SATURDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018

APC Reverses Self, Orders Direct Primaries for All Elective Offices

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Contrary to its earlier stand on procedure for primaries, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it would now apply direct mode of primary for all the elective offices in the 2019 general election.

The new position by the party contradicts what was announced on Thursday by the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello shortly after its NEC meeting in Abuja.

The governors had said the presidential primary would

direct, while the primaries of all other positions could be conducted either through direct or indirect method.

In what the party said was an updated version of the yesterday's decision reached at NEC meeting, the party said "primary elections into

all elective offices shall be by direct primaries".

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabene, APC said resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) on the mode of Primary Election had

been subject to inferences and misleading interpretations.

The statement said: "As an update to the earlier released statement, we wish to make the following clarifications on NEC’s resolutions on Mode of Primary Election: "Primary elections into all

elective offices shall be by Direct Primaries.

"NEC resolved to adopt direct primaries for the nomination of the Presidential candidate and all other primaries."

Continued on page 6

Your Allegations Incorrect, Stanbic IBTC Tells CBN… Page 6 Saturday 1 September, 2018 Vol 23. No 8536

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Atiku Weeps for Nigeria as He Receives Presidential Nomination Form… Page 8

I Will Always Respect Rule of Law, Buhari Promises Merkel

Pleads for more German investors Merkel pledges to improve joint business relations

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration would always uphold the sanctity of the law in governing Nigeria.

Buhari, who made the pledge yesterday, during a bilateral meeting he had with visiting German Chancellor, Angel Merkel, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja,

also said all agreements signed at the meeting would be fully respected.

President Buhari's pledge was coming barely six days after he declared at the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Abuja that “the rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and Continued on page 6

...NBA to President: Rule of Law Central to Democracy Alex Enumah in Abuja The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday condemned President Muhammadu Buhari's statement on the rule of law, stating that the the rule of law is central to a democracy and “any national security concerns by the government must be managed within the perimeters and parameters of the rule

of law.”

Also, the NBA has expressed concern over Buhari’s refusal to assent to the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), describing the action as a major setback in the efforts to sanitise the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Buhari had while declaring open the 58 Annual General Continued on page 6

Tinubu: Power Not Served a La Carte... Page 16

CHANCELLOR MERKEL IN THE HOUSE...

President Muhammadu Buhari with the visiting German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday

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Your Allegations Incorrect, Stanbic IBTC Tells CBN Says no basis for N2.4bn fine imposed on the bank Obinna Chima Following fines totaling N5.87 billion which the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) imposed on four commercial banks over alleged illegal repatriation, one of the affected banks, Stanbic IBTC Bank, has officially responded to the central bank saying the conclusion reached by the regulator on the allegations were based on “factually incorrect premises.�

Stanbic IBTC made the assertion in a letter dated August 30th, 2018, that was signed by its Chief Executive, Demola Sogunle and addressed the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY last night.

Going into a point-by-point rebuttal, the letter from the bank examined different allegations contained in the CBN letter.

Regarding the claim that the shareholders of MTN Nigeria invested the sum of $402,590,261.03 in the company

from 2001 to 2006, the bank stated: “It is pertinent to state that the 20 Certificates of Capital Importation (CCIs) transferred to our bank by Standard Chartered Bank and which were in the above quoted sum, were re-issued from existing CCIs that had been issued by Standard Chartered Bank to the original investors in MTN Nigeria. “These CCIs were transferred to our bank to facilitate the repatriation of the proceeds of MTN’s private placement, which took place in February 2008.�

The bank added that the repatriations effected in this case “were related to the sale of Linked Units (comprising ordinary shares and preference shares) by existing shareholders of MTN as well as dividends validly declared and paid

by MTN,� and that the “repatriations were effected on the basis of the CCIs transferred to it by Standard Chartered Bank, which indicated they had been issued in respect of

investments in such ordinary and preference shares.�

In addition, while responding to the central bank’s allegation that Stanbic IBTC Bank issued eight CCIs of $58,359,616.67 in respect of foreign exchange sourced locally as shareholders loan, which contravened the requirement of section 15 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 and Memorandum 20(1.3) (III) of the Foreign Exchange Manual, which stipulate that CCIs should be issued on capital imported, Stanbic IBTC said it was not aware “at the relevant time that the affected investors in the MTN Private Placement had obtained foreign exchange loans from local banks for the purpose of their investments,� adding that in any case, it was not mandated by law to investigate whether an invested fund is borrowed or not but rather was obliged to ascertain that an investor had transferred the necessary funds to the stipulated accounts.

On the allegation of issuance of CCIs outside the stipulated time of 24 hours in contravention of Paragraph 4.1.1 (IV) of the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy Guidelines for Fiscal Years 2012 to 2013, Stanbic IBTC stated that it “acted in line with all known rules.�

It also debunked the allegation that it deliberately “failed to issue a letter of indemnity to the CBN against double remittance in respect of 20 CCIs transferred by Standard Chartered Bank as required by law.

According to Stanbic IBTC Bank, the delay was caused

by Standard Chartered Bank’s “delay in issuing it the required indemnities� as specified by regulation.

On the allegation by the CBN that on account of the illegal conversion of the shareholders loan to preference shares (interest free loan) of $399,594,146.00, the sum of $8,134,312,397.63 was illegally repatriated by Stanbic IBTC

Bank and other banks on behalf of MTN Nigeria between 2007 and 2015, Stanbic IBTC also denied it stating that it was “not involved in the conversion of the shareholders loans, nor did it carry out any amendments to the CCIs issued in respect of such loans to accommodate these conversions.�

In its conclusion, the bank stated: “The CBN may recall that it had previously issued a letter in relation to the transactions specified in your letter communicating its findings based on the special examination carried out in March 2018. “Stanbic IBTC Bank had also provided a detailed response to all the issues raised in the special examination report. Our understanding was that, most of the findings made during the special examination, related to issues that were purely administrative in nature. “No wrongdoing was ascertained on our part, and we complied with the extant regulations in our dealings.

“It is our humble submission that the CBN re-evaluates the facts and come to conclusion that there was no basis for the huge fines imposed on Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc; as well rescind the directive to refund sums of money duly repatriated to foreign direct investors over a period exceeding 13 years.�

The bank had, in a letter dated 30 August 2018 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, pledged to hold “further engagements with the CBN, in relation to the issues it has raised,� while reassuring customers that the matter would not affect their ability to continue to conduct various business and corporate transactions with Stanbic IBTC Holdings or any of its subsidiaries, including the Bank.

Meanwhile, CBN sources yesterday disclosed that the banks as well as MTN have started engaging key CBN officials, especially the CBN Governor, with a view to resolving the matter.

for support for indigenous petroleum producers who must be encouraged to meet with local consumption especially in an era where gas required for the power sector is still being flared.

It also recommended that the local content policy in the petroleum industry should be used for supporting these indigenous petroleum producers to ease their financing needs.

While the Conference called for a budgetary arrangement that would allow for funds to be directly allocated to the judiciary at both federal and state levels to enhance the independence of the judiciary, the NBA, welcomed the ongoing reforms in the Justice Sector, which it believed will improve access to justice by the citizenry.

In recognition of the role character plays in the building

of strong institutions, the NBA urged government and civil society to invest in the rebirth, through ethical, moral and value reorientation, of a new type of citizen.

"Conference calls for the institutionalisation of higher standards for transformational leadership and in this regard; calls for new laws to set higher standards of academic qualifications for political office holders in Nigeria.�

The NBA further urged the government and the political class to ensure that the 2019 general elections are not only free and fair but devoid of violence.

On the war against corruption, the NBA reiterated its support for the war against corruption, but stated that "the war must be across board and not be selective".

Meanwhile, shortly after reading the communiquĂŠ as

well as his valedictory speech, Mahmoud administered the oath of office on his successor, Paul Usoro SAN as the 29th President of the NBA. Usoro, defeated two other aspirants at the recent NBA elections to emerge President.

The new NBA President however promised to work with all including those who lost to him, nothing that his victory at the polls was that of the entire bar.

He also vowed to embark on various reforms including electoral and constitutional that would reposition the bar to function optimally.

Usoro also promised to work hard to correct the misconception about judges and lawyers in the fight against corruption, warning that the NBA would henceforth not take lightly the issue of assault and battery particularly against lawyers by security agents.

adopted mode shall now be applied to all categories of the party’s primary elections such as the State Assembly, Senate, House of Representatives and for the Governorship Elections.

According to APC, the request for indirect primaries

must be signed by majority of the State Executive Committee and critical stakeholders in attendance at the meeting where such resolution is reached.

"Direct primaries will among others ensure fairness;

create a level playing ground for contestants; eliminate corrupt tendencies usually associated with the delegates system and ultimately ensure full participation of party members at all levels," said the party.

Merkel was also quoted as saying that the three memoranda of understanding signed during the visit marked a starting point for a healthier and deeper partnership between Germany and Nigeria in areas of security, trade, immigration and education.

"The federal government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Volkswagen of South Africa for the manufacturing of Volkswagen vehicles in Nigeria, while Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Petkus Technologies GMBH for the supply of seed and grain processing machines.

"The Nigerian Association

of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German African Business Association on fostering trade and investment," the statement added.

during a joint press briefing he addressed Merkel.

According to the president, Nigeria does not support any form of illegality and indiscipline from its citizens and hence, dissociates itself from any illegal migration through the Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

He said any Nigerian who is dissatisfied with the situation in the country and opts to seek greener pasture abroad through illegal movement, puts his/her life in jeopardy.

However, he said as done earlier, any citizen who gets stuck in Libya or anywhere in the world in the course of illegal migration would be brought back to the country by the government and sent to his/her local government.

NBA TO PRESIDENT: RULE OF LAW CENTRAL TO DEMOCRACY Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sunday in Abuja, posited that, "the rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest."The president had also insisted that, "where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society".

But the NBA in a communiquĂŠ read by its immediate past President, Abubakar Mahmoud, said the conference was in total disagreement with Buhari on his position on the rule of law.

Mahmoud said: "The Conference completely rejects the presidential statement subordinating the rule of law to national security.�

The NBA also expressed its disapproval of a lot of issues in the polity including disobedience to court orders and the new Executive Order by the Buhari administration.

Mahmoud added: "Conference frowns on the present growing trend whereby government decides on which court orders to obey. The court has exclusive duty under a democratic dispensation to interpret the Constitution and other laws, and government and the citizenry must comply with court orders at all times until set aside.

"Conference emphatically objects to the issuance of Executive Orders in respect to matters already in court and observes that any such order is a breach of the principle of separation of powers; and counsels that Executive Orders be issued for good governance and to manage

operations of government, and not to encroach or usurp upon the constitutional powers of other arms of government, lest Executive Orders become attempts at decree-making".

The Conference also condemned the rejection of the PIGB by the federal government and called for an urgent review of the decision. It pointed out that the president’s refusal to assent to the bill after nearly two decades its consideration was a major setback in the efforts to sanitise the oil and gas industry.

It added: "In this regard, the Conference particularly recommends clear regulatory policies, enforced by a single holistic regulator, to increase our refining capacity and adopt global best practices as a means of attracting investment to this industry.�

The Conference also called

APC REVERSES SELF, ORDERS DIRECT PRIMARIES FOR ALL ELECTIVE OFFICES It further explained that though the party’s constitution provides for indirect election and consensus, however, "the use of indirect primaries is conditional and dependent on logistic impediments; peculiarities and need of

a given state that makes it unable to use direct primaries".

As part of the conditions to be met in the case indirect primary, the statement said that State Executive Committee (SEC) would in consultation with aspirants

and other critical stakeholders of the party in a given state forward for the consideration and approval by the National Working Committee (NWC), if indirect primary was to be adopted.

It further said that the

I WILL ALWAYS RESPECT RULE OF LAW, BUHARI PROMISES MERKEL national interest�.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, quoted the president as saying that unity and harmony in every society could only be preserved by observing the rule of law, and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith are implemented for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Buhari, the statement added, also told the German Chancellor and members of her delegation that the rule of law embodied all the rightful mechanisms for conflict resolution, both within the country, and in dealing with all foreign partners.

According to the statement, Buhari also told his guests that his administration remains

focused on delivering a peaceful, economically viable and politically stable polity to all Nigerians..

The statement added: "The President said his administration instituted reforms in the economy to make it more internationally attractive and business friendly for investors, noting that infrastructure development had been a priority, especially in power supply, road and rail constructions.

"President Buhari said the economy was already responding to the diversification reforms and the stimulus of the government as growth is now largely driven by the non-oil sector.

"The President said Nigeria was politically stable and urged German investors to take advantage of the friendly

climate.�

President Buhari also noted that the successful political transitions since 1999 were clear indications of the country’s stability and preparedness to welcome more investments that will bolster the economy."

The statement further added that Merkel, in her remarks, said Germany was prepared to further strengthen bilateral and business relations with Nigeria, which, according to her, controls 60 per cent of ECOWAS economy.

The German Chancellor was also said to have observed that the population growth and opportunities in the economy could always be explored to improve employment situation in the country.

Buhari Warns against Illegal Migration to Europe Also yesterday, Buhari warned Nigerians to desist from illegal migration to Europe through the deadly Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea, emphasising that those who do it, do so at their own risk.

He gave this warning while answering a question on what Nigeria was doing to stop illegal immigration to Europe

T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

Ă?ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

IN HIS VINEYARD...

R-L: Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke; Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Most Rev. Ernest Obodo; the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Antonio Filipazzi; Catholic Archbishop of Benin and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Akubueze; Ex-Governor Peter Obi, and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, during the Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Obodo as the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Diocese, yesterday.

Jonathan: PDP Not Worried Over Rising Number of Presidential Candidates Our mission is to pursue Buhari from Aso Rock, says Bafarawa Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă‹

Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday insisted that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not ruffled over the increasing number of presidential aspirants emerging daily from the party.

Jonathan, who spoke when a presidential aspirant under the platform of the party, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, visited him on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, told journalists that what was of importance was that the

party should create a level playing field, where any aspirant who lost, did so fairly.

He made the assertion, even as Bafarawa said the mission of the alignments and consultations within the party was to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari, quits Aso Rock next year so that the country can make some progress once again.

Jonathan maintained that the development was healthy for the party and for democracy in general, noting that the rivalry would be too toxic if only two candidates

were involved. “The more people that are interested the better for the party.

Just like you asked, if you have only two aspirants in a political party, the way we play politics in this country, the division between the two camps will be so bad. “Not from the contenders themselves, but supporters of the candidates will be exuding all kinds of bitterness. At the end of the day, one must lose, and he will feel they don’t belong to the system. “When there are many aspirants and the party does what is right,

the key thing is that we have a level playing ground for all the aspirants and when the ground is level and the best person emerges, they will all work for the party. “When they are just two, they start throwing stones, but when they are many, who do you throw the stone to. But as leaders, we keep talking. I believe we will talk to the aspirants so that at the end of the day, everybody is happy. “But the key thing is that there is a level playing field during the primaries, not the number of aspirants. We must make sure the

Cost of Outdated Lagos-Ibadan Expressway up by over N300bn, Alleges Babalakin Chineme Okafor Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group of companies, Dr. Wale Babalakin, Thursday claimed that ongoing construction works on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by the federal government was inappropriate and outdated.

Babalakin, whose firm was initially preferred by the government to rebuild the road on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model which was later called off, also claimed the current construction cost for the road may have shot up to N300 billion as against the N112 billion Bi-Courtney costed to spend on it.

He said these while delivering a lecture as a guest lecturer at the eighth fellowship conferment lecture of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Abuja.

Babalakin, spoke mostly on the need to develop Nigeria’s infrastructure through PPP models considering that the government did not have all the financial

resources needed to build and maintain the kind of infrastructure Nigeria currently needed. “The road being constructed is completely inappropriate and outdated. It is the resurfacing of the 1977 road. It is a road that is inadequate to accommodate the geographic growth that has taken place since 1977,� said Babalakin in his lecture.

He further explained: “The current road cannot contribute meaningfully to the development of road infrastructure. Julius Berger Plc is completing a road that it will never and can never suggest or contemplate building in Germany.

Our heaviest traffic road in Nigeria is being built without the necessary accompanying things that should be there.�

According to him, “The cost of the project has now ballooned. It cannot be less than N300 billion and Bi-Courtney had agreed to build the road with seven overhead bridges at the cost of N112 billion.

This is a serious waste of resources

especially when private capital was available for it. “Our design appreciated the peculiarities of the road especially the new towns that emerged. We realised that simply resurfacing the road as being done now by the Ministry of Works is a serious disservice to Nigerians.�

Babalakin, stated that when his company submitted its design works for the road, it took the government over 24 months to review it, whereas, it should not take more than eight weeks to review the design under standard procedures.

He also wondered why it had taken the government more than six years to get back to building the road after it cancelled its PPP, adding that the reason the government gave for its decision then was that the concessionaire was slow, yet the government has not been able to prove otherwise.

Based on Babalakin’s claims, THISDAY put a call across to Mr.

Hakeem Bello, the Senior Special Assistant on Communications to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, for a reaction but his mobile number was switched off. A text was also sent to him in this regards but no response was gotten from him as at the time of filing this report.

Babalakin, who maintained that adopting the PPP project finance model was Nigeria’s best bet at overcoming her current level of infrastructure deficit, explained that the government also scuttled his company’s plans to comprehensively develop the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.

He claimed the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) violated the terms of a concession agreement it signed with Bi-Courteny, and ran another terminal next door to the one it developed.

This, he noted affected the agreement and took away 60 per cent of its traffic, in addition to disrupting its cash flow.

ground is level so that nobody will leave the party out of anger,� the former Nigerian leader said.

On Bafarawa’s visit, the former President noted that the former Sokoto State governor, remained a politician who was highly interested in democracy and development of the country, stressing that he showed the stuff he is made of even as Sokoto governor.

He added: “He came to greet me and also concerning his own political interest and development.

He’s somebody I know very well.

He had been involved in politics

even before I got involved in politics. While I was deputy to Alamieyeseigha (Diepreye), he was already a governor in Sokoto State. “When I was contesting, he joined PDP in 2014. He did not join PDP because he wanted to contest, but because he wanted to support me. “He has a lot of experience. He wants the best for the country. He wants this country to grow and I always insist that as leaders we must always plan for our grandchildren. Societies that plan for their grandchildren grow. Societies that plan for themselves crash.

Atiku Weeps for Nigeria as He Receives Presidential Nomination Form Adedayo Akinwale Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday openly wept for the country while receiving expression of interest and nomination forms bought for him by his supporters.

Thereafter, he called on his teeming supporters to go the extra mile and mobilise support for him to ensure he secures the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) ticket to contest the 2019 presidential election.

The expression of interest and nomination forms were handed to the former vice president by Atiku Support Group, a movement galvanising support for his presidential ambition.

Atiku said that yesterday’s event was significant and historic because it was the first time in his political career that young men and women in the country would come together without his knowledge and consent to contribute their hard earned money to buy him expression of interest and nomination forms. According to him, “It is almost three decades of my political career this year. But today has also turned out to be one of the most emotional

days in those three decades of my political career. I have tried to present myself as a candidate for the office of the president in a number of elections.

The only time I succeeded of being on the ballot was in 2007.�

He further added: “In 2007, I was on the ballot not because I believe I was going to win but because I wanted to prove a constitutional issue so that all Nigerians can avail themselves with the constitutional protection, and I succeeded at the Supreme Court.

And that is why today, no Nigerian can be stopped from contesting an election unless he has been convicted by a court of law.�

Atiku noted that addressing the challenges confronting the country was a possible task because the country has a lot of young people who have got the talents, education, and experience to turn the country around.

He further added: “But putting together such talented young Nigerians requires leadership and it is that leadership we have not been fortunate enough to have on a consistent basis so that this country can take its rightful position in Africa and indeed the world.

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SEPTEMBER 1, 2͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

Yemi

Adebowale

07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

President Buhari’s Assault on the Rule of Law

I

wasn’t shocked by President Muhammadu Buhari’s attack on the Rule of Law while declaring open the 58th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Monday. Our President, who has sworn to protect the constitution of this country, declared that the rights of Nigerians must always take a second place where national security and public interest are threatened. He has suddenly forgotten that one of the legs of the Rule of Law i.e. supremacy of the law is the foundation of his current position.

The Buhari administration is erroneously guided by the belief that the Rule of Law must be subject to “the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest,” and has persistently/mischievously demonstrated this in the last three years, using it to pummel perceived opponents and the opposition party.

It is disheartening that our President also falsely informed the nation that his position on Rule of Law is backed by a judicial pronouncement. Buhari said: “Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that; where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society.”

This is not true. I have spoken to several erudite lawyers and they also confirmed that there was never a time in the history of this country that a case bothering on the Rule of Law and national security came before the Supreme Court for adjudication.

It has never been an issue before the apex court. The highest court of our land did not at any time rule that The Rule of Law - the foundation of all sane societies – must take a second place where the so called “national security and public interest are threatened.”

What Buhari was referring to was just a passing remark by one of the apex court justices during the battle for bail by Asari Dokubo. The Rule of Law Vs National security was never contested in the apex court.

So, it is wrong for Buhari to say that his position was based on the pronouncement of the Supreme Court. This is ludicrous.

The stance of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Buhari’s absurdity is instructive.

Soyinka said history had shown repeatedly that those who tamper with the rule of law never end well.

He added: “The rule of law, however, outlasts all subverters, however seemingly powerful. If the consequences for society in defence of the rule of law were not so costly, any new attempt would be merely banal and boring, hardly deserving of attention.

We know, historically, where it will all end… Here we go again! At his first coming, it was ‘I intend to tamper with freedom of the press’, and Buhari did proceed to suit action to the words, sending two journalists - Irabor and Thompson - to prison as a reward for their professional integrity.

“Now, a vague, vaporous, but commodious concept dubbed ‘national interest’ is being trotted out as alibi for flouting the decisions of the Nigerian judiciary. President Buhari has obviously given deep thought to his travails under a military dictatorship, and concluded that his incarceration was

Just as I had done in previous articles, I will again remind Buhari to always remember that power is transient. All those applauding his impunity will disappear once he’s out of power and he will face the music alone. Our President must learn to place the laws of our land above his sentiments also in the ‘national interest’.”

The opposition PDP was apt when it remarked: “Our national interest is thoroughly embedded, protected, expressed and enforced only under the rule of law as provided by our constitution and there is no how Nigerians can allow an individual to superimpose or override the Constitution with his personal whims and impulses.

“President Buhari should therefore be made to answer for the litany of human rights violations in Nigeria, including documented disobedience to court orders, extra-judicial and arbitrary executions, unlawful arrests and political detentions, killing of persons in custody, torture and excessive use of force by security forces on innocent citizens.”

Cerebral lawyer, Kayode Ajulo said Buhari’s stance raises genuine fears as it sweeps up the need for fundamental queries regarding both the conceptual and legal implications of this position.

Ajulo explains: “While national interest is often referred to as a country’s goals and ambitions, whether economic, military or cultural, the Rule of Law is essentially the restriction of arbitrary exercise of power, the subordination of power to established laws.

National interest in the context of political transactions may have its roots in a political association’s ideology or calculation. The same cannot be said of the Rule of Law. “The President may need a candid reminder of the fact that the ultimate national interest is codified in the Constitution, wherein the fundamental human rights are given primacy and hinged on the Rule of Law. It therefore portends a dangerous trend where the Rule of Law now has to play a second fiddle and be at the mercy of a political power. A more dangerous implication on the commentary is that, the President, by the statement, is equating Nigeria, a Federal Republic, to a Banana Republic.”

A former minister, Kabiru Turaki, added: “A situation whereby anybody that is supposedly elected, and no matter the office that person had been elected into, will stand up and look at Nigerians and say that the rights as recognised and protected by the Constitution would be subject to certain sentimental consideration by any other person is highly unacceptable.”

Buhari’s position on the Rule of Law is evidently odd to Nigeria’s laws and therefore intolerable. It is only an attempt to justify and sustain the mass of impunity under his administration. This administration has been hiding under this false Supreme Court pronouncement to perpetrate injustice. This is why his government has refused to comply with several court orders admitting the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to bail. He is being unjustly detained without a lawful order for almost three years.

On December 29, 2015, when Dasuki’s bail conditions were perfected, and the warrant of release signed by the court, the operatives of SSS stormed Kuje Prison, immediately rearrested the ex-NSA and clamped him in their detention camp.

Dasuki also approached the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and in a landmark judgement, the detention of Dasuki was declared unlawful, null and void. The court subsequently ordered his immediate release in addition to imposing a fine of N15 million on the federal government as compensation for the breach of Dasuki’s fundamental rights. The federal government refused to obey the order of this international court, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Abuja on July 2, this year admitted Dasuki to bail upon discovery that his detention was a breach of the Nigerian Constitution and that of the fundamental right of the ex-NSA. Upon meeting the bail condition, the warrant of release of Dasuki was signed by the court and served on the Director General of SSS and the Attorney General of the Federation for their compliance, but they arrogantly ignored it. In fact, our chief law officer, Abubakar Malami confidently declared that the order of the court would not be obeyed by the federal government.

What about the impunity trailing the superfluous trial of the Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky? This cleric has been in the custody of the DSS since 2015 in spite of multiple court rulings approving his freedom. Clashes between soldiers and his followers left 347 of his supporters dead.

On December 6, 2016, a Federal High Court presided by Justice G. O. Kolawole ordered the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife and awarded them N50 million damages.

The Nigerian Army and the Kaduna State Government had callously demolished and set El-Zakzaky’s residence on fire on 15 December 2015. As a result, the Federal High Court also ordered the federal government to provide them with a suitable accommodation. These orders have been ignored by the Buhari administration. Rather, the Kaduna State Government dragged the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and his wife to a court in Kaduna on charges of culpable homicide and unlawful assembly. What a country!

Just as I had done in previous articles, I will again remind Buhari to always remember that power is transient. All those applauding his impunity will disappear once he’s out of power and he will face the music alone. Our President must learn to place the laws of our land above his sentiments. His recant on Friday while addressing visiting German Chancellor, Angel Merkel, is deceptive. We must remain alert.

Victor Umeh Vs Chris Ngige The battle for Anambra Central Senatorial ticket in 2019 is already on. It’s going to be a straight fight between incumbent Senator Victor Umeh and the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige. Umeh is familiar with Ngige’s tactics and knows the best approach is to start ‘exposing’ him as D-Day approaches. The incumbent Anambra Central Senator fired several salvos recently, including accusing Ngige of using President Buhari’s name to deceive the people of the state. Umeh, former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), noted that Ngige had been campaigning on the promise that

the president would make him the President of the Senate.

Umeh said: “Anyone is free to contest with me. Ngige told some traditional rulers that he was under pressure from some Igbo leaders to vie.He has been going about telling different people different things. He is simply dropping the president’s name and using it to deceive many people.”

Ngige is yet to respond, but I know that lies will win very few votes in 2019. Politicians cannot fool all the people all the time. Ngige should look for a better peg for his campaign in Anambra State. Ndi Anambra are wiser.

Ngige

Jessica Mathews of the Carnegie institute

Carnegie Report on APC, PDP Corruption For those who have not been following the story, a recent report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on corruption involving actors in our two leading political parties - APC and the PDP - has confirmed that corruption is not just a PDP affair as the ruling party wants us to believe. Many actors in the two parties are corrupt and “inclined to using political power to steal public resources.” The report titled, “A New Taxonomy for Corruption in Nigeria,” said despite President Buhari’s anti-corruption posture, there was little difference between his party, APC, and the PDP. The report said, “Kleptocratic capture of political party structures is a sine qua non of gaining power and thereby unlocking corruption opportunities across a range of other sectors.

Little distinguishes Nigeria’s two main political parties in this regard. Both are constellations of fluid national, state, and local elite networks.

“Both are almost identically structured, non-ideological organisations.

Both rely on misappropriated public funds to finance election campaigns.

Neither values internal party democracy, allowing money and high-level interference to corrupt candidate selection processes.”

According to the report, top politicians in the two major political parties are always seeking, by hook or by crook, opportunities to secure lucrative public appointments or high-level backing for their ambitions.

It stated further that party officials always sought to monetise their influence over internal party processes by soliciting cash from aspiring politicians or seeking to be co-opted by them.

Well, the US-based international organisation did not say anything new other than to amplify what genuine patriots had been saying all the while about the one-sided anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration.

While the EFCC pummels the corrupt elements in the PDP, it simply looks the other way when it comes to corrupt APC elements. Majority of those in the APC government at the federal and state levels are not clean. They are only being shielded by the anti-graft agencies. This is the truth that must be told.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

SUPER SATURDAY

Kunle with Simi

Simi Ventures into Nollywood Diminutive, colossal in talent, alternative afro-po.p singer, Simisola Ogunleye, simply called Simi, has further gained the confidence of enthusiasts as she announces her venture into the movie world. Omolabake Fasogbon examines her prospects in the new move

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nique in her story-telling music style, Simi as she is fondly called, is not taking a reclining position despite attracting the attention of the klieg light.

The multiple-talented songstress who as a result of her excellent delivery, occupies prominent space in the heart of music lovers is yet breaking a new barrier, this time around, in Nollywood, as she takes up a role in a soon-to-come movie, titled, ‘Mokalik’. This was brought to the knowledge of all by the producer of the flick, Kunle Afolayan, who dropped an inkling of the deal on his social media page.

In a post on Instragam , the movie star shared a picture of himself and Simi, bearing the caption, “It is Official: Simi @symplysimi is featuring in ‘Mokalik’ a Kunle Afolayan film. ‘Jamb Questiom ’ crooner, Simisola Ogunleye, a.k.a Simi, has accepted a role in Kunle Afolayan’s coming film, ‘Mokalik’. The agreement was formalised recently at the filmmaker’s office, in Lagos.”

‘Mokalik’ which is an adaptation of the word, ‘Mechanic’ has been revealed to be a story centred around the life of an 11-year-old boy, Jaiye, from the middle-class suburbs who spends the day as a lowly apprentice at a mechanic workshop in order to relate with life from another perspective.

From indication, the ‘Tiff’ crooner should be taking up a major role in the movie that has already stolen the minds of highly expectant fans. Described by Afolayan as one of the Mokalik’s main stars, Simi will be playing a character that imitates her stage name, Simi, the daughter of one of the two

buka owners in the film - whom Jaiye inadvertently develops a crush on.

Obviously elated Simi could not hide her feelings when she dropped a post on her page saying “@ Kunleafo and a girl with a script she likes very much.”

In the film, the Opera brand ambassador will star alongside Nollywood famous actors such as Femi Adebayo, Ayo Adesanya, Faithia Williams and Lateef Oladimeji.

Simi’s new feat may be coming as a bolt from the blues to many but definitely not a total shock. Recall that the crossover singer once demonstrated her acting skill together with Falz in ‘Soldier’, a 14-minute musical film directed by Clarence Peters. Here, she acted as a kidnap victim with Falz as a sergeant, on a mission to rescue her from an abductor played by Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon.

Her performance in the film didn’t attract negative reviews and that just points out to the fact there are more fortes in the songstress that are yet untapped.

However, on dramatics, the X3M Music star once said that she was not sure of taking a journey into the field but if she must do at all, it won’t be in full time.

Judging by her words, one can, therefore, say that Simi in ‘Mokalik’ is just taking a break off her usual menu, with no dreams or plans to light up the acting skies in the nearest future.

Born in Ojuelegba, Lagos State, the 30-year-old soft-voiced singer who is the last and only daughter in a family of four started her musical career in the church. She came to the spotlight in 2014 after she released ‘Tiff,’ a song which was nominated in two

categories at the 2015 headies.

The multiple-award winner has been able to distinguish herself in her unique and classic works.

Her music ranges from rhythm and blues as well as soul and hip-hop.

Simi like her older counterpart and namesake in Bollywood, Simi Garewal is known to be multiskilled, stands out for her incredible versatility.

The Covenant University Mass Communication graduate is apart from her penchant for singing and songwriting, also a sound engineer credited to have mixed and mastered Adekunle Gold’s ‘Gold’ album. She also has flair for writing, blogging and broadcasting.

Simi who has been lashed out at severally by her fans on her lowness of fashion is neither moved nor intimidated by critics. To her, in as much she is comfortable in her outfit, she says she is good to go.

As far as she is concerned, her musical career comes first and ultimate in her life far above fashion or dress sense.

On this, She said: “I believe that everybody is entitled to their opinions. Some people may say that they don’t like my dress, shoes or any other thing. I don’t find that surprising or strange because there are also a lot of dresses and shoes that I don’t like. I like to be comfortable in whatever I wear and that is what dictates my outfit.”

Simi indeed admits that she is in a relationship but she is keeping everyone on suspense on the identity of the fortunate lad.

Although Adekunle Gold remains the guess on everyone’s lips she insists that her fans guess is as good as wrong.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

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SUPERSATURDAY

Rocking Rukky Sanda With an upscale lifestyle and a personality so unpredictable, elegant actress Rukky Sanda sure leaves much to be desired as she marks her 34th birthday in style, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ukky Sanda’s rise to fame could best be described as meteoric and she does not need to be told about this. The sassy Nollywood celebrity, as much as she rocks her world and thinks less of what people think about her, has long defined her path which only a fastidious Nollywood observer can discern.

As usual, rocking Rukky celebrated her 34th birthday in style on August 23. In a series of post on Instagram on her special day, Rukky shared beautiful pictures of herself while thanking God for another year of life.

“Happy birthday to me. May my God’s will and only His will the exact way He intended for me be done in my life. (Amen) Cheers to me, living my most amazing life,” she wrote on her Instagram page.

The photos elicited mixed comments such that a critic remarked that her blonde look and the striking pose reminded one of those pretty villains in a blockbuster movie where they usually look intimidating and irresistible.

Rukky, prior to her foray into the world of make-believe, had a stint in clothing and fashion accessories business. Her ravishing sense of fashion draws from her past. Aside from being in the news for provocative stories, Rukky has got it all going well for her; plus her list of loyal friends and industry colleagues. Born Rukayat Akinsanya, the actress once proclaimed in an interview: “I am not interested in any negativity.

I am only concentrating on my career.”

Bursting onto the scene in 2004, with the movie Angel and the Beast, while still a student of Lagos State University, it didn’t take long for Rukky to make a name for herself in the movie industry as she quickly appended to her status of producer and director by means of the lingo ‘hustle’ with her first movie production, Lethal Woman.

She has written and produced a couple of other movies which she mostly featured in.

In 2008, she produced Lethal Woman. In 2009, she produced Obscure Motives. In 2012, she produced Lovelorn and Miami Heat and in 2013, she produced Keeping My Man which received fair acclaim.

Business minded and philanthropist, Rukky ranks amongst the present generation of Nollywood actors cum producers who have made a difference with their craft and cost in the industry. The CEO of Rukky Sanda Studios and Rukky Sanda Productions with up to date leasing equipment for filmmakers as well as editing studio for post-production often has a cause to celebrate.

With so much about this Ikorodu-born star, despite controversies and rumours about several aspects of her life including her career, her background, choice and preferences, she has continued to forge ahead. Once linked to lesbianism and rumoured to have been in a relationship with a female colleague, the actress and another popular thespian Tonto Dike in 2012 jointly donated N1million to a cancer patient for treatment.

Unabashedly single and appears uninterested in marriage, Rukky is a darling to a host of teeming Nollywood aficionados. She once revealed in an interview how she feeds over a 100 people occasionally. According to her, when they cook the food, they take it to the homeless people every week. She further stated that she does the financing while her mom does the work. So good for the Banking and Finance graduate.

Rukky is daring, scary with multiple piercing on her left and right ear, on her tongue and on her belly and perhaps some other hidden parts of her body. Her very expensive look, even though there are several men lusting after her beautiful photos on Instagram, many are scared to approach her for a serious relationship due to the perceived ‘capital intensive’ nature of such a romance.

The filmmaker continues to maintain her upscale lifestyle despite being scarce on the television screens. The 10th in a polygamous family, the best admonition Rukky received from her mum was simply to be true to herself, and always remember where she comes from. . . “Don’t let anybody make you feel you don’t deserve what you have because you have been comfortable all your life.”

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͸͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

ARETHA FRANKLIN, KOFI ANNAN AND OUR WORLD Okello Oculi pays tribute to Aretha Franklin, ‘queen of soul’ and Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations

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he legendary singer Aretha Franklin edged out by two days a historic diplomat, KoďŹ Annan, on that trip to ancestral ‘After-Africa’. Annan would have prayed God to save him from the traditional curse of burying a sister younger than his 80 years of age by four long years.

Aretha used the power of song to move leaves of joy; and contemplation; and exhilaration, in souls across racial and geographical spaces.

As Africa’s Black Secretary General of the United Nations from 1979 to 2006, Annan used the spoken word to bend, arouse and calm minds, temperaments and wills in the drama of diplomacy. Boutros-Boutros Ghali, a former professor of International Law and Diplomacy, Gamal Nasser’s shuttle-diplomat and editor at Al-Haram newspaper in Cairo, was his immediate predecessor. It was ironic that he was succeeded by a fellow citizen of Kwame Nkrumah who rejected the Sahara Desert as a divider of Africa into Black and Arab Africa.

In 1994 Kofi Annan was in Rwanda when President Bill Clinton allegedly blocked the provision of planes to carry weapons and soldiers mobilised by African states to stop the imminent genocide in Rwanda. Current leaders in Rwanda have never accepted Clinton’s warped view that just as the ‘’holocaust’’ against Jews had taught Euro-Americans to value democracy, Africa too must learn to value democracy by counting bones of victims of a genocide in Rwanda. Kofi Annan’s urgent appeals for the UN Security Council to beef up the small UN contingent in Kigali were blocked in the corridors of diplomacy in New York.

The same powers in Washington, London, and Paris invaded Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Annan had the courage to call their gangster diplomacy ‘’illegal’’. Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair lied to his people about Saddam owning ‘’weapons of mass destruction’’ and would later be denounced and despised at home. Likewise, President George Bush two whose disastrous rule became a huge campaign for Barack Obama. Annan was truly more in line with hearts and consciences of citizens globally.

Annan drew in Nelson Mandela to support his harassment of African leaders to see HIV-AIDS as a microbiological ‘tsunami’ against their peoples. It was no use blaming Euro-American scientists for inventing a weapon for their multinational corporations seeking a new frontier - for weeding populations and reaping profits - by selling drugs to tame it. African leaders bore political responsibility for curbing its gale across the continent. This was compassionate diplomacy.

He assembled in Mexico to endorse an eight-item ‘’Millennium Development Goals’’ programme for engaging rich and poor economies in ending poverty’s wastage of human bodies and talents of millions of people in Africa, Asia, South America and Pacific islands and territories. This was intensive humanitarian economics.

ARETHA FRANKLIN HAS BEEN EULOGISED AS ‘QUEEN OF SOUL MUSIC’. ANNAN IS ACCLAIMED AS ENDOWED WITH ‘CHARISMA AND DIGNITY’; HIS ‘VOICE VERY SOFT BUT HIS WORDS VERY STRONG’

Before Kofi Annan was employed at the United Nations in 1962, Kwame Nkrumah’s won for establishing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Guinea-Conakry’s Ambassador Dr Diallo Telli. A Paris-educated lawyer, he was leading Africa’s drive to expel racist South Africa from membership of the United Nations; a campaign to release Nelson Mandela from prison; and against colonial dictatorships in Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Annan inhaled his diplomatic fumes.

He saved Annan from the shock of confronting EuroAmerican proponents of democracy and ‘’freedom’’ while earning vast profits from colonial exploitation of Africa.

Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Miriam Makeba played their historic roles in dripping adrenalin into bloodstreams of African-American and African peoples fighting to overcome ‘’pressures’’ by Euro-American racists denying them places in the sun. They sang to wash off accumulating pains and pulls into despair. Their songs drew men and women to cling together in dance to affirm their humanity and ethnic solidarity. Their melodies helped people to cross racial boundaries by holding invisible hands dangling from souls and minds; ever planting and weeding a growing American nation exploring boundaries of nationhood.

Paradoxically, the power of American cultural diplomacy carried their melodies across continents. Miriam Makeba chose the back of the Yankee elephant to urge her quest for Mandela in the lyric: ‘‘Tell me now, where did the Little Flea go; somebody tell me!’’. Although the racist rulers of her country, South Africa, banned her songs, she used the American rooftop to spread her demand for freedom. Bob Marley, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Masekela,Sparrow, Tabu Ley and Manu Dibango joined the dance with their thuds of male voices.

President Donald Trump is whipping the American media as liars, carriers of ‘’fake news’’ and being ‘’wicked people’’.

These accusations had earlier driven Africans and the NonAligned countries to call for a ‘’New Information Order’’.

Foreign correspondents covering Africa repeatedly accused editors of their print and broadcast media of demanding only stories of famine, tribal conflicts and disease out of Africa. That media has remained atavistic; playing down Annan’s infusion of African Familyhood into veins of UN diplomacy.

Aretha Franklin has been eulogised as ‘’Queen of Soul Music’’. Annan is acclaimed as endowed with ‘’charisma and dignity’’; his ‘’voice very soft but his words very strong’’; ‘’very calm and trusted’’, an ‘’epitomy of human decency and grace’’; a ‘’believer in the capacity of global youth to lead’’, while President Putin called him a man of wisdom. What Africa must do is create ‘’Walls of Fame’’ for them in every capital and at Africa Hall in Addis Ababa.

THE ALEX OTTI‘QUIT NOTICE’

Chuks Akamadu predicts victory for the APGA governorship aspirant in the next election

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am sufďŹ ciently persuaded that in due season, what happened at Ngwa High School, Aba on July 20 would wear a deďŹ nite shape. It had been Dr. Alex Otti’s formal declaration for the Abia State governorship race.

Although it was supposed to, put loosely, be an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) exclusive event, a casual scan of the crowd that had thronged the venue clearly showed that they were, for all practical purposes, members of a “UNITED ABIA PARTY� who had come from the 17 local government councils of the state to witness the issuance of a “Quit Notice� by Dr. Otti to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as well as seize the opportunity to enter into an irrevocable contract with the former who has since become the closest approximation of their collective aspiration, Dr. Otti.

Yes, APGA faithful were all over the place as expected, but they were visibly joined by other true Abia patriots who put aside political leanings to identify with an event that that would mark the beginning of the end of Armageddon in God’s Own State.

The mood at the historic gathering had paradoxically been an admixture of fury and relief. Fury, because a majority of Abians who still believe that the 2015 governorship election was daylight robbery have yet to recover from that rude shock. The “relief�

dimension of it was that for so long, speculations had been rife that Dr. Otti was going to recover the people’s mandate in 2019, having failed to do so through the law courts in 2015.

So when the Big Masquerade spoke during the declaration, his “Quit Notice� words were soothing balm to the drained and thirsty souls that had been serially afflicted with poor governance, crass opportunism, mediocrity and chronic mental infertility that had been the lot of Abians since the coming to power of father and son – Chief T.A Orji and Mr. Chinedu Orji.

It is against the foregoing background that one can perfectly understand the ecstatic response Dr. Otti’s “Quit Notice� to the PDP-led government in Abia State attracted.

For, it is difficult to blame a jubilant people who for the past 11 years have been forced to suffer the pains and pangs of man-made hardship and pervasive poverty, owing to the huge appetite for greed of a few and sheer lack of capacity to provide quality and accountable leadership.

Abia is indeed a curious case. According to William Arthur Ward, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires�. One is forced to ask: is it in our stars that for a decade and more, Abia has only had the first category of

teachers when geniuses like Dr. Otti who are a combination of second and third categories are available? The “Quit Notice� was therefore a fitting sermon for Abians who needed a reason to be hopeful again.

For the Abia PDP, hell was let loose, once more. Having survived, through the judiciary, the Hurricane Abia that Dr. Otti was in 2015, there is heightened fear that without their customary “federal might�, surviving the Hurricane Abia Intoto that Dr. Otti is set to be in 2019 is looking like a “mission impossible�!

Romours have it that the PDP hawks who see Abia as their personal estate are currently in their political laboratory trying their hands on all sorts of voodoo schemes to retain power beyond May next year.

Alas, what is supremely indisputable is that there is a season for all things under the sun: a season to come and a season to go; Abians have in their individual enlightened self-interest resolved that next year would be a season for PDP to go and a season for Dr. Otti’s APGA to come. Thankfully, in less than 180 days, this matter would have been laid to rest.

Sequel to Dr. Otti’s historic Ngwa High School declaration, I have had occasion to peep into my crystal ball, and what I saw was most gratifying. I saw a post-PDP Abia on reverse gear with Dr. Otti behind the

driving wheels. I felt so excited that at last the right man has come to demonstrably halt Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s laughable attempt to build on the ruins he inherited from his predecessor.

I saw a new Abia- a state turned into a construction site with a multitude of patriotic labourers working round the clock to rebuild their land. I saw the wall of cronyism crumble and a legion of leeches and parasite beat a retreat from Abia’s treasury. I saw a new era where teachers and civil servants are paid regularly – as a matter of right (not favour) - whilst pensioners are treated with the right measure of dignity and compassion as deserving senior citizens.

Another striking feature of the new order that I saw in my crystal ball was a pronounced re-definition of governance. I saw competent, committed square pegs in square holes running the machinery of government with shared vision, effusive zeal, clinical precision and unambiguous policy direction.

I also saw truck-load of thugs, touts and miscreants being relocated from Government House Umuahia, State Assembly Complex Umauahia, state MDAs in Umuahia and elsewhere to ultra-modern motor parks built by the government of Dr. Alex Otti.

Akamadu wrote from Umuahia North Local Government Council, Abia State

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͸͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

In service of the fatherland...

Designing Voters Friendly Ballot Papers

FRSC, Use of Phone and Surveillance

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n Saturday, August 18, 2018, I set out on a drive to Grand Square in the Central Business District of Abuja for shopping. I drove past the front of Sky Memorial Plaza that shares a fence with the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wuse Zone 5, which is a stone’s throw from Ibro Hotel; and, no sooner had I made a detour into Accra Street, immediately after Ibro Hotel, than a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Toyota Hilux van, overtook and blocked my vehicle.

One of the officers jumped out of the vehicle, came to me and asked if I knew why they blocked my vehicle. I replied I had no idea. To my uttermost shock, he said they saw me use my phone while driving. According to him, the five-man team was in its vehicle close to Sky Memorial when one of the members alerted it to the fact that I was using my phone while driving. Interestingly, the team relied on the judgment of one of its members to give me a hot chase. While still talking, one of the officers moved to the passenger’s side, opened the door and sat down. The leader of the team, an equivalent of an unconfirmed ASP in the Police, demanded my vehicle particulars which I handed over to him. He jumped into the waiting vehicle and drove off with the other members of his team. The officer sitting in my car said I should drive to the FRSC office in Wuse Zone 7. It was at that point I insisted that I was neither making nor answering a call on the steering wheel.

In fact, at the point I was blocked, my two phones were on the passenger’s seat. The officer clarified that it was true that I was not making a call on the phone but that I was holding a phone in my hand. I was pleasantly surprised by that claim too as I could not even remember holding my phone in my hand. I could not have conveniently held the steering wheel with a phone in my hand. If I was not making a call as confirmed by him, why should I hold a phone in my hand that would make it somewhat difficult for me to steer the wheel of the car?

Assuming without conceding that I held a phone in my hand, without using it for a call or a chat or anything whatsoever, the FRSC officials insisted that the action would still have constituted an offence of “use of phone.� The FRSC could be correct in their wider interpretation of use of phone, that is going beyond making calls on the steering wheel, but I got into a heated argument with the officer who sat in my car, demanding evidence to prove my culpability- that I actually held the phone at the

point one of the officers claimed to have seen me.

Alas, there was no evidence! It was just his or the team’s words against mine. The officer admitted there were no CCTV cameras that could have been called upon to show I committed the offence. While the argument was on, the other members of the FRSC reversed the vehicle to where my vehicle was parked and the team leader came out to reinforce the position of his subordinate. Funnily enough, as he was explaining to me the “use of phone�, I noticed that one of them was using his android phone to record the conversation I was having with the team leader. I said funnily enough because he was trying to get post-hoc evidence from statements made by me in the course of the conversation that could be used to prove my admission of the team’s claim of use of phone by me. It was unimaginable that a refined and intellectually-primed corps could resort to that kind of antics to prove an offence was committed by a citizen. I actually wondered how it had wanted to use my words that, “as a matter of fact I never knew merely holding a phone while driving is an offence� as an admission that I actually held a phone.

Sufuyan Ojeifo, Abuja

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s the preparation for 2019 General Elections intensiďŹ es, there are some sundry issues that should worth the attention of elections stakeholders. One is the unintended impact of large number of registered political parties on the design and printing of voters’ friendly ballot paper in a ďŹ t for purpose manner. As noted elsewhere on my facebook page, in 2015 general elections, the total registered political parties were 28 out of which only 14 (50%) ďŹ elded candidates at the presidential level. With the number of registered political parties reportedly standing at 91 currently, thinking aloud methinks a huge nightmare would likely stare us in the face in terms of design of voter’s friendly ballot papers.

What can the political stakeholders do? A consensus between INEC and all registered political parties is imperative on the subject matter perhaps, after the closure of submission and substitution of parties’ candidates list or names for various electable positions to foreclose crowding the ballot papers by all means. That in the event whereby no candidates is fielded for a particular electable position by a political party, the electoral commission is not obligated to include logo/symbol of such political party (or parties) on the ballot paper for the specific election in view. This is premised on the assumption

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

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

that no strip of any paper size (A1, A2, A3, A4, etc.,) can contain a single list of logos, symbols and acronyms of all registered political parties in a fit for purpose single row presentation.

Even if one is founded, the possibility of huge voided or invalid votes looms large considering the fact that indelible ink from thump printing of elongated ballot paper can easily stain and overlap thereby rendering such stained ballot paper indeterminable. Moreover, casting such elongated ballot paper into the conventional ballot box size usually deployed by INEC for voting can further compound the risk of voided or invalid votes unless the commission is contemplating of migrating to bigger size ballot boxes like the type normally used for submitting tender documents in procurement contracts which have additional cost implication; not to talk of general level of voters literacy in the country.

Another nagging issue is the abuse or misuse of state and administrative resources (SARs). As often established in campaign finance literature, “the abuse of state resources (ASR) can be a major corruptive force in the electoral process, introducing or exacerbating power inequalities and giving unfair electoral advantage to incumbentsâ€? (IFES, 2018). These abuses can compromise the integrity of an election, create an unfair playing field (or undermine competitiveness), and reduce public trust in the legitimacy of the process and its outcomes. As incumbents continue to enjoy undue advantages attached to their offices at the expense of political opponents, what is the acceptable minimum amount of paraphernalia of office that ruling parties and or incumbent candidates can enjoy by virtue of incumbency vis-Ă -vis their political opponents? What is the general understanding and delimitation of public properties from personal ones; is it okay to use public property for private partisan business?

Like the common practice when PDP held sway and similar manifestations at the subnational levels across all the states of the federation, the ruling APC held its National Caucus meeting at Presidential Villa on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 using State House banquet facilities and logistics, including water and beverages maintained from public pulse, yet a presidential hopeful, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was reportedly denied access to use Eagle Square for his legitimate political activity even when the facility might have been paid for on a flimsy pretense.

Tunde Salman, is an Election Campaign Specialist and Convener of Good Governance Team

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NEWS

In Brief 321 Pharmacies, Drugs Outlets Shut in Bayelsa

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), the federal government agency responsible for regulating the education, training and practice of pharmacy in the country, has sealed over 321 pharmacies and patent medicines stores inBayelsaState.Inachatwithjournalistsyesterday,Yenagoa,officialsofthe Council,ledbyMrs.AnthoniaAruya,Director,InspectionandMonitoringofthe PCN, the agency noted that of the total, 427 premises visited, 321 of them foundwerefoundculpableofvariousbreachesoftherules.Aruyasaidthere wasarenewedefforttoentrenchminimumstandard,savethepublicfrom the dangerofquackeryandensurethatquality,safetyandefficacyofmedicines aremaintaineddownthedistributionlines.SomereasonsgivenbytheCouncil forshuttingdownthedrugsfacilitiesincludednon-compliancewithregulatory lawsandabsenceofregisteredpersonneltohandlemedicinesintheirpremises.

APGA Kicks Against Sack of Lawmaker

TheAllProgressivesGrandAlliance(APGA)hassaidthatitwouldresistattempt bytheNasarawaStateGovernmentandtheSpeakeroftheHouseofAssembly todeclaretheseatofonethedefectinglawmakerMr.MakpaMalla,vacant.The partydescribed suchanactionashighlyvindictiveand uncalled for sincethe affectedlawmakerwhomovedovertoAPGAhadsecuredacourtinjunctionto backhisaction.NasarawaStateHouseofAssembly,hadonTuesdaydeclared vacanttheseatofthememberrepresentingWambaconstituency,Malla,who dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for APGA. However, the National Chairman of APGA,Victor Oye who addressed a press conference yesterdaysaidthemovebytheSpeakeroftheStateAssemblywaswithout recourseto thedueprocessand respect to theruleof law.

COEASU Donates 20 Bags of Rice to IDPs

I SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF...

TheCollegesofEducationAcademicStaffUnion(COEASU),ShehuShagari L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson and former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,, during a condolence visit to the CollegeofEducation,SokotoChapter,hasdonated20bagsofricetothevictims of the recent bandits’ attack inTabanni Village of Rabah Local Government Governor over the death of his mother, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson, atToru-Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State...yesterday Area of Sokoto State. The food items were handed over to the overseer of theInternallyDisplacedPersons(IDPs)camp,MalamLawalMaidokiatGandi town on Friday. Presenting the materials to the victims, the Chairman of the Union, Mohammed Mansur Aliyu, said the gesture was part of efforts to alleviatethesufferingofthevictims.Hedescribedtheattacksasunfortunate and urged the victims to regard the incident as an act of God. The COEASU chairmansolicitedformoredonationstothevictims,sayingtheresponsibility of providing comfort and security of the victims should not be left to the government alone. Aliyu appealed to wealthy individuals in the state to give priority attention to the children orphaned by the dastardly attacks. He also calledforsustainablestrategiestoensurethatchildrenatthecampresumed MichaelOlugbode, Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ Lake Chad region. livelihoods, and has also led to priority.

He said the assistance became a high number of civilian casual“Conflict-affected families depend bothwesternandIslamiceducation.

The Norwegian Refugee Council necessary as the nine-year conflict ties and grave abuses, such as on the international community to (NRC) has said $1.6 billion (about in the Lake Chad Basin, had the recruitment of children by put the lives of civilians over and NGO Donates N3m Incubator, Consumables N5.8 billion) is required for this year’s dramatically affected the lives of armed groups sexual violence beyond competing political agendas, ANon-GovernmentalOrganisation(NGO),TinyBeatingHeartsInitiative(TBHI), hasdonatedan incubator,medicalequipmentandconsumablesworthabout urgent humanitarian assistance in 11 million people. and abductions.� such as their war on terror.� the Lake Chad region.

The NRC in a statement released He said, the current security He warned that humanitarian N3milliontoKogiSpecialistHospital(KSSH)Lokoja.TheFounder/Executive A call has gone for the inquiry in Maiduguri by council’s media and situation further impedes the hu- needs remained massive last year Directoroftheorganisation,Mrs.PetraOnyegbule,disclosedthiswhilehanding into human rights violations in the public advocacy, Tiril Skarskin, said manitarian actors’ access to people and would continue in 2018 and overtheitemstotheManagementofthehospitalinLokojaonFriday.Onyegbule ongoing counter-insurgency war in Egeland revealed that the victims in need of life-saving support, with beyond, and lamented that eight whoisalsoChiefPressSecretarytoKogiStateGovernor,AlhajiYahayaBello,said the North-east. of conflict relied on humanitarian over 800,000 people still live in months into the year, only 26 per the initiative was borne out of a traumatic experience she encountered as a This is as a non-governmental assistance to survive in Boko Haram hard-to-reach areas with no access cent of the appeal for funding to pretermmother,andherpassiontoensurethateveryprematurebabyisgivena organisation CLEEN Foundation has insurgency affected basin. to humanitarian assistance, while Cameroon had been raised and chancetosurviveandlivehealthy. “ThemosttraumaticexperienceIhavehadin advocated for inquiry into human “The insurgency; as well as military operations in Lake Chad the humanitarian appeal to support lifewaswhenIgavebirthtoapretermbabyat25weeksofpregnancyin2009. rights violations in the ongoing military operations across the four Islands prohibit organisations from people affected by the crisis in Nigeria IalmostranawaywhenIfirstsawmybabybecauseshedidn’tlooklikeababy. counter-insurgency operations in countries has displaced 2.4 million providing assistance to victims of was less than 50 per cent funded. the North-east. people and left five million people conflict.

According to him, United Nations FG to Commercialise NIPOST Secretary General of NRC, Jan food insecure, while significantly On lifesaving and protection in estimated $1.6 billion requirement TheChairmanoftheGoverningBoardoftheNigeriaPostalServices(NIPOST), Egeland, was quoted as having said reducing economic activity,� said region, Egeland said: “This year’s for this year’s help to 10.7 million MaimunaYayaAbubakar,hasdisclosedthattheagencywouldbecommercialised this on Friday. He said 11 Interna- Egeland in the statement. conference must not only continue in need of humanitarian assistance. tomakeitefficient,competitiveandprofitable.Shedisclosedthiswhenshe tional Organisations required $1.6 He added that: “The conflict this lifesaving operation, but must “The crisis in North-east Nigeria is led members of the board on a working visit to the Kaduna NIPOST zonal. billion (N5.76 billion) for this year’s has taken a heavy toll on the make protection of vulnerable far from being resolved,� he further In an interview with newsmen shortly after inspecting facilities at the Post Office along Yakubu Gowon Way, Kaduna, she said NIPOST would leverage urgent humanitarian assistance in local economies and people´s children, women and men a top warned. onthenewtechnologiestorendereffectiveandefficientservices. Abubakar said the agency could not continue to depend on government funding for its operations. She expressed dismay over NIPOST’s dilapidated structures across the country, assuring that the new board under her leadership would do all withinitspower to rehabilitatethestructures.

$1.6m Needed for Humanitarian Services in Lake Chad Basin, Says NRC NGO wants human rights violations in region probed

Anambra Police Arrest Suspected Concerns Grow over Workers’ Kidnappers, Rescue Five Children Abduction, Cultism in Eket

David-Chyddy Eleke Ă“Ă˜ Awka

The police in Anambra have arrested five men suspected to be members of a child kidnapping syndicate, who specialise in stealing children.

THISDAY gathered that the suspects, five in number were arrested in various locations in the state, while five children kidnapped by the syndicate were rescued.

A press release by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Haruna Mohammed stated the names of the suspects as: Emeka Nnoruo; 44 years, Ekene Obodoako; 27 years, Maduabuchi Ekwema; 25 Years, Chika Obi; 28 years and Eberechi Onyeghara;14 years.

Mohammed said the suspects were arrested following intelligence report by Joint Police Vigilante Patrol teams attached to Umunze in Orumba

South Local Government Area of Anambra.

The release read: “Suspects allegedly conspired and kidnapped five children namely; Ifeanyichukwu Obiukwu ‘m’ aged 3 years, Chigozie Emeka aged 8 years, Chimaobi Emeka ‘f’ aged 6 years, Chisom Emeka aged 4 years and Onyiyechi Emeka ‘f’ aged 3 years. “Victims were rescued from the suspects and case is under investigation after which suspects would be brought to Justice,� the release stated.

The children were kidnapped from Umunze, Orumba South of Anambra State and Okigwe in Imo State.

Just last month the Command had also arrested a three-man syndicate said to be behind series of child stealing in the state and were charged to court.

Child theft has recently been on the rise in Anambra State, with as many as four children who were reported missing yet to be found.

Eket Business Forum (EBF) has raised the alarm that the heightened insecurity in the area had forced some companies to close shops, resulting in job losses.

EBF Chairman, Chief Dominion Akpan, who disclosed this in a statement obtained

by THISDAY, said the recent abduction of ExxonMobil workers, cultism, incessant protests and other security concerns ranked Akwa Ibom as “the second largest city no longer conducive for business.�

He said: “In July, the Police had to rescue 19 ExxonMobil staff who were travelling from Port Harcourt for a crew change of duty at Qua Iboe Terminal.

The abduction of the workers is very worrisome because it was said to have the blessing of some community leaders in the area. The suspected kidnappers reportedly draped sacks over their victims’ heads as they took them to their hideout but they were rescued by the Police.

“Cultism is also a huge blight on Eket. Eket, which has significant presence of workers of ExxonMobil, is among the four local government areas mostly affected by perennial cult-killings and related violence. In June, three people were killed by cultists in the area. A contract worker with Mobil was among those killed. He was reportedly shot in the head at close range while drinking at a pub, somewhere in the city.�

He further explained that earlier this year, youths under the aegis of Nigeria Youth Initiative Forum (NYIF) in Akwa Ibom State, had threatened ExxonMobil demanding the employment of youths within the catchment area in contracting firms under the management of the multinational company. According to him, they threatened to disrupt of the oil firm’s activities by barricading the Qua Iboe Terminal road and the Mobil airstrip should the company ignore their demand.

Dana Adds 737- 700 Aircraft to Fleet

AspartofitsongoingpartnershipwithAsky,DanaAirhasintroducedaBoeing 737-700aircrafttoitsfleettooperateits‘earlybird’flightsbetweenLagosand Abujafrom10thSeptember,2018.TheairlineinastatementbyitsMediaand CommunicationsManager,KingsleyEzenwa,said‘wearepleasedtoannounce thecommencement of our ‘’earlybird’’ flightsfromAbujato Lagoson10thof September,2018.TheservicewillbeoperatedusingaBoeing737-700aircraft from our partners Asky. “The introduction of the Boeing 737-700 aircraft is partofourongoingpartnershipwithAskyairlinesanditwilloperatetwodaily flightsfromAbujatoLagosat7.02hoursand16.11hrsandareturnservicefrom Lagosto Abujaat 8.55hrsand 18.03hrs.

TECNO Partners MTN on MPulse

TECNOMobilehaspartneredwithMTNtointroduceMPulsewhichisaunique initiativetochanneltheworkethicofteenagersandcreateatemplateofoptimal productivitythatwouldbebeneficialtothemselvesandtheirimmediateenvironmentinthelongrun.AccordingtoastatementmadeavailabletoTHISDAYby thePublicRelationandStrategic PartnershipManager,JesseOguntimehin, it was noted that the platform was designed for youngsters between ages 9 to 15 to enable them learn and gain pragmatic skills while also having fun.

The statement noted that the event which held at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, was lit up with excited children brimming with eagerness as the venue was transformed into a wonderland called ‘Pulse Planet’ providing attendees with lots of memorable attractions and activities.

The statement also noted that the attractions included a Virtual Reality Master Class facilitated by a 13-year-old, Junior Secondary School (JSS3) student, Obaloluwa Odelana and the youngest African hyper-realism artist, Kareem Waris Olamilekan of Waspa Art, who inspired children at the event through their craft which had recently gained massive recognition through social media.

T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

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NEWS

2019: Amaechi Endorses Tonye Cole as APC Rivers Guber Candidate Group roots for neutral candidate Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Minister of Transportation and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, RT. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has endorsed Mr. Tonye Cole as the party’s standard bearer in the 2019 governorship elections.

This came as an advocacy group within the state chapter of the party, Rivers Unity House, called on the party to field a “neutral person� if it hoped to wrest power from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

At a meeting of leaders of the APC in the state held Thursday night, Amaechi said considering the numerous interests in the party, it was necessary to choose a candidate who could unite the various interests and ensure victory for the party in 2019.

A statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone, quoted Amaechi as having said after the endorsement, “We are aware that not all would find

it easy to accept the decision but I am also conscious that the decision was made for the best interests of the party and the group. “We are aware that interests are divergent and numerous.

And that they can only coalesce if we get someone neutral; someone who is able to get every interests to converge as one. What is critical is victory. “Loyalty is not only when it favours you but when you are tempted and stretched to your limits. Ventilate we must but to move ahead we also must as the battles ahead are numerous and tedious. You all urged me on to proceed to make a decision and swore to stand by that decision.

The time has therefore come to so do.�

Reacting to the endorsement, an aspirant and Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, said he would abide by the decision of the leader of

READY FOR BATTLE...

L-R: National Organsing Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.) and Director General, Saraki Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hon. Mohammed Wakil, after obtaining the Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms on behalf of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki CON, for the 2019 Presidential Elections at the PDP Headquarters, Abuja yesterday.

Balarabe Musa Quits Active Politics John Shiklam in Kaduna

A former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has quit active politics and stepped down as the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Musa was elected governor on the platform of the party in 1979 under the leadership of the late Mallam Aminu Kano.

The PRP is the only surviving party among the political parties that dominated the political scene in the second republic.

Speaking while declaring open the 54th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Friday in Kaduna, Musa who would be 82 in October, said he was vacating the position for a younger person to carry on.

He however said he would continue to make contributions where necessary.

He said: “Due to age, declining energy and failing health, it has become necessary for me to vacate the seat for a younger and fresher blood�.

He however said his successor would not just be a young man in age, but someone who is “robustly and combatively committed to all the ideals that the PRP has always stood for�.

Musa assured that he would always be “available for party assignments within the limit of my fading energy and failing health.�

He thanked members of the party for all the support given him over the years and urged them to extend same support to his successor as according to him, “there is much work to be done and all hands must be on deck�.

Musa further told the incoming NEC members that the National Secretariat of the

party had proposed uniform guidelines for primaries to determine candidates at all levels of the party structure for the 2019 general elections.

He explained that the party adopted such measure as a result of the limited time frame within which primary elections must be concluded in accordance with INEC guidelines. “These guidelines are specific to the impending 2019 elections only and may be modified as deemed fit for other subsequent elections. “Under our party’s constitution, the NEC is empowered by article five, section f, to issue such periodic guidelines�

Musa said.

He urged the NEC to give state all organs of the party specific deadlines for the conduct of the primaries so as to meet the INEC dateline.

Tinubu: Power Not Served a La Carte Ndubuisi Francis and Flourish Arinzechi in Abuja

A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that power is not given on a platter of gold, arguing that since it is not served a la carte (without struggle), it requires serious hard work to come by.

Tinubu, who is also a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of a book titled ‘Revolution of Accountancy Profession in Nigeria: History of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)’.

His assertion was an allusion to the uncommon struggle and personal sacrifices made by the author of the book, Olumuyiwa Sosanya in his quest to break the monopoly of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria

(ICAN) in the regulation of the accountancy profession in Nigeria.

Tinubu noted that Sosanya’s doggedness culminated in the emergence of ANAN in the face of a formidable opposition.

Represented at the book presentation by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adeyinka Ajayi, the former governor congratulated the author for a job well done in documenting the events that culminated in the formation of ANAN. “Power is not served a la carte.

You have to struggle for power,�

Tinubu said.

Making reference to the book reviewer, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, he stated that although the emergence of ANAN might be seen as a rivalry, such rivalry was not intended to work against ICAN but to help the accountancy profession develop

the much-needed skills for the country.

He noted that by writing the book, the author had laid to rest, any controversy about the origin of ANAN. In his testimony, one of the members of the House of Representatives, who passed the ANAN Bill, Hon. Sidi Ali, said when the private member bill was presented to the House, what he described as a formidable ‘cabal’ was in place to ensure that it did not see the light of day, and that no other professional body on the accountancy profession was registered to break the ICAN monopoly.

According to him, the existence of ICAN as the only body to regulate the profession then was inhibiting skills development as only a fews accountants were qualified to practise due to the very stringent procedure for qualification.

FMF to Deliver 500,000 Homes, 1.5m Jobs by 2023 Bennett Oghifo

Family Homes Funds (FMF), a special purpose investment vehicle having the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated as founding shareholders, aims to support the development of over 500,000 homes and 1.5million jobs for Nigerians on low income by 2023.

Towards that goal, the Funds has recently completed the construction of 400 homes with an average cost of N3.5million in Grand Luvu, Nasarawa State – part of over 4,000 homes under construction in five states of Ogun, Nasarawa, Kano, Delta and Kaduna. A further 30,000 homes are at advanced stages of negotiation with development partners and will commence by November 2018. As the new company builds capacity through the ongoing recruitment campaign, it will achieve a programme of 80,000 homes by December 2019.

“Creation of new jobs is a critical element of the Funds programme.

Ongoing investments are already making a real difference with over 13,000 jobs created and about 360,000 to be created from current development pipeline. The Grand Luvu project in Nasarawa State has created about 8,000 jobs. “26-year-old Kabiru Usman has been unemployed since graduation from Nasarawa State University. He was employed and obtained training on the Funds Grand Luvu project.

He has now acquired valuable skills with guaranteed long term employment and income to support his young family. So also has Hassan Ladan, an unskilled and unemployed youth who has had to depend on his family for handouts until he was employed as a mason on the project site. “In Kaduna, the Millennium City project has directly engaged slightly over 200 persons including local artisans and carpenters, brick

layers etc. Yusuf Ishaq an unemployed itinerant bricklayer now has a stable source of income at the Kaduna Construction, so also does Abubakar Sidi, a Carpenter who has had to relocate to the site area because of the job stability that the project offers. “The story is no different for Abu Imtiaz, a graduate of Accounting from Kaduna Polytechnic, who before now wasn’t employed, but is now engaged as an accountant on site,� they stated.

According to officials of the Fund, “Our focus is to create homes that people, particularly those on low income can afford but beyond that, ensure that we provide opportunity for them to earn decent wages consistently through our investment in these projects. We have spent the last nine months building very strong foundations for a major take off and now we should start seeing the results‌..affordable homes and jobs for local people.â€?

Lagos to Celebrate World Coconut Day The Lagos State Government in collaboration with the African Coconut Heritage Initiatives is set to host the 7th edition of the Coconut Heritage Festival tagged ‘AGUNKEFEST’ in commemoration of the 2018 World Coconut Day as listed in the State’s calendar of cultural events released earlier in the year.

The event is scheduled for September 2, 2018 at the Suntan Beach Front, Badagry.

In a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Arts & Culture, Mrs. Aramide Giwanson, the State Government said the objective of the celebration was to provide an avenue to create awareness on the array of invaluable economic, health

and environmental benefits that coconut offers amidst cultural manifestation. “In addition, the festival intends to draw global attention and beam searchlight on Badagry division of the State thereby showcasing its rich cultural and traditional values to attract both domestic and international tourists to the division. “The celebration is also in line with the State Government’s vision and commitment to develop every division of the State, as well showcase its cultural and economic potentials to the world,�

Giwanson said.

Activities lined-up to celebrate the one-day programme, according to the statement, starts with a symposium in the morning on

the theme of the celebration – “Harnessing Coconut Production for Economic Empowerment and Tourism Development in Lagos State,� which would be delivered by an authority in the coconut industry, Dr. Charles Aisagbonhi, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Institute of Oil Palm Research Benin, Edo State.

This will be followed up with a grand finale ceremony, where all stakeholders in the industry and coconut value chain will exhibit their products, and the day’s event will be rounded up with cultural displays and entertainment amongst different communities in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development areas in the State.

Plus

GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FASHION FILE SHOWBIZFLAIR

pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 43 pg. 45

Gbenga OlawepoHashim I Was a Lonely Kid Who Cheated Death 4 Times While Growing Up

pg. 22

Itoro Ugorji Starting a Crèche without Proper Training is Injustice to Kids

Biola Alabi

I Was An Easy Going Kid. My Parents Probably Enjoyed Raising Me Than My Brothers

pg. 20

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

PLUS

I Was An Easy Going Kid. My Parents Probably Enjoyed Raising Me Than My Brothers Many will always remember Biola Alabi as the Managing Director of M-Net Africa. Well, she has moved on. Biola is now a media entrepreneur. She is the founder/managing partner, Biola Alabi Media. The firm produces a food/travel documentary series called Bukas and Joints airing across Africa and in the USA. This entrepreneur, filmmaker, investor, public speaker and television host enjoys engaging young people.

She runs a mentorship programme called Grooming for Greatness. In 2012, Biola was named one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa by Forbes Magazine and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. CNBC Africa named her West African Business Woman of the Year in 2013. This energetic television personality takes Ahamefula Ogbu through her background, growing up and career

S

o much is known about you but not on your growing up.

What was your childhood like? Where were you born? (laughs) Wao! that’s many years ago; I was born in the US and to of course Nigerian parents. My parents eventually moved back to Nigeria, so I spent some time in Nigeria and then eventually moved back to the US. That’s where my parents live now and many years after living in the US, I decided to move back to Nigeria and that was about 10 years ago when I got a job offer at Multichoice. So yea, I grew up mainly in the US and in Nigeria. I think because of the time I spent in Nigeria when I was younger even though I went back to the US, I always thought Nigeria was home and with my parents, we always talked about Nigeria that it was home. So, there was a part of me living in America that felt temporary but at the end of the day, I guess it is now second home.

Alabi

Nigeria and America are my home.

What part of Nigeria are your parents from?

My dad is from Akure, my Mum is from Ilesa, south west.

So your primary education to the university level was in America?

Split, it was basically between the two places. Most of my primary and secondary school were actually between both places.

My parents moved around a lot even when we were in Nigeria, so I spent some time in Akure; then I also spent some time in ….I have to be honest, I can’t remember some names of these schools but I remember the cities. I do remember I spent some time in secondary school in Kaba, Kogi State before coming back to finish secondary school.

What exactly inspired you to return despite having what could be better

opportunities outside Nigeria?

I think one other thing that people don’t understand is that when you are abroad, sometimes, you will always feel left out. I guess because, yes, many people ask me questions where I am from, people don’t understand, they have very low expectations of Africa. In fact, very low expectations of Nigeria and the Nigeria you know is different from the Nigeria they know. So, when you are trying to explain to people where you are from, then sometimes, you feel defeated because there is so much negative information in the world about Nigeria, about Africa.

I think from very young age, I spent time really trying to educate people about Nigeria because at that time, I only knew about Nigeria; I didn’t know Africa which I was later exposed to but at that time I always tried to educate people about Nigeria because people will always have the wrong notion. I remember when I was at a friend’s house and they had served and I wasn’t that hungry and

so I didn’t eat that much and the mum was like oh you didn’t finish your food, aren’t people starving in your country? I said wao!

I was a kid and I said oh, this is how people see my country, I guess that was why I was always drawn to Nigeria and also to change that story.

Let’s go back to your growing up, what were your parents like? Pampering or driving you hard to attain goals?

They didn’t pamper us, there was no pampering. They were disciplinarians but I don’t think they were hard but one thing I remember was that there were always books everywhere; I remember my sister and I reading a lot, there was a lot of reading, we read a lot, so I do remember there were always books, libraries. I remember reading a lot growing up and my parents were always reading. I remember we didn’t live in big cities; we lived in very quiet places, very quiet life. Even till today, they are not that

SEPTEMBER 1 , 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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PLUS I Don’t Think Your Bank Balance Defines Who You Are. I’ve Never Thought That Way and I Never Will economic process; until we can provide jobs for our people we will continue to see them leave. That is why I am determined to be in Nigeria to try and create jobs for young people. If not that people have gone on holidays for sallah, you would have found out that the average age of people in this office is 21, 22; everyone here is young and vibrant with good ideas. This is part of the reason I set up Grooming for Greatness as leadership training organisation to cater people between the ages of 25 and 35. It makes the younger ones know they have a role to play in making Nigeria better as leaders, This is also to make the young people see very good role models . For me every concept we create, we are concerned with how we make them role models not only on screen but everywhere.

hard. I know one thing they wanted though they were very clear they wanted me to be either a Doctor or an Engineer because I was good in sciences at that time but I later fell out of love with science. I remember they tried to push me towards the sciences and I would probably say that was the only time I was pressured. They always wanted you to come high in class as in being in the top but I never felt bad if I came second or third but I was always in the top five, I never felt pressured. I don’t even think my siblings felt pressured.

Would you say you were a compliant or stubborn child?

I am the eldest of the four of us so I think as the oldest kid you are a peacemaker; always keeping the peace in the house, trying and making sure your siblings don’t get into trouble. I mean I had to be a good example.

So, in a way, I wasn’t a trouble maker. Of course, my mum might say something else, but I really was not a trouble maker. I didn’t give my parents a lot of wahala. So, I was an easy going kid. I will say they probably enjoyed raising me than my brothers because I am sure my brothers were more troublesome than me and my sister.

Assuming you were to be banished to an island what three items would you take along with you?

I will probably just take some books with me.

Are there current works you are doing to liberate and empower young minds?

Grooming for Greatness is that which I use for mentorship programmes. I also have Lagos Inter-network, which mentors and grooms people that have new businesses, entrepreneurs managing their own companies and everything I do engage young people.

Were you closer to your mum or dad?

I am close to both of them in different ways. I also think that in different phases of your life you become close to two different parents. When I was changing focus and vision about what I wanted to study, I became closer to my dad because I knew my mum was very clear about that Doctor or Engineer career but I knew my dad could be more flexible. I think girls are always closer to their dads in that stage where you need an advocate; and I think fathers are more advocative and protective. But I think as I get older now, my mum and I have a lot in common because we spend more time together; but growing up, my dad because he was a sort of my advocate. Yes. What indelible experience did you have growing up with your parents?

I have to say one thing that my parents gave me was the ability to see the world. My dad had travelled so widely that whenever he would tell us stories about different countries he had been, I always was like wao! I want to go to those places and my mum was more adventurous; she was a bit artistic, she was into different things, she will do businesses and different things but my dad always wanted to see the world. Though you don’t think about them every day in your life, but I think if you combine those two, those have been marks of how I navigated my life.

Can you describe yourself as a career woman?

What does career woman mean?

People that career comes first in their considerations, they put it first…to some, family comes first and to others career.

In the light of that definition, no, I have more of balanced life, family is important, friends are important, work is important and also seeing the world is important. It doesn’t mean I don’t like my work but I wouldn’t like you to misinterpret that because the word career woman is very confusing; but in the light of your definition, I am more of a balanced person.

What are the regrets in your life?

I don’t really do regret. I really do a lot of reflections, I look at things and say okay, did I make mistakes here, what did I learn? Not that there is anything wrong in regrets, just that it doesn’t work for me. I guess sometimes maybe regret not doing something, maybe when people invite me for trips or travels and maybe the regret I have is not taking advantage of the opportunities. I really don’t spend so much time looking at the past because there is so much to be done in the future, so much ahead of us to dwell in the past.

How do you relax?

I do take time out. I travel and l love to travel just to discover, to relax , just walk around and be inspired. I love being inspired by new environment and new people and traveling is the easiest way to relax and I also read. Traveling and reading are my relaxation techniques.

Alabi

Was it love at first sight? What did you see in him that made you choose him out of the lot?

I don’t think it was love at first sight. I think it is very hard to do, maybe when you were much younger. I think when we got talking, there were things that were very special for connection right away that I thought I could stay a lot of time with him and that we can get married and spend our lives together.

Have you ever felt threatened by other women being around your husband?

No but I don’t like answering this question because I hate when questions are posed about women and other women. I feel it doesn’t move the conversation forward about how women really want to be working and empowering each other rather than threatening each other. For me I feel like it is such a weird and negative question for a young woman especially newly wedded woman and women that are trying to navigate marriage and at the end of the day marriage is between two people and if you are going to depend on other people, the problem is going to come back to the two people.

You grew up in a closely knit family, what’s your idea about family?

Yes we grew up in a closely knit family; family is one of the most important things and means a lot because it is the number one thing that sustains you. My own definition of family is that it doesn’t have to be the traditional family I grew up with; it has to include friends and family members, To me, family are those who are always there for you.

When did you lose interest in MNET that you pulled out?

I don’t want to say I lost interest, I didn’t lose interest, I was interested in something else, but I didn’t lose interest in MNET. I carried out my job there till the last day and I enjoyed my job. I think I wanted to do something different, that’s what I did. I love what the brand is and what the brand is turning out to be. I also love Sesame Street and I worked there for seven years, longer than I worked with MNET and till today, I still love Sesame Street and I have done consulting work for Sesame Street since then. So, I don’t think it was like losing interest in the job, but just as a person grows, and your future and what you want to do, it is okay to change job.

How did you meet your husband?

We met at an event and also through a friend. We were at an event and we were introduced to each other.

You’ve made your footprints in different areas, are we expecting you in politics?

The answer is no. But I also know that the moment you say you are not contesting,

people will believe you are, so really the answer is no I am not. I believe there are so much work still to be done in my field and other things I am doing. Number one is that what we have to do to change the narrative about Africa, about Nigeria. There is so much work about telling and communicating our stories, also telling our diverse stories where we are and what we do and where we live.

For me there is still so much work ahead. I am interested in how we have conversation on women in leadership, how women can get funding for their businesses, how we empower women, how women are engaged in the economic ecosystem in Nigeria and across Africa, these are issues we need to speak about. Nigeria’s progress depends on activating the 50 per cent of her population which is women as a nation. I don’t have to be on the inside to do that, so for now, I am staying on the outside.

You were outside the country and you are back, but you still see Nigerians struggling to leave our shores; some even taking life threatening risks, what words do you have for such people?

I have words for leadership; the reason that is happening is because of failure of leadership, which should create more opportunities for the young ones. We need to empower women; we need women to feel that they can be active contributors to the economy. We need to increase the stake which everybody has in Nigeria. People who have nothing to lose also have nothing to get. So for me, the number one thing is how we are empowering the young girls from day one; how we empower people to create more jobs that can sustain them.

On the other side of the people making these treacherous journeys, these are extremely unfavourable environment. People are being trafficked for a promise of better life. It is happening all over the world, not only Nigerian girls and sometimes Nigerian young men. The best way is to let us find a way of engaging the economic process. All these things come down to money. We need to find ways of getting more people engaged in the

If we were to hack into your bank account, how many digits are we going to findß, are you rich, maybe as rich as Dangote and Otedola? (laughs) I am rich in many ways. I am rich in amazing families, friends and in God’s blessings. I am very fortunate to have the life I have. I do practice gratefulness.

When I wake up, instead of asking God for something, I thank Him for what He has given me. If I am as rich as Dangote, you will know, even Alhaji will know. I really work hard and I am trying to build a new business, but I don’t think your bank balance defines who you are. I’ve never thought that way and I never will. How you are building others, turning peoples’ lives around, lifting lives up and not the money in your bank account define who you are.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I don’t know, but some of the most important things that I see myself doing in the future is to continue building my company.

I believe in the power of energy, I believe in the power of the word, I believe in the power of audio visual media, I don’t believe you are limited by platform. This is a very important way to shape our world. When you listen to the western world describe their government, they never use the word regime and I thought that was very interesting but in Africa we say regimes; so I am always looking out for simple ways to describe and tell our stories. When I was talking to some young minds on how America talks about 9/11, they do so from the angle of heroism.

(9/11 was one of the worst security breaches in history. Americans don’t talk about the security breaches but how they reacted to it and that is the story of heroism that is what makes a people proud of their country, what makes them proud to be Americans, not the fact that there were many places that there were failures. Until we start to tell our stories, who we are to celebrate us, it will not happen especially when our stories are mainly of failures. I want to be more involved in education and health which have scary indicators. Five years from now I hope to be doing much more than I am doing now.

What do you like most about yourself?

I am persistent in pursuing things I think are important, I enjoy that. I am not easily discouraged and I don’t take failure as tragedy. Disappointment is gonna happen but we have to bounce back. I don’t spend time dwelling on failure and if I make mistake, I will own up and apologise; that is what I have to thank my parents for.

If you make a mistake, apologise; if you do something wrong, apologise and take responsibility. When people don’t take responsibility, it becomes very difficult for me to work with them.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

PLUS

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

I Was a Lonely Child Who Cheated Death 4 Times While Growing Up Politician and Chairman of Oilworld Limited, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, is a charming personality. He is not physically, intellectually and spiritually encumbered. Whereas, spiritually, his rodomontade is in his personal relationship with the Almighty God, which bond, according to him, is an essential summation of his high point in life. SUFUYAN OJEIFO captures the atmospherics of his modest residence in the serene Life Camp district of Abuja and the nuances of his responses to questions that bordered on his birth, his formative years, and the social-economic conditions that contoured his philosophical voyage through student unionism; politics and business

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͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS I’m Rich But Simple Because I’m Not DeďŹ ned By Material Things

J

udging by the circumstances of his birth and the number of times he cheated death in his childhood, it would not have been too difficult for even the undiscerning mind to foretell that Mr. Gbenga OlawepoHashim was destined to be great in life. We pumped hands as he welcomed me into his living room and ushered me to a seat. I could see that he was eager to get down to brass tacks. But he would first reinforce the human interest focus of the interview to be sure of the kind of questions to expect. So, it was made clear from the outset that it was not an interview bordering on politics for which he is currently preparing to engage in the 2019 presidential enterprise.

With a somewhat emotion-laden voice, he intoned that were it not for the caring hand of the Almighty of God, he would not be sitting with me for the interaction that was intended to mediate the distance between his past and his present or, in other words, reconnect his present with his past for some historical narrative. At ages four and seven, he had cheated death in some inexplicable circumstances.

According to him, “The caring hand of God has always been there for me. I have had very tough experience like when, as a four-year kid, I was drowning in River Niger. It was only the hand of God that saved me. I could have passed on. After I was rescued, they pressed my stomach and water was coming out from my nose, my mouth, from everywhere.�

Three years after that incident, he was involved in an auto accident and when he was in his final class in the secondary school, his life was again threatened. He said: “I had an accident as a seven-year old kid. I fell off a speeding Volkswagen combi bus and I spent months in the hospital.

That was a close shave. In the secondary school, every six weeks, I was on hospital admission. In the secondary school, I wrote my final year WASC examinations on the hospital bed. But when the result came out, I cleared all my papers at first sitting. So, I have had tough moments; I won’t say low points, yes tough moments, but God has always been there for me to provide strength.�

Life as a lonely kid His formative years were characterised by solitude because he grew up with the family of his stepfather and intimate attention was not given to him: “I was a lonely kid in the sense that sometimes I was in the boarding house and on the visiting day, parents were coming and everybody was being called that she/he had visitors and I was not called, I would start crying.� To aggravate that, his best intentions were sometimes not appreciated and, as he put it: “I found out that those things that I held dearly were even turned against me to define me wrongly. It could be very painful. When you are in such a circumstance, it is only God that can give you the strength to continue. But in all these, the caring hand of God has always been there for me.�

Interestingly, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who was known and addressed by his associates as Gbenga Olawepo until some few years ago, explained the sudden manifestation of Hashim that is now compounded with Olawepo, perhaps, was to douse whatever satanic suspicions that are possibly being nurtured and harboured by some disingenuous minds.

His account was succinct: “I was born in Yelwa, Yauri in Kebbi State, and precisely in 1969, on June 28 at 6 am on a Saturday, at the Methodist Clinic in Yauri because my mother was then a hospital assistant and my father was a cadet in the police. He just finished his cadet course as a young police officer at the time I was born. My father was Alhaji Hashim Abdullahi who died as police commissioner and commandant of the Police College in Kaduna. But I grew up with the family of my stepfather, Mr. Julius Bamidele Olawepo, who worked as works manager in Kainji Lake Research Centre.� Although there was the problem of distance initially between him and his biological father, that distance was mediated in 1996 long before he passed on in 2006.

eras who inspired us-people like the late Adamu Ciroma, the late Sunday Awoniyi, were disciplined in their lifestyles. This made them role models to some of us in politics.�

Olawepo-Hashim

Overcoming psychological pressure Surviving the socio-economic condition of the time and the attendant pressures was critical in the life of the young OlawepoHashim despite being raised by a relatively prosperous family. That relative prosperity was toned down by personal issues that essentially piled on him some psychological pressure because, “as a child, I was not raised in the same way my step brothers and sisters were raised. We went to different schools; and as a child that had a way of giving me some kind of psychological pressure.�

But that experience did not turn out negative for him. He quipped: “I would say that it helped me more than it affected me because I grew up not having a sense of entitlement. I was raised to depend a lot on myself. So, in that sense, I did not become a spoilt kid. Whatever God had brought my way, I have had to work for them; and, when I was going to secondary school, for instance, there was nothing that showed that I came from a middle class home. In school, maybe I had a small tin of pronto and garri and you would find the children of drivers coming with cartons of geisha and all that and I just depended on whatever I was given.�

While in school, Olawepo-Hashim was exposed to the good, the bad and the ugly sides of life. One of the ugly sides would later define his essence: “I was interested in the handball team and I was playing number six and because of the quality of my games wears, there was this assistant coach that was very nasty and who was always telling me to file out of the team and leave the court because my games wears were not very nice enough. But the senior coach was more caring and understanding.

It did not matter to him the quality of my games wears; but, anytime this very mean assistant coach was at the court, he would just look at me and yell at me to get out of the handball team; and, I would go by the side and cry. But that did not hurt me psychologically. “What it did for me was that early in life, I taught myself that material things would not define me. So, I was a very good kid in class and some of the positions that I had right from secondary school were basically about my academic performances rather than how I looked or my games wears.

When I was appointed prefect and that was after our class four promotion exams, it was based on the best students in arts and sciences. They were made prefect, basically. “My very good teacher, Tope Aluko, was one of the first people who ever inspired me and really showed me that I am important

rather than the treatment that I got on the handball court. Aluko called me one afternoon; and, of course, I had always participated in his class very well; even in the year four exam, I had distinction in Government; and, he said, look, Gbenga, we had a meeting in the staff room today and I nominated you as a prefect and I hope you won’t let me down. I promised that I would not let him down. We used to have fantastic debates in class that time about the nationalist struggle of Zik and all that; and, then the curriculum of that era was very rich. So people like Tope Aluko already imprinted in me the self-confidence to have a self-worth beyond being defined by material things.�

Whatever the magnitude of his intellectual prowess today, Olawepo-Hashim claimed that the foundations were laid at the secondary school and the School of Basic Studies.

According to him, “Every other thing, even in the University of Lagos or in my masters’ class was just like icing on the cake. I was just developing or consolidating along the line, but the foundations were laid in the secondary school and the School of Basic Studies. The curriculum in the School of Basic Studies in Ilorin was excellent. I was a responsible student of Duro Onimola who taught us Introduction to Political Science.

You could not be an idiot if you were a good student of Duro Onimola and you know the curriculum in the School of Basic Studies was a mixture of GCE A’ Level London and the IJMB by ABU Zaria. So, people like Duro Onimola and co. did a lot to also sharpen me intellectually.�

The ultimate role model But picking role models in politics, Olawepo-Hashim very easily settled for the late human rights activist, Alao Aka Bashorun, whom he described as democrat extraordinaire, a very brilliant mind and successful lawyer. According to him, “Aka Bashorun was very humble even with all his attainments. He would handle cases for us, student union leaders in those days, pro bono, and even though we were not paying him and the age difference was much, he could even be older than my father but he related to us like colleagues and we were free to talk to him anyhow and he would still be very calm and just smile. “He inspired me in the way he was humble, in the way he was true, in the way he was real without looking for any accolade. Then you talk about people like the Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi. Alhaji Rimi inspired me particularly because of his courage and stubbornness.

He was very courageous and stubborn about his principles. The leaders of those

Set for political and business leadership His decision to proceed to the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, where he studied and obtained a Masters degree in Global Affairs, was motivated by the multi-disciplinary nature of the course: “After a lot of politicking, I took a break and I wanted a multidisciplinary course that could be useful both for me in my business and my future public career and global affairs was just perfect then because it was a multidisciplinary course- a lot of international finance and I had very good lecturers like Professor Jeffrey Woods, one of the leading advisors to Central Banks all over the world, who taught me international finance.�

He continued: “And then there was international economics, and economics has always been my first love. So it did offer me that opportunity and there was the other module-the history of international systems that was taught by the secretary of the governing council then; there was international trade law, global security one and two and environmental politics and all that. That course gave me an opportunity for an intellectual platform to have a certification in the knowledge of the modern international political system and the norms and conventions, practices and theories that govern it‌. “I think, to be quite honest, you cannot be an effective president of a country or an effective leader of a global corporation without an elementary knowledge of how the international political and economic system operates now. And just having advisors would not be enough because most deals in the economic and investment realm are brokered - when you are one-on-one, either with your colleague president or with your colleague head of corporation, without your aides and assistants in a dinner; or in a one-to-one talk, playing games and relaxing. That is where the crux of the matter and the ice is broken, where you do not have the cameras and where you do not have the aides. So, in making those deals, you must have at your fingertips the grasp of exactly what you are gunning for. “Indeed, when memos are passed to you and you do not even have quality advisors, you would not know when you put your signature to genocide, when you order some troop deployments and there could be consequences; and, that is why you see that for most successful countries of the world, right now and countries that matter in the global economic realm, you see some mastery of economic and global governance issues by those who lead them. The truth of it is that there is no significant country in the world that can be led right now by people who do not possess some minimum levels of education.â€?

Rich but simple lifestyle Having been defined early in life as not given to material things, his immense wealth has not been able to get into his head. In his riposte to a poser in this regard, he declared: “I do not put too much premium on material things. I have a modest lifestyle and, therefore, material things have not defined me. When I was in the University of Lagos, I did not have more than two pairs of sandals and it did not make any difference to me.

You could count the number of clothes that I had then and it did not make any difference to me; and, as I grow up, I see people who probably do not have one over hundred of what God has blessed me with driving expensive cars, wearing expensive wrist watches and it does not matter to me because that is what gives them happiness and that is probably what defines them. However, it does not mean that I do not have my own social life. The thing that gives me pleasure is to see how we can solve problems for people. That gives me pleasure more than any other thing.�

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Íš, 2014

PLUS

Itoro Ugorji Starting a Crèche without Proper Training is Injustice to Toddlers With a sound university degree and a good job in the ďŹ nancial sector, Itoro Ugorji sure had life going on well for her. Everything seemed to be working accordingly and of course, her loved ones and associates expected her to extend her frontier in the corporate world. But she had a dierent and unusual plan. Fifteen years ago, she yielded to passion and chose to be taking care of children. Raheem Akingbolu, who spent one hour at The Baby Lounge, established by Ugorji on Victoria Island, Lagos, spoke to her on what informed her line of trade

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͚˜ ˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS Giving Birth Shouldn’t Deprive a Woman of Attaining Her Potential

I

t was a bright late afternoon, when children had just closed for academic activities. As this writer was ushered in by a receptionist at The Baby Lounge, he saw a different world, clearly different from what he had imagined. It wasn’t like the usual creche with stench or shabby environment. Everything was in order and of course, one needed nobody to announce that it was another world for children.

But just as they were settling down for business of the day, a three-year old girl bumped into Mrs. Ugorji’s office unannounced. She jumped into the waiting arms of the woman they all know as their second mother. No barriers. For few minutes, Ugorji cuddled her baby girl as she continued telling the stories of her activities in the school for the day. Cleverly, Ugorji called one of her assistants, a young lady in her early 20s to quickly attend to the school girl. She turned to her baby ‘my love, can you please go and settle down, have lunch and attend to your assignment.’ Reluctantly, the three-year old girl withdrew her hands and followed the lady who was waiting to take her to one of the rooms. “Your daughter?’’ this reporter had asked curiously shortly after the baby girl left the room, “yes, one of my daughters, I have many of them and they are always at home with me.’’ With this, the reporter knew the young girl who just left the office reluctantly was not Ugorji’s biological kid but one of the children she was taking care of. Welcome to the world of Mrs. Itoro Ugorji, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Baby Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos. “I am an early years professional. That means I take care of children from two to five years. What we run is service called ‘baby lounge’, a child care service. As a matter of fact, we provide a range of unique, innovative early child care solutions. The service is designed to support working mothers of toddlers,� she said.

When asked of measures she has put in place to ensure security, she admitted that security and comfort were of utmost importance to parents when it comes to child care. “Parents are looking for childcare they can trust coupled with safety issues. And a place equipped with not just play resources, but with human beings that are compassionate and truly committed to taking care of the children as their own.�

Ugorji disclosed that she had been doing this off and on for 15 years, adding that within the period, she was in paid employment and was shuttling between home and work at the initial stage.

She explained: “I started out with a room in my house 15 years ago. Interestingly, the first child who came just turned 15. In the process of running this at the beginning, we discovered that it was capital intensive. We knew that to set a truly childcare facility was going to cost a lot of money. We didn’t have that kind of investment at the time. So the idea of an office creche came up. The office creche was simple. It was to go to the companies to say I have the expertise to provide child care service. Give me a space in your office and I would recommend furniture and fittings. The asset will be owned by you. I will just set up and run it.�

One wonders if it is not too expensive for Ugorji to have decided to locate her Baby Lounge in the heart of Victoria Island, with all its peculiar challenges and expensive lifestyle, no thanks to heavy concentration of businesses in the area. But to her, what her interviewer considered as challenge was actually a blessing in disguise.

She added: “One of the solutions is having it close to their offices so parents can drop their babies. That’s why we have spaces like the nursing room where mothers can breastfeed their babies and go back to work. So, the creche in the business place is one of the solutions.

Ugorji

Another solution is office creche. For the office creche, we do two things: set up and management. We can set up for you and not manage. We set up for the likes of GTBank, Access Bank, Total. For Total, we set up and managed for three years.

We recently set up for Chevron Employee Management Cooperative Society. We it set up and we are running it. We also have the in-home child care. We can send care to your home in the event that you don’t want to bring the baby to the creche. It can be hourly or daily arrangement. We also offer weekend care.’’ Speaking on what informed this; this pleasant Akwa Ibom born child care expert didn’t mince words as she announced that it was borne out of a personal experience.

Ugorji recalled: “When I started out, we didn’t have our own baby; we had a period of seven years waiting. The idea of the office creche was because we didn’t have fund to start. Then after some years, we discovered we needed to have our facility, The Baby Lounge, which is barely three years. I was in paid employment working in high pressure environment. When our baby came, I wasn’t ready to leave paid employment yet, but the baby was very precious, we had to think of child care. So, I started shopping around and realised that it was not easy. We were looking for a clean place, with children being well cared for by professionals. This is core child care. “I worked with GTBank and Access Bank in various capacities. But my area of core competence was customer experience and relationship management. I realised there was a gap. I took the baby to the office one day and put him in a corner. And then it occurred to me we could actually create a corner for the babies. So I spoke to my supervisor at the time. I did the survey and the responses were overwhelming. Even fathers wanted creches in their offices. And the kinds of parents I was looking to serve, you needed to be knowledgeable. It wasn’t just about passion; it had to be combined with some level of competence. So I had to go and study this. It was early childhood education with focus on leadership.�

She explained her mode of operation: “We have the infant room and toddler community. The infants are from six weeks to twelve months. From there, they move to toddler community which is largely for care and monitoring their development.

When they turn new month, we give parents what we call milestone checklist. It tells you what your child should be doing at certain ages. We also do things like

sending reminders to parents on upcoming immunisations. We also encourage and support parents to do exclusive breastfeeding because the benefit is just enormous. “We also have facilities like the refrigerating unit where the parents bring their expression milk bottles. We label these bottles with the children’s names, date and time of expression. We have sterilising units, warmers for the infants. For the toddlers, the children are from 13-36 months.

For this set, we have structured routine.

That is school readiness skills and we work with the curriculum. These children are taught social skills, self-help skills, early literacy, arts and craft. By the time they leave us, the foundation is set. They know their numbers, colours, their vocabulary has increased and they can trace numbers and hold their pencils right.’’ At this stage, Ugorji rearranged herself, tapped the table as if she had just remember something urgent. It was about her ‘daughter’ who came in when the interview was about taking off: “Yes, let me use my daughter who came in when we were about kicking off to explain our after school programme. Children come in from other schools. With those set of kids, we do homework assistance and tutoring. We actually have a focus on getting children to read early. We have the library; they pick up story books and read. Another service we provide is event pop up creche. It’s a mobile care and play setting for event; weddings conferences etc, where you have women in attendance. Most women don’t attend most events because they have issues with childcare. We do risk assessment of the venue and set it up. So, parents can have their kids and attend their event. We work with organisers and event planners.

The organisers will inform us ahead of time. So we will set up a corner where mothers can breastfeed and activity corners with toys and story books.�

As beautiful as the process appears to look, Ugorji was frank enough to reel out the challenges that come with her nature of job. According to her, trust remains one of the major challenges that people in her shoes will have to pay good attention to. “Our major challenge would be the trust issue. You have to earn that trust. It’s ironic that it’s trust issues because we take people from rural areas that are complete strangers with no blood relations with us and leave our children with them, hoping they are safe. We have loads of issue of abuse; the ones parents are aware of and those they are yet to be aware of. This service is born

Our major challenge would be the trust issue. You have to earn that trust. It’s ironic that it’s trust issues because we take people from rural areas that are complete strangers with no blood relations with us and leave our children with them, hoping they are safe. We have loads of issue of abuse; the ones parents are aware of and those they are yet to be aware of.

This service is born out of need to not just support mothers but help nurture children to be wholesome kids out of need to not just support mothers but help nurture children to be wholesome kids. We have child care training. If you have helps that are literate, we can train them to make them professional in area of child care so they can take care of your children. We also have people who want to set up creches. We are saying that just the same way you can’t go and perform surgery as a doctor because you didn’t go to medical school, you can’t also start a good crèche without proper training. So if you think you can work off the street and take care of children without being trained? It’s almost an injustice to the kids�, she posited.

On the measures her organisation put in place to screen those who work with her, Ugorji disclosed that they do diligent background screenings and medical screening.

She explained: “You will agree that it’s an ultra-sensitive service. So it’s important that those in this service are screened. We believe giving birth to children shouldn’t deprive the mother of attaining her potential. This is one of the reasons why this service is available.’’ To justify her position about training, Ugorji opened up on her credentials, which have almost taken her away finally from her corporate and literary background: “My hands-on experience as an Early Years Practitioner include international exposures in Nursery Hill Elementary School and Smart Kidz Academy, both in Columbia, South Carolina. I have undertaken several skills and competencybased trainings in the field of Childcare. I hold a Diploma in Children Studies and an M.Sc programme in Early Childhood Education with a specialisation in Administration, Management & Leadership. I am a member of the U.S. National Association for Educating the Young Child (N.A.E.Y.C) and the World Forum Foundation, both international networks of Early Year professionals that promote an on-going global exchange of ideas on the delivery of quality services for young children in diverse settings. My core competencies are employer-sponsored crèches.â€?

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POLITY

Ijeoma Igbaji: Satisfaction fromTouching Lives Priceless Ijeoma Igbaji is the Founder and CEO of a dynamic gifts and surprises company, White Rabbit Favours, which creates and delivers unique gift packages and beautiful surprises for any celebration to wow the celebrant, make their day extra special and give them unforgettable memories. She tells Bennett Oghifo how it works and what nudged her in that direction

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great at decorations and gift wrapping and I give the best gifts to friends and family. I have focused on business and self-development so I could innovate and always give my clients something new. I have clients who come to us every year, every birthday and anniversary and they get something new.

ow did you get around to delivering gifts?

After graduation, I dreamed of the security of paid employment, but God had greater plans for me. Fresh out of National Youth Service with no dream job in sight, I chose to develop the skills I had to create the type of job I wanted.

So, I delved into entrepreneurship and White Rabbit Concept was born. I ran a events management firm for a while, operated an upscale lounge in Abuja called Code Lounge, Published an Abuja lifestyle magazine called City Crawler Magazine. However, I shut all of them down to focus on White Rabbit Favours in 2013.

Tell Us about White Rabbit Favours and how the idea to surprise people came about?

White Rabbit Favours was launched in 2013 and since then we have carried out over 1,000 deliveries to Surprise and Delight our clients. I was running an event management company when I got the idea to start this business. My Sister who works in a bank always asked me to help her deliver cakes, or gifts to her husband or friends or colleagues on their birthdays or anniversary and I thought why not turn it into a service and charge for it. Little did I know that it would morph into something so fantastic. We package and deliver cakes, fresh flowers, balloons, chocolates, jewelry, wine, champagne, cars, Spa vouchers, shopping vouchers, gift certificates etc for every occasion and celebration.

We also include the WR Saxophone or violin serenade for our classic birthday surprise. We recently added the talking drum to the classic surprise and it’s been so great. People call us the Joy Vendors; we are all about Joy and happiness.

How many employees do you have?

I currently have a team of five. But some surprises require more people, for example flash mobs or orchestra or Christmas day secret Santa or Valentine’s day deliveries, so we have adhoc staff on standby, which could run up to about 35 people.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

We want to be where to go for Surprises in Nigeria. When anybody thinks of doing something special, they will think of us, both corporate and individual. We have launched our Boat Wow Experience, The Carriage Ride and The Hot Air Balloons. We have our roadmap for achieving this; however you know that business is about embracing adaptability and flexibility because it shifts radically every year.

Ijeoma A business of surprises, what has the response been like?

The response has been amazing. Since we started in 2013 we have carried out almost 1000 deliveries and surprises. The truth is every human being has a need for love, according to Maslow Hierarchy of Needs.

When people call White Rabbit favours to surprise someone they are not only showing love, appreciating or celebrating the recipient, but they also get it back in return. The Pleasure goes to both the sender and receiver.

The unexpected always feels good. It meets their desire for more, so instead of mediocre celebration they get the wow experience which is unforgettable. The novelty of it all leaves a memorable feeling and causes joy and happiness.

How did you get the background and skill to run this Business?

Beyond my University degree, which is Theatre Arts, I attended the Enterprise Development Center of Pan African University. And from childhood I have always been

What is your favourite part of running this business?

Meeting people; sharing in their joy, being a part of their love stories and their celebrations; watching people’s faces light up as they receive their gifts or surprises, and seeing the smiles. The impact is priceless. All our clients gain a high level of detailed service.

Everything we deliver is personalised to fit the recipient and we work with beautiful and quality materials and the very best vendors for cakes and fresh flowers orders. All our surprises are beautiful and well packaged and the satisfaction that comes from touching and impacting lives is priceless.

MultiChoice: CPC Hiding Behind A Finger Segun Agboola

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t is hardly surprising that, for about two weeks, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC)/MultiChoice saga has been a major cause celebre.

The matter arose from an interim court injunction the CPC secured against the implementation of MultiChoice’s new tariffs, which took effect on 1 August.

The media, traditional and new, have brimmed with reports and perspectives on the matter. The move by the CPC, which targeted the tariff increase, naturally, got many to queue behind it.

Conversely, many other commentators view the council’s attempt at fixing prices for a private enterprise, via the court, as carrying a whiff of Soviet-era communism-an action antithetical to free market economy.

Stung by the allegation that it seeks to fix prices, Soviet-style (as one writer put it), the CPC has invested efforts in batting away that belief, principally because the law setting it up gives it no such powers.

The council accused critics of its move of deliberately reconfiguring the narrative to depict it as seeking to control prices. Two commentators in major national dailies, for example, weighed in on the side of the CPC (of course, rehashing the position of Babatunde Irukera, the Director-General), saying the council’s action was timely, necessary and not an assault on market economy. The CPC, in a statement signed

by Irukera, said it “respects the fidelity in the operation of free market forces in arriving at prices of goods and services”.

It added that the issues it is waging war against “are better articulated in the context of a Competition or Anti-trust legislation and regime, which Nigeria does not have”.

In view of the above and its claim that it does not “intend to regulate price or, in any way, interfere with the commercial interface between MultiChoice and its customers in fixing price”, it is pertinent to ask what exactly the CPC seeks. Going by the explanations of the CPC and the suspiciously hired pro-price control commentators, what the council seeks is exactly what it claims not to seek: Price fixing.

The Council, however, is hiding under what it thinks will get Nigerians excited.

The CPC, after admitting the country does not have a competition and anti-trust legislation, came up with the largely specious position that it was conducting a broad investigation into MultiChoice’s operations as they concern customer complaints on issues such as failure to reconnect subscribers after subscription renewal, disconnection before subscription expiry, poor picture quality, signal degeneration in severe weather conditions and failure to adopt the “pay-as-you-go” billing model as it is allegedly the case in other countries where MultiChoice operates.

It equally claimed that the Pay TV service company agreed that it would not raise prices for 24 months. I cannot claim to know whether or not MultiChoice agreed to that. However, I do not think there is a law stopping a business from raising prices because its operations are being investigated. I also do not know what serious business agrees not to raise

prices in two years even when there is a need for such. Strange.

That said, the issues, CPC correctly stated, had been subjects of public hearings at both chambers of the National Assembly, which invited the CPC to carry out an investigation. I recall that the investigation began in 2015 and was concluded in 2016, after which the CPC and MultiChoice jointly addressed a press conference in Lagos. The CPC Director-General at the time was Mrs. Dupe Atoki. Its counsel was Irukera. Media reports from the press conference quoted Mrs. Atoki as describing MultiChoice as a “model of compliance,” an admission that it had done as requested by the CPC. Why another investigation so soon? Why is a Pay TV company, whose services are used by less than 10 per cent of the population, getting the council as red-eyed as this?

Power distribution companies, telcos and others seem to get a free ride. Is there something the CPC is not telling us?

I understand the frustration that may arise from not being reconnected after subscription renewal and disruption of service before expiration of subscription.

These definitely need more attention from MultiChoice. I am, however mystified that the CPC does not know that signal degeneration in bad weather is not exclusive to Nigeria or MultiChoice. It affects satellite TV broadcast where heavy snowing or rain (cloud, actually) occurs. What we have in Nigeria is rain, not snow. The CPC could have checked rain-fade on the internet. Thick clouds interfere with the communication between the satellite and the dish. That is beyond the control of the provider.

Another laughable claim is that MultiChoice operates a pay-as-you-go billing system in other countries, which a commentator ignorantly described as “an assault on national pride”. The internet can also be of help. A country-by-country search on the company’s billing system, which I have done, shows that there is no such thing.

What we are left with is a clear attempt to fix prices in a market economy. Writing in support of the CPC in Thursday’s edition of ThisDay, one Nasom Ngaro suggested that the CPC was right. Well, I did a little research of my own, using the US. What I found is that what is regulated-and this is backed by law-is rates that the Pay TV service can charge for the “basic tier”.

Providers determine what is charged for premium services. As a matter of fact the Pay TV industry, in 2017, recorded a big victory against rate regulation via a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which upheld a 2015 decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that helped Pay TV companies avoid rate regulation.

After the 2015 ruling, the FCC was sued by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the National Association of Broadcasters, and the Northern Dakota County Cable Communications Commission, which wanted to overturn the new restrictions on rate regulation. The groups had filed a petition for the review of the order as an impermissible construction of the statute and as arbitrary and capricious.

––Agboola, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja

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POLITY

NACJ Honours Ortom, Joke Silver, Bishop Idahosa, Others

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he sixth Annual Integrity Lecture/Award organized by Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ), will resonate this October with a few eminent Nigerians who have been nominated for the highly coveted Integrity Award.

The Award which comes in various categories is given to leaders to encourage the Spirit of integrity in every strata of of the society.

This year, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State will be honored as the Integrity Man of the Year, while Nollywood Super Star, Joke Silver, will be decorated with the prestigious Woman of Integrity Award.

Other eminent personalities that will be equally

honoured include, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the Founder/President, Illumination Assembly International; Sir Chikwe Udensi, APGA gubernatorial flag bearer, Abia State; Sir Marc Wabara, former Hallmark Bank Boss; Apostle Chibuzor, General Overseer, Omega Power Ministries; Senator Usman Umar and Chief Godwin Ogbaga, one time Minister of power and Steel.

Others include 9ice, Nigeria’s sensational singer who is nominated for the Pricey, Young Person of Integrity of The Year Award; High Chief Eden Duke, former Minister of Tourism; Rt Hon Cosmos Ndukwe, Deputy Speaker, Abia State; Rita Nkiruta Okoro, a marketing communication expert and Chief Executive Officer, Esthymike Limited; Mrs Ijeoma Onyeri, Deputy Director, Downstream DPR and Dr

PaIsaacOnibonojePassesOn

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he funeral of an accomplished businessman and exemplar is community leader, Pa Isaac Onibonoje, 90, will be held on September 7, 2018 in his hometown, IgbaraOke, Ondo State. There will be a funeral service at the Baptist Church, Igbara-Oke, which will be followed by internment. A Christian wake will be held in the evening of September 6 at his Igbara -residence. Before taking the body to Igbara-Oke there will be a commendation service on September 5 at the Baptist Church, Broad Street, Lagos, and a Service of Songs on September 4 at his Lagos residence, Alli Lane, Onipanu, Lagos.

Pa Onibonoje is survived by wives and children.

Pa Onibonoje

Phillips Lenka.

In addition, a special attention in this year’s event is that a few media practitioners, top editors of some of the national newspapers will be conferred with professional integrity award, which is an automatic recognition as senior members and Ambassadors of the Association.

The theme for the event is “Integrity is Everything.” The doyen of Nigeria’s journalism and the symbol of journalistic excellence, Mr Ray Ekpu, will deliver the Keynote address tagged: Integrity, the Key Factor for Building a Virile Nation.

Top government functionaries, captains of industries, celebrities, and eminent personalities will grace the occasion and celebrate the men and women of integrity in our midst today.

A statement from the organisers, signed by its Secretary, Charls Okhai reads: “Today, nations all over the World are yearning for men of integrity to occupy their corridors of power because integrity is the cornerstone of good leadership that ensures a healthy society. Fostering integrity, preventing corruption in all sectors are essential to maintaining trust in governance and infrastructural developments in a society like ours.

Against this backdrop, Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists is poised to encourage and acknowledge integrity against corruption as she rolls out drums to celebrate a few Nigeria’s illustrious sons and daughters who have been able to hold on to the virtues of integrity in their daily life style as leaders.”

Jumbo Major House Decries Noninclusion in NLNG Project Benneth Oghifo

the consenters to thatAgreement, the entire Bonny Community represented by the Bonny Chiefs’ Council would be shared in the ratio of 30:30:40 he Jumbo Major House of Grand respectively, and that such compensation should be Bonny in Rivers State has petitioned routed through the two landlords. the Federal Government over alleged They questioned the execution of the Global non-inclusion of the community in the on-going Train 7 NLNG Project located Memorandum of Understanding by both the MD of NLNG and the GMD of SPDC through which N3 on “part of their ancestral land”. billion was meant to be paid annually to the consenters In the petition signed by eight members of the family and addressed without the input or involvement of the Jumbo Family as this denied them, with 21 communities and fishing to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and copied to the Rivers State Governor, Ministers of Justice, Niger Delta ports the benefits of their entitlements.

Jumbo Major House further complained that they Affairs, Petroleum Resources and the National Security were completely excluded from Trains 1- 6 NLNG Adviser as well as Shell Petroleum Development Project and also from the list of the Bonny Chiefs 7 Company Limited NLNG and others, the family man committee on the Trains 7 & 8 NLNG which they complained that they were denied of their natural should as of right be actively involved. The commuherediments while their people keep wallowing in nity advised the Federal Government to ensure that penury.

They asked if they must resort to militant agitations, peace prevails in the area by directing their participabreach of public peace, organized national sabotage or tion and inclusion as well as statutory beneficence, vandalization of installed national facilities “before they and to consider their caretaker committee under the leadership of Prof. Jasper Jumbo on all activities in the are included in what they part own”. project. The House gave the Federal Government 42 Jumbo Major House stated that by virtue of the provisions of Section 3 of the 1958 TenancyAgreement days to take action on their demands or they would be forced to institute appropriate legal processes in which the Jumbo Major House executed with SPDC, Nigeria and abroad “even if it entails going to the all accruable rents/compensation due to the real International Court of Justice at the Hague.” land owners (Jumbo and Brown Major Houses) and

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PHOTO NEWS

L-R: General Manager LASWA, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; COO MTN Nigeria, Mr. Mazen Mroue; and Managing Director LSDPC, Babajide SanwoOlu, at the commissioning of the LASWA Ferry Terminal and LSDPC Multi-Level Car Park built by MTN Nigeria in Lagos... recently

L-R:The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Semiudeen Kasali; Oba Orimadegun Adebiruwa of Igbogbo Land; All Progressive Congress (APC) Chieftain, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun; former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Princes Adenrele Adeniran Ogunsanya; and Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Asahafa, during the commissioning of Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun ICTDigital Capacity Center Built by Senator Ashafa at Oreyo Grammar School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos... yesterday SUNDAYADIGUN

L-R: Executive Secretary Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, NSACC, Mr. Iyke Ejimorfor; Chairman, NSACC, Mr Foluso Phillips; Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria, Lynda SaintNwafor; and Consul General, South African High Commission, Mr. Darkey Africa, at the August breakfast forum of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, held at Eko Hotel in Lagos...yesterday

L-R: Representative of the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Mosunmola Ogunleye; Guest Speaker, 2018 NAWOJ Family Week Seminar, Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau; Chairperson, NAWOJ Lagos Chapter, Hajia Sekinah Temitope Lawal; General Manager, Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Mrs. Ayo Sotounwa; and the Chairman, NUJ Lagos Council, Dr. Quasim Akinreti, during a seminar to mark the 2018 family week of NAWOJ, in Lagos...yesterday KOLAOLASUPO

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T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

01.09.2018

Leicester vs Liverpool: Who Goes Down?

PAGE. 35

Henry Onyekuru

Not Ready to Let another Eagles’ Call up Slip

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Henry Onyekuru Not Ready to Let another Eagles’ Call up Slip Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă—

Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜ ÞÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă™ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ– Ă’Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ĂœĂŁ Ă˜ĂŁĂ?Ă•Ă&#x;ĂœĂ&#x;ËŞĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂšĂ? Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜ Ă™ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂœËœ Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă’Ăœ Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?

Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–

ËÖËÞËĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ ËÖËÞËĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ĂŁ Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă•Ă?Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? ÍşÍźĚ‹Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÞÒĂ? ͺ͸͚ΠĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă›Ă&#x;ËÖÓʨĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă’Ă? ͺ͸͚ΠĂ?ĂŁĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă–Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă–Ă“Ăš Ă?ĂŁĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă?

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e wa was devastated after his n name was dropped from the Super Eagles World Cup team to Russia Wor and blamed his coach at Anderlecht- Hein VanhaeAnd zebrouck for his omission. zebr He joined Anderlecht on a season-long g loan ffrom Everton owing secure a work permit in to his failure to secu was snapped up from England g after he wa his impressive 2016-17 Eupen p following g hi Onyekuru made an instant campaign. p g Onyeku y scoring across all comimpact, p g 10 goals g December, he suffered a petitions. But in De p picking a knee injury thought setback after p pickin to rule rulle him h m out of the hi th World Cup. However, returned earlier than H owever, he retu

expected but failed to get playing time to prove his fitness and bolster his chances of making Rohr’s squad for the tournament. “I would not know how Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s voice should sound, I have not spoken to him for weeks. I had to read in the press and hear that I was not ready, but I have worked very hard to get back, but apparently, that was not enough for some,� Onyekuru had said. “Upon my return, I was asked to do two weeks of exercises to strengthen my knee, I made three weeks of it. I was told too much, but I was told by Bruges that I was allowed to come in, but no, even Leander Dendoncker came to ask why I was not in the selection.

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GLOBAL SOCCER

“Anderlecht have cost me my World Cup, but they knew that I needed to get a work permit for England by not letting me play, I could not go to Russia and they tried to keep me for another season at Anderlecht."

Following the disappointment, the forward has vowed to leave the side this summer, despite Anderlecht having the option to extend the deal for another season.

“I can confirm that Anderlecht had a deal with Everton about a second season on a loan basis, but the final decision was with me, but now it’s certain - I will not stay,” an obviously depressed Onyekuru had vowed.

True to type, he moved to Turkish giants, Galatasaray and as if justifying his latest national team call-up, he put up another convincing performance for Galatasaray on Monday and scored Gala’s final goal in the 6-0 rout of Alanyaspor.

Everton could not resist his signature after his exploits in the Belgian League for KAS Eupen, during which he hit the back of the net 24 times. Surprisingly, immediately after putting pen on paper for the Toffees, he was loaned to Anderletch of Belgium where he is also excelling. His form last season culminated in European giants -FC Barcelona and Manchester United contemplating signing him on.

Henry Onyekuru was impressive for Anderlecht at the beginning of last season,

culminating in Catalan giants-Barcelona sending scouts to watch his matches.

Aside from Barcelona, Manchester United, Fiorentina, Ajax, PSV, Southampton and Stoke City were also believed to have sent their scouts to see the player in action in the Belgian league.

Onyekuru said he was flattered by stories linking him with top European clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United, but wants to remain focused.

The striker, who spoke exclusively to AOIFootball.com after netting the winner for Anderlecht in their Jupiler league game, said he would continue to work hard and improve on his game.

“There is no real secret, I have a strong faith in God and he has blessed me to be able to do what I love and I’m just focused on improving myself, working hard and staying dedicated. It’s a blessing to be recognised by these clubs and of course, it’s flattering but I take everything one step at a time. I will focus on what is in front of me and for the next few months,” Onyekuru said.

Onyekuru is however unsure of a return to Everton in January, despite putting up impressive shifts at Anderlecht after joining the Toffees following his impressive display for Eupen last season where he netted 25 goals in 41 appearances.

After a quiet start, the forward has continued with the form that earned him a deal with the English side and has scored

eight goals so far. However, the striker is still uncertain of a recall to Goodison Park.

“I follow the path that is being drawn up for me. Wherever I go after New Year, I do not know either. Whether Everton has a contractual option to get me in the winter?

Everything is possible. I'm their property, they decide. I have never said that I'm sure I'll leave Anderlecht. The most important thing is here and now. I'm happy and everything is going well. What's happening in winter, we'll see,” Onyekuru told Het Nieuwsblad.

In a chat with THISDAY, former Nigerian international, and footballer’s agent, Waidi Akani is of the opinion that for Barcelona to send their scouts to watch Onyekuru, it means he has something to offer.

“Barcelona has a very formidable scouting team. So, for them to have scouted him, it means he has a very great potential and future. However, that does not mean the club gets it right all the time. A move to a club like Barcelona would definitely be to the advantage of the national team coaches as he would be well-polished under the best coaches.

“However, we cannot count on him for now because he is yet to really prove himself for the country at any level. His game for the Super Eagles against Togo is not enough to judge him. Football is not a one-season game, so we should not get so excited thinking that we now have a good

striker simply because he scored 24 goals last season for his Belgian club.

“He is still young, just 20 years old.

Maybe he should first be tried the Under 20 or 23 level and see what he can offer.

Football could be funny at times. With all the noise about him, he might just not fit into our style of football,” Akani opined.

Onyekuru can play all across the front line; he favours the left as it gives him the space he needs to go through the gears, as well as come inside on his stronger right foot. His low centre of gravity, as he stands at about 5ft 9in, enables quick changes of direction, but his dribbling style really isn’t defined by it, unlike most players his size. He does have good close control, but relies more on his speed and trickery, often looking like he has shown too much to the opponent before snatching it away.

In front of goal, Onyekuru is an improviser. He possesses good movement, especially when he has to spin in behind a full-back; he is often up and away before they even know it. When through, he can finish in a number of ways; though, like most speedsters, he seems to enjoy going past the goalkeeper.

There is a lot to admire about him, but he is still a teenager, so there are a lot of areas where he can improve. That is only natural. His aptitudes for the defensive side of the game, as well as his decisionmaking, are still undeveloped.

He is unashamedly direct - he will pick the ball up, accelerate quickly, and go towards goal. He also has shades of Arjen Robben - he plays mostly on the left, so he can cut in and shoot on his stronger right foot.

Surprisingly for one blessed with such pace, Onyekuru likes to come deep for the ball, rather than playing on the shoulder of defenders.

He is small of stature - 5ft 9in - but uses this quick change of direction effectively, bamboozling defenders, using his change of pace to get past his man rather than a barrage of stepovers.

Perhaps, the biggest weakness in Onyekuru’s game is a streak of single-mindedness. It can manifest as overconfidence or as selfishness, but too often, he wants to go alone. He will often get the better of his marker, and opt for a shot from an angle rather than lay in a teammate in a better position centrally.

Onyekuru began his football career with the Aspire Academy in 2010, and graduated in 2015 joining their partner club, KAS Eupen and made his debut for Eupen in September of the same year in a 2-2 tie against Dessel Sport in the Belgian Second Division. He helped the team get a promotion to the Belgium First Division A in his debut season.

After a successful season in the Belgium first division, Onyekuru finished as one of the top scorers in the league, attracting the attention of various big teams in Europe.

He finished the 2016/2017 season as joint top-scorer with 22 goals, but the trophy was handed to his rival as he scored more away goals than Onyekuru.

He made his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 friendly win over Togo last year’s July.

It, however, remains to be seen if Onyekuru could take his chance and grab an AFCON place in Cameroon next year.

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

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Mikel Obi

My Father Wanted Me to Join Alex Ferguson Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă&#x;ĂŒĂžĂ?ĂŽĂ–ĂŁËœ Ă“Ă•Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă’Ă˜ ĂŒĂ“ Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă– ËŞĂ? ÞÓĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă– ĚŽ ÞÒĂ? ͚̋Ϳ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍşÍ¸Í¸ÍťËœ ÞÒĂ? ̋ͺ͸ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ? ÍşÍ¸Í¸Í˝Ëœ

Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ ͺ͸͚͟ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍşÍ¸ÍšÎ€Ëœ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ ÍşÍ¸ÍšÍťËœ Öã×ÚÓĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ͺ͸͚͞ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŒ Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă‹ Ă“Ă˜ ͺ͸͚ͺ˛ Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ͺ͸͚͝ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ě™ÍşÍ¸ÍšÍšËšÍšÍşĚšËœ Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ͺ͸͚ͺ˚ͺ͸͚͝ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ě™ÍşÍ¸Í¸Î ËšÍšÍ¸Ëœ ÍşÍ¸ÍšÍźËšÍšÍ˝ĚšËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ ÍşÍ¸Í¸ÍžËšÍ¸ÍżËœ ÍşÍ¸Í¸Î€ËšÍ¸Î Ëœ ͺ͸͚͚˚͚ͺ̚˛ ĂŒĂ“ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂšĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŒËœ Ă“Ă‹Ă˜Ă”Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ åÓÞÒ Kunle Solaja Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă’Ă“Ă? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă–

T

he name Mikel sounds unusual. It’s been suggested that it might be an adaptation from Michael. Can you explain how the name came about?

Yes. My real name is John Michael Obi. At a tournament, it was miss-spelled and I have since been living with it without any regret. I did not notice it in the first place because of my desire to represent Nigeria at the international competition was uppermost in my mind. It was in 2003 as we prepared for the FIFA U-17 in Finland. All I did was to consult with my dad and he did not see anything wrong in my adopting the name, Mikel.

That brings one to your early career.

In 2005, you were at thecentre of what is perhaps the ďŹ ercest struggle by two major European clubs and the obvious leaders in the Premiership to sign a young player.

What were your feelings then and how did you settle?

My dad was a Manchester United supporter. He wanted me to join Sir Alex Ferguson. But Chelsea offered to sign me and three other friends who might not have gotten a club otherwise. For that reason, I decided to join Chelsea.

Many Nigerian youths are obsessed with going abroad to ply their trade. What advice do you have for such young players hoping to break barriers in the course of going professional abroad?

Our league in Nigeria is getting better, but going abroad gives young players better opportunity, a better environment to train and focus and better facilities to also become world class. We are starting a programme in Nigeria in January 2019, to give young aspirants an opportunity to go abroad and become professional footballers. It is called the ‘African Next Superstar’. We are in the process of packaging the event which details will be unfolded after the Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier with Seychelles.

You are a typical sports star who has a life outside the sports arenas. How do you unwind after hectic matches and training schedules?

I love spending time with my family, my

partner and my two daughters. I also enjoy working on my various business interests with my business team especially in the areas of manufacturing, and infrastructural development. You may be aware that I love Nigerian music a lot. Among my favourites are Tiwa Savage, P-Square and Banky W among others.

As a football icon known globally, it is assumed you have taste for fashion like most youths. Can you share your fashion zeal with us as most youths in Nigeria and possibly outside see you as a model they like to share passion with?

Everyone says am stylish. I just like wearing what looks good on me and what I feel comfortable in. It also helps to be tall and athletic, because everything fits well. My clothes types depend on the occasion. But it’s all about quality, and not quantity. Finally, I must say that we have some amazing designers in Nigeria, with fantastic ideas.

On the ďŹ eld, you were once a rookie in the Super Eagles, especially in 2005/2006 when you looked up to senior players for inspiration. There is now a shift.You are the most senior player. How do you inspire the team?

I lead the team by example. To me that’s very crucial. A good leader should always lead by example, and when we are losing, I inspire my team mates by making sure they keep their heads up and believe. However, my job as a leader in the team is easier because we have players that are hungry, focused and determined to be winners. Winners never give up. We have talented players.

Just as the players look up to you for inspiration, so also are millions of youths outside the football ďŹ eld. Do you have any word for them?

Youths are the future of any nation or country. They are the future scientists, future teachers, future doctors, future governors and presidents as well as future farmers.

My first advice is to our leaders, to please continue to create better environments and opportunities for our youths. And for the youths, put God first, stay focused on your dreams, work hard and be a person of good character. Your name is the most important

asset to you in life. Dreams do come true. I am an example of that. Never give up!!

Who were your role models both on local and international scene when you are growing up?

I grew up looking up to Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha. I enjoy watching them play for their respective club sides but more importantly, their exploits in the national team was highly motivating. On the global stage, Zinedine Zidane was my all time best.

Should they then be involved in politics?

In every developed nation, the youths don’t merely take the back seat in decisions affecting their countries. They are active participants and help in shaping in their destinies. That perhaps explains why some of such countries now come out with very young leaders.

France is an example. The Nigerian youths should take more than mere ‘sidon dey look’ attitude in our national affairs. They are the future and the future begins now. I am happy to learn that the President has signed the “Not Too Young to Run� bill. That means we are making progress. The youths who constitute the vast majority of our population must prepare to participate in lifting the country up.

Undoubtedly, you are a success in your chosen ďŹ eld. A captain ofclub and the national team. One of the very few players in the world to have featured in all FIFA men’s tournaments (U-17, U-20, U-23 Olympics, Club World Cup and FIFA World Cup). What has really inspired you for these rare feats and what words do you have for aspiring youths outside sports?

My father and mother are my greatest inspirations. Their sacrifices to our family growing up and seeing how we grew up, I was driven to never forget what we went through and how we grew up. I am also an ambitious person. I did not give myself any other choice but to be successful because I never stop pushing myself. For the youths, follow your dreams, don’t listen to people that tell you, you cannot make it, and when thing are hard, pray harder, God will give you strength to go through it. Most importantly, hard work and good name.

After China exploit, where is the next

destination?

Time will tell, I am enjoying my time in China. It is a great country to live and work and I want to continue playing for another four to five years. I will like to retire back in the Premier League in a few years’ time, but we will see what comes.

Let’s talk a bit of politics. Nigeria’s general elections are just months away next year. What are your expectations fromNigerian youths? What do you expect them to do?

The great thing about democracy is that everyone has a voice and everyone can contribute to changes in our country by voting.

I encourage every youth that can vote, to get their PVC and vote. To make their vote count so they can have a say in their own future.

Like I said, they are the future.

We know that a sport, especially as an athlete, is not a life career. What are you going to be doing after eventually hanging your boots?

I have several business interests and I have surrounded myself with a team of good business professionals. We are growing partnerships with manufacturers, brands, and Tech. I can also say that Nigeria is a place with enormous opportunities and great business leaders, from industries to banking, to oil and gas.

Football fans today are torn between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Who do you think is the best between the duo?

I think there is only one greatest footballer that has ever played football and that is Messi.

Do you hope to empower the youths in any way?

Yes, we have several programmes we are working on to contribute to every other efforts going on in the country by others and the government. Our first programme launches in January and it relates to football and other programmes shall follow shortly after.

Any plan for an academy or foundation?

The Mikel Obi Foundation will be launched in December 2018 in Lagos and our first major programme will be in January 2019.

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Masai Ujiri

Breaking the Odds with Giant of Africa

Giving back to the society was always upper most in his mind, hence the idea of the Giant of Africa Basketball where young Africans could develop their basketball skills and also prepare for the future. The camp which is now in its 15th year in Nigeria has also been taken to six other African countries - Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ivory Coast and Senegal. Masai Ujiri, who recently broke the odds by taking the Giant of Africa to the refugee camp in Maiduguri, Kunle Adewale caught up with the President of NBA side, Toronto Raptors on his way to Senegal for the last leg of the Giant of Africa and he revealed some of the challenges facing the camp, the growth of basketball in Nigeria and many more

U

jiri, who broke the barriers and rose to become the President of NBA Club - Toronto Raptors, the first by an African. In 2012/13 season, he was voted the NBA Executive of the Year. In what has become a yearly ritual, Ujiri was in the country to organise his yearly Giant of Africa basketball camp.

The Giants of Africa basketball camp was held in Maiduguri, Borno State capital last weekend for the children in the troubled Nigerian city to mark the end of the 2018 activities in Nigeria.

The programme run by Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors, provided basketball and life training to 105 youngsters at the National Stadium in Lagos from August 21 to 25 before the team jet out of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Saturday afternoon for the trip to Dakar. “For us, bringing the girls camp to Nigeria after the successes recorded in Kenya has been a priority for me, but resources has always been a challenge, but I’m happy we broke that hurdle. “This year’s edition has been very successful and taking the Giants of Africa to Maiduguri has been very fulfilling.

The target has always to impact on the youths, it’s not only basketball fundamentals that we teach, we also teach some of the basic things of life like honesty,� Ujiri said.

Asked why he took the Giant of Africa to Maiduguri, he responded, “Sometimes you have to go and see for yourself how and what is happening in the place aside from what you read and

hear in the news. I just wanted to make people understand that youths live there too and basketball lives there too. If we can take the game there and encourage young boys and girls that live there it’s not a bad idea because it is not the time neglect them and we are very well welcome by people in the community,� he noted.

On how often he would be taking the Giant of Africa to Maiduguri considering the restiveness of the area. “If it’s something I can do again next year I would not mind. It’s something I would like to do often, we have to encourage youths in areas like that who are less opportune. There are kids in these areas that need opportunity because they had nothing to do with the issues happening there, they were not necessary involved with what is happening in the area, so why can’t they be given an opportunity of a game like basketball and that is mentality that we have with Giant of Africa to giving back to community like this,� the Raptors President said.

He said, “Yes, it was really worth the try for us in Maiduguri. We saw the same kind of passion and talent we have seen in other places. That zone may been quite under turmoil for years now but the children there are humans like us; they love basketball and they want to live like other people in Lagos, Nairobi or New York. The situation over there is quite beyond their control but nobody can put down their passion for sports and good life. “We went there because we wanted people to know that people that can add a lot of value to the game live in

Maiduguri. The visit also provided us a lot of opportunities to reflect over a lot of things. For instance my partner Godwin Owinje lived in that city as a child for about seven or eight years and had a lot of catching up to do. I lived in Zaria and had visited Maiduguri few times growing up and I saw a lot of old friends over there too. “I can’t forget how the teens and adults received us and savoured every moment while it lasted.�

Ujiri however admitted that combining his position as the president of Toroto Raptors with Giant of Africa was tasking. “It’s a tight schedule and very challenging but to me coming back home and spending the month of August in the whole of Africa is an obligation. It is something that I have to do. God has given me this opportunity, people has given me this opportunity, my country gave me this opportunity, the NBA gave me this opportunity and many different people that I passed through gave me this opportunity and I have to pass that on. “I was a youth in this in this country but I was not the smartest person and now I see are lot of kids that are very smart and so talented and if I can get to where I am now there are so many kids that can do even better, and sometimes it is that low window that they need and hopefully maybe I can create that in some kind of way. If I don’t do this that means am not grateful for the opportunity that God has given to me. The joy I derive from doing it is just priceless,� he said.

On why Nigeria has not done well in basketball at the global level in spite of the enormous talent in the country, Ujiri attributed it to lack of consistency.

Ujiri said: “We lack continuity; we lack organisation, facilities and coaching which are key to the development of basketball at the grassroots level. We lack tournaments. When I was growing up there are a lot of competitions like the Vitamalt U-18, 7UP U-19. There were a lot of basketball competitions going on that keeps developing the game, but I don’t get to hear about them anymore.�

Giants of Africa, the not-for-profit co-founded by Raptors president, Ujiri are working across seven countries across the African continent this August.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Giants of Africa has hosted basketball camps and community outreach initiatives in.

Ujiri earlier on said, “Over the past 15 years, I have seen the impact basketball can have not only on one kid, but also on their entire community. “When I started Giants of Africa, I envisioned providing African youth access to the game and empowering them to achieve their greatest potential.

With 63 per cent of Africa’s population below the age of 25, we have a huge goal and responsibility to help them develop.

We are excited that this year we are able to extend our reach further across the continent to help realise that dream.�

The organization had girls’ camps in tandem with its boys’ camps in Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. Giants of Africa also activated local outreach initiatives in the communities of Kakuma, Maiduguri as well as Bingereville, Ivory Coast.

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GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

Ambode, Making Lagos Africa’s Sports Hub

W

hen His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode assumed office in May 2015, he assured Lagosians of reenergised road map for sports development during his tenure in office.

He emphasised on a vision to use sports as a catalyst for the growth and development of the economy. “Sport is a catalyst for tourism and it is my strong belief that we must continue to support sports as a means of allowing us to develop the mental capabilities of younger ones and Lagos State is ready to do that," the governor said recently.

Looking back from 2015 till now, there is no doubt that Governor Ambode has not been paying lip service to what he promised. The governor has indeed matched his words with action. Stakeholders in Nigerian Sports will also testify that Lagos State, under Governor Ambode, has been using sports to keep the youth busy with a different set of competitions, both on the local and International levels.

While the state has been hosting and organising sporting competitions and tournaments on a regular basis, the Government of Akinwunmi Ambode has

also made sure that series of international Sports Classics take place in Lagos, the Centre of Excellence.

International Classics such as ITTF Seamaster Nigeria Open (table tennis), PSA Squash Classics, International Badminton Classics and other events such as the Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis Championships now known as ‘Lagos Open Tennis Championship’ are regular annual competitions that Lagos State organises. Governor Ambode has personally attended the finals of some of these events.

The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is another sporting event that has put Lagos on the world sports map. The tournament has in three years of existence, attained International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) Bronze Label status and has become one of the major African marathon races on the IAAF calendar.

On the Local scene, the Government of Akinwunmi Ambode has been using School Sports as the foundation to unearth and groom young athletes to boost the pool of athletes in the state. Many school sports championships have been staged in sports such as Gymnastics, Hockey, Swimming, Handball, Deaf School Sports and Tradi-

tional Sports under the able watch of the Lagos State Sports Commission headed by Dr. Kweku Adedayo Tandoh.

In the area of sports facilities development, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has also scored himself remarkable high marks. The focus includes the provision of sports facilities in districts, communities andneighbourhoods, increased attention to schools sports for the discovery and development of athletes etc. It came as no surprise that the governor approved the remodelling of Agege Stadium, nicknamed ‘The Soccer Temple’. Onikan Stadium is now undergoing massive reconstruction to expand the facility and turn it into worldclass sports and entertainment edifice. The sports-loving governor is about fulfilling his campaign promise of giving the people of Ajegunle a new Maracana Stadium.

Still fresh in the memory of Lagosians was #mylagosmyfootball# World Cup Viewing Centres at designated centres across the state. The vision the governor had was to bring the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals to Lagos for the people to be part of it.

All matches of the Mundial were shown live at centres at Campos Mini Stadium Lagos Island, Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere,

Ă?Ă‹Ă— Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ě‹ Ùʼ Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÒ Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă?

Ëœ Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă?Ă•Ě‹ Ùʼ ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž Yinka Olatunbosun

The search for fresh talents in sports has begun in Lagos as MIBOD Global Resources collaborates with U.S.-based Boss Lady Promotions and Austria-based Henry Lewis Promotions. The talent hunt is arguably the first-of-its-kind, as it targets all aspects of sporting events except soccer. It is created as an annual event which upon a success story will become a pan-African event.

At a recent press briefing held at the SIEO building in Ikoyi, the CEO, MIBOD Global Resources, Ms. Biola Okoya revealed that the evolving project is an initiative formed to identify potential excellence in sport through entertainment content.

As part of the pre-event affairs, the team had visited the Police College and some poor communities in Lagos in preparation for the event which will be held simultaneously in different parts of the country.

In addition to fetching professionals to train the discovered talents, the partnering organisations will provide a few of the equipment required for training such as the boxing gloves, bandages amongst others. This community-based project is expected to contribute to the nation’s knowledge economy while providing job opportunities for trainers and trainees.

Boss Lady Promotions has a non-profit gym in the U.S. that keep children off the streets, away from crime. Likewise, Henry Lewis Promotions, owned by Nigerian-born Lewis is a big Austrian brand that manages sporting talents, especially in boxing.

The organisers of this talent hunt are still developing a sustainable template for the project which will form a content for a documentary movie soon.

Abesan Playground Alimosho, Naval Barracks Ajegunle, Bishop Aggrey Youth Center Mushin, Epe Recreation Center, Ikorodu Town Hall Ikorodu andBadagry Grammar School Badagry.

In the area of administration, sports in Lagos State is in capable hands as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has chosen technocrats to oversee that sector.

The appointment of Dr. Kweku Adedayo Tandoh as the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission is clearly a “round peg in a round hole�, so are those of Mr. Babatunde Bank-Anthony as DirectorGeneral and other competent men and women as members of the Sports Commission Governing Board. The governor has also carefully chosen men and women of proven integrity to the Board of the newly created Lagos State Sports Trust Fund, where former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Otunba Femi Pedro is the Chairman.

Within a short period of time, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has made his presence felt in the area of sports and he continues to invest heavily in sports development for the future of the youths of Lagos State.

Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh (2nd right), leads a team of Lagos State oďŹƒcials to inspect the new Onikan Stadium under construction

Tandoh: New Onikan’ll be More than a Sports Stadium As Lagosians and sports enthusiasts await the completion of the new Onikan Stadium, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, has given an insight into what awaits them during an inspection tour of the edifice on Tuesday, as he stated that the new Onikan Stadium, which is expected to be completed next year January would also serve as a tourism drive, hospitality, entertainment and sports in line with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision.

The 5,100 seater stadium also have the capacity to house about 9,000 fans during concert and entertainment.

An obviously satisfied Tandoh said, “I’m very satisfied with what I have seen so far and from the plan, I would rather look at the new Onikan Stadium as a multipurpose entertainment centre . Therefore, Lagosians should expect more from the use of the stadium after completion. “The place will not only be just for sports in line with our governor’s position as it will be merging tourism, hospitality, entertainment and sports together. This is what we will have here as the facility for football will accommodate 5,100 spectators.

“All the acoustics would be built in as an entertainment centre. We have seen the plan for medical, security arrangements, dressing rooms, doping room, referees room and so on. The consultants and the contractors have been guided by FIFA’s specifications in terms of the pitch, and dimensions and others. “I can tell you that this centre will be quite exciting as it will be transformed into a tourism and entertainment area. By the time this project is completed this area will not be the same again,� he said.

On his part, the Managing Director of Slavabogu Nigeria Limited, the projectcontractor, Mr. Zekeriya Ersin, said the company understands the vision of the governor and therefore, cannot just do a wishy-washy job. “Every facility has been put in place and we are working with a FIFA accredited architect to meet with the governor’s expectations,� Ersin said.

The arena formerly known as King George V Stadium derby matches among Lagos clubs, such as Railway, Stationery Stores, NEPA, ACB, Julius Berger, First Bank, National Bank, among others.

Athletes of Lagos State have begun camping ahead of their participation at the 4th National Youth Games, which holds next month in Ilorin, Kwara State.

No fewer than 200 Team Lagos athletes from 25 sports began Open Camp from August 27 to Friday, August 31, after which they go into a Closed Camp from Sunday, September 2 to 6.

The athletes will be camped at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Hostel in Surulere and Myong Barracks Igbobi, Lagos.

Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Adedayo Tandoh said all hands will be on deck to ensure that the athletes have good preparation during the camping period, adding that the best of them will be selected to represent the Centre of Excellence at the Youth Games.

The Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has given all necessary support to Team Lagos through the Lagos State Sports Commission.

The 2018 edition of National Youth Games holds from 7-17 September in Ilorin, Kwara State.

It would be recalled that Lagos qualified in five team sports events at the recently held South West Zonal Elimination Championships in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Team Lagos picked tickets in Handball (boys and girls), Basketball (girls), Football (boys) and Beach Volleyball (girls).

Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? ͺ͸͚΀ Ă“Ă?Õ̋Ùʼ Ă™Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ All is set for the fifth edition of the Consumers Goods Games slated to begin on Sunday, September 2, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex Yaba, Lagos.

The Chief Operating Officer, Media Vision Ltd., Mr. Jimmy Sogbesan, who are the organisers of the games, informed that all the teams are in good spirit as they make final preparations towards participating in this year’s edition of the competition.

"Some of the companies that will be flying their flags on the opening day include; Multinational Giants - Unilever Plc., Nestle Nigeria, FrieslandCampina WAMCO with Guinness Nigeria and Reckitt Benckiser making their season debut.

"The events fixtures include; football, athletics, table tennis, chess, and scrabble," Sogbesan stated.

The Nigeria FMCG Games is a platform that brings together employees of the FMCG industry to compete, have fun, bond, network and achieve a healthy work-life balance in a sporting but friendly atmosphere.

This platform also exists in the banking, insurance and telecoms sectors making up the Corporate Nigeria Games.

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Leicester City Wilfred Ndidi in a midďŹ eld battle with Liverpool captain, Jordan Handerson

Leicester Set to Halt Liverpool Impressive Start Leicester City welcome to Liverpool to the King Power Stadium this afternoon with both sides looking to preserve their impressive starts to the season. Liverpool are one of three teams with a 100per cent record after three games, while the Foxes still rue narrow defeat to Manchester United on the opening day of the season, but have responded with back-to-back wins over Wolves and Southampton and are set to halt the Reds impressive Premier League start

L

iverpool may boast one of the most fearsome attacks in the Premier League, but Leicester City boss Claude Puel has reminded his young players they can cause Jurgen Klopp’s men a few problems too.

The Reds arrive at the King Power Stadium with an attacking trio in Mo Salah, Firmino and Sadio Mane that has been terrorisingdefences, both domestically and in Europe, and now they have shored up their leaky defence Liverpool look the complete package.

However, Puel said his emerging Leicester youngsters also have the ability to make life difficult for Klopp’s men today in the early kick-off and called for his players not to be overawed. “We know their quality but we have some good players also. Perhaps not with the same experience but we are in development for the future and they will continue to become good players also. We have the quality to cause them some problems, and more,� Puel said. “We know we will play a great team with confidence. It is good football and I think it is an exciting game for us to play.

They haven’t conceded a goal so it will be a good opportunity to be the first. I think we have a good feeling and we are confident. “We want to show our quality against this team. We know we need to play with a good intensity and do good things with and without the ball. We need to be clinical in both boxes and to show our quality. It is an opportunity for all my young players and experienced players. We will see. It is exciting.�

Asked how Leicester can stop Liver-

Fixture TODAY Leicester

v

Liverpool

12:30

Brighton

v

Fulham

15:00

Chelsea

v

Bournemouth 15:00

Crystal Palace v

Southampton 15:00

Everton

v

HuddersďŹ eld 15:00

West Ham

v

Wolves

15:00

Man City

v

Newcastle

17:30

Cardi City

v

Arsenal

13:30

Burnley

v

Man Utd

16:00

Watford

v

Tottenham

16:00

SUNDAY pool’s potent strike force, Puel called for a collective response from his side. “I think it is always a collective response because we need to defend together with intelligence,� he added. “With or without the ball we have to play our game. Just this and not other things. We have a lot of respect for this team but we also have a good team, a good squad, and ambition. We will see.�

Puel is expected to start with the same side that clinched a last-gasp win at Southampton last week and he believes the manner of that victory, which came with Harry Maguire’s 92nd-minute winner, has provided even more belief. “To score in injury time was amazing.

It was fantastic,� he said. “During the game, I was happy about our mentality and spirit. We found space in the second half and played well to win the game. That is a good feeling for everyone involved with the club.

For the team, it is a good feeling and it shows the mentality from pre-season and in official games. It is important to continue this momentum.�

Leicester head into the game in buoyant mood following last Saturday’s 2-1 away win against Southampton and Nigerian international, Wilfred Ndidi is adamant they can keep the momentum going against the Reds. “We are at home with the fans, the atmosphere. I think everything is going to work out well,� Ndidi told Leicester City’s official website.

Liverpool have looked stronger this season especially with the arrival of Guinean midfielder, Naby Keita.

Ndidi, however, believed it is too early

to determine if they are a stronger team than last season. “I can’t say because it’s just three games. I would say last season, they were very good. This season it’s too early to judge and I think we will try to manage the game. We will just continue from where we stopped and try to give our best,� he added.

The Foxes continue to be without Jamie Vardy who will serve the last of his three-match ban this weekend. Perhaps surprisingly to some, Leicester’s number nine has this week announced his retirement from international football. The Sheffield-born striker who notched up 26 appearances for the Three Lions has stated his desire to focus on club football, much to the delight of the Leicester City faithful. With Vardy’s empathic record against the top six sides, he will be a monumental miss for Leicester against Liverpool.

With Vardy still absent, Iheanacho is again likely to lead the line with support from Maddison. Schmeichel will be between the sticks behind Maguire and likely Wes Morgan. Caglar Soyuncu is still awaiting his debut for the Foxes after his arrival from Freiburg yet any involvement is unlikely for the centre back with a run out for the under 23’s soon his most likely approach. Matty James remains the only other injury.

The Reds have never won their opening four fixtures in the Premier League era and the last time they won their opening three they went onto becoming runners-up during the 2013/14 season under Brendan Rogers.

Premiership Table TEAM

P

GD

PTS

Liverpool

3

7

9

Tottenham

3

6

9

Chelsea

3

5

9

Watford

3

5

9

Man City

3

7

7

Bournemouth

3

3

7

Leicester

3

2

6

Everton

3

1

5

Arsenal

3

-1

3

Crystal Palace

3

-1

3

Fulham

3

-2

3

Brighton

3

-2

3

Man Utd

3

-3

3

Wolves

3

-2

2

Cardi

3

-2

2

Newcastle

3

-2

1

Southampton

3

-2

1

Burnley

3

-4

1

HuddersďŹ eld

3

-8

1

West Ham

3

-7

0

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

FAIRGROUND

Mercy Aigbe, Sina Peller, Bambam attend The Trunk Show

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

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he exclusive Trunk Show by Abbyke Domina happened on Sunday, the 26th of August, at The Polo Avenue, Victoria Island. The evening welcomed guests such as Mercy Aigbe, Sina Peller, Jane Michael, Efe Tommy, Bimbo Thomas, Mide Martins, Bambam, Pretty Mike, Tonye Garrick, Olar Slim, amongst others.

The women’s ready to wear fashion house, Abbyke Domina, was celebrating 5 years of tremendous growth on Sunday by launching their new colorful and flirty collection, “Tres Chic�. The collection was vibrant, sophisticated, colorful and romantic. Pieces you could style to wear anywhere.

Abbyke Domina said of her collection “ I decided to make signature Abbyke Domina prints which are only available exclusively at the Trunk Show, it’s an idea I’ve had a for a while. I decide to go for soft and delicate prints.

Delicacy can be strong, the facbrics used are soft colours which continue to be a key trend�

The Trunk Show in collaboration with The Polo Avenue had the most relaxing feel, and guests had the most fun. With a variety of Canapes, wine, and champagnes, it was the perfect ambience to shop in style. . The exclusive show also welcomed peformances from various artistes as well as Tomike Alayande as the host of the day.

It was an amazing evening of style. The trunk show was supported by Style Me Africa, Media Room hub, Tribe&Elan, Guardian life, Exquisite magazine, Ono Bello, Blogger point, The Luxury reporter, Spice Tv, GlamAfrica, That 1960s Chick, Pulse Tv. For more on The Trunk Show and theAbbyke Domina brand, follow @abbykedomina1 on instagram.

Stars at the The Trunk Show

Shina Peller, Onyeka, Kara Maduforo Tonye Garrick, Abbyke Domina, Ifan

Abbyke Domina with Adaeze Yobo and Adaeze’s mom

Diiadem

Tomike and Alayande

Olar Slim, Efe Tommy and other guests at the event

Jane Michael

Shade Ladipo

Elizabeth Oputa

Vivien Okafor

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

SPY GLASS

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

Bigwigs Honour Tony Elumelu’s Mum At 90 When the 90th birthday celebration of Tony Elumelu’s mother was announced a few weeks ago, many had anticipated that it would be the talk of the town for a very long time. This is because they simply know that the billionaire, who is also the chairman of United Bank of Africa, doesn’t do his things without a show of class.

So, last Saturday in Lagos, the crème of the society gathered to honour the Elumelu family’s matriarch, Mama Suzanne Elumelu. The birthday shindig kicked off with a thanksgiving Mass at the Church of Assumption, Lagos and ended with a reception at the Harbour Points in Victoria Islan, Lagos.

The chief host, Elumelu, joined by his siblings Peter, Ndudi, Loretta and Agatha, ensured that the celebrator had a most memorable moment at the event. As gathered, Elumelu is a man who likes to engage in the celebration of life. No doubt, the founder of Heirs Holding owes his nonagenarian mother a lot in life. For him, watching her MAMA ELUMELU mother and the patriarch of the family age gracefully gives him immeasurable joy. So, that Saturday, he showed the world again Elumelu successfully proved to the whole that he would go to any length to make her world that his pre-eminence in the banking world is not a fluke, given the array of happy with all that God has given him.

guests who graced the colourful event inside the upscale Harbour Points. Without exaggerating, those that witnessed confirmed that It was simply sophisticated and captivating with colourful flamboyant personalities in attendance. Or how else does one describe the birthday party that made the whole of Lagos stood still?

Tony spared no cost in making his guests most welcome. Some of the world’s most expensive champagnes and exotic wines flowed like water during the event, in fact, the millions of naira that was earmarked for the celebration was in good use.

The event was graced by prominent dignitaries, including Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Jim Ovia, Hajia Bola Shagaya, King Ebitimi Banigo Andy, Chief James Ibori, Segun Awolowo, Toyin Saraki, Akinyinka Akinnola, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Others were Otunba Adekunle and Erelu Oodu’a Ojuolape Ojora, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Funso Amosun, Folake Abdulrasaq, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Bolu Akin-Olugbade, Tunde Ayeni, Tayo Ayeni, Phillips Oduoza, Revd Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi and Folorunso Alakija, among others.

Rahama Indinmi’s Outburst

RAHAMA INDINMI

If you think the dispute between Mohammed, son of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and his ex-wife, Rahama, daughter of billionaire oil magnate, Mohammed Indimi, is over, then, you are wrong.

Also, if you think Rahama has moved on, you are equally in error, as she is said to be nursing a pain in her heart, following the separation. It is no longer news that the two fought and eventually parted ways. However, who gets the custody of their children has become a very serious issue, a development that has resulted in a legal tussle.

While Rahama, by a court ruling, got the custody of two of the children, her husband was also granted custody of the other children by another court.

It was, however, shocking when Rahama, via her instagram account, recently remarked on her two kids with their father: “It takes a selfish man to use his children as weapons against their mother. He thinks he is only hurting their mother, but he is scarring his kids for life.�

This is not the first time the lady would be going emotional, as she does this always on the kids’ birthdays.

Kehinde Bankole Set to Bury Mother In-law Death is never good news but when it hit on one’s doorstep, fate has to be accepted. In few weeks from now, Lagos State is to reverberate to its root as a prominent member of Kwara State Assembly; Hon. Kehinde Bankole will literally relocate his state to the metropolitan city to give his mother in-law, late, Mrs. Florence Adetoun Olojede, nee Adeoye a befitting burial.

The seasoned developer, who has carved a niche for himself in the real estate sector, is ready to honour his mother inlaw.

According to source, the final departure of the deceased who died at the age of 68 is to start with a service of songs on Thursday 13th of September, while the Church service is to hold the next day at Christ Apostolic Church “Oke Anu� Idi Oro Mushin. Thereafter, her remains will be laid to rest at theAtan Cemetry. Reception will follow at Nikom Events Centre with well-

planned sumptuous meals and drinks of worth.

Proudly, with having a son-in-law like Honourable Bankole who handles about 70 per cent of Lekki Gardens project, all bills for the burial ceremony are settled for guests to feed on and take home at convenience.

The founder and Chairman of KAB Construction, a real estate company that has executed many outstanding construction projects is no villain when it comes to speaking life into event.

In describing the deceased whom they referred to as “Iya Ewe� and a mother of two boys and four girls, one of the daughters and a wife of the Honourable, Funmilayo said that their mother was an Icon, a selfless, a well devoted Christian that carried everybody along irrespective of tribe, affiliation and believe.

She added that she was yet to come to terms that her mother is no more.

HON KAYODE

Gbolahan Lawanson’s Assurance

GBOLAHAN LAWAL

For those who know Gbolahan Lawanson very well, it was not surprising when he was endorsed by the stakeholders to represent Surulere Federal constituency 2 in the House of Representatives.

His choice was informed by the fact that leadership, in tough times, requires men with clear vision and a rare sense of service

that will add value to the populace and for the good of all.

Lawanson, founder of the very popular computer village in Surulere, is regarded as a man who can lead, define and address issues pointedly.

Gbolahan, also a progressive, has also endeared himself to the hearts of his constituents through his philanthropic gestures.

OKOYA-THOMAS

NELSON

Jumoke Okoya-Thomas Vs Kemi Nelson Last Monday, hell was let loose at the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos secretariat when it was alleged that the South West Women leader of the party Chief Kemi Nelson stormed the Alausa office with thugs to harass, intimidate and oppress the new Lagos APC Women Leader, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas.

According to the report, Kemi Nelson came with about six other women to the secretariat and proceeded to the office of Chairman, only for them to meet the executive members in a meeting.

Impatiently, one of the women, Ayo AlliBalogun went straight to Okoya-Thomas and told her that they would deal ruthlessly with her. Rather than replying in same tone, sources said she humbly left for her office in the secretariat. Alli-Balogun allegedly went outside the office of the chairman, started a fight with the Personal Assistant to Okoya and inflicted injuries on her.

According to sources that spoke to Spyglass, Okoya’s emergence as the state women leader did not go well with Nelson as she backed another candidate. To the amazement of the later, She was favoured by the “unity list� of the party, hence Nelson’s animosity.

Okoya, wonders why her predecessor could be acting in distasteful manner. She was quoted as saying: “God bears me witness; I have no grudges against anyone. She (Nelson) is the South West APC Women Leader and I don’t think my duties and responsibilities will clash with her own. My mandate is to mobilise all Lagos women for the success of our party in the 2019 general elections and no amount of intimidation from a fellow woman will deter me from achieving this goal.�

Upon assumption of office, it was said that Okoya had extended a hand of fellowship to the South West Women Leader but she rebuffed her.

Again, Nelson never vacated the former office meant for Okoya, who was said to be temporarily using a makeshift office.

No doubt, apart from being the daughter of the late “Asoju Oba of Lagos�, Okoya has proven to be trustworthy and capable of bringing the womenfolk together. Another source said of her: “She is loved by all. Kind-hearted, she is loyal and amiable. She is seen as a rallying point and a woman who can make things happen for the women and the generality of the members of the party and that was why the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed settled for her.�

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

Hyundai Tucson Elicits Finest SUV Ideals for 2019

H

New look ofToyota Hilux

Toyota Hilux Gets New look, New Derivatives, Same DNA Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he Toyota Hilux range has been given further tweaks on its façade whilst the line-up is also reinforced with a number of additional models catering to both utility and convenience-minded customers.

Fresh Face The standout feature of the refreshed Hilux range is the ‘new face’ across normal Raider and SRX models. The bespoke Dakar derivatives utilised a black-and-grey-themed version of the new Hilux front design - which is carried over to SRX. A slightly different execution has been applied to the Raider grades befitting their flagship status.

SRX Solidity In SRX guise the new model adopts a black-themed front design to reinforce the tough, no-nonsense appearance of these mid-tier models. Colour-coded bumpers remain whilst inheriting a matching stylised skid plate on the lower apron. Functional black side steps and side mirrors add a rugged touch.

Auto light control incorporating a follow-me-home functionality, is newly added to the specification register. On the interior front, SRX models inherit a 4-speaker touchscreen infotainment system (previously utilised on Raider grade) with Bluetooth and

USB interface, all accessible via steering switches; while an accompanying reverse camera bolsters the convenience specification and increases SRX’s value proposition.

SRX models continue to offer a practical blend of work and leisure spec: rugged 17� alloy wheels using 265/70R17 tyres, remote central locking with auto door lock, power windows, fog lamps, air-conditioning, durable fabric interior trim, multiinformation display, tilt-and-telescopic steering and multiple storage binnacles are all part of the standard menu. The airbag complement consists of driver, passenger and driver knee bag. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ABS, EBD and Brake Assist all form part of the standard package.

The responsive 2.4 GD-6 powers SRX-badged ‘bakkies’, delivering 110kW @ 3400 rpm and 400Nm between 1600 and 2000rpm. Six-speed transmissions are utilised in both manual and automatic arrangement.

Raider Radiance The range-topping Raider models receive a striking chrome grille surround which offsets the black horizontal slats and creates a premium appearance.

The chrome-effect front grille supplements the chrome exterior mirrors (power-retractable) and door handles.

The multi-dimensional fog lamp garnishes

incorporate intersecting horizontal and vertical elements decked out in a matching black - and chromium effect. The fog lamps themselves utilise LED elements for superb illumination. Full LED headlamps with distinctive LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) bands complete the front view.

The touchscreen multimedia system in Raider guise has been upgraded to include Satellite Navigation and DVD-playback compatibility.

Bluetooth telephony, USB interface and 6-speaker output remain part of the package – all controllable via large, steering-mounted switchgear.

A carry-over from the Dakar limited edition is the new full black interior, complete with black headliner and metallic-black interior trim accents.

Befitting its flagship status, Raider-badged Hilux continues to offer a comprehensive specification level. These include stylish 18� alloy wheels with 265/60R18 tyres, high-grade fabric interior trim, air-conditioned glovebox, leather steering and shift lever, automatic climate control, cruise control, a TFT colour multi-information display, 12 - and 220-volt accessory connectors, rear armrest with cupholders and seven airbags (including curtain and driver knee).

The familiar 2.8 GD-6 four-cylinder diesel engine continues duty in the Raider grade – offering 130 kW and 420 Nm (450 Nm in automatic transmission guise). The throaty 4.0-litre V6 remains on offer, with 175 kW and 376 Nm respectively.

Kia Previews Design of New ProCeed

P

reviewed in a new sketch released today, the new Kia ProCeed merges stunning design with the space and versatility of a tourer in a five-door shooting brake body.

The new ProCeed follows the design blueprint laid down by the 2017 Kia Proceed Concept, and will offer drivers an unparalleled combination of design and versatility.

Designed, developed and engineered exclusively for Europe, it represents a unique proposition in the mid-size family car segment.

The new Kia ProCeed will be revealed at an event on 13 September, and make its public debut at the 2018 Mondial de l’Auto in Paris The new Kia ProCeed on 2 October.

yundai Tucson has returned for the 2019 model year with the finest SUV ideals ever in the practical SUV segment, incorporating superb mix of interior refinement, ride comfort, astonishing reliability, fuel economy and advanced safety features.

Recently remodeled with gorgeous niceties, the Tucson is Hyundai’s icing on the cake, and could prompt a gawk among competitive SUV marques.

Notable contenders in the practical SUV market slice are the Honda CRV, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, Jeep Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox.

Hyundai however claims its new Tucson offers more equipment for your money with attractive trim levels, each delivering unprecedented apparatus for their respective points.

The SE trim level for instance, (the only available model in Nigeria) is equipped with 164hp (Horsepower), 2.0-liter four cylinder engine with a front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Tucson’s swanky dimension also offers additional three inches length; 1.1-inch width and 1.2-inch-longer-wheelbase to reaffirm the vehicle’s practicality.

The result, of course, is a spacious and refined interior; passenger-friendly cabin especially for the rear occupants and a 60/40 split rear seat, providing ample thigh support and plenty of legroom even for a six-footer up front.

Tucson’s cargo area has also been widened for easier loading and offloading with added bonus on the floor (that can be lowered by two inches) to accommodate more shipment.

Renowned test drivers who acknowledged these transformations said that the Tucson is a driver’s delight with appreciable reputation for everyday commuting.

They applauded the vehicle’s front wheel drive that reaches 60mph (97km) in 7.9 seconds, which is quick for cars in this class.

Couple with these significant improvements is Tucson’s steering and suspension, providing a robust suspension component, upgraded dampers and new hydraulic-type bump stops.

Drivers of the new Tucson would, no doubt, appreciate Hyundai’s Flex Steer System available on the model for the first time and a remarkably distinctive Standard Drive Mode Select System that alters steering effort, transmission shift programming and throttle response in variance with the three settings - Normal, Eco and Sport.

Lexus Honours F Line With 10th Anniversary Models

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exus has launched limited-edition models of its performance RC F coupe and GS F sedan to mark the 10th anniversary of the luxury brand’s iconic F Line.

The two special 351kW V8 performance cars are distinguished by a matte grey paint finish, a “Competition Blue� interior with carbon-fibre highlights, black polished alloy wheels revealing callipers in the same blue hue and front performance dampers.

Anniversary celebrations are being shared with performance-car lovers due to the decision by Lexus to offer the RC F and GS F limited-edition at the same prices as the variants on which they are based.

The Lexus F marque has come to symbolise continuous advances in performance and handling - from the original IS F in 2008 to the LFA super car, RC F coupe and GS F sedan.

Lexus chief executive Scott Thompson said the 10th anniversary limited-edition models captured the sporting spirit of the F performance marque - cars honed on the track but designed for accessible roadgoing performance. “The letter F symbolises a series of Lexus cars that are designed and engineered to deliver a higher level of sporting style and driving reward,� Mr Thompson said. “These rare and exclusive versions reinforce that F models are built for drivers to immerse themselves in pure driving pleasure and satisfying performance.�

Anniversary model details The powerful lines and sculpted surfaces of the limited-edition models are accentuated by a matte paintfinishknownasFujiGraphitethatisalsoapplied to the door handles, mirror housings, side skirts and shark fin antenna.

Exclusive to the anniversary models, the new paint treatment provides a striking contrast with the polished black finish of the 19-inch alloy wheels.

Visible through the 20 spokes are large “competition blue� brake callipers that bear the evocative F logo.

The same blue shade surrounds the discreet F badge on the front wings.

Front performance dampers deliver improved body rigidity and steering stability that further enhance the driving performance for which “F� models are known.

Inside, the application of blue colouring is even bolder. Highly supportive front sports seats are finished in vivid blue semi-aniline leather with white accents and the F symbol embossed in the

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

39

Silicon Valley Executive Takes Delivery of Bespoke Rolls-Royce Stories by Bennett Oghifo

B

enjamin Treynor Sloss, Vice President of Engineering at Google and a well-known car enthusiast, has taken delivery of a very personal Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Presented to him at the Rolls-Royce Collectors Cocktail Reception on Saturday night by Torsten Mßller-ÖtvÜs, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Benjamin Treynor Sloss, Vice President of Engineering at Google and a well-known car enthusiast, has taken delivery of a very personal Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Presented to him at the Rolls-Royce Collectors Cocktail Reception on Saturday night by TorstenMĂźller-Ă–tvĂśs,ChiefExecutiveOfficerofRollsRoyce Motor Cars, this stunningly contemporary Dawn Black Badge was created in collaboration with the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective in Goodwood, England in the Slosses’ personal livery “Our Rolls-Royce story began here at Pebble Beach in 2014 when we were looking for a two-door coupĂŠ with four useable seats for adults,â€? comments Ben Sloss. “Brands such as Aston Martin or Bentley do not offer anything suitable. When we saw the Rolls-Royce Wraith, we loved the style and elegance of the coupĂŠ, and when we took it for a test drive we were impressed (really, startled) by how well it accelerated and handled, in addition to the sublime ride quality and materials we already associated with the Rolls-Royce brand. The Wraith offered a unique combination of luxury car experience and sports car performance, and we fell in love with it on the spot.â€?

Ben’s wife Christine subsequently bought a RollsRoyce Dawn, a motor car that has become her daily driver. “You can tell which are the favourite cars in our family by the mileage they have on them,� comments Mrs. Christine Sloss. “My Dawn has over 13,000 miles on the clock, because both Ben

Travelstart, Uber Nigeria Announce Flight Partnership with ‘Uberescape’

T

Bespoke Rolls-Royce Dawn black badge and I drive it regularly, and we enjoy its open-air experience so much that Ben decided he wanted one too.� “Christine and I are both gentleman... err, gentleperson racing drivers, competing in endurance races in GT racing cars, and many of our street cars are two-seater supercars with a very distinctive and

personal livery,� continues Ben Sloss. “Michael Fux showed me that Rolls-Royce’s craftspeople could create completely personal, outrageous but beautiful colour schemes, and when I heard about the sportier Dawn Black Badge, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to commission a very personal Rolls-Royce.�

ravelstart, Africa’s leading Online Travel Agency has announced the launch of ‘UberEscape,’ a collaboration between Travelstart and Uber to allow customers book flights through the Uber app.

In September customers will be able to book their flights by simply opening their Uber app and clicking on ’UberEscape.’ Customers will then be directed to the secure ‘UberEscape’ website where they can access exclusive flight deals to some of their favouritedestinations.Theseflightdealsarepowered

by Travelstart. The online travel agency is known for their cheap flights to Dubai, London, New York, Johannesburg and more.

The journey to ’UberEscape’ will kick off onAugust 31 with an exciting competition on social media titled “Snap & Share�. During the competition, Uber riders will be asked “Where To?� Participants can pick from any flight route snap a selfie and share it with Travelstart, UBER and their social media followers to win a trip to their dream travel destination. One luckyUberriderwillwinTWOFREEEconomyreturn flights tickets! The competition will end September 7, 2018andthewinnerwillbeannouncedbySeptember 14, 2018.

Speakingaboutthepartnership,CommercialManager, Travelstart Nigeria, BukkyAkomolafe said “We are excited to partner with Uber to make flight bookings even more accessible. With this partnership, customers will be able to book their flights as seamlessly as ordering their next ride via the Uber app.� This reinforces Travelstart’s commitment to making flight bookings even simpler for Nigerians. “Weareconstantlylookingfornewwaystoexciteand createvalueforourburgeoningcustomers,andweare thrilled to be collaborating with Travelstart through the launch of ‘UberEscape,’� says Margaret Banasko, Country Marketing Lead, Sub-SaharanAfrica, Uber.

Jaguar Land Rover’s new Virtual Eyes Look at Trust in Self-Driving Cars

J

aguar Land Rover has fitted ‘virtual eyes’ to intelligent pods to understand how humans will trust self-driving vehicles, as research studies suggest that as many as 63% of pedestrians worry about how safe it will be to cross the road in the future.

The friendly-faced ‘eye pods’ have a vital job: helping work out how much information future self-driving cars should share with users or pedestrians to ensure that people trust the technology.

As part of the engineering project, Jaguar Land Rover has enlisted the help of a team of cognitive psychologists to better understand how vehicle behaviour affects human confidence in new technology. The trust trials form part of Jaguar Land Rover’s government-supported UK Autodrive project.

The intelligent pods, run autonomously on a fabricated street scene in Coventry, while the behaviour of pedestrians is analysed as they wait to cross the road. The ‘eyes’ have been devised by a team of advanced engineers, working in Jaguar Land Rover’s Future Mobility division.

I

The pods seek out the pedestrian - appearing to ‘look’ directly at them - sig nalling to road users that it has identified them, and intends to take avoiding action.

Engineers record trust levels in the person before and after the pod makes ‘eye contact’ to find out whether it generates sufficient confidence that it would stop for them. Previous studies suggest as many 63% of pedestrians and cyclists say they’d feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle*.

Safety remains the number one priority as Jaguar Land Rover invests in self-driving technology, becoming automotive leaders in autonomous, connected, electric and shared mobility. The trial is aligned with the brand’s long-term strategic goals: to make cars safer, free up people’s valuable time and improve mobility for everyone.

Pete Bennett, Future Mobility Research Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “It’s second-nature to glance at the driver of the approaching vehicle before stepping into the road. Understanding how this translates in tomorrow’s more automated world is important.

The Jaguar Land Rover friendly-faced ‘eye pods’

Car Seat Belt Reminders

know I have written severally on seat belt and child restraint. I also know that I have used life examples from people who lost their loved ones as a result of non- use of seat belt to drive home the value and safety importance of buckling up during any kind of journey; short or long distance especially against the backdrop of unfounded perception by some motorists that seat belt is only of value on long distance journey and not necessary if driving within short distance within the city of even within your community or estate as we have in abundance in our clime. Of all the cases that I have cited on this column, the one that is touchy and ever fresh in my mind is the story of the man who lost his ten year old child along the Abuja- Lokoja road in December, 2015.

For the sake of those who were kind enough to read the stories I cited to drive home my point on seat belt usage and those who missed out, I have chosen not just a re-run of some excerpts of the materials used but to also share a development which is not totally new but should sound new to a good number of us especially those who have become deviants and require something extra before they will detour and do the right thing by buckling up while driving. I am talking about the development in the European Union where based on the need to redress crash trend and improve safety, the introduction of seatbelt reminder systems is to become mandatory on every new car seat, both front and rear from

SAFE DRIVING with

JONAS AGWU

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

September 2019.

This is part of a new regulations being adopted by the European Union. The development is an improvement on the existing EU vehicle safety rules, agreed in 2009, which only requires seatbelt reminder systems on the driver’s seat. However under the new regulations, set out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe(UNECE), front seat systems will need to be able to detect a passenger sitting – and make an audible warning at the start of the journey if the belt is not attached. The requirements for rear seats differ slightly in that the audible warning will only sound if a belt is unbuckled during the journey.

As a Nigerian and one who is involved in safety, I am extremely excited by this new development even though for new I live and work in Nigeria and not in any of the European Union countries. My excitement is borne out of the fact that these new developments

will no doubt rub on our efforts to increase safety consciousness and safety wearing. I hear that the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC),is also excited; ETSC has described the move as a step forward for vehicle safety in Europe. According to the ETSC,’’ seatbelt use in cars in the EU is at 88% for front seats and as low as 74% for rear seats in the countries that are monitoring wearing levels.’’ This explains why the ETSC maintains that 900 deaths could have been prevented in 2012 if 99% of all occupants had been wearing a seatbelt across Europe– a rate it says ‘could be reached with seatbelt reminders’ .

When I visited the web page of UNECE, two vital information were instructive to me and I believe you will find the information quite revealing. The first was the introductory statement on the proposal which noted’’ that the text(on seat belt reminder) was prepared by experts from Japan, France Republic of Korea and the European Commission as an outcome of the discussion at the taskforce on seat belt reminder aimed at introducing provisions on safety belt reminders on all vehicle seats. The second instructive note was the justification which notes that ‘’it is widely recognized that the safety-belt is one of the most important and effective vehicle safety features. Nevertheless, actual safety-belt wearing rates vary greatly between countries and also differ between front and rear seating positions, as was explained in a presentation provided at the fifty-seventh session of the Global Road Safety Partner-

ship (GRSP)’’ The justification continues by noting that in Japan, rear seat safety-belt use can be as low as 35.1 per cent. With a note of optimism it observes that when the effective seat belt reminder is mandatory for all passenger car seats, an expected 150 lives can be saved annually in Japan. The story in the Republic of Korea is not too different as , seat safety-belt use is generally between 80 per cent and 90 per cent on front seats, but even as low as 16.2 per cent on rear seats. In 2013, three hundred people not wearing a safety-belt died in cars in the Republic of Korea, and over 18,000 persons not wearing safety-belts were injured. When the fitment of safety belt reminder will be mandatory for all passenger car seats in the Republic of Korea, 103 lives are expected to be saved in target year 2024 with a 70 per cent observance rate of the seat belt reminder. In the same condition, the costbenefit ratio will be 1.43. 7.

The European Commission published a study that quantifies the casualty benefit of legislative action on Seat belt reminders for all categories of vehicles by comparing a baseline, i.e. “do nothing� scenario, with an action scenario which involved mandating seat belt reminders. From the analysis cited above, the effectiveness of seat belt reminders is not in doubt. However we must also appreciate the critical importance of effective and best practice measures such as enforcement, driver education, and enhanced safety awareness which is vital in keeping the tempo back home in check against the backdrop of the ongoing campaign for rear seat belt compliance which is still at the very low ebb.

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

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

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EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Solecisms Galore

EBERE WABARA

T

HE first set of solecisms this week comes from LEADERSHIP of July 6, 2018, beginning from its front page: â€œâ€Śsaid that the bank’s fundamentals remain (remained) strong and virile‌.â€? “BBOG commends Buhari over (for) breaking fast with

IDPs� “Didi’s parents was (sic) said to have flown in from Jos.� This is certainly not the way to be ‘Nigeria’s most influential newspaper’!

Final entry from LEADERSHIP: “FG should identify grassroot (grassroots) farmers to achieve agendaâ€? “The sensational development surprised observers of British politics amidst (amid) erstwhile speculations that flamboyant‌.â€? ‘Amidst’, just like ‘amongst’ (among) and ‘whilst’ (while), is Elizabethan English! “NUJ raises alarm on destitute high mobility in Riversâ€? (The Niche, July 29) Soul of the nation: raise the alarm “The average life span of a dog is between 10 to (and) 14 years.â€? (Source: as above) “BATNF’s agricultural interventions boost rural farmers (farmers’) revenuesâ€? For headline purposes: agric interventions Wrong: re-open; right: reopen “Sirika and the potentials (potential or potentialities) of Nigeria’s aviation sectorâ€? “Five (5) days (days’) intensive classroom training that will commence after the online session‌.â€?

From Diamond Bank PLC comes the next goof: “A world of stress free (stress-free) transactionsâ€? (Noticed at its Aguda, Surulere, Lagos branch‌yesterday and most likely in other outlets nationwide) “The Management and Staff of KSLEY Mega Vision Ltd., a subsidiary of KSLEY Group of Companies congratulate the Chairman and CEO‌over (on/upon) the successful opening the (of the) bank in Enugu.â€? “For instance, there are number (a number) of landed (properties) that are on rent.â€? ‘Property’, in this context, is countable.

The Management of Airtel, the smartphone (smart-phone) network, announced the next three juvenile infractions: â€œâ€Śdesigned to

BY

empower customers in respect to (of) the management of all unsolicited messages sent to their phones.â€? Alternatively, with respect to‌. “While there are customers that (who) demand promotional services to keep abreast with (of) various innovative products and services‌.â€? “Bauchi teachers protest over (against/ at/about) non-payment of several months (months’) salariesâ€? “Ogun River: Thousands turn Karo to tourists’ siteâ€? Voice of The Nation: tourist site “The President inspecting guard (a guard) of honour at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, yesterdayâ€?

Wrong: assasin; right: assassin “Today’s primaries very crucial to the PDP in its quest to regain the reins of government‌.â€?

Please delete ‘of government’ Note well: ‘take/hand over the reins’ means to take or give someone control over an organization or country. (Longman Advanced Dictionary of Contemporary English) “Shell forecloses plans to exit Nigeria (Nigerian) operationsâ€? “Enjoy bespoke everyday banking services and exclusive priviledges (privileges) for the‌.â€? “Peter Obi paid salaries of civil servants as and when due.â€? Just this: servants when due “Those in government spent a lot of money on things that are (were) unnecessary‌.â€? And this: much (not a lot of) money Still on THISDAY: “My grass to grace (grassto-grace) storyâ€? “Why my company is call (called) ‘Slot’â€? “Nigeria (Nigerian) unity: Myth, hypocrisy and redemptionâ€? “Singapore jails senior civil servants over (for) corruptionâ€? “ANA postponements (sic) (postpones) August readingâ€? “Peugeot plans to inject $7.26b on (into) research, developmentâ€? “South African Airways celebrates 80 years (years’ or 80th year) anniversaryâ€? “LASU Management re-opens (reopens) the universityâ€? “You lived well and you have gone to (preferably for) a well deserved (well-deserved) rest. Rest in perfect peaceâ€? Except for graveyard peace, ‘peace’ is an absolute and does not need

inflection, intensification or adumbration. So, rest in peace (R.I.P—not R.I.P.P)!

Finally from the Back Page of THE GUARDIAN under review: “One has witnessed at different occasions dissenting opinions of doctors as regards prescriptions for patient’s (a patient’s) ailment.� The Guardian youth speak: on different occasions.

Next is DAILY TRUST of July 11: “Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar spoke at his palace in Sokoto‌.â€? Does the Sultan of Sokoto have another palace elsewhere? Let us think as we report. “ plans listing in (on) capital marketâ€? “Pact with China conducive for peace, says Taiwan (Taiwan’s or Taiwanese) presidentâ€? “Otherwise, there is no point we engage in importing that much on yearly (a yearly) basis.â€? â€œâ€Śhe said though the institute has (had) developed 62 rice varieties for farmers, five most prominent varieties are (were) in circulation and are (were) doing very good (well).â€? “NEMA, stakeholders meets over displaced personsâ€? You can readily identify the boyish slip-up. “With the LG polls now fixed for next week Tuesday‌.â€? Either next Tuesday or Tuesday, next week. Lastly from DAILY TRUST: “Replicate your performance to (in) your constituents (constituencies)â€? “Security at airports: Police deploys (sic) sniffer dogs at (in) Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, 5 othersâ€? (AIT News) From DAILY TRUST we move to THISDAY of July 12: “Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Portuguese woman charged for (with) drug traffickingâ€? “Thumb (Thumbs) up for Nigerian refs in Maliâ€? “Obasanjo : Amaechi’s k-leg (knocked leg) has been straightenedâ€?

The following five solecisms are from DAILY INDEPENDENT of July 12: “DHQ assures of continued offensive� Who did it assure? “Battle for soul of Ecobank intensifies� So the battle intensifies itself? “Tackling voters apathy in Nigeria� This way: voter apathy SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of July 28 disseminated all manner of school-boy mistakes

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

right from the front page: “Fear has grip (gripped) notable politicians in Ebonyi State following findings by‌.â€? Most of the ensuing blunders were caused by sheer carelessness and loose thinking as the computer system has an in-built mechanism that detects most of the spelling errors contained herein. “The discovery was made when the SSS arrested some kidnappers in the state alleged to be the brain (brains) behind high profile (highprofile) kidnapping in the state.â€? “The SSS in the state said on Friday that it has (had) arrested‌.â€? â€œâ€Śmotorists were made to watch a bizzare (bizarre) spectacle, (needless comma) as four policemen beat a man gave (who gave) his name as‌to a state of stupour (stupor).â€? “The policemen, who drove to the scene in a patrol van with registration number KJA 284 AX, threw caution the winds (sic) (threw caution to the winds).â€? “Federal University Lafia, (otiose punctuation) matriculates 380 studentsâ€? Would it have matriculated traders? Just yank off the last word in the extract! “Community sends SOS to Amosun, Ambode over harrassmentâ€? Spell-check: harassment, but embarrassment. “When Fayemi’s wife rescued woman abandoned with tripplet (triplet)â€? “Adewale Ayuba is one musician (music/ musical) act who has been around for years. “ “My husband usually ask (asks) me to abort my pregnancy, woman tells courtâ€?

Finally from SATURDAY INDEPENDENT, a voice of your own: “Movie directors threaten sanction on (against) actressâ€? “They buy at N159 and sell at N167, the CBN has (had) addressed last year when‌.â€? “But what the banks decided to do is (was) to even stop selling.â€? “Middle aged (Middle-aged) man commits suicide in Jos‌Police tries (try) to uncover his identityâ€? “IITA creates 40,000 jobs under cassava to ethanol (cassava-to-ethanol) projectâ€? “Edo: Court remands killer cop (killer-cop)‌â€? “CBN said money is (was) missing from federation (the federation) account.â€?

VINTAGE

Oshodi Community Leaders Relive Ipesa’s Achievements Godwin IďŹ jeh

A

former Local Government Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Hon.Afeez IpesaBalogun, was on Tuesday welled up in tears of joy at a meeting with community leaders in the council area.

TheAll Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives aspirant, met with the community leaders under the aegis of Community Development Committee (CDC), the umbrella body of all Community DevelopmentAssociations (CDAs) in the council area, to formally inform them of his intention and to seek their support in the build up to his party’s coming primaries for the ticket of Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency 1.

Apesa was overwhelmed with the lavish praises poured on him by the people for what they termed his record of outstanding performance, humility, accessibility, maturity and friendly disposition to all and sundry for the period he was chairman of the Local Government, which they have not find in any other that has occupied the office since he vacated it.

The community leaders recalled before a highly enthused Ipesa-Balogun, in a celebration of sort, how apart from his landmark projects and compassionate disposition to all and sundry during his tenure as Chairman of the council area, he strengthened and encouraged the activities of CDAs across the Local GovernmentArea by building and supporting them in all areas.

According to the CDC members, the former council chairman introduced and institutionalised a monthly imprest grant to the CDC to run its operations, provided space and funded the construction of a Community House, comprising a hall and offices for the CDC to the level it has remained since he left office 7years ago and stood out as the first Council Chairman in the State to compensate CDAs in the council area, when he released N3.8 million to them for successfully monitoring and

Ipesa’s meeting with CDC, Oshodi/Isolo LGA supervising Local Government projects across the area under construction to completion.

Also, the community leaders, who pledged to give him all the necessary support to ensure that he wins the 2019 election into the House of Representatives once he gets his party’s ticket, recalled that he was the first Council Chairman in the State to provide a CDC with an official car, stating that the provision of that vehicle by him for them in Oshodi/Isolo Local GovernmentArea made the apex body of all CDAs in the State, the Lagos State Community Development (Advisory) Council, to appeal to all other Council and

LCDAChairmen in the State to provide official vehicles for their CDCs. Women members of the CDC present also added their voice, stating that under the former Chairman, members of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria, Oshodi/ Isolo Local Government chapter, were always sponsored by him to theirAnnual National Convention inAbuja but that it has since stopped as they are not able to attend the Convention again since he left office.

The CDC members were unanimous in their opinion about Ipesa-Balogun, confident that

he will not only make a good representative of Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency 1, if he gets the APC ticket and wins the election, he will restore and surpass the glory and joy of the Constituency’s past representations since the advent of party politics in 1999.

The aspirant, who was surprised at the encomiums poured on him, was emotionally overwhelmed and only managed as he struggled in between tears of joy to thank the leaders, promising to mobilise funds within a space of time, if elected to ensure the completion of the CDC Community House to a befitting status.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE

Sammies Couture LookBook (Kingsmen “18 Collection)

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

FASHION FILE

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

Sammies Couture LookBook

KINGSMEN , Just the way the name sounds , Sammies Couture’s A/W ‘18 Collection was created to suit up every Classic Man and Groom who’s got good sense of style.

The collection was created with inspiration drawn from the great traditional English tailors on Savile row & exudes the niche of the Sammies Couture brand which says ‘Class Speaks , Style Fits’ The collection was unveiled & shot in Victoria Street , Cape Town & would definitely not be the last Classic to come from the brand.

Credits Models : @zaiddiedericks @ameer_allie Photography- Alec Smith @imagemundi Accessories- @elite_pierce Location:-The Bank,54 Queen Victoria Street, Capetown, South Africa.

Creative Director : Peters Samuel

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

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Arikegold I Have Featured in More Than 70 Films and Still Counting Bolanle Olukanni

Doyin Lawal

Ebonylife was My First TV Job with an Amazing Opportunity

My Dream is to be a Successful Designer

pg. 48

pg. 49

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

ARIKEGOLD

I Have Featured in More Than 70 Films and Still Counting Ă™Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă™ ĂŽĂ?Ă™Ă–Ă‹Ëœ ÚÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă™Ă–ĂŽËœ Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹ Ă?Ă?Ă‘Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ åÓÞÒ Ùà Ă?Ăœ Ϳ͸ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁĚ‹Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă?Ăœ ÞÙ Ă‹ ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹ ×Ùà ÓĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ“Ă•Ă?ÑÙÖÎ Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă•ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂœË› Ă?Ăœ ÔÙĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă?ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ™Ă— ĂĄĂ‹Ă? åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹ ×Ùà ÓĂ?Ă? ÞÙ Chinedu Ibeabuchi

W

as it passion that drove you into acting?

I have always had passion for entertainment since I was young. I never knew I would end up as an actor. I thought I would be a broadcaster.

Some Yoruba actors also act in English movies while some are just comfortable in Yoruba movies alone. Where do you stand here?

I don’t think there is anything like to and fro in the movie industry.

Whenever a good director sees and loves your job, he or she will contact you and ask if you are available to feature in his movie. I believe as an actor, you should be versatile, whether in English or Yoruba movies.

What role can you never act even if offered N10 million?

As a professional in my field, I can’t reject any role. I take a role and interpret it so well in a way that passes the message across to my fans. So if you offer me N10 million or not, I can play any role but I can’t expose my body for any amount.

What’s that childhood or growing-up experience that you can never forget or shaped you?

Growing up wasn’t easy for me especially having to move from one place to another and changing schools each time we relocate. It wasn’t easy at all. Only people in my shoes will understand better how a polygamous family looks like. On the other hand, there was a good side to it. I was able to learn about the strength you can get from a close family. I learnt to be strong even in bad times, to keep my head up, to be focused in everything I do, to be self-reliant and how to doggedly fight for my future. So, growing up was so hard for me but I thank God for today.

What are some of the notable movies or series you have featured in?

I have featured in more than 70 films. However, it’s not how far but how well. I thank God for today.

Which movie took you to a breaking point in the industry?

I will say the movies I produced.

Everything changed the moment I started producing my movies. But all the movies I featured in were fantastic. One spectacular one that I can’t forget is Alubarika.

Yoruba movies are often criticised for fetishism, cultism and repetition of storylines. What’s your defense on these?

Laughs! Very funny how people tend to criticise our movies. Anyway, we create a narrative around what happens in human society and then use it to relate with our fans. You will be in denial if you say a large proportion of what you watch in our movies aren’t a reflection of what happens in the society. A good number of our

Adeola

movies are intended not only to entertain but teach moral lessons.

When not acting, what do you do? And how do you relax?

I watch movies a lot (whether in cinema or at home). Sometimes, I go out with some of my friends and sisters to catch fun. Sometimes, I

chill out with my friends at the gym.

To what extent can you go acting romantic scene? Kiss, nude or sex?

And why?

I can only kiss to an extent but I cannot have sex or go nude on set because of my cultural background. I am going to get married one day and

have my babies and I don’t want my children to grow up seeing something like that.

Do you have a role model?

Yes, Omotola Jalade, Omoni Oboli and Bimbo Oshin are my role models.

I admire them because they have been able to manage marriage and

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

I Can’t Marry an Actor P People always see it from the a angle of our movies but don’t equally know that most of our ladies in the industry have their own personal businesses; that they have a second income aside acting.

So, when you see most of these actresses flaunt cars, money and houses on social media, it means they have rreally worked hard to achieve it and should be praised rather than saying all sort of malicious things against them. And mind you, there’s money in movie business also personally without my consent. (laughs). I am still single oo.

So still single?

Yes, I am single.

Do you fancy marriage or see it as distraction?

I don’t really want to say anything about that. I can only put everything in GOD’s hand.

How would you describe your ideal man?

Must be God fearing; he must always respect his woman; he must always take care of his family; must be taller than me a bit and must be outspoken and presentable.

Can you marry an actor?

No, I can’t and I don’t have a reason.

Who is your Nollywood crush and why?

I don’t have crush

The industry is rife with sexual harassment. Many have shared their sordid tales. Can you share yours? And how do you navigate around this?

Adeola

career successfully, and yet, are highly relevant in the industry.

Is Yoruba movie lucrative?

Would you say it is career fulfilling? What’s your view about some actors living above their means?

People always see it from the angle of our movies but don’t equally know that most of our ladies in the industry have their own personal businesses; that they have a second income aside acting. So, when you see most of these actresses flaunt cars, money and houses on social media, it means they have really worked hard to achieve it and should be praised rather than saying all sort

of malicious things against them.

And mind you, there’s money in movie business also. Meanwhile, there are those who act for the passion while others take it as a career.

People are making money from acting but before you start making money from it, you need to love it first and study how you can earn a living from it.

Have you ever been embarrassed by a fan in public? How did you handle this?

Laughs! Yes, I was once embarrassed by a fan in Ibadan but it was funny though. I actually came down from my car to buy fuel thinking no one would recognise me. From

nowhere, a fan shouted ‘ArikeGold.’ I was scared and wanted to run away thinking it was a kidnapper. To my greatest surprise, it was a fan who wanted to be sure that it was ArikeGold.

How would you describe your personal style?

I wear anything I’m comfortable in and I can’t expose my body in the name of fashion.

We realised that you are engaged. Who is the lucky man?

Laughs! I am still single like every single girl out there. Anyway, my friend desires to play a fast one by getting me engaged to a white man

I think it’s a matter of choice. If you believe in your talent, work very hard and keep your head up, be focused and pay your dues, I believe you will go a long way. I can only talk about what I have experienced and I can authoritatively say that I have not experienced such since I came into the industry in 2007. To state it clear, I have never been sexually harassed in my career.

Any nomination or notable award as an actress?

I have a lot of nominations and few awards.

Yoruba movie industry is still emerging. In your opinion, what are the plugs that still need to be fixed?

I think we should, at least, be appreciated. Nollywood is Nollywood (whether English or Yoruba movie).

They should stop looking down on us like we are not working hard. We are really working very hard. I want to beg our fans and social media critics to stop the bullying.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

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Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘

BOLANLE OLUKANNI

Ebonylife was My First TV Job with an Amazing Opportunity Ă™Ă–Ă‹Ă˜Ă–Ă? Ă–Ă&#x;Ă•Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă“ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ăœ ÚÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ËŠ Ù×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? åÓÞÒ Ù˪ Ă™Ă˜ ĂžĂ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽËœ ÙÎ˪Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ? ÞËÖÕĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă&#x;ĂšËœ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂœËœ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? åÓÞÒ Tosin Clegg I grew up in an amazing family y parents have always been very supportive. I have two sisters whom I am very close to as well. My father was a diplomat. So we lived in different countries growing up.

M

How the journey into media started I have been interested in media as far back as when I was 16 years old.

I did an internship at a Kenyan radio station and really fell in love with the power of the radio. I appreciated the expression of personality and identity that the radio presenters had. Even more so, the idea of telling stories and being a voice for causes that I am passionate about really drew me in.

Moments with Mo was where everything started It’s an amazing talk show that celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I have been so inspired by many of our guests on the show and the ways in which they have done inspiring things and added value to other people’s lives.

Ebonylife was my first TV job and it’s such an honour to be part of an iconic and amazing channel. I was given an amazing opportunity by MO Abudu to host Moments with Mo with her and I am truly grateful for it.

There have been multiple turning points along the way Staring off my career by getting a gig like Moments with Mo was a huge feat. It was my very first presenting job and I was hosting a show alongside a seasoned TV host like Mo Abudu. Another major highlight was starting my own show ‘On the Carpet with Bolinto’ and overnight I went from being a presenter to becoming an executive producer. Another major highlight was winning the Future Award prize for ‘On- Air Personality of the Year (Visual)’.

Inspiration for God’s Wives During one of our interviews on Moments with Mo, we had a guest and she talked to us about the work she does with widows and I was really moved I had always known I needed to use my influence and platform to affect the lives of people but I didn’t know exactly how I was going to do that.

For me, the widows are a group that is marginalised and often forgotten.

The desire to remain true to myself This has been my major driving force. People I look up to have been the most successful because they know who they are and they share that with the world. I view my career as a journey and not a hustle or race.

Therefore, I make all my decisions based on integrity and any decision I make I ask myself - in five years’ time can I look back and be proud of the person I am.

The people I’m partnering with God’s Wives Foundation partners with the Self-worth Organisation to ensure that they receive the financial support they need. In March 2017, I provided funds for Self-worth Organisation to open a skills acquisition centre in Surulere.

The centre trains women in tailoring, catering and makeup artistry skills.

The purpose is to ensure the women have skills for empowerment and to develop a form of livelihood, as most are not unemployed. We have now graduated over 120 women from the skills acquisition programme and they have all been equipped with a business starter kit.

We just finished our training of a batch of 40 women and we partnered with Lipton for empowering them with the business starter kits.

We want to continue to grow our imitative There is no social welfare system in Nigeria and it’s the responsibility of us the citizens who have influence and are privileged to do this.

We also are looking to partner with legal services to provide support for widows in cases of legal disputes.

Where I see myself in a few years In a few years, I hope to have a long list of documentary works that I have produced. I want to continue to use this genre to tell stories and also as a means of advocacy for the marginalised. It’s so important that we use visual and content to create awareness.

I have a biblical perspective on love I don’t believe love is a feeling but a decision. It’s the choice to submit to another human being and love them despite their inadequacies. Love is a place where you learn to become less selfish and more selfless.

Olukanni

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

49

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

GISTS

MY STORY

DAVIDO BREAKS SOCIAL MEDIA WITH NYSC UNIFORM SHOWOFF One of Nigeria’s biggest music brands, Davido tops the internet by surprise earlier this week when he posted a photo of himself glammed up in NYSC regalia. He showed everyone a fully kitted self.

Davido has been working back to back performing a series of shows and concerts both home and abroad.

Practically, he seems to be living in the air these days.

The NYSC kit had a lot of people making comments, saying a thing or two to the music star.

Fingers crossed, as everyone is still expecting to see if Davido will still be on board during his service year.

I PLAYED CATHOLIC NUN IN ‘TATU,’ SAYS FUNLOLA AOFIYEBI Nollywood actress, Funlola Aofiyebi has revealed the reasons she took the role she played in the drama blockbuster ‘Tatu’, a role which landed her nomination at the upcoming 2018 AMVCA, scheduled to hold today.

Nominated in the category of the ‘Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Series’, the actress took to Twitter to express her utmost joy for the nomination, thank her fans for their unyielding support over the years and reflect on more serious issues plaguing the country, such as religion.

Speaking on why she took the role of Mother Superior; a Catholic nun in ‘Tatu’, Funlola wrote; “Playing a Nun in Tatu appealed to me from the get-go. I’m born and raised a Muslim yet I was ready to sink my teeth into it. In research, I went down memory lane - I attended a Catholic primary school, and also grew up watching Sound of Music. I had to make her believable.�

The actress went on to reveal how she handled the perceptible portrayal of the character in a movie that co-stars other Nollywood big shots like Segun Arinze, Rahma Saudu, Don Mope.

Shot in Ibadan and Lagos, ‘Tatu’ has been well-received and highly praised by critics and fans alike; with many declaring it the best Nollywood film of 2017.

Funlola has since urged fans to vote for her and help her bring the award home for the first time.

DOYIN LAWAL

My Dream is to be a Successful Designer

JACKSON JONES GEARS UP FOR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE Jackson Oluwafemi Adiyan, popularly known by his stage name Jackson Jones, is one of Nigeria’s finest worship leaders based in the South-south part of the country. His career as a performing artiste spans over 20 years. He has led thousands of worshipers across the length and breadth of Nigeria and continues to lead, weekly, a minimum of 5,000 worshipers, as he continues to tour the country with his band.

Jackson Jones has shared the stage with some of Africa’s finest artistes which include, but not limited to, Sammie Okopso, Frank Edwards, Freke Umoh, Midnight Crew, Preye Odede and Mercy Chinwo.

His energetic approach to praise and worship earned him the title ‘The Praise Marshal’.

And he plans on taking his reception on a global tour later in the year to the United States and some parts of Europe.

Jackson Jones, who currently has an album in view, has already released three soar away singles and a video. His songs, ‘Praise You Till I Die’; ‘Miracle God’; and ‘Bigger’ continue to receive massive on-air rotation and unprecedented reviews across the country and in some parts of Africa as worshippers continue to find their deepest expressions in it.

Ă™ĂŁĂ“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹Ă– Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?ÓÞã Ă™Ă?

ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă˘Ě‹ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜Ă•Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?ĂœË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă?âĂ?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÚÓĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă? ÞËÖÕĂ? ÞÙ Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÒÙå Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ ÖÙÞ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ?

H

ow did you begin your fashion design business?

Fashion design has always been a thing I loved doing since I was very young. During my secondary school days, I did clothing and textile which made me have a basic knowledge and I furthered the training before gaining admission into the university. It’s been a wonderful experience and I must say I’m really enjoying it.

What’s your brand name and what makes you exceptional?

My brand name is DML Signatures. We make female wears, both bespoke and ready to wear. Some of the exceptional things about the brand are the unique designs and prompt delivery.

Who are your role models?

I really don’t have a role model but I adore April by Kunbi, Tojufoyeh and my mentor is actually my mum.

Why do you think Nigerians don’t patronise made in Nigeria?

Nigerians’ biggest problem in patronising home-based designers is the fear of not getting good quality wears. But my dream is to be a successful designer and I wish to win awards someday.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

JOSHUA OJO

My ‘Sango’ Film will Tell a Story Many Don’t Know Ă™Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‹ Ă”Ă™Ëœ Ě‹ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă— Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?ĂœËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?ÚÓĂ? ×Ùà ÓĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă™Ë? Ă’Ă? Ă˜ĂžĂ™Ă–ĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă–Ă? Samuel Ajayi ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă— ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹ ĂŽĂ?ÓÞã Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂŽĂ™ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ

F

or Joshua Ojo, the chief executive officer of Davinci Filmworx, the last couple of months have been excitedly challenging. Challenging in the sense that he was stretched to the bones to ensure that the shooting of his latest work, Sango: Untold, was completed on time against all odds; but also exciting because he was also aware that the movie, when released, wouldchangethefaceofcinematographyinNigeria.

When THISDAY met with Ojo shortly after the shooting of the film on a location in Oyo State, he was full of gratitude to work because it was his most challenging work till date. “It is the most difficult film I have ever done and so, I’ve been able to master the flow, the trade and business. Sango was really difficult to film because it was even set in a particular period and it benches you to a particular work flow. We could not shoot in a modern setting and we couldn’t have cables and masts and billboards, mobile phones and all of these showing in your film. It meant our direction must be accurate. We lost a lot of equipment; a lot of people fell ill after the shooting. It was really tough and it’s because we embarked on something that seemedbiggerthanwebargainedfor,�Ojoexplained.

This ďŹ lm maker knew there was a ďŹ lm by Femi Lasode titled Sango.To him,he was aware of this but what he has set to do in the new movie is to tell the story of Sango that people were not aware of. How did he grow up? How was his childhood? What did he like doing?

What kind of person was he? Was everything about him not going beyond spitting ďŹ re?

Ojo said the aim of the new flick was to answer these questions and present to viewers a Sango many people did not know. When asked how people would react to the movie and if it would meetexpectations,Ojosaidthatwon’tbeatoughcall. “There are different kinds of films; so people relate to them differently and they have their advantages.

Suzanne Wenger which was the first cinematic film I did and it cut across the lower Yoruba crowd.

Berger (the story of the legendary Julius Berger) was what did it for me. It went really international and recognised outside Nigeria as well and now my new film Sango: Untold, has cost me so much. “We built 60% of the locations we used including the palace and the rain destroyed them and we had to rebuild over and over again and that cost me so much. Some of my crew members left when they got tired. We went on a break and came back two weeks later with a new set of crew. As if that wasn’t enough, some of the actors were replaced too. Sango is a deity and I could remember that few actors turned down the script after reading the story.

The animations, effects and so on also cost me a whole lot. In fact, fiance also left me while filming the story. It was really challenging but I thank God.�

Ojo said when the idea of the ďŹ lm ďŹ rst came, he was initially going to run away from it because he knew it was going to be challenging and considering that in Nigeria we hardly archive things.There are no records. “We were looking for many things we couldn’t find them so we had to build them. When I read the script I wrote, I realised it was challenging but if I did this, it was going to definitely put me on a new slate and it’s a film that cut across internationally.

So I decided to give it a shot and not just shooting it, but also using actors that I believed would do justice to interpreting the roles. The project took us about four months to film and post-production is still going on we might still be on it for the next three months. The budget of the film is extremely high.And after filming I had just 80kobo left in my account for almost two months,� Ojo explained.

Ojo has always been in the movie industry.21 years ago, he started as an actor before veering into production. And he told this reporter he has never regretted it. “Before I became a film maker, I started off as an actor in 1997. With the zeal, anxiety and dream of wanting to become a film maker I approached established filmmaker, Tade Ogidan, and studied his style of filmmaking with other filmmakers like Jimi Odumosu and Femi Odugbemi. I could

HaďŹ z Oyetoro, Akin Lewis and other actors

Ojo remember vividly that Uncle Tade Ogidan gave me his equipment for free to shoot some of my films back then. I did some TV series as a kid actor then.

I did Tightrope by the late Chief Tunde Oloyede, Fuji House of Commotion by the lateAmaka Igwe and when it was time for them to shoot Playing Games 1-3, Uncle Trade Ogidan invited me for audition and I scaled through and that was how I started as an actor. Later I realised I love writing and making films, so acting wasn’t really what I wanted to do alone. So i did few courses at Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria, ITPAN, Film School here in Lagos, then I travelled out to study filmmaking at New York FilmAcademy, NYFA, and got back, stayed home for months doing research on what I wanted to do and now, here we are.�

He set up his production company Davinci Filmworx and he believes that he has been able to combine his creativity in art with business and that is why the show is still on.

Ojo’s new work, Sango: Untold, features established stars like Hafeez Oyetoro, a.k.a Saka,Akin Lewis, Laide Bakare and co.When asked who plays the lead role of Sango, Ojo had this to say: “I want that to be a joker I don’t want to reveal now. It is a face I want people to see only after the film has been released.�

HaďŹ z Oyetoro and Laide Bakare

Akin Lewis and Laide Bakare at the event

51

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

PERSPECTIVE National Assembly Debacle: A Disgrace Eddie Mbadiwe

I

f you are a constant world-traveller, you would have come to the conclusion that Nigeria is very well known all over the world. Like Olabisi Ajalla who travelled all over the world with his bike, there is no country where you will not find hardworking and sometimes, mischievous Nigerians.

For the last few weeks, our newspapers have been awash with articles (some well researched, others simply hog-wash) about the invasion and near capture of the National Assembly by masked operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In 2014, a mirror-image of this operation occurred and the main gates of NASS were barricaded, subjecting honourable members of the House of Representatives to indignity of scaling the assembly fence. It was captured on camera and beamed worldwide. It went viral as our advert in bad behaviour. In 2014, there was neither investigation nor sanction not to think of punishment. It is not surprising therefore that four years later, there was encore supposedly at the behest of some member/members of the Senate.

This time however is different. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo acted fast and decisively and aborted what was tangentially moving to a collapse of our wobbly democracy.

My take on the various criticisms and pronouncements is that people should keep their gun-powder dry and give the executive branch enough time to decode what happened and inform Nigerians on what has to be done to ensure that this never happens again.

The issues leading to this aborted invasion are much more convoluted than just failed attempt to take over NASS. Unless we have an accurate diagnosis, it is impossible to prescribe a cure. Let us step back in time a little bit and remind ourselves that on April 19, 2018, a group of hoodlums allegedly at the instigation of some Senators, barged into the Senate chambers, disrupted proceedings and stole the MACEsymbol of authority of parliament. This was another step down the infamy lane. Nigerians are still waiting to be told if these vagabonds have been arrested and prosecuted. Our national image continues to be battered worldwide.

Following in the foot-steps of that drama, we recently witnessed the Samba dance of our ‘’Distinguished’’ Senators” and ‘’Honourable’’ members of the 8th Assembly, who were flip-flopping between APC and PDP. It reminds one of the games of Rounders played by secondary school students.

This is another show of shame which continues to take our democracy several notches under.

The root cause in my view can be traced to a lacuna in section 68 sub-section (g) of the 1999 constitution. People can ship in under the cover of darkness and cause mischief, ridiculing our democracy. In the 7th Assembly, RT. Hon. Sam Sokwa who was Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business and I sponsored a joint bill to expunge that sub-section G

National Assembly

(for committed Nigerians please spare a few precious minutes and try to interpret section 68, sub-section G).

The bill was defeated obviously for selfish reasons for as a member said during the debate, passing this bill is like shooting ourselves in the foot. People in public service must be courageous to make sacrifices for the nation above selfinterest.

I have recapped these scripts to show that members of our highest legislative houses have not shown adequate respect and decorum commensurate with what Nigerians and other well established democracies expect from people in such exalted positions. The cases in the state assemblies are so pathetic that their very existence should be subjected to intense scrutiny. It will be silly to wade into that filthy terrain.

Democracy is supposed to be based on the consent and will of the people. In Nigeria, this is not the case for on many occasions, the people have sold their power for a mess of porridge.

Ekiti election is a good example of a well-documented occasion where people openly bargained and sold their birth-right for as little as N4,000. Will Ekiti people have the moral ground

to censor any erring governor? I doubt it.

Section 14 (2c) of the 199 constitution reasserts the supreme power of the people when it states: ‘’Supremacy belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through the constitution derives all its power and authority.’’

Political accountability is a very essential ingredient of a successful democracy and if Nigerians abdicate or sell their rights, who is to blame? Six months to the 2019 general elections, the Nigerian public who are the custodians of power look tirelessly supine while the rut threatens to poison the entire body polity. There is an urgent need for total mobilization of the citizenry and let people get out of sleep in their cocoons and rescue this nation. Only Nigerians can save Nigeria.

There is a saying in Nigeria that if a child washes his hands properly and is of good behaviour, he could be invited to dine at the elders table. Our legislators already have seats at the exalted table. The task to themselves and us is the convincing that their seats are merited.

–Dr. Eddie Ifeanyichukwu Mbadiwe writes from Abuja

Ekere and the Akwa Ibom Governorship Race Effiong Usoro

W

hen he joined the governorship race in Akwa Ibom State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2006, Nsima Ekere brought freshness, excitement, instant connection with the youths and a trove of ideas on how to build a people-centred government that were lacking in the politics of the state. He was the youngest aspirant and his background as a successful businessman with strong social investments were direct challenge to the politics-as-usual of his home state.

Indeed, in a state where government is the only business, Ekere’s pledge to raise world-class entrepreneurs resonated positively everywhere but it also ruffled the feathers of vested interests and political rent-takers. When he lost that primaries and was later picked as running mate to the eventual winner, Obong Godswill Akpabio, the system revolted, forcing him to withdraw his candidacy.

He returned in 2011, running as deputy to Akpabio. But his tenure as the state Deputy Governor was short-lived as he resigned on October 31, 2012.

His decision to contest the governorship in 2015 received a major boost being an indigene of the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District whose turn it was to produce the governor. Ekere’s plan did not find accommodation in Akpabio’s calculations.

Whereas, Akpabio’s intendment was to pick his successor from Akwa Ibom South senatorial zone, Udom Emmanuel, hurriedly drafted into

politics as Secretary to the State Government, and not Ekere, was his preferred choice. Both men hail from neighbouring local government areas; while Ekere is from Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Emmanuel, who is now the incumbent governor, is from Onna Local Government.

Ekere, along with other aspirants were shut out of the PDP primaries and eventually out of the party. He was to pitch his tent with another influential politician in the state, Umanah Okon Umanah, in the All Progressives Congress, APC. Both of them had worked assiduously together to transform the APC in Akwa Ibom.

He had actually supported Umanah in the 2015 governorship election in order to upstage PDP’s Udom Emmanuel. Their effort had, however, fallen through.

Interestingly, about six years after his ill-fated governorship odyssey, Ekere is once again engrossed with the same enterprise, this time round on the APC platform. The statewide calculations and permutations remain the same: Akwa Ibom South Senatorial zone is to produce the governor of the state for eight years since the other two zones - Akwa Ibom northeast and Akwa-Ibom northwest senatorial zones had already produced governors for two terms of eight years each from 1999 to 2015 with Architect Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio respectively.

The concern has been the fate of the statewide zoning arrangement if Ekere wins.

Will he serve for only one term and allow power to rotate to the northeastern zone? At a recent meeting with leaders of the northeast

zone, Ekere had assured he would not deny them their rights come 2023. In fact, he has said repeatedly that what one cannot achieve in four years as governor, he cannot achieve in eight, which has been interpreted to mean that he can deliver on his vision in one term of four years.

Interestingly, Akpabio, who stood between him and the PDP governorship ticket ahead of the 2015 governorship election, is now in the APC with him. Akpabio joined the APC after the structures of the party had been clinched by Ekere, Umanah, Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe, a former minister and others whom he met on ground. And there are feelers that Umanah, a strongman of Akwa Ibom politics and current Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, has since decided to throw his weight behind Ekere.

In the circumstance of the political alignment and realignment of forces, the former governor, Akpabio, who is currently a senator, is likely to have been saddled with a fait accompli in Ekere, who, according to feelers has been able to build pervasive political structures in the nooks and crannies of the state.

As current managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ekere has done very well for Akwa Ibom State and in deed the entire region in just 20 month of taking charge. Political analysts say that presiding over the Commission with an annual budget of over N400 billion and a tenure of four years with an option to renew for another term of four gives him greater personal advantage than the murky waters of state politics.

But a close associate says, Ekere’s politics has never been about him but the burden of

responsibility for transformational leadership that benefits the greater number of people and communities across his Akwa Ibom State.

This is what he has demonstrated so far at NDDC. While the Commission under his leadership has judiciously deployed its annual budget to intervene in the nine NDDC states in line with its mandate, it has also taken steps to address a perceived injustice against Akwa Ibom, the leading oil producing state in the country.

At NDDC project distributions are weighted along state oil production quotas. Which means that as the number one oil producing state, Akwa Ibom should enjoy the highest number of projects in cumulacumulatve value.

Ekere told the press recently that “this was not what we met on ground. The current Board has been magnanimous enough to redress this.” This explains why Akwa Ibom is said to be benefitting massively from the current infrastructure development drive of the Commission with more than 400 projects ranging from roads, power, water supply, renovation of classroom blocks, supply of learning facilities, etc.

Akwa Ibom is also the centre of an innovative entrepreneurship development hub undertaken in partnership with SMEDAN and a pilot state for the planned region-wide digital learning initiatives in partnership with the a host of technology firms including Digital Learning Institute and Microsoft.

–Usoro wrote in from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Continued online www.thisdaylive.com

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˜ ˞ SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

PERSPECTIVE

The PENCOM Employment Controversy Youth under the aegis of the Nigerian Youth for Change stormed the headquarters of PENCOM to protest the suspension of resumption of new rectuits whose employment has been in abeyance since May 2017.

Benneth Oghifo Captures the arguments and issues

T

he issue of youth unemployment took the centre stage again on Wednesday at the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), when youth numbering hundreds, perhaps over a thousand, marched on the headquarters of the agency in Abuja in a peaceful protest over what they explained as the indefinite suspension of resumption of duty of 43 young people employed by the Commission in March/April 2017.

They also alleged that the “undue� delay had resulted in the death of one of the employees, Mustapha Ajiya, an indigene of Zamfara State.

Bearing a mock casket the (type used in Islamic burials) draped in white and marked “RIP Mustapha�, the youth under the aegis of the Nigerian Youth for Change, literally took over the PENCOM and and Rockview end ofAdetokumboAdemola Crescent, Wuse II, as early as 9am to vent their anger over what they termed “insensitive treatment of the youth population contrary to the genuine efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to give the youth a new lease of life�.

Spokesperson of the group, Comrade Azubuike Okafor, said that the 43 youth successfully completed the aptitude test in December 2016/January 2017 and also passed the various interviews. He was, therefore, offered employment vide a letter dated March 2017 and was directed to resume on 2nd May 2017.

They also accepted the offer and those already employment resigned their previous jobs as required by law, preparatory to Protesting youths at PENCOM oďŹƒce

by PENCOM also followed the same process; hence if this one resumption at PENCOM. However, following the removal of the is defective, it means the last two batches of employment were Executive Management Committee of PENCOM inApril 2017 and the ascension of Mrs.Aisha Dahir-Umar as theActing Director-Gen- defective too. “The truth is thatAisha Dahir-Umar wants to do business with eral (DG) as the most senior staff, the their already legally concluded the employment of young Nigerians. She wants to sacrifice their employments were indefinitely suspended by mere phone calls. employments for selfish interest and the Nigerian youth won’t Amidst solidarity songs in support of the President and chants of take it. “She also unnecessarily increased the number of General “Aisha Must Go�, “Buhari dey patch,Aisha dey leak�, “Nigerian Managers (GMs), equivalents of Directors in civil service, from 10 youth dey suffer,Aisha dey chop 300 percent�, by the mammoth to 17 to favour her cronies, thus making PENCOM very top heavy, crowd of youth, Comrade Okafor explained that the new employbut the young Nigerians would not be allowed to resume work and ees petitioned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation earn their little salaries.�

(SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, when several oral and written appeals to The protesters contended that theActing DG acted ultra vires theActing DG fell on deaf ears. regarding the employment and increase of ExitAllowances and the However, in a reply dated 4thApril 2018, the SGF informed the number of GMs. 43 employees that the Commission said that “the decision was It said: “Section 24 (n) of the Pension ReformAct 2014 very based on the need to allow for a review of the earlier recruitment exercise(s) to: ensure compliance with Extant Laws and due process; unambiguously provides that ‘the Commission SHALLhave powers to make changes to its structure with the approval of the Board’. keep recruitment within approved manpower establishment; and Therefore, board approval is mandatory andAisha has no right provide required infrastructure to accommodate new appointees�. whatsoever to make changes to the structure of the Commission in But the Nigerian Youth for Change accused theActing DG of the absence of PENCOM Board. deliberately misleading the SGF, insisting that the employment “Section 25 (2) of PRA2014 provides that ‘the Board shall have strictly complied with due process and was approved by PENCOM power to: (a) approve rules and regulations relating to the appointExecutive Committee as stipulated by Section 25 (2) (a) of the Pension ReformAct (2014). They explained that other employments ment, promotion, and disciplinary measures for the employees of the Commission and (b) fix the remuneration, allowances and benefits of the employees of the Commission’. “So, not even a DG confirmed by the Senate can under any guise suspend or upturn a legally concluded employment approved by the PENCOM Executive Management Committee We are also aware that PENCOM has been without any Executive Management Committee and Governing Board sinceApril 2017. So, who approved the increase of Exit Benefits? “She committed illegality by increasing the number of GMs from 10 to 17 because Section 24 (n) of PRA2014 is clear that such structural change can only be done by the Commission with the approval of the PENCOM Governing Board�, the spokesperson added.

The protesters argued that the fate of Mustapha and 42 others would not have been different were they the children of Ministers, Governors, and Members of the NationalAssembly.

They, therefore, called on President Buhari to “order the immediate resumption of duty by the remaining PENCOM recruits to save their lives�.

Other demands include the immediate removal of theActing DG PENCOM, Mrs.Aisha Dahir-Umar, and her replacement with other competent hands in the Commission pending the expedient forwarding of the names of Funsho Doherty and other Commissioners announced since May 2017 to the Senate for confirmation to salvage PENCOM and the pension industry.

They decried a situation where a vital regulator like PENCOM controlling about N8 trillion contribution by Nigerians workers existed without an Executive and Governing Board for close to two

Spokesperson of the group, Comrade Azubuike Okafor, said that the 43 youth successfully completed the aptitude test in December 2016/January 2017 and also passed the various interviews.

He was, therefore, oered employment vide a letter dated March 2017 and was directed to resume on 2nd May 2017

years now, thus allegedly giving ample for impunity.

Although efforts made by reporters to speak with theActing DG or get PENCOM’s side of the controversy from the senior management staff that fruitlessly tried to stop the protesters proved abortive, theActing DG later stated that that the contentious employment did not comply with the number approved by the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

She explained that whereas the FCC approved the employment of 16 staff, PENCOM, under the former Executive employed 43.

She also denied suspending the employment as a letter directing the suspension predated her tenure asActing DG. However, in a rapid reaction, Comrade Okafor, in a statement inAbuja on Thursday, vehemently faulted the claims, describing them as “lies from the pit of hell meant to mislead the public and the President, especially the SGF� “We had investigated all those before embarking on the protest because we believe that an injury to one Nigerian youth is injury to all. We can say unequivocally that the FCC approved 43 and we have the proof. In fact, the letter to that effect was received by Hadiza Oninyangi asActing Head of Human Resources of PENCOM. It was on the strength of that approval that Oninyangi signed the employment letters.Also, there was no letter predating her, which restrained the late Mustapha and others from resuming. Let the Acting DG tell us the date and author of such letter.So, this is an afterthought, having sat on the jobs of the helpless Nigerian youth since May 2017. “If she had such a serious case, why did she not formally write the recruits rather than resorting to phone calls? We challenge her to publish the letter. We also challenge her to make public the FCC’s letter approving only 16 new employees, bearing in mind that other persons also have officially received copy of FCC’s letter approving the employment of 43 new staff.And they should bear in mind that the destruction or forgery of government document is a serious crime under our legal system�. “Since she now claims to be a stickler to due process, we also challenge her to make public the minutes of Board meetings approving a whooping 300 percent increase of exit/severance benefits for herself and other senior management staff and also authorizing the increase of General Managers (equivalents of Directors) from 10 to 17 contrary to Sections 24 and 25 of the Pension ReformAct 2014 because as said during our protest, there has been no board in place since she assumed office�.

The group reiterated its call on President Buhari to remove and investigate theActing DG and appoint a competent hand pending reconstitution of PENCOM’s Executive Committee and Governing Board.

In the midst of the big controversy, one thing is certain: anything that touches the youth and proper management of the pension industry should interest any government, especially on the fringes of a general election.

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚˜ ͺ͸͚΀

NEWSXTRA

UK Announces ÂŁ300m Deals with Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya Vincent Obia in Lagos

FUND FOR STARTERS...

L-R: Founder Lifeland Nigeria, Mr. Mega Ofudum ; Cofounder , PullCrowd Nigeria , Mr. Kunle Bamigboye; CEO, Skystone Capital, Mr. Ola Olabinjo; Miss Treasury , Skystone Capital, Ogunbanwo Oluwatunmise and Founder Welbeck Electricity, Mr. Afolabi Aiyela, during the training on how startups can access funds from investors and lenders

Despite Court Injunction, PDP Dissolves Kano State Exco Ibrahim Shuaibu Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜Ă™

Despite an order of court restraining the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from tampering with Kano State Executive structure, the party yesterday went ahead to dissolve it and in its place, appointed a caretaker committee.

A statement by PDP National Spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party at the end of its meeting on Thursday, August 23, 2018, dissolved the Kano State Executive Committee of the party with immediate effect. It also appointed caretaker committee to

oversee the affairs of the party but promised to release the details later.

A Kano High Court had earlier restrained the National Headquarters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its National Chairman, Uche Secondus, from tempering or disfiguring the existing State Executive structure of the party under its elected Chairman, Senator Masaud Jibrin El-Doguwa.

The trial Judge, Justice N. S Umar in his ruling ordered that the applicants and the respondents should maintain the status quo ante, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

In the same vein, the Judge said in his ruling on the case as filed by El-Doguwa that an order of interim injunction was further granted restraining any other person or persons from interfering or tempering with the tenure of the existing leadership structure of PDP in Kano.

The Judge added that on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Respondents, Senator Jibrin El-Doguwa and the PDP, the Court restrained any other person or persons from disturbing and or intimidating the administration of the State, Local Government areas or ward officers from doing anything or taking any steps that were likely to interfere

with or disturb the officers tenure which are protected under section 47 (1) and section 223(1) (a) of the 1999 constitution.

Justice Umar ordered the applicants to serve the 1st and 2nd Respondents the originating process outside the jurisdiction of his Court at Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He then fixed 5th November 2018 to hear the motion on notice.

Some people who recently defected to the party in Kano are allegedly making frantic efforts to alter the existing leadership structure of the party in Kano State so that they would have 65 per cent share of the new structure if put in place.

Buhari Departs Abuja for 7th Summit on China-Africa Cooperation

Fani-Kayode Wants Court to Declare Police Invitation Illegal

Bennett Oghifo

Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja yesterday afternoon to China to attend the 7th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which will hold from September 3 to 4 in Beijing.

The president, who was accompanied by his wife Aisha and a daughter, is expected to interact with the Nigerian community at the Nigerian Embassy, according to an itinerary released on Thursday by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

After the interactive session with the Nigerian community, President Buhari, as the Chair of ECOWAS, would deliver remarks at a High-Level Dialogue, between Chinese and African leaders, business representatives and African entrepreneurs.

He would later join Chinese President Xi Jinping and other African leaders for the opening and roundtable sessions of the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit, which theme is “Towards an even Stronger China-Africa

Community with a shared Future.�

The President would hold bilateral meetings with President Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang to discuss infrastructure financing for strategic projects in Nigeria.

Shehu said the meeting is expected to lead to an upgrade of Nigeria-China relations “from strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership.

The President will also use the occasion of his audience with the Chinese leadership to assess the progress made so far in Chinese interventions in Nigeria’s key priority infrastructure projects, particularly ongoing projects in the railway and power sectors. “It is noteworthy that since the last FOCAC VI Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in December 2015 – the first attended by the Nigerian leader – and his successful State visit to China in April 2016, the current administration has pushed forward practical cooperation with China in the areas of infrastructure construction, trade, investments, finance, power, agriculture, education cooperation, among others.�

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has dragged the Nigeria Police Force before the Federal High Court Abuja, over allegations of conspiracy and criminal falsehood amongst others.

Fani-Kayode, in the suit , is seeking the court’s intervention in the alleged plan by the police to unlawfully arrest and detain him.

The police had last week invited Fani-Kayode, to appear at the Force Headquarters before August 28, 2018, for alleged ‘conspiracy, criminal defamation, inciting publication, injurious falsehood and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.’ However, in a motion on notice dated August 28, 2018 and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/917/ 2018, the former Minister asked the court to declare that the said letter of invitation by the police was unlawful, unjustifiable, illegal and unconstitutional.

The former minister in the suit filed through his lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, is praying the court to declare that in accordance with the 1999 Constitution, he could not be so invited by law enforcement agents for undisclosed reasons and without adequate notice.

Fani-Kayode, told the court that

the invitation letter was so vaguely construed, adding that, ‘I became apprehensive and concerned about the intentions of the Nigerian Police and what my fate could be, should I visit the 1st and 2nd respondents office without filing this application.’ He said knowing that the activities of the respondents could have negative impact on his freedom of movement, liberty and dignity; he decided to file an originating motion on notice to enforce his fundamental rights.

Meanwhile, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, has ordered that all the processes regarding to the motion on notice be served on the Inspector General of Police [IGP], the Nigerian Police and the Attorney General of the Federation to enable them appear in court on the next adjourned date.

The Court subsequently adjourned till September 13, 2018 for hearing of the motion.

Earlier, Justice Dimgba had after listening to Raphael Oyewole, granted leave to hear the suit as a vacation judge.

Regardless of the suit, his counsel, Dr. Ajulo said he had prevailed on his client to honour the invitation on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

The British Prime Minister Theresa May promised Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya a ÂŁ300 million worth of new deals, expected to create about 3,000 jobs on the continent in the areas of trade, technology, security, and entrepreneurship.

May, who was on her first visit to the continent since she became Prime Minister five years ago, was accompanied by International Trade Minister, George Hollingbery, a 29-strong business delegation, and Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin.

She went to South Africa on Tuesday, from where she arrived Nigeria on Wednesday and proceeded to Kenya on Thursday. The prime minister was also accompanied

by Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns and Lord Mayor of London Charles Bowman on the visit purposed to promote economic ties with Africa as Britain plans to leave the European Union by the end of March next year.

The UK-Africa trade relationship is currently worth more than ÂŁ31 billion. “Africa is a young, vibrant and dynamic continent growing at an extraordinary rate. By 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African, a quarter of the

world’s consumers,� a 10 Downing Street statement said. “This represents a transformational opportunity for UK firms to increase trade with African countries,� it added.

The deals agreed in a variety of sectors were amid the UK’s ambition to be the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022, and to prepare for an Africa Investment Summit planned to hold in the UK next year.

The prime minister said: “The deals being announced today demonstrate the already close trade and investment links between the UK and African countries, and the potential that exists for other UK businesses to make the most of the growing opportunities on the continent. “With a shared passion for entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, now is the time for UK companies to strengthen their partnerships with Africa to boost jobs and drive prosperity both at home and overseas.�

The international trade minister also stated: “I am delighted to have joined the Prime Minister on this visit showcasing the very best of the UK-Africa partnership and all that Global Britain has to offer in the region.

Saraki Meets S’East PDP Governors, Appoints Wakil Campaign DG Deji Elumoye Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has resumed consultations with critical political stakeholders a day after he publicly declared his intention to run for President during the 2019 general elections.

Saraki and members of his campaign team are now in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital meeting with the State Governor, David Umahi.

The campaign team will thereafter proceed to Umuahia, the Abia State capital where Saraki will also dialogue with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu over his presidential ambition.

Saraki’s last port of call today will be Enugu State where he would also hold consultative meeting with the state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House.

Sources told THISDAY that Saraki had wanted to pick PDP presidential interest form at the party secretariat in Abuja today

but was advised to reach out to the South East governors and carry them along about his ambition before picking the form.

He is expected to pick the form at the Wadata House national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja on Monday.

Saraki had before now met with three former Presidents over his 2019 presidential ambition.

Those Saraki consulted in the last one month include former Presidents Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan who he met in their respective homes in Minna, Abeokuta and Abuja.

Meanwhile, Saraki has constituted a Campaign team with Alhaji Mohammed Wakil as the Director-General.

Wakil, a former Leader of the House of Representatives and exMinister of State for Power, will be assisted by other technocrats and party chieftains to execute the Saraki for President campaign

CISLAC Expresses Disappointment over Buhari’s Refusal to Assent to Jonathan Eze

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed disappointment at the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Petroleum Industry and Governance Bill (PIGB) sent to him by the National Assembly and urges him to re-think his decision in the national interest.

In a statement sent to THISDAY and signed by its Executive Director, Auwa Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the centre said it was unfortunate that the President refused to assent to the Bill in spite of his promising to reform the oil and gas sector in Nigeria during the election campaigns and

repeatedly after his election.

CISLAC believes that if the government were serious about addressing corruption in oil and gas sector an executive Bill ought to have been sent to the National Assembly early in the life of this administration but this was not done.

The statement reads in part: “We note that it took the NASS, taking the initiative though a private member Bill to get the legislation to its current status only for assent to be withheld by the president. “We are aware that throughout the legislative process, relevant agencies and stakeholders had the opportunity to make input into the Bill during the public hearing and other channels.

“Ou invest South Nigeri substa betwe Africa than ÂŁ

54

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NEWSXTRA

2019 Presidency: Durotoye Emerges Consensus Candidate of PACT Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

LUCKY WINNER...

L– R: Head, Consumer Banking, Diamond Bank Plc, Karimot Tukur; Car prize Winner, Bede Nnebedum; and Head , Consumer Liabilities products, Diamond Bank Plc., Osita Ede, during the DiamondXtra Season 10 Quarterly draw prize presentation ceremony at the bank’s head offiice in Lagos recently

CBN Reports Growth in Manufacturing for 17th Consecutive Month James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for August stood at 57.1 index points, indicating further expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 17th consecutive month.

The index grew at a faster rate when compared to the index in the previous month. .

According to the PMI report for August 2018, which was released yesterday by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), out of the 14 sub-sectors surveyed, 13 reported growth in the review month.

These sub-sectors include electrical equipment; nonmetallic mineral products; cement; furniture and related products; plastics and rubber products; textile, apparel, leather and footwear and petroleum and coal products.

Others are chemical and pharma-

ceutical products; paper products; fabricated metal products; printing and related support activities; food, beverage and tobacco products and primary metal.

The transportation equipment sub-sector, however, declined in the review month.

The production level index for the manufacturing sector was recorded at 59.3 points, growing for the 18th consecutive month in August 2018.

This also indicated a faster growth in the current month when compared to its level in the preceding month.

The report, prepared by the Statistics Department of the apex bank to aid policy decision, further revealed that 13 of the 14 manufacturing sub-sectors recorded increase in production level.

Also, at 56.9 points, the new orders index grew for the 17th consecutive month, showing increase in new

orders in August.

Similarly, 11 sub-sectors reported growth; one remained unchanged, while two contracted in the month under review.

Furthermore, the PMI report showed that the employment level index in August stood at 55.5 points, indicating growth in employment level for the 16th consecutive month.

Of the 14 sub-sectors assessed, nine reported increased employment level, three remained unchanged while three others reported reduced employment level in the review month.

The report also showed that the manufacturing sector inventories index grew for the 17th consecutive monthAt 57.1 points, though at a slower rate when compared to its level in the previous month.

It stated that 11 of the 14 sub-sectors recorded growth, while three recorded

decline in raw material inventories.

Meanwhile, the composite PMI for the non-manufacturing sector stood at 58.0 points in August, indicating an expansion in the non-manufacturing PMI for 16 consecutive months. The index grew at a faster rate when compared to that in July 2018.

Fourteen of the 17 sub-sectors recorded growth in agriculture; repair, maintenance/washing of motor vehicles; information and communication; water supply, sewage and waste management; educational services; wholesale/ retail trade; finance and insurance; arts, entertainment and recreation; real estate rental and leasing; health care and social assistance; transportation and warehousing; management of companies; accommodation and food services; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply.

Pope’s Representative Commends Bayelsa Airport Ready as Ugwuanyi’s Leadership SAHCOL Inspects Facilities The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi has applauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his closeness to God and exemplary leadership style, which had brought peace and good governance to the state.

The Apostolic Nuncio spoke in Enugu, when he led a delegation comprising a Cardinal, Archbishops, Bishops and Priests of the Catholic Church to pay a courtesy visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House.

The clerics were in the state for the Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Ernest Obodo as the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Diocese, which took place on Friday at St. Paul’s Parish, Ozalla, Nkanu West Local Government Area.

Most Rev. Filipazzi, who was received by Gov. Ugwuanyi, commended him for his faithful service to the church and to the residents of Enugu State, irrespective of religion, state of origin and ethnicity.

He described Ugwuanyi as “a good governor� and “a father of the family�, adding that he was inspired by the governor’s good works in the state and his commitment to the development of the church.

His words: “You have faithfully served the church; you are a good governor; you are a governor for

everyone living in this state, Catholic and non-Catholic; from every group you are the father of the family for everybody and of course things are not separated. I think you have found inspiration in your work as a governor; I also feel you belong to the Catholic Church�.

Archbishop Filipazzi, equally appreciated the collaboration between the governor and the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, stressing that the emergence of the first Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese would enhance the evangelical duties of the church in the state.

In his goodwill message, Gov. Ugwuanyi thanked God for the success of the event and equally expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for finding Most Rev. Obodo worthy of elevation to “this important position�.

The governor, who welcomed the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria and other revered clerics of the Catholic Church to the state, expressed joy that the Episcopal consecration was one of “the most glorious and significant� of all the many outstanding events that have happened in the state, saying that the reason was because “it is all about God�.

Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă‹

Skyway Aviation Handling Limited (SAHCOL), an aviation ground handling service provider, yesterday inspected the Bayelsa Cargo International Airport ahead the formal inauguration of the facility by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Former Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the company, who is now a Director, Dr. Olu Owolabi, in a chat with journalists in Ammasoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government, expressed satisfaction with the facilities at the airport, noting that SAHCOL was ready to partner the Bayelsa government.

Describing the facility as ‘marvellous’ he added that the airport was a 30-40 years investment which would continue to generate income and create thousands of jobs for the people of Bayelsa state. “On behalf of SACHOL, our team is here to see what is going on, we should commend the Governor.

This is what people will enjoy for the next 20, 30, 40 years and above.

It is a massive set up. “ The Governor will do his best but there is still more to do to implement his dream. It is a good dream and I’m very impressed.

Don’t forget that we have the best warehouse in Africa. “Everybody is gearing up now for export; food export, crops and every other thing. And I think he (Dickson) has started well. For the Bayelsa people, you can imagine after the whole thing has been completed, how many Bayelsans will be employed here�, he noted.

He said he was in the state to check facilities available and to be able to locate where the cargo warehouse would be situated.

He added: “ The cargo warehouse itself is a village on its own. Go to Dubai, London, all the places when you ask for cargo building it is a village of its own just like Lagos. It is a village of its own; and then you have the passenger terminal, you have the international terminal coming up.

So, it’s a good dream.�

In her comments, the DirectorGeneral, Bayelsa Investment and Promotion Agency, Patience Ranami-Abah, urged investors to take advantage of the airport facility. “This airport holds tremendous opportunities. This is not just about cargo , there will be airplane hangars, maintenance, supply opportunities, logistics, retail and even hotel facilities around here.

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, presidential aspirant on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye has emerged as the consensus presidential candidate brokered under an arrangement brokered by fifteen aspirants.

The consensus deal struck under the banner of “Presidential Candidates Coming Together�

(PACT) saw Durotoye beating others to the contest and emerging as consensus candidate ahead of others, including the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Kingsley Muoghalu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) who came second.

The Presidential aspirants said they had met in July and August to discuss on a viable strategy and consensus-building to win the 2019 Presidential elections.

According to the statement read out at the event yesterday said the highlight of the meetings was a unanimously agreement that PACT will present a single, sole consensus candidate to fly its flag in the 2019 Presidential elections. “It is in this regards that the 30th of August 2018 was chosen to elect the consensus candidate through a democratic process and due process.

Among the presidential aspirants that signed on to the Pact were, Mrs. Godstime Sydney Iroabuchi , Alistair Soyode Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, Clement Jumbo, Thomas-Wilson Ikubese ,Comrade Eragbe Anslem and Fela Durotoye.

Others include, Abubakar Alkali, Jaye Gaskia, Ahmed Buhari, Prof.

Kingsley Moghalu, Elishama Ideh Sina Fagbenro-Byron, Matthews B Trado , Victor Ani-Laju ,Emmanuel Etim and Ayodele Favour.

Sanctity, Safety of Civilians should be Top Priority even in War, Says ICRC Michael Olugbode, Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said the sanctity and safety of civilians should be a top priority at all times, even during war.

Speaking in Abuja at the closing of a four-day meeting organised

by ICRC at the National Defence College on how international humanitarian law and human rights law applies to the operations of members of Nigeria’s security and defence agencies, Eloi Fillion, ICRC Head of Delegation in Nigeria said: “At all times, the sanctity and safety of civilians should be a priority in any security situation.

He said: “The knowledge of fundamental human rights such as the right to life, to dignity, to freedom, to legal representation and to a fair trial is all the more powerful when such rights are respected and enforced in the heat of action. It is my hope that this meeting expounded such knowledge.�

The ICRC in a statement, said the meeting was the first of its kind, and was organised in partnership with the National Defence College and brought together 25 people from various security and defence agencies from across Nigeria as well as civil society organisations and members of the academic community.

The statement said the meeting sought to strengthen the participants’ understanding and application of laws guiding armed conflict and internal security situations as well as the protection of vulnerable people during such times.

It reminded that the “ICRC advocates the respect of the rights of people affected by armed conflict and violence by reminding authorities and security agencies about their legal obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL).�

It added that: “Since the beginning of this year, nearly 3,000 officers of the armed forces, police and security forces have been trained on such principles with the ICRC’s support.�

The statement further said that: “Protecting the lives and dignity of people affected by armed conflicts and other situations of

armed violence is at the core of the ICRC’s neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian action.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as UNUATA CYNTHIA and UNUATA PENILE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ENIGHENO PENIEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as ENIGHENO JAMES OCHUKO, now wish to be known and addressed as MR ENIGHENO EBENEZER OCHUKO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. IBELEMA F. G. OGOLO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. CHIBUZOR CHUKWUEMEKA IBELEMA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as OMOLOLA PEJUOLA OSHINOWO, now wish to be known and addressed as

OMOLOLA PEJUOLA ABIOLA. All former

documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as Eucheria Ifezime Okafor, now wish to be known and addressed as KĹŹÄ‚Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒ ÄŽÄžĹśÄžĹľĹ˝ĹŹÇ Ćľ Eucheria. All other documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as MISS TITILAYO ADETUTU ADEDIGBA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS TITILAYO ADETUTU ADENIYI. All other documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as MISS OMODELE KEMI SHERIFAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS Omodele Kemi Sherifat Balogun. All other documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as MISS O M OT H O L A N N Y MODINATU ADUNNI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ARUNA MODINATU ADUNNI. All other documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

55

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

SPORTSXTRA

Nigeria U-17 winning team in Chile

Vincent Enyeama

NFF Advance Team Hits Seychelles Ahead of AFCON Qualifier A two-man advance party of the Nigeria Football Federation, led by the Director of Competitions, Mr. Ayobola Oyeyode, is set to depart for the capital city of Seychelles this weekend for next week’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Pirates of Seychelles.

The advance party has been mandated to engage with

the officials of the Seychelles Football Federation on all matters of logistics regarding the comfortable stay and conducive preparation atmosphere of the Super Eagles ahead of the match.

Officials informed thenff. com that matters such as accommodation, feeding, local transportation, training pitch and security would be addressed. The team will also

assess the match venue and pass information to the Eagles’ technical crew.

Nigeria-based members of the Super Eagles’ technical crew and backroom staff will depart Nigeria on Sunday, to prepare for the arrival of the players who are expected to start arriving on Monday.

Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa will travel with the crew that will fly from Abuja.

The Seychelles Football Federation has already scheduled the Group E, Matchday 2 encounter for the Stade Linite in Victoria, which is the capital city and also within the island of Mahe, one of the main islands in the archipelago of 115 islands that are in Seychelles. The match kicks off at 4.30p.m. Seychelles time (1.30p.m. Nigeria time) on Saturday, September 8.

Infantino Describes Nigerians’ World Cup Experience as Unforgettable President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has expressed appreciation to the Super Eagles, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigerian fans for their “unforgettable” role in the 2018 World Cup tournament in Russia.

Infantino expressed his appreciation in a letter addressed to Amaju Pinnick, NFF President, on Thursday,

where he stated that he was happy to have watched the Super Eagles play against Croatia and Iceland.

The letter read: “I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to your national team for participating in this 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup. “The 2018 FIFA World Cup was an unforgettable celebration of football and a

major factor in this was the participation of the Super Eagles, their sixth FIFA World Cup appearance.

“I personally was very happy and proud to be able to attend in your presence two of your National Team matches, against Croatia and Iceland. Please, pass on my compliments to all those who have contributed to this campaign, the play-

ers, the head coach, Gernot Rohr, but also the technical and medical team and, of course, the fans.

“Such achievement is no doubt based on hard work, professionalism and attention to detail, as well as passion and love of the game. All this augurs well for a very promising future and will undoubtedly pave the way for future success.”

Arsenal, Chelsea Face Long Europa Trips Arsenal and Chelsea both face long-distance trips in the Europa League after the group stages were drawn on Friday.

Unai Emery's side were drawn in Group E with Qarabag of Azerbaijan, Sporting Lisbon and Vorskla of Ukraine.

Chelsea will also be travelling to eastern Europe having been drawn with Belarus' BATE Borisov, Hungary's Vidi and PAOK Salonika in Group L. Emery is no stranger to

the competition having won the competition three times, back-to-back, with Sevilla.

The London club were knocked out in the semifinals last season losing to eventual winners Atletico Madrid, 2-1 on aggregate.

Lisbon and Arsenal last faced one another in 1969 in Europa League predecessor the Fairs Cup with the Gunners emerging as the winners over two legs.

Chelsea won the competition back in 2013, with Rafa Benitez in charge, beating

Benfica 2-1 in theAmsterdam Arena.

Europa League Draw Group A: Bayer Leverkusen, Ludogorets, FC Zurich, AEK Larnaca.

Group B: FC Salzburg, Celtic, RB Leipzig, Rosenborg.

Group C: Zenit St Petersburg, FC Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Slavia Prague.

Group D: Anderlecht, Fenerbahce, Dinamo Zagreb, Spartak Trnava.

Group E: Arsenal, Sporting

CP, Qarabag, FC Vorskla.

Group F: Olympiakos, AC Milan, Real Betis, Dudelange.

Group G: Villarreal, Rapid Vienna, Spartak Moscow, Rangers.

Group H: Lazio, Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt, APOE. Group I: Besiktas, Genk, Malmo, Sarpsborg.

Group J: Sevilla, Krasnodar, Standard Liege, Akhisarspor.

Group K: Dynamo Kiev, Astana, Rennes, Jablonec.

Group L: Chelsea, PAOK, BATE, Vidi FC.

'Fury Not Licenced to Fight Wilder in United States' Tyson Fury is not yet licensed to box in New York or Las Vegas, despite his plan to challenge Deontay Wilder, Sky Sports can reveal.

Fury, the former world heavyweight champion,

would need to have an application for a licence accepted before he could fight in those states - a process which has yet to start.

Fury and WBC champion Wilder signalled their intention

to meet in a grandstand bout this year but, at the moment, no date or location has been confirmed.

The consensus is that they would collide in Wilder's home country, the United States

because the fight would be a voluntary defence of his belt.

Fury told Wilder previously: "One thing I promise when I go to Las Vegas, I'm knocking you out."

Enyeama Cancels Contract with Lille Nigeria legend Vincent Enyeama has become a free agent after reaching an agreement with Lille today to terminate the contract that binds them, informs the official website of the Ligue 1 Club.

The goalkeeper was on the books of Lille for seven years after joining from Hapoel Tel Aviv, though he spent the 2012-2013 season on loan at Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Enyeama posted 65 shutouts in 164 first-team games for Lille and conceded 156 goals in the matches.

In the 2013-2014 Season, the 36-year-old netminder was very close to breaking the clean-sheet record held by retired Bordeaux numero uno Gaëtan Huard which he set in the 1992 - 1993 Season.

He helped Lille qualify for the final of the 2016 Coupe de la Ligue against Paris Saint-Germain and featured for the club in the Europa League and Champions League.

Enyeama had spells at Ibom Stars, Enyimba and Heartland before joining Bnei Yehuda in 2005.

Eaglets Arrive Niamey for WAFU B U-17 Tourney

The contingent of Nigeria’s U-17 boys, Golden Eaglets, have arrived in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic for the WAFU B U-17 Tournament which serves as the qualifying competition for the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

A total of 16 players and members of the technical crew and backroom staff departed Abuja aboard an ASKY airline flight on Friday morning. The remaining four players as well as Head Coach Manu Garba and Team Administrator Sirajo Hassan, who could not travel on Friday as there were not enough seats available on the flight, will fly from Abuja on Saturday morning.

A new format approved for the competition at the CAF Extra-Ordinary General Assembly which took place in Rabat 13 months ago means countries in each regional block gather in one country within the block to play a qualifying tournament, as against the old format of home-and-away qualifying series.

Only the winning team from each of the blocks (apart from the block of the defending champions that will produce two teams) will qualify for the final tournament, slated for Tanzania next year.

The Eaglets will play their first match of the tournament on Monday, against their Burkina Faso counterparts, before taking on Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday and Benin Republic next week Sunday. Host Niger Republic will trade tackles with Ghana’s Black Starlets and the Baby Hawks of Togo in the 7-Nation WAFU Zone B. Five of the 20 players selected for the tournament

by Head Coach, Manu Garba (who led Nigeria to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates five years ago) are from the U-15 National Team, otherwise known as Future Eagles - proof that the NFF/ Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship is indeed a worthwhile venture. The U-15 boys won silver medals in the football event at the third African Youth Games held in Algeria last month.

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Victor Umeh on Vote Buying “The Buhari administration promised to fight poverty, but that has not happened. We can legislate against vote buying, but a hungry man must eat. The level of request I receive everyday from my constituents paints the picture of poverty in the land” – Senator Victor Umeh explaining why vote buying will persist in Nigeria.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

How Saraki Plans to Defeat Buhari in 2019

F

ellow Nigerians, these are interesting times in our dear beloved country. High-wired politics is here again and there are many gladiators already queueing up for the biggest prize of all, the Presidency. The latest political figure to throw his hat into the ring is the President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who declared his interest in dramatic fashion, two days ago, whilst addressing a gathering of some selected Nigerian youths.

As always, I have continued to follow developments on this latest declaration on social media. While many were jolted by Saraki’s decision, I was not surprised at all. I had written about his decision a few months ago. At that time, I was scorned at, as usual, by those who have no access to news or newsmakers but come online just to attack and disparage everyone. Anyone who understands the game of politics would have realised that the main reason Saraki has been under ceaseless attack and near annihilation is because of his long suspected Presidential ambition. I will explain further, very shortly.

But before I do, let me say something for free.

I know, many are likely to dismiss Saraki as a smaller fry to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Let me plead with anyone who cares to listen that I don’t see Saraki as someone joking, or testing waters, as some people are suggesting.

I have studied the man like a book and have come to discover some of the things that make him tick. Saraki’s biggest strength and threat to his adversaries is his calm mien. He is a man of few words. He is deep and calculating. He loves to be underrated. Then he strikes.

I was one of those who used to dismiss his rumoured Presidential ambition as totally impossible. Several times, I had omitted his name when writing about possible Presidential aspirants and he would ask why I thought he was not qualified to govern Nigeria. And my stock answer was usually that the geographical location of Kwara and his own cultural roots naturally and automatically disqualified him. I used to ask, almost rhetorically, where would he pick his running mate from since many Northerners may want to see him as a Yorubaman and thus a Southerner. He finally made his pitch on this vexed issue to me at great length and with strong conviction, when we met, last week in Ilorin.

Let me now take you through the mind-set of this enigmatic politician who may yet spring another surprise on you and I, and cause an unexpected revolution in the political landscape and socio-cultural configuration of Nigeria.

I was privileged to sit with Dr Saraki as his guest during the Eid El Kabir festival, in Ilorin. My mission was to penetrate his mind and unravel his mythical essence. I have already met a few other formidable Presidential aspirants such as former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Cross River State Governor Mr Donald Duke. I have had brief telephone conversations with the Governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Comrade Omoyele Sowore, international motivational speaker Mr Fela Durotoye, BEN Television UK Chairman Mr Alistair Soyode, Finance expert, Mr Tope Fasua but have not had the opportunity of sitting down with them. My encounter with Saraki was extraordinary. He opened up like never before.

I have known him a bit since our collaborative work on the Buhari project, but I have never seen him in this form or mood. He was turbocharged and seemed to speak from the heart.

Saraki’s roadmap to victory is simple. Buhari is going to play the usual ethnic card that only a candidate from North West can win a Presidential

Saraki election in Nigeria. Saraki feels otherwise. He believes that the pro-restructuring crusaders now have an opportunity to make the Presidency available to other Nigerians. He concedes that it may be difficult for any candidate from North West and North East to compete or beat Buhari hands down, despite the fact that PDP parades more experienced politicians and competent aspirants.

What is then needed is to keep North Central on lockdown with a popular candidate from that zone. With the support of PDP stalwarts from the other two Northern zones, Buhari’s votes would be whittled down to make up the requisite percentages in terms of spread but no more. He believes that it may be a waste of time and resources trying to compete in the President’s traditional enclave other than to strive to get up to 25%. PDP should instead focus on mobilising the forces from the opposite direction and lockdown four out of the six geo-political zones.

Saraki says he is well-positioned to make this happen. With one leg in the North and another in the South, especially the South West, the people would have a higher stake in the Presidency and this will galvanise more passionate voters.

If the PDP presents just anyone, there may be voter apathy and Buhari would coast home to victory. As to where his deputy will come from, it would have to be from the South-East/ South-south axis, since he has already covered the South West, technically. Theoretically, this would ignite enthusiasm in that region. He believes the APC has played into his hands somehow by this calculation.

According to Saraki, the only reason Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fighting him is because he wants to take over from Buhari in 2023. “Where does that then leave the Igbo people who have not been able to produce any Vice President or President since Dr Alex Ekwueme in 1979-1983?” In simple Arithmetic “PDP needs a candidate who can block the South West and the South East simultaneously since Buhari will still run with Osinbajo…” This race is getting mathematically interesting and the Saraki option is looking feasible, I thought. However, Saraki said he was only just starting. He said those days are gone when an individual can instruct people to go out and vote as if they have no minds of their own.

He plans to challenge and tackle Buhari strictly on issues and not pettiness, which he sees to be the current order of the day. He said the world is driven today by knowledge and not by crude force. He said he is better informed on how to resurrect the comatose economy which collapsed because of the over-simplistic and myopic handling of affairs since Buhari took over. “Any student of

elementary economics would know that a country can never develop in an atmosphere of obsession for scaremongering, instability, uncertainty, Stone Age policies… Nigeria urgently needs a unifier in deed and not in words… I’m one of the most cosmopolitan leaders around today with every sense of modesty…” Saraki is looking forward to a serious debate between him, Buhari and other candidates on every aspect of daily life in Nigeria. “If Buhari likes, he can stay at home and do the debate by Skype or whatever, but moving forward, we must discuss Nigeria publicly…

Anyone wanting to lead a country as important as Nigeria in this century must be someone who can ably represent us in the comity of nations and has a grasp of modern ways of life.”

Saraki says he has matured with time in various offices and his cumulative executive and legislative experiences are almost second to none in the country… “You can see this in the way I have conducted the affairs of the Senate, and we are easily the best, but for the occasional and unfortunate distractions from people who see me as serious threat to their personal ambition. They had to feed the President with lies and destroy our relationship. I did all I could to support the government, but I was constantly harassed and treated like a pariah by those desperate to keep a firm grip on Nigeria…” But he continues to see the positive side of his travails. “Perhaps, I would not have declared interest in this race, but they kept pushing me away, demonising me for no reason, but ,inadvertently, they made me very popular by their action and some of those who never liked me started pitying me as a victim of oppression. They made it possible for me to clear my name and reputation at the highest level of justice, the Supreme Court…

That is how God works… Today they’ve pushed me up to the level I never envisaged because the ways of God are very mysterious… Most people, including members of the international community, now see me as the authentic leader of opposition in Nigeria. I’m grateful to all those who have stood by us against dictatorship and tyranny... The more they attacked me, the higher God lifted me up. It was not a crime to aspire.

We were co-joiners in the party, but some felt they were overlords, the owners of heaven and earth, and now God has humbled them…”

On how he hopes to tackle the youths many of who feel dead set against him, he replied: “That is my biggest task because they are my catchment group. I know many have been brainwashed and I don’t blame them. You know when you tell some lies repeatedly, it becomes the truth to some people. For example, they say I’m the most corrupt man on earth. I have looted Kwara State dry. All cheap but dangerous lies. What’s the worth of Kwara State that anyone would have billions to steal. I was born into business. I have been investing as a kid. In fact, as Governor, many contractors never saw me once. They said I was arrogant, but I empowered my cabinet and gave them the opportunity to use their initiatives in handling matters of State. There was no way I would have demeaned myself asking contractors for bribe. Insult, insult upon insults… What else did I want God to do for me?”

How come the perception of corruption against him every time? Saraki said: “You should understand their strategy, Buhari and his people have nothing else to market than to label opponents as looters and Buhari as the last saint standing. As petty as they are, they wrote letters to some foreign security agencies to probe me, and the worst of all to invade my home because they are sure they will find millions of raw cash in foreign currency… Just imagine how they’ve been dragging the office of the number

three citizen of Nigeria in the mud because of power… Yet they know all their friends who came into power with nothing, those who never managed any business in their lives, but are billionaires today. That is why nobody outside Nigeria treats their so-called wars seriously.

The shame of it is they’ve never rejected any of those they called looters before, whenever they decide to cross over to APC…” On the issue of the collapse of a bank, Societe Generale, under his watch, he expressed great regret and remorse but acknowledges no human being is infallible. He said, at the opportune time, he would lay the details bare for Nigerians to see the incredible effort he and others have put into seeking atonement and forgiveness.

He said the war against corruption would improve and succeed only when it is not subject to the whims of one man sitting on the throne in judgment against sinners and we must strengthen the relevant institutions and put in place genuine checks and balances that knows no sacred cows and treats all Nigerians equally in matters of crime and punishment. “The present style of grabbing and prosecuting Nigerians and convicting them on the pages of newspapers and social media is, to say least, cruel and unfortunate, in modern times.”

Saraki said he has a major blueprint for moving Nigeria forward in the 21st century and this would be offered to Nigerians for proper scrutiny.

“They are concrete and cardinal steps towards our redemption not the empty rhetorics of APC that has yielded little in almost four years,” he said, with a tinge of regret and lamentation.

He has promised to work with like minds at home and abroad. He is grateful to the members of PDP for the way him and his group were welcomed back so warmly. He said he would never take it for granted that the golden ticket of PDP would be easy to get, but he believes that if it is God’s wish, then he will get the it with gratitude. However, he also said that he is willing to cooperate fully with whosoever is chosen, if that is not his destiny. “Nigerians cannot afford another four years of this sluggish, directionless and vindictive government. It is our duty to work hard by the grace of God and rescue our great nation…” Saraki said with great faith and palpable confidence.

Now, to the clincher and grand finale. Why is APC seeking his impeachment by fire by force?

Saraki was ready with a response: “APC knows the Constitution of Nigeria even if they pretend otherwise. They know there is no way they can remove me legally. That is why they were driven to the limit of desperation and feverishness by the invasion of the National Assembly, which is the only reason they are a bit sober right now, out of shame that the brazen invasion by DSS at their behest and instruction failed. The threat by their Chairman to remove me was nothing but empty noise. That aside, the main reason they want me out is they are not willing to take the risk whereby the number three citizen will tackle the number one in a Presidential election. When that happens, they know I will have substantial access to State apparatus like the President. They would rather face candidates who are like orphans and not mandatorily protected, or provided for

by State power. But as President of the Senate, that is guaranteed…”

At the end of the interaction, I reviewed Saraki’s probabilities and came to the conclusion that although his chances may appear slim, for now, a PDP ticket may all be what he needs to break sound barriers, and underrating this cat with nine lives may well be the biggest mistake that his opponents can make.

Time will tell.

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