Osinbajo: Success of $16bn Egina Project, Proof of FG’s Commitment to Economy More foreign investment in Floating Production Storage coming Eromosele Abiodun Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that the federal government’s commitment to the $16 billion
Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) project had demonstrated its commitment to building a strong and viable economy. Osinbajo also expressed
the hope that the successful delivery of the project will attract more investments in the country, particularly in the area of FPSOs. He stated this yesterday,
when he paid a working visit to the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL). LADOL is currently playing host to the fabrication of the $16 billion oil and gas logistics
service facility commonly known as the FPSO rig, otherwise called the Egina project. The project, which has been applauded as the first
-of- its- kind in the sub-Saharan Africa is being handled by the Korea-based Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) on behalf of Continued on page 6
Placing Daura under House Arrest, not Enough, Says Umar…
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Stop Meddling in Politics, NBA Tells Security Agencies, Military Alex Enumah in Abuja The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), yesterday warned the military and other security agencies against meddling into
Nigerian politics, particularly in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, who gave the warning at the launch
of the NBA endowment fund in support of Access to Justice Interventions in the North East Region, said involvement of security agencies in the democratic process would be
against the overall interest of Nigerians. Mahmoud said: "I will like to caution that it is unpatriotic to seek to enlist military or security agencies in the ongoing political
skirmishes. "I also want to appeal to our security agencies and our Armed Forces to maintain their professionalism and abide by their constitutional duties and
responsibilities". He expressed concern that Nigeria is facing major challenges of law and order Continued on page 6
FG Planning to Frame-up, Arrest Us, Say Saraki, Ekweremadu Plot underway to twist facts of National Assembly invasion Lai Mohammed: Only the guilty should be afraid Oshiomhole: APC will apply due process to remove Senate President Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Deji Elumoye and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The leadership of the Senate yesterday raised the alarm over alleged plans by the federal government to arrest the principal officers of the Senate and their families by next week. It also accused the federal
government of planning to twist facts regarding Tuesday's invasion of the National Assembly premises in Abuja by DSS operatives to indict the duo of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. On the same day, the National Chairman of the ruling Continued on page 6
Unknown Gunmen Kill 9 in Fresh Benue Attack…Page 14
ASSESSING EGINA PROJECT... Acting President Yemi Osinbajo with the Managing Director/CEO LADOL Free Zone, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, during Osinbajo’s visit to the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) Free Zone…yesterday
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PAGE SIX FG PLANNING TO FRAME-UP, ARREST US, SAY SARAKI, EKWEREMADU All Prigressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomohle declared that his party would follow due process to impeach the Senate President. In his reaction, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed simply said the Buhari government operates with respect for the Rule of law and that only the guilty are afraid of the government. Saraki and Ekweremadu in a joint statement signed by their media aides, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Uche Anichukwu stated that after receiving the interim report submitted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the Presidency yesterday constituted a closet panel to review the report and submit a final recommendation. They duo alleged that the federal government had therefore commenced the execution of a plot to implicate them and other People's Democratic Party (PDP) Senators in last Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly. The mandate of this closet panel, the two legislators stated, is to turn facts on the head and blame the invasion of the National Assembly on the two leaders of the red chamber of the National Assembly, who will now be presented as having worked in tandem with the sacked Director General of the DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura, to stage the parliamentary security breach. "We have been reliably informed that instead of the Presidency to set up a public inquiry or judicial commission to probe last Tuesday's early morning invasion of the National Assembly as being demanded by the general public, they have commenced a process of manipulation and fabrication. According to the duo, "The Presidency has set up a closet panel, which would work to a predetermined conclusion in which they will now claim that the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President worked in collusion with ex-DG of DSS, Lawal Daura to stage the invasion.
"They want to shield the fact that the previous night before the invasion and up till the early hours of Tuesday, there was a meeting of the APC senators and that the plan was for them to be moved in a Coaster bus into the National Assembly complex later that morning for them to purportedly remove us and select a new Senate President and Deputy Senate President. "Their plot only failed because the media, particularly social media, Nigerians and international community responded very swiftly as some legislators, who came into the complex were refused entry by gun-wielding, hooded security operatives. "Now, they want to turn the facts on its head and blame us for their botched plot against democracy. We are hereby alerting all Nigerians and members of the international community that the present Nigerian government will stop at nothing to destroy, suppress and incapacitate the opposition. This is their new tactic and plot as we approach the period of the 2019 polls. "We hereby reiterate our earlier position that the coup against democracy as represented by last week’s invasion must be probed through an independent judicial commission of inquiry, which will produce a comprehensive report. We reject any manipulated and fabricated investigation", Saraki and Ekweremadu stated. The presiding officers added that they have also uncovered a sinister plot in which the government plans to use the anti-graft and security agencies to incarcerate them and some members of their families from next week, all in a bid to break their will and effect their removal.
Oshiomhole: APC Will Apply Due Process to Remove Saraki On the same day, the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle stated that the party would follow due process to impeach Saraki.
He said that there was no way he would continue to hold on to his position, adding that he (Saraki) would be impeached according to the law. Oshiomohle also vowed that the leadership of APC would work hard to ensure that Saraki was defeated even in his senatorial election in Kwara come 2019 election. Oshiomhole made these remarks yesterday at a press briefing where he condemned Saraki’s criticism of the ruling party, saying that even before Saraki defected to the PDP, his leadership of the Senate was designed to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari's efforts to turn around the fortune of the country. There have been allegations that the APC plans to remove the Senate President for defecting to the opposition PDP. However, the APC National Chairman, who insisted that Saraki must be impeached as Senate President, stated: “Saraki's time is over as Senate President. If he (Saraki) thinks that by saying that he will preempt the APC from having him impeached, he is deceiving himself. I think that the time of Saraki is over, the way he has manipulated the politics of Kwara State, he failed to understand that the Nigerian project is far more complicated than being at the mercy of his own dynasty. "Go and check the results of the elections that made him a Senator and you will find out that the President got more votes from Kwara Central than Saraki got for himself. So, he can’t claim that the vote the APC got from his Senatorial zone was because of him. "And that is why his decamping from APC is of no political consequences as far as electoral issues are concerned. We tried to talk to him, not out of fear, but out of conviction that as a presiding officer, there are rules of engagement and we don’t want him to get so emotional as to affect those rules of engagements."
While giving instances on how the Senate President has frustrated the Buhari-led government, Oshiomohle said he had ensured that national budgets were delayed. “So, when I said he has never put the interest of Nigeria first, I support this statement by reference to the deliberate delay of the budget and deliberate manipulation of the provisions in the budget in a way that will compromise the capacity of the government to address critical infrastructures. "It is no longer a secret that as senate President, he tried to conspire with others to create a semblance of division within the ruling party having failed to truncate the convention, when they assembled a handful of people who were neither delegates nor contestants for any office at the convention to purport to have formed a political party. There is nothing for me to add to the illegality of this action and the false foundation that Senator Saraki tried to leave than to adopt the well thought-out presentation of Femi Falana." Speaking on the need for the Senate to reconvene and approve the budget of INEC, Oshiomohle said: "Between Tuesday and Thursday, the senate was expected to discuss the supplementary budget for INEC. INEC requirements are not things that you buy from the shelf. You have to order them from the manufacturers and so, time is of the essence. But the Senate under Saraki adjourned without considering the matters before it including the budget for INEC. "So, if Saraki adjourned the Senate ahead of schedule to resume towards the end of nominations, can that act be said to coincide with national interest? If you decide to frustrate INEC by denying it the funds that it requires, can you be said to be a defender of democracy? If INEC don’t get their funds and therefore are unable to conduct credible election, will that not lead to further consequences for our democracy?”
But Saraki debunked allegations of sabotaging the Buhari government. He said in a statement: “We need to inform this divisive element who now leads APC that if he wants to know why the 2018 budget was delayed, he should ask the heads of the MDAs. We reckon that should be easy for him since he is now their 'headmaster', moving around with canes to whip ministers into line. “Oshiomhole once again demonstrated his lack of sense of history by talking of Buhari winning more votes in Kwara than Saraki. We are sure President Buhari himself will disagree with the APC chairman. We invite the APC chairman to look at the figures of votes secured by the President in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 to know that the difference is clear, like a commercial advert stated.” Ortom: Those plotting Saraki’s fall are Enemies of Democracy In a related development, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday described those plotting to overthrow the leadership of the National Assembly as enemies of the country's democracy. In a press statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Terver Akasa, the governor urged the persons behind the plot to take a close look at the country's Constitution, as well as Senate rules to be properly guided. The Governor stated that though the election of a President of the Senate requires simple majority, removing the holder of the office takes two-thirds of the Senators. Ortom described the attacks on Saraki, including moves for his impeachment and threats to freeze his accounts as unfortunate developments which must be condemned and resisted by all patriots. He added that Saraki had demonstrated uncommon capacity to lead the Senate, pointing out that the Senate President had done nothing wrong in defecting from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the PDP. Ortom wondered why those who defect from APC become
targets for victimisation by Federal Government agencies, while those who move from other political parties to the ruling party are celebrated as 'saints'.
PDP to APC, Presidency: You Can’t Remove Saraki, Ekweremadu The PDP has asked the Presidency and the APC to abandon the idea of removing the Senate President and his deputy from office. The party said APC should stop deluding themselves and come to terms with the reality that they lacked the legislative number and constitutional facilities to impeach them. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, PDP said the Buhari Presidency and APC, having realised that there was no way they could muster the constitutionally required twothird votes of the 109 senators (representing 73 senators), engaged in underhand tactics, including the invasion of the National Assembly, which turned out to be a disgraceful adventure. The PDP said Nigerians were already aware of moves to use humongous funds to induce lawmakers to trigger crisis in the National Assembly and pave a way for the removal of presiding officers. "Now that they have discovered that there is no way they can achieve their devious intentions, they have commenced a war of blackmail, distortions of fact and media trial against the Senate leadership, which, of course, will end up as another wasteful venture as Nigerians are aware of the long-drawn desperation of the Buhari Presidency to annex the legislature. “Even among the ranks of the depleted APC Senators and members of the House of Representatives, there is a huge aversion to the underhand tactics being deployed by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to force out duly elected presiding officers of the National Assembly.”
OSINBAJO: SUCCESS OF $16BN EGINA PROJECT, PROOF OF FG’S COMMITMENT TO ECONOMY Total Oil Exploration, with LADOL serving as its local content partner. Osinbajo, who was elated at the progress recorded so far on the project, noted that the $16 billion so far invested in the Egina FPSO would have been held back because of an official refusing to grant approval owing to his financial interest. He insisted that the Buhari-led administration has laid a “solid foundation for the Nigerian economy and the way he wants to see the Nigerian economy grow”, pointing out that the era of the president signing off on directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to move out large sums of money was over. “The first is that we very strongly believe that the Nigerian economy must be private sector driven. This project for example is a $16 billion project in naira terms that is about N5 trillion. The entire Nigerian budget is about N9 trillion and our spending on infrastructure, which is the largest in the history of Nigeria, is N1.5 trillion. So it tells you that this project alone is several times more than the federal government spending on infrastructure. This is the story of developed economies; they are private sector driven, and there is no way that government’s revenue can possibly satisfy the
demand”, he said. According to Osinbajo, the federal government has successfully curbed grand corruption in the country, revealing that the next phase of the battle is the public service. He added: “For us, it is not just about creating the right business environment but creating the right attitude. Part of it is corruption; part of it is just the graft that attends all of these kinds of activity. I was talking with someone last week on the fight against corruption in Nigeria and I said that so far what we have been able to do is to check grand corruption. Namely; just going to the treasury and taking money out of the treasury and sharing it. We have been able to stop that because you will not find the president signing off or asking the central bank to move out large sums of money. Every Nigerian knows that President Buhari will not do such a thing. “And because we have been able to stop that corruption, we are investing, despite earning 60 per cent less revenue, almost five times more than the previous government on infrastructure. We have not even got to a point where we will be looking at public service and people doing all sorts of things, that is the next phase and that phase is important.
This country can only work if we are able to deal with corruption. When people put their financial interest over what will benefit the entire nation, we are never going to be able to make progress. A project like this is able to be held up just because somebody is not granting approval.” Furthermore, he said: “The second part is monopoly, it is a fact that monopoly will raise its head; every business man wants a monopoly. This has always been the struggle between government, regulators and operators. This is why the federal government’s policy has been one of trying to ensure that we do not permit monopoly, that we open up the space so that there will be competition. It is very obvious now that there is no monopoly, it is an important part of encouraging investment and of course making the environment much more lucrative for those who are doing business.” Osinbajo noted that the Egina project was also a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to the local content policy. He added: “With respect to Nigerian content, this is a very key area where the Egina project has excelled. Very rightly, it has proved the
point that we have made all along. The president has signed so far two Executive Orders on the issue of local content. Aside from the great work of the local content board, which is what brought the Egina project to fruition, the president has also signed two other executive orders: Executive Orders 3 and five emphasising the requirement that wherever local content is available, we will use local content.” He said that the enabling business environment provided by the government, now spurs
people to invest in the country, adding, “all the critical issues like getting licenses, getting contract signed are being worked on.” The acting President praised the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for putting an end to monopoly in oil and gas logistics stressing that the cost benefits that has accrued to operators as a result, will lead to more investment in more FPSOs. Earlier in his speech, Chairman of LADOL, Ladi Jadesimi, said that the company
remains committed to its vision of creating employment for Nigerians and making the country and Africa hub for maritime fabrication. He said the huddles encountered while nurturing the company were way beyond what was anticipated. He said: “The completion of the topside of the largest FPSO in the Total fleet in the world is certainly a big milestone which has taken us a huge step forward on our journey towards achieving our vision and mission.”
STOP MEDDLING IN POLITICS, NBA TELLS SECURITY AGENCIES, MILITARY and communal conflicts, noting that only few states are spared from the spiraling violence of insurgency. The NBA President remarked that as the country approaches the election cycle, the challenges are likely to increase as recent events have clearly demonstrated. Mahmoud reiterated that the Nigerian Bar Association is a professional non-partisan organisation, and therefore "will remain neutral between political actors". He added: "We remain firm on the side of the constitution and the rule of law. We will continue to demand that constitutional boundaries must
be respected and maintained by all governments and all persons in authority." He assured that NBA is determined to continue to play its modest role in the various challenges facing the country. The fund among other objectives will be utilized by the NBA to provide long term access to justice assistance in the north east region of Nigeria specifically granting financial assistance (scholarships and petty trade loans) to the surviving relatives of verified legal practitioners who have been affected by the insurgency in the Northeast. Mahmoud posited that a spin off to interventions in the
conflict areas was the realisation that promoting reconciliation and reestablishing the justice system in those communities will require a policy and legal framework for transitional justice in Nigeria. The NBA according to Mahmoud is currently working with other civil society groups and other stakeholders in this area drawing from experiences of other countries in Africa. In support of the fund, the chief launcher, Barrister Wale Babalakin SAN, donated N10 million, while chairman of the occasion, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state gave N10 million.
T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY AUGUST 11, 2018
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DEFECTIONS ON THEIR MINDS... L-R: Chairman, Caretaker Committee, APC Kwara State, Mr. Bashir Bolarinwa; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; former Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Dele Shittu; and the former Chairman of PDP Kwara State, Mr. Iyiola Oyedepo, at the stakeholders' meeting of the Congress of Kwara Progressives in Ilorin, Kwara State... yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN
‘Persistent Killings Lend Credence to Claims of Govt’s Failure, Complicity’ Seriki Adinoyi inJos
The Seventh Day Adventist Church has lamented the continuing wanton killings in Plateau and other parts of Nigeria as well as government failure to stop the carnage and bring the perpetrators to book. The church warned that the development was gradually resulting in loss of confidence in government. Addressing journalists in Jos, Plateau State yesterday, President of North-East Nigerian Conference (NENC) of the Church, Pastor Emmanuel Gbazi Jugbo said: “As a church, we are deeply concerned about the inability of government at
all levels to identify and bring the perpetrators of the heinous crimes, their sponsors and collaborators to justice. Thousands of human lives and tons of valuable property continue to perish in incessant attacks, while government continues to issue failed assurances of being on top of the situation. “This scenario is capable of not only generating loss of confidence in government, but also lending credence to the recurrent allegations of government’s complicity in the mindless attacks. We call on our political leaders at all levels to take these murderous attacks seriously, intensify intelligence gathering and
improve on adequately taking full advantage of the intelligence available to them. “They should always remember the heavy responsibility on them to lead in truth, justice and righteousness, for there will come a day of reckoning on which they will give account of their stewardship before the creator.” The Church said it was deeply saddened that the killing of innocent Nigerians and destruction of property were a daily occurrence in most parts of the Middle-Belt as well as other places in this country, adding, “one is made to wonder aloud if we are truly one nation
with one destiny.” While commiserating with victims of the killings across the nation, the Church said: “We specifically commiserate with the Catholic Church over the gruesome killing of two priests and other parishioners in Benue who were massacred during an early morning Mass.” The Cleric posited that the prevailing situations were clear indication of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Enjoining government and security agencies, irrespective of religion, creed, or ethnicity; to arrest the masterminds and sponsors of these killings in line with the dictates
of the law to serve as deterrent to others, the Church also called on citizens to rise up in one voice and denounce this vicious cycle of violence tearing the very fabric of our society apart. It also called on the international community not to just pray and protest, but to rigorously intervene both diplomatically and politically. “All effort should be made by government at all levels to end the cycle of violence and reprisals in the areas affected. Community and traditional leaders should put in place and revive local dispute resolution mechanisms through which an offence by a person or
group is settled and appropriate punishment meted out to offenders “We call on all religious leaders, Christian and Muslim to mind their utterances and guard against their speech. They must be aware that they are opinion molders, and God will require the blood of innocent people killed because of their speech. “Muslim and Christian clerics should be enjoined to desist from using derogatory language regarding other religious groups or else the relevant laws prohibiting insult to and disruption of religion should be enforced against them,” the Church admonished.
Placing Daura under House Arrest, not Enough, Says Umar
Govs' Forum Restates Support for Buhari
John Shiklam inKaduna
Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
A former military administrator of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), has urged the federal government to take appropriate actions against the former Director-General of the Department of Security Service (DSS), Lawal Daura, for the invasion of the National Assembly. Daura was sacked Wednesday by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. Umar said in a statement on Friday in Kaduna that the action taken against Daura by the federal government should not end at mere house arrest. According to him, given all the distress created by the actions of the former DSS boss "and those caused through his refusal to act, the decision to sack him did not come a moment too soon."
Umar maintained that "in the interest of our democracy, in order to guard against unexpected threats and conspiracies, the action taken by the acting President must not stop halfway." The statement read: "Without a doubt, the summary dismissal, last week, of Alhaji Lawal Daura, Director-General, Department, State Security, came as a big surprise to many people. It seemed to contradict the world order! "In the last three years, Lawal Daura had marched from one audacious act of impunity to another; had rudely defied the President, had routinely ignored court orders and seemed all but successful in carving out, for himself, a government within a government in Nigeria. "There was hardly any observer of
the turbulent Nigerian political scene over the last several years who still believed that Lawal Daura was subject to any laws not to speak of official code of behaviour. "But on Thursday, the 7th of August, 2018, Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo signed a terse, two paragraph letter telling Lawal Daura that he had been dismissed from office. "Not only that, Professor Osinbajo also ordered Lawal Daura be arrested and remanded in police custody. "Given all the distress created by the actions of Lawal Daura and those caused through his refusal to act, the decision to sack him did not come a moment too soon. "And yet, in the interest of our democracy, in order to guard against unexpected threats and conspiracies, the action taken by the acting President
must not stop halfway. "The government should seek to discover the motives as well as the explanation for some of those crazy maneuvers, many of which simply beggars belief. "The questions should include the following: Where and in what condition are all the assets handed over to Lawal Daura by the immediate past D-G , SS, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong? "What are the reasons why Lawal Daura deployed SS operatives and prevented EFCC personnel from searching the residences of former D-G, SS, Mr. Ekpenyong and former D-G, NIA, Mr. Oke? "What is the explanation for the raid on the farm belonging to Ibrahim Magu, Chairman, EFCC, which raid led to loss of live?
Nigerian Governors’ Forum has reassured of its support to President Muhammadu Buhari's administration for the well-being of Nigerians. The Chairman of the Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdul'aziz Yari gave the assurance at the closing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for its candidate for the Bauchi South Senatorial by-election held at the Multipurpose Hall, Bauchi. Yari said that the acting President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo had directed them to visit the state in order to emphasise on the earlier request made by President Muhammadu Buhari on the need for the people of Bauchi South Senatorial District to vote for the party's candidate during
Saturday's election. He expressed confidence that if the APC's candidate was elected, he would support the federal government towards transforming the nation’s politics. The Bauchi State Governor, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar who led top APC stakeholders to drum up support for the party's candidate, called on the people of Bauchi South to ensure they voted for the party's candidate during the bye-election in order to justify their love and concern for President Muhammadu Buhari. The governor asked the electorate to support Hon. Lawal Yahya Gumau; the APC flag bearer at the polls so as to reap the full benefits of the APC-led government both at the state and federal levels.
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AUGUST 11, 2 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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The Fanatical Security Man Called Lawal Daura
L
awal Daura, the dismissed Director General of the Department of State Security goes down in history as the most fanatical and the most brutal in the history of the DSS. He went about his job with so much impunity, dehumanising innocent Nigerians. I am a bit impressed by his dismissal on Tuesday by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. This was long overdue. However, the Acting President should go a step further by ensuring that this cruel and lawless Daura is arraigned for treason. Shutting another arm of government in a democracy is treason. The lawmakers were further terrorised by the invaders, who were apparently attempting to assist lawmakers plotting to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki. Daura should not just be condemned and sacked for this naked show of power. He should be put on trial to serve as a deterrent to other fanatical security chiefs terrorizing Nigerians. Signs that Daura’s tenure as DSS boss would be a brutal one emerged on December 29, 2015, when he directed his operatives to storm Sambo Dasuki’s cell at Kuje Prison. They abducted him and clamped the former NSA in their detention camp. This was after Dasuki’s bail conditions had been perfected, and the warrant of release signed by the court. It was so depressing, yet, the Executive chose to look the other way. Buoyed by the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari, rampaging Daura in October 2016, invaded the homes of some judges, including those of justices of the Supreme Court – the highest court in the land. The invasion carried out in Gestapo style heralded the unprecedented desecration of the officers of the temple of justice. It is pertinent to note that virtually all the judges who were later arraigned on charges of corruption and money laundering have been discharged and acquitted by the courts. But their tears will probably never dry. The humiliation was unparalleled. Deranged Daura was also recently in
Daura
Benue State with his compromised operatives to aid the minority eight lawmakers who attempted to reconvene the Benue State House of Assembly for the purpose of impeaching Governor Samuel Ortom, following his defection from the APC to the PDP. On the day the eight lawmakers reconvened, the 22 lawmakers who were clearly the majority were prevented by DSS operatives from entering the Assembly premises. The eight lawmakers later served a notice of impeachment on the governor and sent a letter to the Chief Judge of the State to set up an impeachment panel. Daura was a good tool in the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress, as the party persistently used him to suppress and oppress opponents. Patriots must caution the APC and its senators against truncating our democracy with unrestrained quest and criminal cravings to unseat Saraki. These APC senators had threatened, after a meeting with Buhari, to take action within their powers to ensure the removal of Saraki. I can also vividly recall that the party’s National Chairman, the loquacious Adams Oshiomhole dramatically described the position occupied by Saraki as “the crown” of his political party. This is a clear invitation
to disorder and anarchy. Just as Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a pro-democracy and non-governmental body noted, “Any extra-legal move by the APC senators to forcefully reconvene the senate which is on two months recess amounts to a direct threat to constitutional democracy. Any attempt outside rule 12 of the Senate Rule granting powers to reconvene from recess of the Senate in the hands of the presiding officers of Senate President and his Deputy, would amount to high treason which has the potential of destabilising civil rule.” It is pertinent to remind aggrieved APC senators that there are legal mechanisms for removing the Senate President or any other officer of the National Assembly. They must learn to abide by the rules of the game. The truth is that the APC currently lacks the needed twothird majority in the Senate and House of Representatives to effect a leadership change. Perhaps, this is why emphasis is on this motor park tactics. It is heartwarming that genuine patriots have been speaking out against the blockade of the National Assembly. The comments of Northern Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, NLSA, are instructive: “This destructive act against our democracy can only be surpassed by a full blown military Coup d’état. Nigeria’s Democracy was restored and nurtured since 1999 on the sweat and blood of patriots after it was toppled by General Buhari himself in 1983. Nigerians cannot therefore seat back and watch all that have been built for nearly two decades destroyed again by headless power mongers on account of their insatiable selfish interests…NLSA also calls upon all Nigerians, especially Northerners, to stand up against this tyranny and condemn it without reservation and defend our democracy and our constitution. Enough is enough!” The point has been made. All forces of democracy must rise up against impunity. This is the only way forward for Nigeria.
Godswill Akpabio’s Comical Defection I nearly cracked my ribs with laughter watching Godswill Akpabio being received by President Buhari in London after dumping the PDP for the APC. Suddenly, Buhari is Akpabio’s father. This is the same Buhari he verbally tormented as Minority Leader in the Senate. These bread and butter politicians will never cease to amaze us. Akpabio is already out with humdrum reasons for dumping the PDP. He said he defected to the APC to salvage the country and that his new party would sweep away poverty and impunity. This man has also been talking about emancipating his people and providing succour to them with his defection. Haba! Akpabio! How much of poverty and impunity has the APC swept away in over three years at the helms? How much of poverty did this man sweep away during his eight years as governor? Akpabio left Akwa Ibom in tatters. He simply swept the state’s treasury clean. For the likes of Akpabio, it’s not about ideology but the next meal ticket; and of course, an opportunity to deflect pressure from anti-corruption agencies. Akpabio knows the difference between a Progressive and a Conservative, but his belly and the need for protection from the EFCC supersede. This country can’t make progress with people like these. Obviously, Akpabio can’t be trusted.
Akpabio
I am surprised that he is the only one unaware of this. This is why he is dreaming of working with Buhari. He is the only one that thinks his corruption case is history by joining the APC. Perhaps, he thinks we have all forgotten that the EFCC wrote letters to several banks demanding information on the Akwa Ibom State’s
accounts amid allegations that he had stolen over N100 billion from the coffers of the oil-rich state. I also know that the Governor Udom Emmanuel fire also contributed to Akpabio’s departure from the PDP. This governor successfully resisted attempts by Akpabio to turn him into a puppet. Majority of the members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have affirmed support and solidarity to Emmanuel. Apkabio is clearly in for a tough fight in the state. He has simply destroyed the little that is left of his political vocation. It did not come as a surprise that key stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State politics were glaringly missing during Akpabio’s declaration for the APC at Ikot Ekpene, his senatorial zone. Most of his loyalists, who believed he betrayed them also stayed away. Only two commissioners from Emmanuel’s cabinet moved to APC with him. Few hours after Akpabio’s comical rally, thousands of Ikot Ekpene indigenes took to the streets of the 10 local governments within the senatorial district to register their opposition to his defection. The rallies held after several town hall meetings where elders across the zone pledged their support to the leadership of Governor Emmanuel. The message to Akpabio is very clear. Unfortunately, he is living in wonderland.
Scary N49bn Bill on School Feeding in Two Years A monstrous N49 billion has been spent by the federal government on the feeding of primary school pupils in 24 states under the National HomeGrown School Feeding Programme. Yes, that’s what the Presidency wants us to believe. According to the Special Adviser to the President on the programme, Mrs. Mariam Uwais, 8, 596,340 pupils are currently being fed in 46,247 public primary schools in 24 states. Wonders will never end in Nigeria. I was not surprised when the presidential aide added that some officials handling the programme in Benue and Niger states had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation and prosecution over fraud allegations. This school feeding programme is one big fraud in all the states it is being implemented. If Mrs. Uwais digs deeper, she would discover this. I don’t know of any primary school pupil getting value for the outrageous N49 billion pumped into this programme under two years. In most cases, pupils are served wretched food. For me, this huge amount should have been used to empower parents, so that they can feed their children properly.
Buhari’s Prickly Vacations Abroad I find President Buhari’s persistent vacation in London horrifying, but unfortunately, there is no law stopping him from doing this. The burden on him is more of a moral one, considering that he had doggedly preached that Nigerians should look inwards for our needs to strengthen the Naira and save our limited forex earnings. Besides, our President should be leading the quest for the growth of domestic tourism. He departed for another of his holidays in London last week Friday and would spend 10 days there. I would have loved to see Buhari dashing to Obudu Cattle Ranch or Yankari Games Reserve. Our President is a big disappointment by running abroad for holidays. I can’t remember seeing the President of any developed country dashing abroad on holiday. It only happens in 3rd world countries. My foremost issue with our dear president is that he is spending public money abroad for his holiday. The Presidential plane will incur parking fees for 10 days. The pilots and cabin crew will be paid and housed with hard currency. Public office holders must be mandated to spend their holidays in Nigeria. Our lawmakers must rise and put in place laws to stop this kind of profligacy, more so in a recessed economy. This must not be allowed to continue in a country where millions of its citizens are wallowing in abject poverty. In this country today, many struggle for a meal a day. Many go to bed without supper and wake up not sure when the next meal will come. Yet, the President of the country spends his vacation in London, spending tax payers’ money. This is huge forex in support of British economy, while our domestic economy suffers. What a country! We should all demand a refund of the public money Buhari has been spending on holidays in London.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
SUPER SATURDAY
Weird World of Maheeda Musician, actress, nudist, sex goddess, Caroline Sam, popularly known as Maheeda, often gets the internet buzzing with her racy photos and unfiltered statements, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu
T
hat Caroline Sam, better known as Maheeda is widely known for sharing raunchy photos on Instagram and making controversial remarks on issues and has been censored from the social media site on several occasions is well acknowledged. Several of her provocative pictures litter the blogosphere. All pictures and videos of Maheeda are raunchy. Although the young lady started out as a singer, her brand evolved as she began posting raunchy pictures and videos online. No sooner did she start the trend that some people began to refer to her as a sex goddess. The more pictures and videos of the nude self she uploaded, the more her fans and followers grew on Instagram. And with her growing followers, Maheeda started charging customers over N50k just to face-time with her and her incredible body. The 35-year-old mother and wife make a fortune from displaying her body on the internet. So endless is the list of banners that capture her naughty nature: “Maheeda reveals craziest places she had sex, says men blame her for masturbating, seven photos of Maheeda that are basically porn, my nudes might be everywhere, but I turn down millions for my private part, Maheeda sets the Internet on fire with toilet selfie with her pants down. “Popular Nigerian nudist Maheeda shares new racy photos on Instagram (18+), Man confesses to masturbating to Maheeda’s photos, I hustle hard just to buy expensive clothes for my daughter, Goddess of X, Maheeda flaunts her sensational figure in sexy new photos, never leave your man for a sidechick , deal with him but don’t leave,” Maheeda advises ladies. Maheeda reveals why she wants to sleep with Mayweather. “Let’s have the main match in bed” - Maheeda challenges Floyd Mayweather. So it goes and on and on. But who is Maheeda? The Edo State indigene Caroline Sam, born on 22 November 1982 in northern Nigerian, is a singer, nude model and former prostitute. According to her, she began her musical career as a hip-hop singer but became a gospel singer after becoming “born again”. In 2014, She released her debut gospel track, ‘Concrete Love’, which she noted was inspired by the love of God towards her. Maheeda’s mother died when she was at a tender age and she never knew her dad. According to her, the inability to meet her financial obligations and fend for herself led her to prostitution and housekeeping afterward. She had a daughter at age 14. Maheeda met a man while working in a bar in Nigeria, who upon listening to her story decided to help her and her teenage daughter. She got married to the man and relocated to the Netherlands but visits Nigeria frequently. She presently lives with her husband and daughter in the Netherlands. Maheeda considers sex as having an uncontrollable supernatural effect on people since despite being married and living comfortably she still had the urge to sleep with men. She described her relationship with God as the only thing that stopped her zeal for sex from men, explaining that “being born again and delivered” was the only thing that stopped the need for sex. She once explained that her love for unclad pictures isn’t aimed at promoting sexual immorality, rather it’s because she “feels sexy”. She went further to say Nigerians were being hypocritical in their reservations concerning her dress sense and nudity. Maheeda described her spiritual life as still being in connection to God irrespective of her outward appearance and digital identity. She describes Hellfire as a fiction of the imagination of Africans and believes the government will be impacting the masses positively, if they legalise prostitution, especially since more developed countries are doing it. This weird girl began singing while in
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
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SATURDAY NEVER LEAVE YOUR MAN FOR A SIDE CHICK, DEAL WITH HIM BUT DON’T LEAVE
primary school. At age 23, she chose music as a profession despite facing challenges with funding while promoting her musical career. According to her, the name Maheeda means blessing and treasure, hence her decision to choose it as a stage name. She classifies her music as “cocktail” because just like wine, it is intended to encompass all aspect of human life. She claims to get her musical inspiration from God because God saw her through being a single mother until she got married then ventured into music professionally. Speaking on the reaction of her family to her nudity, she explained her husband and his family accept, understand and support her in all she does. In 2015, Nigerian Entertainment Today disclosed that she was more widely known than Don Jazzy and Linda Ikeji based on analytics from Google and Wordpress. In August 2016, she revealed that she doesn’t really mean many of the things she has said in the past during interviews. In an interview with Daily Post, she revealed that getting the interest of Nigerians was the aim of her nudity. She also opined that there are monetary rewards for each video she produces. Maheeda recently on July 28, 2018, in an Instagram post stated her desire to have sex with three or four men at the same time. That she wants to get to a point in her life where she can do things based on her convictions, not based on what people think about her.
I want to get to a place in my life that I do things for me, not for any man. I want to get to a point where I can have sex with two, three, four men at the same time and give them money to go buy Gucci pant, as thank you for coming. I mind some women too. I want to be the woman
“I want to get to a place in my life that I do things for me, not for any man. I want to get to a point where I can have sex with two, three, four men at the same time and give them money to go buy Gucci pant, as thank you for coming. “I mind some women too, I want to be the woman,” she wrote. Maheeda, competes with Afrocandy for the prize of Nigeria’s ‘ baddest girl’. Today, she wants a quickie with the disappearing and reappearing senator. Tomorrow she wants to engage the chairman and the leader of the ruling party in a sexual bout. She also would want and states the reason why prostitution should be legal in Nigeria. “Men? My fellow black men as at that time loved half-caste ladies or educated ladies or ladies from a good family, who dash me any of those qualities? I don’t have those qualities. I had no house so I lived in the streets for days until I couldn’t take it anymore. Was raped, used, deceived, and shot with a gun. A prostitute took me into her shelter and I had a place to sleep but hey, I hit the streets with her every night to the club, hoping to see a white man to save me since I have been rejected and abandoned by almost everyone in my life!!!! See how I became a club girl? That was another experience… let’s not (forget) early pregnancy and the experience of being a single mother in a lonely world. “But thank God I found a white
guy that heard my life story and promised to give me hope. He did by the way. Since I had a white guy who was helping me with small, small money to survive, I had nothing else to do as a job so I choose entertainment, why because I wanted to be somebody, all my life I have been feeling like a nobody, so I thought to be famous will make me a somebody! I couldn’t sing to save my life. I remember going to the studio and the producer was like nah mhen !!! Lol but I begged him and tell him my story how bad I want to be a somebody. “So, he started teaching me to use my voice until we could manage it… well, he said thank God you have learned the art of seduction while in the club, use that he said…. and that was what I have been doing till date… but when I started so many Nigerians tried to push me down not knowing they were killing my last hope… I forgive them all because they never knew. I still love them they only made me stronger! Well, story too long, so far so good, I don’t only have a roof over my head, I live in a mansion, I can’t only eat I feed others, I used to wear one pant for days now I dash girls colourful pants, I walked barefoot, now I give out shoes. Thank God for life…HBB to me” This is just the case of Maheeda the acclaimed sex goddess as she once during her birthday shared of her struggles growing up.
IWanttoGettoaPointWhereICanHaveSex withTwo,Three,FourMenatTheSameTime
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AUGUST 11, 2018• THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
COMMENTARY
MANAGING MILLENNIAL CHILDREN
Sola Oni writes that even though necessary, the children should be guided against abuse of ICTdevices
V
olker Grassmuck once said that “The ultimate promise of technology is to make us master of a world that we command by the push of a button.” Change is the only constant thing in life and this imposes a lot of responsibilities on schools and the parents. We must take advantage of the changes in our operating environment. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is waxing stronger in quantum leap today in all areas of human endeavours. Any educated person who does not embrace ICT will be at the receiving end. Our current generation of learners are at a great advantage. They are the authentic generation of ICT. But they must be managed to enable them tap the positive side of the technology revolution without losing the core values of a successful professional. The advent of ICT has brought about some terminologies that capture the traits of the children born at a particular period. We now have those called Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y. For ease of reference, they are generally called millennial children. They have knowledge and skills of ICT that other generations do not possess. We must respect them for this. They have access to data and information, connecting them to one another in a twinkling of an eye, irrespective of geographical location by simply buttons. Their values are different. They believe so much in themselves and pay less attention to group work. The children born between 1977 and 1983 are called Generation X or Xennials. They are products of emergence of ICT and you can see them everywhere. They are always under pressure to hit jackpot. This generation is called slackers. They change jobs so frequently and get married much later than their parents. Parents try to rescue them rather than allow them to take responsibility for their actions. Those born after 1980 and before 2000 are called Baby Boomers. They consciously build their sense of self-worth. Their childhood is characterised by structured activities. The children born after 2000 are the Generation Y. They are called the Yes Millennials. These are the full blown digital natives. They are the real products of internet and password. Their beliefs, values, attitude and world view are mostly derived from technological devices. They are anxious to know what is happening everywhere. They are daring and look at other generations as having limited knowledge of ICT. They want explanation on the basis for every decision, instruction, or directive. They are not superstitious like other generations of old who easily believe in what the parents transfer as cultural heritage.
THE CHILDREN BORN AFTER 2000 ARE THE GENERATION Y. THEY ARE CALLED THE YES MILLENNIALS. THESE ARE THE FULL BLOWN DIGITAL NATIVES. THEY ARE THE REAL PRODUCTS OF INTERNET AND PASSWORD. THEIR BELIEFS, VALUES, ATTITUDE AND WORLD VIEW ARE MOSTLY DERIVED FROM TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES
They are ready to challenge old practices. They are on the fast lane to achieve everything overnight though online. They are dubbed as lazy for over -reliance on ICT for everything. But they too boast of being authentic members of the global community. They are convinced and of course it is true that ICT shall continue to dictate the direction of growth and development in every sphere of human endeavours. These are the undiluted millennials! They must be managed in order to get the best out of them. Useful as ICT can be, it has a lot of drawbacks if not properly handled. Internet can expose our innocent children to all sorts of negative behaviours that are inimical to their future prospects. It can disorientate them from concentrating on studies. At the formative stage, they need development of character. The Millennials require brave leadership approach to get the best from them. We must make information available to them or else they shall dig out and in the process come with negative ones. We must build trust in them so that they can believe us. We must share our mistakes with them to explain the consequences of one’s negligence or innocent errors. It is therefore not surprising when Brad Smith aptly surmised thus: “Millennials and the generations that follow are shaping technology. This generation has grown up with computing in the palm of their hands. They are more socially and globally connected through mobile Internet devices than any prior generation. And they don’t question; they just learn.” We must treat them on their individual merit by not comparing them sweepingly with their siblings, cousins and friends. We must imbue with them a high sense of self- discipline and constantly remind them that crime and punishment work together. We must challenge them to come up with suggestions to build their sense of self-worth. We have an obligation to inculcate in them the necessity to be focused early in life and the fundamentals of time management. Do not hesitate to sanction them whenever they exhibit irresponsible behaviour. Every human being has been caught in the web of ICT. Avoiding it will continually do more harm than good. The only option perhaps is to embrace it and guide our millennial children against abuse of ICT devices. We cannot give what we do not have. We must embrace ICT. There is no other way to master the world, otherwise, we stand the risk of being treated as robots. Oni is the Proprietor and Chairman, Sofunix International Schools, Iroko Town, Ota, Ogun State
AFRIKA SHRINE’S DAY WITH HISTORY The visit of President Emmanuel Macron of France made a difference in the life of the shrine, writes Abdul Okwechime
T
uesday, July 3, 2018, history was made. For the first time in the existence of Afrika Shrine, the President of a nation paid a state visit to the Afrika Shrine. The history maker was the youthful President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Witnesses to history included the Chief Hosts, Femi and Yeni Kuti and the amiable executive governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his entire cabinet. There were also thousands of invited guests, people across the social strata of the society, diplomats, ambassadors, industry leaders, statesmen, music stars, award winning actors and actresses…. Some shed tears of joy, some were speechless, some jumped, screamed, danced in ecstasy but above all, everyone was proud to be counted. It’s been long coming though. Steadfastness, unshaken belief in self and Africa… over the years, The Afrika Shrine stood out. Completely different from every other club and indeed it is not an every other club. The first Afrika Shrine was located on Agege Motor Road, across the road almost opposite the First Kalakuta Republic, Fela’s residence. It was established in 1974. When Fela, then Ransome Kuti, created Afrobeat in 1970, he also created a club called AfroSpot, where he performed four times a week. The first Afrospot was located at Alagomeji Bus Stop, Yaba, about the same spot where the Sweet Sensation Eatery sits today. He left there soon, to his second Afrospot, located at Shitta, Surulere in a club hitherto called Surulere Nite Club. By the close of 1973 Fela was done and dusted with the Afrospot clubs concept. At this time in Fela’s life, he realised that his music meant more to people than just melodies to dance to. This was the period Felasophy was spreading amongst West African youths, particularly those in the higher institutions of learning. So by and by, his concerts became not only venues for entertainment and dancing but avenues for the teachings of Pan-Africanism. His music at this time became more of a mirror of the society and a major source of youth awareness. He reasoned that his club which was
hitherto called AfroSpot, must grow beyond the usual sentiments of club life and become a citadel of learning everything proudly African. In addition he wanted the youths to be exposed to the ideals and ideas of the struggles for good governance. At this point his music became, in his words, “a weapon”. To therefore command the envisaged respect for the venue where he performed, he called it The Africa Shrine. A place where music became more of sermons and performances was designed to teach more than to entertain. This first Africa Shrine was shut down by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria on February 18, 1977, the day soldiers attacked and burnt down the Kalakuta Republic residence of Fela. After the fire and with Fela and other Kalakutans sacked from their abode and confined to various hospitals across Lagos State, The Africa Shrine was declared a no-go area and closed down. But The Shrine had become, again in his words a “force of the mind”, and no amount of military intimidation would kill it. Fela’s hit tunes, days after the fire, “No Agreement” and “Fear Not For Man”, largely underscored this. It took time before FELA berthed the second Africa Shrine, after the demise of the first because the military barred him each time he attempted to do this. Eventually in 1979, the 2nd shrine came alive on Pepple Street, Ikeja, at a location right inside the present day Computer Village, in Ikeja, Lagos. This Africa Shrine survived the remaining years Fela spent on earth. Even when he was jailed in 1984, this shrine remained opened to the public, sustained first, by Femi and later the Egypt ’80 band. Fela continued playing there upon his release from jail until his death, when the Binitie family from whom he had leased the land where the shrine was built, took possession of the property. That technically ended the second shrine. The third and the present Afrika Shrine, called The New Afrika Shrine, is entirely built by Femi Kuti and his elder sister, Yeni. It was opened on October 15, 2000, particularly to honour Fela. This new and third shrine is about five times bigger than the Fela’s
Shrines. However, apart from the difference in size, all other essence of The Shrine’s concept, remains intact. Initially the idea was to have a place where Africans and mankind generally would have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of all that is Africa. The music was thoroughly undiluted African melodies. The messages were radically African to say the least and were intended to awaken our (the African youths especially) sensibilities against unjust rule and colonialism. It is also the centre of Afrobeat, Fela’s gift to the music World. Fela worshipped at the shrine once a week, on Saturdays during his weekly “Saturday Comprehensive Show”. On these occasions, Fela assisted by a masquerade worshipped at a designated altar in a corner of the shrine. He did this by pouring libations on the images of Great Africans, Strategically placed in the altar. These images include those of Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Kwame Nkrumah… No one else worships at this shrine. And no one was compelled to worship along with Fela on those Saturdays. Indeed Fela usually said to shrine devotes, “I want to worship at my shrine and I want you to give me five minutes of silence. The silence is not compulsory”. Here silence is not the only thing not compulsory, the entire Fela worship ceremony was not compulsory. To the audience, this was a mere show. Significantly, however, it underscored Fela’s belief in and propagation of Africanism. The African ancestors he poured libations on were for him, more spiritually beneficial and healing than either the Christians Jesus Christ or the Muslims Prophet Mohammed. The third Afrika Shrine carries the same sentiments. Femi worships at the altar of the shrine whenever he is travelling out of Nigeria and whenever he comes back to the country. The prayers are for a successful trip and a thank you for a safe return. He also pours libations on the images of same great Africans, just that this time, Fela’s image is added. Again the larger audience simply
views this as part of the show. This third Afrika Shrine has grown to become a global tourism destination due largely to Femi Kuti’s weekly performances and the sustenance of the Pan Africanism tenets. Every week, guests from across the globe troop into the New Afrika Shrine, to watch Femi Kuti perform and try to connect back with the Fela feelings. And talking about Fela melodies, Seun Kuti performs every last Saturday of the month with THE EGYPT ’80, Fela’s band. This makes the shrine the only place in the world where you can watch a flash back of Fela’s band live performances. It is also the home of today’s Afrobeat, as envisioned by Fela at the twilight of his career and created by Femi Kuti who undoubtedly remains the best performer this side of the world. And together with elder sister Yeni, who is the CEO of the shrine, they have built an impossible to ignore platform in Lagos to the benefit of Africa as a whole. The Shrine, all said, remains the one-stop tourism destination of Lagos State Nigeria. However President Macron never met Fela nor attended any of the Fela shrines. His first encounter with the shrine was Femi Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine in 2002 as a junior staff, an intern, of the French Embassy in Nigeria. The unprecedented energy and music genre that engulfed him on his first visit left an indelible impression on him. He promised himself that he will definitely come back to relive this experience. What he didn’t know then, was that this next visit will be as the President of France. Indeed the African Shrine day with history started on that 2002 first visit of the young Emmanuel Macron to the shrine. When therefore a state visit opportunity to Nigeria came the way of the young president, it offered him the longed-for chance to relive the shrine experience. Despite all overtures to host him in one of the numerous exotic and classic venues of Lagos, the president insisted it was the new Afrika Shrine or nowhere else. He wanted to see and feel the shrine again. And he did! Mallam Okwechime is a Media Consultant
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AUGUST 11 , 2018 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
INSIGHT
The siege on democracy...
EFCC And Benue State Accounts
E
ven though we have always known that the EFCC under Muhammadu Buhari is a commission of partisan yes-men led by Ibrahim Magu, the freezing of three bank accounts maintained by the Benue State Government has further reinforced our conviction that the EFCC can never be trusted to be above board in its dealings with Nigerians. It is indubitable that Magu’s anti-corruption lenses are only focused on those who disagree with President Buhari and the APC. In fact, Magu has suddenly turned to be the Negotiator-in-Chief between the APC-led federal government and those who hold dissenting political views. The aim is to dangle the sword of Damocles over the latter’s heads until they bend and fall in line. Assuming, without conceding (not even in my unconscious state), that the EFCC under the act setting it up has the requisite powers to freeze any state government’s bank account on the ground of alleged embezzlement of state funds, was it after Governor Samuel Ortom decamped from the APC to the PDP (an occurrence of less than three weeks ago) that he allegedly dipped his hands in the state tills or suddenly noticed by the commission? I ask because by May 29, 2019 Ortom would have been in office for four years as an APC governor. While Benue State Government was facing the brunt from EFCC, Akwa Ibom State was also in the news for the same reason; perhaps because a godfather had decamped to the APC and wanted his estranged godson, the governor of the state to be punished by the government at the centre. EFCC, as in Benue, wasted no time in acting out the script by allegedly freezing the bank account(s) of the oil-rich state shortly after Akpabio ‘ported’ to the only family that gives cover to alleged thieves within its folds but would go the full hog to uncover corpses of decomposing corruption of estranged members it once buried. This is the reality about a corrupt commission fighting corruption. The EFCC under Magu does not know law. Although the commission has reversed its unlawful action in the case of Benue, I will not be surprised to see Magu in the coming days relying on Section 34(1) of the EFCC Act as the enabling provision under which he exercised his power by freezing Benue State accounts. I also see a certain media lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is known for publicly endorsing almost all of the commission’s affronts joining the fray and citing non-existent laws to support Magu’s madness. The section under reference gives power to the commission to freeze a person’s account if satisfied that the sums in the account are proceeds of crime. Under the literal rule of interpretation, is the Benue State Government a person within the scope and limitation of the act? Also, can monies in a state government’s account be declared proceeds of crime for whatever reason and within the confines of that section? For the avoidance of doubt and speculation, Section
34(1) of the EFCC Act reads: “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment or law, the Chairman of the Commission or any officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act and or any of the enactments specified under section7(2)(a)-{f) of this Act, apply to the Court ex-parte for power to issue an order as specified in Form B of the Schedule to this Act, addressed to the manager of the bank or any person in control of the financial institution or designated non-financial institution where the account is or believed by him to be or the head office of the bank, other financial institution or designated non-financial institution to freeze the account.” Now I dare to query: what possibly must have propelled a judge to grant an order, even though initiated by an exparte application, freezing states government accounts? Are judges or magistrates no longer bound by law and precedents when they dish out orders? A certain court issued a similar ‘black market’ order in Ekiti State sometimes last year or so and was set aside by another court. It would need stating too that the EFCC does not possess the power to even freeze or tamper with personal bank accounts of a sitting governor not to talk of state accounts. Welcome to Buhari’s Republic, where black is white and every other colour does not exist unless you join the family of hypocritical sinners: the APC.
Our Future is in the Streets
P
erhaps, we will wake up from our slumber which has tied us to some ugly incidents of the past and build a better society. The essence of life is more than our nine-five work, businesses and fat bank accounts. Many children roam on the streets without any ray of hope for the future. Poverty has eaten deep into their bodies and their minds. The whitish design of the world map one sees on their heads and protruded tummy prove beyond doubt that suffering and hardship are part and parcel of their lives. However, the description of their bodies is a shadow of the corruption of their minds. We might not be able to resurrect the communal society in which we once lived, where children belonged to the community at large. However, some of the intrinsic values which were passed down from the older generations should not be forgotten on the altar of civilisation - it is high time we took kids off the street. Our attitude towards adoption and legal guardianship must drastically change in order to have a better society. Some parents are mere sperm donors and womb providers. They have little or no worry or care towards their children. Some even give birth to them for their own selfish reasons, for them to help out in their petty bushiness. Most of these children are exposed to all sorts of vices which will most likely harm them in their adult life. Most of them are raised in environments where drug abuse, robbery, prostitution, rape and other social vices are the order of the day. We should be drawn by compassion not only towards the child on the street, but towards the lives he or she could touch if he were to be well educated, trained in a sane environment, showered with love and care and pampered with the goodies of life. Adoption in Nigeria could be a little bit cumbersome. However, due process must be followed in order to safeguard the interest of the child. Married couples who have attained the age of 25 years could apply for an adoption Jonathan Akeme, jonathanakeme@nigerianbar.n order. The court could refuse the adoption order if the consent of the other spouse is not obtained for a sole married person applicant. However, an unmarried person could adopt, in as much that he or she has attained the age of 35, and the child to be adopted are of the same sex. For international adoption (where the adopter T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R is outside the country), the child to be adopted EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE must be an orphan and the death of both DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO parents must be proved by the applicant(s). DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE Once a child is legally adopted, the rights, CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI liabilities, duties, obligations by the biological EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN parents cease. The maintenance, supervision and MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE education of the child, including all religious rights, right to appoint a guardian and to consent or give notice of dissent to marriage are vested in the adopter(s). T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D Maybe not all will be lucky like Taju, the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA young boy whose video got viral, and was GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, later adopted by the Oyo State Government, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE but a handful could be helped by concerned DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI Nigerians. Our decision take our Tajus off the SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH street will definitely have a positive impact on ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO the children we are protecting from the Tajus CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI and the society at large. DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO Ifaturi Adepemi, adepemi5@gmail.com TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ˜ ͺ
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NEWS
In Brief 5 Die in Kogi Road Accident
No fewer than five persons have been killed in a motor accident involving a Honda and Siena with registration numbers EPE 307XU and AK ILIKA few kilometres from Ogbabo junction on Anyigba-Itobe Road , Kogi State. According to an eye-witness account, the accident occurred around 3.45 p.m .yesterday, when one of the drivers, who attempted to avoid a pothole, lostcontrolandrammedintoanincoming Sienabus.Villagersandtravellers plying the route were on hand to free the trapped victims. As at the time of filing the report, the men of the Nigerian Army were working frantically to evacuatethreepersonsstilltrappedinthevehicle.Theaccidentwasblamed on over speeding.
Ebonyi CMD Denies Alleged Fraud
TheChiefMedicalDirector(CMD)oftheFederalTeachingHospital,Abakaliki inEbonyiState,Dr.EmekaOnweOgahhasdeniedallegationslinkinghimwith financialimproprietyandothershoddydealsinthehospital.Inastatement issuedinAbakaliki,theCMDfrownedonapublicationfromanonlinemedia, allegingmaladministrationanddiversionofmoniestoprivatepocketsbyfew managementstaffofthehospital.HesaidthatahospitalthathasaBoardand Management could not be accused of having just two persons, who would turnthehospitalintotheirprivateestablishmentwheremoniesareturned into pockets. Ogah said: "On the allegation of maladministration, Onwe in hisfourthyearinoffice,hasattractedmanygoodthingstothehospital-one being the establishment of Lassa Fever Centre built and equipped by the state government and donated to the Federal Ministry of Health. Ministry of Health never provided any dialysis machine as alleged by the report."
AUGUST MEETING ... L-R: Prof. Eddy Nwobodo; wife of the former President of the Senate, Lady Jane Nnamani; and Enugu State Governor's wife, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, during the state flag off of the 2018 August Meeting in the state held at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu... yesterday
Tomato Farmers Lost N10bn to Poor Market, Says TOGAN Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN) has lamented that this season alone, its members in the country lost N10 billion due to poor market and lack of guaranteed off-takers. The association’s Secretary General, Mr. Sani Danladi-Yadakwari stated this in Kano, where he called on the federal government to come to their rescue by prevailing on concerned agencies to ensure full implementation of tomato policy
in the country. He noted that Dangote Tomato Processing Company and Savannah Integrated Farm Ltd who had off-take arrangements with farmers had remained handicapped, thus unable to produce and their factories shut down. Addressing journalists in Kano yesterday, the national secretary said the call was necessary in view of the fact that tomato farmers in the country had continued to remain in perpetual poverty and which would continue to rise if the necessary measures were
not immediately taken. He therefore, called on the federal government to ensure full implementation of what it had promised to enable tomato growers remain in business. Danladi also said due to lack of the much needed infrastructure such as packing houses, storage ware housing and functional dams in rural farming communities, farmers were losing over 40 per cent of their expected produce. “The tomato growers on behalf of its over 1.5 million members, wish
to share with the general public, the situation the tomato industry is facing in Nigeria. “This is the second time this year we are calling the attention of government and its relevant agencies and ministries to come to the rescue of tomato farmers by enforcing fully its tomato policy,” he lamented. He also urged the government to investigate the reason why NAFDAC refused to bring to justice importers or marketers of unhealthy tomato paste as revealed by Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN).
Lagos Task Force Arrests 210, Impounds 125 Bikes The Lagos State Environmental Task Force has arrested about 210 miscreants and street urchins across the state, and impounded no fewer than 125 motorcycles around Iludun Town, New Oko-oba area of Agege. Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Task Force, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, said in a statement that the enforcement operation, carried out based on complaints by different communities around the area, also resulted in demolishing of 98 illegal shanties built on drainage alignment and road set-backs. Chairman of the Agency, Mr. Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who reportedly led the
enforcement team, said those arrested were the ones recently dislodged by the Agency along railway line behind the Abattoir at Agege, a suburb of Lagos. The taskforce said the miscreants and street urchins were in the habit of terrorising those communities, robbing people of valuables such as phones, wallets and jewelry. "It was an eye-sore as these dislodged miscreants and street urchins were found freely smoking and selling indian hemp around residential premises, where you have under-age school children," the chairman lamented, explaining that 98 demolished illegal shanties and containarised shops within the abattoir and adjourning streets,
aside being placed on landscapes and found to be harbouring criminals, were contributing to health, environment and safety hazards in the area. Egbeyemi commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the upgrade of abattoirs across the state, particularly the Agege Abattoir with the needed infrastructure. He also said over 125 motorcycles, plying restricted routes around those communities were impounded by the Agency during the operation, stating that the apprehended 210 miscreants and street urchins were immediately charged to court on the directive of the State Commissioner of Police (CP),
Mr. Imohimi Edgal. The CP was said to have further directed that CSP Egbeyemi must continue to monitor these communities against any likely re-union of some of the notorious miscreants and street urchins who escaped in the course of the operation. The taskforce Chairman, who implored community leaders to be watchful over their immediate environment, hinted that areas where the dislodged miscreants and street urchins, carried out their nefarious activities and erected illegal shanties include Pipeline-way, Agric and Olaofe Roads as well as Mofoladayo Drive.
Unknown Gunmen Kill 9 in Fresh Benue George Okoh in Makurdi The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the Killing of nine persons in Tse Ujoh Village in Ikyurqv-Tiev council ward of Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. The Command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the number of casualties during the attack. "We got information that some militia attacked Tse Ujoh Village of Ikyurav-Tiev council ward where nine people were killed," Yamu said.
He said the police were still investigating those behind the killings. Unknown gunmen had turned the Katsina Allah axis to hot-bed of attacks and killings recently. Few weeks ago within the axis, the militia had stormed the residence of Major General John Malu, younger brother of the late former Chief of Army Staff, General Victor Malu but were repelled by soldiers attached to him. It was gathered that the militia in the early hours of yesterday invaded the Tse Ujor Village where they shot sporadically and killed
several people. An eyewitness said that those who were injured were taken to an undisclosed hospital where one died. "By the time they left, several people were injured, at least 12 bodies were found and taken to hospital morgue," the eyewitness said. The state Governor, Samuel Ortom, who reacted to the attacks, confirmed that nine people were killed. The governor said the latest attack on Tse-Ujoh was unacceptable. His Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase disclosed that troops had been
deployed to the affected area to bring the situation under control. He assured the people of KatsinaAla that steps had been taken to prevent further attacks in the area, adding that three persons had been arrested in connection with the attack. The statement further added: “Governor Ortom reassured the people of the state that his administration would not allow armed militia to continue to terrorise communities. "He encouraged anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of the gang members to contact the police, Department of State Service or the military."
Bank Partners Anambra on Igbo Language
FidelityBankhassignedapartnershipwiththeAnambraStateGovernment through the Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation (ABS), to promote Igbolanguageandculture.Thepromotionwouldcomethroughatelevision seriesentitled'Nduka',whichwouldruninIgbolanguageonthestate-owned televisionstation.TheserieswouldaddressthefearofthedyingIgbolanguage and culture, which has been severally expressed by most promoters of the language.ThemanagingDirector,Chiefexecutiveofficerofthestation,Mr. UcheNworahtoldjournalistsduringapressbriefingtoheraldthepremierof the series that the programme would promote salient cultures of the Igbo which are unknown to younger generation. Nworah said the series is one that is suitable to be watched together by family members of all ages. "It willairinIgbo,andwouldbesuitableforpeopleofallages."Alsoaddressing journalists, a representative of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Charles Aigbe, who also is the Divisional Head, Brand and Communication, said the bank’s reason for partnering the company were legion. "We are delighted to partner you. We are an SME friendly bank, and the movie industry is one of the major drivers of the economy today, and we are glad to be of help in the industry.”
Lawmaker Organises Health Mission
ThelawmakerrepresentingApapa1constituencyintheLagosStateHouseof Assembly,Hon.MojisolaLasbat,hasorganisedfreehealthmissioninApapa andIjora,Lagos.SpeakingyesterdayinLagos,duringthefreehealthmission, Lasbatstatedthattheinitiativewasaimedatgivingbacktoherconstituency, adding that she was passionate about the initiative, and an indigene of the constituency, there is need to carry the people in the scheme of things. She statedthattheinitiativewhichisafourdayprogrammewouldconsistsoftwo daysinApapaandtwodaysinIjora,addingthattherewouldbehypertension, anddiabeticsscreening,freeeyeconsultation,freemedicationandfreeeye glasses,dentalsession,consultation,polishingandscalingofteeth,andothers.
Cancer on Dickson's Mother
The Bayelsa State Government yesterday thanked experts at the State Diagnostics Centre, who it said were the first to detect the cancer, which eventually took the life of Governor Seriake Dickson's mother, Goldcoast, during one of her routine medical checkups at the facility. A statement by theCommissionerforInformation,Mr.DanielIworiso-Markson,saidthough shelostthebattlewithcancer,itwasveryinstructivethatitwasdetectedfor immediatetreatment,whichexplainedthequalityoffacilitiesandpersonnel at the Bayelsa Diagnostics Centre. Iworiso-Markson noted that the early detectionofthedisease,whicheventuallyclaimedthe72-year-oldwoman's lifewasaplusforthemedicalexpertsandwasatestimonytotheworldclass equipmentatthecentre.Meanwhile,theBayelsaStateExecutiveCouncilhas expressedshockoverthedeathoftheseptuagenarian.TheEXCOdescribed her demise as a sad moment for the first family and the state, adding that shededicatedherlifetoGod'sworkuntilherlastbreath."TheCouncilprays God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and call on all Bayelsans to put the first family in their prayers, especially at this trying moment", the statement noted.
Aguma, Rivers Attorney General Dies
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, EmmanuelAguma(SAN),isdead.THISDAYgatheredthattheLateAgumadied in a hospital in the United States of America of cancer of the colon. He was said to have been flown out of the state and had been on admission in the hospitalforaboutfourweeksbeforehisdeathonFriday.AgumawasaRivers State-born lawyer and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was until his death the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state. Between 2000 and 2002, Aguma worked as Secretary of the NigerianBarAssociation(NBA),PortHarcourtBranch,andalsochairedthe Bar from 2006 to 2008. On July 10, 2015, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committeeconferredtherankof SeniorAdvocateof Nigeria(SAN)onhim alongside 20 others. He was sworn in on September 21, 2015. The Rivers State Government confirmed the incident. The state Commissioner for InformationandCommunications,EmmaOkah,confirmedthedeathofthe attorney general but did not give details. A statement signed by the state PublicitySecretaryofAPC,ChrisFinebone,said:"TheRiversStateChapter ofAllProgressivesCongress,APC,receivedwithprofoundshockthenews ofthedemiseofoneofthegreatsonsofourdearState,Barr.EmmaChinwe Aguma,SAN,whountilhisdeathwastheRiversStateAttorney-Generaland Commissioner for Justice. The leadership and members of APC in Rivers State commiserate with the Aguma family and the entire people of Rivers State over Aguma’s death.
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CBN Injects Fresh $327m, CNY 69m into Forex Market ObinnaChima
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday injected $327,440,499.50 into the interbank market through Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS). This was in addition to the sale of CNY 69,707,333.39 in the spot and short-tenored forwards. The figures obtained from the CBN showed that the US dollardenominated interventions were only for concerns in the agricultural and raw materials sectors. The acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said the exercise which was in tune with the CBN guidelines, were for the payment of Renminbi denominated Letters of Credit for agriculture as well as raw materials. He added that the sales in the
SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT ... L-R: Senator representing Adamawa South in the senate, Ahmad Abubakar; Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole; and the Mogaji Jimeta, Alhaji Umaru Dikko ,at the inauguration ceremony of the Bagole-Kofare Erosion Control works in Yola... yesterday
PPA: We Joined CUPP to Fight Buhari's Incompetence David-ChyddyEleke inAwka
MakarďŹ : Extent of Corruption Under APC will Shock Nigerians When Kicked out of Power Choice of PDP presidential candidate will determine success in 2019 ChristopherIsiguzoinEnugu
A former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi on Friday in Enugu, accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of being highly corrupt, insisting that the extent of corruption in the system will be unearthed by the time the administration is kicked out in 2019. The PDP presidential aspirant, who addressed leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as part of his nationwide consultation in Enugu, lamented that the politicisation of the much publicised anti-graft fight had weakened the policy. According to him, the corruption in government presently has become so monumental than any other administration in the nation's history. He said: "By the time APC is kicked out in 2019, you will know that the corruption in the system now is even worse now than in PDP's 16 years. It is usually difficult to investigate a government in
power. But, I must tell you clearly that this government is corrupt. "They keep saying PDP is corrupt, yet we established EFCC, ICPC etc, which showed our readiness to fight corruption from the beginning." He further declared that the choice of a presidential candidate will to a large extent decide whether or not the PDP will return to power in 2019. Makarfi, a former chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee (NCC), reasoned that the party should not be carried away by the obvious loss of confidence of Nigerians in the President Muhammadu Buhari- led administration and decide to bring anybody on board as party's flagbearer. He noted that the party had the best opportunity of wrestling power from the APC, but must ensure that the best material from the pool of present aspirants was chosen at the party's convention. He lamented that the nation was more divided now than any other time in its history, stressing that the PDP must ensure that the
person who will not further severe the chord holding Nigerians together emerged as its candidate. "I must state here that all of us in the race at the moment are eminently qualified but the party must ensure that the best emerges as candidate to face the ruling party, " noting that those relying on opinion poll rating and social media endorsements will receive the shock of their lives. The former governor, who said he had a great pedigree having governed a multi-religious and highly complex state like Kaduna with no trace of religious or ethnic crises within his reign, said he was able to bring his leadership credentials to bear in restoring the drifting glory of PDP, culminating in its emergence of a formidable opposition party. On the vexed issue of restructuring, Makarfi said the PDP must come together and restructure the polity once it returned to power. He stated that there was need for institutional restructuring where the security apparatus will not be
answerable to political leaders, pointing out that had a full restructuring taken place, the recent siege on the National Assembly will not have taken place. "INEC should be restructured to the extent of having representation from political parties. We should be able to address the problem of unemployment in our polity. We must restructure how power is generated and distributed," he said. While soliciting for the support of party leaders for his presidential bid, the former governor said he remained the best man for the job, adding, "let's not over assume that because our chances look good and make mistakes that we shall come back to regret." The chairman of the PDP in Enugu State, Augustine Nnamani assured the presidential aspirant that "you will certainly reap the fruits of your labour because you brought back the PDP to life." He said the party had a leader in Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, adding that the final decision would be taken at the appropriate time.
Defections Hit Home State of Oshiomhole Adibe Emenyonu inBenin City Hundreds of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State have announced their defection from the ruling party to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), saying they left because of political patronage. A Chieftain of the party, Chief Osamede Adun, the Aiyobahan of BĂŠnin Kingdom, who led others in the defection, said that he and his followers left the party because of abandonment and attitude of Governor Godwin Obaseki. Also among the defectors were a former APC Chairman for Orhionwon LGA in Edo State, Mr. Mathew Ehigie and a former Council Chairman of Ovia Northeast LGA, Mrs. Lucy Omagbon.
Adun, who is the leader of Kwankwasiyya, a political movement of former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso in Edo APC said his house was destroyed by the state government and he was driven away from the party. Speaking to journalists in Benin City after tendering his resignation letter alongside his followers, Adun also warned the state government against using payment of taxes to harass him. The defection followed weeks of threat by some Edo APC leaders to defect because of lack of political patronage and abandonment by Governor Obaseki. Adun, owner of popular transport, Bob Izua Motors, said he would pay the appropriate taxes but would cry
out if the taxes were too high. According to him, "What made me resign from the party is because of their attitude. If anything happen to me, they know who to hold responsible. I am in a party that can destroy my house and send me away. I have to leave the APC. "I resigned from the APC on my own volition. I am a member and leader of Kwankwasiyya movement in Edo APC. If the Senate President can declare to the PDP, who am I to say I will remain in the party. I know that they can give me taxes to pay on my businesses. If they give me what I can pay, I will pay but if it is too big, I will cry out. "All the Kwankwasiyya members held meetings and they said they have their mandate to say enough
is enough. We are supporting Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. He has defected to the PDP and we are working for him." Reacting, Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the focus of Governor Obaseki was governance and getting the dividend of democracy to the ordinary Edo people. According to him, "While Governor Obaseki holds every member of the political party in high esteem, his first loyalty is to the Edo masses. They are the ones whose mandate he carries and they always come first." Meanwhile, a former member, representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Mr. Isaac Osahon has denied his defection from the ruling party
Chinese Yuan were through a combination of spot and short-tenored forwards, arising from bids received from authorised dealers. While noting that availability of Renminbi was sure to ease pressure on the Nigerian foreign exchange market, Okorafor attributed the relative stability in the foreign exchange market to the intervention of the CBN as well as the sustained increase in crude oil prices in the international market. He further assured that the CBN would remain committed to ensuring that all the sectors continue to enjoy access to the needed foreign exchange by Nigerians. Meanwhile, the dollar exchanged for N360 at the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment of the foreign exchange market, while CNY 1 exchanged for N53.35.
The National Leader of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, has said that the serial killings in some parts of the country and the unfair treatment of people of all zones were part of the reason the party was joining forces with other parties in the new Coalition of United People Party (CUPP) to fight the reelection project of President Muhammadu Buhari. The leader of the party gave other reasons it was opposed to Buhari as the use of security agencies against political opponents. Ezeemo, who contested the November18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra State under the PPA platform, disclosed this to journalists in his country home, Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to him, "I am very displeased with the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. With incessant killings in some part of the country, kidnapping on our highways, insult on our national lawmakers by the operative of the DSS, intimidation and harassment of political oppositions, impunity has become the order of the day. "In fact, the political tension in the country will reach the stage when the
slogan and definition of democracy as the government of the people, by the people and for the people will no longer function. "This is all because of the fears instituted by the present APC Government." Ezeemo, who called on all eligible voters for the forthcoming 2019 general elections to make use of their PVCs wisely for the interest of Nigeria democracy, advised other Coalition members to be credible in selection of presidential candidate, because whoever will unseat the incumbent President, must be a person that is capable in all ramifications. He said such a person must be acceptable by all Nigerians, also all parties to the alliance. He also called for support for any candidate that emerges. He said with the promises of APC in 2015, when they came into power to tackle corruption, revamp the economy and address security challenges and restructure the nation, none has been realised. Thirty-nine political parties had met in Abuja last month, where they signed a Memorandum of Understanding to field a single presidential candidate in 2019, with an agreement to work together in all elections.
Osun Gets Support from USAID on Operational Guidelines YinkaKolawole inOsogbo
The Osun State Primary Healthcare Development Board is set to develop operational mechanism. and minimum service package for primary healthcare under one roof with the support of the United States Agency for International Development's Health Finance and Governance project (USAID-HFG). Health officials and stakeholders in healthcare workshop yesterday organised by USAID-HFG as part of process to produce operational guidelines and minimum service package for primary healthcare under one roof in line with the state primary healthcare establishment law. The Directors of Medical Service and Disease Control of the board, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi noted that out of the nine pillars of the primary healthcare under one roof, Osun had been able to achieve seven and that the current efforts were aimed at
achieving the remaining two which are minimum service package and operational guidelines. Also the USAID-HFG State Programme Coordinator in the state, Mr. Ismailah Abdulkareem stressed that the organisation had been giving technical support to the State Ministry of Health. Abdulkareem opined that with proper development of the minimum service package and operational guidelines for the State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Osun would attain 100 per cent in primary healthcare under one roof. In his remark, USAID-HFG Consultant, Professor Benjamin Uzochukwu highlighted the status of Osun State in the provision of healthcare services. Uzochukwu noted that the workshop was organised to broaden the understanding on the process and its importance.
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Plus
GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FASHION FILE SHOWBIZFLAIR
pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 43 pg. 46
Nollywood’s Aneke Twins Bubbling @ 32
pg. 20
Godwin Oyedokun My Wife Has My Keys, She Knows How to Get What She Wants from Me
Jimi Agbaje
I Got Married At 25, Earlier Than My Mates
pg. 22
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
PLUS
I’ve Never Had to Take the Case of My Wife to Anybody Jimi Agbaje is renowned as an astute politician, a two-time gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Lagos State. However, that is not all there is to Agbaje, who takes Bennett Oghifo down memory lane. He talks about his Isale Eko background, growing up in Apapa, how he married his teenage girlfriend and lover shortly after both graduated from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University and much more
Y
ou are from Lagos State, where are your roots, exactly? I’m from Isale Eko, Lagos Island, Lagos State, from the Orile Gbale Chieftaincy family, better known as Shokun family of Isale Eko. I also have roots on my paternal side in Ikorodu. My mum is from Ode Remo in Ogun State. Where did you grow up? I grew up initially on Lagos Island, Isale Eko. When I was born, at a very young age, my mother went abroad and I stayed with my grandmother for a while at Odoluwo Street at Isale Eko. Eventually, when my mother came back, we moved to Apapa. So, I’ve been an Apapa person for most of my life. However, as a young person in Isale Eko, I remember it was always a busy place, because it was always a trading community, but we had families. By the time I got to primary school, we had already moved to Apapa. I started my primary school at St. Mary’s Private School on Broad Street, where I did two years or so and then moved to Corona School in Apapa. I finished my Primary education here and
went to secondary school, St. Gregory’s College, Obalende. Before going to the university, I did a brief stint at the then Federal School of Science, Victoria Island, which was converted to Federal School of Arts and Science and now an annex of Kings College. It was from there I went to the University of Ife Tell us about your parents My mother was a teacher and my father was into banking and public relations. I grew up being very close to my mum, as my father was a very busy person. He worked with the white people and, I think, looking back now, he was the disciplinarian, not that my mother wasn’t a disciplinarian, but I think she was more understanding of us than he was. So, you had a situation where there was ‘fear’ of my father; I could manage my mother, in the sense that she brought us up with the ‘soft hand’ and our father brought us up with the ‘strong hand’ but I think it was a very good combination. We were six children but we lost one not too long ago. I’m the second born but the first son. Growing up, were there intrigues among the siblings? There were no intrigues; I think the way I’ll put it is that we were brought up to be very independent. As I say all the time, we are very independent minded people, but we share the same values, because we were brought up with values. Even though we share almost the same values, but we are independent of each other. So, I’ll say that is the way to put it; it is not so much of intrigues; as much as there is respect for each other’s space and that is what those who are close to us will accept that, yes, we are independent people but we have common values. At what age did you get married? I married very young, well, relatively young. I met my wife at the University of Ife, I think in my second year. We were boyfriend and girlfriend of course, and we continued the relationship after graduation. So, I got married at the age of 25, because as I said, we had been going out for seven years; when you
I’ve always had this policy of working hard and playing hard and that has always been me
AUGUST 11, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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PLUS I’ve Been an Apapa Person for Most of My Life add from university to when I went for internship, because I studied Pharmacy, and she who studied Law, went to Law School and we went for Youth Service and we worked for a year or so before we got married. I got married at 25 years, faster than some of my mates, and we started having children at that time; we have three children, of course, they are all adults today in their own rights. Were you ready to take on such responsibility at that age, you had parental support? As a young person, I think it was slightly different, it wasn’t so much support. I think the way I’ll put it is this, we didn’t have anything so we started together from scratch. And, I think the difference, if you consider what happens today, is that we agreed to pool our resources to build or acquire what we have. When I look at the younger ones today, they are afraid to marry, because they want to have arrived at a certain level. And I tell them that when we got married, we didn’t have anything. Of course, now you buy readymade furniture, but at that time, you got the carpenter to make your furniture. I couldn’t afford a well-furnished apartment; so we had the dining table and four chairs, I remember, when we started. So, when my friends came, it is the same dining chairs we converted for guests, because that was it. I think when I got married, I had a bed, I had an air conditioner that was won at a raffle, so I slept comfortably. But outside that, when it was time to begin to buy things, furniture and all, we pool resources, I mean, my wife was working and I was working and I think it helped us, because today some people say I’m the owner of the fridge, you are the owner of the freezer, I’m the owner of the television, cable television decoder, etc. We didn’t have that, we owned it together and I think in a way, it helped in the bonding of the relationship. Sometimes you find out that when you’re the owner of this or the owner of that, it is like you’re preparing for the eventual separation, but when you’re tied together, it doesn’t even arise, because nobody leaves with anything. So, to that extent, we pool our resources to buy the things that we found to be essential; that was it. Again, because of the benefit of the long courtship, we already understood ourselves and it has helped us greatly going through life. I have never had occasion to take the case of my wife to anybody, neither has she had the course to take any case to anybody. We have learnt to resolve our issues between ourselves. These days, even the young ladies don’t want to marry anybody that has not arrived. Do you think it is the influence of the parents or of the society? I don’t think it is the influence of the parents, but that of the society as a whole. Our value system has gone very materialistic, so it is not only in marriage, because when you go to churches, if you’re rich, you sit in the front pew, in the mosque, you’re recognised because of how much you donate to the faith. So, in the same way, everybody wants to have somebody that has arrived and that is when recognition comes. Nobody wants to suffer any longer, nobody wants to work towards anything any longer, and you know, it’s in every facet of our lives. It is no different from a rent economy, you know, rent living; you don’t want to work for anything, you want to arrive on day one. It was different when we go married. How did you get to be a Pharmacist? I was a science student, and I was stronger in the biological sciences than in the mathematical sciences and so the options for me then were Medicine, Pharmacy, Biochemistry and all that. So, when it was time to choose, there was a
Mr. and Mrs Agbaje
It’s important that people begin to look at what lasts in life, because today’s world is very materialistic, but like they say, money does not buy happiness, money does not even buy love and that is a reality. It is important for the younger ones to have a focus on life, to have a vision of what they want to be, and what they want to be should not be in terms of how much money they want to have because it is not necessarily going to give them happiness at the end of the day programme that used to be on television at that time, it was called Ben Carson, a foreign programme on television. You had this doctor who appeared to be a very good doctor who was comfortable and on TV you could see how comfortable he was; his home was beautiful and everything, he worked very hard. And at that time, I looked at the doctors in Nigeria that I knew, I saw them in these hospitals that were not as nice as the ones on TV. The environment wasn’t exactly really nice, I didn’t see them as having money, at that time we started having the doctors’ crisis. But then, there was this Pharmacist who had a practice near where we stayed and he looked very comfortable, I could see he wasn’t lean, he looked quite healthy, fresh and always
smiling and his Pharmacy was nice. So, when the university form came, at that time we didn’t have JAMB so you filled forms for individual universities, we had medicine, we had pharmacy and I said God why will I want to be a doctor if I cannot be like this Dr. Ben Casey, but I don’t mind being like this Pharmacist, and then again Medicine was five years, whereas Pharmacy was three years. My parents had travelled when I got the form and I filled Pharmacy and, as they say, the rest is history. What are the life lessons you learned, looking back? Well, I’ve always had this policy of working hard and playing hard and that has always been me. I’ve worked hard and played hard ever since I graduated, and I’ve enjoyed doing that. I’ve learnt that it is very important that you’re yourself, because there is a lot of peer pressure, there is a lot of pressure from society, but you must be able to be your own person, and I’ve learned that. I’ve learnt to make friends, because I’m somebody that makes friends very easily, I’m very social. But, at any point in time, I’ve not expected myself to shift in terms of what I believe in. So, to that extent, I’ve learned that getting married and having children it’s important what you stand for; it’s important to bring up your family, especially my foray into politics has been important for me, because I’ve learnt from people who have gone ahead, especially people who you will call heroes of democracy, not just in Nigeria, but across the globe. Many of them have not had good family life, and so also I’ve learnt that it is important that you hold your family. So, in taking a decision to go into politics, it was important for me to carry my family along so that I do not have a situation where my family is pulling in one way and I am pulling in another. It was important to convince your immediate family about what you’re about to get into. And once we are in it together, we continue to share the experiences together, such that your family becomes your
mirror and also guides you in life, and if there is temptation to do some things that you shouldn’t be doing, you will ask yourself how you are going to face your family. So, that has helped; it’s being yourself, being social, I’ve learnt to live with every kind of person, I’m a very accommodating person; I will deal with every person, but I know the line I will not cross. You will find that you’re not likely able to push me to do anything I don’t want to do; that is my person. I’m not an extremist in any way; if you asked me the kind of food I like best, I’ll probably not be able to tell you I have a best food; I dress to be comfortable, I’m not vain, I just want to be myself. What advice do you have for the young ones today? It’s important that people begin to look at what lasts in life, because today’s world is very materialistic, but like they say, money does not buy happiness, money does not even buy love and that is a reality. It is important for the younger ones to have a focus on life, to have a vision of what they want to be, and what they want to be should not be in terms of how much money they want to have because it is not necessarily going to give them happiness at the end of the day. If it is the amount of money they want to have, they are likely to run into trouble, because they will be looking for money by all means, criminal or otherwise, so at the end of the day, they will run into trouble. It is what will make them happy that is very important, like if they want to settle down to married life, then what are you looking for in a wife? You are looking for a wife that is going to be a friend, and a partner, because at the end of the day, money will come, because if you are comfortable, you’re happy, with God’s guidance, blessing, then you will have that money. Unfortunately, many of the younger ones are looking at money first other than happiness, and not realising early in life that money does not buy happiness.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
PLUS
Nollywood’s Aneke Twins Bubbling @
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Nollywood identical twin actresses, Chidimma and Chidiebere Aneke exude great style and personality. They are talented, confident, charming, fashionable and expressive. After hitting stardom for a well interpreted role in Nollywood blockbuster movie, “Desperate Twins” in 2004, they have since become a sought-after artistes by movie enthusiasts and the attraction of the soft media, lighting up the acting skies with their talent. For the award-winning Aneke twins, as they are popularly called, who clocked 32 on August 6, life has offered them beyond fulfillment even as the land is green for greener opportunities, writes OMOLABAKE FASOGBON
We want to emulate her good virtues of living a peaceful and lovable life with our husbands
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˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
PLUS In Life, You Don’t Have to Struggle to be Like Another Person, You Should Live Your Life to the Glory of God
E
xpressing their priceless love for each other on their social media pages during the week, one cannot but be convinced that true love still exists among siblings, especially for unique souls that are united by birth, the
twins. Twins they say have a special bond, they feel safer with each other than with their peers. Examining the quote of the legendary playwright, Williams Shakespeare which says “So, we grew together like a double cherry, seeming parted, but yet a union in partition, two love berries in one stem”, the Shakespearian quote is not far from describing the persons and bond that existed between Chidimma and Chidiebere Aneke who are each other’s best confidant. Their recent post on the social media further proves this. “My cute twin sister @realchidiebereaneke a friend I can never stop thinking about. My one and only angelic sister who has always been my funny companion,” Chidimma wrote. Replying, Chidiebere wrote, “Today, I want to tell you how much I love you, I’m so glad I grew up with, You made the tears easier, and the laughter more joyful”. Born on August 6, 1986 in Enugu State, the last issue in Aneke family of five have seen and experienced many sides of life even at their youthful age being raised by their widowed mother, after the untimely demise of their father. But that is not an excuse to occupy the lowest rung of the social ladder. In the history of the Nigerian movie industry, theirs present a unique feature of originality, a most desired quality in the movie world, whereby a biological twin in actual sense acts as a biological twin, and not just created to make it look so. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons for their meteoric rise to fame in a highly competitive industry. At a much younger age, Chidimma and Chidiebere have always wished for a career in acting even though they have a potential in modelling considering their physique. They set out for acting in 1999, with the intervention of their elder sister. They first appeared in a movie titled Ebuka, the fantastic feedback propelled them to explore the industry further. Like a dream, their role in Nollywood blockbuster movie, “Desperate Twin” led them to stardom and earned them a nomination for Most Promising Acts to Watch at the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. For them, this is an illusion gradually making way for reality, hence put in more efforts for the picture to become clearer. Ever since, it has been opportunities following opportunities. The reward for their hardwork was their appearance in over 60 Nollywood movies like: The Scorpion God, Jealous Friends and Revenge of the Gods. This further brightens their hope in the industry. As one who has God’s back, supported by their mother’s prayer altar, Chidinma and Chidiebere in three decades and two years of their lives, have achieved what can be said to be a lifetime achievement for some others. Within a short time they hit the spotlight, the Aneke twins were able to grace their career with their personal works that featured several A list artistes. Some of these works included: Queen of the Heart, Onochie and Back to Basis. Apparently, being products of education which is also giving them an edge in their chosen career, they pointed out that the movie ‘Back to Basis’ was their own way of encouraging all to get education, as they say, “Back to Basis touches on the need for education in the society. Knowledge is imperative in one’s life, because where there is lack of knowledge, failure is bound to override success”. The film was supported by Nollywood Project Act, an initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Though, they might not be the Bill
Aneke twins
Gates of this world even though they have a glaring potential to be one, for the little they have gathered, they are more than contented and are impacting generations. “We are contented with our level of growth. In life, you don’t have to struggle to be like another person. Instead, you should live your live to the glory of God and await his wind of glory. There are wealthy people who are not healthy, why would anyone bother to kill himself or herself because of worldly things. Honestly, we don’t buy clothes or material things on credit.” In giving back to the society, the delectable twins are equally not behind. Their gesture further buttress the saying that one doesn’t need to own the whole world before helping the needy to find solace. Asides using their movies to effect a positive change in the society, they are also impacting lives with other resources and majorly through the “Aneke Twins Foundation”, which has been dedicated to humanitarian works and giving succour to the less priviledged. This is why, for them, August 6 means more than the obvious. A time to look back and appreciate their creator for another opportunity of life, a time to rejoice, a time to brace up for new challenges, a time to strategise on how to add new feathers to their cap and more importantly, a time to think about and give back to the society . One startling attribute of these beautiful lass is their unassuming nature and commitment to God’s work, a way of life they say they inherited from their mother. Does it surprise you to know that the Enuguborn ladies took up a voluntary cleaning job in the house of God? Indeed, this has been a routine they keep every weekend. Looking down on status and fame, cleaning and arranging God’s sanctuary is what they do not for the praise of man or God, nor for the reward of it. This according to them has been their survival secret. As for fashion, theirs is peculiar. More interesting to know is the twins’ love for and respect for culture. It is in the same attitude that they voted for locally-made textile and design, especially Aba made
Marriage is sacred! It is better for me to break courtship than marriage. Our mother didn’t divorce her husband until we lost our father. So, we want to emulate her good virtues of living a peaceful and lovable life with our husbands. Honestly, we need to understand the purpose of marriage which includes love, friendship, patience, trust and tolerance Designs. This is not because they lack the wherewithal for trendy designs but their belief in the superiority of Nigerian endowment. Without mincing words, Aneke twins rock in their local outfits which they say are usually made by Annecouture and Afam Elite Designs here in Nigeria. They also seem to be unique in their choice of hairstyle which they simply create themselves. This is not surprising as they already acquired hairdressing skills when they were much more younger, to support their struggling mother when the going got tough. Truly, their love for fashion is incontrovertible but they are not fashion extremists. While fashion to them is not about what one wears or the facial looks, it is about the inside of a man. “Fashion is not about what you wear or your facial looks. You know that there are
people with beautiful faces, but have wicked hearts”, they pointed out. Rewarding their fashion perspectives, in 2017, they were awarded Most Fashionable Twins of the year during the Coal City Fashion and Design Week that held in Enugu. Not just that, they also got the Nolly Wood Excellence and Leadership Award, NELAS Award Hall of Fame honour. Although not married, they are definitely looking up to the experience someday. Despite their single status, they speak the language of marriage that one would ordinarily think they have been married for years. In their words, not being married now is not because men are not coming but those showing up may probably not have been the Mr. Right ordained by God. It is part of their wish to get married on same day, but ultimately, to find happiness in the life’s long journey. Sharing their view on marriage, Chidiebere once said: “Marriage is sacred! It is better for me to break courtship than marriage. Our mother didn’t divorce her husband until we lost our father. So, we want to emulate her good virtues of living a peaceful and lovable life with our husbands. Honestly, we need to understand the purpose of marriage which includes love, friendship, patience, trust and tolerance. Some marriages break because the couples don’t see each other as friends and soul mates. Couples should treat their spouses like their flesh and blood. Sincerely, if you truly love someone, you would hardly hurt that fellow. But our society of today celebrates divorce more than marriage. It’s not about wealth or look, but it takes a lot of commitment to stay married. The twin, like any other person, has their low moments, but that could not have deterred them from getting to the moon. So far one abides by the principle of ‘patience, hardworking, fear and love for God, Challenges are just mere stepping stone to greatness.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ , 2014
PLUS
Godwin Oyedokun My Wife Has the Keys, She Knows How to Get What She Wants from Me Godwin Oyedokun is the Chief Executive Officer of OGE Professional Services Ltd, OGE Business School and the President of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, ACFE, Lagos Chapter. As a fraud examiner, chartered and forensic accountant, he belongs to the family of one of the untamed and unsafe professions, which goes beyond doing the numbers. Disciplined and widely read, he talks about his life as an anti-fraud specialist, dark corners of the profession and balancing the home front. Omolabake Fasogbon presents the excerpts
We need to begin from our homes in order to change our country
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˜ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
PLUS I Don’t Think Accountants are Stingy; we are Only Prudent in Spending
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ot many people are in anti-fraud profession in Nigeria. Why do you think it is so? Yes, you are right, we are very few in Nigeria. Even some parading themselves as anti-fraud professionals are only using their accountancy experience. The reasons for this are due to the low level of awareness and the cost of training. It will interest you to note that few of us in this field travel as far as South Africa, UK, Canada and USA for anti-fraud and forensic training. The nature of your job- to detect and expose fraudulent acts is vulnerable to risks. How do you manage them? There is no job without its risks. As a journalist, you have your job-inherent risks. As an accountant, there are so many risks and so also it is for us in anti-fraud and forensic accounting field. Now, back to your question, in this field, we were trained on how to manage risk and we put it to use in ensuring that the impacts of such risk are not directly felt by mitigating such risk. Aside security, what are the other risks that come with the job? Majorly, most of our clients don’t bother to pay the remaining balance of our professional fees if the forensic report does not go their way. On the other hands, our work ethics demand that we engage other professionals to be sure of the fact that we have closed all ends in our engagements; this poses risk which may be termed financial risk. How does your wife feel about your job considering the risks involved? He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favour from God. My wife is a gift from God and her ways of life complement mine. She loves what I do and her prayers also help in achieving my aim on any engagement. She was there for me when I was just an accountant in a company, this function comes with closing late and series of accounting issues, she is also here with me as I moved on in my career. She is the manager of my house and she does that well. My wife is a director in our company and a major signatory to all our bank accounts. This shows she is with me on this and we both mitigate risk together. Most ladies would reject an accountant for husband on the excuse that accountants are stingy. How did you convince your wife? Being an accountant is a thing of pride and people around us always need one favor or the other from us. My wife and I both worked in the same organisation some 15 years ago and she was highly respected to have had an accountant as a man. On the issue of stinginess, I do not think accountants are stingy, we are only prudent in spending, we want to know what a kobo collected from us is spent on and we need people around us to give account of what was entrusted to them. As for me, I have a good blend of so many professions and none could be said to have a domineering effect on me. My wife has my key and she knows how to get what she wants to get from me. She is reasonable. I allow her to have her ways all the time and that suggests why we are still enjoying this common union till tomorrow. There have been commendation and condemnations for the anti-corruption fight of this government. Where does your association belong on this? I think it is better for me to go with the later than the former. This is not because they are not doing anything at all but because there is not much result to show for the expenditure and efforts on same. Action and reaction are opposite and equal. This fight must be fought with less of talking on the pages of newspapers. There should be less of political jingoism. I want to see a situation where the news would be: Mr. A was convicted of a crime so so so and not that we are going to raid Mr. A or we are planning to arraign Mr. B.
Would you report your family members? Yes because to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed. As a professional, suggest other ways Nigeria can tackle financial fraud We all need to go back home and do it right from there. What we see today in our society is a true reflection of our homes. Our value system is faulty; there is no respect for humanity. Some do bad things with impunity and there is no fear of God. We should ensure strong institution and not strong individual; rule of law should be taken seriously. Our punitive and corrective regime should be above board. More importantly, both private and public organisations should strive to engage anti-fraud professionals. Are you saying that there are no antifraud professionals in our institutions? I have not said that we do not have anti-fraud professionals in our various institutions and organisations. However, the problem we have in Nigeria is that of ‘body Language’ of those charged with authority to determine the direction where these people will go. This, we can all confirm from one administration to the other. Our people need change of orientation. We are sure that those with ACFE credentials are trained to even leave their job instead of joining the bandwagon. Fraud is carried out everywhere even at the home front, like women inflating prices of foodstuffs or a child wanting to increase price of handout. How do you detect and handle such cases at home? We have virtuous women out there who would not engage in any kind of fraudulent activities. However, we have those that are desperate and are ready to do anything to achieve their objectives. Yes, there are red flags to professional fraud and same exist for home fronts. Red flags are signs that things are not right (possibility of existence of fraud). In this situation, you see the suspect living beyond his or her means of income, extravagancy, staff that do not wish to go on leave year in year out, staff refusing promotion, staff wanting to help others perform their duties, resuming early and closing late in office etc. At the home front, that is when you see women buying cloths and other related materials far and above what the husband provided, receiving unnecessary visitors or attending associations’ function, shrinking food stuff at home, agitating for more money to buy food stuff, fighting the husband for helping to buy food stuff at home etc. This is common where the husband is the sole provider at home. As for my children, it is a no go area as the kind of school my children attend would not give room for such fraudulent acts. Like I said, we need to begin from our home in order to change our country. I do not have the opportunity of defrauding my parent when I was in school for the purchase of handouts, may be because, I was not begged to go to school; I facilitated my going to school through the help of my parents. What is your greatest achievement in life? My greatest achievement is the fact that I am now the Group Managing Director/CEO of a Group of Companies after working for so many organisations; and secondly, for obtaining doctoral degree in Finance. How far do you intend to go in this career? I have done a lot in this profession and I have written so many articles for upcoming professionals to read in this field to enhance their performances both academically and professionally. These can be accessed free of charge at SSRN.com and slideshare.com by just searching with my full name. This is to ensure that even when I am no more, generation to come would still continue to enjoy my work. Not too many practice what they studied in school, but you did, what inspired you? I have carefully chosen this path and I will continue in it as long as I live. It was the wish of my father to study within
sciences but I made him realise the fac fact ct that I wanted accounting. He gave hiss blessing and I am not regretting my action. I cannott really say what inspired d me about accounting-related unting-related fields but for the level of intelligence required to be an accountant. ant. In school then, only good students picked accounting. This also spurred me to take up my ICAN examin examinanation and other related professional examinations. As a fraud examiner,, does that mean an you have never indulged ndulged in in any fraudulent nt act? I’m trying to o recall. recalll. But I can boldly ly say that I havee not involved myself lf in any fraudulent ent activities before. e. Here, the definition nition of fraud is necessary. essary y. Fraud is defined ed as an intentional nal (deliberate) deception ceptio on resulting in injury ury to another person. son. In a broad strokes okes definition, fraud ud is a deliberate misrepresentation ion n which causes another person n to suffer damages, ges, usually monetary ary losses. Most people eople consider the act ct of lyy ing to be fraudulent, but dulent, bu ut in a legal sense, e, lying is only one smalll element off actual fraud. Fraud usually raud usuall ly involves lying for a specificc gain that causes es someone losss while lying does es not always include hurt. Is it possible le that we get a society free off corruption? Yes, this is achievable. chievable. I will explain this with experience ith my experienc ce in Mushin, onee of the notable towns in Lagoss where I had spent over eight ht years. I realised d that people of Mushin apart from the known wn political fight, don’t engage in n armed robbery (I cannot say they hey don’t do so outside Mushin) n) just because of the punitive regime. gime. Once you are caught, the judgement comes immediately before efore law enforcementt would arrive. With this, residence can n sleep with theirr two eyes closed. In year 2011, I took ok a new Toyota Corolla Corollllaa to this town and nd parked on the streett of Ogunbaye and till today, I still hav have ve the car with others. hers. If those charged with governance ce of this country are serious about the business of goverr nance, they will ll set the right tone att the top - obey rule of law, ensure free freee and fair election on and others - and you will see a changed people of Nigeria. You cannot annot live your life at the expense of other citizens and expect them to o continue to keep quiet quiiett and do nothing. g. You have practiced racticed within and outside the shores country, hores of the country y, compare how fraud is tackled here and how w it is addressed outside? This is just like ike comparing sleep p with death! Over ver there, they have government, professionals, rofessionals, tools, and enabling environment with sound judicial system, but here, you know the story. It is easy forr a plaintiff to become ome the defendantt in Nigeria. I am m sure you understand mee well. At times times, s, itt is difficult for those charge charged ged d with governance Nigeria ce in Niger eria iaa to fight fraud because of the fact that ‘he who seeks equity uity y must do equity’ y’ and also ‘he who comes into to o equity must come omee with clean hands’. nds’.
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˜ ˞ AUGUST 11, 2018
MILESTONE
Oskar Ibru Joins The Diamond Club Henry Muogho
T
oday, family, friends and associates of Olorogun (Dr.) Oskar Christopher Eyovbirere Ibru, will roll out the drums to celebrate his attainment of the age 60. It is necessary to declare an interest. I am a great admirer of Oskar Ibru and staff of Ibru Organisation for a period spanning close to four decades. My association with him over the years is one I treasured jealously. It’s not only that Ibru deepens one’s understanding of the world, of its problems and possibilities, but that he is always such a good man to be around. No one that I have come across could be more fun than him, no one more appealing, with those impulses of gentleness and intellect so intermingle in his vivid personality. He values friendship with precision and truth. I first met Otunba Ibru in his late father’s office sometimes in 1983, while working as one of the Confidential Secretaries to Olorogun Michael Ibru. Chief reassigned me to Mr. Peter Ibru initially, but somehow ended working for the three brothers (Oskar, Peter and Emmanuel) until I finally got stucked with Oskar. He became not only a Boss, but also a big brother, a confidant, somebody I can trust, and somebody I can relate with, more or less. May be because of the affection that he had for me ab initio, he also treats me like a member of the admirable Ibru Family. His care for family is second to none. He incised to his amiable and lovely wife, Chief (Mrs) Wanda Ibru, the Oyinbo Karo of Olomu Kingdom and Yeye Boyejo of Ijebu Land. Otunba is blessed with three Children; Makashe (now Mrs. Makashe Awogboro, Ebruba and Nenesi. The presence of his grandchildren gives him unquantifiable upliftment at his low times His titles are unending, I will in the course of this article interchangeably use some of his titles but very few such as: Ochuko ro’ vie, Odomese, Otunba Boyejo, Ori-Ekirode and Erhurhu. Some of the Awards conferred on him for service to state, Nigeria and humanity globally include but not limited to Award of Excellence by Rotary International District 9110 (2002); Niger Delta Role Model Award by Niger Delta Union (2003), African Role Model Leadership Gold Award for Excellence (2004); Maritime Award – the Best Private Jetty Operator (2005), Pan African Ethnics Golden Award for Inspirational Leadership (2006); Nigeria Chamber of Shipping – Maritime Personality of the year 2006; Award of Excellence conferred by the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) 2008 to mention just a few Olorogun’s attitude to life is that the river of time carries us all away. He’s fund of admonishing us that:�All we have is the moment, and we all do better when we help each other. We must be a gift to people. When your hand is open to give, it’s also open to receive. My father was a very humble fisherman. I never saw him talk down on anyone. He had the ultimate respect for everyone. I grew up learning that. The Otunba Boyejo of Ijebuland was raised to focus on the inner qualities of people, not the way they dress or the titles they hold. He is something like a phenomenon, an exceptionally, uncommon humble person. OCJ as he is fondly call, has managed to educate those of us who are fortunate to be close to him, that any and all things are possible when you believe in yourself. The grandson of a nomadic Anglican Cleric, Erhurhu is very family-oriented. For him, he who is not well grounded in his own culture is assuredly lost. As the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Ibru Organisation, OCJ is one-of-a-kind: influential, attractive, intelligent, charming and tough. He’s what the late Winston Churchill called “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma� Erhurhu could go head to head with anybody. You just
Olorogun’s attitude to life is that the river of time carries us all away. He’s fund of admonishing us that:�All we have is the moment, and we all do better when we help each other. We must be a gift to people. When your hand is open to give, it’s also open to receive. My father was a very humble fisherman. I never saw him talk down on anyone. He had the ultimate respect for everyone. I grew up learning that
Ibru
really don’t want to think that you have a fool on your hands when you go to him. He could handle himself against anybody, I don’t care who you think you are. He has first class memory most especially when it comes to money matters and dates keeping. The Otunba Boyejo once told me that as a teenager living on Mashalashi Street, Somolu, Lagos, he was involved in the marketing of frozen fish. “I was groomed from the beginning to get involved in the family’s business. At 16, I took my first job. Just like my father, I got up at 3.00 in the morning to go to the market to sell fish. Back in the early 1990’s, the Federal Government’s Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), the ever unreliable power supply and inconsistencies in government foreign exchange policy were having negative effects on the operations of the Organisation’s cash cow: the frozen fish when he took over. Today, he has turned around the fortunes of the country’s first indigenous multinational Group for good. The vast once empty cold storage facilities that formerly warehoused fish at Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos was the first thing that caught his attention. This has become the veritable platform which 13 major and independent oil marketers use in importing refined petroleum products into the country. Thus, stabilizing petroleum distributions in Nigeria. Vast investments in Ghana in arrears of Hotel and Tourism Odomese, the first non-Ijebu person to be honoured with a traditional title by the Awujale of Ijebu Land, once told the FINANCIAL TIMES that he got his business acumen from his paternal grandmother, the late Madam Juliet Omotogor Ibru (Mama Somolu), “Mama was the original founder of the family’s business, She incidentally tutored Chief Michael Ibru, Chief Ibru business empire spans agriculture, real estate, maritime, publishing, aviation, oil & gas, construction, brewery and distilling etc. Mama gave us her looks, her motivation; even today she stills bind us together. We are like a stack of broomsticks. If there is just one broomstick, it’s easier to break. But we are a whole lot of broomsticks learning on each other, backing each other up. That’s what makes us strong. To describe him as an enigma, would not be an over statement. Just like his father tried to contest for the governorship of the then Bendel State in 1983, Olorogun Ibru also aspired to be Governor of Delta State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in 2007 in his quest to bring good governance and rapid development to people of Delta State. As he embarked on a campaign tour of Ovwor town, near Ughelli, He’s convoy came across some children apparently coming back from the farm. On sighting his convoy, they went into frenzy, Jumping up and down screaming Oskar!
Oskar!! Oskar!!! “Our Governor don come� Until his convoy went out of sight. It is characteristics of him that he likes to have around him in his moment of relaxation those with whom he works. And the atmosphere of his service is that you are working with him, not for him. Oscar has a tender mind, great expectations, with a kind heart. He’s a hard worker and expects everyone to work hard like he does. He has compassion for people who works for him, and he knows everyone at IBRU by name – from the gatemen to the directors. A man of high integrity, his word is his bond. Like his remarkable father and uncles, Otunba has continued to stay within the boundaries of integrity and dignity. The Ibru brothers carried themselves with civility even at the height of their pomp and power. A philanthropist that gives quietly, he has given millions to the needy, vulnerable, terminally ill and the poor. His strength comes from his ability to empower young people like the hundreds he has helped to acquire university education. This writer is one of the numerous beneficiaries. You need to see him fret over the welfare of those close to him to understand that no father could be more solicitous of the personnel and family welfare of those in his circle. No one works harder – and no one makes you feel like working hard yourself – and no one knows better the proper proportions in which relaxation and laughter must be mixed with all well-balanced work. To him, work is like workshop. “You work, you chop�; “You chop you work� Olorogun Ibru is a technocrat, bureaucrat and a generalist who combines business with pleasure. Also, He embraced the family tradition and went to the famous Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, for his secondary education before proceeding to the Skidmore College, Saragota, New York for his First degree. He later attended Atlanta University Graduate School of Business Administration for his Master’s Degree. Ibru was the first African Commodore of the Apapa Boat Club, One time Director, Voice of Nigeria; he once was the President of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and was the 2006 Maritime Personality of the Year. The Ochuko Ovie of Agbara-Otor and Odomese of Olomu kingdom loves the simple things. He could make either a king or a commoner feel at ease in his presence. A great sportsman, a most valuable player at Skidmore College. He loves playing table and long tennis, takes delight in swimming for relaxation. At 60, Olorogun Oskar Ibru keeps on shooting .... the sky is not a limitation. –––Muogho, is Director of Administration, Ibru Organisation.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯ˜ ͰͮͯͶ
MILESTONE
Students, Colleagues, Extol Abimbola’s Stay at UNILORIN Femi Ogbonnikan
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popular declaration in the past is that “a teacher’s reward is in heaven”, but not anymore, as teachers now live to witness and receive what is due to him or her in this world. In his or her presence, students and colleagues would attest to his or her behaviour, whether good or bad. Consequently, this analogy aptly applies to a scholar of international repute who is bowing out of active service at the University of Ilorin. Students and colleagues will greatly miss one of their own, as Isaac Olakanmi Abimbola, a Professor in the Science Education Department of the university, bows out of active service, having put in 35 years, the statutory retirement age. Gentle and suave, Abimbola is a professionally-trained and certified teacher of over 50 years. He is a certified Applied Scholastics International Master Instructor and has taught at all levels of education. He was born on August 2, 1948 at òdò-ìjèsà, in Àtàkùnmòsà East Local Government Area of Osun State to the family of late Papa Abraham Abimbola Olowookere and Mrs. Rachael Adewola Abimbola. Prof Abimbola’s early education began at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Primary School, Odò-Ijèsà; L. A. Secondary Modern School, Òké-Oòyè, Ilesa; and subsequently at Wesley College, Ibadan; The University of Ife, Ile-Ife, and finally, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. His research is in the area of “Student Misconceptions and Alternative Conceptions in Biology” that focuses on how students can learn with perfect understanding and apply their knowledge in problem solving. Being a prolific writer, the retiring Professor has several publications-scholarly articles in reputable home-based, national, and international journals to his credit. Among his numerous publications are many books on Curriculum and Instruction, Integrated Science, Biology, History and Philosophy of Science, Research Methods, and Study Technology. Besides, he has supervised several thesis and research projects of many science teachers and educators, holding important teaching and other positions in Nigeria. Abimbola has been an External Examiner to several Colleges of Education and Universities in Nigeria. And these include External Assessor of Ph.D candidates’ thesis in many Nigerian universities and an External Assessor for promotion of senior academics in Colleges of Education, higher education regula-
Abimbola
tory agencies and Universities within and outside Nigeria. Abimbola was a regular participant in NUC and NCCE accreditation exercises and a regular presenter of research papers in local, national, international conferences and capacity building programmes. He has served as Member of Editorial Boards of several national and international Journals. He has delivered awareness-training programmes on Study Technology to many secondary school and university students and teachers. He is a member of many professional associations in science education,
which include Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, USA, The National Association of Biology Teachers, USA, and The Association for Science Teacher Education, USA. Speaking on his post-retirement plan, he said: “I plan to rest for some time to put myself in a retirement mode before re-launching myself into the life after retirement. I have already registered a limited liability consultancy company, named ‘Excellent Learning Technology Ltd.’ I plan to train all stakeholders in education on how to teach students to enable them achieve perfect understanding. Perfect understanding is achievable by students if they learn the technology of how to study and learn. This requires self-discipline, grit and self-tutoring, and group work through systematically graded instructional materials.” Professor Abimbola has been Martin Luther King, Jr.—Rosa Parks- Cesar Chavez Visiting Professor, Visiting Professor to Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA, and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, the premier University of Education in Nigeria. He was previously a Clerk at Blessed Joseph Bookshop, Okesa, Ilesa (January to September 1964; and Igbayilari Bookshop, Okesa, Ilesa (September 1964 - December 1965). He had a brief stint as a primary school teacher and later a Headmaster, Methodist School, Pápá, in Olójúoró Area of Ibadan (Jan-April, 1969). He was later transferred, on request, to serve as a classroom teacher at Wesley College Practising School, Elékùró, Ibadan (April 1969-September 1971); He was an NYSC teacher at Teachers College, Bama, Borno State (August 1975-June 1976) and Education Officer II, Ministry of Education, Ibadan, Oyo State (July-12 September 1976). Professor Abimbola is leaving rich legacies in his positive personal attributes of integrity, scholarship, hard work, thoroughness, professionalism, and his useful books. He is leaving behind important research legacies in the areas of Student Misconceptions and Alternative Conceptions in Biology, and Study Technology, as represented in misunderstood words, situations, and symbols, and perfect understanding as the ultimate goal for knowledge, happy life and living. “We believe we shall hear more from him in the immediate future about his Excellent Learning Technology Ltd. In addition, we look forward to further works on his passion for ‘how students can learn how to learn’, and his advocacy for multiple-choice testing as a panacea for students learning difficulties that may prevent perfect understanding,” said Babatunde Abimbola (a cousin). Professor Abimbola is married to Mrs. Comfort Nihinlola Abimbola and they are blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren. He loves photography and varieties of music.
Uwanaka:WithFirmaAdvisory,IWanttoBringInnovationtoLawPractice Chinenye Uwanaka is a fledgling lawyer with passion to deploy technology in transforming legal practice and fight trafficking in all its forms. She bares her mind to Paul Obi, on her zeal, drive and motivation
Y
our new law firm appears to focus more on technological innovation, what is the purpose?
The law is very important in the society, the law protects, the law is there for people to enforce, and it brings about orderliness in the society. For me being a lawyer, I believe that it’s like a special profession; we don’t do it for money alone, because we have a greater purpose which is to make society better. For me, I believe that a lot of people, who are dissatisfied with practicing law, are turned off because it’s not rewarding or fulfilling. Then I said okay, instead of me abandoning the profession, I need to come and contribute my quota by establishing the Firma Advisory to be part of the change and innovation of the profession I desire. So, with the opening of this firm, I want it to be a platform for lawyers who want to contribute their own quota, do things differently, because the world is evolving, every sector is evolving so law too must evolve. I want to be part of that change in my own way and also provide a platform for other lawyers like me to know that things can be done differently. You can be passionate about what you do and you can find fulfillment by impacting society, as well as earn a living. In what way do you think technology can enhance law practice? All over the world, legal tech is booming, you have data case management, you have database where people can store thousands of cases, and you can just log on to it and do a search within a few minutes. The profession uses physical libraries and when you want to carry out research, you spend a long time searching and writing, but now it’s done with a click of a button, and you can also interact with people all over. You have
to service clients within your own locality; you can outsource your resources to people in Japan, USAand so on. Technology is very important, but if we don’t come to town with technology, the profession will be left behind because other people are taking over roles that ordinarily should belong to lawyers because lawyers are not thinking outside the box. We are trying to make things better for the client. So, I think that technology is very important for the advancement of the legal profession. For instance, with the pro-bono legal aid that we are trying to do, there might be someone, a lawyer sitting down somewhere that wants to offer services but doesn’t know that there’s this case or something going on. However, if you have technology, you can actually have a platform whereby lawyers that want to deliver those kinds of services can meet with people who are going through challenges like domestic abuse, rape victims who don’t have money to pay for this service. So, innovation is a big part of what we do, and if we have more resources, we will continue to look for more solution that will make life easier. How can technology help fight cases of rape and human trafficking? For instance, there are a lot of applications in many parts of the world that we hope to bring to Nigeria as well. With technology, if you are going through something you can log on to the platform so that wherever you are, a Police person can come and rescue you or report a case and it’s taken up. In Nigeria, a few people are trying to do something. People can log on to their website, you can download different types of contracts and it’s done in an affordable way. So that way, you can bring it down to the common man, especially now that people are emphasising on registering their company. So, you have to have a certain legal entity so that by the time you register
Chinenye Uwanaka and guests at the launch
your company, you are already formalising your business so you need that lawyer to help you. Do you think Nigeria is ready for such innovation and technology in law practice? Of course we are. The NBArecently came up with some innovations, they want to make sure the courts have online case management, because courts in other parts of the world have gone digital. For instance, if you are sitting at a particular time, you will know what time a case is coming up and so on. You don’t have to come to court and wait the whole day. What are your targets in using technology? For us as a firm, we want to work with businesses, support them, help them access funding. For instance in banks, you see people saying a business cannot access loans because
they don’t have the corporate governance structure; we want to be there to advise them not to fall into any pitfalls. We want to engage with government on developing policies, renewing laws, legislative advocacy, so if there’s a law that’s not fit for purpose, then why should it be there? We want to engage government agencies with all the stakeholders both in the private sector and in government to bring about change and we have already started doing that. Also we are here to impact, access to justice, when people are wrongly imprisoned- you go to prisons 80% of people there are awaiting trial, because they lack legal representation. So, our pro bono arm of the firm has taken up some cases already, we are going to help some people, who we feel are innocent, then, fight for their rights. We have a lot of legal outreaches and law clinics that we want to do to contribute our own quota to making this country a better place.
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˜ ˞ AUGUST 11, 2018
PERSPECTIVE Obaseki and His ‘Wake and See’ Development Narrative in Edo Patrick Obahiagbon
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uch has been said about political leadership in states of the federation and in the Nigerian nation-state in the contexts of good and bad leaderships. The essential prisms through which to appreciate leadership could be philosophical or ideological, spiritual or temporal, economic or political, social or cultural. Whichever it is, the important thing is that one of the marks of leadership in all its variegated nuances is mentoring. The leaders galvanise the led or the followers and provide the critical force in the exploration and voyage of administration for the good of the collectives. A leadership that cannot galvanise followership will not only be deprived of the benefit of loyalty which is a quid pro quo element between leadership and followership, but will also miss its place in history and its connection in posterity. That is the reason leaders at different intersections, especially in the political sphere in Nigeria, are wont to show more than scant interest in those who succeed them. A body of arguments exists to support this thesis. One which enjoys cosmopolitan resonance is the idea of continuity of programmes, projects and policies. Building incrementally on progressive legacies is an approach that should be unassailable even in the enclave of the most vicious political oppositions. But this is not so in the typical Nigerian ambience where the opposition will become so obsessed with their enterprise of pulling down the governing party or the incumbent president or governor at the slightest or flimsiest of opportunities. Oppositional elements in Nigeria have been irrationally sardonic from times of yore. They crave the use of the cudgels, pestles and hammers in imprudent attacks and harangues on the status quo. They rambunctiously drive anti-government narratives to suit their fancies. Their stock in trade is tinkering with and manipulating the perception of the people to see the performance of government through the mirror of their Goebbelian exertions. The situation supra is the fons et origo of the outlandish macabre dance that has maniacally engrossed opposition homo sapiens in the country.This is the testy and tricky moment that the federal government and all APC governors must keep their eyes on the ball and this is exactly where Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki has become an exempli gratia of good governance and thus not only quickly writing his name in gold,but also defining his place in the pantheon of fame. Obaseki is building on the solid infrastructural development foundations laid by his predecessor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, in a deliberate bid to reinforce the essential validation that the Oshiomhole-Obaseki government
The Obaseki administration had already set the stage for the building of a multipurpose Benin Industrial Park at IkpobaOkha local government area of the state. This will certainly bolster the state’s strides towards industrial development and creation of employment or job opportunities for the teaming youths. It takes a strategic and thinking government to break the shackles of lack of development, under-development, poverty and misery among the people
Obaseki
in Edo is a continuum. This is the point I made earlier about mentoring. The present administration has not only embraced continuity as a directive principle of state policy, it has also imbibed the audacious spirit of Oshiomhole to embark on ambitious projects, one of which was the construction and reconstruction of over 500 kilometres of roads across the state in the first year of the administration. Importantly, the scope, shape, contents and texture of Obaseki’s development narrative in Edo state are grandiosely overwhelming. The trend presently is that one sleeps and wakes up to see one development initiative or the other taking place in the state. This is now a common feature that has earned the Obaseki administration the sobriquet of “wake and see� development. Indeed, the philosophical underpinning of the present luminous epoch of development in Edo state was the forging of the Edo State Investment Summit Alaghodaro 2017 with the apt theme: “Envisioning the Future.� In fact, a government that is forward-looking and committed to rapid transformation of the state must envision the future and chart pragmatic trajectories to get there. In the administration’s commitment to ensure the crystallization of its goals and objectives of development, the focus on institutional reforms is in apple-pie order. The key to such reforms and development are institutions. It is in this context that the administration must be commended for embarking on processes that have made the civil service reform more efficient and productive to ensure smooth service delivery. This is in pari materia with the programme of capacitating the state’s workforce on how to deploy the computer in service delivery. Significantly, the administration had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Training Institute on the capacity training initiatives. This is already having some direct positive bearings in the area of revenue collection wherein technology had been introduced. By the introduction of technology, coupled with the use of persuasion, education and enlightenment, the administration has been able to accountably and transparently increase local government revenues collection by over 500 percent in recent times. With a robust background in business investments and development economy, Governor Obaseki has sharply directed one of the focuses of the administration on indus-
trialization. He is thinking along the lines of utilizing the state’s natural endowment, particularly the available energy and logistic advantages, to make the state an industrial hub. If there is a striking similitude between Obaseki and his predecessor, Oshiomhole, in their style of governance, it is the gravitas that they bring to government. They both talk and do (described in local parlance as Otokinado). The Obaseki administration had already set the stage for the building of a multipurpose Benin Industrial Park at Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state. This will certainly bolster the state’s strides towards industrial development and creation of employment or job opportunities for the teaming youths. It takes a strategic and thinking government to break the shackles of lack of development, under-development, poverty and misery among the people. With Obaseki in the saddle in Edo state in the next six more years or thereabout, building strategically, incrementally and audaciously on the substructure of development that Oshiomhole left behind, I have no doubt in my mind that our dear state is on the surefooted path to glory days again. All well-meaning sons and daughters of Edo should join hands with the APC government both in the state and at the centre to bring about the much-needed development in our state. This is not the time to play opposition politics. We will benefit more by being in accord and on the same page with the federal government. The APC platform offers that possibility. The national chairmanship of the APC, which Oshiomhole custodies, is an added advantage in building the requisite political rapprochement that will conduce to rapid development of our state. While Oshiomhole will continue to strategically wet the ground in Abuja, Obaseki will move in to do the planting of the seeds while the state will collectively harvest and benefit from the good of the land. In rounding off, I must commend the frequent investmentinclined trips by Obaseki within and outside Nigeria. The restlessness that has been demonstrated underscores the passion of a man who is interested in statewide infrastructure development that will reposition the state for the competitive journey by states in a restructured Nigerian federation in the future. ––Honourable Obahiagbon, former member of the House of Representatives, writes from Benin.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś
27
When New York Stood Still for Iya Adura Bayo Adeoye Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ĂĄ Ă™ĂœĂ•
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everend Mother Esther Ajayi’s she came about the ‘Celebrate the Comforter’ idea last year. Basking on the euphoria of the success of the first edition in London last year, she vowed proudly that the 2018 edition would be bigger more successful, no one doubted her and so she delivered on her promise. This reporter was among the few journalists that traveled to New York, United States for the convention that has massive turnout of faithful from both the Celestial Church of Christ and Cherubim and Seraphim Movement. From the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos it was evidence that something big was about to happen in Christendom. An Immigration officer at John Fredrick Kennedy in New York confirmed that he had never seen such a large group of people traveling for an event in a long time. The event, which is in pursuit of a dream of the global unification of the white garment churches, succeeded in creating the awareness that was meant to be. The whole of New York was also aware about the convention as many hotels such as Park Central Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and others hotels in the heart of Manhattan in New York were fully booked by the attendees. The convention venue, the 3,327-seater magnificent paradise like United Palace theatre in Washington Heights was filled to capacity as the blissful experience was lifted off with the rendition of soul-stirring hymns and spiritual songs by the mass choir which was an assemblage of the choirs of the churches. In case you don’t know, United Palace is a transformational organization and venue that fuses culture, spirituality, and entertainment. It is the fourth largest theater in Manhattan and a hub of creative expression and personal growth. The whole of New York literarily stood still for the Celebrate the Comforter! While speaking on the convention, Ajayi, who shepherds a thriving Cherubim and Seraphim Church in London, said the event was designed to glorify God and to also act as a bonding agent between all white garment churches and the celebration of the biblical fact that the body of Christ is indivisible; and the church of Christ must also remain as one. She noted that the Church prayed and fasted before the event and they knew the convention was going to be a success but was overwhelmed by the unexpected turnout as the hall was overflown with many dignitaries from Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom. She stated that she was happy that her efforts to unite the Celestial Church of Christ and Cherubim and Seraphim Church had started yielding fruits. “Apart from members of the Celestial Church of God and Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Christians of other denominations as well as non- Christians were part of the convention. What was one of my highest points of the event was that my beautician, Jenny, who is a North Korean received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I told my husband that this was similar to events recorded in the Act of Apostle in the Bible. I was fulfilled even if Jenny was the only one that received the Holy Spirit, the programme was therefore a success, because Angels rejoice in Heaven whenever one soul is won to Christ,� she said. She added, ‘‘I had never witnessed such, and her testimony was that she did not know what came upon her. I am now giving her all the encouragement. That was not all, many other people also gave their lives in the course of the programme.’’ The leadership of both the Cherubim
Iya Adura with Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi
Iya Adura with members of the Church
Iya Adura with another white garment Church leader
& Seraphim Church and the Celestial Church were present to lent their support to the vision of the very prominent spiritual leader, Ajayi. The founder of the Esther Ajayi Foundation also played host to notable figures including former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Ooni of Ife, HIM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, His Royal Highness Olusola Alao, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, representative of Mayor of New York was among several others.
Also speaking at the event, the Shepherd-in-charge of Genesis Model International, CCC, Prophet Israel Ogundipe said the convention had proved that white garment churches were not fetish but believe in Jesus Christ. He said, “The convention is an avenue to bridge the gap that exists in the body of Christ because other churches are always invited and carried along. Pastor S.K Abiara of Christ Apostolic Church; His Most Eminence Prophet (Dr.) Solomon Adegboyega Alao; Rev. Pastor Emman-
uel Mobiyina Friday Oshoffa and some Bishops of other churches were present during the last edition. I must commend the efforts of Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi and I can tell you that she is one in a million.� This year’s edition will continue to linger in the memories of the attendees. Most prominent spiritual leaders who attended last year’s edition in the UK were also present Prominent among the artistes who performed at the event included Lanre Teriba, Sinach, and Sir Shina Peters.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
FAMILY HEALTH
Woman, Are You Trying to Get Pregnant ?
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woman has a very important part to play in conception. The great role cannot be over emphasised . The emotions begin to run high even when there is nothing visibly wrong. The woman’s body is the ultimate destination, the incubator that eventually carries the foetus and carries to term in readiness for birthing or delivery. The composition of the woman’s body is complicated as can be simple. The eggs you produce must be of good quality and quantity, your hormones must be at the correct level, your body should be ready to produce, and receive the resulting embryos from the fertilisation from the fusion of the eggs and sperms. The rest is history. The most common causes of female infertility include problems with ovulation, damage to fallopian tubes or uterus or problems with the cervix. Age can contribute to infertility because as a woman ages, her fertility naturally tends to decrease. Infertility is not hereditary. However, there are medical conditions that are hereditary which may interfere with your ability to get pregnant. Such conditions are polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis and thyroid/hormone disorders. The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that’s too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you’re not ovulating. There may be no other outward signs or symptoms.
POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Conditions affecting a woman’s fertility can includer %BNBHF UP UIF GBMMPQJBO UVCFT r 0WVMBUPSZ QSPCMFNT r &OEPNFUSJPTJT r $POEJUJPOT BGGFDUJOH UIF VUFSVT r " DPNCJOBUJPO PG GBDUPST r /P JEFOUJà BCMF SFBTPO r 0UIFS GBDUPST UIBU NBZ QMBZ B QBSU JODMVEF r "HF m GFNBMF GFSUJMJUZ EFDMJOFT TIBSQMZ BGUFS the age of 35 r 1PMZDZTUJD 0WBSZ 4ZOESPNF 1$04
r (ZOBFDPMPHJDBM QSPCMFNT TVDI BT QSFWJPVT ectopic pregnancy or having had more than one miscarriage r .FEJDBM DPOEJUJPOT TVDI BT EJBCFUFT epilepsy, and thyroid and bowel diseases r -JGFTUZMF GBDUPST TVDI BT TUSFTT CFJOH overweight or underweight and smoking. seek help sometimes depends on your age.
TO GET PREGNANT YOU NEED TO:
r :PV OFFE UP PWVMBUF 5P HFU QSFHOBOU ZPVS ovaries must produce and release an egg, B QSPDFTT LOPXO BT PWVMBUJPO :PVS EPDUPS can help evaluate your menstrual cycles and DPOà SN PWVMBUJPO r :PVS QBSUOFS OFFET TQFSN 'PS NPTU couples, this isn’t a problem unless your QBSUOFS IBT B IJTUPSZ PG JMMOFTT PS TVSHFSZ :PVS doctor can run some simple tests to evaluate the health of your partner’s sperm. r :PV OFFE UP IBWF SFHVMBS JOUFSDPVSTF :PV need to have regular sexual intercourse during ZPVS GFSUJMF UJNF :PVS EPDUPS DBO IFMQ ZPV
with
BOBO BODE -KAYODE
lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com
better understand when you’re most fertile. r :PV OFFE UP IBWF PQFO GBMMPQJBO UVCFT BOE a normal uterus. The egg and sperm meet in the fallopian tubes and the embryo needs a healthy uterus in which to grow. r 'PS QSFHOBODZ UP PDDVS FWFSZ step of the human reproduction process has to happen correctly. The TUFQT JO UIJT QSPDFTT BSF r 0OF PG UIF UXP PWBSJFT SFMFBTFT B mature egg. r 5IF FHH JT QJDLFE VQ CZ UIF fallopian tube. r 4QFSN TXJNT VQ UIF DFSWJY through the uterus and into the fallopian tube to reach the egg for fertilisation . r 5IF GFSUJMJTFE FHH USBWFMT EPXO the fallopian tube to the uterus. r 5IF GFSUJMJTFE FHH JNQMBOUT BOE grows in the uterus.
08053372356
SEEK HELP:
Up to age 35, most doctors recommend trying to get pregnant for at least a year before testing or treatment. If you’re between 35 and 40, discuss your concerns with your doctor after six months of trying. If you’re older than 40, your doctor may want to begin testing or treatment right away. :PVS EPDUPS NBZ BMTP XBOU UP CFHJO UFTUJOH or treatment right away if you or your partner has known fertility problems or if you have a history of irregular or painful periods, pelvic inflammatory disease, repeated miscarriages, prior cancer treatment, or endometriosis.
DIAGNOSIS:
'FSUJMJUZ UFTUT NBZ JODMVEF 0WVMBUJPO UFTUJOH "O BU IPNF PWFS UIF countre ovulation prediction kit detects the TVSHF JO MVUFJOJ[JOH IPSNPOF -) UIBU PDDVST before ovulation. A blood test for progesterone - a hormone produced after ovulation - can BMTP EPDVNFOU UIBU ZPV SF PWVMBUJOH 0UIFS hormone levels, such as prolactin, also may be checked. )ZTUFSPTBMQJOHPHSBQIZ )4( %VSJOH )4( 9 SBZ DPOUSBTU JT JOKFDUFE JOUP ZPVS VUFSVT BOE BO 9 SBZ JT UBLFO UP EFUFDU BCOPSNBMJUJFT in the uterine cavity. The test also determines whether the fluid passes out of the uterus and spills out of your fallopian tubes. If abnormalities are found, you’ll likely need further evaluation. In a few women, the test itself can improve fertility, possibly by flushing out and opening the fallopian tubes. 0WBSJBO SFTFSWF UFTUJOH 5IJT UFTUJOH IFMQT determine the quality and quantity of eggs available for ovulation. Women at risk of a depleted egg supply - including women older than 35 - may have this series of blood and imaging tests. 0UIFS IPSNPOF UFTUJOH 0UIFS IPSNPOF UFTUT check levels of ovulatory hormones as well as thyroid and pituitary hormones that control reproductive processes. Imaging tests. A pelvic ultrasound looks for uterine or fallopian tube disease. Sometimes a
IZTUFSPTPOPHSBQIZ IJT UVS P TVI /0( SVI -fee) is used to see details inside the uterus that can’t be seen on a regular ultrasound. 0UIFS JNBHJOH UFTUT %FQFOEJOH PO ZPVS symptoms, your doctor may request a hysteroscopy to look for uterine or fallopian tube disease. -BQBSPTDPQZ 5IJT NJOJNBMMZ JOWBTJWF TVSgery involves making a small incision beneath your navel and inserting a thin viewing device to examine your fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus. A laparoscopy may identify endometriosis, scarring, blockages or irregularities of the fallopian tubes, and problems with the ovaries and uterus. (FOFUJD UFTUJOH (FOFUJD UFTUJOH IFMQT determine whether there’s a genetic defect causing infertility.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES:
Both men and women can make lifestyle changes that may increase their chances of DPODFJWJOH r &BU IFBMUIJMZ r " IFBMUIZ MJGFTUZMF DBO JNQSPWF ZPVS fertility success. A balanced diet will help ensure your body is healthy enough to become pregnant and nourish a developing baby. r " IFBMUIZ EJFU DBO BMTP IFMQ UP LFFQ TQFSN production at optimum levels. Being under- or overweight can make you less likely to become pregnant, so making changes to your diet can help to improve your chances. r *U JT SFDPNNFOEFE UIBU BMM XPNFO USZJOH for a baby should take 400mcg of folic acid a day to help prevent conditions such as spina CJÃ EB JO ZPVS DIJME r &YFSDJTF SFHVMBSMZ
Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health held a stakeholders meeting with the Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris and his regulatory team in Ikeja. Standards for setting up a fertility clinic and monitoring were discussed and reviewed. L-R: Dr Akinola, Mrs Bobo Kayode, Secretary AFRH, Dr Iketubosin President AFRH, Mrs Biola Assistant Secretary, Dr Idris HCH , Dr Bero and Dr, Yomi Ajayi
r 3FHVMBS NPEFSBUF FYFSDJTF PG BSPVOE NJOVUFT B EBZ IFMQT UP NBYJNJTF ZPVS à UOFTT and keep your weight in check. r *U BMTP CPPTUT MFWFMT PG FOEPSQIJOT UIF body’s own ‘happy hormones’, which may IFMQ UP SFEVDF TUSFTT 4PNF QFPQMF à OE SFMBYation techniques or complementary therapies also help them relax. r %SJOL XJTFMZ r 8PNFO XIP BSF USZJOH UP CFDPNF QSFHnant should drink no more than one or two VOJUT PG BMDPIPM PODF PS UXJDF QFS XFFL .FO TIPVME TUJDL XJUIJO UIF %FQBSUNFOU PG )FBMUI T recommended daily limit of three to four units. %SJOLJOH UPP NVDI DBO IBWF B OFHBUJWF JNQBDU on semen quality and can harm a developing fetus. r .FEJDBUJPO BOE ESVHT r 4PNF QSFTDSJQUJPO NFEJDBUJPO DBO MFTTFO your chances of conceiving, so if you are taking regular medication and trying for a baby, talk to ZPVS (1 BCPVU BMUFSOBUJWFT UIBU NJHIU CF NPSF appropriate. r 4PNF QSFTDSJQUJPO ESVHT DBO SFEVDF ZPVS chances of conceiving, so if you are taking SFHVMBS NFEJDBUJPO BTL ZPVS (1 BCPVU TVJUBCMF alternatives. All recreational drugs should be completely avoided. r 4NPLJOH IBT CFFO MJOLFE UP JOGFSUJMJUZ RVJU smoking, r 4NPLJOH IBT CFFO MJOLFE UP JOGFSUJMJUZ BOE early menopause in women and to sperm problems in men. It is also a factor in premature or low birth-weight babies. r 2VJUUJOH TNPLJOH NBZ IFMQ UP JNQSPWF your chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby.
TREATMENT:
The specialist you are seeing would advise PO UIF CFTU QPTTJCMF MJOF PG USFBUNFOU &WFSZPOF should have individualised treatment tailored GPS ZPV 'FSUJMJUZ TUJNVMBUPSZ ESVHT NBZ CF used, and others treatment techniques that suit your own situation. Always have an informed choice. Be bold to ask questions, after all, it is your body. 3FQSPEVDUJWF *OUFSWFOUJPO The most commonly used methods of SFQSPEVDUJWF BTTJTUBODF JODMVEF " .FEJDBM USFBUNFOU GPS MBDL PG SFHVMBS ovulation # 4VSHJDBM QSPDFEVSFT m TVDI BT USFBUNFOU for endometriosis D BTTJTUFE DPODFQUJPO m XIJDI NBZ CF intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro GFSUJMJTBUJPO *7'
The treatment offered will depend on what is causing your fertility problems r *OUSBVUFSJOF JOTFNJOBUJPO *6* %VSJOH IUI, millions of healthy sperm are placed inside the uterus close to the time of ovulation. r "TTJTUFE SFQSPEVDUJWF UFDIOPMPHZ This involves retrieving mature eggs from a woman, fertilising them with a man’s sperm in a dish in a lab, then transferring the embryos into the uterus after fertilization. *7' JT UIF NPTU FGGFDUJWF BTTJTUFE SFQSPEVDUJWF UFDIOPMPHZ "O *7' DZDMF UBLFT TFWFSBM XFFLT and requires frequent blood tests and daily IPSNPOF JOKFDUJPOT
GLOBAL SOCCER A
WEEKLY PULL-OUT
11.08.2018
Emmanuel Amunike
City Begin Title Defence
A New Chapter in His Career
PAGE. 35
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀
Emmanuel Amunike A New Chapter in His Career Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂĄĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă“Ă˜Ă”Ă&#x;ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ăž ÍťÍťËœ Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– Ă—Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă•Ă?ËŞĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ę¨Ă–Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ͚̋Ϳ Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ ͺ͸͚ͽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜ĚłĂ? Ă– Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ™Ă&#x;Ă— ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĘľĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă™ĂŒË› Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁËœ Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă– ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă– Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă&#x;Ăš ĂŒĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂžĂ–Ă“Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? ͺ͸͚Ϳ˚ͺ͸͚΀ Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă?Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÙËĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœË› Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? ÚÖËãĂ?Ăœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă?ÙËĂ?Ă’ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜Ă¤Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă‹ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ë› Ùå Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă’Ă? ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă“Ă?Ă‹ ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă? Kunle Adewale
C
urrently ranked 140 in the world by FIFA, Tanzania is not a superpower when it comes to African football. Their only Africa Cup of Nations appearance was in the 1980 edition hosted and won by Nigeria, in which they failed to qualify from the group stage. The challenge before Amunike now, therefore, is how to turn around the fortunes of the Taifa Stars and ensure a second AFCON appearance in Cameroon next year- a tall order by any standard. Tanzania on Monday unveiled former Nigerian international Emmanuel Amunike as their new head coach. The Tanzania Football Federation confirmed the appointment on their official Twitter handle, with Amunike being unveiled by TFF President Wallace Karia in Dar es Salaam. The 47-year-old signed a two-year deal with the East Africans, replacing Salum Mayanga, with the primary task to qualify Tanzania for the 2019 AFCON. They were held by Lesotho in their opening qualifier, and will also face Uganda and Cape Verde in a tricky qualifying group. After his unveiling, an elated Amunike said he is beginning a new chapter in his career with his appointment as coach of Tanzania. “This is a new page of my career. I am a professional coach who believes any professional should be able to work anywhere. I am happy with the contract and I am ready to give my best as a coach in any place I find myself. It’s a new page, a new environment but the same philosophy of the game,� he declared after he was announced as coach of the Taifa Stars. In a chat with THISDAY, Nigeria’s female U-17 Coach, Christian Obi said it was just unfortunate that Nigerian coaches are not given the respect they deserve on the home front, but optimistic that Amunike would do well in Tanzania. “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country. It is just unfortunate that we don’t appreciate what we have in this country. Nigerian coaches are very good if given the right atmosphere to work. Amunike is a very good example. He is technically and tactically sound and he also has his coaching Grade A license,� Obi said. The 1985 U-20 World Cup bronze winner
indeed charged the eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation to reconsider their stand on Nigerian coaches. “It’s high time the NFF started reconsidering its stand and attitude towards Nigerian coaches. It should start by giving them the respect they deserve. Given the necessary support, Nigerian coaches would take the country’s football to a position of envy,� the former Heartland of Owerri goalkeeper trainer opined. Asked if the job of Tanzania was in the best interest of Amunike considering the low level of football in that country, Obi reacted thus: “I must emphasise that Amunike is not the first Nigerian coach that would take appointment outside the shores of the country. When Adegboye Onigbinde took over as manager of Trinidad and Tobago, their football was in crisis but he (Onigbinde) gave them some time to stabilise their football and before the expiration of the date he gave them, they had begotten for them a good and stabilised the national team.� Obi is indeed optimistic that Amunike would do well with the Taifa Stars. “I know Amunike very well; I have worked with him before. He knew his onions and he would impart his knowledge on the players,� Obi said. Speaking in the vein, the National PRO, Nigeria Coaches Association, Etta Egbe expressed that Amunike’s appointment as Coach of Tanzania national team is a good omen for Nigerian coaches. “It only goes to show that Nigerian coaches are being monitored and appreciated worldwide and this would pave the way for more Nigerian coaches to be appointed head coaches of more national teams,� the former Calabar Rovers safe hands said. Against the insinuation that most Nigerian coaches are technically deficient, Egbe said: “A lot of Nigerian coaches are technically inclined, but we are being undermined by the football federation. You cannot because one coach failed; you then rub it on every other coach that is very wrong. If one coach disappointed there are several good coaches that could be turned to,� Egbe said. Egbe said Amunike would be given the necessary backing by the Nigeria Association of Coaches. “Though we trust that he has the quality and the technical know-how to take Tanzanian football to a new height,
It’s high time the NFF started reconsidering its stand and attitude towards Nigerian coaches. It should start by giving them the respect they deserve. Given the necessary support, Nigerian coaches would take the country’s football to a position of envy we would not leave him all by himself as he would enjoy our support and encouragement,� he said. Meanwhile, Amuneke has stated that he shared the same ideas with the Tanzania Football Federation. “I am grateful to the Tanzanian people. I’m also grateful to the President and General Secretary of the Tanzanian Football Federation for giving me the opportunity to coach their teams. “We are happy that the ideas that they have is the same with what I have in mind. Hopefully and collectively, we will be able to see how Tanzanian football can grow and develop,’’ he said. “African football is laying emphasis on developing young players and that is the direction the Tanzanian football have taken to develop. They have good players. Some are playing in Europe and others are playing at home. “ We have our first game against Uganda in September and we will look at our team to improve on it. Work has already started and we will do our best,’’ he said. He assured that through hard work, discipline and collective efforts, he would move Tanzanian football forward. Interestingly, the former Barcelona
winger has started work immediately and has picked former Flying Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Emeka Amadi as one of his assistants. “We have started work already as we don’t have time on our side we have an AFCON qualifier against Uganda away from home and we need to start in earnest and that is why I am not going back to Spain for now,� he told ScoreNigeria. Amunike was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a member of the panel set up by FIFA to shortlist the 2017/2018 season men’s footballers and coaches of the year. He was joined in the panel by retired footballers Ronaldo Nazario de Lima, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba,Lothar Matthaus and Alessandro Nesta. Other panelists include Sami Jabar, CHA Bum-Kun, Andy Roxburgh, Kaka, Wynston Rufer andCarlos Alberto Parreira and coach Fabio Capello. Amunike and his co-panelists will shortlist nominees for the 3rd edition of the Best FIFA Football Awards. Ten nominees in each of the categories were announced on July 23, with voting expected to commence on the same day and will end on Friday, August 10. Speaking to www.scorenigeria.com.ng, Amunike said, “As a player, I was privileged to have participated in the 1994 World Cup and now in 2018 I am privileged once again to participate this time, not as a player but as a fan and also one of the people going to make some major decisions.� On his appointment to the FIFA Russia 2018 Technical Study Group, the former Africa Footballer of the Year said, “This role is a good one for me and Nigeria football as it goes to show that our football has grown.� Amunike who was part of the first ever Nigeria team to feature at the FIFA World Cup talked on the team experience going into that tournament in 1994 saying, “We were excited in the first place for being part of the 1994 World Cup but ahead of the first match against Bulgaria, there was a lot of excitement, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt, a lot of questioning mindset but most importantly we were very confident in our ability as a team and we played as a team, which was the secret behind our little success.� On having several players he coached in the Golden Eaglets representing Nigeria at
AUGUST 11, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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GLOBAL SOCCER
the 2018 World Cup, he said: “As a coach, it is a thing of pride to see the players you coached at the U-17 level after few years playing for the senior national team, that is pretty much what player development is all about and with FIFA’s main priority being development, Nigeria as a nation should not be left behind.” In his playing days, his goals were always crucial and had given Nigeria victory on a number of occasions. From the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, to the Afro-Asian Cup at the National Stadium in 1998 and many others. Many soccer fans were bemused that daredevil winger was kept on the bench by Dutch tactician, Clemence Westerhof for almost the entire duration of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. But in the final game against a stubborn Zambian side, the former Julius Berger of Lagos player was introduced and he scored the two goals that secured Nigeria's second Nations Cup victory after winning an earlier one in 1980 on home ground. "No player worth his salt likes to warm the bench but I'm the kind of person that respects coaches' decisions. Even when such decisions are against my desire, I still abide by it. I must confess I was not really pleased that I was not featured in most of the matches of the Nations Cup in Tunisia, especially when I knew within me that I deserve a place in the team but the coach has the last say. And I was very glad that when I was eventually featured in the last game, I was able to prove a point not only to the coach but to the watching world," he noted. Against the backdrop of calls in some quarters that new Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rorhshould inject an appreciable number of home-based players into the national team, the former Nigerian international has a different opinion. "The team still needs the services of the foreign professionals. If the coach should feature a good number of home-based players and fail to get the desired result, he would be heavily criticised for excluding the professionals. Though it is a good move to restoring the confidence of the local players, it is going to take a lot of time and exposure to meet up with the challenges. He still needs the experiences of those
foreign-based players that are willing to give their best, not only putting on the national jerseys," the former Barcelona of Spain player said. The former African Footballer of the Year, who moved to Spanish giants FC Barcelona in 1996 for a fee of $3.6 million had his career at top flight cut short after he suffered a serious knee injury which in the process denied him a regular place in the Catalans team and also deprived him of a second consecutive World Cup with the Super Eagles. Amunike never fully recovered from his injury and was released by Barca to play for Spainish second division side, Albacete, Busan l'Cons of South Korea and Al-Wahdat SC of Jordan before retiring from football at the age of 33. He also spent some time as an assistant coach at Saudi Premier League side, Al-Hazm, but left the club to become a scout for Manchester United of England. "It was very painful that the knee injury came at the time it came, especially after moving to one of the best clubs in the world and already had a wonderful season with them. It was a moment of despair in my football career having to watch my colleagues in the national team play in France in 1998. After our impressive outing at the '94 Mundial, most of us had moved to big clubs in Europe, played alongside the best players in the world and were really looking forward to the France 1998 World Cup. Unfortunately, injury denied me of my dream but I took solace in God like I always do in every situation I find myself," he said. Speaking further, the two goals hero at USA ’94 said: "After being voted as the second most entertaining team in the '94 Mundial and winning the Atlanta Olympics in a spectacular fashion, defeating football giants-Brazil and Argentina in the process, Nigeria cannot pretend to be minors in football any longer. Therefore, we were the team to beat and we paid the prize. Getting to the top is easier than staying at the top. After the Atlanta feat, the Nigerian team was like golden fish which has no hiding place." It, however, remains to be seen if Amunike would be able to transform his success as a player to the coaching line as all eyes are on him.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ˜ ͺ
Aruna Quadri Rising Above the Board in Global Table Tennis ÜßØË ßËÎÜÓ˪Ý ÒËÝ ÍÙØÞÓØßÏÎ ÞÙ ÝÏÞ ØÏá ÜÏÍÙÜÎÝ ÝÓØÍÏ ÌÜÏËÕÓØÑ ÓØÞÙ ÑÖÙÌËÖ ÖÓ×ÏÖÓÑÒÞ ÓØ ͺͼ áÒÏØ ÒÏ áËÝ ØË×ÏÎ ÞÒÏ ʨÜÝÞ ÚÖËãÏÜ ÐÜÙ× ÐÜÓÍË ÞÙ áÓØ ÞÒÏ ÚÜÏÝÞÓÑÓÙßÝ áÙÜÖÎ ÞËÌÖÏ ÞÏØØÓÝ ÚÖËãÏÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ãÏËܲ ßÞÝÓÎÏ ÞÒÏ ÞËÌÖϘ ÞÒÏ ãÙ ÞËÞÏ̋ÌÙÜØ ËÞÒÖÏÞÏ Ï×ÌÙÖÎÓÏÝ Òß×ÓÖÓÞã ÌßÞ áÒÏØ ÓØ ËÍÞÓÙؘ ÒÏ ÜÙËÜÝ ËØÎ ÞÒÓݘ ×ÙÝÞ ÞÓ×Ïݘ ÝÏØÎÝ ÐÏËÜ ÓØÞÙ ÒÓÝ ÙÚÚÙØÏØÞݲ ÓÝ ÎÓÖÓÑÏØÍÏ ËÞ ÍÖÙÝÏ̋ÎÙÙÜ ÒËÝ ×ËÎÏ ÒÓ× ÎÏÐÏËÞ ÝÙ×Ï ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ʨØÏÝÞ ÚÖËãÏÜÝ ÓØ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖÎ ËØÎ ÞÒÓÝ ÒËÝ ÍÙØÞÓØßÏÎ ÞÙ ÏØÎÏËÜ ÒÓ× ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÒÏËÜÞÝ ÙÐ ×ËØã ÐÙÖÖÙáÏÜÝ ÙÐ ÞËÌÖÏ ÞÏØØÓÝ ÑÖÙÌËÖÖã˛ ÏÝÚÓÞÏ ÌÏÓØÑ ÎáËÜÐÏÎ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÜËØÕÓØÑ Ìã ÑãÚÞ˪Ý ×ËÜ ÝÝËܘ ËßÎÜÓ ØÏàÏÜ ÑËàÏ ßÚ ËØÎ ÒÓÝ ÒËÜÎ áÙÜÕ ÚËÓÎ Ùʥ ÜÏÍÏØÞÖã áÒÏØ ÒÏ ÙàÏÜÞÙÙÕ ÞÒÏ ÑãÚÞÓËØ ËÝ ÞÒÏ ÒÓÑÒÏÝÞ ÜËØÕÏÎ ÐÜÓÍËØ ÓØ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖΘ ÜËÞÏÎ ÞÒ˛ Kunle Adewale ÏâË×ÓØÏÝ ÞÒÏ ÜÓÝÓØÑ ÚÜÙʨÖÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÙÜÞßÑËÖ̋ÌËÝÏÎ ÝÞËÜ
A
runa Quadri became the first Nigerian and the second African to make the top18 rating in the monthly ranking of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), after rising from 20 to 18 in the August rating released last weekend by the world table tennis ruling body. The fortune of Quadri in the monthly ranking improved following his performance at the Australian Open where he made it to the last 16 of the men’s singles. And with this rating, the Oyo State-born athlete continues to halter his own record as the only Nigerian to achieve top 18 rating in the world. An elated Quadri believes the rating would afford him another opportunity to continue to work harder. “I am so happy with the ranking particularly with my qualification for the ITTF World Cup in France. Again, this ranking has shown that I should not relax but continue to work harder because remaining on top is one difficult task for any athlete. “I must redouble my efforts in training and continue to compete in major competitions across the globe. I will not be carried away by this rating but be humbled by this feat and remain focused in order to maintain my status in the global rating,” he promised. Hear him on what it has been like taking part in an ITTF championship without a coach and how many times he has participated in championships without a coach. “I must admit that it has not been easy but I am getting used to it. It is painful because, with a coach behind you, he can see what you are not seeing while playing and I know this most times gives my opponent an edge over me. I won the 2017 Polish Open without a coach but for me, if I have the means (funding) I can get a coach because it is quite expensive in Europe to get a coach. You have to pay the
coach, pay for his boarding and all these are too much for me to bear. But getting the opportunity to play at ITTF tournament with the support I have been getting from my sponsor – Baba Ijebu Bet and other means have helped me to improve tremendously. It is quite true that I need a coach but I cannot afford it for now,” Quadri said. Quadri in his own little way has been supporting a lot of junior players in Nigeria with equipment which he said is key to them. “I may not be making noise about it but I know a lot of people are aware of my support to Nigerian players at home. I have also assisted some of them to secure contracts with clubs in Europe and this for me is my own contribution to the sport,” he noted. Quadri was not initially a table tennis player; he actually began his sporting adventure in athletics. “I was into athletics particularly sprint event at Adeyemi Secondary School in Oyo town, Southwest of Nigeria. It was while running that I was invited to play table tennis by Mr. Abolarin in the late 1990s and that was how my romance with table tennis started. Ping pong enticing and exciting because players are less prone to injury and being the fastest sports in the world, it has continued to gain global attention. I love the sport with every passion in me and this makes me to always give my best in training. It is an individual sport that encourages hard work because it is what you put that you get,” the Oyo State-born ping ponger said. His biggest win so far was winning the Polish Open in 2017 as he is the first African to win an ITTF tournament outside the continent. Other big wins were when he made it to the quarterfinal of the ITTF World Cup in 2014 and Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Asked how he finances himself to competitions, Quadri said: “I got support from my major sponsor –Joola, as well as the salary I earn from my club – Sporting.
Recently, I got an endorsement from a Nigerian betting firm – Premier Lotto which signed me for three years. Sponsors are very vital to me because they help me to attend more competitions and get the needed equipment to compete at the top level. The little fund I get from sponsorship help to focus on the game rather than thinking of financing myself to competitions.” The Nigeria No 1 table tennis player is conscious of his status as a role model to upcoming sportsmen and women and would therefore not want to live a life that would portend a negative influence on them. “I am conscious of the kind of impact I can have on the lives of a lot of people across the world. So for me, I ensure I remain positive and a good ambassador of my country wherever I found myself. Even off the table, I relate with some of them and share my life experience with them because I did not get to where I am today by just dreaming about it but by the Grace of God. I worked hard to get here. You must also believe in yourself and these are some of the qualities I am hoping that people can pick from me,” he noted. Quadri, however, craved that the Sports Ministry should give all sports the needed attention, saying that, “attention given to football is detrimental to other sports in Nigeria. If some of us in other sports get 10 per cent support of what football is getting, I believe Nigeria will be among the best sporting nations in the world. Also, attention will also be given to youth development because without support to the juniors we cannot produce champions in future. Sports can create an immediate job for people particularly when there are regular competitions while the athletes will also benefit. Without sports, I don’t think I will be where I am today because sports has taken me far and wide and I have made name for myself and my country. There are many Aruna Quadri out there, but what they need is the right
support.” Meanwhile, Omar Assar of Egypt still maintained the record as the first African player to be ranked in top 16 in the world but the inactivity of the Egyptian in the last two months may have caused his fortune in the world rating to plummet. Assar who will not be part of the 2018 ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open dropped from 21 to 23 in the latest ranking. Also, the new leader on the ITTF World Tour Standings; China’s Xu Xin is the player to make the most significant progress on the Men’s World Rankings issued for August 2018. He climbs three positions to No.5 to replace Germany’s Timo Boll who drops one position to No.3, being behind compatriot – Fan Zhendong who continues to lead the list. One place lower for Timo Boll, it is the same for China’s Lin Gaoyuan who drops to No.4 and Germany’s OVTCHAROV Dimitrij who now appears at No.5. Conversely, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto progresses from No.8 to No.6 and is now ahead of China’s Ma Long and Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu; each is one rung down the ladder lower than in July. In the women’s rating, finalists at the recent 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Australian Open in Geelong, with Liu Shiwen beating Ding Ning in all Chinese final, both make notable progress on the Women’s World Rankings for August. Former occupants of the top spot, Liu Shiwen climbs four places to No.2, being one behind colleague, Zhu Yuling who continues to head the list; Ding Ning makes an even greater move. Previously at No.17, she is now in the No.7 spot. Likewise, women’s singles number one seed for 2018 ITTF Challenge Seamaster Nigeria Open, Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut advances from No.59 to No.39, DPR Korea’s Kim Song I from No.55 to No.45, Japan’s Minami Ando from No.74 to No.46 and Singapore’s Zeng Jian from No.60 to No.50.
˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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GLOBAL SOCCER
Moses Simon
Picking Up the Pieces After injury shattered his dream of being part of Super Eagles' party to the World Cup in Russia, Moses Simon seems to have picked up the pieces as he dumped FC Gent of Belgium for Levante UD.
M
oses Simon moved to Levante UD for about five million Euros, which is a figure far from the 20 million Euros a top official had predicted KAA Gent will eventually sell him. Gent sports director, Michel Louwagie, proudly predicted that his club with break transfer records when they eventually sell the Nigerian winger after they bought him from Slovak club AS Trencin for 650,000 Euros in January 2015. “The transfer record in Belgium will have to be shattered when we sell Moses. We will be talking of about 20 million Euros,” Louwagie predicted. The prediction was prompted by the fact that Moses was an instant sensation in Belgium. But the player will go on to suffer injuries and lack of consistency for such huge hope not to be fulfilled in the three and a half seasons he was there. Altogether, he scored 21 goals and provided 18 assists in 136 appearances for ‘The Buffaloes’. He has now been handed a five-year deal by Levante to finally live up to his potentials in Spain. Levante were locked with French Ligue 1 Saint Etienne in the chase for the KAA Gent winger, who missed the recent World Cup in Russia no thanks to a thigh injury. He was also linked with clubs in England and Germany. Gent have already signed a direct replacement for the fast wide man, who has made it very clear that he wishes to move on. He won the Belgian league with Gent in his first season after his transfer from Slovak club AS Trencin. Meanwhile, KAA Gent, have paid glowing tributes to Simon after the player secured a move toSpanish club, Levante on Monday. “Moses Simon leaves KAA Gent after 3/12 seasons to try his luck in the Spanish League. He signs a contract for 5 seasons with Levante UD,” reads a statement on Gent official website. “Moses Simon transferred from Slovakian AS Trencin to KAA Gent in January 2015 and played 136 matches for Gent in which he scored 21 goals and gave 18 assists.
“He leaves the club with his head up and will forever belong to the select group of players who won the first league title in the history for our club and then became part of a historic Champions League campaign stamped in the collective Belgian football memory. The following season, he was also a member of the group of players that beat Tottenham at Wembley in the Europa League. “Immediately after his transfer, he was the only player who spoke openly about obtaining the title “with the help of God”. It turned out to be prophetic words. “Moses started as a whirlwind in the Belgian league and played regularly for KAA Gent from January 2015 until the start of the playoffs in the same season in the race for the championship. “During his time at the Buffalo’s, he was feared for his vicious dribbles, his incredible speed and his hard shot and loved because of his cheerful personality and his generous smile. He was often the creator of important goals, like last season when he scored the only goal in the penultimate match of the playoffs in the 1-0 victory against Anderlecht. “KAA Gent congratulates Moses on Levante and thanks him for the beautiful and successful years that he experienced here in Ghent. Once a Buffalo, always a Buffalo! When Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr rolled out his 30-man provisional list for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with Simon included, the player believed he was just inches away from achieving his long-time dream of playing in the World Cup. But it was not to be as injury has ruined his dream. Simon sustained a thigh injury in his second training session with the Super Eagles in Uyo and report of the scan carried out on Simon revealed the extent of the injury. “It is unfortunate Moses Simon will not be travelling with the team to London because he is down with an injury. The nature of his injury is such that he won’t be recovering quickly enough to make the World Cup. We are looking at three to four weeks and thereafter, rehabilitation training will start before getting to match fitness level. You can see that the situation is not good for him and for the team as well,” Rohr had said.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀
GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS
SuperSport Promises Great Football Season Ă Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÚÖËĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă&#x;ĂŒ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă– Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă?Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ă?Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă&#x;ÖÞÓ ÒÙÓĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ’Ă™Ëœ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ÞÙ Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?Ăž
T
he new football season is here again and customers are expecting so much from you. Is there anything the business is planning to do differently in terms of sports offers? We are happy when we put smiles on our customers’ faces by bringing the best of world sports through our SuperSport channels. This year is no different as we present; the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Super Cup and Super Spanish Cup. And of course, we are proud and excited to be the sole broadcaster of the new UEFA Nations League. Why doesn’t SuperSport have rights to the Community Shield and FA Cup this season? The elephant in the room‌we were outbid for the Community Shield and FA Cup. Another provider offered a lot more than we did, and they got it. I am not sure why they did not show it though. What should we look forward to as
Customers can look forward to the best expert analysis of football legends, live performances, celebrity experiences, music and more.
Mabutho
the new football season kicks off this week? Our priority is to deliver the best sporting content and reaffirm our commitment to delivering world-class sporting action. To usher in the new football season this year, we will deliver an unmatched viewing experience.
Last year was epic as you facilitated the parade of the English Premiership Cup in Nigeria. Are customers expecting the same treatment? Yes, it was indeed a great year for football and the PL trophy tour was the proverbial icing on the cake. All this we did with our customers in mind. We thought that with the English Premier League being the most anticipated league in the world. However, I cannot confirm at the moment if the trophy will make a return this year, but let’s watch this space for perhaps more thrilling news in the next few months.
There is usually a football rush offer to celebrate the football season. Is there a discount on Explora and other devices? We always run promos during this period, and as is the norm, we welcome the new football season with open arms by dishing out some great offers. The DStv HD decoder, which includes a dish kit plus one-month subscription on Compact package now goes for N11,900 from the normal N18,500. In addition, the GOtv decoder, which comes with the antenna and one-month on GOtv MAX is available for N6,900 rather than the normal rate of N7,900.
How many matches will be available to DStv and GOtv subscribers this season? SuperSport will showcase all 1,140 matches of the new football season: 380 Premier League matches, 380 Serie A matches and 380 La Liga games with
What’s the deal with Iwobi? Alex, he is the latest addition to our family. We have been working on an awesome campaign that we will roll out soon. He is a gifted player and embodies the brand values of our Compact bouquet.
Enobakhare Handed New Shirt Number at Wolverhampton
Falcon Golf Partners Ikoyi Ladies’ Section for Summer Children Golf Clinic Falcon Golf Development Company (FGDC), golf sponsor and organising outďŹ t made good its promise to support the game of golf at the grassroots level with its backing of Ladies Section for 2018 Summer Golf Class which was rounded up on Friday. The event which attracted over 60 players drawn from within and outside the club saw the kid golfers put through the basics and rudiment of the game. Anchored by professional golfers attached to the section, the kid players were put through the various aspects of the game from gripping techniques, chipping, driving, putting, among others. Impressed by the outcome, the section’s Lady Captain, Candy Agu who oversees the clinic restated her commitment to encouraging young ones to take to the sport while thanking FGDC for its support. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive OfďŹ cer of FGDC, Remi Olukoya said he would continue all he can to support golf at the grassroots level. While explaining his decision to support the 2018 Summer Golf Clinic, Olukoya said he is a strong believer in the fact that the best way to grow the game of golf is by attracting kiddies into it at their very early ages. “Golf, as you know, is very technical and so you need to start early to be able to compete at the highest level. Our inability to catch these young lads in their prime is one of the reasons why Nigeria has not been able to produce the likes of Tiger Woods. So, I said I will put this on myself and do whatever I can to support junior golf event anywhere in this country,â€? he said. Olukoya added that a proof of that desire was what made him back the just concluded clinic in Ikoyi.
most of the matches from each league broadcast Live and in HD on SuperSport.
Bright Enobakhare-
SPAR Partners Leverage Sports on SprintStar Track Competition As part of her youth engagement plan for pupils and students during the long vacation, SPAR, leading chain of hypermarket stores has organised the 2018 SprintStar Track Competition in partnership with Leverage Sports. The ongoing competition is taking place at the Dr. Philip Adegbile Sports Complex, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. The hypermarket decided to put together this competition in order to discover young talents in the area of track and field competition. Commenting on the partnership, Marketing Head, SPAR Nigeria, John Goldsmith stated that as a brand, they have identified the need to positively engage and develop pupils and students in extra-curricular activities during this long vacation. In his words, "SPAR Nigeria is delighted to collaborate with Leverage Sports to rightly channel the energies of Nigerian children and youths in sports development.
As a brand, we are glad to support sporting activities because it aids mental and physical health." On his part, Programme Director, Leverage Sports, Moses Ozoumeh noted that the sporting event is meant to inspire and develop raw talents in children to become citizens that will bring honour to the country. One of the officials of the competition, a certified athletics coach, Ikheobomeh Isaac Osagie, said that this initiative should be sustained for the development of athletics in Nigeria. He encouraged the participating schools to engage National Institute of Sports (NIS) certified coaches to train their pupils and students to get them grounded in track and field sports because of the technicalities of the game. There are over 2,000 young athletes and participants drawn from 100 schools located across Lagos State. The final of the 2018 SprintStar will take place today.
If the first-team squad numbers announced by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday afternoon are anything to go by, Nigerian-born wonderkid Bright Enobakhare is in line to make his Premier League debut this season. Enobakhare has been handed the number 14 shirt for the entirety of the 2018-2019 campaign. Last season, the highly-rated young striker wore the number 26 shirt 21 times in the Championship as Wolves secured promotion to the Premier League, the same number he donned during the 2016-2017 campaign. Enobakhare played with the number 48 kit when he made his first-team debut for Wolves in a League Cup tie against Barnet on August 25, 2015. The 20-year-old has worn the number 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 shirts for the youth teams of Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 49 outings for Wolves' first team, Enobakhare, who joined the club at the age of 15, has found the net on three occasions. Wolves face Everton at the Molineux Stadium in their Premier League curtainraiser on Saturdaybefore a trip to Leicester City next weekend.
American-born Nigerian Striker Joins MLS Side Through their official webpage, Canadian Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact have announced the acquisition of American-born Nigerian forward Quincy Amarikwa from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for midfielder Dominic Oduro. The transfer of the 30-year-old will be completed upon the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. Amarikwa first got his start at Bakersfield Brigade in 2008, followed by a transfer to San Jose Earthquakes, where he spent one year before shifting to Colorado Rapids. He signed for Toronto in 2012, then moved to Chicago Fire the following year, before returning to San Jose Earthquakes for a second spell in 2015. The striker has scored 24 goals and 19 assists in 190 regular season games, logging 9,121 minutes, and was nominated for the MLS Comeback Player of the Year award in 2017 after recovering from a serious knee injury. He played the first half of San Jose Earthquakes goalless draw against Manchester United in a friendly on July 22.
˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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GLOBAL SOCCER
Man City Begin Title Defence as Guardiola Tests Emery’s Resolve Premier League champions, Manchester City will begin the defence of their title as Pep Guardiola and his men storm the Emirate Stadium on Sunday against rivals, Arsenal in what is no doubt the biggest fixture of the weekend
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he Gunners will enter a new era at the Emirates when Unai Emery takes charge of his first competitive match, following 22 years of Arsene Wenger’s reign, but they will be under huge pressure from the start as the visitors are the reigning Premier League champions, who have already shown they are on form by beating Chelsea 2-0 in the Community Shield last week. Emery has plenty of decisions to make over his team selection as he looks to avoid defeat to Guardiola’s record breakers. The Spaniard has fielded both 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations regularly in his career, and we expect him to go with the latter at Arsenal in a bid to get the best out of playmaker Mesut Ozil. “Laurent Koscielny is ruled out for several months, so Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are set to be the centre-back pairing,” he said. Meanwhile, City’s Captain, Vincent Kompany has warned Manchester that the Premier League champions won't rest on their laurels as they aim to follow their record-breaking season with another title triumph. Guardiola's side swept to the title last term with a record 100 points, amassing more wins and scoring more goals than any previous champion in the Premier League era. Inspired by Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and David Silva, City's eye-catching style earned comparisons with the finest teams in English football history. But no team has successfully defended the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2008 and 2009, while City were unable to maintain the standards of their 2012 and 2014 title wins in the campaigns that followed. City captain Kompany admits his team lacked urgency and desire in those failed
title defences under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, but the Belgian has sensed a far more focused approach from Guardiola's group. "Before saying anything or doing anything, you want to observe and see if you see the same mistakes which we've done previously," Kompany said. "I've got to be honest, there was a feeling when we've won the league previously, you came back into the training sessions and everybody was a little bit less intense, a little bit more smiles and happiness, but a little bit less committed. "Teams that actually wanted it more could hurt us. I came into training this time and it's completely different," he added. With Guardiola saying he is still "starving" for more success, there appears to be little chance of a City letdown. They have already made a positive impression ahead of the new campaign by winning the Community Shield with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday. That was the perfect preparation for Sunday's Premier League opener at Arsenal and Kompany added: "Number one, we realise this is precious and we want to hold on to it. "Number two, we went into the game with Chelsea - we lost two Community Shields before - and this was a strong Chelsea team. We played really well against them and that, for me, is a great sign." City were so strong the last term that Guardiola has needed to make only one major close-season signing - landing Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez from Leicester in a £60 million deal. And City defender Kyle Walker epitomised the squad's hunger for more silverware by cutting short his post-World Cup holiday to return to training ahead of the Community Shield. Walker had just two weeks off following
England's run to the World Cup semifinals, but he said: "I had the option if I wanted to come back later I could, but I wanted to be involved. "I left Manchester City at the end of last season in a good place and I wanted to pick up where we left off. I'm not resting on this. It is a short career. I want to win as much as I can win." Guardiola doesn't expect City to beat their points record this season, but with a first Champions League crown also in their sights, the Spaniard is determined to keep driving his players towards greater heights. "People say, 'Can you improve on 100 points?' - I say no. We are not here to do that," Guardiola said. "But individually the players can improve. Of course, we can improve. If I felt we could not improve the team I would call my chairman and say, 'OK, I leave'. "We believe we can do better, dominate more and we will try to do it. Is it going to happen? I don't know but we believe we can do it."
Head to head 2017/2018
Arsenal 0-3
Man City
2017/2018
Man City 3-1
Arsenal
2016/2017
Arsenal 2-2
Man City
2016/2017
Man City 2-1
Arsenal
2015/2016
Man City 2-2 Arsenal
2015/2016
Arsenal 2-1
2014/2015
Man City 0-2 Arsenal
2014/2015
Arsenal 2-2
Man City
2013/2014
Arsenal 1-1
Man City
2013/2014
Man City 6-3 Arsenal
2012/2013
Arsenal 0-2
Man City
2012/2013
Man City 1-1
Arsenal
2011/2012
Arsenal 1-0
Man City
2011/2012
Man City 1-0
Arsenal
2010/2011
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
2010/2011
Man City 0-3 Arsenal
2009/2010
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
2009/2010
Man City 4-2 Arsenal
G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE WAHAB AKINTUNDE
Fixture TODAY Newcastle
v Tottenham 12:30pm
Fulham
v Palace
3:00pm
Bournemouth
v Cardiff
3:00pm
Watford
v Brighton
3:00pm
Huddersfield
v Chelsea
3:00pm
THISDAY NEWSPAPERS
Wolverhampton v Everton
5:30pm
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
SUNDAY Liverpool
v West Ham 1:30pm
Southampton
v Burnley
1:30pm
Arsenal
v Man City
4:00pm
THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE
Man City
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ˜ ͺ
FAIRGROUND
Dom Pérignon Hosts Exclusive Tasting in Lagos
with
AZUKA OGUJIUBA
azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com
D
om Pérignon global brand Ambassador, Pierre Louis Araud, hosted some media veterans and influencers to an exclusive tasting for Dom Pérignon P2 1998 Vintage. Dom Pérignon is a brand of vintage champagne offered by LVMH, named after a monk who is now known as the spirit father of champagne after discovering it in 1668. P2 is the Second Plénitude of Dom Pérignon Vintage, the result of 16 years of elaboration. The opposing and complementary elements of the assemblage resound for an increasingly sharp intensity. The energy of the wine is at its peak. Pierre Louis had this to say to the tasting, “Dom Pérignon is a deliberate brand known to be a vintage only wine. The brand has given its commitment to always remain a vintage-only wine regardless of any evolving changes. “We’re excited to have Pierre-Louis with us in Nigeria for these few days to continue to bear witness to the efforts of the Maison in offering an amazing wine,” says Elizabeth Oputa, Manager Champagnes Portfolio in Nigeria. “We continue to engender the growing wine culture in Nigeria and look forward to having more interactions with wine enthusiasts in the country.” The Global Brand Ambassador for Moët and Chandon Pierre Louis Araud arrived Nigeria on the 19th of July, L-R: Jimmie, Ini Dinma Okojie, Onyeka Udoka, Elizabeth Oputa, Omowunmi Onolaja, Nancy Isime, Mai Atafo and Samuel Akpan 2018 for a series of important event, meetings and activities. One of the important activities during his short trip was a dinner with the members of the prestigious Moët Society in Lagos, Nigeria. With Moët and Chandon’s heritage and pioneering spirit, the Moët Society was introduced in Nigeria in 2018 with a private dinner and welcomed a group of highly influential people associated with success and grandeur. The Moët Society is a group of influential ambassadors who represent the values of Moët and Chandon The Moët Society, will experience and showcase unique Moët Moments and relay the brands stories to their solid and diverse networks within and outside of Nigeria. Moët Society members include Mai Atafo, Jimmie, Ini Dima-Okojie, Mimi Onaloja, Udoka Oyeka, Oreka Godis and Paolo Sisiano many of whom Maxime Pulci, Alvin Saal, Bayo Oke Lawal, Bidemi Zakariyau, Charles Okpaleke, Xavier were present at the exclusive dinner Carbonel and Wale Faniyi Pierre Louis Aurad, Mai Atafo which held at Shiro, Lagos. Pierre Louis Araud took guests on a journey explaining the Moët and Chandon of a slow, gradual progression from said “we selected a really great group, to sharing Moët Moments with them. they speak and represent the DNA of Here’s how the dinner unfolded. A style, which is characterised by a bright vine to cellar. The manager of champagne brands our brand, glamour, success and gran- moment becomes a milestone with fruitiness, a seductive palate and an elegant maturity that are the result for Moët Hennessy, Elizabeth Oputa deur I am excited and I look forward Moët and Chandon.”
Falana Holds Listening Event for Upcoming EP On Friday 27th July 2018, in anticipation of the release of her latest project and extended play (EP); Chapter One, musician and singer Falana hosted guests to an evening of musical bliss at an exclusive listening concert at the upscale store ALARA in Victoria Island. In her true fashion of sticking to her African roots and promoting her love for her Nigerian heritage, the artiste donned two outfits; she and her band wore custom made outfits by Orange Culture whilst she ended her night in a Maki Oh piece from ALARA. The colour red was seemingly the artiste’s choice of the night as both ‘homemade’ outfits were a fiery red which captivated the audience along with her statement shoes by Shekudo. The event which was supported by ALARA and Belvedere was a huge success and a night to remember.
From the ornately decorated vintage Mercedes Benz owned by the legendary painter Ben Enwonwu strategically placed at the entrance to the mood lights coupled with Falana’s powerful voice and mind-blowing music. The genius sound of Falana is the perfect blend of the old and the newhigh life guitar riffs, amazing harmonies, distinct afro rhythm and powerful refined vocals. Her music took audiences on a journey blending contemporary sounds and truly compelling lyrics that promises to resonate with audiences upon release. Guests were treated to delicious Belvedere cocktails courtesy co-sponsor ‘Belvedere’. The cocktails which were served throughout the night as guests listened eagerly and intently to the sounds of the talented musician. Over the years, Falana electric per-
formances have infused her unique style and elements of afro-pop into her music; this has enabled a favourable reception by the average Nigerian and the Nigerian music scene, steadily penetrating the global music market with excellent reviews from Vogue and The Coveteur. Falana took the audience on a roller coaster ride, unearthing different emotions as she told her story of perseverance, love, patience and pain giving listeners an insight into how she produced tracks from the EP; the recording and selection process. In all, it was an expository experience transcending listeners to another dimension with her depth and versatility. Her performance left listeners craving more of her unique sound demanding an encore, which she delivered to Falana performing at ALARA thunderous applause.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ˜ ͺ
FAIRGROUND
Idoko Leads Others to Empower NYSC Members
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ost, Motivational speaker and founder Activate Success Int’l Foundation, Love Idoko led a team of young professionals and celebrities like Desmond Elliot (NollywoodActor and Member Lagos State House ofAssembly), SeyiAdekunle (CEO Vodi Tailors), Samson Itodo (Executive Director YIAGAAFRICA) and others to empower youth corps members in Abuja. The event which was tagged Youth EntrepreneurshipandEmpowermentProgramme(YEEP) held at the Abuja and Imo camp auditorium was indeed a success as youths were not only given the opportunity to learn but they also got access to start up funds which was also the sole aim of the empowerment. The Activate Success Int’l Foundation Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme is aimed at teaching corps members practical steps on how to become a successful entrepreneur, with the founder of Activate Success International Foundation, Love Idoko leading young professionals and celebrity role models to speak to corps members and empower selected corps members with start up funds. Some of the major highlights at the just concluded empowerment programme held at the Abuja and Imo State Orientation camp, was the access to grants to corps members to enable them start up their desired businesses. Apart from the 1 million naira grant given to corps members from Activate Success International, a 1.2 million naira grant was
also given to 12 corps members by one of the speakers. To crown it all, a 500 thousand naira grant was also given to 10 corps members by another speaker at the event making the total sum 2.7million naira. Business minded corps members were elated to have received not just the grant, but the opportunity to hear from young professionals in business and also learn from them. Speaking with Love Idoko at the event, she said “I have a penchant for motivating people, there are business minded youths out there that are just looking for mentorship or business ideas as well as funds to start up their business and that’s why we are here. The purpose is not just to give grants, it’s also to empower and motivate as many youths as possible,” she appreciated the NYSC for making it possible and working very hard to empower the corps members as well. Also speaking with Desmond Eliot, who was a speaker at the event, he said “ Love Idoko is a true Nigerian. I love what the Activate Success Int’l foundation Team is doing, it’s very pertinent we empower many of our youths given the kind of society we live in today. I’m excited to be here and I look forward to other empowerment programs like this.” Samson Itodo and Mr. Seyi Vodi shared their success story and supported some corps members as well . The successful event was also organised by Activate Success Int’l Foundation and it was made possible by the partnership of NYSC, FCMB and INTELIA.
L-R: Hon Desmond Elliot, Member Lagos State House of Assembly, Love Idoko, Founder Activate Success Int’l Foundation, Mr. Michael Nwoseh, Head Youth Segment FCMB
Seven and a Half Dates Becomes Number One
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even and a Half Dates, the movie released on Friday, August 3 in all cinemas nationwide and has since become the current number one Nollywood movie, only second to Hollywood’s Mission Impossible. It has experienced multiple sold out shows in many cinemas across the country. Opening to critical acclaims and applause from fans and pundits alike. It has been described in some quarters as the movie that is making Nollywood look good. The movie appears to be clearing doubts as to the ability of Nollywood to make quality, highly entertaining and engaging movies. Report from the halls has it that audience at multiple locations give a rousing applause often at the end of the movie. In one of the reviews, it was described as the only movie that has matched the credibility of The Wedding Party. Mercy Johnson, Toyin Abraham, Jim Iyke, Sola Sobowale, Ken Erics, Frank Donga, Bayray Mcnwizu, MC Lively, Roxy Antak, Ali Nuhu and Faithia Williams are the stars whose light
shine bright in the movie. The movie, Seven and a Half Dates was number one in many of the cinemas over the weekend but overall number two to Mission Impossible. A testament to the quality of work this is. Reacting to the first week success, media entrepreneur and executive producer of the movie, Samuel Olatunji was full of gratitude but was quick to point out that it’s only one week yet. “We are looking at the numbers in comparison with any other movie, we are currently number one but this is just the beginning. We have many weeks to go and our goal is to get as many people as possible to see the movie while having as many sold out shows as possible. It would be great to topple the Hollywood movie we are second to as well. We know that we have a great product. We just want to share this product with as many people as possible to establish what Nollywood is capable of,” he said. The movie is still showing in all cinemas nationwide.
Jim Iyke as J. Lawal in Seven and a Half Dates Movie
Humblesmith: Osinachi Concert Will Defy Traditions
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aised in Abakaliki but found musical fame in Lagos, Humblesmith who also goes by the monica, the Golden Prince of Africa recently made it known that his upcoming Osinachi Concert to be held at Eko Hotels and Suites on Sunday, August 12 will defy traditions and set new records in the music industry. Many have postulated that the musician is an underdog but the musician and management believes that the Osinachi Concert is a perfect opportunity to reveal to the world what he can do and how much influence he can command. Joining Humblesmith on stage are top tier artistes, many of whom featured in his recently released album, Osinachi. Some of the names on the album include Tiwa Savage, Davido, Olamide, Rudeboy, Patoranking and many more. Other artistes not on the album are expected to perform at the concert as well. Tickets to the show have been segmented into regular (5, 000), VIP (20,
000), Silver (1 Million), Gold (2 Million) and Platinum (3 Million). The event has also received sponsorship from the Lagos State Government, Tummy tummy, PGK and Federal Inland Revenue Services. Tickets to the show have almost run out according to sources but the musician insists that his goal isn’t just the numbers but the never-seen-before quality entertainment he wants everyone who attend the show to get. “See, I have already seen the Osinachi Concert. It has happened already in my mind and with what I saw, it’s the best musical concert ever not just in terms of numbers but in relation to the quality of performance, creativity and delivery. We have been having back-to-back rehearsals all for the success of this show and if those rehearsals are anything to go by, I can authoritatively inform you that the Osinachi Concert will defy traditions and set new records. I urge everyone to come out on Sunday and let’s all have fun at the biggest concert of the year,” he said.
Humblesmith
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Ford: Tips for First-time Car Buyers
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n the market for a set of wheels? Never bought a car before? In celebration of International Youth Day, herewith tips from Ford Motor Company to help you navigate the decision-making and buying process to avoid costly mistakes.
All-New 8th generationToyota Camry in the showroom ofToyota Nigeria Limited
TNL Unveils All-new Toyota Camry Stories by Bennett Oghifo
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oyota Nigeria Limited has unveiled the all-new Toyota Camry, the 8th generation model to journalists and dealers. According to the Managing Director of TNL, Mr. KunleAde-Ojo, whose speech was read by the General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Bunmi Onafowokan, the new generation Camry was yet another masterpiece from the stable of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Japan to be sold in the Nigerian automobile market. The Camry model, Ade-Ojo said in his speech, was first introduced in 1982 and has evolved through generations to what was now being described as the 8th Generation All New Camry. He said as at 2015, over 18 million units of this delectable model had been sold across regions, adding that the model had “undergone a total transformation and transition, from a proven sedan to one that pushes the boundaries of
technology. It is a model that has enjoyed a high level of goodwill and acceptance not only for the superior quality engineering behind it but also for its stunning beauty. “It is no exaggeration that the rich history of this model already imbues it with outstanding attributes peculiar only to all its siblings in our model line-up. From its upgraded, trendier exterior to its spacious interior design, the latest model of the Camry (being introduced in the Nigerian market) available in 2.5L and 3.5L engines will readily arouse in its lovers a driving pleasure unparalleled in its class. Indeed it is a remarkable package of safety, comfort and performance in equal proportion.” He said TNLhad not been deterred by the nation’s economic downturn. “In fact, it has positively impacted on our creativity in responding to the demands of our dear customers all over Nigeria and we will continue to explore ways of keeping them satisfied and also uphold our culture of excellence. The all new Camry, according to a presenta-
tion by TNL’s Marketing Manager, Mr. Bayo Olawoyin, has leading fuel economy and driving performance; high efficiency, high power next generation “Dynamic Force Engine”, powerful acceleration and new direct shift 8AT contributing to low fuel consumption, sequential shifter that allows shift operation like in Manual Transmission, Improved noise reduction. 2.5L Engine 215/55R17 tire size, 6 SpeedAutomatic Transmission, 8 inches Display Audio, DVD, 6Speakers, dual auto AC, 1-12V console box, 2 USB at rear, Push Start, Cruise Control, Clearance/Back Sonar, Reverse Camera. 3.5L Engine 235/45R18 tire size, 8 SpeedAutomatic Transmission, 8 Inches Display Audio, DVD, 6 Speakers, 3-Zone Auto AC, 1-12V console box,2USB at rear, Push Start, Cruise Control, Clearance and Back Sonar, Reverse Camera, Rear seat control panel, reclinable rear seat.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Arrive in Europe’s Summer Hotspots
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olls-Royce Motor Cars will return to the most celebrated enclaves of the Mediterranean coastline with a selection of exquisite motor vehicles for the influential and wealthy to experience. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will return to the most celebrated enclaves of the Mediterranean coastline with a selection of exquisite motor vehicles for the influential and wealthy to experience. The marque will work in collaboration with a small group of trusted and noteworthy partners to present its full portfolio of motor cars, including Cullinan, on the picturesque French Riviera and Elysian Andalusian Coastline: locations that truly befit the brand’s patrons. Julian Jenkins, Regional Director, says “Rolls-Royce Motor Cars prides itself on truly understanding its customers’ lifestyles.As such, the marque is uniquely positioned to tailor its presence in these Hot Spots to ensure that they are effortless for both existing and prospective patrons of the brand.” Cannes, South of France From the 30th July – 12thAugust, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will provide a gentle presence in the idyllic Côte d’Azur enclave of Cannes during peak summer season. The marque will showcase Cullinan for the first time in France, displayed outside the prestigious IntercontinentalCarltonHoteloverlookingthestoried Boulevard de la Croisette. It will be accompanied by the brand’s full product portfolio including a highly Bespoke Dawn Adamas and the marque’s flagship, New Phantom, which will also make its French debut. This beautiful range of motor cars will provide luxurious driving experiences throughout the region guided by Rolls-Royce’s product experts. For those who wish to learn more of the eccentricities of Rolls-Royce patrons, one customer who commissioned his car at last year’s Cannes Hot Spot has agreed to loan the marque an example of his latest acquisition; a unique surfboard crafted by contemporary British marquetarians, Woodpop to display
Rolls-Royce Cullinan this year.Amodern expression of fine marquetry, the 9ft 2in sustainably sourced Paulownia timber board incorporates American Walnut, Ripple Sycamore, FiguredAnigre and Birch veneers as well as 24 carat goldleaf.ToreflecthispatronageofGhostandpassion for surfing and surfing ephemera, the board will be mounted atop a Bespoke Rolls-Royce Ghost. Marbella, Andalusia Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will follow this experience
by travelling to the Andalusian Coastline from the 15th August – 2nd September. In Marbella, guests of the marque can experience seven Bespoke motor cars from the exclusive La Reserva Golf Course in Sotogrande. Framed by the remarkable Sierra Blanca Mountains, driving and chauffeur experiences are available in all motor cars with the exception of Cullinan, which is available for static viewings. operators.
1. Research Once you’ve decided on the best type and size of car for your needs (hatchback, sedan, SUV, pick-up truck, manual, automatic, diesel, petrol), you need to do some thorough research (manufacturers’ websites, motoring reviews, word-of-mouth), and narrow it down to a handful of options. Also keep your eyes open for any specials or promotions. The Ford website we reckon is a good start, visit https://www.ssa.ford.com/. Please ensure you select your country to get accurate information on available models. 2. Specs We know it’s tempting to only look at the fun stuff, such as entertainment features and cool wheel options, but it’s best to start with safety and comfort features. If you choose a car that already has excellent safety features as standard, you’ll have more room to play with accessories. The e-Brochures on Ford’s website give you a comprehensive overview of the features on each car they’re currently selling, and can be downloaded and printed for your convenience. 3. Maintenance/warranty Even if you’re on a very tight budget, it’s worth paying a little extra for a car which comes with a decent maintenance / warranty plan, as it could actually end up saving you money in the long run. 4. Dealership It’s a good idea to visit your nearest Ford dealership in order to find the perfect fit, as these are the people who will be looking after you and your car for many years to come. Please visit Coscharis Motors, Ford’s sole dealer in Nigeria, for an idea of what’s available to you. 5. Test drive A test drive is the only way to get a solid impression of a car’s driving dynamics, features, and comfort levels. Take note of all the details so you can do a proper comparison between the cars on your shortlist afterwards. Make sure the seats are comfortable, the controls are easy to reach, and all the instruments are clearly visible. 6. T&Cs It is imperative you run through all the terms and conditions with your dealer, to avoid any surprises later on. Do not be afraid to ask questions, and make sure you fully understand the fine print before signing on the dotted line.
BMW Group Remains on Course and Reaffirms Outlook for 2018
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he BMW Group invested substantially in the mobility of the future during the first half of the year, while at the same time firmly continuing on its course of profitable growth. Rigorous implementation of the Group’s Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXTisplayingakeyrole,asthecompanyshapesthe transformation of the automotive sector. Driving this process forward, the BMW Group always remains focused on the needs and desires of its customers and is continuing its ground-breaking work on the four ACES topics (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified and Services/Shared). The BMW Group has also set a decisive course for its future in China, the company’s largest growth market. “We continue to focus on following our own path and remain firmly on course. We are consistently preparing ourselves to meet the demands of tomorrow. This approach enables us to remain a reliable partner – all the more important during challenging times,” stated Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, in Munich on Thursday. “The BMW Group has more than 100 years of experience in dealing with volatility in a changing world. Our vision remains clearly on long-term prospects. It is crucial that we remain focused on the key issues of profitability, growth and innovation to ensure our competitive edge going forward.” As planned, this year the BMW Group has significantly increased its upfront expenditure on future mobility. Research and development expenses over the first six months of 2018 were more than € 300 million higher than in the corresponding period one year earlier and totalled € 2,610 million (+13.6%). As previously reported, full-year R&D expenses are likely to reach up to seven per cent of Group revenues in the current year (2017: 6.2%). In addition to ramping up production to drive the new model offensive, the BMW Group is focusing on expanding its activities in the fields of electric mobility and autonomous driving. In both cases, the BMW iNEXT will serve as a technological spearhead that sets new standards.
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Mercedes-Benz Achieves new Record Sales of Over 1.35m Cars Stories by Bennett Oghifo
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ercedes-Benz already sold 1,356,350 vehicles in the first seven months of this year, which is an increase of 2.3% and a new record. Last month was the second-best July in the history of the brand with the three-pointed star, with worldwide sales of 167,518 passenger cars, despite several factors that led to constraints in the availability of some models. Mercedes-Benz maintained its market leadership as the premium brand with the highest number of new registrations in the first seven months in markets including Germany, France, Switzerland, Portugal, USA, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Brazil. “Never before have so many customers taken delivery of their new Mercedes-Benz in the first seven months of a year. Since the beginning of 2018, we have increased our unit sales by 2.3 percent to more than 1.35 million passenger cars sold,” stated Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of DaimlerAG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. “Since the market launch of the C-Class Saloon and Estate, more than 9.5 million of these models have already been sold. Since July, our new models of the C-Class family have been in the showrooms of the European dealerships, with whom we intend to continue the success story of our bestselling series,” continued Seeger. Mercedes-Benz unit sales by region and market In Europe, Mercedes-Benz sold 65,568 vehicles in July (-13.9%). The brand with the three-pointed star anticipates further sales stimuli as the year progresses from the new C-Class family, whose market launch commenced in Europe last month. Sales of 542,358 units since January are slightly below the very high number sold in the prior-year period (-3.2%). In Germany, the domestic market, Mercedes-Benz handed over a total of 173,721 passenger cars to customers since the beginning of the year (-2.7%). More cars with the star were
Here Comes NASCAR Mustang
2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Series sold than ever before in that period in markets including France, Spain, Sweden, Poland and Denmark. In the Asia-Pacific region, strong demand for Mercedes-Benz models in July led to a new best figure of 73,484 units sold (+4.6%). In the first seven months of the year, significant growth of 11.4% was posted. A total of 566,842 customers were delighted to receive their new car with the three-pointed star – more than ever before in this period. The biggest sales market last month was China with 52,616 passenger cars delivered and an increase of 8.3%. Since the beginning of the year, 392,780 units have been sold there, representing growth of 15.1%. Mercedes-Benz thus set a new
sales record for the first seven months in China, as also in South Korea, Japan, India, Malaysia and Thailand. In the NAFTA region, a total of 24,884 MercedesBenz cars were delivered to customers in July (-19.0%) and 216,133 since the beginning of the year (-3.6%). The brand with the three-pointed star sold 20,034 cars in the USAlast month (-22.7%). From January to July Mercedes-Benz delivered a total amount of 178,882 cars in the USA (-4.8%) and maintained its market leadership in the premium segment. In Mexico, thanks to double-digit growth rates, Mercedes-Benz set new best-ever sales figures for a July and for the first seven months of a year.
ord announced back inApril that it would be entering the Mustang into the highest echelon of stock car racing, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series. Today, we finally get to see exactly what the car will look like. WithafrontfasciadesignedtoemulatetheMustang’s, and the distinctive galloping horse on its grille, the MustangwillbeaworthyreplacementfortheFusion, whichisexitingthesport,andindeedNorthAmerica. That said, the profile suffers slightly to conform to NASCAR’s rules. “Ever since we announced in April that Mustang would be going to the Cup level in 2019, we’ve heard nothingbutpositivefeedback,”saidMarkRushbrook, globaldirector,FordPerformanceMotorsports. “Our Ford Performance team has worked hard with the Ford Design team to create a Mustang that will be competitive on the track while remaining true to its proud heritage. We can’t wait to see it winning races in the NASCAR Cup Series next year.” The Mustang has a rich history of racing. As early as 1964, it competed, taking on the Tour de France. It’s not all ancient history, though. It currently also races in Formula Drift, NASCAR Xfinity, and more. “We look forward to seeing the Ford Mustang, a cultural icon, on the track in the most competitive series in all of motorsports,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Our sport eagerly anticipates the performance, style and fanfare the Mustang will bring to the track each weekend beginning at the 2019 Daytona 500.” The reveal coincided yesterday with the announcement that Ford had produced the 10,000,000th Mustang in its history. TheMustangwillrunincompetitionintheNASCAR Cup series for the first time on February 17 at the Daytona 500.
(Source: autoguide)
Kia Hands over ‘Green Light Project’ Schools to Local Communities
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ia Motors has handed over two further ‘Green Light Project’ schools to local communities in Malawi and Mozambique. The community-run schools were opened in 2014, and, combined, provide access to education for more than 2,000 students. They were constructed and established under Kia’s ‘Green Light Project’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. The handover ceremony took place at the ‘Green Light’ school in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, on August 1. The ceremony was attended by residents, teachers, students, local community leaders, Kia’s CSR Management Team Leader, Kyehwan Roh, and Jujong Bum, Director of International Development division at Korea Food For the Hungry. The Mozambique ‘Green Light’ school, in the town of Helene, in Inhambane Province, Mozambique, has also been handed over to the local community. “The Green Light Project seeks to provide communities in some of the most deprived parts of
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the world with the opportunity to build better lives through improved access to healthcare, education and vocational training.” Kyehwan Roh commented. “Akey element of the program for Kia is providing the means for these communities to eventually manage such facilities for themselves.” Parallel to the handover ceremony, Kia has assembled a global employee volunteer group to support the company’s Green Light Project activities in Ethiopia. 24 Kia employees from around the world are visiting the ‘Green Light’ auto mechanic training center in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The center was constructed in 2017 by Kia and World Vision, a global aid and development organization. During their summer vacations, Kia’s volunteers are taking part in vehicle maintenance education, and assisting in the construction of elementary school facilities, and educating local communities about hygiene. The center seeks to increase the number of trained vehicle mechanics in one of the poorest districts of the city.
Kia ‘Green Light Project’ school
Taming Haulage Killer Drivers
ast week I ran through some of the non conforming attributes highlighted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mohammed during the parley with stakeholders on strategies to put an end to the tragedies occasioned by haulages operators .The conforming attributes which has become the norm among a handful of these operators besides the one listed earlier includes: non-adherence to the Safe-Load-programme initiative of the Federal Road Safety Corps ; indiscriminate parking of vehicles along highways thereby constituting hazards to other road users; inadequate maintenance of vehicles; use of sub-standard fabricated tankers contrary to specified regulations of the SON; usage of laden tankers to convey additional loads such as agricultural produce thereby tilting vehicle balance and axle load precariously; non-adherence to Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS); and inappropriate registration of trailer/tankers heads that makes ownership identification difficult. To checkmate these abuse all participants such as the management of Tank Farms; tanker/trailer operators, enforcement agencies, transport unions and policy drivers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were charged to wake up to their responsibilities towards promoting a positive road safety culture. Let me bring you up to speed on the plan of action arising from the meeting which the Secretary also includes an Inter-Ministerial Committee that he said
SAFE DRIVING with
JONAS AGWU
amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491
will be set up at the end of the forum to see to the actualization of the recommendations in the Plan of Action including the monthly briefing of government. They plan of action are; mandatory certification of all haulage vehicles must be carried out twice in twelve calendar months; importation of haulage vehicles exceeding ten years (10) from date of manufacture would be stopped with effect from 01/01/2020;Standard speed limiters should be installed in all haulage vehicles in Nigeria; tankers without safety valves and the required number plates would henceforth be disallowed from loading; the safe to load programme would continue to be enforced by relevant Agencies at all loading points; Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), FRSC and other relevant Agencies should immediately harmonize operating safety requirements at all Tank Farms; periodic checks of haulage vehicles should be carried out at relevant loading points; payment of National Transportation Allowance
(NTA) and bridging claims to tanker operators would henceforth be contingent on compliance to minimum safety standards; Single operators of haulage vehicles MUST be duly registered with National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and should comply with RTSSS provisions The plan also includes the establishment of appropriate command and control centers by the FRSC to monitor and ensure safety on the highways; continuous public enlightenment by FRSC and other relevant stakeholders to be conducted at all loading points of haulage vehicles and their Rest Areas; Federal Highways (Control of Dimensions, Weights and AxleLoad of Heavy Duty Goods Transport Vehicles) regulations(2018) will be enforced; Government will work closely with the Bank of Industry and other financial institutions towards the establishment of a Fleet Acquisition Renewal Scheme for haulage operators; Haulage vehicles conveying hazardous materials must be clearly labeled in conformity with the Highway Code. The Forum endorsed the convocation of bi-annual meetings in order to sustain Government engagement with stakeholders to exchange ideas and share information for on the sustenance of safer road management in the country. As I reflect on the level of madness displayed by haulage drivers which prompted the summit and even other drivers wholes lives are also at risk even though in most of these road traffic crashes, they seem to get away with little dangers. I equally marveled at the other operators such as truck owners, tank farm owners or operators at the other designated loading points and my
thoughts ran riot on one of the issues raised by a stakeholder in reaction to the comments made by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State in the person of Dr Taiwo Olufemi Salaam. The Permanent Secretary opened a can of warms responsible for these tragedies; they range from what he called gross compromise and corruption by different players all in the name of pecuniary gains at the expense of the safety of lives of road users. Like I observed, all drivers should remember that no matter their madness ,they all face similar risks, but one of the factors that contributes most to crashes and deaths which is also paramount among these operators appears to be arrogance, disdain for rules and inexperience. I am not just talking about newly licensed drivers, but even drivers well into their twenties or even older. It is therefore strange when in the name of survival; the driver who is engaged is neither neither licensed not experienced but a motor boy who overnight becomes a driver. Other risk factors particularly elevated among haulage drivers include:, distraction while driving, such as use of phones and texting while driving, excessive speed, tail -gazing , driving under the influence which I mentioned last week. Drinking and driving is very high among haulage drivers although the statistics to back up my claim is not available. Often, several of these risk factors are present: In particular, drivers who text while driving are more likely to have other risky driving behaviors as well, compared to those who don’t text while driving. These additional risk factors include drinking and driving and not using a seatbelt in addition to excessive speeding which was also highlighted during the one day parley as one of the causative factors..
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˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯ˜ ͰͮͯͶ
EXPRESSION
MEDIAGAFFES
‘Death’ Uncountable
EBERE WABARA
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AILY SUN Editorial ofAugust 8 welcomes us this week with this misunderstanding of a natural inevitability: “Last week, another outburst of violence led to the deaths (death) of 15 persons….” ‘Death’ is uncountable Next from the above edition is this recurrent headline mistake: “VGN operatives arrested over (for) illegal weapons” “Nigerians appreciate this gesture as a visible effort to curb (a comma) if not end (another comma) the mayhem.” (DAILY Sun Editorial,August 8) Punctuation is one of the hallmarks of good writing. “Restoration of good governance in (to) Enugu” (DAILY SUN OPINION Page Headline,August 8) Wrong: birthday anniversary Right: birthday NATIONALNEWS ofAugust 1 circulated this headline solecism: “Benue:Attempts by 8 lawmakers to impeach Ortom is unconstitutional…” ‘Attempts…is’? Delete ‘is’ from the extract to avoid lexical mayhem! From SOUTH EAST NEWS comes the next headline wrong: “Ekwunife commends Buhari over (for) N37bn refund toAnambra” “Nobel laurel (laureate), Prof. Wole Soyinka….” (SOUTH WEST NEWS Caption,August 1) DAILY Sun Editorial ofAugust 1 circulated the next two blunders: “One of the ugly fallouts of our participation in the recently concluded (recentlyconcluded) Russia 2018 World Cup….” ‘Fallout’ is non-count “…as a deterrent to others who may want to tow (toe) the same path in future.” THE NATION ON SUNDAY of July 29 takes the baton from DAILY SUN with just three gaffes: “Mixed reaction greets sackings” This is no news: mixed reactions greet sackings “DIG commends army, police over (for) Yobe attacks” Lastly from FataiAtere Way: “Onitsha is better now, say Obiano” What’s going on here? Let us continue with a visit to Champion House,
BY
Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos: “Soldiers take over troubled spots” (Daily Champion, July 20) Let peace reign: trouble spots. “Post election violence spreads” (Vanguard Front Page Bold Headline,April 19) Towards a better life for the people: Post-election violence…. Yet another headline solecism from Vanguard of the next day: “Post poll violence continues” Solution as above. Somebody should inform editors at Kirikiri Canal of this recurring lapse. “President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, expressed sadness over the sporadic violent protest (protests)….” (Vanguard,April 19) The next headline blunder is from last week’s edition of this medium: “Police arrest four over Maiduguri explosion” Do we arrest the entire editorial team for (not over) lexical recklessness? “This time around we want change through the power of….” Edifying God: This time round (British) and the extract (American) “Bribery enthrones mediocrity and crucify merit.” The Tabernacle of bribery crucifies merit. “Gang up against Buhari will fail” (NIGERIAN Tribune, 15April) Phrasal verb: gang up; noun: gang-up (which applies here). “We were treated to another similar incidence.…”All newspapers should know the difference between ‘incidence’ and ‘incident’ “Although the governor’s last minute romance with the main opposition party is held against him.…” Saturday People: last-minute (take note of the hyphen) romance “Thus, a core investor…with regards to optimal use of the machinery.…” (THE GUARDIAN, July 12) Either: as regards or with regard to…. “In the heydays of the goggled General when fuel was often unavailable…” (THE GUARDIAN, July 20) Stranglehold of oil workers: heyday (uncountable). “Last year, many houses of the Igbo inAjegunle, a suburb of Lagos, were razed down.…” (THISDAY,April 20) No word abuse: simply razed (not razed down). Discard the contrary views by some registers! Yet another headline gaffe: “Restrictions on inter-bank foreign exchange trading is (are) killing
the market.” “Armed robbers now have good company— street thugs and unofficial vigilante groups.” (THE GUARDIAN, July 20) Democracy as a disincentive: vigilance group. “Buhari points accusing fingers at INEC….” (DAILY SUN,April 20) People in the news: Buhari points the finger. No obtuse addition. “Nigeria is at a crossroad” (VANGUARD, July 20) Fixed expression: at a/the crossroads “Stationeries badly needed by.…” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, July 20) ‘Stationery’ is non-count. “But what appears criminal is the desire of these off-springs of.…” (DAILY CHAMPION,April 20) ‘Offspring’ does not take any inflection. The next three goofs are from VANGUARD of July 20:”…the process of economic integration from which will emerge an economic block (bloc).…” “There is a tussle going on between these two (would it have been three?) arms of government.” “Nigerian leaders and politicians have continued to adopt and acquiesce to (in).…” “Globacom sets (set) to rule domestic market” (Nigerian Tribune, July 20) “I have been briefed that the wrangling among the leaders of PDP are (is) over.” (SUNDAY VANGUARD,August 5) BusinessDay of July 20 disseminated a recurring impropriety: “Now that the Police has (have) taken over the supervision of the….” “…and ensure it does not reoccur again.” (THE GUARDIAN, July 20) ‘Reoccur again’? Run for cover, my dear reader! Just recur. Recur, recurrence, recurrent. Occur, occurred, occurrence. “Lack of incentives anger (angers) local manufacturers” (THE GUARDIAN, July 20) “They provide temporary relief.” (Source: as above) ‘Temporary relief? I strongly object to that clumsy expression because there is no permanence in ‘relief’. If the ‘relief’ becomes permanent, then it is a cure, a solution—no longer a relief. Got the hang? “The patients pay for each act of ‘healing’ through their noses.” Get it right: they pay through the nose. “At the launching programme (launch) in
ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948
Abuja.…” “Acursory look at the figures show (shows) that.…” Daily Sun of July 19 circulated copious shibboleths: “The end point is that people wait for between three to five hours to pay in their drafts.” English without tears: between three and five. “With the attainment of the highest office at any strata of government….” Singular: stratum; plural: strata. “It may be difficult forAlhaji Nuhu Ribadu to resurrect again politically after his disastrous outing in the presidential elections.” Please, yank off ‘again’ in the interest of lexical sanity and our democracy. “They better not rely on INEC.” This way: They had better not rely on INEC. “Like (As) we had said at various forums….” “So, the government cannot ask the Supreme Court to interprete the law.” Spell-check: interpret. (Source: as above) “…the reduction in the number of road accidents and causalities.” This way: casualties. “...to that extent, we shall congratulate its authors for (on/upon) hearing the deafening cry of Nigerians for an effective legislature.” (Nigerian Tribune, July 20) “Out-of-control trailer crushes 15 persons to death” When people are crushed by a trailer, they cannot be alive except there is divine intervention. So, ‘crushed to death’, to me, smacks of lexical insensitivity. This is my own perception of ‘crush’, especially in vehicular circumstances. You are at liberty to accept or not.After all, some dictionaries question my poetic licence on this! The last entry this week is from UNILAG post-UTME 2018/2019 bulletin: “The university has zero tolerance for drug abuse, hence any student found wanting shall loose (lose) his/ her (their) studentship.” This columnist, too, has zero tolerance for institutional poor spelling—especially by my alma mater! And this: ‘prospective studentship’ since the candidate HAS NOT BEEN ADMITTED.
INSIGHT
Day Kashamu Buruji Stormed Abeokuta ÏØËÞÙÜ ßÜßÔÓ ËÝÒË×ß ÜÏÚÜÏÝÏØÞÓØÑ ÑßØ ËÝÞ ÜÏÍÏØÞÖã ÝÞÙÜ×ÏÎ ÞÒÏ ÝÏÍÜÏÞËÜÓËÞ ÓØ ÌÏÙÕßÞ˘ áÒÏÜÏ ÒÏ ÒÏÖÎ Ë ×ÏÑË ÜËÖÖã áÓÞÒ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞÏÜÝ ÐÜÙ× ËÍÜÙÝÝ ÞÒÏ ÞÒÜÏÏ ÝÏØËÞÙÜÓËÖ ÎÓÝÞÜÓÍÞÝ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ. Femi Ogbonnikan ÜÏÚÙÜÞÝ
B
oth political lovers and foes of the embattled Ogun East Senator, Buruji Kashamu, were surprised by the volume of human and vehicular traffic along Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a recent ceremony to welcome the Ijebu-Igbo-born politician to the Peoples Democratic Party’s Secretariat. This is despite his purported expulsion from the party. Amidst tight security, police traffic wardens had a hectic day controlling vehicular movement. In defiance of his expulsion by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, Kashamu, took Abeokuta by storm, and held a mega rally, which he said, was to reiterate his valid membership of the party. Addressing a crowd of chieftains and supporters drawn from across the three senatorial districts (Ogun West, Ogun East and Ogun Central), Buruji restated his membership of the party and faulted his purported expulsion; insisting that “any illegal pronouncement of my expulsion is a sheer waste of time. “How can somebody expel you when you are committed to a party? The party does not belong to an individual, but everybody. I want to authoritatively inform you that, I, Senator Buruji Kashamu, have court orders that protect me from being expelled from the party. “Just as our primaries are around the corner, you should know that the general elections are coming, that is why all of you should go out and mobilise for our party to win in the 2019 general elections. “I am assuring you; very soon, there will be an official declaration. My struggle at the national level is to liberate the masses from the oppressed,” said the lawmaker.
Buruji stated that he was blessed with a heart to fight the course of the downtrodden, and that his party (PDP) in Ogun State needed a governorship candidate with wherewithal and structure to slug it out with the APC-led administration in the state in the 2019 election. Buruji, the Ogun State factional chairman of the party and three others - Engr Bayo Dayo, Semiu Sodipo and Segun Seriki - were on July 24 expelled from the PDP by the National Working Committee (NWC). According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, the four erring leaders worked against the interest of the PDP candidate in the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday July 14. “The party took disciplinary action against the members who have been hobnobbing with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in ways that were detrimental to the interest of the PDP,” said Ologbondiyan. Besides, the state’s factional chairman of the party, Bayo Dayo made a veiled reference to his expulsion and three others as illegal. He said the PDP remains a party loved by the generality of the people. Dayo, however, took a swipe at the National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, for supporting their expulsion. “Today, a man that has been expelled from the party by Uche Secondus is having so many followers. I didn’t come here to share food or money for them but because we have genuine followers in Ogun State. And today, we are celebrating our aspirants at all levels of representations. We never had so much crowd like this in this secretariat; but because our people are very much annoyed over our expulsion from the PDP. You can see that, we
Buruji are accepted by the people, not because we are sharing money or anything but because the people have genuine love for us,” Dayo said. Besides, he said his executives remained authentic, insisting there was no existence of any
parallel executives in the state: “We are the authentic executives in Ogun State. We don’t have parallel executives. So, we are going to conduct the primaries of the party soon. They are going to be free and fair. There is not going to be imposition in our party.”
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AUGUST 11, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
FASHION FILE
The Jungle Book Collection by
Looks Like a
GOOD MAN
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
FASHION FILE
By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com
Looks Like a Good
Menswear brand, Looks Like a Good Man, releases another stylish collection named The Jungle Book. This collection unleashes The Wild Beast that is a part of every man. It was created with the intention to showcase the male attire in a way that is not the norm: men’s traditional can have a lot shine, yet still be simple and classy. The brand was formed because the Creative Director felt the need to represent the simple man – who has style and is confident. His intricate infusion of fabrics such as wool, cotton and linen allows the men wear beautiful fits and stand out wherever they are worn.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ˜ ͺ
MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... ͽͽͻͿͼ
L-R: Director, Iflinks Concepts, Mr. Fred Ifeh; CEO, Madesoftlogic Limited, Faith Imade; and Business Development Executive, Madesoftlogic Limited,Kayode Peters, at the launch of the Esopos POS and Marketplace software in Lagos ... recently
R-L: Union Bank Group Head, Retail Banking Abuja, Helen Okeme; Customer, Osarhiemen Amadusa; Head, Elite and Royalty Banking, Chioma Nwokike; and Customer, Anne Obozua, at the bank’s Lifestyle Master Class organised for its Elite Banking customers in Abuja... recently
RB Strengthens Bond with Consumers in New Project Harpic, the flagship brand of Reckitt Benckiser (RB), in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, has embarked on a project to upgrade and refurbish 25 public toilet units for four communities in Lagos State. The exercise is part of a long strategic partnership established with Lagos State to tackle open defecation in the state and more importantly, connect more with its products users. The newly refurbished public toilets located in Ojota, Oshodi, Costain and Alausa, would be manned by 32 toilet managers under the payroll of Harpic, which is also providing other cleaning materials for the facilities. Speaking at the inauguration of the toilets, RB West Africa General Manager, Mr. Dayanand Sriram, stated that Harpic, being a customer friendly brand was committed to changing the stories surrounding open defecation and toilet sanitation in Lagos and Nigeria in general. He said that the brand was interested in tackling the challenge of open defecation in Nigeria as a way of ensuring healthier and happier lives for Nigeria. “According to United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Nigeria is among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, estimated at over 46 million people with a projected 56 million new cases in the next 10 years. The practice has had a negative effect on the populace, especially children, in the areas of health and education and had contributed to the country’s failure to meet the Millenium Development Goal target. “A 2012 World Bank Report further revealed that Nigeria loses N455 billion or $3 billion
annually due to poor sanitation. This works out to $20 per capita/year and constitutes 1.3 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. The report also stated that open defecation alone costs the country over $1 billion a year. The market potential of sanitation in the country is huge. If the 46 million people that defecate in the open at present opt for toilets, the demand for material and labour, on a conservative estimate, will work out to over $8 billion,” Sriram.
He added: “The toilet refurbishment project will result in big positive attitudinal change, which will impact the lives of the people and the environment. Our immediate priority is to change consumers’ behaviour for a healthy environment. Open defecation is not only dehumanising, it is also an abuse of human rights, which we are determined to stop.” Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry
Artyrama Unveils New Work to Enhance Art Market
Firm Launches New Cloud-based Solution
The burgeoning Nigerian art market is set to receive a major boost as online art platform, Artyrama, plans to unveil a new work called ‘Identity Tones’. ‘Identity Tone’, is the work of multidisciplinary artist, John Madu, who sought to call attention to Nigerian heritage while also promoting it. Madu’s work is represented through personal iconographic symbols such as metaphors, texture, indigenous patterns and colours. According to Madu, the philosophy behind his works, rest on the premise that true art is based on a chain reaction to socio-economic issues or immediate environment. The latest work contemplates the effect of globalisation on African identity using collages, portraiture, figurative symbolism and mixed media
Determined to assist the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) overcome business challenges and drive productivity, indigenous Information Communication Technology firm, Madesoftlogic has unveiled a cloudbased Point of Sale (POS) software and social marketplace solution for retailers, wholesalers service providers and other businesses in the country. The new software, ESOPOS, comes at no cost and according to the company, would take care of the challenges that come with POS usage as a result of cost of software to run the operation and poor power supply. Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Faith Imade, stated that the move was part of the company’s enterprise platform aimed at supporting SMEs in Nigeria, which is why the solution will be offered without any cost of registration and subscription. “ESOPOS software provides opportunities to Nigerian businesses who have not embraced technology due to cash constrains, poor power supply and lack of basic technology skills. “We discovered that one of the major reasons why most small businesses avoid using POS is because of the cost of the software to run the operation and also poor power supply, hence, this new solution would address these challenges. We are confident that our innovations will boost productivity for SMEs,” she said. She further added that the software will manage all business processes from pricing to inventory management to analysing sales, vendor performance and managing offers. Explaining the workings, she said ESOPUS delivers a real time business overview from any location, all from the cloud using any device, be it a smartphone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer.
to bring it to life. The eclectic mix of source material is influenced by pop culture, African art history, music and live experiences. Shedding more light on the collection, Madu explained: “The Nigerian way of life is gradually fading away on the excuse of globalisation, which is being aided by internet wildness, this work specifically reflects the time that we live in. The spread of popular culture via social media has created an increase in cross cultural contacts which is a good thing, but original cultural practices can be lost in the process. “Identity tones captures how I interpret this new state of consciousness.”
Olympic Extends Ambassadorial Contract with Peter Okoye Following a successful three-year partnership deal with award-winning Nigerian celebrity, Peter Okoye, premium milk brand, Olympic has renewed its contract with its brand ambassador. This was disclosed at the official contract signing ceremony which held at PZ head office in Ilupeju, Lagos. Speaking on the contract renewal, PZ Cussons Managing Director Commercial, Mr. Alex Goma, stated that the contract signing “signifies the continuation of Peter’s activities as Olympic brand ambassador, a position which will among other things see him champion the cause for a healthy and active lifestyle and also represent the brand at different levels.” “It is a pleasure to continue working with Peter knowing that there is a perfect synergy between him and the Olympic brand. We are happy to give consumers a brand that helps them keep fit, stay active for longer and also help them stay healthy” he said. Likewise, Regional Category Marketing Director, Africa, Food and Nutrition, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyah said: “The relationship between Peter and the brand has grown into a very fruitful one and we will continue to work together to promote healthy lifestyles among Nigerians.” Responding, Okoye thanked the company
of Environment, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, commended the initiative and encouraged greater partnership between the private and public sectors to further boost the welfare of the people in the state. RB West Africa Marketing Director, Aliza Leferink, stated that the Harpic open defecation elimination programme is targeted to reach over 1 million homes in 16 cities to educate and encourage people to use clean toilets regularly.
for the partnership as well as the privilege to continue championing the cause of the brand and encouraged Nigerians to embrace a more active lifestyle. He promised to keep spreading the brand’s messaging of affordable nutrition delivering a trusted healthy formulation with the promise
of low cholesterol content. Olympics’ Regional Category Marketing Maanager (Africa), Raphael Agbaje added that Peter’s ambassadorial role was important to the brand as his creativity always comes to play in placing the brand on the right pedestal to drive connection, affinity and endearment to consumers.
‘Chivita Active Inspires Liveliness in Consumers’ Few months after Chivita Active launched its new campaign, C’mon Get Active, to position the brand as an enabler for a healthy active life, the campaign is already inspiring a new social movement for consumers who are voting for active health by easily integrating Chivita Active into their daily routine as a partner in their journey for improved wellness and healthy lifestyle. The Chivita Active C’mon Get Active campaign, which is being driven across multiple engagement platforms is very relatable to consumers because it is creative, simple and straight to the point in delivering key messages of wholesome nourishment, active health and wellness. Across Nigeria, #C’monGetActive continues to trend in the digital space offering consumers an opportunity to share their active health routine story and encourage one
another. Analysts have commended the campaign for leveraging on the brand’s enabling role for regular healthy lifestyle activities to drive consumer preference and purchase intentions. They contend that the campaign reflects deep insights on the shift in consumption pattern as a result of growing social consciousness of wellness through active health, and Chivita Active’s brand purpose resonates with consumers who are already thinking in that direction. For Chinedu Johnson, a grassroots soccer coach in Agege, Chivita Active represents a shift for consumers like himself who are desirous of a healthy beverage to support their daily activities without compromise on great taste, convenience and enhanced nourishment. “As a soccer coach, I have had the privilege
of supervising numerous young people through daily fitness regimen. They are passionate about achieving their fitness goals and wellness through active health as well as enhanced nourishment from Chivita Active that supports to keep them focused,” he said. According to Mrs. Adewunmi Akintola, a marketing executive, from taking a long walk in the morning or evening after work to a few light indoor exercises, the need to stay healthy has necessitated more people adopting active lifestyle habits that are beneficial and convenient. “With the daily physical exertion for wellness comes nourishment from Chivita Active. The C’mon Get Active campaign has made the brand an easy recall for me and my friends as we nudge each other on our amazing journey of wellness,” she added.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀
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Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘
͸Ϳ͸͞ͺ΀͚͞Ϳ͝Ϳ Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ÞÙĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă?ÑÑ̜ÒÙÞ×ËÓÖ˛Ă?Ù×
JOJO CHARRY
Why I Posted My Nude Photographs Online Ă“ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ě‹ĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ě‹ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ëœ ÙÔÙ Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂœĂŁËœ Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă˜ Ę¨ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? ĂŒĂ“ĂœĂžĂ’ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ ÚÓĂ?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ë› ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÓÞ˛ Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă‹ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÚÒÙÞÙ̋Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă™ĂžËœ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ăœ åÓÞÒ Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂŒĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÖÙÞĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Tosin Clegg I was born in Liberia but grew up in Ghana ighteen years ago, I moved to Wahington DC, USA. Then some years back, Desmond Elliott introduced me into the movie industry. He was the first producer that gave me a movie role. It was a Nigerian movie, but it was shot in the United States, so he got me involved. It was called The Trap. I did about four movies in the States with Desmond. Then, when I came down to Nigeria, I shot with Debby. The movie was entitled: Friends Or Foes. I also did Emeka The Lalala with Chigozie Atuanya. We shot some parts in Houston and came down to Nigeria to shoot the remaining part.
E
I’m still learning the craft I’m not so good enough to venture into movie production. It would take a little while. Maybe someday in future, but for now, not at all. I have always thought of doing a nude photo-shoot for a long time When I was younger, I felt like my body was too sexy and it scares me then. I was ashamed of my body, it was too grown. Now that I’m older, I saw that it was like a trend, everybody craves to have a sexy body. People are paying, some going under the knife to have my kind of body, so why am I covering myself? I had to embrace myself. Like, this is who I am; the body is not going anywhere. It is going to be mine forever. So, the last time I came to Nigeria, I was like, let me do a nude photo-shoot. I love my body just like I love myself. So, I wanted the world to see what I have in me. However, it’s not like I was totally nude, because I wasn’t showing anything. But Nigerians are taking the matter too seriously. I’m not mad at them; I am just enjoying it all. I don’t care. People must talk, complain, regardless of what you do or didn’t do. That’s the kind of world we live in! I just do whatever makes me happy. My boyfriend is very supportive of everything that I do As long as it makes me happy and comfortable. He made sure I was ready for the tongue lashing before I posted those photos. He should have been there, but he couldn’t make it. We actually came down to Nigeria together but he had to go back to the States during the shoot for something urgent. About the nude photoshoot Swanky asked me all over if I was ready for such a daring shoot, I told him I was, and then we went into action. I was not shy or uncomfortable at all, because it was all professional. It wasn’t a sex scene or something of such, just a nude photo session. They all did their works professionally. I was very confident! I eat a whole lot but healthy I also wear Waist Trainers. I have my own
Waist Trainer line coming out soon. In two weeks, we will launch it. It’s for women that want a sexy body and a slim waist. My body is too sexy they can’t resist. I got wooed by all kinds of women all the time. I was offered $10,000 to join an Orgy party It is a one-night party full of beautiful women that will have moments of really intense sex! I love Nigerian guys because they are hustlers They are also very cool people. I love their confidence. They always want to represent their country. They are a fun and very lovely set of people. Well, I still want to keep my relationship private because I don’t want people getting into my business. I can’t tell you where he is from; that’s my little secret. What got me attracted to my boyfriend A whole lot. He is proud of me. He is very calm not a show off like me. He is very caring and loving and quite business minded too. Sometimes, he doesn’t give me enough attention and I always complain, but I just try to understand. Plans on getting married Of course, if the good Lord says so. In every relationship, that’s what every girl hopes for, likewise me. I don’t mind getting married to him, because I love him so dearly. I don’t believe in having a child out of wedlock But, if I get older and haven’t found the right guy, I might consider that. Or maybe I get pregnant and we both decide to keep it, then it’s fine. The good Lord will bless us. Being a baby mama, all depends on the circumstances I find myself in. Not scared of losing my body after childbirth That’s where the beauty spa and Waist Trainer come in. I’m not scared at all. I have to try everything possible to maintain my sexy body because I don’t want my husband to go anywhere else. He met and married me looking all hot and sexy, I must strive to maintain that look for him. I plan to have a different marriage My prayer is that whoever I’m getting married to, we will have a very good understanding. I’ll never give my husband any reason to think about divorce. Whatever issue we have, would be resolved within us, no third party. We should not forget the reason why we fell in love. Honestly, divorce is not a good feeling and I don’t wish that for myself. Aside from acting, I work Yes, I have a 9 - 5 job to pay my bills. I actually work for my aunt as one of her directors. She understands my acting job too, so whenever I have a script, I get her permission, then I go for it.
Charry
My mum and dad are very supportive They made sure we follow our dreams, as long as you are making enough money to sustain yourself and to also take good care of your children when they start coming. I’m the seventh child in my family. My father has nine children, but from my mum, I’m the only child. Growing up in a polygamous family
When we were in Ghana, it was all good. We didn’t leave together as one big family. We have always lived separately. We are planning to have a family get-together this year. Projections for the future I want to get married within the next two years, with kids, living in my mansion. Be a successful businesswoman; a CEO and happy too.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀
Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘
͸Ϳ͸͞ͺ΀͚͞Ϳ͝Ϳ Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ÞÙĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă?ÑÑ̜ÒÙÞ×ËÓÖ˛Ă?Ù×
MY STORY UDUAGHAN UNVEILS AFRIGOLDTV
BODE BLAQ
I Represent Good Music
The Nigerian motion picture industry again witnessed another milestone, as former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan unveiled AfrigoldTV, a global web platform that provides paid-for films on-demand. Dr. Oby Olebara-Uzoukwu, CEO,AfrigoldTV stated that the former governor’s presence was a clear demonstration of his belief in the motion picture industry as a means to grow the economy. Also at the event were Chairman of AGN Lagos State, Jim Iyke, SeunAkindele, Muma Gee, Benedict Johnson and a host of other Nollywood veterans and bussing actors. AfrigoldTV is a wholly indigenous online film and content provision company, established to inform, educate, entertain and transform lives through the creation of content that helps people relax, work smarter and live stress-free.
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SUPERSTORY COMMENCES NEW SEASON Millions of families across the country are in for a delight, as Superstory commences a new action-packed season, entitled ‘Donaldo’, to be aired on terrestrial and cable television stations. The TV drama follows the double life of Donaldo (Emem Ufot), a loving family man, philanthropist and awesome football player on one hand, but on the other side, an overambitious, hardened criminal mastermind who has an insatiable lust for money, women and the luxurious life. His only challenge is Jalade (Elizabeth James), a persistent female cop obsessed with bringing Donaldo and his cohorts to justice. Donaldo also features Amaechi Muonagor, Jide Kosoko, Chinyere Wilfred, Saheed Balogun, Ayo Adesanya, Eric Obinna and other talented stars. The Managing Director of Wale Adenuga Productions, and producer of Superstory: Donaldo, Wale Adenuga Jnr., said: “Viewers of all ages can’t afford to miss a single episode of the action-packed Donaldo. A lot of research went into the pre-production stage of this project; so while there are several elements of comedy, romance and suspense, there are also many serious lessons about security consciousness, based on shocking actual events in this story, for every member of the family to learn from.� The 52-episode series would air across Nigeria on NTA Network, AIT Network and wapTV on DStv 262, StarTimes 116, GOtv 102, StarSat 189, PlayTV 275, TStv 223 and MyTV, as well as online, to audiences worldwide, through the YouTube Channel: waptvchannel.
NIGERIAN STUDENT FASHION , DESIGN WEEK HOLDS Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week is the first known fashion platform in Nigeria dedicated to discovering raw fashion talents, giving them a unique opportunity to showcase at the international level. NSFDW has consecutively focused on recognising emerging fashion designers by bringing their designs to the NSFDW runway, and giving designers the opportunity to be mentored by renowned fashion entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 2013, NSFDW has showcased over five hundred breakout fashion designers, and continues to lead the way in producing innovative, indigenous, and contemporary favourites on the runway. For its 6th edition themed, ‘Fashion and the Millennial’ the organisers have sealed special collaborations with African Fashion Week Houston (a major U.S.based international cultural fashion showcase), Glitz Africa Fashion Week Ghana, and Swahili Fashion Week. This partnership will enable them to select some well deserving participants from this year’s Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week who will go on to
showcase at these events outside the shores of Nigeria. In addition, Abiola Orimolade, founder of Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week, stated that “Creating a better fashion industry requires teamwork, partnerships, and collaboration, as we need an entire army of companies and brands to work together to build a better industry within the next few decades. We hope the collaborations NSFDW has created this year will encourage more partnerships among fashion weeks and fashion brands in Africa. Furthermore, the partnership deal NSFDW has been able to seal with African Fashion Week Houston, Glitz Africa Fashion Week and Swahili Fashion Week will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for these outstanding designers to take their skills to a global stage, which means more visibility and opportunities for their brands. NSFDW is scheduled to begin from the 2nd of September with various activities lined up at various locations through to the 8th of September at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the grand finale.
T
ell us about yourself? My name is Ogunbemi Olabode Steven and I’m a musical artiste and a song writer. My genre of music is alternative music and I also rap. The brand, Bode Blaq represents good music and the journey started out in 2016.
Challenges so far?
Number one thing is trying to prove to people that you really have it in you, as most people don’t accept something new, considering my own style is not like the popular kind of music. The financial constraint is also there. Having a new brand will require spending so much on marketing, but I think doing all these is important for an artiste.
Can you shed more light on the rumour of stolen music between you and a DMW artiste? I dropped my own song, On Kpa, a month before he dropped his own and I think his own is Kpa. And I think it’s part of his EP, and Dremo is a good friend of mine. But then, I see the media trying to compare both songs, but if you listen carefully you would see the distinction. My own song is about money but his is about women.
As regards musicians and baby mamas, what’s your take? I think, sometimes, the men are the victims. The kind of attention I get, even now that I am not full blown, is big, especially for women. It takes someone that’s God-fearing not to fall, as it’s not an easy thing. Most of those girls know they can’t keep the guy. I’m the kind of artiste that has a family ideology, but I don’t think I want baby mama’s issues.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀
MONICA OMORODION
Back in the Days, We Did Music for the Love of it
Ă˜ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ?Ëœ Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ‹Ă“ĂŽĂ‹ Ë˛Õ˛Ë Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă¤Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÙÚ Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă‹Ă”Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă•Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă˜ĂŁ Ă•Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜Ëœ Ă Ă“ ĂŽĂ˜Ă‹ ÑÙÖÓ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă‹Ă?ÓÞã Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă•Ă?ÚÞ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă Ă‹Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂĄĂŒĂ“Ă¤ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ×Ùà ÓĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂœËœ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ë› Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă¤Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂœĂ™ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă• ËŠ ĂŁ Ă‹ĂŒĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă?ËŞ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĚ‹ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ×Ùà ÓĂ? ËŠ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ùà Ă?ËŞË› Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‘Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĚ‹ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ×Ùà ÓĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ ÞËÖÕĂ? ÞÙ Ibeabuchi ChineduËœ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă?Ăœ ÔÙĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ?
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ooking back, what would you say has changed musically in Nigeria?
Back in the days, in the music scene, we did music for the love of music, not for the money. People think more of the monetary aspect these days instead of the love. I could sing Majek’s music and still have tears in my eyes, and many other musicians. These days, I don’t think I can sing a song and feel it like back in the days. These songs now are just to dance in parties, etc., no soul. Music has changed greatly, but there is still some good music out there; it is the changes in life. I’m still thankful for music.
What’s the reception of Nollywood among Nigerians in Diaspora like? Africans in the Diaspora are beginning to love our Nollywood movies more now because we are doing such great jobs! Many appreciate the efforts being put into our work compared to 10 or 12 years back. Though many still say that we have a long way to go, but remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Many veteran actors now live in the U.S. Some are alleged to have dumped Nollywood for odd jobs to survive. Do you share same views? I would say yes and no. Yes because many that came refused to go back. I don’t blame some of them who are in their old age. The quality of life is better abroad. Many Nollywood veterans have nothing to retire to. Many get sick and start beggingtosurviveinNigeria.Itisatoughdecision, but to them, it is worth it. I say no also because I see some of our top actors returning home after their visits. It is their prime and it would be a big mistake to stay back. Those that stay back won’t tell you, but they are forced to work under the table like everyone. I know some that drive Uber or work as car park attendants, etc. No valid documents so they become illegal immigrants. If they over stay, they can no longer go back because they can never enter again. I always advise my friends to bear the storm if they are doing well in Nigeria. Many listen and most don’t. Some end up regretting it because their showbiz life dies. Some do work here though, but most don’t make it. I am not sure what I would do if I am in their shoes though. Nigeria is tough!
Do those actors venture into Hollywood? Many try. But you have to remember that there are many actors fighting for the same roles. But you never know. Many have their own destiny. Many go to Hollywood to find their dreams end up homeless. The highest homelessness in America is in Hollywood. Many go there with high hopes. They wait and wait and wait and sometimes can’t go back. Dreams get lost etc. It is better to stay in a country where though, you are not too rich, but you are known, happy and doing what you love.
What’s your take on many veteran musicians struggling to survive? The state of many veteran musicians is not very encouraging at all. There is no true system in place to help these folks. These musicians are the ones that blessed us with so many memories. The problem mostly is because of royalties. There is no way to collect money for their works. Here in America, most musicians live on past glories. They are treated like gods. They are called for
Omorodion
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀
I always advise my friends to bear the storm if they are doing well in Nigeria Back in the days, in the music scene, we did music for the love of music, not for the money. People think more of the monetary aspect these days instead of the love. I could sing Majek’s music and still have tears in my eyes, and many other musicians.These days, I don’t think I can sing a song and feel it like back in the days is no way to collect money for their works. Here in America, most musicians live on past glories. They are treated like gods. They are called for honorary gigs and paid well. I was talking to one of my daddy’s in the industry before he died, late Ras Kimono. He cried about this issue also. Nigerians forget the old artistes and go after new artistes. They don’t even know our old musicians. I personally think it is because we don’t have the right infrastructure in place to make them iconic. Most sing for pennies. Kimono asked me to find gigs for him abroad. I spoke to some promoters here to help but many said his time has passed, etc. Remember what you asked about our actors coming abroad to live? This was the same situation with Kimono. He decided to go back to Nigeria to find gigs.At least, he is known and respected back home even though he didn’t have money. It is an insult for such a big star to come and start working as a car lot attendant. He actually tried it once. When he attended to someone that recognised him, they started hailing him and singing his songs. He couldn’t tell them he worked there. He turned around and went home. This can only happen in Africa! It is pathetic! Thank God Ras Kimono walked with his head raised up. He lived and died as a musician. I know many that had to let go of their dreams to feed families in the Diaspora.
Omorodion
industry and support it in general. If they do, they will bring so much tourism to our country. Think of Festac 77! They need to help work against piracy and encourage royalties. Help the industry fight the crimes of piracy.
What role are you playing in the area of insurance which is one of your career path? Nigeria is a great country. But the amenities are not well in place. Many abroad are struggling, but they are surviving via a great association like guilds which help in areas of life insurance, health insurance, etc. They save up for the raining days like old age, sickness or when in need. Nigerian guilds need huge improvement and I can give back by consulting for them for free.
What’s your last moment with Ras kimono like? MylastmomentwithRasKimonowasablessed one. We talked on Facebook and we got on the phone. We talked and talked for a long time. We spoke mostly about Majek Fashek. I needed him to help Majek. Many don’t know but Kimono was a very huge help. He was a silent helper. He was one person I could talk freely to about Majek. He told me that we are only helping Fashek. ‘Monica! What about me nah? Abi una want make we go take drugs or sleep on the roads before una remember us?’ These were Kimono’s words to me. My heart was broken! I didn’t know he was struggling in anyway at all because he never complained. All he always asked for was for us to get them gigs. I was sad. I called a popular promoter here in Boston and he said the same thing many said. These musicians are too old. It won’t sell. Their time is passed. I thought of a great opportunity and told Kimono about a festival in Lowell Massachusetts that I had hosted for over 10 years. He was excited! I told him that I would tell the organisers to help. I broke his heart because they didn’t agree. Can you believe a Nigerian was part of the committee? Shame on him. Kimono told me he would love to be part of my movie premiere of Esohe that was going on then. He told me that he wanted to help his little sister (me). I was overwhelmed with joy!!! Kimono came and spent three whole days with me in Massachusetts! He was in my home; we danced and shared fond memories. I called upon Kimono during the festival that
What is your life philosophy? Be good to all. No one knows tomorrow. Failure is not an option.
Regrets? Not learning to speak my mom’s language, Igbo or my dad’s language, Benin and Yoruba. I wish I was taught as a child.
What’s your greatest fear about life? Not to live a fulfilled life.
Tell about your‘StreetAngelsTV’initiative? Omorodion with late Ras Kimono
day and he came on stage with me. He did it for me. The video is currently on Facebook for all to see. I called Kimono five days before his death. We spoke about him helping to bring Majek to America with him. We talked about private things and then I got the cold news that dark morning that Kimono don die! Oh! What a crazy life (sad). I am thankful for the quality time we spent together. I created a new festival called Showcase Africa and had my first meeting with potential members the same day Kimono died. We must try to sell Africa and our talents to the world. We must! If we don’t, then who will?
What was his lifestyle like? He was a strict vegetarian and we had to go out and buy him strictly vegetarian foods. Kimono never did drugs. He was also a brain behind helping Majek Fashek.
Do you think the Nigeria Government has done enough to support the creative industry? No. All we got to look at is National Theatre in Lagos. See what it has become. Government gives to individuals for political gains. That is sad. Government needs to look at the art and creative
Street Angel TV is an initiative that God put in my heart. Going back to Nigeria has opened my eyes a lot to how people are suffering not because they are lazy, but because of the lack of opportunity. Many educated brothers and sisters are going around the streets with no hope for jobs or opportunities. Mothers, fathers paralysed because of lack of funds to help their family. Many need opportunities. The government has failed so many people. Many that work are not paid; most that are retired have no pension. We must look within ourselves to help fellow man. I look at it this way, instead of me to fly first class or business class for $5000; I can fly economy and give out the money to many that need help. There are so many people out there looking for help. We all can be able to do plenty one person at a time.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
POLITY
Lessons from Walking with Gov Abubakar for One Year Ali M Ali
T
ime flies fast. It is incredible how it flutters. It has been a year since I started walking with Governor M.A Abubakar of Bauchi State. August 1st precisely marked a year since I left my comfort zone in the newsroom where I was lord of the manor. Where I was a tin footed ‘god’ with wide ranging ‘editorial’ and “managerial’ powers. Where, as Editor-in-Chief, I decided what story got prominence and or obscurity. Where, as a columnist, with a ‘pungent’ pen wrote ‘acidic’ commentaries on politics and politicians and was “celebrated” as “daring”, and “fearless” for telling truth to power. I left all those “powers” to be in its “corridor” strewn with banana peels. Some curves in this hallway are actually strewn with land mines buried deep underneath. One wrong step, you may be blown to smithereens. I have stepped on several. I have been blown to pieces severally. And the boss has given me cover severally! That’s lesson number one. The boss gives you a second, third, fourth chance. Literally countless times .He is that sympathetic. Truly, he is Mr. Nice Guy. I am still learning twelve months later. I have learned perseverance, tolerance and tenacity. Nothing appears to deter or shock MA Abubakar. He has an incredible work ethic. I often marvel at his stamina for work and intellectual rigor. He literally works round the clock. Sleeps late, wakes up early, devote time for play and family; a devout worshipper without any outward exhibition of religiosity. His facial appearance and sartorial elegance is contemporary. He walks the straight and narrow path. He does a lot of charity away from public glare most times anonymously. I have not seen a day he nabs in public. Once I caught him yawning after listening to a clearly boring speech and I shouted inaudibly ‘voila’, he is human after all. Perhaps, his training as a lawyer makes him particularly censorious. He expects excellence from aides. But he is sufficiently considerate to help a faltering aide navigate the labyrinthine precincts of power. Walking together, sometimes, a step behind and other times, a step ahead, I have seen him handle all kinds of incredible pressure with equanimity and with a boyish smile. Rarely, he flies off the handle. Among us, the battery of aides, we call him “No Tension” behind his back. I have seen him handle grief and tragedies. I have seen how he spreads his big frame thin to walk his talk. His response to emergencies is rapid. The credo to such emergencies always is “treat fast” within the ambit of the law. Three character-defining tragedies occurred in the last year that brought governor Abubakar’s compassion came to the fore. On February 22 students of Government Secondary School Misau perished in a ghastly automobile accident on their way to Kano. The governor was in the nation’s capital, which he arrived a day earlier. As soon as he got wind of the mishap, he suspended state duties and rushed straight to Misau, hundreds of miles away from the state capital, to comfort the parents of the deceased. He immediately set in motion a support system for the survivors. He again, personally and quietly, visited the injured lying in a hospital in Kano.
A cacophonous media campaign was mounted on account of this gaffe.The searing response was my baptismal into the rancorous politics of the government and the army of opposition. It was also a wake-up call before I even took a nap.They knocked the government and the governor silly. Every action or inaction of a political appointee is attributed to the governor by the opposition. As media adviser and spokesman, they wrongly reasoned, the governor must have ‘directed’ me to “mislead” the world with that unverified piece of information
Governor M.A Abubakar of Bauchi State
The state wrote off all their medical bills. A month later, in the third week of March, late Senator Ali Wakili, May Allah rest his soul, died in a most dramatic manner. Hale and hearty 24 hours earlier, he slumped suddenly and died in his Abuja residence. M.A was distraught. A day earlier at the wedding fatiha of Aliko Dangote’s daughter in Kano, he and the deceased had shared moments that were deeply political. They had a frosty political relationship but united in their support for President Muhammadu Buhari. The hatchet was buried a few hours to the late Senator’s final bow. The governor declared three days of mourning and directed flags to fly at half-mast and working hours reduced to grieve for the late lawmaker. Perhaps the biggest tragedy that nearly broke my governor in public was the hurricane that hit the state on June 16, a day after Eid-el-fitr. A cyclone, some say, all the way from CAR, crossed borders and hit Bauchi that fateful evening after we had all witnessed the colorful Hawan Sallah. The devastation was unprecedented. The ruination was catastrophic. Over fifteen thousand (15,000) houses were affected, several lives lost. Again, the governor had to cut short his well-deserved Sallah break and responded to that emergency. That same night, the Azare main market was razed by an all-night inferno. Properties and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed. Over 800 stalls gutted. Thankfully, no loss of life. Again he rose to the occasion. He left no stone unturned to ease the anguish with practically nothing. Underneath the tough exterior of M.A Abubakar is a soft heart, incapable of keeping malice or grudges. In words and deeds, time and again, he has demonstrated that he “harbors no ill will” against anybody. In his cabinet are elements that worked against his emergence as gubernatorial candidate in the party’s primaries. Gracious in victory, he runs an all-inclusive government mindless of these internal divisions. Bauchi State finances are pathetic. With an incredible workforce of over a hundred thousand and a monthly wage bill of over N5 billion, only a very financially disciplined leader could deliver what Abubakar has delivered in three years. He inherited an empty treasury and a litany of social and economic problems. Today, salaries are promptly without waiting for federal allocation, education revamped, and urban centres renewed with over 400klms of road The week I took charge, I goofed. I mismanaged a piece
of information I picked and without crosschecking went to town. And boom, the opposition latched on to it. The opposition in Bauchi, like in other states, is unsparingly uncharitable. In our state however, it takes it a notch higher. It turns a molehill into a mountain-routinely. Often, it kills a fly with a sledgehammer. It doesn’t believe facts. It believes only what is convenient. It is from another world, I hasten to add. In our own case, opposition is more within. There is a battalion of fifth columnists operating as allies in the mix. We have wolves in sheep clothing. Behind their smile is a stratagem to ‘discredit’ and ‘dislodge’. A cacophonous media campaign was mounted on account of this gaffe. The searing response was my baptismal into the rancorous politics of the government and the army of opposition. It was also a wake-up call before I even took a nap. They knocked the government and the governor silly. Every action or inaction of a political appointee is attributed to the governor by the opposition. As media adviser and spokesman, they wrongly reasoned, the governor must have ‘directed’ me to “mislead” the world with that unverified piece of information. My principal is an accomplished lawyer. He is not frivolous. He is not flippant. That bears stressing. It is therefore, inconceivable that he will deliberately encourage disinformation. To control the damage, we owned up. We retracted and apologized. However, we stood by the rest of our claims of reforms in all sectors. All through that travail in which the governor was “roasted” in local media for information I passed and gleaned from, mostly, digital media, he didn’t even bat an eyelid nor look in my direction on account of that misstep. Till this day, not once he referred to that incidence even fleetingly. Still, the opposition was unrelenting. It ceaselessly exploited every opportunity to remind the people that the new “spokesman” being a “foreigner” was ill equipped to be the mouthpiece of the governor. We crossed that bridge. Another lesson learned. Being a gubernatorial aide was a road I had once travelled. It was thorny and bumpy. This one is no different. It is a lot bumpier and rougher. The driver however, is skillful and knows the road fairly well. He knows when to accelerate or decelerate. It has been twelve dizzying months since I “ported”. I however, miss the newsroom. ––Ali M Ali is an aide to Governor M.A Abubakar of Bauchi State
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
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POLITY
Ray Ekpu and the Leadership Question Ray Ekpu is evidently an accomplished man in his chosen journalism career. However, he habours a nagging interest in leadership which foisted on him many failed expectations. Little wonder he chose it as a topic for discourse as he turned 70 and celebrated 45 years of his career. Ahamefula Ogbu who was there reports
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any would think that the issue uppermost on Mr. Ray Ekpu’s mind is about journalism alone; but one of the revelations at his 70th birthday and celebration of his 45 years of active journalism was that the leadership question, especially of Nigeria agitates his mind to no end. The colloquium to mark his birthday and professional endurance centred on leadership. The tribute for Ekpu at 70 was delivered by Dr. Chidi Amuta on ‘Leadership and the burden of history’, and evoked a discourse that covered the failures of the Nigerian political experience and postulations on way out. However, Amuta who surmised the experience and trials of Ekpu, Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akirinade of Newswatch fame as a combination of good leadership, professionalism and entrepreneurship also regretted their travails under the military regime which threw them in and out of prisons. Amuta, whose text was delivered by Dan Agbese on account of indisposition bothering on health, took a treatise into the topic anddescribed leadership as “the ability to develop a vision of community and the capacity to translate that vision into beneficial reality in a manner that carries the following along.” According to him, “to envision an alternative higher reality, the leader must have the executive capacity or find those so equipped. To attract and carry the followership, the leader must be enlightened. To translate that vision into reality, the leader must have the executive capacity or find those so equipped. To attract and carry the followership, the leader must possess personal electricity or charisma in the form of oratory, personal carriage, integrity and connectedness to ordinary folks. The people must see aspects of themselves mirrored in the life and story of the leader. “Perhaps at no other time in our national history has the issue of leadership presented itself so boldly in the front yard of national discourse. In spite of elections that fill various levels of public office in the land, our people continue to yearn endlessly for purposeful leadership. It has, therefore, become necessary to make a distinction between power and incumbency and leadership in the nation. There is, as they say, no vacancy in either Aso Rock Villa or the 36 state Government Houses across the land. Whether inspiring leadership is emanating from any of these locations is quite another. “Make no mistake about it. The drama of power incumbency continues to rage all over the land. The sirens blare even louder; pomp and ceremony of public office are in full gear; the perfunctory rituals of government continue unabated. So also is the impunity of power, the arrogance of today’s men and injured ego and deflated importance of yesterday’s people.” Amuta insisted that true leadership must be one that inspires and carry an undivided national along the path of self-realisation ; must be inspirational, innovative and empathic, adding that in words, action and personal conduct, a leader must touch the vital chord that unites the nation without recourse to ethnicity or class. “True national leadership is perhaps best described and understood by what it is not. It is not water boreholes. It is not endless kilometres of roads or even kilowatts of electricity. It is not the meting out of casual cruelty on your perceived opponents or the shutting down of windows of opportunity to all except your friends, loyalists or kinsmen. Nor can we mistake as leadership the subversion of the popular mandate into an instrument for dividing nations along all imaginable lines. If anything, these traits create a hunger for genuine leadership in nations such as ours that are not afflicted,” he said. He submitted that the rhetoric of potential greatness of the country was sounding like a broken record and mouthed by ignorant politicians eager to win elections which deepen
Ekpu
the leadership crises. He further stated that “At 58, Nigeria is neither old nor young. My fear is that it came into existence with all the infirmities of decadent old age. Now in mature middle age, the nation is afflicted by a cocktail of ailments some of which can only be cured by killing the patient hence the loud cries for restructuring or even outright dissolution. “The consequences of past leadership missteps and failures now haunt us all. Our highways are dangerous; our urban streets are dark alleys hiding sinister possibilities as no one knows what lies in wait; the frontiers of freedom have been fenced by a rampaging insurgency while squads of killers sometimes difficult to name have rendered life in our villages even more capricious, brutish and short. “Anation that started out united and hopeful is today torn along all known divides just as the number of optimists has dwindled into miserable insignificance. Our youth walk the streets in quest of nothing in a land full of work but with no opportunities to find work.” He analysed several regimes in Africa and their effects on their people which range from sufferings to tragedies as well as good narratives of those who salvaged theirs from hopelessness to prosperity like Rwanda of which he noted, “Today’s story of phenomenal progress in Rwanda must be understood against the horrid backdrop. National integration has been re-established even though the scars of genocide remain. Rwanda is today prosperous, neat (no plastic bags since 2008) and orderly country. The economy has grown by an average of seven per cent since 2010, lifting millions out of poverty in less than 10 years. Per capita income has more than tripled while Rwanda now ranks above Italy and Greece. It is in the regional top spot in the World Bank’s latest Ease of Doing Business index. So much for strong, purposeful and visionary leadership.” He said the same of Botswana which now ranks highest in diamond production and has through good vision by its leadership, avoided resource curse by improving the lives of its people with the economy and high literacy level in addition to having the lowest corruption indices in Africa. The lecturer blamed the organisers of the January 15, 1966 coup for the leadership crises of the country as he reasoned that they should not have expected them to find bearing within six years after independence, adding, “It remains the height of youthful delinquency and professional rascality that that coup took place.
of statesmen among the leadership. Omatseye described the leadership style of the country as totally imposed and tribally run. Emmanuel Ekeuwem, Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State said the problem with Nigerian leadership was that it ran on a cumulative level of mediocrity whereby the best and the prepared were sidetracked. Attah disagreed with Amuta that there was no quality leadership, insisting that he tried in his time and handed over power seamlessly in a way that engendered development but regretted that the trend was reversing even in Akwa Ibom State where they had achieved a good template, adding, “unless we hand over power through elective process that enables people to choose, leadership will continue to fail.” Onyia submitted that the problem was that democrats were yet to take power in the country as those in charge were largely recruited but not committed democrats. Osoba disagreed with Amuta on banning affidavit bearing politicians from contesting especially based on age declaration, pointing out that for parents not educated enough to keep birth dates, affidavit became inevitable. He, however, blamed Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for the descent into near anarchy of the leadership system, insisting that when he grabbed power from the Action for Democracy governors by crook was when democratic governance and good leadership plummeted. He however assured that with the amendment to the Electoral Act and if signed into law, things would turn for It is an unfortunate precedent which opened an the better in terms of good leadership. unfortunate chapter of leadership disruptions Akinyemi blamed the winner takes it all that have plagued us to this moment. Clearly syndrome for the political hubris in leadership then, our national history has not allowed us to and advocated a middle ground where the winevolve the leadership we need.” ner and loser would agree. On the clamour for He said the time had come for strong institurestructuring, he said it was not going to be easy tions, pointing out that having a happy nation for those holding certain benefits to give them was predicated on getting the leadership that up but that it would be better for them lose some fulfills the aspirations of most Nigerians before advancing four grounds as a possible solution to than lose everything if the country continued the way it was going. He lamented that vote the leadership challenge. counters rather than voters were determining “The use of affidavits and other sworn the winner in elections and wondered why the instruments to prove the age and educational amendment to the Electoral Act that admitted qualifications of seekers of high political office electronic voting was yet to be signed. should be banned by law. Those who cannot Ekpu who watched proceedings with remember when they were born or what schools stoic silence had before delivering his speech, they attended and certificates obtained have no announced that he got a surprise from President business leading anybody. Muhammadu Buhari and read out the birthday “The concept of zoning or rotation on geomessage to the audience. He said it was a political basis of the presidency and other key surprise because he was not expecting him political offices by political parties should be to have remembered his birthday out of his outlawed. It is in conflict with the spirit of the constitution which rejects all forms of discrimina- crowded schedule. Done with the message from the President, tion among Nigerians. If anything, the political the icon said he practiced journalism of facts parties should zone the leadership to merit which can now be found all over the country. We and figures, robust but fair commentary. He need to enthrone political meritocracy now if we advised that “support for or blind opposition to any government is a danger to society. Grovelare to become competitive in the world. “It is time for the National Assembly to review ing sycophants or tyrannical enemies of the government do more harm than good to society and amend the constitutional guarantee of imbecause they mislead and misdirect the governmunity to high political office holders. Equality ment and its peoples. In every government, there before the law is an elementary requirement is almost always a gang of muscular sycophants of all democracy. Apolity that allows an unfit who tell the oga at the top what they think he person to occupy high office cannot also grant them immunity from prosecution. We also must wants to hear, not what he needs to hear. There are several people in the public service who take quickly ensure true equality before the law. unlawful and illegal actions. Their explanation “Leadership requires tutelage. We should resurrect the defunct Centre for Democratic Stud- is always ‘I am taking orders from above’. This is what is called Nuremberg Defence. Nuremberg ies to continuously train and orientate elected Defence does not exculpate anyone from liability public officials on the rudiments of democratic because it is unlawful, if it is illegal, it is illegal.” governance,” he concluded. In what he christened his contribution to the The colloquium was moderated by Agbese subject of discussion, he said he chose it because while Professor Bolaji Akinyemi was Chairman he believed that leadership mattered and made of the occasion. The panel of discussants who all the difference. He recalled the lamentation gave different insights into the problems and of Golda Meir of Israel that of all places on ways out were Ms. Yemi Adamolekun, Debo earth, Moses chose to lead them through a long Adesina and Sam Omatseye while Chief Yemi journey to come to a desert. Ekpu observed Ogunbiyi, Obong Victor Attah, Dubem Onyia and Kingsley Muoghalu all contributed from the that good leadership turned around Israel and today, though surrounded by hostile neighbours floor. While Adamolekun said it was about looking and without natural resources, produced more dead because we did a lot of analysing situations startup companies than Japan, India, Korea, without actually doing enough to change things, Canada and the United Kingdom. Omotosho said leadership style in the country bordered on deceit, a reason little or nothing has changed, adding that there was a dearth Continued online www.thisdaylive.com
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
POLITY
Bodo-Bonny Road: Jumbo Major House Kicks Against Shut-Out Benneth Oghifo
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here is anxiety over execution of the BodoBonny project as Jumbo Major House of Bonny are protesting alleged shut-out by Messrs Julius Berger Construction Company, the contractor handling the project and the Bonny Chiefs Council. The Jumbo Major House accused Julius Berger and Bonny Chiefs Council of shutting the House out in the scheme of things concerning the project that would traverse a vast territory, where greater portion of the area in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, allegedly belongs to them. In a petition by their counsel, K. C. Nwufo, SAN, to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and copied Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), the Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Political Matters and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola and also copied the National Security Adviser, the Director
General Department of State Services (DSS), as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Chairman and members of 17-man Peace Committee on the project, the Federal Controller of Work/Engineers Representative at the Federal Secretarait and Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Port Harcourt/Bodo, the highlighted their grievances. “Following an earlier letter dated 19th April, 2018 to Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Political), directed that Jumbo Major House of Bonny be fully carried along in the project henceforth, as a greater portion of the Bodo-Bonny Road alignment, including the Nunabie Bridge within the Bonny Local Government Area falls within territory. The Presidency also directed that Chief Prof Jasper F. Jumbo,-The Chairman, Legal Trustee and Traditional Head of Jumbo Major House should be consulted on the project, following his input. “A 17-man Peace Committee was set up by the Hon. Minister of Housing, Works and Power, to look into the demands of the Jumbo Major House and others in the three concerned LGAs in Rivers State, to harmonize them for execution of the project. Jumbo Major House Masses are
demanding proper scoping of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), part of the Dredging Sub-contract, Security Arrangement, Community Liaison Officer (CLO), Building of Jumbo Major Community Hall (Opuwan) as fall-outs from the project.” The Jumbo Major House Stakeholders are also demanding to be part of the ongoing chippings sub-contracts, community security arrangement and Bonny Local Government Area Employment Allotment through the Legal Trustee/Representative of the House, Chief Jasper F. Jumbo. The Counsel alleged that over 80% of the sub- contracts were doled out to the other Bonny indigenes, Houses, Communities as well as non- indigenes without relating, consulting with or including the Jumbo Major House comprising of 21 villages and Fishing Ports. The people expressed surprise that for a road project that span over 20kms within the Bonny LGA both the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and Julius Berger are yet to scope out, identify the true land owners though Jumbo Major House had detailed their communities and interest, including Nunabie Community.
Osinbajo
Inlaks Reiterates Commitment to CBN’s Financial Inclusion
Kunle Adewale
I
nlaks, the leading system integrator in SubSaharan Africa, has reiterated the company’s commitment to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial inclusion vision 2020 strategy. The reason for Inlaks’ commitment to the vision according to Mr. Femi Adeoti, Inlaks’ Managing Director is because of the belief in the impact that the
project will make on the Nation’s economy. Adeoti made this promise when he delivered a keynote address at the Nigerian ICT Impact CEO Forum and African Digital Awards in Lagos, where he bagged the ICT Man of the Year award. At the event where Inlaks was named ICT conglomerate of the year, He said the CBN’s approval given to Inlaks to function as a Super-Agent in the nation’s financial services system was also part of the effort to bring financial services closer to the people.
Adeoti, who was represented by the Director of Value Added Services, Oladimeji Talabi Koyejo, said that the organization through the provision of its services to the people is committed to extend the frontiers of CBN’s financial inclusion in Nigeria. “We are committed to the CBN’s financial inclusion agenda most importantly in the areas of poverty reduction, employment generation, wealth creation, improving welfare and general standard of living of Nigerians,” he said.
PHOTO NEWS
L-R: Customer Relations Manager, MTN Nigeria, Bajo Onafuwa; Osun Osogbo Festival Chairman, Otunba Ayo Olumoko; and the Ataoja of Osogboland, HRM Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II, at the 2018 Osun Osogbo Festival stakeholders’ forum, held at Ataoja’s palace... recently
L-R: Winner, Star United We Shine Millionaires Promo, Adegoke Kazeem; and Corporate Communications/Brand Public Relations Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc. Mr, Patrick Olowokere at the Star promo regional presentation in Lagos, yesterday
L-R: Former ICAN president/Senatorial Aspirant Abia Central, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu; Deputy Governorship Candidate of APGA, Mrs. Eme Uche Eme; former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank/APGA, Governorship Candidate, Dr. Alex Otti; his wife, Priscilla Otti; Mr Lewis Ohiri; and Chief Chris Nkwonta, when Abia Professionals, South-east businessmen, technocrats beckon on Dr Alex Otti to re-run for the governorship election in Abia State for APGA, at a meeting held in Lagos, yesterday
L-R: Executive Director, West African Ceramics Ltd., Chief Nick Nzeakor; MD, S. Nnadi Commercial Enterprise Ltd., Prince Sunny Nnadi; Admin Manager, West African Ceramics Ltd, Alh. Bello Abdulrahim; and Chairman of the occasion, Chief Paul Obi, during the inauguration of Royal Exclusive Showroom in Aba... recently
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͒͒˜ ͓͙͑͒
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NEWSXTRA Spate of Boat Mishap, Maritime Deaths Worry FG, Says NIMASA Chairman Senator Iroegbu ÓØ ÌßÔË
DEEPENING ENTERTAINMENT...
L-R: Mr. Peter Okoye of Psquare; CEO Pedini-Bosch Nigeria, Mr. Chiedu Nwokolo; and CEO Zak Designs Nigeria , Mrs. Anita Nwokolo
Close Ranks Ahead of Osun Guber Election, S'West APC Urges Members Ademola Babalola ÓØ ÌËÎËØ The South-west Zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advised its members to close ranks, give room for internal reconciliation mechanisms and work jointly for the success of its gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming Osun State gubernatorial election. A well-attended zonal caucus meeting, chaired by the National Vice Chairman of the party in the Zone, Pastor Bankole Oluwajana, reviewed the affairs of the party in the South-west with particular attention on the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ekiti State and the fast approaching Osun State election. In a press statement signed by the Zonal Secretary, Ayo Afolabi, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY, the party expressed appreciation to its supporters in Ekiti
for trooping out to give her candidate Dr. Kayode Fayemi the victory at the polls. On the fast approaching Osun State governorship election, it said: "As far as the South-west caucus of the APC is concerned, we have a candidate for the election in Osun and we all have to rally round him to win the election. The caucus therefore calls on all party members to close rank to ensure victory at the polls.” The caucus, according to the statement, directed all State Chairmen of the party within the zone to get involved directly in the electioneering process to ensure the party's victory that started in Ekiti, with the recent election of Dr. Kayode Fayemi. “We cannot afford to drop any of our South West States to the opposition” the statement concluded. The caucus therefore called for campaigns
to start earnestly and for all stakeholders throughout the southwest region to be given access to play diverse roles. In particular, the caucus appealed to aggrieved members of the party in Osun State to give room for internal reconciliations in accordance with the party guidelines and ethos. "Continuous efforts should be made to reach out to those who were dissatisfied with the primaries in Osun to retrace their steps, sheath their swords and work for the victory of our candidate, Gbenga Oyetola," the statement said. In addition, the meeting also decided to work to ensure the South-west speaks with one 'political' voice by resolving all internal acrimonies in each of the states within the zone. "Problems in Oyo and some other states were reviewed and the caucus agreed to work with the respective
state chapters to ensure all grievances are addressed and resolved. We recognise the need for regular meetings to resolve the internal issues across the region to ensure we all speak with one voice," the statement added. Lastly, the zonal body said it was ready to work with the National Working Committee of APC to steer the party on the path of progress. It therefore calls for measures to prevent, as much as it is practically possible, further defections from the party. Also present at the meeting were: Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, National Financial Secretary; all the State Chairmen of the party in the Zone, Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye, the Zonal Legal Adviser, Femi Egbedeyi, the Zonal Organising Secretary and Prince Omolaoye, National Ex-Officio member, and Barr. Hon. Wumi Ogunlola among others
'Violators of Executive Order 5 to be Prosecuted' Adedayo Akinwale ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), that the violators of the Presidential Executive Order No.5 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2018, would be prosecuted by the anti-graft agencies in accordance with extant laws. It also said that a presidential monitoring and evaluation council would be constituted and headed by the President in order to monitor the implementation of the executive order. The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the North Central Dialogue on the Presidential Executive Order No.5, for Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigeria Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and
Technology. He said that the Order was not just for engineers but for all professionals and was capable of revolutionalising every sector of the country's economy. The minister stressed that a law would be made to ensure that the country institutionalised all that was contained in the order to ensure that successive administration did not derail from its implementation. The Order stipulates among others that: "The punishment for violation of this Executive Order shall be as stipulated by the Public Service Rules and relevant laws governing procurement practice in Nigeria. "The Executive order shall be read in conjunction with extant laws, regulations and guidelines governing public procurement, prose, implementation and professional practice in Nigeria, as well as those may be issued
pursuant to this Order, "The use of foreign language software for mapping of Nigerian solid minerals and other projects requiring mapping is prohibited, "A Nigerian company or firm shall not be disqualified from an award of contracts by MDAs on the basis of the year of incorporation; but rather, on the basis of qualification , competence and experience in the management and execution of such contracts." On his part, the President, Association of Consulting Engineers, Engr. Charles Akindayomi, said that the executive Order 5 was long awaited and a welcome revolution in the affairs of the country. Akindayomi, who was represented by Mr. Sam Otenaike, noted that before now, Nigeria was an all-comers industryLebanese, Indians, Americans,
saying that all foreigners come in to take all the juicy projects all in the name of lack of expertise in Nigeria. He stressed: "But for how long will that continue, we needed a law or an order to protect the Nigeria in terms of local content. To ensure that we are given some kind of privilege in the execution of contracts that as being sponsored by the monies from the tax payers or the wealth of Nigerians. "That is why I think it is a revolution and it is a welcomed development. We all know the letter of this executive order, but the real spirit is what will drive it in the implementation. My prayers is that all the MDAs will truly catch the spirit of this executive order to ensure that it is properly implemented for the good and benefit of Nigerians and the development of our nation.
The Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Maj-Gen India Garba (rtd), has expressed concern over the current spate of boat mishaps with attendant loss of lives and property across the country. Garba said in a statement yesterday that the ugly incidence tended to happen more often in the rainy season and proposed an active collaboration between NIMASA and other relevant agencies of government including National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to checkmate the tragic incidence. According to him, NIMASA was coming up with innovative measures to reduce boats accidents in the country. “The agency has already set up maritime safety volunteers (search and rescue team), who are to be deployed to jetties to assist in ensuring that safety standards are adhered to by boat operators and to also help in providing relief in times of crisis in the waterways & quote, he said. Garba however insisted that in spite of this intervention, NIMASA could not do it alone, considering the vast number of rivers and waterways that boats traverse in this country, hence the need for collaboration with relevant agencies of government. The NIMASAChairman identified overloading and improper kitting of passengers for water journeys as the main factors responsible for the various boat mishaps in the
country. He disclosed that plans were underway to deploy officials and security agents to various jetties to ensure strict compliance to safety standard of boat operations in our waterways. “In most cases, it is our recklessness and refusal to stick to safety instructions that lead to these mishaps. Jetty operators must comply with safety standards; they must ensure that appropriate number of passengers, are seated in a boat and that they are appropriately kitted with life jackets before embarking on journeys in the waterways. “It is disturbing that these tragedies keep recurring; NIMASA intends to collaborate with relevant agencies in order to reduce and checkmate these ugly incidences across the country,” he stressed, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari was quite saddened at the sequence of these catastrophic accidents that have claimed a number of lives in the recent past. He lamented: In the past one week alone, boat accidents have claimed the lives of 21 passengers in Sokoto State while in Rivers State, a courageous patriot, Mr. Berepele Blankson, lost his life after rescuing 13 out of 14 passengers in a boat accident. Equally horrific was the death of nine Youth Corp members who drowned in a river in Taraba State following boat mishap, few days ago. Garba expressed sadness over the deaths and prayed God to grant the souls of the deceased eternal rest and their family members the fortitude to bear the tragic loss. He assured Nigerians that something was being done to reduce to the barest minimum, the rate of accidents on our waterways.
Kaduna Deputy Speaker, Another Lawmaker Dump APC John Shiklam in Kaduna
The Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, John Audu Kwaturu, representing Kachia and Junaidu Yakubu representing Kudan, have defected from All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Yakubu announced his defection in a letter dated August 7, 2018 and addressed to the APC ward chairman in Hunkuyi Ward, Kudan Local Government Area of Kaduna State. In his letter of withdrawal from the APC, Yakubu said his decision to leave was informed by the fact that the leadership of the party at the state and local government levels had become draconian. "I write to withdraw my membership of the APC with effect from today, August 7, 2018.
This becomes imperative in view of the draconian leadership of the party at state level and the local government level as well. I feel I will not serve the interest of the people in my constituency the said leadership," Yakubu stated in his letter. He added that the decision was taken after consultations with the people in his constituency. The defection of the deputy speaker was however announced in a statement on Friday by the spokesman of the Reformed APC in Kaduna State, Mock Samuel Kure. Kure said Kwataru had tendered his resignation from the APC and moved to the PDP. Sources said six more lawmakers from the house are on their way out of the APC and are expected to make a formal announcement on their defection next week.
WorldBank,KadunaState,Rockefeller Foundation Train 900 on IT Adedayo Akinwale ÓØ ÌßÔË
The World Bank, Kaduna State Government in partnership with Rockefeller Foundation have trained 900 participants in e-lance strategies, platforms and Information Technology skills to bridge the gap of unemployment among the Nigerian youth. The three-day e-lance workshop tagged: 'Click on Kaduna in Partnership with Digital Naija' was targeted at opening up opportunities for the
youth in the Northern Nigeria, to join the virtual economic revolution in the world, and also aimed at tapping into the huge economic and social benefits that lie in a digital economy. Speaking at the event in Abuja, the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoudn pledged that the world bank would support the effort of the Kaduna state government in equipping youth with digital skills to tap from the income generation potential of virtual economy.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 11, 2018
NEWSXTRA
Armed Men Attack Butchers, Kill Police Escort, Others in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Less than 24 hours after dare-devil robbers raided two banks in Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, armed men yesterday attacked the Owan West chapter of Practicing Butchers Association of the state. The attack was said to have
occurred while members of the association were returning from Sabongida-Ora, where they went to inaugurate a new executive of the area. A police officer, identified as Sgt. Jubril and the Vice Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Butchers Union were killed, while some persons abducted by the hoodlums are yet to be rescued.
The dastardly act was said to have been carried out at Okhouiguehianmwen near Obadan community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area the state. It was gathered that the convoy of the state chairman of the association, Comrade Paul Akhere Odijie and his entourage unknowingly ran into some bandits in camouflage who were carrying
out operations on the highway. The source who narrated the ordeal, explained that the suspected criminals were over 20 in number and were armed with sophisticated weapons. On noticing their advancement, the police escort who is now deceased had proactively shot into the air to scare the criminals but was overpowered.
The police escort, attached to the Government House Benin, took to his heels alongside the vice chairman of the state butchers executives, Nath Iyamu into a nearby bush for cover. It was further gathered that the assailants combed the forest where they reportedly hid themselves, discovered and killed them. The criminal operations lasted for over an hour causing heavy gridlock as passengers were seen scampering for safety. Some passengers were also robbed of valuables while
some were taken to unknown destination, according to an eye witness account. However, with swift response and concerted efforts of the Nigeria Police, Uhunmwode Division, some of the fleeing passengers were rescued by the team. A 13-man committee that will oversee the affairs of the state butchers union was inaugurated on Wednesday by Governor Godwin Obaseki to put an end to a protracted crisis that had rocked the union.
Enugu Gov’s Wife Tasks Women on Peace, Devt
COOPERATION ACROSS SERVICES...
L-R: Commander NDLEA, Anambra State, Mr. Sule Momodu and Major-General H. Momoh of the Nigerian Army at Awka during a security related event... recently
Dokubo: FG Trained 20,000 N’Delta Ex-Agitators in 8 Years Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo, yesterday disclosed that the federal government had trained at least 20,000 Niger Delta ex-militants in the last eight years. Dokubo, who spoke when he visited Boro Town, Kaiama, Bayelsa State, to flag-off the empowerment of ex-agitators who had undergone training, noted that he was reviewing the initiative for greater impact on the beneficiaries. He added that though the programme was well thought-out, it had also created the fresh problem of youths who had gone through training, but remained unemployed. According to him, to mitigate the
danger of the likely effect of training without employment, the federal government decided to embark on several phases of empowerment, including the one that held yesterday. "Today, we are here to empower several already-trained ex-agitators enrolled in the presidential amnesty programme to become self-employed and become possibly employers of labour. "The amnesty office has in the last eight years trained 20,000 Niger Delta youths in different skills and vocations, but many of them remain unemployed. "To achieve lasting peace in the region, all hands must be on deck to provide employment and empowerment opportunities for our youths across the Niger Delta that are not covered by the programme, but need training and employment", he said.
Dokubo explained that the Niger Delta was now relatively safe, peaceful and ripe to attract investors, and used the occasion to call on investors to not only invest in the oil and gas sector but also in agro- allied businesses in the region. He added: "Under President Muhammadu Buhari, the government has made the region conducive for investment. However, we have also realised that it is dangerous to train persons and then leave them idle. The provision of jobs for the youths of Niger Delta must be a collective effort by all stakeholders. "Nigeria has the potential to become a great and cohesive nation and even a greater economy to match and surpass that of India and Brazil. Oil revenue should be used to diversify the economy which has been too dependent on oil and gas and create
job opportunities for its large population which is predominantly youth." He also urged the youths of the region to sustain the current peace in the area, noting that the federal government was working very hard to keep them busy and happy. In his comments, Head of Integration in the Amnesty Office, Aroloyeteim Ibisime, said that about 30,000 had enjoyed different levels of reintegration into civil society since the programme commenced. "A lot is being done and we have a responsibility to deepen peace in the region for these programmes to manifest. The emergence of modular refineries, takeoff of the Maritime University, Ogoni cleanup and several others are as a result of the new vision which the present government is driving to ensure that the region is developed", he said.
Rotary Club Installs Third Female President Vanessa Obioha
A quantity surveyor and interior designer, Bisi Taiwo, has been installed as the third female president and 33rd President of the Rotary Club of Akowonjo. She took the reins from Valentine Shomoye, whose tenure expired two months ago. "It is indeed a privileged time for me to be the President of this noble Club, a Club full of great and rich history. Thirty-three years ago, some service minded friends came together to lay the foundation of this Club. I would not be standing in this position today to address you as the 33rd President of the
Rotary Club of Akowonjo but for their passion, commitment and foresightedness," she said. Until her appointment, Taiwo who joined the club in 2000, has served as the Membership Chair and member of some committees. She is also the brain behind the first Rotary Fellowship Group that was conceptualised and started in Nigeria, International Fellowship of Draughts Playing Rotarians. Like her female predecessors, Pauline Okonji (2006 - 2007) and Celine China Oparah (2010 - 2011), Taiwo is determined to make an indelible mark in the club. Aligning her mission with that of the Club's,
she rolled out the six focus areas her administration will work on. They include basic education and literacy; disease prevention and treatment; peace and conflict resolution; water and sanitation; maternal and child health; and economic and community development. Her humanitarian projects for the year 2018-2019 include completion of the ICT project at Rauf Abati/Aregbesola Primary Schools Shahsha, provision of borehole to Akowonjo community, youth empowerment scheme, free medical outreach programme, donation of food items and clothing to IDPs camps, among others.
"Rotary is the oldest service club in the world and its objectives remain the same since it was started 113 years ago. They are to develop acquaintance among each other, promote vocational excellence, using Rotarians occupation as an opportunity to serve society and promote international understanding," she stated. The event also marked the induction of the new board of directors. Present at the ceremony were the wife of the late first chartered president of the club, Martin's Ilotoi and Bola Adeboye who chaired the occasion.
The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi has enjoined the women of the state to take advantage of this year’s August meeting to rededicate themselves to God and rejuvenate their noble responsibilities as agents of peace and social development. Mrs. Ugwuanyi urged the women to also use the period to take stock of their private and public engagements and consequently plan for the future in order to enhance their commitment towards the promotion of the core values of love, tolerance, peace and national integration and development. The governor’s wife, who gave the advice during the state flag off of the 2018 August meeting at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, emphasised the need for the women to continue to embrace peace and focus on issues that would bring immense benefit to the growth of the society as well as the upbringing of their children and wards as future leaders. “Let us pay much attention to our children. Let us try to be loving, quiet and caring mothers that we are known for by taking proper care of our families”, she advised. Meanwhile, the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu, Alumni International, yesterday, commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s ongoing giant development stride in the state, describing it as “unprecedented in the history of Enugu State.” The President of the association, Mr. Emman Den Chukwu, who made the commendation when he led some of the members to the Government House, Enugu on a courtesy visit to the governor, represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, said that they were highly impressed with the massive infrastructural transformation that is going on in the state, especially in the rural communities in spite of the nation’s economic challenges. Chukwu said: “When I arrived Enugu from United States of America, I could not recognise the city, the whole place has changed dramatically, even federal roads in the city are wearing a new look. Also in the rural areas, the story is the same as roads are springing up in all the nooks and crannies while many of them have been completed. The governor is doing marvelously well. “I was told that His Excellency extended his magnanimity to the civil servants, by paying them promptly. I even discussed with some traders after observing the whole scenario, they reliably
informed me that the governor is currently empowering the traders through raffle draw. I am saying that in no distant time, Enugu can be compared with what we see in the United States”. Also speaking at the event, another member of the delegation, Prince Nonso Onochie, ascribed the prevailing peace in the state to the governor’s humble disposition, ingenuity in human management and firm commitment to security of lives and property of the people. “What attracts people to a place is security, when I came to Enugu, I discovered that there is adequate security, people move out any time of the day and night without molestation. Even on my way to Anambra, I did not encounter any security threat unlike what we witnessed previously where people found it risky to visit home because of security lapses. I mean, Gburugburu (Ugwuanyi) is doing well,” he declared. Responding, Governor Ugwuanyi reiterated his administration’s readiness towards partnering interested individuals and groups in the development of the state.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS RUTH YOUNG, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ORIOYE RUTH BOLAJI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as OYEBISI JIMOH, now wish to be known and addressed as BAKARE JIMOH OYEBISI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly Known and addressed as MRS PET CHIOMA CHRIST-EGBO now wish to be known and addressed as MISS PET CHIOMA CHRIST. All former documents remins valid. The general public should take note.
I formerly known and addressed as OGASA BENEDIT UMOREN, now wish to be known and addressed as PAULINUS BENEDIT UMOREN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take Note. I formerly known and addressed as IBIANG BASSEY JACOB, now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL BASSEY JACOB I. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take Note.
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AUGUST 11, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
SPORTSXTRA
Klopp condemns Ramos' tackle on Mo Salah
Jan Ullrich
Klopp in Fresh Attack on Ramos' 'Win at All Cost' Attitude
Characterised for his live and let live approach to things, Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp found himself churning over the details of last year's Champions League final once again. Specifically, the German has been reflecting on Mohamed Salah, Sergio Ramos and a collision that altered that illustrious tie. With the new season almost upon us, Liverpool have enjoyed what appears to be a highly-productive transfer window. Given that Klopp was capable of guiding last year's team to the lofty heights of that showpiece game with
Real Madrid in Kiev, many fans will be wondering what further advancements can be made this time out. Speaking to Sport1, Klopp reiterated his desire "to become a Champions League winner." However, directing attention back toward what he perceives as the nefarious fouling of Ramos, the German remains certain that he is not interested in winning "by any means." While opinion is divided regarding Ramos' involvement in the collision with Salah, and how deliberate his actions were, Jurgen Klopp
is somewhat more certain regarding what he witnessed, and the convenience of such a development for Real Madrid's hopes. “I do not expect that from Ramos, I only expect that he gives more thought to his assessment of certain situations. It may have been a coincidence, but Mo Salah was taken out of the game during an outstanding phase of his footballing life, in the middle of the field.” Skeptical of those willing to embrace the excuse that "these things happen," Klopp criticised the Spanish defender
for what ultimately amounts to setting a poor example for children watching these highprofile games. "But if that is the message we are sending to our children, that nothing is out of bounds and it’s all about winning, then I will be glad to leave this planet in 40 years." Citing Ramos' clear dive in the previous year's final that had seen Juventus' Juan Cuadrado sent-off as reason enough for Liverpool to have prepared for his influence in 2017, Klopp believes such actions take away from what was a deserving Real Madrid side.
Former Tour de France Winner Arrested over Attack on Sex Worker German police have detained former cyclist and Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich for allegedly attacking and injuring a sex worker in a Frankfurt luxury hotel, a police spokeswoman said. Ullrich was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when police detained him on suspicion of assault causing
grievous bodily harm, the spokeswoman said. Ullrich (44) and the woman had an argument in the Villa Kennedy Hotel in the early hours of Fridaymorning, the spokeswoman said. The woman was still being questioned by police and the investigation was ongoing. Ullrich had told German
Bild newspaper in an interview earlier this week that he had marriage problems and was emotionally distressed after his wife had decided to separate from him. He had not seen his three sons since Easter. “I’ve done and taken things that I very much regret,” Ullrich told Bild,
adding: “Out of love for my children, I’m doing therapy now.” The 1997 Tour de France winner had just flown to Frankfurt from his home in Mallorca, where he had been involved in an altercation in the garden of his neighbour, German action film star Til Schweiger, last weekend.
Nigeria Heart Foundation Charity Golf Tourney Gets September 1 Date
This year’s Nigeria Heart Foundation annual charity golf tournament, which is the 20th edition will kick-off on September 1 at the Port Harcourt Golf course. At a press conference held at the Nigeria Heart Foundation headquarters in Ikoyi on Thursday to herald the start of the tourney, the executive director of the foundation, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, said the foundation has in past organised charity golf tourna-
ments in Abuja, Lagos, Jos, Ibadan, Kano, Ada in Osun State and other golf courses around the country to encourage participation in lifestyle activities which is beneficial to the development of healthy hearts as well as development of cardiovascular disease. According to him, “we are expecting about a hundred professionals and amateur golfers from all around the country to participate at the event and the foundation in
its bid to reduce and prevent cardiovascular-related diseases in our population and plans to raise one hundred million from the tournament.” In his remarks, the director general, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, represented by Isichei Osamgbi, said NIMASA is partnering NFF as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility focus. “We are delighted to be working with the foundation
in its drive towards raising awareness on heart-related diseases as it affects all gender, ages and cut across all socioeconomic and geographical lines,” Peterside said. Meanwhile, the Captain of the Port Harcourt Golf Course, Chris Allagoa expressed his delight at partnering with the NHF, saying the tournament would create awareness and Nigerians would be the biggest beneficiaries.
PGA Championship Opens
Woods in Early Struggle Tiger Woods stumbled badly at the start while Rory McIlroy opened bogey-birdie in Thursday’s first round of the 100th PGA Championship, the superstar pairing struggling early in the year’s final major showdown. McIlroy, Woods and defending champion Justin Thomas began off the 10th tee at Bellerive Country Club with thousands of spectators lining the fairway, standing 10 deep in spots just to catch a glimpse of the master shotmakers. Woods, making a comeback after spinal fusion surgery, punched out of the right rough, reached the edge of the green in three and sank a nervy five-foot putt for bogey. The 14-time major champion found water with his second shot and made a double-bogey six at 11 while McIlroy and Thomas, who opened with a par, birdied, the Northern Irishman sinking an eight-footer to reach level par. Woods briefly led in the final round of last month’s British Open, but he hasn’t won a major since the 2008 US Open or any title since 2013. Four-time major champion McIlroy, whose last major triumph came in 2014, dropped his approach on his opening hole inches from the cup but it bounded into a bunker and he missed a par putt. Topping the early leaderboard was England’s Ian Poulter with three birdies on his first six holes on the back nine, with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk on two-under-par over the 7,316-yard, par-70 layout. Many players teed off with a heavy heart after Wednesday’s death of Australian Jarrod Lyle, a former tour player who lost his battle with leukemia at age 36. “The courage shown through his battle is an inspiration to all of us. He made the world a better place. RIP mate,” McIlroy tweeted. Second-ranked Thomas, who opened with a par, comes off a victory at last week’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational. He could become the first player since McIlroy in 2014 to make the PGA his second win in back-to-back weeks and join Woods as the only men since 1937 to win consecutive PGAs.
FIFA Bans Kalusha Bwalya
Zambia’s former African Footballer of the Year, Kalusha Bwalya, has been banned from the game for two years by world governing body FIFA after an investigation into his links to banned Qatari official Mohammed Bin Hammam. The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee on Friday said that they had banned Bwalya, a member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football, for two years from all football-related activities. FIFA said in a statement that they had been investigating the 54-year-old Bwalya since February 2017 . “Focused principally on the benefits that Bwalya had received from Mr. Bin Hammam. “The adjudicatory chamber found Bwalya guilty of having violated Article 16 (Confidentiality) and Article 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) of the FIFA Code of Ethics. “A fine in the amount of CHF 100,000 ($100,573.2) was also imposed on Bwalya.” Bwalya, was voted African Player of the Year in 1988 and later went on to be coach of the Zambia national team and president of the Zambian Football Association. He was not immediately reachable for comment. Bin Hammam was banned for life from football by FIFA in 2011 for his part in a cash-for-votes scandal. The Qatari has denied any wrongdoing.
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HURIWA to APC Senators “Any attempt outside rule 12 granting powers to reconvene from recess of the National Assembly in the hands of the presiding officers would amount to high treason which has the potential of destabilising civil rule.” – Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), warning APC senators against lawlessness.
PENDULUM DELE MOMODU
dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com
Why Nations Fail, The Sad Story of Nigeria
F
ellow Nigerians, our dear beloved country is at some dangerous crossroads again. Those who know how to pray should offer supplications to God urgently because, our stubbornly arrogant, and sometimes impetuous, politicians are about to set Nigeria ablaze, igniting a possible conflagration the type of which we have not seen in a long time. For anyone following my column, I have pleaded endlessly for decorum, tolerance, patience and simple common sense at all levels and tiers of government. Somehow, my strident appeals have largely gone unheeded. It is obvious that some powerful forces are hell-bent on having their way by fire, by force, whether they be right or wrong! It is sad that many of our leaders on both sides of the fence have not learnt any useful lessons from even our contemporary history. Let me break it down to brass tacks. The current imbroglio is as a result of what started in 2015, when Senator Bukola Saraki seemingly outsmarted members of his party, APC, and combined with members of the opposition party, PDP, to fulfil his burning ambition to become the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Depending on which side of the political divide you belong, members of APC felt totally cheated and accused Saraki of the worst treachery possible, moreso, when, a member of the opposition, Ike Ekweremadu of PDP, emerged Deputy Senate President. In case you have forgotten how it all happened, please permit me to refresh your memory. On D-Day, members of APC had gathered somewhere else, the International Conference Centre in Abuja, it was said, to deliberate, and strategise, on candidates to back for various offices of the National Assembly, especially that of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. Obviously clever about how politics works and the various deals that they had sealed with other members of the respective Houses of the National Assembly, Saraki and Yakubu Dogara did not join their party caucus at the meeting because of the realisation that they were not being considered at all, despite the great work they and others did in support of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired) becoming President. In the end, they both prevailed comfortably in attaining the positions that they sought in the National legislature to the chagrin of their party caucus and party leaders. There is still argument and debate as to the role of different APC party leaders, including the President (who neither said yes nor no explicitly when Saraki mentioned his interest in Senate Presidency to him), in the emergence of the two men as Senate President and Speaker respectively. What is clear is that there was omission and commission, complicity and aloofness, even maybe indifference in some quarters about the Principal officers of the Senate once the Holy Grail of the Presidency had been secured. I will not belabour you with what I saw as an active participant and eye-witness except to say that all parties played for high stakes and in the end some people won and some lost. However, I must re-emphasise what I said, on this page and in a Vanguard interview at the time, that the APC apparatchik should count their losses, move on and allow peace to reign. In a game, only one team can win, fair or foul. The reluctance, nay, stoic resistance, of APC to let this matter pass, as I recommended, is
Buhari
now likely to be the albatross of the party. If care is not taken, and APC continues to insist, as they are doing, and have done, for over three wasteful years, that they must enforce regime change at the National Assembly, barely months to critical State and national general elections, the party may be heading towards Golgotha or Waterloo. I will like to make this special appeal to my big Brother and former Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, please, stop the grandstanding, embrace peace and the rule of Law and focus on the long game rather than the short play. You cannot achieve your desire by compulsion or coercion in a democratic political terrain. There is always give and take in all situations. The people you are dealing with are not mere school kids while you are the headmaster. In the case of Saraki, it is obvious that you can only constitutionally remove him very easily if you have 73 Senators on your side. Nothing short of that number will do. Anything else is a pipe-dream and I do not see you a dreamer, let alone an unrepentant fantasist or somnambulist! Indeed, if you can land a big fish like Akpabio into your net, it shouldn’t be too difficult to ensnare more Senators. It is easier to use EFCC than to use DSS or the police. EFCC seemingly remains the only striker in this big league. If that fails, I will recommend a title of a James Hadley Chase novel, ‘The Whiff of Money’. Some millions of crispy million dollars can perform the magic for you and your party. What have we not seen before in Nigeria? However, you should also note that it is impossible, or unlikely, for politicians to visit the washroom and not leave some tell-tale signs behind. Only pursue this agenda, I have described above, if that is the way you now envision the Nigeria of your dreams. But remember the integrity and incorruptibility of the President and Vice-President, Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo, that you have been selected to sell when you decide your options. I will suggest that to attempt another round of trying to impeach anyone with less than the number of Constitutionally recommended votes is to bring the roof crashing down. It should be obvious by now that Nigerian Democracy has advanced beyond where it was years ago when Governors could be impeached inside hotel rooms by fewer than the constitutionally required number. Those days are gone and whosoever wants to return us to those inglorious days should have a rethink.
We have our noble judiciary to thank for this because they have stood firm and resolute in the face of intimidation, coercion and even blackmail. Our judiciary is the first to recognise that a few bad eggs lurk within their midst, but they have always found ways of purging themselves and forging ahead. Their defense of our national interest, in the light of some of the determined onslaught they face, is to be commended. This is particularly because their hallowed status sometimes makes it impossible for them to embark on their own defence in the same manner as their traducers have sought to cast them with infamy and shame. I have no doubt that the present members of the National Assembly are unyielding and ready to do whatever it takes to defend themselves against external and internal aggressors. To date there has been a distinct united front presented by the legislators, save for a few errant members who appear to be pursuing selfish or extraneous interests, which is to be applauded. No one has said that Saraki, who is the prime target of APC, cannot be removed. All that is being said is that it should be done without all this drama and fuss, and it should be done in line with the Constitution. This charade that we are witnessing has ceased to become tedious but is now sorely irritating because there are a lot more fundamental issues to contend with in the polity than the issue of who is Senate President or Speaker or which party they belong. Even Saraki himself has said publicly that he would bow out gracefully the day two-thirds of his colleagues tell him to go home. That should be a sweet challenge and revenge to APC that wields the power of life and death today. As I have pointed out the party can choose the corrupt way, abusing the several executive offices at its command to achieve this end or they may choose the part of honour and try moral suasion and gentle persuasion. After the disgraceful invasion of the National Assembly by the DSS last Tuesday, I became assured that APC had reached a dead-end and there was no more card to play. The spurious position of government apologists that Saraki had the head of the Department of State Security, Lawal Daura, in his pocket is too strange, beggars belief and is unbelievably difficult to comprehend or accept. In fact, that line of thought stands logic on its head. The contention that only PDP members were present at the National Assembly and that no APC member was around is not exactly correct. At least, I saw one, my dear friend, Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who was booed by those sympathetic to Saraki and Dogara. The truth is many journalists were already informed the night before that an attempt would be made to impeach some key members of the National Assembly. It was said that APC members would rush in early in the morning and finish the job pronto. But as always, Saraki, the “Illuminati”, as some guy described him on social media, was ahead of the game. He amassed his team-mates ready to resist and repel any such attempt. If journalists were aware, it is only natural that the legislators directly affected would also be aware. There was nothing sinister in their being present in great numbers. Indeed, this is what makes it plain that APC members were also privy to this invasion and that some of their leaders were probably involved in orchestrating it because
they would also have heard about it one way or the other. If they thought it was an attempt by some Senators to impeach the President as is being touted or create some drama as others allege, surely they would have turned up to give a lie to all this scheming and prevent it from being a success. As to why APC members were not around, the answer is easy. APC members were meeting at a different location and probably working on getting sufficient numbers to impeach those they wanted to drive out of the National Assembly leadership. I watched on television as Senator Ben Murray-Bruce was visibly angry that they were not allowed to enter their offices and was rhapsodising and threatening the wrath of international super powers on those antidemocratic forces plotting to endanger democracy in Nigeria. I also watched the suicidal drama of Hon. Boma Goodhead, of the Federal House of Representatives as she barked orders at a fully-hooded, gun-toting secret agent, asking that she be allowed to go to her office or be shot. She is a member of PDP. Why would she take such a kamikaze risk if the security guys were around to facilitate their entry? The DSS scandal backfired big time and even those opposed to Saraki felt scandalised by the development. “Why resort to self-help?” everyone wondered. There is another serious and potentially more damaging angle to the suggestion Saraki pocketed the DSS and arranged for this invidious debacle. How did our intelligence community and security services not cotton onto what was happening, and prevent it, so that the country would not be a laughing-stock? The troop movement which the invasion entailed could well have heralded a coup, where were the rest of our security services? This leaves a lot to ponder upon. One wonders how many were complicit and whether Daura has not simply become the proverbial fall-guy and scapegoat? The Daura that I interacted with at the Institute of Security Studies, Bwalri, Abuja, last year did not look like someone who would sell his supposed godfather, President Buhari, out. What seems plain to me is that there is a rogue element (call it the cabal, if you wish) within the present government, which does not feel that it is beholden to any constituted authority or that it needs to consult much less seek the approval of Presidency before it embarks on dastardly raids and incursions like this. Having seemingly succeeded with the invasion of Judges homes, this group felt emboldened enough to go as far as openly breaching the National Assembly and everything it stands for in this democratic dispensation. I don’t think Nigerians would worry about who the National Assembly removes or decides to replace but it must be done according to the rule of Law. If the masses don’t know better, I can understand. However, the insults heaped on Saraki, the number three citizen of Nigeria, yesterday, by the national Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomole, was totally uncalled for and unbecoming. It was too personal and demeaning. It can only harden the Saraki camp to fight all the way. Who knows tomorrow? Power is very transient. All these guys were friends, once upon a time. NOTE: Read full article online
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