that this is payback time for him and he is ready to finally claim the mandate that has eluded him since 1993 when he had to step down for Chief Moshood Abiola and in 2003 when he succumbed to pressure and allowed his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to seek and secure a second term. For him, life is a journey of destiny. He believes no one is as prepared and ready to hit the grand running as him. I asked if he is very sure that he will get the PDP ticket, his response is that he has reached out to all the stakeholders and he believes that those who don’t want Buhari to come back are very serious about who they see as having the national appeal to defeat him at the polls. His mathematical permutation is that he is the most visible and readily recognisable Nigerian politician in the race. He says the Nigerian government has lost total grip on all aspects of governance and that President Buhari appears to be totally confused. He believes Buhari has refused to tap into the huge human resources and talents it has pleased God to bless Nigeria with. He is of the opinion that Nigeria is bleeding dangerously because Buhari has virtually polarised the country like no one else since the civil war. “Therefore, the leader Nigeria needs urgently is one who can unite the country and heal the deep wounds,

... with Kwankwaso not another Buhari who would further divide Nigeria and deepen the wounds,” Atiku declared matter-of-factly. He is relying on his track record as someone with the requisite cosmopolitan experience and exposure. He said Nigeria is being led by those whose views belong in the stone age and if Nigerians give him the chance, they will see the difference instantly, because he would assemble the best and most competent Nigerians for the best posts as he’s always done. “Check my records Dele, my office as Vice President reflected the best of Nigeria; the guys were young and vibrant, and I gave them the wings to fly…” he said. I asked how he intends to tackle the seemingly pervasive public perception that he is a corrupt leader and he responded with all the emphasis at his command: “I have thrown the challenge repeatedly that anyone who has any corrupt charges against me should come forward… I never stole government money. Do you think President Obasanjo would not have exposed me if there was any such act of stealing?” I fired the next shot as always and told him Nigerian youths are asking why he cannot enter the United States and he answered again like he did during our last chat in Lagos: “The youths have every right to ask and be answered convincingly. The youths of today are confident and bold. No leader can treat them as nobody. But in my case, they have been lied to about Atiku and fed with a lot of propaganda. I applied to America for visa which was not granted. A man who is afraid of being arrested won’t go near the American Embassy, it is simple logic. If America says come today, I will board the flight and go there soonest. Perhaps, America was fed with lies about me. It is normal in politics. The Indian and Kenyan leaders could not visit America at a time. America is not like Nigeria where we convict people on the pages of newspapers.” He pleaded that his business dealings are above board and very professional and that any of our past and current leaders who have done better should come out to show what they have done. “I will definitely create an enabling environment for our business icons and young entrepreneurs to thrive. What I see today in this government is the promotion of poverty and the glorification of backwardness. How can a government be gloating that they are fighting corruption when thousands if not millions are losing jobs and even their lives,” he opined. Before I left, he said he has done his best to persuade members of his party about his

ability to defeat Buhari and reverse our lack of progress. ‘Nigeria has to be managed as serious business and I’m certainly equipped in that aspect more than any other…” I left him and headed to Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso’s home. We had met in South Africa last year and I was looking forward to this interaction. Our recent meeting was graciously arranged by his wonderful son, Mubarak, a much younger friend of mine, very calm and intelligent. Kwankwaso was having dinner with his hordes of supporters when his son sent him a message that I was around. He immediately asked that I should be ushered in to join them at dinner, but I already had mine. He looked very relaxed despite the tension of the moment. I waited for him to finish and we moved into his small office. He reminds me of the friend of the ‘talakawa’, in the mold of late Mallam Aminu Kano. My first question to him was if he’s still in APC since he boycotted their National Convention in Abuja last week. He smiled, almost sarcastically, and said, it was obvious some people did not want to see his face there and he too did not dignify them with his presence. “A man who respects himself should never force himself on anyone,” he stated. He said he is proud of his contributions to APC and how God used him to deliver 1.9 million votes to Buhari in the last election. Does he mean he has finally dumped the party? He appeared serious this time without exhibiting any bitterness: “I’m a free man now and available to try my luck elsewhere but I know that PDP is the biggest party and as long as they follow democratic principle, Buhari will easily be defeated, but if they handpick and force any candidate on the party, they will fail. “ I really enjoyed the way he analysed things and broke down the politics of Presidential electioneering in his own simple terms: “PDP needs someone from the 3k States, Kano, Katsina and Kaduna to win the next election. That’s where the votes are. It would be difficult to win if they pick someone from any other zone…” This was new approach to me. So, I asked if he feels he is the only candidate who can beat Buhari in a popularity contest, he said “of course, yes.” He likes to showcase his humongous achievements as the Governor of Kano State. He has compiled his work into a book and I must say, it is very impressive. He expects Nigerians to allow him replicate what he has done in Kano nationwide. His experience also as a former Defence Minister makes him a veritable choice to tackle the menace of terrorism in Nigeria He claims he gave APC the structure that produced the monumental result that catapulted Buhari back to power and that he still holds that magic wand. He said there is no way Buhari can repeat such impressive showing in Kano when he is fighting him and his counterpart, the former Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau. He studiously avoided discussing the chances of Atiku picking the PDP ticket and if he would support who ever emerges as the flagbearer of the party. His simple and non-committal response is that he cannot hand votes over to those who are not better than him and that PDP would have to think well and make the best decision. “I can guarantee them that I will beat Buhari if given the chance…” he declared before we stood up to take pictures to commemorate our meeting. As I said good night, I could see the face of a man so determined to go into battle with Buhari, but in need of a good and viable platform. The next days ahead should be very interesting indeed …

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