SATURDAY 19TH JANUARY 2019

NNPC Pays IOCs $993.7m of $5.1bn Cash Call Debt Will raise $2.3bn from third parties to help cover costs Chineme Okafor in Abuja with agency report The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday disclosed that it had so far paid $993.7

million of the negotiated $5.1 billion cash call debt it owed International Oil Companies (IOCs) whom it is in joint ventures oil production with. It stated in a report from Reuters which THISDAY

in Abuja obtained, that the payment was as at September 2018, and it still had to make up payments of $3.95 billion to them. The state oil corporation also said in the report that it was

seeking to raise about $2.3 billion in financing from third parties, such as joint venture partners, to help cover costs. Similarly, NNPC stated it was raising $3.15 billion through a firm called SEEPCO

to develop 416 million barrels of reserves from the oil mining licence (OML) 13 field. Over the years, NNPC piled up unpaid bills in the form of cash calls, that it was obliged to pay IOCs with which it

has joint ventures for oil exploration and production. In December 2016, it got a discount of $1.7 billion from the $6.8 billion it originally Continued on page 6

Most Parts of Borno Inaccessible, 43,000 Flee Homes, Laments UN… Page 6 Saturday 19 January, 2019 Vol 23. No 8676

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Opposition Parties Raise the Alarm over Plot to Arrest Onnoghen Code of Conduct Tribunal to issue warrant of arrest on Tuesday Udora Orizu in Abuja The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) yesterday alleged that the Presidency and some top

APC Chieftains are plotting to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, on Tuesday “and replace with Justice Tanko Mohammed.” The National Spokesperson

of CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere, at a press conference in Abuja claimed that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, “is the lead conspirator in the plot.”

Ugochinyere alleged: “Amaechi's lawyer, whose office is located at Central Area in Abuja is among those being used to carry out the deal in which Onnoghen

will be replaced with deputy Chairman of National Judicial Council, Justice Tanko Muhammed who will do the bidding of Presidency and the ruling APC.”

The CUPP spokesperson told journalists that the arrest would be carried out shortly after a bench warrant would Continued on page 6

Poll: Stop Harassing Opposition Leaders, US Congress Warns Buhari Reports of apparent crackdown extremely concerning FG moves against Atiku over collapse of Bank PHB Former VP demands for evidence Bennett Oghifo in Lagos, Omololu Ogunmade and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The United States Congress has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the harassment of the opposition political leaders, following recent perceived crackdown on some political figures in the country. The warning by the US Congress is coming on the heels of a N156 million fraud allegation against former Vice-President and Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) by the federal government. The UN Congress warning is contained in a bipartisan resolution urging the government of Nigeria,

along with Nigeria’s political parties, to ensure electoral accountability and transparency in the upcoming February election. A statement made available to THISDAY by Zachary Seidl of the US Congressional office, said the resolution, which has been adopted by the US Congress, was introduced on Wednesday, by Rep. Karen Bass, a top Democrat serving on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, along with the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Elliot L. Engel, the top Republican serving the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa Congressman Chris Smith, Nigeria Caucus CoContinued on page 6

Court Admits Dino Melaye to Bail on Compassionate Grounds... Page 14

GOODBYE SONNY ODOGWU... L-R: Daughters of the deceased, Ms. Obiageli Odogwu and Mrs Ofunne Odogwu, the widow, Theresa Odogwu, and the son, Kenneth Odogwu, at the requiem mass for late businessman, Dr. Sonny Odogwu held at the Church of the Assumption, Falomo, Lagos… yesterday etop ukutt

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Most Parts of Borno Inaccessible, 43,000 Flee Homes, Laments UN Micheal Olugbode Ă“Ă˜ Maiduguri

The United Nations yesterday decried the conflict in Northeast Nigeria, stating that Boko Haram attacks since November 2018 had caused over 43,000 persons to flee their homes with more than 32,000 taking refuge in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. A statement by Head of Communications at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), Samantha

Newport, said renewed attacks had also cut off access to humanitarian assistance to some towns in troubled Borno State with Rann, a border town with Cameroon, recently attacked by the insurgents, having no access to humanitarian workers. The UN said immediately after the January 14 attack on the border town, 14 aid workers were withdrawn. According to the statement, “The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon,

has expressed grave concern over the interruption of aid delivery to tens of thousands of internally displaced people in Rann, a town in eastern Borno State about 10 kilometres from the border with Cameroon, following a deadly attack by a non-state armed group. “The interruption in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Rann is the direct result of an attack that started at dusk on 14 January 2019 on the military base and continued into the next day. At the time of the attack, an

estimated 76,000 internally displaced people were living in Rann. “A medical clinic, warehouses with humanitarian supplies and accommodation for aid workers were looted and destroyed in the attack. The market and shelters in the camp were burned down by the attackers.� The statement further noted that “Several civilian fatalities have also been reported, although the total number is not yet known, and thousands are reported to have fled to

Cameroon. In addition, 14 aid workers, who were in Rann during the attack and able to hide, were withdrawn the day after by helicopter. At present Rann is inaccessible to international humanitarian organisations both by road and by air.� Kallon in the statement noted that the attacks on Rann, are increasingly frequent, adding that it is having a devastating impact on the civilians taking refuge in the isolated town “and severely affecting our ability to deliver

life-saving aid to women, men and children in need.� He added that the attack has spread fear among an already vulnerable population, and humanitarian assets were also targeted, urging government to protect civilians, including aid workers. The statement confirmed that the conflict in Northeast, now in its tenth year, has triggered massive displacement and caused severe humanitarian crisis with more than seven million people in need.

Atiku Abubakar dated Jan. 13, 2009. And of course, we also have statement of account within that period that confirms that this sum was actually paid into his account. “These are fresh evidences as to his involvement in the collapse of Bank PHB. So, we want him to stay as long he wants in the US but as soon he comes back, he has to explain to the electorate and to Nigerians what was his role in the collapse in the former Bank PHB."

The main opposition party said that the world already knows that this attempt to mudsling was coming out of Buhari’s frustration over Atiku successful outing in the United States, for which the Presidency has gone into full hallucination. The Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja said that the trumped-up charges was in addition to presidency frenzied face-saving effort to divert public attention from Buhari’s humiliating appearances in the respective rallies and Television shows he has had. Ologbondiyan stated that Atiku has nothing to do with the alleged issues leading to the collapse of Bank PHB, but an honest and hard working Nigerian who has no skeleton of any sort in his cupboard, unlike Buhari, who is now entangled in series of corruption allegations. For emphasis, he added that even the Chairman of Buhari’s Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, had since told the world that the Presidency has searched everywhere and could not find anything incriminating on Atiku. The PDP however counselled Buhari and the APC to note that Nigerians could see through their lies, fabrications and frustration and that their scheme against Atiku is already dead on arrival. The PDP urged Buhari to open the books and provide explanation for the N9 trillion stolen under his watch as Minister of Petroleum Resources as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo. Ologbondiyan said, “President Buhari should as well, allow an open inquest into the alleged involvement of his relations in the N1.032 trillion alleged corrupt acquisitions in 9Mobile and Keystone Bank PLC.�

POLL: STOP HARASSING OPPOSITION LEADERS, US CONGRESS WARNS BUHARI Chairs Representatives Steve Chabot and Shelia Jackson Lee, and Representative Gregory Meeks. “The upcoming elections in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy and economy, are critical to the future of the nation. Reports of President Muhammadu Buhari’s apparent crackdown on nonviolent protests and harassment of opposition leaders are extremely concerning, as well as the ongoing violence that has been perpetrated by extremists, particularly in the Middle Belt region. The violence must be stopped, along with any subversion of the electoral process. The Nigerian government must see to free and fair elections, which this resolution calls for,� said Ranking Member Smith. They urged President Buhari to copy the smooth transition in 2015 from the ruling party to the opposition, as their commitment to the strengthening of democracy in Nigeria. “I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, which reaffirms the United States’ longstanding commitment to strengthening democracy in Nigeria. In 2015, Nigeria became another democratic role model for countries on the continent, showing that a credible electoral process could result in the peaceful transition of power from an incumbent to the opposition. Regardless of the outcome, my hope for the upcoming presidential, gubernatorial, and National Assembly elections is that Nigerian politicians, citizens, and the electoral commission will build on the successes of 2015 to further consolidate democracy in Nigeria,� said Chairman Engel.

The Congressmen harped on the imperative of conducting free and credible elections. “It is critical that Nigeria remain a role model in its region for democratic institutions and work to ensure free and fair elections. There can be no democracy without full confidence in the results of an election, and it is vital that there is full transparency so that February leaves no doubt as to the outcome,� said Representative Meeks. According to Representative Bass, “It is in the best interest of the United States to maintain a strong bilateral relationship with a politically stable, democratic, and economically sound Nigeria that can play a leadership role in the region and the continent more broadly. “A credible, transparent and peaceful election this coming February would further consolidate democratic gains achieved over the last two decades. Nigerians are deeply committed to democracy and ensuring transparency in electoral preparations, which would build public confidence in the electoral process. This resolution sends the message that the people of the United States will continue to stand with the people of Nigeria in support of peace and democracy.� Still on US-Nigeria collaboration, Representative Chabot said, “As Co-Chair of the Congressional Nigeria Caucus, I appreciate the importance of a strong bilateral relationship with Nigeria and applaud its citizens for their commitment to democracy. “There is still work to be done, however, to ensure that Nigeria’s upcoming elections are transparent, peaceful, and credible. Our resolution lays out the necessary steps to

achieve these goals, and urges Nigeria to conduct elections free of violence. Conducting high-quality elections will strengthen our bilateral relationship, help consolidate Nigerian democracy, and be an example to other countries.�

Atiku Accused of N156 Million Fraud Meanwhile, twenty-four hours after Atiku arrived the United States, the federal government yesterday in Abuja accused him of N156 million fraud. Atiku's current visit to the United States, obviously did not go down well with the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Briefing journalists in the State House, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the former Vice- President had questions to answer on issues leading to the collapse of Bank PHB. According to Mohammed, the PDP presidential candidate benefited from N156 million ‘slush funds’ through what he described as Claremont Management Services Account on January 13, 2009. The minister who claimed that the federal government was not bothered by Atiku's visit to the United States, said “If he likes, he can stay there and obtain the American Green Card.� Tasking Atiku to explain his involvement in both the alleged ‘slush funds’ as well as the collapse of Bank PHB, Mohammed said the PDP presidential hopeful should return to the country and explain his roles in the bankruptcy of Bank PHB now Key Stone Bank. He said: "Let me say right away that we are not perturbed

one bit that Alhaji Atiku Abukakar was able to secure visa to the US. As a matter of fact, he can go ahead and get the US Green card that will not save him from imminent defeat in the forthcoming election. "I want to remind Abubakar that the elections will be right here in Nigeria and not in the US. In any event, any time Abubakar returns home, he has questions to answer following the fresh evidence that we have that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of the former Bank PHB. "The document we have showed that he benefitted to the tune of N156 million from that slush fund. The paper which we have here started from an internal memo on the January 13, 2009, which reads: 'please refer for discussion your requested overdraft in favour of Atiku Abubakar for N156 million and deliver same to me. Please note that it must be delivered today (January 13) on the same date� Furthermore, Mohammed stated that another memo was raised to confirm the receipt of the alleged 'slush fund,' saying the government does not only have evidence of the account statement and mandate but also a copy of the cheque issued to Atiku. The tone of Mohammed's address created the impression that Atiku would be arrested immediately he returns, emphasising that he can enjoy himself thoroughly in America but he should be reminded that he has an explanation to make the moment he returns to Nigeria. He said, “We have evidence here of the account mandate — the name of Atiku Abubakar. We also have a copy of the cheque in which the sum of N156 million was issued to

OPPOSITION PARTIES RAISE THE ALARM OVER PLOT TO ARREST ONNOGHEN have been issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal against Onnoghen. According to CUPP, Amaechi; Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the minister's lawyer were at a meeting on Thursday night where all arrangements were concluded. "The cabal of the Presidency has just concluded a meeting last night where they have now set the stage to burn down the institution of democracy and constitutional governance for the purpose of achieving

a narrow aim of annexing the judiciary." "The meeting of the Presidency cabal also resolved and directed the new Ag. Inspector-General of Police on the immediate arrest of the CJN on the same Tuesday, as effort will be made to ensure he is served with the order same day, following the issuance of the arrest warrant, and that it would be his litmus test for his speedy confirmation as the substantive IGP. "They further resolved that another petition would now be forwarded to the National Judicial Council and that petition has already been drafted in the Chambers of

a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. "This petition will precede the other frivolous and trumped up allegations which will be submitted against Justice Mary Peter-Odili, Justice Cletus Nweze and Justice Rhodes Vivour just to scare them away and tarnish their good names. "The President is aware of this plot as the meeting rose with the resolution that Rotimi Amechi and El-Rufai would go to brief the President immediately. "The President has weaponized his failed fight against corruption. The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal was

once again reminded of his pending criminal charges and conscripted that as long as he issued the arrest warrant nobody will move against him. "Nigerians, the said charges against the Chairman of the Tribunal has already been filed and is being handled by the Spokesman of the Buhari Campaign Organization, Mr. Festus Keyamo. This is a copy of the charge already filed." The CUPP also called on Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and other progressive lawyers to march to the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday to speak on behalf CJN in order avoid issuing a bench warrant against him.

Atiku: FG Should Provide Evidence Atiku has challenged the Federal Government to show evidence that he benefitted from the N156m slush fund that allegedly led to the collapse of the defunct Platinum Habib Bank. Atiku made this challenge in a statement issued by Mr. Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant on Public Communication, on Friday. He said, “It is disgusting to continue to spin allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office. “They just suddenly woke up to the reality that, their lies about Atiku being corrupt can no longer hold? It is instructive to note that the same Bank PHB is now Keystone Bank, which was said to have been acquired by Buhari’s cronies through AMCON last year,�Atiku said in the statement.

PDP Dares Buhari over Threat to Arrest Atiku The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) also described as laughable, “the plot to frame Atiku.�

NNPC PAYS IOCS $993.7M OF $5.1BN CASH CALL DEBT owed its JV partners as cash call obligations and was asked to pay $5.1 billion instead. This is however in addition to the $1.2 billion cash call debt owed the partners in 2016, for which $400 million was paid in April 2017. The delay in payments of the debt has however reportedly hindered oil and gas investment in Nigeria and worsened a budget crisis as the government seeks to

increase spending to boost an economy still recovering from a recession. According to the Reuters, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said this month that Nigeria was producing 1.78 million barrels per day (mbpd) of oil. Also, in November 2018, the Reuters quoted the NNPC to have said it would increase oil production in 2019 to 1.8mbpd.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Î

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

GROWING LOCAL TALENT... L-R: MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Director (West Africa), Femi Odugbemi; Senior Manager (Content Relations), Dolby Laboratories, Vikram Joglekar; Regional Manager, (Africa), Dolby Laboratories, Quinton Schmidt; and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, during the MultiChoice Talent Factory - Dolby Masterclass Series held at MultiChoice Headquarters, Lagos... yesterday

Don’t Kill Buhari with Pressure, Secondus Tells APC Adedayo Akinwale Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency cabals not to kill President Muhammadu Buhari with undue pressure. Secondus stated this yesterday while inaugurating 27 Presidential election

campaign committees at the party’s campaign office in Abuja. He stressed that from what Nigerians and international community are witnessing around the President lately, it’s apparent that he is tired and incapable but they would not let him. According to him, “There is no way this President can cope given what we are witnessing

and added to the incompetence in leadership, Nigerians have been seeing in the last three years. For selfish reasons these power grabbers are putting undue pressure on the President even as it’s evident that he can no longer cope.� The PDP chairman warned that Nigerians are not ready to take anything less than free, fair and credible election.

He said, “Our fear is that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu lack the will and courage to ignore the pressure from the APC to conduct free and transparent election. But he should know that he would be held responsible for any fall out from a rigged election.� The National Chairman while congratulating the new Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, reiterated his earlier call

on him to clear the mess left behind by his predecessor and run the police force professionally and responsibly. Secondus stated that the main opposition party would continue to protest the membership of Amina Zakari as a National Commissioner of INEC. He added, “We called for her resignation from the commission but instead they appointed her as

the Chief collation officer, we must continue to oppose her because she is a master rigger, we have evidence of what she did in Ekiti and Osun states.� The chairman said that the visit of the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to US has doused the blackmail, saying that would restore the image of the country.

Recognition of Kasamu: INEC is Trying to Igbo Assembly Backs Atiku, as Imo Destabilise PDP in Ogun State, Says Adebutu PDP Flags Off Campaign Segun James The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Mr. Oladipupo Adebutu has said that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognition of the candidacy of Senator Buruji Kasamu as the candidate of the party is a deliberate action of the commission to destabilise the party in the state. Adebutu who faulted the candidacy of Kasamu hinged his reason on the fact that the PDP has not only expelled Kasamu, but that the commission is trying to decide for the party who its candidate in the election will be. He insisted that this is contrary reason, as it points to the fact the commission is trying to decide for the party who it’s candidate should be. Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Adebutu said the commission demonstrated clear partiality in the published lists, saying that both himself and Kashamu emerged from two different primaries one of which was recognised by the national leadership. He said even though both parties had been locked in litigations over who should fly the party’s ticket

in the election, INEC should have made the position of governorship candidate vacant pending the outcome of the resolution of the cases in the court. Adebutu wondered why INEC would publish Kashamu as the party’s candidate in the claim it obtained a court order. He said he had obtained two court orders from an Abuja High Court, declaring the primary that produced Kashamu null and void and that he should be recognised as candidate. Adebutu added that the court order was based on the fact that he emerged as candidate in a primary conducted by the National Working Committee(NWC) which has the constitutional right to conduct primaries in the party. He said that INEC ignored his own court orders to publish Kashamu’s name was a clear attempt to destabilise the party and undermine its victory. “INEC has come out to choose between these contending orders and as a result creating confusion in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “While we recognise that INEC should be a fair arbiter that should be their role in elections.But we have seen INEC to be biased in this matter .

“The question is to what purpose or effect is this bias. In our view because of the desperation to dismember our party, INEC is continually interfering in our party process,� he said. Adebutu said he had no doubts that INEC was acting a script by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the state at all costs. He said the best INEC should have done was to publish the names both him and Kashamu as candidates or publish no names at pending the resolution of all litigations. He said it was a mockery of democracy that Kashamu who did not obtain nomination form from the party’s authorities or screened was published as candidate, adding that Kashamu was only being used to destabilise the party as he had never for once aligned with the national body of the party. Adebutu added all those in the defunct Ali Modu Sheriff camp to which Kashamu belonged had since left the party after the Supreme Court judgement affirming Senator Ahmed Makarfi as Caretaker Chairman in 2018. Adebutu, however, said he and his supporters would not leave the party over the development in order to clear the coast for APC.

Amby Uneze Ă“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂœĂ“ A socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo nation known as Igbo Assembly has warned that the Igbo would not support any presidential candidate opposed to restructuring the nation, indicating that the group are poised in supporting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. This was declared by chieftain of the group and member Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who gave the clarification at the flag off of the party’s campaign rally in Imo State held at Ubomiri, in the Mbaitoli council area. Relying on the potentials of the PDP presidential flag bearer, he said that it is only the PDP that is genuinely committed to restructuring the nation as opposed to other parties who he said are playing to the gallery. “What the APC is saying about restructuring is a deceit and Atiku is the only candidate that can truly implement restructuring and you

should support him and our governorship candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha to heave a sigh of relief. “As the oldest member of the BOT of the PDP, I am in a better position to talk of the qualities and suitability of Emeka Ihedioha to move Imo forward. He has been tested and has been found to be capable to take us to the next level of development and growth. “Please vote for all PDP candidates in the oncoming general elections and reject those who promise to build bridges for you where there are no rivers,� the leader of the group stated. Former governor of the state, Achike Udenwa along with the state chairman of the party, Charles Ezekwem and other chieftains of the party enjoined the electorate to reject the APC at the polls to end their misery and destitution. “With Atiku as president and Ihedioha as governor you will begin to recover what has eluded you over the years, workers and pensioners will be paid,

our hospitals will begin to work again. There will be no more china roads in Imo and the time to act has come,� they said. Dwelling on his agenda “to rebuild Imo and my word is my bond�, Ihedioha listed good governance, human capital development, jobs and wealth creation, integrated infrastructure development as among his blue print of action if elected. “Our dear state is bedeviled with a rapid decay of public infrastructure, crippling debt burden of over N100 billion up from 26 billion in 2011 without any meaningful infrastructure to show for it but instead, we have mounting salary and pension arrears, unemployment and underdevelopment despite the fact that between May 2011 and December 2017, Imo State Government received over half a trillion naira from the Federation Account excluding the bailout fund of N63.91 billion, Paris fund of N32.02 billion, over N50 billion internally generated revenue, ecological funds running into several billions of naira,� he lamented.

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NEWS

In Brief Ex-CDS, Badeh for Burial January 23

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd), who was assassinated by unknown gunmen along Keffi-Abuja Road, would be buried January23,2019.AburialprogrammereleasedbyDefenceHeadquarterssaid aserviceofsongswouldbeheldinhishonourtomorrow,Sunday,January20,at NigerianAirForceBaseProtestantChurch,BillClintonDrive,Abuja.According toastatementsignedbyDefenceSpokesman,Brigadier-GeneralJohnAgim, achurchservicewouldbeheldWednesday,January23,2019by10a.m.atthe Nigerian Airforce Base, Protestant Church, Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja.The late Defence chief would finally be interred Wednesday, January 23,2019 by12:30pmat theNational MilitaryCemetery,Abuja.

‘Why AtikuTravelled to the USA’

DISCUSSING DISPUTE-FREE PROJECTS...

The running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, Mr. Peter Obi has described Atiku’s trip to the U.S. as necessary and not undertaken to prove any point. Obi, who was reacting to questions from journalists at the DomesticWing of the Murtala MuhammedAirport,Lagos,yesterdayonhiswaytotheSouth-east,expressed surpriseatthedustgeneratedbyAtiku’strip,notingthathedidnotseeanything unusualwiththetrip,exceptthatAlhajiAbubakarAtikuoptedtotravelwhen it was necessary. On what prompted Atiku’s trip to the USA, Obi said that everything Atiku did today was prompted by his desire to see a new Nigeria afterthenextmonth’selections.Inhiswords:“Thoughhedoesover90percent of his consultations at home and among Nigerians, but now and then, he has totraveltomeetdifferentgroups,especiallythosethatwillbeofassistance inthenew Nigerianproject.�

L-R: Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf; CEO, Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitra- Rivers Accord Party Hails INEC over List of Candidates tion Centre (LACIAC), Funmi Iyayi; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; and Chairman, Board of Directors, LACIAC, TheAccordPartyinRiversStatehashailedtheIndependentNationalelectoral Tunde Fagbohunlu, during a regional training workshop on dispute management in Africa infrastructure projects in Lagos‌ recently Commission(INEC)forensuringthatonlynamesthatweredulysubmittedby theconstitutionallyempoweredNationalWorkingCommittee(NWC)ofthe partywereapprovedtoflytheparty’sflaginthegeneralelections.Thepartywas reactingtothelistpublishedbyINECasthecandidatesinthegeneralelections. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Dason Nemieboka, also congratulated its National Assembly candidatesformakingthefinallistofcandidatesapprovedbyINECtocontest theFebruary16nationalAssemblyelections.HesaidAccordPartywassatisfied that INEC only approved names submitted by the NWC of the party which conducted theprimariesto runtheelectionsontheplatformof theparty. Omon-Julius Onabu Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹ group were completely left out of the Ojougboh, who was named by in best representation policy. list of the campaign council members Ogboru as spokesman of the state The Delta State APC Chairman, Igbanke Grammar School Alumni Reunite Governorship aspirants of the All drawn up by the Erue/Ogboru/ APC campaign committee, stressed Mr Jones Erue, stressed that the Old students of the renowned Igbanke Grammar School, Igbanke, (IGSI), Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Omo-Agege APC faction recognised that after series of meeting, he believed real task before all members of the Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State, is set to unite in order to Pat Utomi and Chief Victor Ochei by the Adams Oshiomhole-led that most of leaders particularly APC in the state was to ensure that bring in the needed development to the school, once a pride of the defunct as well as the leader of the so-called National Executive Council. traditional rulers in Delta North the PDP was defeated and that the Bendel state. To this end, all roads will lead to Igbanke, Orhionmwon Local estranged mainstream faction of the Delta State APC gubernatorial needed to be persuaded to support APC produces the next occupant of GovernmentArea,EdoState,onthe20thofApril,2019,forthemaidenreunion party, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, candidate in the 2019 election, Chief the party. the Government House Asaba after get-togetherofthegroup.PresidentoftheAssociation,Mr.JacobErhabor,who istheconvenerofthereunion,enjoinedalloldstudentsoftheschool,bothhome were conspicuously absent at the Great Ogboru, who personally took He urged the members to come the 2019 governorship election. inauguration of Delta State 2019 charge of the campaign council to terms with reality on ground that Erue therefore urged the members andinthediasporatobeattheevent.Hesaidimportantmattersconcerning Campaign Council. inauguration ceremony held at defeating PDP in the state will not to look beyond those contesting vari- theschoolandhowtobringitbacktoitsoldglorywouldbediscussed. THISDAY learnt that members the Orchid Hotel, Asaba, noting that be an easy task. ous positions at the state and national of the group, which has Chief Cyril the body was being chaired by Dr. While expressing happiness to be levels but to work hard to win the Oganiru Ndigbo: Why We’re Supporting Buhari Ogodo as its factional state chairman, Emmanuel Uduaghan, the man who working with the party leaders because general election from the presidency, ApoliticalinterestgroupfromtheSoutheasternpartofthecountry,Oganiru were asked to stay away from the he said had publicly confessed to of his belief that ‘’party is supreme’’, the National Assembly to the state NdigbohassaidthatthedesiretoseeanIgbomanoccupytheNigeria’spresidencyseatin2023wasbehindtheircampaignforthereelectionofPresident campaign committee inauguration having been the stumbling block to Ojougboh said, ‘’The task ahead is assembly. held in Asaba yesterday. his (Ogboru’s) governorship ambition not going to be a walk in the park.’’ The senator representing Delta MuhammaduBuhari.Thegroupsaidtheirdecisionisstrictlyguidedbywhatis Although, the issue of boycott in the past. He revealed that following meetings Central, Ovie Omo-Agege, said that intheoverallinterestoftheIgboracewhichistoensurethatthereisabalance by the aggrieved members was not Former deputy national chairman he had with Delta North leaders, ques- ‘’President Muhammadu Buhari has inthecountry’spowerequation.AlthoughthelobbyforanIgbopresidencyin mentioned during the inauguration of the PDP and governorship aspirant tions were persistently asked about already won the (2019) presidential 2023 is gaining grounds, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not made of the body to lead the campaign, of the APC, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has the so-called power rotation principle election’’, adding that it only remains anycategoricalstatementthatitwouldcedethepresidencytotheSouth-east. the absence of Emerhor, who was charged members of the APC in the operational in the state since 1999, noting for the APC in the state to do was TopleadersoftheAPCfromtheSouth-westareinsistingthattheywouldpick the APC governorship candidate in Delta State to brace up for the great that the leaders need to be convinced to contribute a significant number theparty’spresidentialticketin2023. 2015, might not be unconnected with task to wrest power from the PDP in that such arrangement was merely a of votes during the presidential Prince Osisioma Foundation Offers Free Medical Care at Ukpo claims that members of the Ogodo-led the state in the next election. PDP design as the APC believes only election. Aspartofhissocialresponsibilitytohiscommunity,Abuja-basedPrinceOsisioma FoundationofferedfreemedicalservicestoUkpoindigenesduringtheYuletide. Themedicalserviceswhichinvolveddiagnosisandfreetreatmentofdifferent healthchallengestookplaceatCentralPrimarySchoolUkpo,DunukofiaLocal Government Area of Anambra State. The foundation founded by Prince Dr. OnyekaEze,aprinceofUkpokingdomandaphilanthropisthadearlierannounced Hammed Shittu Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜ What is important in this matter is George Okoh Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă•Ă&#x;ĂœĂŽĂ“ president’s house, even if they its plan to offer free medical care to the sick in Dunukofia and beyond. The for justice to be done to all parties are supporters of the ruling APC. Foundationfulfilledit’spromisebybringingtoDunukofiamedicalpersonnel The beginning of the definite trial at the end of the day.â€? Benue State Governor, Samuel He cautioned youths not to along with her partnering body the National Laboratory Science Students of the five suspected armed bandits In his reaction, Defence counsel, Ortom has condemned the attack allow themselves to be used AssociationofNigerialedbyHon.IkehHenryChukwuemeka. that struck at banks in Offa in Mr. Mathias Emeribe agreed with the on the family house of Senate by some politicians to assault Demoted Don Drags Varsity to Court, Seek Reversal Kwara State on April 5, 2018 at Ilorin position canvassed by the learned silk. President, Bukola Saraki in opponents. High Court was yesterday stalled “However, I want to urge him to Kwara State. Meanwhile, Governor Ortom Oneoftheseniorlecturersaffectedbytherecentdemotionofsomevarsity again due to the unpreparedness of impress it upon the police to avail Ortom described the act as has tendered an apology for donsbytheFederalUniversity,Otuoke,BayelsaState,Prof.StephenNwabuzor, the prosecution counsel. me of all the evidences they want shameful, barbaric and capable supporting and voting president hasdraggedtheinstitutionbeforetheNationalIndustrialCourt,Yenagoa.Also joinedinthesuitwastheViceChancelloroftheUniversity,Prof.AccraJaja,whom The court had fixed yesterday at to tender in the matter. It is important of heightening tension in Kwara Buhari in the 2015 elections. the last adjourned date for definite for me to study the evidences and State and the country at large. He gave the apology today thecomplainantaffirmedfloutedthelawsettinguptheinstitutionbyhisaction. hearing as a result of the inability of bring same before my clients to be He said the use of thugs backed while interacting with leaders Prof.Nwabuzorisprayingthecourt,amongothersto:“Declarethatfollowingthe the prosecution to produce witnesses able to do a proper defense in this by police to intimidate and silence of the Christian Association of regularisationoftheappointmentoftheclaimantasaprofessortoapensionable in court. political opponents must be Nigeria (CAN), at the NKST appointmentbythefirstdefendant’sletterofSeptember1,2015andtheclaimants matter,â€? he said. Appearing for the first time in He said, “I am still waiting for condemned by all Nigerians as Church in Wannune, Tarka Local confirmation of his appointment vide the letter of February 21, 2017, the claimant’sappointmenthasastatutoryflavourandcannot betamperedwithexcept the case for the state government/ prosecution to show that they have the country prepares for this year’s Government Area. prosecution, Prof. Wahab Egbewole the capacity and all that is required elections. He stated that just like former inaccordancewiththeFederalUniversity,OtuokeEstablishmentAct,2015.“ (SAN) urged the court to grant him to do well in this case. The governor stresses that the President Olusegun Obasanjo had some ample time to interact with the “At least, if for nothing, you All Progressives Congress (APC) apologised to Nigerians, he was MultiChoice Excites GOtv Customers with Top Up Offer witnesses. He thereafter applied for discover, the fault is not from the administration ought not to focus doing same because the President Leading video entertainment, MultiChoice Nigeria is giving customers on a short adjournment. defense, so that when I begin to make only on the coming elections but Buhari-led administration has not its GOtv platform something to smile about this new year with the launch of He added that “I got a fiat from the necessary applications the whole remember that their tenure runs only lived up to expectation but GOtv‘TopUp’campaign.StartingTuesday,15JanuarytillMonday,15April,2019, the state Attorney General and world will know that the defense till May 29, 2019 within which was also condoning the atrocities of all active and disconnected customers on GOtv Plus, Value and Lite will get Commissioner of Justice Kamaldeen is justified. time they are responsible for the Fulani herdsmen across the country. upgraded to GOtv Max when they pay a reduced fee of N2,500 while GOtv Ajibade yesterday to take over the “There are some things you will security of lives and property of According to him, all complaints ‘topsup’withN700.Meanwhile,activeanddisconnectedGOtvMaxcustomers case and I am yet to interact with do and it will look as if you are not every Nigerian. for the arrest and prosecution of canalsotakeadvantageofthislimitedtimeoffertorenewtheirsubscription the witnesses who are in court.â€? He urged security operatives leaders of Fulani groups that foronlyN2,500.ThisofferwillgiveGOtvcustomersonPlus,ValueandLitean ready to do justice in this matter. My He, however, said that “I want countenance and that of the defense to show sincerity in their hunt for sponsored the killing of people in opportunity to experience the exciting premium content available on GOtv to plead that I will not ask for have shown that we are ready to those suspected to be responsible the state and destruction property MaxincludingLaLiga,SerieA,FACup,BET,FoxEntertainment,StarLife,ROK 2 and CBS Realityand more. adjournment any more in this case. prove our innocence.â€? for the attack on the Senate fell on deaf ears.

Utomi, Emerhor Absent as Ogboru Inaugurates Delta APC Campaign Council

Offa Robbery: Again, Unpreparedness Attack on Saraki Very of Prosecutor Stalls Trial of Suspects Shameful, Says Ortom

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 19, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY Tade Ogidan’s ‘Golden Status’ is Now Ready With a winning formula that is often synonymous with his established tradition of film production, veteran filmmaker, Tade Ogidan, is set for the release of his highly anticipated movie, ‘Golden Status’, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ust wait for it! Fans of veteran filmmaker, Tade Ogidan may wait no longer this year for his upcoming movie, ‘Gold Statue’. The star-studded movie which was first announced in 2017, shortly after shooting commenced is completely set for release. The movie was written and directed by Tade Ogidan and as always, with a winning formula. Little wonder it has been described as one of the most highly anticipated movies by the producers, featuring galaxy of stars, that only the movie practitioner who has over the years proven to be a master at what he does, can bring together. The well-respected filmmaker, during a phone conversation with THISDAY said the project was on its post-production stage with the publicity design fully drawn and properly structured to commence not later than May 2019. “I would not want to give out much outside of the publicity plans which the production and publicity team have drawn. But I can confirm that the movie is ready. It would be released not later than May.” The movie is one of its kinds in recent times such that attracted wild excitement among movie buffs owing to the director/producer’s antecedent in television and movie productions. Known for evergreen movies like Owo Blow, Raging Storm, Out of Bounds and Playing Games, Ogidan teams up with Nollywood legends such as RMD, Sola Sobowale and Segun Arinze for the new comedy movie. Described as a comedy adventure that will take viewers through a series of emotions, intrigues, suspense and drama, ‘Gold Statue’ features an ensemble cast that includes Tina Mba, Norbert Young and Ali Baba. It also stars Gabriel Afolayan, Kunle Remi, Rycardo Agbo, Kelvin Ikeduba, Kunle Fawole, Segun Arinze, Francis Onwochie, Greg Ojefua, Etinosa Idemudia, Adeniyi Johnson, Woli Arole, Bisola Ayeola, Kenny Blaq, Judith Audu and Tunrayo Adeyemi. Gold Statue is a comedy-drama that follows the adventure of two young men, Wale (Gabriel Afolayan) and Chike (Kunle Remi) in search of a ‘Gold Statue’ believed to have been a deity inherited by their generation. In trying to locate where the supposed ‘Gold Statue’ is located, they go through a series of unimaginable ordeal and put themselves through some ridiculous painful situations that leave their parents shocked. The question left remains, was there really a ‘Gold Statue’ or is it a myth? As widely noted, the movie will be Ogidan’s second collaboration with RMD and Sola Sobowale, who starred in the 1998 classic, Diamond Ring. And is said, a collaborative effort between OGD Pictures, Solution Media and InfoTech Limited. Solution Media and Infotech Limited is a hi-tech multimedia company operating in Africa and the Middle East and provides full audio-visual media for entertainment and event support companies. Ogidan has produced memorable movies that stand out in terms of storyline, cinematography and quality, which is expected to come to bear on Gold Statue. Gold Statue in some quarters is believed to be Ogidan’s first production for the new cinema era. Be that as it may, Ogidan could be acknowledged as the harbinger of the new cinema era itself with his 2004 movie, Dangerous Twins which got positive reviews from critics and contemporary Nollywood aficionados. A throwback in time of the said ‘Dangerous Twins’ revealed state-of-the-art equipment which only OGD Pictures can boast of at that time. To some of his followers, it seems a comeback eight years after he produced his last feature film, Family Fire. But for the prolific filmmaker, ‘the rejuvenation of the cinema culture as well as the availability of good technical skills and infrastructure’ spurred him when asked at the height of the movie announcement why he was making a comeback into the scene. Noteworthy, he has been celebrated for being prolific, but for the quality of his movies which have all remained a reference point. Filmed in four various locations including Lagos, Ilesha, Dubai and London, there had been plans to premiere the movie in major film festivals across the globe as well as private premieres in Nigeria. Ogidan described it as an adventure comedy he had been piecing together for a while. And every time he got close to getting it done, he was held back. “We need to build things well. In order to achieve perfection, we have brought together a couple of co-producers on this project including Alibaba, Simi Opeoluwa, Sola Sobowale among others. It’s an assemblage of producers with a lot of experience. That gives me room to concentrate as the director. Of course, it’s a very technical story. Expect a bit of prison stuff in it and you will be amazed at the research that has gone into this production.” He had added while responding to questions on why he stayed off the scene a little while. “The primary location for the filming was Hi-Impact Planet Amusement Park, which is owned by Solution Media, a company he considers, as having perhaps one of the craziest equipment anyone can find around. The production equipment for the movie is exactly the same as have been used for recent blockbuster Hollywood movies.” For him, the production of quality film requires lots of funding, research, time and production equipment and the partnership with Solution Media answer these questions, saying, “That is why we are embarking on Gold Statue.” With a career in television and movie productions spanning close to four decades, Ogidan has since written, produced and directed hit movie projects, most of which are multiple award-winning in and outside Nigeria.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 19, 2019

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SUPERSATURDAY

Falz Raises His Game with ‘Moral Instructions’

Socio-political consciousness has always been a part of Folarin Falana’s (a.k.a Falz) brand as he intends to create a consciously heard voice through his music, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ays after he dropped its lead single which caused a stir online owing to the lyrics, singer and rapper, Folarin Falana a.k.a Falz the Bahd Guy released his fourth studio album, ‘Moral Instructions’ on Tuesday. The album was launched at a classroomthemed listening party held in Lagos and announced via his Instagram page @ falzthebahdguy. The social conscious singer had teased listeners few days to the launch by releasing art covers and merchandise designed by the legendary art illustrator, Lemi Ghariokwu who used to work for the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The album itself also samples three of Fela’s songs. At the listening party, Falz explained the lengthy process he had to go through to sample the songs, adding that he almost gave up. He said, “We sampled three songs from Fela on the album, it was a lot deciding whether to do the samples but I wanted the elements of the original Afrobeat. That was one of the main reasons I wanted us to sample and it was a lot of ‘ wahala ’ to clear the samples. We had to talk to his estate, talk to different companies in France and another in US that held the right to his Masters. I was this close to giving it all up but then I thought again, for what I want to achieve, I had to go ahead with it.” The album, which is a socio-conscious themed project, follows the “27” album released in 2017 and contains nine songs with guest appearances

from Demmie Vee, Chillz and producer/friend Sess. The listening party featured several celebrities, journalists, colleagues, industry personalities dressed in school uniforms in accordance with the event’s dress code. His father, Femi Falana (SAN) and mother Funmi, were present alongside the art illustrator, Ghariokwu while hypeman Shoddy was on hand to moderate and anchor the event. Moral Instruction, as the title implies, follows the artiste as he tackles several topics dealing with Nigeria’s social ills and issues with political and social awareness througH its nine tracks, including songs such as ‘Follow Follow’, ‘Brother’s Keeper’, ‘Hypocrite’, ‘After All Said And Done’, and ‘Talk’. Talk is a socio-conscious record that addresses critical happenings and advises the youths to be wary of ‘greedy politicians.’ The ‘music activist’ had inspired anticipation for the project with the release of the instantly viral single, ‘Talk’. True to its title, the new song got people talking following its release on January 10. It re-awakened criticisms towards the lawyer-turned rapper over his continuous stand regarding prostitution or slut shaming. Majority of online audience, especially females, pointed to his lyrics, ‘’Instead make you work, you dey find Alhaji, You come turn your body to cash and carry’’ and called out Falz for his obsession with ladies who have made a choice with what to do with their bodies, adding that he’s not fair with the opposite sex as the issue concerns both sexes. However, there were those who acknowledged that Falz touched on a number of controversially

social issues in the album so for most listeners to now focus on his stance against ‘runs girls’ is just to major on the minor. In his response, Falz maintained that he detests commercial sex and will continue to speak out against it in his songs. ‘’Shamelessly, I will continue to say it. I detest transactional sex. It is my thing, that is what I believe in and you will continue to hear it in my music.’’ Socio-political consciousness has always been a part of the Falz brand as he intends to create a consciously heard voice through his music. Initially, that consciousness wasn’t very pronounced because it was laced with a lot of humour before the time of ‘This is Nigeria’, there were tracks like ‘Senator’, ‘My People’ and ‘ Wehdone Sir’. In 2018, the entertainer released a controversial audio/visual song ‘This is Nigeria’, a mock-up of American rapper Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’. It addressed a plethora of societal issues prevalent in Nigeria, including SARS brutality, codeine, abuse, and Killings in some parts of the country. The 28-year-old began his professional career in 2009 and hugged limelight after his song ‘Marry Me’ (featuring vocals from Poe and Yemi Alade), won him a nomination in the Best Collaboration of The Year category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. The multi-talented Falz, the singersongwriter, rapper and comedian is often known to pride himself with panache as the only artiste with the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards twice for his acting prowess.

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͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

FORGING PEACE AHEAD OF 2019 ELECTION

The common good of the electorate should be uppermost in the minds of those who crave to serve, writes Michael Otto Ekpenyong “Those who are in PDP belong to me. Those who are in APC belong to me. They are all my children.�

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ith those pregnant words the Catholic Bishop of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, scored a bull’s eye at the close of the Diocesan Prayer and Fasting on Sunday, 6th January, 2019. According to the bishop, he had invited his children in the political arena to join him and the people of God in prayer. He used that occasion to teach all by example the meaning of gratitude and the common good. The bishop invited the two sides of the political seams to say “thank youâ€? and to show practical prayerful appreciation for the support they had given to the Church through St. Luke’s hospital renovation and landscaping of Cardinal Ekandem Seminary College and Pastoral Centre. By their actions they had served the common good. Thus, before all his other spiritual children in Uyo, the bishop opened his heart to speak the great language of the heart and invited his “servant leadersâ€? to do the same. From the oral and body language responses of the political servant leaders, the crowd gathered and the media reports there seemed to have been a unanimous verdict, namely, that the Lord Bishop did well by creatively teaching us publicly what type of politics we should play during the upcoming elections in Nigeria. He demonstrated that in a democratic culture we can “disagree to agreeâ€?,“agree to disagreeâ€? or “agree to agreeâ€? without forgetting that those in leadership positions are servants of the people and it is always a privilege to be called to serve. Therefore, our servant leaders cannot but always show gratitude for being called to serve. At the end, the bishop, by his gracious words and actions seemed to have said to our politicians: “Go and do the same! Serve the (common welfare) common good! And always be grateful! In other words, leave the politics of me and self to embrace the politics of we and other(s) with the primary goal of serving the common good of the electorate. Let our conversation move from the ego-centric world of manipulative shortsightedness to an inclusive proactive collaborative open-ended world of possibilities. Let us challenge ourselves to reďŹ gure a new collaborative moral imagination for a new era of political intimacy and friendship. Because we need each other we must embrace anew the moral principles of co-responsibility, solidarity and subsidiarity to get the job done!â€? The above is my personal recollection of the meaning of the bishop’s commendable gesture. It has given me, as an involved and interested citizen, an inspiration to add a voice on the other related common good that our people would want to hear about, as we step into the 2019 election arena, in the few weeks and months ahead. Let me quickly say, in line with the bishop’s vision of political intimacy and friendship, that the other common good that our people have heard not enough about is our environment. How can we develop an authentic political intimacy and friendship with our environment? Let me explain. Recently I called the attention of a lawn maintenance man to the friendliness of the bird locally named “Ekong –Ebuk- Eyopâ€?. They have a white strip by their necks and breasts with medium becks. Before you only see them occasionally far- faraway in the skies. But these days they even want to become members of our domestic poultry farms to struggle with their kindred for food around our homes. But why this new found closeness and friendship between humans and the birds, I asked? The maintenance man was quick and direct in noting that we humans have, by our reckless and self-centered activities, driven not only Ekong- Ebuk -Eyop group and other birds, but also mammals, fish and amphibians from their native habitats. Have we noticed the decrease in the population of

LET OUR PUBLIC OFFICE SEEKERS TELL OUR PEOPLE THE TYPE OF ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL POLICIES THEY WILL PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND MAKE LIFE MEANINGFULLY LIVABLE IN NIGERIA

these human neighbours? We have finished the squirrels, the rats and their nephews, nieces, cousins and uncles in the animal kingdoms, in the bushes and forests with no thought of tomorrow. As you travel from the South to the North you realize that our rainforests and the savannah are indistinguishable. Our rainforests, once the home of bio-diversity are daily becoming a huge wasteland without vegetation. Deforestation and desertification are no longer concepts but realities of our daily experiences. Pause for a moment to think about what has become a political, economic, social and religious phenomenon in Nigeria. I mean the so-called Fulani herdsmen and the rest of us. Have you reflected on the reason why only a few people have the imagination to link the exodus of the Fulani herdsmen and their animals from the North to the South with the seemingly unstoppable expansion of the almighty Sahara Desert? Why is it that very few see our Fulani brothers and sisters’ exodus from the North to the South as an ominous sign of why we should be proactive in the protection of our environment? And why have we not heard enough of slogans like: Stop bush burning, cut trees but plant new ones to replace them? The indiscriminate extraction of natural resources without check have dire consequences as we begin to hear of earth tremors in Abuja of all places. Our inland lakes and rivers are gradually disappearing due to uncontrolled human activities - who cares? Our mega-cities soaked in our human generated heat and carbon dioxide have made our lives more complicated with palpable pollution and our leaders are onlookers like everyone else. Report from “Living Planet� Organization has it that the Oceans which are home to a large population of living things have their fair share of uncontrolled human activities resulting in warm temperatures that affect currents and habitats. In Nigeria we have seen the effect of the uncontrolled human activities especially in the coastal regions with dire consequences on marine life. Illegal oil bunkering, taking little or no consistent actions to control oil spills, dumping plastics and all manners of rubbish into the oceans and rivers are bad news to our neighbours in the oceans and rivers. On land in the cities, the happy-go-lucky yoyo urination into the gutters, excrement postings at street corners and public squares - what great health hazards and what a mess! In the context of the upcoming elections, keeping in mind the bishop’s refreshing challenge of intimate collaborative political inclusiveness, let our “servant leaders to be� tell us about the politics we should play regarding the environment as our common home and common good. What role would our heads of families, titled chiefs, clan heads, teachers and students, religious leaders and disciples, ecumenical assemblies, inter- faith associations, NGOs and social activists play at the grassroots? What role would the law enforcement groups play in favour of empowering the powerless trauma-stricken environment? It is now about time to cultivate and nurture our intimacy and friendship with all creation. Even here with the environment in focus, the bishop’s challenge comes in handy. To get the job done we will need a cultural, social and political will founded on the principles of co-responsibility, solidarity and subsidiarity to develop and nurture our eco-system. Now with thrilling twists of electioneering rumblings in full swing in the land, let our public office seekers tell our people the type of economic, cultural and social policies they will put in place to protect our environment and make life meaningfully livable and loveable for all creation for the long term in Nigeria. Dr. Ekpenyong is Pastor, St. Paul’s Parish, West Itam Uyo

THE BATTLE OF THE UBAHS

Chinedu Ofomata argues that Chris Ubah has good chances in the Anambra South senatorial election

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n less than two months from now the choice of a senator for Anambra South will be put to test. It is going to be a tough choice between the middling-performing incumbent Senator Andy Ubah and three others. His choice will be weighed against Chris Ubah, Nicholas Ukachukwu and Ifeanyi Ubah. All three have political force that can match and possibly surpass whatever power of incumbency Andy may hope to rely upon. The personalities of all the candidates, including what they have done for the people, will be in focus. Very little attention will be paid to false promises, fake charity and braggadocio. Accessibility of the candidates will be a very important factor just as their ability to perform when elected. The idea of shutting out the electorate until election time, if it worked in the past, will most likely not work this time. The level of political awareness of the electorate, especially of Anambra South is so sharp that it will take great effort to blunt. None of the candidates is unknown to the electorate in the zone. Their strength as well as weakness is also common knowledge. Certain considerations will guide the choice of who will emerge victorious this time around. How hard the zone had struggled with poor representation will be considered. How bereft it is of constituency project even when it is blessed with a senator who chairs one strategic committee after another. How the Uga- Ekwulobia road has endured years of neglect. How barren of federal presence

Nnewi and Ihialla zones have remained with most of the manufacturing industries in Nnewi going extinct because of lack of federal attention. How difficult it is to point with justice any project attracted to the zone since the eight years of the incumbent and others before him. Anambra South electorate is too exposed to know not to humour the wishes of one of the candidates whose arrogance and uncouth manners often lead to incessant brawls - his claims to evangelism notwithstanding. The electorate knows not to experiment with a candidate who prefers sponsoring minions to overseas jamboree to paying his workers’ salaries. He knows to keep a distance from such candidate and also not to indulge a candidate whose erratic behaviour has become a source of worry to many. What he wants is that politician who is always with him and whose accessibility there is no reproach. He is looking at electing that thoughtful candidate who has committed time and resources in making other politicians, empowered widows, and improved on the lives of the people of the zone. The electorate in the zone is searching for that candidate whose understanding of his needs even if he does not solve all, has given him hope to live. He wants to elect a candidate who commands general acceptance and who, if he defaults, will be humble to offer apology. The electorate wants to elect a candidate who has built followership all over the distinct areas of old Aguata, Ihiala, and Nnewi (which make up

the South Senatorial Zone) without discrimination and whose understanding of the needs of the people is deep. It is not difficult to know the candidate who fits this choice. The choice does not have to task popular opinion to be exposed. Chris Ubah, popularly known as Eselu, is perhaps the only candidate whose commitment to the good of the people of Anambra South Senatorial is without compare. This should not be confused with the betrayal he suffered in early 2000 that almost cast him in negative light. No doubt, public opinion was unjustly swayed against his person. The truth was that the media was stirred vehemently against his case without so much as to getting his side of the story. But today in hindsight, his reaction to the betrayal of that period might be severe, but not altogether without justification. This is a story for another day. Beyond this, Chris as the choice of a senator to represent the good people of Anambra South Senatorial Zone is not difficult to make because of what he stands for. His decision to join in the race in the first place, defying his immediate elder brother was all for the good of the zone. Very few people will contest the fact of his harsh judgement of the low performance of the incumbent senator. More will be surprised that rather than prop up a successor he is taking up the gauntlet. No doubt, Chris believes it is time to use his massive contacts to change the face of his Anambra South Senatorial Zone. It is

a fact that those he has supported to public office(s), including the senator have failed to live up to expectation. It is a hard decision to put himself forward for election having been comfortable making public officers himself. But with consistent dearth of dividends of democracy, the decision became inevitable. It may not be common knowledge but only Chris, from the array of contestants, has the necessary reach and contact to swing projects to his people. He may not have the finesse of a Senator Saraki, but certainly has enough interest of his people at heart to dare the lion and unchain their share of the dividends of democracy. There is very little doubt that Chris is a composite politician with years of political tutelage. He understands the game and knows better how to mingle with senators from across the divide, most of whom are his friends, to break the “stronghold� and retrieve the “lost� benefits. Besides, he has strong link with politicians of both the North and South and has on more than one occasion been called upon to deliver them in time of election need. Closer home, he has strong following in the distinct areas the make up the Anambra South Senatorial Zone. Most if not all the strong politicians in these zones have benefitted from his political influence and will be most willing to avail him of their services. It is not any different from the electorate most of whom have enjoyed one form of his philantropy or the other. Ofomata wrote from Awka

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͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

At last ...

The Trial of Justice Onnoghen

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he present national debate on whether the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen should face trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) or National Judicial Council (NJC) has been over politicized. Let’s look at the facts as they relate to the matter to know the way forward. One, no Nigerian is above the law, whether President Buhari or Chief Justice of Nigeria Onnoghen. That is why there is code of conduct for public officers. Two, the fifth schedule, Part I, 11 (1) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2011 (as amended) directed every public officer to declare his/her assets. Three, the third schedule, Part 1 (A) section 3 (e) of our constitution empowers the Code of Conduct Bureau to receive complaints about non-compliance of code of conduct for public officers, investigate the complaint and where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and not National Judicial Council (NJC). Four, Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of the Federation accepted that he forgot to declare his assets which is a breach of the code of conduct for public officers. Fifth, the right thing for the CJN to do is to resign and apologise to the nation for breaching a section of the constitution that he had punished hundreds of Nigerians for. Sixth, CJN protagonists argue that the due process must be followed and that the complaint must first be filed with National Judicial Council not Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Seventh, our constitution empowers the Code of Conduct Bureau to refer non-compliance of the code of conduct for public officers to Code of Conduct Tribunal not NJC. Eight, the constitutional power as it relate to disciplinary matters of NJC is the same with that of Federal Civil Service Commission, Federal Judicial Service Commission and Police service commission. Nine, the Third schedule, Part I (1), section 21 (G) of our constitution deals with disciplinary measures of NJC; appoints, dismisses and exercises disciplinary control over member and staff of the council� And ten, these disciplinary measures were replicated in the following commissions’ schedule: Federal Judicial Service Commission; Third schedule, Part 1 (E), 13, B(c); Federal Civil Service Commission; Third Schedule, Part 1 (D), 11 (I b); Police Service Commission; Third Schedule, Part I (M), 20 (b) If we are going to follow the interpretation of Court of Appeal judgment, that stated, that every judicial misconduct must first be tried by NJC,

ICPC: New Board, New Hope?

which the CJN protagonists are misinterpreting to mean that CJN must first be tried by NJC before CCT trial, the implication is that every civil servant or Police that breaches code or conduct must first be tried by their commission before CCT. The NJC was established to regulate judicial officers, just like the Federal Civil Service Commission is to regulate civil servant. Any breach of code of conduct falls within the schedule of Code of Conduct Bureau. How can the nation obtain justice if NJC tries the Chief justice of Nigeria, considering that the Constitution empowers the CJN to appoint 14 out of 17 members of NJC? Where is the justice? Based on the above facts, the right thing for Justice Walter Onnoghen to do is to resign and apologise to the nation, but if his protagonists insist that CJN must be tried by NJC, that is impunity. Nigerians will be ready to face the consequences. Recall that President Jonathan taught us that if you can hire, you can fire. This was used against Justice Salami, former President of Court of Appeal and Lamido Sanusi, former Governor of Central Bank. Chief Rom Okekearu

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or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) 2018 marred its assigned role as a corrective government agency but, as God would have it, the year also gave the commission the necessary disinfectant to cleanse it and restore public trust in its capacity to function effectively as an anti-corruption institution. The embarrassing exposure of ICPC’s descent to the orbit of rabble-rousers and allied mischief makers as reflected in its ill-informed press release supposedly on uncovering an alleged fraudulent payment of N2.5 billion by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to Pinnacle Communications Limited in the implementation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project, was the lowest ebb in public estimation of this otherwise highly-rated government body. But the breaking news soon after that the Senate had finally confirmed the appointment of Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye as Chairman of the ICPC, along with eight other members, after almost a year of pussy-footing, was a timely saving grace for the commission which had been forced into muted isolation in the aftermath of the self-indicting press release. That it has been unable to respond to the torrent of criticism its press release unleashed remains a sad

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

admission of guilt. Indeed it will be well-nigh impossible for anyone in the commission directly or indirectly involved in the decision to issue such a peculiar press release that was inexplicably riddled with irregularities but gleefully heralded as the subject of meticulous investigation typical of ICPC, to summon the words to respond reasonably without losing face. Loud silence is unbecoming of an advocate of anticorruption crusade! Notwithstanding, the role assigned to ICPC is too important to be abandoned to the pitfalls of administrative compromise and gross indiscipline. It is however vital to confront the demons haunting the commission considering the extent to which they have seized its commanding heights and mounted their altar to serve those it should be sanctioning. The ICPC press release in question was so obviously dictated by uninformed vested interests displeased with the epoch-making implementation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) from analogue television broadcasting in Nigeria by both NBC and Pinnacle Communications Limited for pecuniary motives and sheepishly dished out by their well-positioned ICPC collaborators, replete with unpardonable misrepresentations and numerous other deplorable displays of stark ignorance and illiteracy that cannot and should not have been attributed to findings of ICPC investigations. The new Owasanoye –led ICPC Board clearly has its work cut out for it and they should regard the timeliness of their appointment as a divine calling to undertake an important national assignment. The Buhari administration has rightly adopted the renewed fight against corruption especially in government as a cardinal objective and it must be alarmed about the apparent hijack of ICPC, a major weapon in its arsenal, by unpatriotic elements targeting the DSO, one of its flagship accomplishments. An independent internal inquiry specifically identifying personnel and processes that were compromised as well as the sources of the planted press release which brought shame and ridicule to the ICPC’s reputation as the pace-setting investigative arm of the government’s antic-corruption drive are top priority pre-requisites for the corrective measures that the new ICPC board should undertake urgently and transparently in their own interest as well as the patriotic duty of salvaging the image of the ICPC. Mudashiru Lukman, Ibadan

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Î

NEWS

Itse Sagay: Onnoghen’s Trial Constitutional, in Order Taking his case to the NJC is a clear violation of the Constitution BennettOghifo

Constitutional lawyer Prof. Itse Sagay yesterday threw his weight behind the decision of the Code of Conduct Bureau to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Walter Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, saying it is constitutional. Prof. Sagay, in a statement yesterday said that the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act covers all public officers including, the President, Vice-President and the Chief Justice of Nigeria who are among the top public officers expressly listed as being subject to the Act. He emphasised that the provisions of the Act includes that All public officers must declare their full assets: “(a) On taking public office; (b) Every four years thereafter; (c)And at the end of their Term of Office; (d)This must be done within 30 days of receiving the form from the Bureau. False Declaration of Assets, involving omission to declare or declaring what does not exist, constitute a breach of the Act. Also, where a public officer accumulates assets beyond his remuneration, there is a presumption that a breach of the Act has occurred.�

Furthermore, Prof. Sagay, faulted and dismissed the argument that the CJN should have been taken before the NationalJudicialCouncil(NJC).According tohim,“someSeniorAdvocatesofNigeria have argued that even in a case involving the breach of the Code of Conduct, for which the law has already made express provisions, the matter shall be taken to the National Judicial Council rather than to the Code of Conduct Tribunal. They can’t be serious. They must obviously be speaking tongue in cheek. Even a baby, three months old, must realise that no one can get justice against the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the NJC. The CJN is not only the Chairman of the NJC, he also appointed of 20 out of the NJC’s 23 members. The CJN is the NJC. Only a grossly ignorant man or an extremely dishonest one could seriously suggest that a matter involving the CJN should be brought before the NJC for adjudication. “Therefore, the whole idea of taking the present case to the NJC is a nonstarter. For that would make the CJN the Chief Judge of his own case; a clear violation, not only of the Constitution, but also of a long standing common law principle coming all the way from Magna Carter in the year 1215. “It should also be noted that in

addition to the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, the Constitution itself expressly provides for the establishment of the

Code of Conduct Tribunal. (See 5th Schedule of the Constitution, Part One Paragraph 15.) Infact, the Constitution itself makes the Code of Conduct

and Tribunal Act, part of itself by including it as a schedule. Therefore, in dealing with the scope and powers of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,

we are dealing with a matter that is provided for in the Constitution, not a mere Act of the National Assembly.

YOU’RE WELCOME... L-R: Oba of Benin, H.R.M. Oba Omo N’Oba Ewuare II, welcoming President Muhammudu Buhari to his Palace, during the APC presidential campaign rally in Benin City, Edo State...recently

Court Admits Melaye to Bail on Compassionate Grounds

Abiodun Promises Review of Sacked Ogun NLC Chairman, Others, if Elected

Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Femi Ogbonnikan Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?ÙÕĂ&#x;ÞË

An Abuja High Court on Friday admitted Senator Dino Malaye to bail on health grounds. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, granted the bail while ruling on a fundamental rights suit filed before the court by the complainant. Senator Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly has been in police custody since January 4, 2019, when he surrendered himself to the Police, who had laid siege at his Maitama, Abuja residence. The judge in the ruling on the application for bail filed by Melaye’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), held that though there was no formal charge before the court, he would still grant bail on health ground. However, the Court ordered the complainant to provide three sureties, two of which must show

evidence of landed properties in Abuja, as part of the conditions of the bail. The Court also held that the third surety must be a clerk of the National Assembly who must do a letter to the court that the applicant must be produced in court when he is required. Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned till January 23, to rule on the substantive matter. In arguing the bail application, Chief Ozekhome submitted that ill health was a condition to reckon with in consideration for bail. According to Melaye’s lawyer, it is only the living that can stand trial. Ozekhome noted that in an investigation procedure it was unlawful to arrest a suspect unless there are enough evidence to caution him. While submitted that Melaye is a victim of Political Vendetta, Ozekhome said his client who is a senatorial candidate in the

forthcoming general is being held in custody, purposely to prevent him from taking part in the election. Prosecuting counsel, Simon Lough, in opposing the bail application said Melaye’s arrest was lawful because it was in pursuant to a petition written against him. He said that the petition alleged that Melaye was in possession of firearms and he attempted to commit an assassination. On the issue of Melaye’s health condition, Lough argued that there was no evidence given by the applicant to show that the medical facility where he was taken cannot take care of his illness. Melaye, had locked up himself for eight days inhishouseinMaitama, Abuja, to prevent his arrest by a team of policeoperativeswhobesiegedhisresidence to arrest him over alleged attempted culpable homicide.

Supreme Court Reinstates Suspended Kogi Lawmaker Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, yesterday, ordered the immediate payment of all salaries, and allowance of the member representing Igalamela Odolu State Constituency, Hon. Friday Sanni Makama. The Kogi State Assembly had on Tuesday 28th March, 2017 suspended the lawmaker on matters relating to anti-legislative activities. This followed a matter of public importance in the House raised by Hassan Abdullahi Bello of Ajaokuta Constituency, who accused Makama of bringing the image of the House to public disrepute. The lawmaker had dragged the Assembly to court for allegedly defying the House rules on election of Minority Leader and his

subsequent suspension. The apex court in its ruling yesterday ordered his reinstatement back into the House and also awarded one million naira each to all the parties involved in the matter. It could be recalled that, a similar judgement was given in favour of the Kogi lawmaker as a Kogi High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 29th 2017 set aside the suspension of Friday Sani Makama by the state House of Assembly. Justice Henry Olusuyi in his judgment delivered in Lokoja, described the suspension of the lawmaker as an act of legislative insolence which would not be allowed by any competent court of jurisdiction. The court maintained that the March 28 suspension of the lawmaker following which he

approached the court to seek redress was “invalid, illegal and unconstitutional�. Olusuyi held that the claimant had the right to sue the first defendant (Kogi House of Assembly) if he felt the legislature unjustly suspended him. He noted that a member could however be suspended when found wanting under the provisions of the House Rules 37 to 39, which according to him, is not related to the case in view. The judge therefore ordered that the rights and privileges as well as entitlements of the claimant as a member of the House be given to him. Olusuyi however held that the House or the party had the preserve to appoint principal officers of the Assembly, especially that of the minority leader.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has promised to review the cases of the sacked state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Akeem Ambali, along with 15 members and the suspension of 19 Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) officials by the state government two years ago. While addressing labour unionists under the leadership of the NLC at the state secretariat of the union, Abeokuta, the state capital, on friday, Abiodun stated that his administration will not take the issue of labour lightly but will form a prominent parts of his mission - statement. “It is uplifting that our meeting today, we will not disappoint you. I want to emphasise that our party is a progressive one and it is not a progressive family that will be anti-labour�, said Abiodun. He, however, highlighted the

pillars of his administration’s mission which he said an individual or even a political party alone can achieve. The APC governorship candidate noted that, it requires effective engagement and collective commitment of all stakeholders, including the public service, to achieve hence the central theme of our Manifesto and Programme of Action is Working Together for Our Future. “Let me highlight here extracts from our manifesto that are specific to our commitment to improving the welfare of Ogun State workers and they are establishment of Ministry of Labour and Productivity to effectively engage workers and improve workers productivity and welfare; appointment of teachers to apex positions to put them at par with their public servants’ counterparts; restructuring of the contributory pension scheme and inauguration of State and Local Government Pension Boards; empower and strengthen the

Local Governments so they can carry out their statutory mandate and responsibilities effectively as constitutionally guaranteed; review and restore the roles and responsibilities of Public Service as implementation engine of government policies and programmes; and implement continuous capacity building programme and provision of conducive work environment and tools. Others are to introduce performance-based incentives in public service; prioritise prompt payment of salaries, remittance of global deductions and gratuities for retirees; and develop affordable Labour Estates for workers in different parts of the state. Besides, Abiodun said he is not unaware of the growing cynicism and disbelief about promises made by political officer seekers, especially in the course of the campaign. “This mistrust is not unexpected given the experiences of Ogun State workers and the electorate in general over the years.

FG Releases N12bn for Completion of Zobe Dam in Katsina Francis Sardauna Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹

The federal government has released N12 billion for onward implementation of Zobe Dam in Katsina State as part of its efforts to boost water supply across the country. The water project, which is being handled by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, was awarded in 2016 by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and is expected to be completed in April, 2019. Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who gave the figure when he paid homage to the

District Head of Kurfi, Ahmadu Kurfi at his palace in Kurfi, last Thursday said six local governments and neighbouring communities residing along the pipe lines would benefit from the scheme if completed. According to Masari, “The water project when completed will supply water to six local governments of Dutsinma; Kurfi; Batagarawa; Kankia; Katsina and Charanchi. Government is committed at assuaging the plight of residents across the state.� The governor who was at the palace of the monarch to seek royal blessing ahead of

his re-relection campaigns, however assured him of the APC determination to cater for the welfare of the electorate in all ramifications. Meanwhile, at the venue of the campaign rally in Kurfi and Dutsinma local governments, the governor called on eligible voters to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates. He said: “You will not regret if you re-elect President Muhammad Buhari and other APC candidates in February and March general elections.�

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

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5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

Plus

Olubunmi Oluwafisayo I’m a Lover Boy Who Enjoys Writing Lovely Poems to My Wife

GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FASHION FILE SHOWBIZFLAIR

Charles Ogada

pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 42 pg. 45

Human Value is the Beauty of Human Life… When You Lack Human Value, You are No Longer a Human Being

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 19, 2019

PLUS

Father Ogada with one of his partners from India

Human Value is the Beauty of Human Life… When You Lack Human Value, You are No Longer a Human Being Reverend Father Charles Ogada caters for the poor, providing them water, education, healthcare and spiritual needs, through his Spiritan Self-awareness Initiative. This trained Catholic priest said his upbringing by parents who promoted universal good for people and his training as a seminarian, added to his encounter with an Indian sage, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, took him back to the basics of serving humanity starting from children. He tells Charles Ajunwa and Ahamefula Ogbu that he aims to change the selfish approach to living by the average human being, by tackling it from the roots. Excerpts

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hat motivated you into catering for the rural poor? I’m a Roman Catholic Priest of the Holy Ghost Order. I was trained as a Catholic Priest but something happened. I was searching and then I went to India in my search in 2001 and I met a man, they call him a Guru Master but I call him a friend and what he was doing was mind-boggling. I saw practical Christianity; I saw ‘I was hungry and you gave me food’, as thousands of hungry people are fed every day. I saw ‘I was sick and you cared for me.’ In fact, let me not exaggerate, millions of people come to his super specialty hospitals and they are treated with so much love completely free of all costs. So, thousands of students are trained and given integral value-based education and it’s of no cost. I was thirsty and you gave me water, more than 800 draught-stricken villages he sends water. I saw Christ in action. Just to confirm my own experience. When I was 17 years old, I didn’t want to be a priest, I was studying to be a medical doctor. But something happened and I had an encounter

with Christ, and He asked me a basic question: ‘what would you want to do with life?’ And the answer was in the question because there was nothing else to do with life but to love and to serve you. It’s important to understand what this means because when you said when I was hungry and you gave me food, the ‘you’ really means everyone. That was actually what made me change my mind to find an environment where I can truly, without attachments to family, to children or to business, give all my energy, my life, my time towards loving God and serving Him and His people. Now, when I went into seminary, I almost gave up hope because what I was seeing wasn’t my experience until I met this master called Sri Sathya Sai Baba. When I came back and I started, I was sent to a remote village where poverty was synonymous with living. There was actually no water in that village, they live on harvesting rainwater during rainy season and they harvest this rainwater and store it in earthenware or store it in gallons. There are some rich people there also but they are close to themselves. So, we started with what we called Liquid Love Water Project and I started with nothing. So somehow we got connected

with UK Department for International Development. But it has a story. One day, I met a little boy he was about eight years in the hot scorching afternoon, it was dry season and he was licking unripe orange. You know, if you have ever tasted unripe orange it tastes like vinegar. I was almost like curious and I asked him why are you doing that? What he said brought tears to my eyes, he said, ‘I am thirsty’. This boy must have come back from school and ran straight to his mother’s kitchen looking for a drop of water and he couldn’t find one. The only thing he could find was vinegar. That really reminded me of Christ when he was hung on the cross and he was thirsty and he said, ‘I am thirsty’ and was given vinegar to drink. I went to Australia that same year, and in a family gathering, they asked me to tell them my experiences in Nigeria and I was telling them about this little boy. After a week I came back, they wrote to me that they want to give that village water. But they were thinking of hand pump, so after a geological survey, it was discovered that the depth of water is 480 feet down. So, they couldn’t do it, but that’s a story. With the UK Department for International Development,

we were able to take water to seven villages and that day what happened when water started gushing out in the pumps could only be experienced. The joy in the women in Ebe Village in Enugu State because the women bear the brunt of it, they travel 14 kilometres to fetch water. That was the starting point. So what has happened since then? At present, we have done four water projects in Gwagwalada. That Liquid Love Water project is multiplying; not just limited to Ebe but it’s expanding to communities that lack water. In fact, the ones in Gwagwalada are even more serious than the ones in Ebe because they drink mud water and it causes the disease to their children. The water project was the first thing we did. The people use to tell me ‘if Jesus came to our village and turns water into wine it will not be a miracle; the miracle will be to turn wine into water.’ Now, there are no schools in the villages. The rich take their children to good schools and good schools are not found in the villages. When I was there, I volunteered myself in teaching in the community primary school and it’s really disheartening to see humanity being wasted.

͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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PLUS

Father Ogada with one of the kids in the orphanage

I Learnt Service to Humanity from My Father

Was that what inspired your founding a school in the community? There, I realised that every child is good only that humanity makes them to be bad because they don’t give the opportunity to manifest their inherent goodness. In a school of about 200 people or thereabout, you have maybe four teachers and there are no books. That was what inspired me to start a school called Embodiment of Love Academy and we started with 14 kids. We started with an orphanage home because there are many of them that don’t have homes. Even though you provide quality-value free education, they wouldn’t be able to access that education. We started with 14 kids, 12 from the orphanage home and two from the village in 2012. The school has grown so big that it’s almost a thousand students now from nursery school to primary to SS1 because we are growing with our students and it’s one of the best schools if you reckon the schools in Enugu you count our school. Last year was the first time they wrote their Junior WAEC and they made beautiful results. In fact, all of them made ‘A’s in Mathematics, there was no ‘B’ in Mathematics. This school I must tell you, it’s such a special school that if you tell a child not to come to school for a day, he will begin to weep. Kids love coming to school, they learn with love and with happiness. The school is special in the sense that it integrates the full training of all the aspects of the human personality. You discover that people go to school, they are academically bright but they are emotionally ignorant and they are emotionally dull. We have what we call value-based education whereby we train the emotive aspect of the child and we integrate values in everything that we teach in the school, so that when a child is growing, he is growing with values. You realise that what we are suffering in this country today is a problem of violence; children are not taught how to be compassionate from the kindergarten. In our school, you will discover a child cannot kill an ant. Some parents ask me, what are you doing to my child, why is it that my child cannot kill an ant? I say to him if your child can’t kill an ant, it means he cannot kill a human being; he has compassion for a living thing and if this living thing doesn’t do you anything, why would you kill him? These values are integrated into the learning process so that when a child is finishing 17 years of education, he is speaking values. He values truth more than life itself because he knows that life without truth is no life. Human value is the beauty of human life; so, when you lack human value, you are no longer a human being, and children must

grow with this. What the country lacks is values, it’s not intelligent people, people who are intelligent but they are not truthful, people who are intelligent but they are not compassionate, people who are intelligent but they are dividing the country. We have so much diversity in this country but everybody is claiming to his own aspect, there is no getting this diversity and the strength of it out and this is the core aspect of the school we started. That is what makes the magic when children begin to develop emotionally you see that their academic intelligence also grows in correlation, when a child has concentration, has love, the child will understand more, the child will pay more attention in the classroom and then character modification becomes very easy because you don’t need to tell your child do your homework. A child does his homework because the child has values, he has the intention and he has a purpose. We are trying to set up a model for the country so that when this model grows, then we will be able to multiply it to other schools because we invest in our teachers. Once you get a teacher who has values, you can’t tell a child smile. Immediately, you smile the child will smile. When you live the values, the children will automatically live the values. When you train a child, the child will build more hospitals, the child will give more water to people who are thirsty. Are there other aspects you are also looking into? After the school, we now went into the hospital. I have seen mothers die because they don’t have proper medicals. I have seen a mother and the child die at childbirth and it can be corrected. So, we started a hospital, this is the only hospital I know of in Nigeria whereby there are no cash counters. Everything, including the card, is totally free from admission to the pharmacy to consultation to treatment to discharge. But we are not just giving quality free medicals but with love because we train our doctors and our nurses to see Christ in every patient that comes into that hospital. So, the hospital is no longer a hospital, it becomes a temple of healing. What level of support is given to your NGO? You know when I came from India, I started with N20,000, I moulded the blocks for the orphanage house. I started with nothing. Apart from the water project that was sponsored by the UK Department for International Development and that family that gave $15,000, we did the water project but more problems came. I told you one thing that when the will is selfless- omnipotent, there is no selfishness in it, the universe supports it. Now, when we started the school with 12 kids – 10 kids from the orphanage and two kids from the village, my sister resigned from her work in Lagos and she became like a mother to the children. We started Nursery 1, Nursery 2, Nursery 3 and Grade 3 and then the school started to grow from donations from Australia. You remembered I told you I went to Australia. The next year, two couples from Australia came to visit me. I told them don’t come, the place is dangerous, they wrote back and said ‘if we die now we didn’t die early’. I told them there is no home for you and they wrote back and said ‘are you living on a tree? If we come we are going to live on a tree with you’. Then I knew that their faith was strong. I asked them to come. Their coming gave me a lot of

strength; when they went back, they started organising money, sending $500 or $1000 every month for me and my kids. Suddenly, I became a father and mother of 12 kids. Are you still a Catholic priest? That is what I am but it’s difficult because some priests also don’t understand this kind of priest that is open to every religion. Some of the things you espouse appear to y in the face of the oath you may have taken or the rules because the Catholic Church is well-regimented organisation. Are you having any problem? Serious problems, not just one, if you say the problem it will become an understatement. In fact, when we started this, I don’t really blame anybody. It’s just a question of one’s level of understanding. In fact, they told me to close everything. I said okay, I have no attachment, send somebody because nobody would even go there to live because the conditions are so severe. I don’t have a room, I sleep on the ground with the kids. But it’s the love that binds us together. What is the next project you are executing? First of all, we just finished what we call Gift of Limbs in partnership with Ash Claims Da Foundation and Enugu Ministry of Health whereby we gave close to 180 artificial legs to people who have been amputated. Now, we are going into Gift of Life. Gift of Life is even more important than Gift of Limb because if you don’t have a limb you can still live but if you don’t have a heart you can’t live. So what does it entail? It entails a lot of things. Number one, we are partnering with the Sanjeevini Hospital, the same hospital opened by this Master in India. This Sanjeevini Hospital has conducted more than 7,000 open heart surgeries for pediatric patients and these patients could have died. What amazes me is, you look at a child you don’t know whether the seed in that child is to be the governor of the state or the president because if the seed is not preserved they cannot grow into the tree. But you don’t know what the seed is going to be when it’s just like an ordinary seed you can’t see it. Now children are dying and the most painful thing is to look at your own death and you cannot do anything about it. The poverty exists not only in Nigeria but in the remote villages, so we are partnering with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in their Centre of Excellence for Heart Surgery and this is our maiden edition. The doctors from India are coming in January to do about 25 open heart surgeries. But that is a start; there are other Missions that come to UNTH also. Last time, they came from America and Italy but the difference we want to create in this one is to empower our surgeons so that they will be able to do the same operations their counterparts do elsewhere. What is the biggest problem you face? The biggest problem I face is to see a child in need of education and I cannot take him. Out of 10 that come to us we are only able to take one. During the entrance exam last September, I was staying in the office from 6a.m. to 12 midnight. You see parents lining up but because we have limited facilities, if a teacher handles more than 25 or 28 then he cannot perform and you have to have classrooms for

them to stay, you have to have books for them to read. There are so many other logistics you have to take into consideration before you take a child otherwise it goes into swallowing more than you can chew and then when you do that the quality is dropped. But it’s so painful to send children away and their parents are crying, some of them don’t have parents so that is my biggest challenge. How did your growing up inuence the work you are doing today? I had very good parents, my parents are late but they gave their lives for me and for us. We are nine in the family and I’m the first. My father was a teacher and he taught me selflessly and when I was in the seminary my father had cancer and I had to leave the seminary to take care of him. During his process of dying, he actually revealed to me what life really means, it’s a long story but on his deathbed he said to me ‘don’t leave the seminary’ because I was leaving the seminary he didn’t know, he said ‘don’t leave the seminary many will come to you’. He taught me to serve, in his deathbed he was more worried about his children (his students) who is taking care of them. We trekked like three kilometres to school when we were small going to primary school; my father was teaching in the primary school that we attended. After school, my sister and her friends were going home trekking and my father has a scooter, she saw her father and was very happy and she was about to climb the scooter my father said no, ’if I carry you what am I going to do to rest’. She said ‘but you are my father,’ he said ‘I’m also their father and he left.’ He refused to carry her. This tells you the selflessness in him. So, he gave me the background, the strength to do what I’m doing. My father had only two trousers because he was teaching Old Saint Maris Academy and he never comes back home with any money because it’s deducted from source. But he is also a farmer but my parents gave me that background of selflessness and I know that the joy of it is more than anything you can quantify in terms of monetary value. What do you see as the ďŹ nal point of this your effort? My dream is not school, my dream is not a hospital, my dream is not water, my dream is that children are transformed. There is no need of building a school when a child is not transformed when a child doesn’t have love, peace, and truth. These are divine values. When you say the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of God is the values; the love, the integrity, the righteousness. That you are living a righteous life is the kingdom of God and this is my dream. So we are trying to set a model whereby, it’s like science you see it work here, you see it happening then you will be able to say since it works here it can also work there and then we begin to multiply it and begin to expand it. Education in human beings is a science. I go to Kenya, Canada and other countries training people. That means you have plans to open other locations? If I don’t, it means I’m dead. We have actually acquired another 205 hectares of farmland in Ogurugu, a remote village near Kogi State and poverty there is terrible. Once we go there, we start with the three things that we are known for: Educare, bringing values into education, Medicare, bringing love and care into the health sector and Sociocare.

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PLUS

Olubunmi OluwaďŹ sayo I’m a Lover Boy who enjoys writing lovely Poems to My wife

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͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS Growing Up with a Disciplinarian Father Groomed Me to Be Focused and Purposeful in Life

Chairman, Olubunmi Mega Investments, Olubunmi OluwaďŹ sayo, wears many caps as a serial entrepreneur, writer, poet, publisher, philanthropist and clergyman. He left for the United States in 2000. Now, he says he is back to his homeland to add value. He speaks to Adedayo Adejobi on why a day in his life is incomplete without music, why he’s spending all his resources fearlessly to see that Igbole Ekiti becomes a model for other communities, the mathematician who stole his heart and more

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elcome to the beautiful world of Olubunmi Oluwafisayo, a native of Igbole Ekiti, Ekiti State, who talks about his parent with pride. Oluwafisayo recalls how growing up with his mother shaped his focus towards business and money making. She taught him the nitty-gritty of business albeit in an informal way but foolproof enough to have built the solid foundation he has been riding on since then. Growing up with a disciplinarian as a father groomed him to be focused and purposeful in life. Oluwafisayo grew up in a big family of seven children where he is the third. He enjoys a fertile relationship with his siblings and misses his daddy so much, but that’s life in its spatial shades of beauty. You can’t have it all. On a deep introspection, he smiled as he mentioned the name of Mr. Kabir - a primary influence on his young mind, who exposed him to the beauty of language and the art therein. His fascination with truth made him a strong devotee to the art of language, which thrust him into applying more of himself. Debating and prize-winning were all catalyst that propelled him on to greater strides. Encountering Akin Adeoya was like meeting his doppelganger knowledge wise. They took to each other like gasoline to fire. They explored the world of literature which prompted him to pursue language art education at the Obafemi Awolowo University. Oluwafisayo’s love for language art evolved into a career in Linguistics. His mother’s training cameOluwaďŹ sayo, his wife, and children to save the day after he had already graphics designer, fliers’ designer and lost an admission due to lack of funds. was into magazines too, and all these At the second entry, young Olubunmi were for the church. gave it his all with no financial help Now that he’s coming back to Nigeria, from any quarters except for his fiancĂŠe back after many years of exposure to life that gave him N1600 to facilitate his outside her shores, back after working in admission; he had to get his hands dirty a system that works, back after exploring to survive on campus. And to this, he other cultures et al, Oluwafisayo says applied himself with all dexterity, and he is coming to give back, especially in all his mother had thought him about the areas of agriculture, education and business and money making. He started philanthropy. making files and jotters which he sold ‘‘I already have a 17 acre of land in on the campus. my village dedicated solely to raising His big break came when the Dean people through agriculture. I’m employof Pharmacy whom he was acquainted ing this strategy to see and ascertain my with gave him a contract to supply offering is best suited to the needs of my his merchandise to his colleagues who immediate future environs.’’ had come for a convention at Obafemi With a piggery and a mini-cropping Awolowo University. The young enteron a large scale, it won’t be shocking if prising man bought a Volkswagon car he takes over being the main provider with the proceeds from that business. of corn to cereal producing companies Coming from a place of survival, just like Nestle. Beyond corn production on till the next day, to becoming a busia large scale, this visionary has a rice ness magnate on campus, Olubunmi mill and a huge building set in motion graduated, got married, and left for the to be used as a school in the nearest future. Developing human capital is United States in 2000. at the core of Olubunmi’s vision profit Getting to the United States, notwithstanding. Olubunmi continued in the ministry, The Christian that he’s is beyond the which started way back at Obafemi regular bible-clutching, fire-branding Awolowo University, at Redeemed prayer brother whose truth and values Christian Fellowship. Being a dynamic are ideals out of the founded truth laid person that he is, it was impossible to in the bible. ‘‘my Christianity is practibind him to a particular regime. Asides cal’’, he said. Drawing inference from from being a high-school teacher for Nehemiah’s story in the Bible, he said, ‘‘I about 9 years, he also doubled as a

am burdened with the need to help the poor beyond the superficiality of camera, light and action.’’ His charity, Olubunmi Oluwafisayomi Foundation (O.O.F) aka Nehemiah’s Movement, is the avenue through which Olubunmi reaches out to the needy and the poor. In it, he finds fulfillment and joy. If you call it finding purpose, you will be hitting the nail right on the head. On the journey to his purpose, he wrote a book called Quest for Purpose. Finding purpose is a fundamental part of our existence Olubunmi believes, ‘‘we must explore to find the depth of our true original self and realign with the vision of God for our lives and boom! Every man is greatness waiting to happen. Greatness goes beyond mere stashing of cash but the ability to use our resources, financial or otherwise to better humanity.’’ Beyond Nehemiah’s Movement, Olubunmi is a lover boy who enjoys writing lovely poems to his lovely wife. No wonder he joyfully accepted being a patron of the Association of Nigerian Authors. This lover boy met his heartthrob as a teenager. Together, they found friendship, companion and deep-seated love and mutual respect for each other. Through thick and thin, they stuck together and when the time was ripe, they travelled to the United States to continue

being man and wife. This woman that has stolen Olubunmi’s heart is one of a kind. She is mathematician, who doubles as a doctoral student in Nursing. There are so many endearing qualities about her that he couldn’t exhaust wholly in a single conversation. Recalling how giving their lives to Christ cemented their relationships, a trailing opened up his face as the light in his eyes shone. This woman has made Olubunmi one happy and satisfied man by whatever standard upheld by whatever society. He’s keen on uplifting the lives of people from his village and surrounding communities in his state. Oluwafisayo wants it all for his people - total emancipation in all ramifications of life. To this call, he gravitates, spending all his resources fearlessly to see that Igbole Ekiti becomes a model for other communities. A day in Oluwafisayo’s life is not complete without music. He reminisced on how he loved to dance and what our music was about before he travelled, and how after many years he finds the lost rhythm in the sounds coming from this side of the divide. Being a bornagain deprived the joy of his type of dance but lately, his love for Jazz music wafting through his space at night aids his relaxation in many ways than one.

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Fashion File

Dr Churchill Olakunle dazzles in Ondo Traditional Attires

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Î

FASHION FILE

Dr Churchill Olakunle dazzles in Ondo Traditional Attires

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et’s explore the various beautifully knitted traditional attires worn by the Ondo people in the Western part of Nigeria during different occasions. Majorly, they have the Alaari, Sanyan and Etu traditional wears. For events such as weddings, the Alaari is worn to mark such a memorable day. The Etu Aso-oke is usually worn during burials as the children or grandchildren of the deceased pair it up with a traditional neck piece called the “Igbaku�. Finally, the Sanyan usually comes in white and tan colours which is also worn during burials depending on traditional demands and custom of the people involved. The Aso-oke is locally made so as to achieve the Alaari colours (purple, blue and turquoise) effect using various threads. The Ondo Aso-oke is kept neat and ironed by hitting it with a wooden hammer. We’ve got Dr. Churchill Olakunle as the muse for these Ondo traditional attires.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

EVENTS

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ajor Gen J. O. IreďŹ n held a Thanksgiving service at All Saints Military Church Mogadisu Cantonment, Asokoro. Here are some of the personalities at the event. Photographs by Julius Atoi

Maj Gen J O IreďŹ n and family

David Aiyedogbon and wife, Ann

Maj Gen Femi Adeoye (rtd) and wife Lara

L-R: Richard Akonmode, wife Olayemi and daughter Temiloluwa

L-R: Rt Rev Steven Akobe, Alh TaoďŹ k Isa, Olujumu of Ijumu Kingdom, Oba Olusegun Ayeni and Rt Rev. Marcus Ibrahim

L-R: Elder Olaolu Eniolorunda; Mr. Bakare Olusegun and Hon Zacheaus Atte

Major Gen J O Irefin and his mother

Mr. Richard Olonishuwa and wife, Yemisi

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T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

EVENTS

L-R: Yomi Arowosafe and Eniola Bello

Mr Oladele Oyelola (right) and Dare Ihimod

L-R: Maj Gen C M Abraham and wife Rhoda

R-L: Olaniran Afolabi; Olayemi IreďŹ n and Mr Idris Alimi

Maj. Gen F O Agugo (right) and Maj. Gen K O Ogundele

Maj. Gen Solomon Udounwa and wife, Arit

Johnson Adah (right) and J S David

Lewis Asubiojo (L) and Bodunde Dare

L-R: Pastor David Ajulor; Motoni Olufemi and Paul Ibidemi

L-R: Hon Toluyemi Johnson and Chief S I Bello

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Director, africapractice; Abdulhameed Abubakar; Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, (Lagos State Chapter), Olusegun McMedal; Consultant, africapractice, Moyo Aderemi ; and Director (West Africa), africapractice, Tim Newbold, at the 3rd Lagos PR Industry & Gala Awards (LaPRIGA) where africapractice was awarded ‘Best PR Agency to Work’ in Lagos ... recently

Group Managing Director, SO&U Group, Udeme Ufot; Executive Director, Brand Management, Biodun Adefila, and Senior Group Head, Human Interest and Admin, Kemi Evbota, at the SO&U Group End of Year party in Lagos ... recently

Indomie Dazzles Customers with All-expense Paid Travel True to its promise at the launch of the ‘Draw Your Holiday Promo’, Indomie Noodles has sponsored the four winners who emerged winners in the promo to the country of choice. The winners were: Aliyat Disu, aged 10; Chinemeren Eze, 12; Michael Prosper Oluwaseun, 12 and Jimba Solomon Chisom who is 13 years of age. In addition to winning an all-expense paid trip to the country of choice, winners were also pampered with varieties of gift items to complement the travel sponsorship. The ‘Draw Your Dream Holiday’, a kind of consumers engagement activity, is directed at children to relate their travel experiences during school holidays, using illustrations. The campaign was communicated through television, radio and

even through wrappers of Indomitables pack. The promo, which ran for three months, starting in September, also enabled the mother or father of winners to travel along with them. Group Public Relations and Events Manager of Dudil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Temitope Ashiwaju, reiterated that the promo was a way of rewarding children for their unwavering loyalty to the Indomie brand. “We are happy with the level of participation we received from children while the promo lasted. Such participation is a clear pointer that children really value the brand. We know that holidays create beautiful and memorable experiences for all of us, including children, and so a few months ago we came up with the

idea to reward children with a fantastic travel experience. “The Indomie brand is known for fun and excitement and we needed to bring that to bear in any promo that is tied to travel experience. We could not think of a better fun-filled exercise to engage these children than to allow them to do one of the things they love doing best, that is drawing. We all know children love to draw, so the ‘Draw Your Dream Holiday’ promo decided to reward children for doing what they love to do best. “All they needed to do was to draw their last holiday experience, take a picture of it and send it to a dedicated WhatsApp number. We are delighted to reward these children along with their parents on a trip to anywhere in the world they choose to travel to,” he said.

Azura Power Appoints New MD, Others Power company, Azura Power West Africa Ltd, has appointed Edu Okeke its new Managing Director. A statement by the company also explained that Mr. Fela Somoye and Victor Agboh were also promoted to the Senior Manager level to head the company’s Legal and Compliance as well as Commercial Operations units respectively. Okeke succeeds the immediate outgone Managing Director, Dr. David Ladipo, who has taken up a greater challenge, after successful eight years in his former office. Prior to his employment in Azura, Okeke had a stint in Guiness Nigeria Plc as a management trainee from

where he moved to Schlumberger Oilfield Services as a Junior Field Engineer and later, Senior Field Services Manager of the firm in Vietnam and Pakistan. His expertise has also been proven in Lafarge Plc and General Electric West Africa before he joined Azura in 2014 as its Chief Operating Officer, thereafter rose to become the Deputy Managing Director and now the Managing Director of the company. Commenting on Okeke’s appointment, his predecessor, Ladipo expressed optimism on his ability to take the company to an enviable height. He said, “Okeke has already made a huge contribution to the Azura family.

Dell Unveils New Products at CES Technology company,Dell ,has interrupted the technology space with its latest inventions that were unveiled recently at the Consumer Electronics Show,CES,2019 CES is the world’s gathering place for all information communication technology,ICT inventors and entrepreneurs. The platform has served as a proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for up to 50 years. The company’s new additions included: Latitude 7400 2-in-1,XPS 13 and Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 device,with offerings that promise to deliver seamless and intuitive experience. A statement by the firm stated that Latitude 7400 is world’s first PC to use a proximity sensor enabled by Intel Context Sensing Technology1, while the 2-in-1 features ExpressSign-in,to detects user presence, wakes the system, and scans for facial recognition to log in with Windows Hello.

The statement also informed that the company has perfected its awardwinning 13” thin and light XPS 13 with a new top-mounted innovative webcam for a better video experience and a new Frost colour option. “The XPS 13 is sought-after by professionals and consumers alike. At just 2.25-mm, Dell’s smallest HD webcam ever enables the XPS to maintain its trend-defining InfinityEdge display while moving the camera to the top of the display for a better video experience. The XPS 13 also is the first notebook in Dell’s portfolio to support Dolby Vision . “The new Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 devices also features ‘Adaptive Thermal’ technology that enables system to adjust its performance profile based on how a customer is holding it. The device changes power profiles to generate less heat when watching movies on a lap and ramps up to full power for productivity on a desk.”

In his roles as COO and DMD, he has brought an infectious energy to every task he’s been given. He has also brought a wealth of international experience; a commitment to exceptionally high-quality standards; well-honed leadership skills; and a seemingly effortless ability to bond with people from all walks of life. “From drivers to directors, from CEOs to cleaners, Mr. Okeke is always able to connect at a very natural and human level. This combination of humility and charisma, proficiency and passion, perspiration and inspiration, will stand him in good stead as he takes over the leadership of Azura.”

Frooty Happy Hour Chivita 100ml Packs Excite Consumers Following the success of Happy Hour by Chivita fruit drink, Nigeria’s fastest growing juice brand, Chi Limited, has launched a sub brand called Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita, produced to deliver natural fruity refreshment at an affordable price point. Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita is a healthy, refreshing, fruit flavoured drink with exciting variants that offers an instant shot of affordable refreshment options for consumers. Retailing at N25, Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita delivers incremental volumes with a 100ml pack size, making it the most affordable quality juice product in the market. It is a healthy beverage alternative to carbonated drinks as it offers more in natural fruity benefits as well as provides high quality refreshment for your body and mind. Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita also increases its appeal and creates a connection with three exciting variants of Orange, Pineapple and Red Berries. Its affordable 100ml handy pack size offers shots of refreshment which resonates with an upwardly mobile youthful consumer segment desirous of rejuvenating satisfaction anytime and anywhere. The brand’s tagline of “a shot of refreshment” highlights a consistent and memorable brand message, that communicates its promise of unrivalled refreshment. At its core is a promise to deliver a shot of affordable fruity refreshing goodness with each consumer experience. As we strive for a healthier lifestyle, fun and exciting activities will become an essential option. So whether with friends on an evening of fun or hanging out at a picnic, Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita comes in handy because it is about fun, excitement and smart choices. Speaking about the new product, Managing Director of Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy, said that Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita was introduced to invigorate and tap into a market demand for more affordable options of great tasting, refreshing and healthy fruit drinks.

Promasidor Declares Open 2019 Cowbellpedia Contest Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk and organisers of the annual Cowbell Mathematics competition has set the stage for the 2019 edition of the competition. In an interaction with journalists, the company disclosed the ultimate prize for this year’s contest to be N2 million, with an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country. The first and second runners-up would also be rewarded with N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, while the teacher of the top prize winner will be awarded N500,000 and those of the first and second runners-up will get N400,000 and N300,000 respectively. Managing Director of the company, Mr. Anders Einarsson, also informed that the competition would be divided into two phases which include: qualifying written examination and Television quiz show. He, however, urged authority in mixed secondary schools to encourage female students to participate

in the competition by making a nomination of at least two girls. He said, “research has shown that a positive relationship exists between girl-child education and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a nation. We are seeking more female participation as our way of encouraging girl-child in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM courses. Speaking further, Marketing Manager of the company Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji explained that for this year, registration is strictly online at www. cowbellpedia.ng, while the portal for registration has been opened since Monday, October 1, 2018, to be closed on Sunday, February 3, 2019. “The qualifying examination would take place nationwide on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at designated centres,” he said. He added that each representing school is required to present its best 10 students in Mathematics (five from JSS3 and five from SSS2), irrespective of sex, religion, tribe or state of origin.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL GLOBAL SOCCER SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Elderson Echiejile Will China Rescue His Career?

19.01.2019

NEWS

London Derby PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Î

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Elderson Echiejile

Will China Rescue His Career? After loan spells at Standard Liege, Sporting Gijon, Braga, Sivasspor and Cercle Brugge, Nigerian international Elderson Echejile mutually agreed to part ways with AS Monaco to end an association that lasted for four and a half years. The Super Eagles left-back may now turn his direction to the Chinese Super League, which recently has been the haven for Nigerian players that are surplus in mainstream clubs in Europe

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he fullback had found first-team opportunities hard to come by in his last two seasons at the club and had to be severally farmed out on loan. With the holidays over Elderson Echiejile has returned to the training ground at an undisclosed facility in order to keep up his fitness. The former As Monaco defender has been training alongside some footballer friends which include Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo and Osas Okoro. After spending the second half of last season on loan at Brugge, he ended his contract with Monaco by mutual consent and he is set to join a new club before the end of the January transfer window according to a source close to the former Braga man. An online publication gathered that there are proposed deals for Elderson in Asia, particularly from the Chinese Super League and while his representatives are working on it, he is back in the gym to keep fit. Echiejile had returned to French club, AS Monaco after a successful six-month loan spell at Dutch side, Cercle Brugge. Elderson had said he was training at the club to keep fit as he decides on where he will lace his boots before new winter transfer season closes.

“I am currently with the lads, who were at the World Cup and some of those who are a bit injured here in Monaco and we have started training,� Echiejile had said. Echiejile was loaned to Belgian First Division B side, Cercle Brugge from Monaco during last season’s winter transfer after spending the first half of the 2017-18 season on loan at Turkish Super Lig side, Sivasspor and made 10 appearances in all competitions. The club announced the arrival of the defender to Jan Breydel Stadium on transfer deadline day. “Elderson Echiejile is acquired on loan by Cercle Brugge until the end of the season,� read a statement on the club website. “The Nigerian defender was in the first half of the season at the Turkish Sivasspor, but from now on it will be admired in the Jan Breydel Stadium. “The 30-year-old Echiejile has a lot of experience and is undoubtedly an asset to the defense of the Association. Welcome, Elderson!� Echiejile was once rumoured to be on the radar of top clubs from the Turkish Super Lig and the Belgian Jupiler league where he spent six-month last season playing for Cercle Brugge and helping the team win the Championship and gaining promotion

into the Jupiler division. Echiejile’s form had been under scrutiny even before the World Cup in Russia, so much so that Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, admitted that he was yet to have the type of fullbacks he desired ahead of the Mundial. Speaking shortly after Eagles were forced to a 1-1 draw at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, the Franco-German coach admitted his fullbacks struggled against DR Congo and that he will need to work on this problem. Though many Nigerian soccer fans were relieved when Nigeria scooped four points from the available six against Cameroon in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, but to keen followers of the game there was still cause for concern as the Cameroonians exploited the weakness in left back of the Super Eagles manned by Echiejile, who was arguably Nigeria’s weakest link in the defence. Many loving soccer fans were therefore relieved when Ola Aina switched allegiance to don the Super Eagles shirt after he had initially played for England at the age-grade level, has opted to proffer solution to the team’s left back. Though Aina is naturally a right-footed player he is also very comfortable with his left foot.

“I find it more comfortable playing leftback. To be honest, I don’t know why, but I feel comfortable playing there. If I have to do a job on the right I will feel the same. It’s not difficult for me,� Aina said. Speaking with THISDAY, former Nigerian international, Waidi Akani strongly believe that the former junior international has done enough to win Rohr’s confidence in the Eagles defence but said the experience of Echiejile would still count for him for now. “I have seen Aina played on few occasions and am convinced within me that he can comfortably man the Super Eagles defence, but you cannot compare anything with experience. I think Echiejile should surely start ahead of him. “The coach would always count on the experience of Echiejile, some may argue that Aina is faster and probably has a faster recovery rate, but when the chips are down there is no argument about who should start, and it would definitely be Echiejile. “What anybody cannot argue is the fact that Aina is the future of Super Eaglesdefence,� Akani noted. We can expect a decision on Echiejile’s future in a couple of days as he is keen on pushing for a return to the Super Eagles’ squad ahead of the Cameroon 2019 African

JANUARY 19, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

31

GLOBAL SOCCER

Elderson Echiejile in Super Eagles training

Cup of Nations. Born on January 20, 1988, Echiejile began his career at Bendel Insurance and moved to Europe in 2007, joining Rennes in France where he was mainly a reserve. In 2010, he signed for Braga on a fouryear deal and in 2014, Echiejile returned to France after penning a four-and-a-halfyear deal with AS Monaco. Echiejile was a member of the Nigeria U-20 team at the 2007 FIFA World Cup in Canada, playing five matches and scoring once. Having made his debuts for the senior side in 2009, he was picked for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Echiejile was a member of the Nigerianwinning team at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA Confederations Cup the same year. He was also part of the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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

Elderson Echiejile against Alexis Sanchez

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GLOBAL SOCCER

London Derby Arsenal Battle Chelsea in Top-Four Race Arsenal will look to get themselves right back in the race for the top four when they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium this evening but a win for the Blues could put further distance between them and the host

M

aurizio Sarri’s side opened up a six-point gap to the fifth-placed Gunners when they capitalised on an Arsenal defeat with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United last weekend. Another win today would temporarily lift them above Tottenham Hotspur into third place, in addition to taking them as many as nine points clear in the race for Champions

League places. Chelsea currently sit fourth in the table and lead both Arsenal and Manchester United by six points - a healthy gap, but one which could disappear within a week. A defeat for Arsenal would be a hammer-blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via the domestic route, while a win for Chelsea would keep alive their faint hopes of

mounting a late title challenge if the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City slip up. Neither side is in full flow of late, with early hopes of title challenges starting to fade into the reality of a battle for a top-four finish. Arsenal cannot afford to lose this game if they are to stand a chance of finishing fourth, while Chelsea will have to strike a balance as they know that a draw would keep the Gunners at bay, yet potentially allow sixth-placed Manchester United to make up ground.

With so much at stake, the game should be a tight affair - Arsenal have conceded almost double Chelsea’s League tally this season -32 to 17 but the Blues have not scored more than two goals in a match since November. The Gunners have issued team news and injury update ahead of the game including the latest on the fitness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck. Mkhitaryan has been on the sidelines since suffering a fractured foot during

͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

33

GLOBAL SOCCER Head to Head

Premiership Table

18/18/08

Chelsea

3 - 2 Arsenal

18/03/01

Arsenal

2 - 2 Chelsea

17/17/09

Chelsea

0 - 0 Arsenal

17/04/02

Chelsea

3 - 1 Arsenal

16/24/09

Arsenal

3 - 0 Chelsea

16/24/01

Arsenal

0 - 1 Chelsea

15/19/09

Chelsea

2 - 0 Arsenal

15/26/04

Arsenal

0 - 0 Chelsea

14/05/10

Chelsea

2 - 0 Arsenal

14/22/03

Chelsea

6 - 0 Arsenal

13/23/12

Arsenal

0 - 0 Chelsea

13/20/01

Chelsea

2 - 1 Arsenal

12/29/09

Arsenal

1 - 2 Chelsea

12/21/04

Arsenal

0 - 0 Chelsea

11/29/10

Chelsea

3 - 5 Arsenal

10/27/12

Arsenal

3 - 1 Chelsea

10/03/10

Chelsea

2 - 0 Arsenal

10/07/02

Chelsea

2 - 0 Arsenal

Team Liverpool Man City Tottenham Chelsea Arsenal Man Utd Watford Leicester West Ham Everton Wolves Bournemouth Brighton Crystal Palace Burnley Southampton Cardiff Newcastle Fulham Huddersfield

P 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22

GD 40 42 24 23 14 12 0 1 -2 2 -5 -11 -6 -8 -20 -16 -22 -15 -29 -24

Pts 57 53 48 47 41 41 32 31 31 30 29 27 26 22 21 19 19 18 14 11

Premiership TODAY

Wolvers v Bournemouth v Liverpool v Man Utd v Newcastle v Southampton v Watford v Arsenal v

Leicester West Ham C’Palace Brighton Cardiff 15:00 Everton Burnley Chelsea

12:30 15:00 15:00 15:00

Man City Tottenham

13:30 16:00

15:00 15:00 17:30

SUNDAY

Huddersfield v Fulham v

Hot Shot

Arsenal’s Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham over a month ago. The Armenian international has been forced to miss the last six games in all competitions and will once again be unavailable for selection when Chelsea travel to north London this weekend. However, Arsenal have confirmed a boost as Mkhitaryan is due to resume full training next week so the playmaker could be back in contention to face Manchester United in the FA Cup next week Friday. The Gunners have no fresh injuries to contend with this weekend but they’ll continue to be without Rob Holding as the centre-back is unlikely to play again this season due to a serious knee ligament injury. Danny Welbeck is also out of the Chelsea game as the England international is unlikely to return this campaign having broken his ankle against Sporting Lisbon in mid-November. Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is anticipating the chance to reunite with his former teammate Eden Hazard when Arsenal host Chelsea in today’s Premier League cracker. Unai Emery’s men will hope to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to West Ham United last Saturday by getting the maximum points against their top-four rivals. Earlier this season, Chelsea defeated the north London club 3-2 in the reverse fixture

which turned to be their second loss in the 2018-19 campaign after their opening day loss to Manchester City. While the two clubs prepare for the rivalry at the Emirates Stadium, Aubameyang took a timeout to send a message to Hazard. Both stars played together at Lille during the Gabonese’s brief loan spell from AC Milan in 2009. Liverpool will again have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points when they host Crystal Palace at Anfield today. Closest challengers Manchester City are not in action until Sunday, meaning that the Reds could once again put the champions under pressure having returned to winning ways at Brighton last time out. The match will be Liverpool’s first at Anfield in 2019, and having crashed out of the FA Cup it will also be their last outing until January 30. Crystal Palace have recorded a handful of remarkable results against the Reds in recent times, winning four matches and drawing once from an eight-game run between 2014 and ‘17. However, from their last three league fixtures, Palace have failed to take a point from Jurgen Klopp’s men and will be looking to recover their form having notched up four wins and a draw from their previous seven clashes.

Roy Hodgson’s side will be bolstered facing such a strong opponent by their romping win over Manchester City earlier in December as well as Liverpool having lost two of their past three matches in all competitions. One of these losses came at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s City, who were the first team to defeat the Reds this season. On home turf, though, Klopp’s side are unbeaten and will be looking to extend their gap on the last campaign’s now secondplaced champions by claiming a further three points for their tally. Christian Benteke netted a brace less than two seasons ago in the last time the Eagles defeated Liverpool, his two goals ensuring that Palace won despite Phillipe Coutinho netting within 25 minutes. The win meant that Palace had become the first side to win three consecutive away games against Liverpool since Chelsea in 2005 and saw them win six from eight matches, leading them to a 14th placed finish by the end of the season. But this year, Liverpool have been playing in astonishing form and it’s difficult to focus on one player amongst an exceptional squad. Virgil van Dijk, though, stands both physically and metaphorically head and shoulders above those around him and this season he has helped the Reds concede just 10 goals from 22 matches, less than a goal a game. And with Palace having struggled at times going forward this season, breaking the watertight Liverpool backline will be a tough job. Boosting their chances of doing so, though, is the return of former Red Benteke, who played his first Premier League match since September against Watford last Saturday. Benteke has scored five times as a visiting player on the Anfield turf and will be looking to mark his continued return in fashion as he travels north to Merseyside for the first time in this campaign. Liverpool have transformed into a side that has strength in all areas and it’s their defensive solidity which has perhaps stood out this season whilst their attacking prowess from the last campaign has remained. They tend to press very high up the pitch when out of possession but focus on retaining the ball with patience, pressing build-up play when the ball sits at Red boots. Going forward, there is immense firepower in the squad with attacking full-backs who can also support their assaults from defence . However, there are currently a whole host of injuries to the Liverpool roster and so Klopp may be forced into changing his overall approach.

NAME

CLUB

Mohamed Salah Harry Kane Aubameyang Eden Hazard Sergio AgĂźero Raheem Sterling Callum Wilson Richarlison Son Heung-Min Roberto Firmino GylďŹ Sigurdsson Felipe Anderson Aleksandar Mitrovic Anthony Martial Sadio ManĂŠ Romelu Lukaku Glenn Murray

GOALS

Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal Chelsea Man City Man City B’mouth Everton Tottenham Liverpool Everton West Ham Fulham Man Utd Liverpool Man Utd Brighton

14 14 14 10 10 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Spanish La Liga Fixtures TODAY

Madrid Huesca Celta Vigo

v v v

Sevilla AtlĂŠtico Valencia

15:15 17:30 19:45

v v v v v

Girona Bilbao Valladolid Sociedad LeganĂŠs

12:00 15:15 17:30 17:30 19:45

v

Espanyol

20:00

v v v

Torino 1 Parma Sassuolo

4:00 17:00 19:30

v v v v v

Atalanta Sampdoria Bologna Empoli Lazio

12:30 14:00 14:00 17:00 19:30

Genoa

v

AC Milan

14:00

Juventus

v

Chievo

19:30

SUNDAY

Real Betis Villarreal Levante Vallecano Barcelona MONDAY

Eibar

Serie A TODAY

Roma Udinese Inter SUNDAY

Frosinone Fiorentina SPAL1 Cagliari Napoli MONDAY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

L-R: Modupe Philips, corporate communications and external aairs, GTBank; Risikat Yossuf, chairman, Lagos First Generation Heritage College and Association (LAFGHECA); Yakubu Oyinloye, principal, Queens College, and Bisoye Balogun, corporate communications and external aairs, GTBank, during the press conference of the 2019 Masters Cup season 8 in Lagos, yesterday.

Murray

Australian Open

Murray Created ‘Big Four’ Era in Tennis, Says Agassi Andre Agassi said that Andy Murray deserves respect for consistently challenging Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Murray was knocked out of the Australian Open on Monday after losing in the first round to Roberto Bautista Agut in what could potentially be the final match of his career. The 31-year-old had indicated his intention to retire after this year’s Wimbledon but doubts remain over his ability to participate, as he battles a long-term hip injury. Murray has won three Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and the 2016 ATP Tour

Finals during his career but Agassi believes the Scot would have won “three times� as much if he had played in the previous era of tennis. “He was the person that broke into the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic trio in their prime,� said Agassi. “He showed that he can play every bit up on their level. “It is a rough generation to win a lot of Grand Slams. If Andy was in my generation he would have had probably three times the career. “Those guys haven’t left much for others butAndy went in there and took it. I only have respect for him. “He did, in some cases, against

the biggest odds. He is a fighter at heart - you can see it out here, even in pain he is going to fight to the end. “That is what you want to see. It is never fun to see him suffer on a tennis court, either emotionally or physically, but he never stopped fighting. That is the thing you have to respect.� Murray said he wants “to keep playing tennis� and will consider his options before deciding whether to undergo further surgery on his hip. Agassi, who himself struggled with a chronic back injury towards the end of his career, says Murray must weigh up the risks before risking surgery.

He said: “When you’re resorting to making a gamble of one kind or another, you have to weigh up the odds and the risks. “What is the gamble in not having the surgery? It sounded like that was a clear painful way to go. “He was hurting on a tennis court. Nobody ever wants to go under the knife, nobody ever wants to have surgery. You only do it as a last resort. “Doctors are the only ones that can tell him what those percentages are and he has to have the strength and courage to make a decision that is probably not an easy one, but I guess is a clear one.�

Pacquiao Set for 70th Pro Fight against Broner Today Manny Pacquiao said he would prove that “age is just a number� when he fights as a 40-year-old for the first time against Adrien Broner in Las Vegas today. The Filipino will defend his WBA world welterweight title against the former four-weight world champion. It will be his 70th professional fight coming 24 years after his debut. “This is a challenge because it is my first fight as a 40-year-old,� saidPacquiao.“Ihavesomething to prove to everyone about what that means.� He added: “Age is just a number. What matters is how

you prepare and that you’re working hard.� Pacquiao, who began boxing to earn as little as $2 in order to help his mother feed their family, is now a senator in his homeland and cites chess and reading as factors in keeping his mind “sharp� for this stage of his career. American Broner, 29, has proved one of the boxings’ most controversial characters, most recently arrested over driving offences in December. At Wednesday’s news conferences he reportedly made insensitive jokes directed at Filipino fans.

Broner - nicknamed ‘The Problem’ - has been irked by the growing volume of calls for Pacquiao to secure a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who beat him in 2015 and will be in attendance at the MGM Grand today. “People are talking a lot about Pacquiao fighting Floyd Mayweather again, but I’m pretty sure Floyd is retired,� said Broner. “I feel like people are trying to throw me to the wolves and overlook me. “Look at my last five fights. I’ve fought world champion after world champion. I don’t duck

any fights. I don’t care how many weight classes he’s won titles in. “I’m not in awe of any fighter, especially Manny Pacquiao. I hope he’s in awe of me. I’m a one-of-a-kind fighter too. I’ve made history in this sport. I’m going to beat him up and have a drink with him afterward.� Pacquiao responded to defeat by Australian Jeff Horn in 2017 by knocking out Lucas Matthysse in July to win the world title and extend his record to 60 wins, seven defeats and two draws. Broner has drawn and lost in his last two outings, giving him a record of 33 wins, three losses and a draw.

Controversy Trails Paralympics Committee Election The Paralympic Committee of Nigeria elections which was held at the Media Centre of the National Stadium, Surulere, on Tuesday ended in controversy as there were allegations of discrepancies. The election which was billed for 11a.m. did not start until 5 o’clock in the evening and as a result some of the journalists that were on hand to cover the election left before the election was conducted. There were allegations that the electoral process was bungled to satisfy the billings of some other candidates to the detriment of due process. Meanwhile, President of the Para-powerlifting Federa-

tion of Nigeria (PFN), Queen Obuh, who is gunning for the PCN president position has since rejected the results of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria elections, saying the exercise was in contravention of body’s guideline. “The elections lacked merit in all ramifications and the evidence are there. Most of the zonal representatives were not eligible to vote. Most of them were handpicked by the officials of the Sports Ministry on the election day. “One of the zonal representatives claimed Para Tennis but to my amazement Kano State Director of Sports said they don’t do such sport in Kano.

“Several irregularities marred the elections as we also had an athlete whose election to become player’s representative from ParaPowerlifting is still inconclusive was allowed to vote. “It is in the PCN constitution that the Sports Ministry role was to monitor the elections but the officials led by Dr. Toyin Aluko jettisoned it and they opted to conduct it. I believe there is a clear difference between to monitor and conduct. “You won’t imagine that the PCN elections had no returning officers or candidates representatives to receive votes on behalf of the candidates. So, how do

we know what is given us at the end of the exercise. This is rather unfortunate and unacceptable. “For me, there were no elections on Tuesday. What they did was kangaroo and it cannot stand. I must challenge it in court. I’m a freedom fighter. I’m an activist. I will ensure sanity returns to our sports,� she fumed. The Secretary-General of the Paralympics Committee Nigeria, Dr. Frank Thorpe, however, denied the allegation saying due process was observed in the condition of the exercise. The Paralympic Committee is an umbrella body of the Para Sports in Nigeria.

30 Schools to Jostle for Honour in GTBank Masters Cup Season 8

One of the most exciting secondary school football tournaments in Africa, the GTBank MastersCup, is set to return for its 8th season, following its opening draws, which was held on Thursday, in Victoria Island, Lagos. The tournament will feature over 30 schools and more than 40 teams who will compete for trophies in the male and female categories. Established in 2012, the GTBank Masters Cup is organised by foremost African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank, as a way of extending the benefits of the Bank’s football programmes to students outside the public school system. Since its inception, the tournament has grown into one of the major platforms for discovering and developing exceptional football talents and many of its alumni are now on trials and scholarships with football clubs and academies in Nigeria and abroad. The 7th season of the tournament, held last year, saw Igbobi College, Yaba and Queens College, Yaba, emerge champions in the male and female categories, respectively. This year, the route to the title in both categories promises to be even tougher with the tournament welcoming eight new schools. Commenting on the tournament, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GuarantyTrust Bank Plc, Segun Agbaje, said, “We are delighted to organise this tournament for the eighth edition, not only because of the platform it provides for the emergence of amazing football talents but also because we see firsthand its impact in helping young people build a healthier lifestyle at this critical stage in their lives.� He further stated that “At GTBank, we will continue to create and invest in initiatives that bring the values of sports to school compounds to ensure that young people that are passionate about sports have the opportunity to hone their talents and build character whilst still very focused on their academics.� Guaranty Trust Bank Plc maintains a defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focused on championing causes and fostering initiatives that transform lives and uplift communities. Alongside the GTBank Masters Cup, the Bank organises and sponsors several other football programmes such as the GTBank Principals Cup tournaments in Lagos and Ogun States, the GTBank Super Cup and the Players Development Programme.

Serie A Resumes Airing on DStv Today

The 2018/19 Serie A season resumes airing on DStv and GOtv today, 19 January after a three-week break, with the big question being whether anyone can challenge Juventus’ dominance of the Italian top flight. The pick of today’s games comes from the San Siro, where Internazionale will take on a Sassuolo side looking to get out of a lean run of form which has seen them pick up just one win from their last five Serie A matches. And given that the Verona-based team has won just once all season and sit at the bottom of the log, it’s likely Juventus will begin 2019 with yet another three-point haul. The 20th round of the season gets underway on Saturday afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico, where Roma will chase a third successive league win when they host Torino. ‘Il Toro’ will hope to see African defenders Nicolas N’Koulou and Ola Aina continue their fine form. In fact, the latter Nigerian wingback has been strongly linked with a permanent move to the Italian club (where he is currently on loan from Chelsea). Inter are comfortably placed in third (seven points ahead of fourth-placed Lazio) and hoping to bridge the five-point gap to second-placed Napoli. The Neapolitans will only be in action on Sunday night, but their clash at the Stadio San Paolo against Lazio could be a real thriller. Napoli have dominated their matches against the Romebased team in recent years (their 2-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico back in August 2018 was a fourth straight victory in the rivalry and extended their unbeaten run to seven games), but Simon Inzaghi’s team are in tough scrap with Roma and Milan for the final spot in the top four and will be determined to cling onto the hope of Champions League football.

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Lokosa

Junior Lokosa

Set to Rule African Football After emerging as top scorer in the NPFL last season with Kano Pillars, one thing paramount in the mind of Junior Lokosa was to take his goal poaching prowess to Europe. However, attempts to join Bulgarian club PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and Norwegian Eliteserien side, SK Brann were botched. He, however, settled for African champions in a two-and-a-half-year deal on Monday

A

frican champions Esperance have pulled off a transfer coup with the signing of Nigerian international Junior Lokosa. The Egyptian club announced on their website on Monday. Lokosa, who has one cap for the Super Eagles A team, inked a two-and-a-half-year deal with Esperance following a successful medical, two days after he arrived in Tunis. He put himself in the shop window after finishing as top scorer in last season’s Nigerian Professional Football League. The 25-year-old underwent trials with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria), SK Brann (Norway) and Heilongjiang Lava Spring FC (China) last year. Speaking after his failed attempt at joining Norwegian SK Brann, his agent, Abiodun Tella, had earlier claimed that his client was travelling for a routine medical before signing a straight contract. However, SK Brann manager, Lars Arne Nilsen was not totally convinced after running the rule over the striker for four days. ‘’Maybe the manager wants someone who can make an impact immediately, who is used to the playing system,’’ Tella said afterwards. ‘’The player likes the club, and it has been an interesting opportunity for him. He knows that the club appreciates him, but his style of playing doesn’t fit the system at the moment.’’ Lokosa scoring prowess while with Kano Pillars did not go unnoticed as Super Eagles German-born Manager, Gernot Rohr included his name in the provisional list of 30 players to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In a telephone chat with THISDAY, former Nigerian international, Friday Ekpo said it would have been an injustice against the local league and indeed home-based footballers if the Kano Pillars striker’s name was not included in the provisional list. “It would have amounted to gross injustice if Lokosa’s name was absent in the list. The Nigerian League is still the strongest in Africa and if a player could score 21 goals, no national team coach could ignore such a player. What he had achieved so far is not a small feat. He should indeed be celebrated,� Ekpo said. The Nigerian League top scorer, however, failed to make the Super Eagles final 23-man list to Russia. “He is as good as any Nigerian striker playing abroad. The only difference was that he was playing in the home front. But with his move to Esperance now, he needed to gather the necessary confidence and concentrate on doing what he knows how to do best-scoring goals,� Ekpo concluded. Born August 23, 1993, in Badagry, Lagos State, Lokosa fell in love with football at a very young age which really angered his parents. Like most Nigerian parents, Lokosa’s wanted him to study, get a degree and finally get a job. “It wasn’t easy because all parents want their children to go to school,� he said in an interview back in March. “However, when they realised football was in my blood and

they couldn’t pull it out, they had to accept it. I think today, everybody in the Lokosa family is happy.� Knowing what he wanted, he stuck to his dream of playing football. He began on the streets of Ajegunle, a Lagos community known for high poverty and crime. Football began to grow from being just a hobby to a career for Lokosa when his brother took him to a field where he began to play structured football. Soon, things started taking shape, as he got signed to play for an amateur side before catching the eye of First Bank Football club. The 24-year-old centre forward was still with Lagos-based First Bank Football club in 2017 and was “praying to God� for a better team when, “like a miracle�, he was offered the chance to join Kano Pillars. “I didn’t plan to join Kano Pillars. However, one day, I returned from training and I got a call from someone who asked if I wanted to play for Kano Pillars and I said yes,� he recalled. “Of course, I was praying to God for a better team to play. So it was like a miracle to me. The following day, I travelled to Kano and everything went on smoothly. I have to thank God because joining Pillars is a big lift in my career.� Lokosa had a debut to remember for Pillars, scoring in the match against Niger Tornadoes. His goal for Kano Pillars came as no surprise to his First Bank teammate Abou, who later told goal.com: “I am very happy for my pal, Lokosa. I believe in his abilities and I am not surprised he scored on his debut at Kano Pillars. “Lokosa is a lethal striker who makes goal-scoring look very simple. He plays with so much calm yet he punishes goalkeepers. I wish him all the best and to Kano Pillars, they are lucky to have a lethal striker who will score so many goals that will make them achieve their set goals.’’ When Lokosa scored his 11th goal of last season, he was asked how happy he was: “I wasn’t really happy because my goal did not give the three points to my team,� he responded. It was not our intention to draw again at home but there was nothing we could do to save the situation. We still feel bad with the result but we just have to move on. That match has come and gone.� He responded in typically calm fashion when asked to respond to clamour for his invitation to the Super Eagles. “I don’t know much about that but every player wants to play for his country so my case is not different,� he said. “By the grace of God, when I am invited I will do my best. However, if God says it is not yet time, there is nothing I can do about it. At the moment, I have a job in hand so I have to focus on it.� Julius Aghahowa, Izu Azuka, Bernard Bulbwa, Emem Eduok, Emeka Emerun, Michael Eneramo, Garba Lawal, Ganiyu Oseni previously represented Esperance. Esperance presently occupy the second position in the table after 11 games in the Tunisian Ligue 1.

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

FAIRGROUND

Omotola Leads Partners in Widow’s Home Makeover

O

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

scar Voting Member and Legendary Actress Omotola just renovated a widow’s home in four days

Record time. The philanthropist who, through her GALG (Give and Let Give) initiative, caters to widows and orphans every December, is famous for the 20 widows’ makeover. She decided to embark on a home makeover in 2018. A widow, Mrs. Folashade Chijioke was nominated after many entries via emails by another widow. The criteria were that the widow being nominated must be a working woman, giving back to community and raising her kids. Work started at the home in Mowe, Ogun State on the 27th of December with help from partners, @pinenivory (who supplied furniture), @sujimoto (donated paint materials and bathroom fittings), @playinarchitecture (who changed the ceiling to POP and upgraded kitchen) @ vitafoam (Mr Toye who donated the double decker bed for mum and mattresses) and Scanfrost who donated a TV, fridge and gas cooker. According to Mrs. Tyna Obahiagbon, the project coordinator, all our partners came in last minute with their companies closed for the year! It was a great sacrifice by all parties. Mrs Folashade Chijioke and her four kids were picked from their hotel on the 31st and ushered into their new home as witnessed by friends and family. There was barely any dry eye as all were overwhelmed by joy and thanked Give and Let Give and their partners.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, (middle) Mrs Folashade Chijioke, friends and well wishers

Omotola sympathising with Mrs Folashade Chijioke Omotola giving Mrs Folashade Chijioke a gift

Mrs Folashade Chijioke and her childrens

Mrs Folashade Chijioke and Mrs Tyna Obahiagbon and a guest

Mrs Folashade Chijioke in a surprised state

The Before and the After picture of the Room

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FAIRGROUND

Big Brother Naija Returns for a Fourth Season

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frica’s popular reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, is set to return for a fourth season with the producers of the show also revealing that the Big Brother House will be in Nigeria. Auditions for the show will hold on the 1st and 2nd of February 2018 in eight locations across Nigeria, an increase from previous editions. In addition, Nigeria’s number one betting website, Bet9ja, has been announced as headline sponsors of the new season. The reality TV show which follows the format of the international Big Brother franchise is known to bring excitement and entertainment to fans and viewers across the continent as it houses strangers over a period of three months, who contest against each other in a battle of wits for the ultimate prize. Speaking on the return of Big Brother Naija, the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe said: “This fourth season promises to be even bigger than previous editions and underscores MultiChoice’s position as the biggest investor and driver of entertainment content on the continent”. Since its maiden edition in 2006, the Big Brother Naija reality TV show has produced some of the country’s biggest pop culture in-

Chief Customer Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, Channels Director, Africa Magic channels, Wangi Mba-Uzuokwu and Senior Marketing Manager, Bet9ja, Olufemi Osobajo

fluencers and celebrities, including Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Gideon Okeke, Katung Aduwak, Bisola Aiyeola, Efe Ejeba and Uriel Oputa and mostly recently Miracle Ikechukwu, Tobi Bakre and Cynthia “Cee-C” Nwadiora.

Vimbai Launches TheVimbai.Com, an Empowerment Portal for Young African Women

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V Host & Producer, Vimbai, has launched the ultimate digital empowerment portal for young African women who are looking to bloom into their full potential. TheVimbai.com is every African girl’s big sister and a movement of inspired thinkers, dreamers and game-changers. Specifically created for African women by African women, the website is home to cutting edge editorial content, as well as original video series that speak to the real-life issues we are all talking about behind closed doors. Speaking on what inspired her to embark on this project, Vimbai said: “I became known as the ‘table-shaker’ last year when I posted a truth in passing. After receiving thousands of emails from across Africa as a result of this post, I realised that not only are people hungry to start having so-called taboo conversations in public, we are also ready to have a platform to learn, analyze and dissect unpopular truths in our society. My platform is an enlightened place for women to do so.”

Vimbai

Speaking at the press conference, Bet9ja’s Chief Executive Officer, Ayo Ojuroye said: “As the leading gaming company in Nigeria, we believe in changing lives. This singular attribute coupled with the zeal and passion attributed to the

Big Brother Naija platform aligns with Bet9ja’s core values and we are honoured by the opportunity to headline this year ’s edition. Bet9ja will continue to support programmes that will connect more young Nigerians to their dreams”.

Film Gala 2019…. 'Married to the Arts' Here Are All The Fashion Rules

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he first-ever Film Gala will be hosted by Moët and Chandon and Filmhouse on the 26th of this month at the Wings Tower, Victoria Island. Tthis will be an evening of high style, glitz and fellowship! The event is centered on celebrating groundbreaking achievements in the film industry, it will be a night of arts, glamour, exquisite dinning and of course film. The major theme of the event is to contribute, as well as show support to the ever-growing Nigerian film industry. In attendance will be the who’s who of the Nigerian film industry, and A-list celebrities. It is expected to be a night of excitement, glamour, class and, of course, some of the most exquisite and breathtaking styles will be featured. The theme for the night is “Married To The Arts”, and we can’t wait to see the various

representations of this. Film Gala is set to be one of the most prestigious events with a lot of high fashion let us give you a sneak peak of what to expect from it. In past events, our stars have stepped out in a lot of daring prints, elaborate tails and bold floral pieces and we will be expecting a lot more grandeur for this event. The boys have not been left out of this, as we have seen them in recent time lean towards the more edgy look and rocked patterned, bright and colorful outfits over the past couple of years giving their female counterparts a run for their money. We look forward to being dazzled by our celebrities at the 2019 Film Gala. “Theme of the Night” “Married to The Arts”. Stay updated on Instagram @filmhousecinemas @filmoneng #TheFilmGala.

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AUTO Kia hands over Vehicle Fleet for Australian Open 2019

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Hyundai’s Elevate ‘walking car’ concept

Hyundai’s Walking Car Concept is a Highlight of CES 2019 Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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yundai’s Elevate ‘walking car’ concept has emerged as an automotive highlight of the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Described as the first Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV), the design blends technology found in electric cars and robots, allowing it to traverse terrain beyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle. According to a statement by the automaker, the concept is primarily designed to provide efficient, rapid, resilient transportation for disaster assistance, such as search-and-rescue and humanitarian aid missions. Wheels with hub-mounted electric motors are attached to extendable robotic legs, so the vehicle can drive, walk or climb over obstacles. At CES, engineers have used a working scale model to demonstrate the design in action. A fullsize version could climb over obstacles 1.5 metres

tall, or stride across a gap 1.5 metres wide. Avariety of different bodies can be swapped on and off the modular chassis, depending on need. “When a tsunami or earthquake hits, current rescue vehicles can only deliver first responders to the edge of the debris field. They have to go the rest of the way by foot. Elevate can drive to the scene and climb right overflooddebrisorcrumbledconcrete,”saidJohnSuh, Vice President and Head of Hyundai CRADLE, the carmaker’s venturing and open innovation business. “This technology goes well beyond emergency situations. People living with disabilities worldwide that don’t have access to anADA(wheelchair) ramp could hail an autonomous Hyundai Elevate that could walk up to their front door, level itself, and allow their wheelchair to roll right in. The possibilities are limitless.” Elevate is the result of almost three years’ work in collaboration with industrial design consultancy, Sundberg-Frear, as part of Hyundai’s mission to create new ‘last mile’ mobility technologies and solutions. Elevate’s engineering features include:

Robotic legs with five degrees of freedom plus in-wheel propulsion · Ability to walk in mammalian and reptilian style gaits for omnidirectional motion Capable of climbing a 1.5-metre vertical wall · Step over a 1.5-metre gap · Non-back drivable motors enable the legs to lock in any position Modular electric vehicle platform “BycombiningthepowerofroboticswithHyundai’s latest EV technology, Elevate has the ability to take people where no car has been before, and redefine our perception of vehicular freedom,” said David Byron, design manager, Sundberg-Ferar. “Imagine a carstrandedinasnowditchjust10feetoffthehighway being able to walk or climb over the treacherous terrain, back to the road potentially saving its injured passengers – this is the future of vehicular mobility.” Elevate is a product of Hyundai’s future mobility roadmap, showcased at CES 2019, highlighting the company’s strategy to create freedom in mobility for customers.

ia Motors Corporation has supplied a fleet of vehicles for the Australian Open 2019, marking the 18th consecutive year of Kia’s role as the major sponsor for the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific. The official vehicle handover ceremony took place today at Federation Square in Melbourne, with Kia ambassador Rafael Nadal, winner of 17 Grand Slam titles, presenting the 120 Kia models to Australian Open officials. The cars will transport players, match officials and VIPs throughout the two-week tournament, which starts on January 14 in Melbourne and finishes with the men’s singles final at Rod Laver Arena on January 27. Over the past 18 years, Kia’s courtesy fleet has clocked up millions of kilometers in tens of thousands of journeys transporting tennis players and match officials in comfort and safety. This year the Kia fleet will continue that tradition, driven by more than 350 Australian Open drivers who expect to travel more than 450,000 kilometres in thousands of journeys during the tournament. “It has been Kia’s honor for almost two decades to be a proud sponsor of one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and that commitment has not wavered. We now look forward with anticipation to the next two weeks of competition and believe that this year will be the best event ever,” said James Cho, President of Kia Motors Australia. “Kia has always been much more than just a sponsor of the Australian Open, they are a highly valued member of our tennis family and have helped us build the extraordinary growth of the tournament during this time. The Kia fleets ferrying the players around Melbourne during January, and the tremendous activations for fans onsite at Melbourne Park, have become synonymous with the tournament and an important part of the AO experience for our players,” said Craig Tilley, Tournament Director of the Australian Open. To celebrate its long-term involvement with the game of tennis, Kia will roll out various on- and off-line programmes for tennis fans around the world to enjoy. An ‘AO Selfie Contest’ will give tennis fans the opportunity to share their favorite tournament moments on social media, while 68 lucky Kia customers from 28 countries will be invited to the tournament itself, participating in an exclusive tennis clinic with professionals and receiving tickets to watch the men’s singles semi-final matches. Furthermore, Kia has invited 30AO international ball kids to Melbourne to enjoy an once-in-alifetime opportunity to participate in a Grand Slam tennis tournament. A total of 20 children from Korea and 10 children from India have been selected after national competitions were held in 2018 to select the best 30 ball kids from these regions.

Toyota GR Supra Makes World Debut

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The all-new Toyota GR Supra, the fifth generation of Toyota’s legendary sports car and the first global GR model to be produced by Toyota GAZOORacing,hasmadeitsworlddebut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Conceived as a sports car in its purest form, the new Toyota GR Supra builds on the heritage of Toyota’s past Supra generations and the 2000GT sports car with its classic layout of a front-mounted, straight-six engine driving the rear wheels. Driving enthusiasts can look forward to an exhilarating blend of power, agility and precision handling, achieved thanks to the car’s combination of a short wheelbase and wide track, light weight, low centre of gravity and highly rigid body. The 3.0-litre engine benefits from a twin-scroll turbocharger and produces 250kW and 500Nm of torque. Coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, it is characterised by smooth and powerful acceleration, with large amounts of torque available across the full range of engine speeds. ToyotaGAZOORacingwasinstrumentalinhoning the new sports car’s performance, working extensively on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife and surroundingroadsinGermanyinordertoachievethe most agile, stable and rewarding handling. Further testing was also carried out on roads around the world, including in Australia with chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. To be certain that the car delivered on its promise, Toyota presidentAkio Toyoda put it to the test at the

Nürburgring in his role as a master driver before giving it the final green light. Mr. Toyoda said he had developed his craft as a master driver by spending countless hours driving an old Supra at the Nürburgring. “Even though Toyota had no plans to make a new Supra, just like a lot of other diehard Supra fans around the world, I secretly wanted to make it happen,” he said. “The new GR Supra was born through testing at Nürburgring, and I can honestly say that it is a car that is fun to drive and better than ever.” InAustralia, new Toyota GR Supra will be launched in late 2019 with approximately 300 cars available in the first 12 months. All vehicles will be built in Graz, Austria. Pure sports car design Toyota’s great sports car heritage is referenced in the design of the new Toyota GR Supra. The landmark 2000GT’s influence is evident in the long bonnet, compact body and double-bubble roof, while the distinctive look of the fourth generation Supra is captured with its muscular rear wings and the arc of the integrated spoiler. The new Toyota GR Supra also shares the same classic sports car format of a powerful front-mounted six-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive as its celebrated predecessors. Supra’s design theme was first previewed in the dramatic FT-1 concept car, styled by Toyota’s CALTY studio in California and revealed at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

All-new Toyota GR Supra Toyota Supra chief designer Nobuo Nakamura gave his team a simple brief around the concept of “Condensed Extreme”, ensuring they were free to express their vision of a pure and individual sports car in a truly original design. “Condensed Extreme” refers directly to the

vehicle’s packaging, comprising three principal elements: a short wheelbase, large wheels and wide stance; a taut, two-seat cabin; and a long bonnet with a compact body that reflects the drivetrain combination of in-line six engine and rear-wheel drive.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

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AUTO

Mercedes-Benz Maintains First Position in Premium Segment Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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ercedes-Benzcontinuestobethe leading premium automobile brand in terms of unit sales. In a challenging year, the company with the three-pointed star increased its global car sales to 2,310,185 units in 2018, its eighth consecutive record year (+0.9%), making Mercedes-Benz the best-selling premium brand in the automotive industry for the third time in succession. The new sales record in the car division of Daimler AG was driven in particular by the success of Mercedes-Benz in the Asia-Pacific region and its core Chinese market there. Worldwide, models including the SUVs and the E-Class Saloon and Estate were able to generate significant sales impetus in 2018. Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “In 2018, Mercedes-Benz was at the top of the premium segment in the automotive industry for the third year in a row. In a highly competitive environment, we also remained at the top from month to month, thanks in particular to double-digit growth in China and manynewmodelsthathavedelightedbothexisting and new customers worldwide. We will continue rejuvenating our portfolio systematically in 2019. We see the major successes in our core business primarily as paving the way for shaping the

individual mobility of tomorrow.” Mercedes-Benz completed its strongest-selling year also with the best quarter in the company’s history (595,098 units, +4.0%). In addition, a new December record was set last month with sales of 206,532 units (+6.7%). In 2018, Mercedes-Benz maintained its position as the premium brand with the most new registrations in many markets, and secured market leadership in markets including Germany, France, Russia, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, Denmark, Hungary, Romania, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, USA, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. “With more than 2.4 million vehicles delivered by Mercedes-Benz Cars in 2018, we once again surpassed our own sales record - for the eighth time in succession. In addition, despite a challenging year, we maintained our position at the top of the premium segment. The excitement for our models and the loyalty of our customers spurs us on to continue giving the best in the New Year,” said Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. “In recent months, the strong growth of the new A-Class has shown the impetus high-calibre innovations such as MBUX can have in the market. In 2019, more than 10 Mercedes-Benz models will inspire our customers with the intuitive operating concept of MBUX and its artificial intelligence – not only in the compact car segment, but also in SUV segment.”

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Saloon

Lexus Turns Up the Dial on RC F Performance Coupe

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exus is set to unveil an all-new RC F Track Edition as part of an extensive update that boosts the performance and freshens the overall look of its flagship performance coupe. The RC F Track Edition offers exclusive upgrades designed for hard-core enthusiasts, blending a serious performance car for the track with the luxury and craftsmanship expected of a Lexus. Stand-out new features include a carbon fibre roof and bonnet, titanium muffler and tailpipes, Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors, substantial weight reduction and styling enhancements that improve aerodynamics and increase downforce. Combined with a new launch control feature standard on every RC F, the Track Edition is targeting acceleration from 0-to-100km/h in around four seconds. This new variant is the latest milestone for the F performance brand that will continue to evolve as an important pillar of the overall strategy at Lexus. The Track Edition will be revealed at the Detroit auto show alongside the standard Lexus RC F performance coupe which has been extensively updated. Sleeker aerodynamics, reduced weight, a retuned suspension and enhanced styling elevate the RC F to a new level of performance and refinement. Lexus International executive vice president Koji Sato said the new RC F and the Track Edition, in particular, have benefited from constant develop-

ment. “These models help further distinguish the F brand by offering fast, durable, highly capable performance cars that rely on a range of technologies to help make their performance accessible to drivers of all skill levels,” Sato-san said. The RC F Redefined Lexus engineers have reduced the RC F’s weight without compromising the coupe’s sense of refinement and solidity. Hollow rear axle-shafts are now used in place of the previous solid shafts while a smaller intake manifold and air-conditioning compressor remove weight from the front of the car. Adopting aluminum toe-control brackets and upper suspension support brackets also reduces weight while maintaining stiffness. Stiffer bushings for the rear suspension arms and steering rack mounts further refine the feel of the RC F. More rigid engine mounts better transmit the power of the RC F’s normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, one of the last such engines available in a luxury coupe. The engine has revised intake routing and a lower rpm trigger point for the secondary intake opening (2,800rpm vs 3,600rpm). It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard electronic launch control provides the ultimate in standing-start acceleration. With a push of the button on the console, the system automatically adjusts the traction and throttle control for maximum acceleration from a stop. All the driver has to do is

All-new Lexus RC F Track Edition press and hold the brake pedal, engage the system, floor the accelerator to bring up the engine speed and release the brake. Using the system results in a 0-to-100km/h time of just over four seconds.

Child Restraint: A Must Buy By Parents

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f you are a parent or you are planning to become one, I passionately plead with you to spare time to go through this piece not because it is masterly crafted but simply because of the vital information contained in it which I believe is needed by every parent. As a parent, I do not toy with issues that border on the safety of my lovely boys and I believe that any responsible parent should do the same. As parents or guardians, we should equally reflect on how we transport our children to school while those who indulge in seeking the assistance of friends, family members or neighbors to transport their children to and fro school should take time to ascertain that such a neighbor or uncle is a responsible and competent driver. I am raising this alarm because recent developments indicate that the number of children involved in road traffic crashes is increasing. The same is the case with the number of children dying through road traffic crashes in the country. I know that the World Health Organization (WHO) paints a scary global picture of deaths and injuries involving children but I am no longer dealing here with the reality of the World Health Organization (WHO) global picture but the reality of the Nigeria scenario which calls for immediate and drastic action. I am happy that the helmsman at the Federal Road Safety Corps,Dr

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491

Boboye Oyeyemi is already tinkering with the most appropriate novel strategy to deal with this emerging trend .I only hope and pray that Nigerians up the game by buying into this strategy, having already stepped up with our seat belt compliance although I feel there is something still fundamentally wrong with the level of compliance; how does a parent buckle up yet allow his three year old child to be lapped while driving or how does a parent who can afford a car whose cost is estimated at over three million naira, fail to procure a car restraint that has the potential of saving that child in the event of a road traffic crash? These parents should note the trend which shows that shows that just between 20th December to 14january 2019,387 children were involved in a road traffic crash;178 were rescued without injury, 182 were injured while 26deaths were recorded .The report indicates that on January1,2019,two

fatal crashes claimed the lives of two children. I have deliberately chosen to play down on the detailed causative factors behind the other crashes involving children but I do hope do so in a follow up to this piece. The report also shows that the worst crash involving children occurred on December 23rd 2018 and claimed the lives of three children. The crash involved a car and a truck. This is why I believe strongly that the time to rejig child safety campaigns and enforcement on the use of child restraints is now. One of the most effective means of reducin deaths and injury for vehicle occupants is the use of seat-belt by all occupants in the front and rear seats as contained in section 58(3) and (4)of the National Road Traffic Regulations,2004. Seat belt use saves. They don’t prevent crashes but play a crucial role in reducing the severity of injury to vehicle occupants. Vehicle safety features are distinguished by “.primary safety and secondary safety”. Primary safety features aim to prevent an accident taking place, e.g. good brakes and tyres. Secondary safety features on the other hand aim to prevent or minimize injury to a vehicle occupant once the accident has occurred. Seat belts are a secondary safety device with a number of objectives which includes; preventing ejection from the vehicle in an impact, reducing the risk of contact with the interior of the vehicle or reducing the speed

Additional performance gains are delivered by new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres designed specifically for the RC F with a unique profile shape, tread pattern and rubber compound.

of such impacts, providing a distributed force to the wearer to give the necessary support in an accident and restraining the vehicle occupant before guiding them back into their seats. It is imperative as parents to remember that the safest way to carry a child and to protect that child is to use a child seat that is suitable for the weight and size of that child. Do you that even at a minor crash; an unrestrained child would be thrown about inside the vehicle, injuring themselves and others? They could also be thrown from the car through one of the windows. Do you also know that in a crash at just30km/h, an unrestrained child would be thrown forward with a force, 30 to 60 times their body weight? They would be thrown about inside the vehicle, injuring them and quite seriously injuring or even killing other people inside the vehicle. Do you know that it is not safe to hold a child on your laps? In a crash, the child could be crushed between our body and part of the car’s interior? That even if you were using a seat belt, the child would be torn from your arms and you would not be able to hold onto to them, no matter how hard you try. Do you also know that it is also dangerous to put a seat belt around yourself and a child or around two children; or to carry that child or children in the front passengers’ seat or on your tummy? As the procreate, remember that the safest way to travel with that child no matter the distance is a child seat or restraints.

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˜ ˾ JANUARY 19, 2019

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

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˜ ˞ JANUARY 19, 2019

JOE/FAJ THEFRONTLINES

Onnoghen:The Presidency’sWild Goose Chase

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fter a very futile effort to destabilize and effect changes in the outgoing NationalAssembly, the Presidency has once again turned its arm-twisting antics to the arm of government it believes is the foundation of corruption in the country – The Judiciary. Nigerians were shocked to hear that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen is being accused in a petition filed by Denis Aghanya of ARDI to the EFFC of failing to declare his assets and concealing $3m. Onnoghen was to be tried before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) by the Federal Government through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) which filed six counts of non-declaration of assets against the CJN last week. He was due for arraignment before the CCT on Monday but he was absent from court and the arraignment was fixed for January 22. It is rather shocking that in spite of clearly spelt out principles of separation of powers between these two very important arms of government, the Muhammadu Buhari regime, hiding under the guise of fighting corruption, has jettisoned the rule of law and emplacing the rule of the iron fist forgetting that this is a democracy. In a brazen dawn crackdown on the judges three years ago, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) carried out a string of operations arresting 7 Nigerian Judges for their alleged involvement in corruption and fraud. At the time, the DSS revealed that a total of 15 Judges were under investigations over allegation of corruption. Out of these 15 judges under the DSS’ searchlight seven of the Judges were arrested while three court registry staff were also invited for questioning in relation to the alleged crime. The list of judges arrested included: Sylvester Ngwuta – Supreme court Judge; Inyang Okoro – Supreme Court Judge; Justice Mohammed Tsamiya – suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division; Justice Kabiru Auta – Kano State High Court; Justice Adeniyi Ademola – Federal High Court, Abuja; Justice I. A. Umezulike – Former Chief Judge of Enugu state and Muazu Pindiga – Federal High Court, Gombe Division. The development stirred the polity and provoked a lot of specula-

JOSEPH USHIGIALE e-mail: jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com mobile phone: 08023422660 (sms only)

Onnoghen tions and warnings that President Buhari was moving the nation towards a dictatorship and apparent anarchy. The body of civil society organizations, Nigeria Bar Association and public commentators were divided but majority of them condemned the manner in which the DSS swooped on the judges at dawn like common thieves without following due process. In all the arguments that ensued for and against, all the parties resigned to fate, waiting the day the courts would have the final say on the matter. It finally did in the ruling delivered by Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama who struck out the 18-count charge against Justice Adeniyi Ademola (of the Federal High Court), his wife, Olabowale and a lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN). The office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) had filed the suit in 2016, in which they were accused of engaging in corrupt acts. Justice Ademola, was among others, accused of accepting gratification from Agi. In a ruling, Justice Okeke upheld the no-case submission by the defendants, on the ground that the prosecution, led by Segun Jegede,

Unwanted New-Year Visitors “Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.� –––Psalm 94:17

failed to prove any of the allegations it made against them. But the federal government went on appeal. In yet another landmark judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, the judge struck out an appeal filed by the Federal Government challenging the discharge of Justice Adeniyi Ademola, his wife Olubowale, and Joe Agi (SAN), from answering fraud charges. Delivering judgment, Justice Olabisi Ige held that all the objections raised in the Notice of Appeal filed by the appellant were unmeritorious. “The ruling of justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court delivered on April 5 is hereby affirmed’’, the judge held. One would have thought that given clear constitutionally laid down guidelines to be followed for the removal of judges coupled with recent judicial pronouncements in recent cases pitting the federal government against some judges, wise counsel would have guided the federal government’s handling of the current allegations leveled against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen. According to a public commentator, Jite Ogunye, writing for Premium Times: The most important reason why the CJN ought not to have been charged before the CCT, let alone being prepared for arraignment is because the charge is illegal and unconstitutional. In NGANJIWA V. F. R.N, 2018, 4NWLR, Part 1609, Page 301, at page 339, para. G-page 352, para. E, the Court of Appeal (Lagos Division) held that no serving judge in Nigeria can be investigated or tried in a court of law, without first being removed from the Bench. A petition first must have been written against the judge, and he must have faced an administrative disciplinary process of the NJC for an alleged violation of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, found guilty, recommended, by the NJC, for removal from office, and removed from office by the Executive arm of government. In short, only dismissed judicial officers can be investigated and prosecuted by the anti-corruption agencies.

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AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON e-mail: fajalive1@gmail.com mobile phone: (08182223348 - SMS Only)

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hat you are about to read is not a Nollywood script rooted in one of Nigeria’s tropical villages. It is not an attempt at humour , satire or some literary device. Some of our friends we initially shared this encounter with were bemused, thinking it was an elaborate dig at creative writing. No, it happened to my family and me... a real and hair-raising danger...in two gulps! Follow me... Friday, January 11, 2019, she knocked on our door about 2a.m. (pre-dawn)! In near panic but somehow subdued: “Daddy, please come to the boy’s room!� I had merely dozed for about an hour before the awakening, and so was groggy with sleep and worry. Apparently, she didn’t want to alarm her Mum, and yet it was urgent for me to intervene... “There’s tchtch in the room!� My brain registered “thief in the house�! And I started calculating our last encounter with a thief... “God, wetin we do these people sef ...?� was the thought tormenting my dislocated mind, until she screamed the reality, aided by a more agitated voice further behind: “There’s a snake in the house, and Kehinde needs your help!!� My eyes cleared, my brain buckled up. Snake! Oh, I hate and dread snakes. The room I entered was in a more vigorous mess than I had ever seen it, with Kehinde standing on the bed, pointing at the opposite wall where he had used two of his painting stuff to barricade the unwanted visitor! Momentarily, I smiled at the irony that he could sacrifice any of his stuff for such a killing... likely to damage the works. He must have thought his Dad was overwhelmed by the occasion. In some shock. But he screamed for a stick, anything to use...then petrol, kerosene, any inflammable to smoke it out. All his demands were backed with hysteria! So, first was to calm the ruckus, and see if it was really a snake...in the room...at two midnight...or a heightened artistic mind deprived of good long sleep. How can a snake be in a room in the centre of a city like Lagos... no bush , no brushes, no trees...? Then, I saw the thing...dust brown with some deeper hues at its back...coiled and trapped. I recoiled... amazed, shocked, frightened and mesmerised - all at once. But, something pushed me into action. We got a pestle (the ‘child’ of the big mortar our Grandma used in pounding yam)... a tiny portion of petrol (no diesel or kerosene was available). He sprinkled it on the snake, alongside his art stuff, while I was to strike the matches, and cremate the infernal rogue who had stolen our sleep and peace... Pliik ... Pliik ... Pliik ... Each attempt had the stick petering out before it could ignite the bonfire .... Either tired of our panicked tantrums, or

WITH

realising the danger of being bathed in fuel, the snake surged out of the corner, slithering alarmingly over the floor across to the other side. Instead of smashing the pestle on its back, or hit it with anything available, we also flew in different directions... I was so mesmerised by the actuality of a brown two-foot snake (yes, I measured it!) in that tiny room that all I could do was watch its incredible panic, and pray it would not go towards my people outside. It made an unfortunate decision: it lodged at a corner underneath what served as an all-purpose commode: a study, an ealsel , a bookcase, wardrobe, store, etc. A now-composed Kehinde started smashing the last sighting point, and wanted to pour three litres of fuel on it and burn the object of his annoyance to hell. I appealed to him to calm down, and use very little fuel, for that “ointment� is uncontrollable if not well-handled, and also, we should get buckets of water laced with detergent handy before roasting it. Others were already Google-ing “how to kill a snake in a living room�... so, all sorts of suggestions added to the cacophony. My greatest fear was the snake escaping our watch, and not knowing where it was lodging... Then, sleeping and even living in the house would be a relentless nightmare. “God, we have to get this ‘thing’,� I prayed continually. Though, he eventually used less than half of what he probably planned to use... when he lit the area in one strike, the ferocity of the fire caused another stampede. Whao ... fueled fire in harmattan, even under controlled environment, is a dangerous spectacle. Many horrible, forgettable thoughts seared my brain as we battled to control the inferno. He was stunned at the rapid

spread and the intensity of smoke... His first reaction was: “It’s finished...let’s leave...let’s leave, Dad...�. This was after the buckets of soapy water had quelled just a section...the follow-up water by our “fire-women� was plain (Abeg, never use ordinary water to quench any fire outbreak) and it acted like additional fuel .... By now, we had forgotten the snake, it was how to prevent the entire house from “catching� fire that consumed us. But God intervened...the hungry fire lost its appetite with more soaked towels, and more soapy water...and the bold, frenetic, almost acrobatic acts of my son in beating “sense� into the fire. Then, crazily (on hindsight) I isolated the last tongues of fire around the snake’s hideout. Bagger must die! When the fire simmered, and we lifted the charred stuff it was hiding under, the snake had turned to a “barbecue�! So, few minutes after 3a.m. , we sat outside... wet, trembling, excited, exhausted, grateful... thanking and praising God for the double victories. We swapped stories and yabis around our actions and behaviours in the one-hour midnight drama. And not a soul around us knew what we escaped! Unable to sleep any more, we could not help but continue to magnify the acts and mercies of God in our lives, and hope this narrative provides some sort of vicarious experience to others when such incident comes up. We could easily have lost infinitely more than we lost to the fire, or got biten in multiple places (I count about three times we fell sprawling on the soapy surface of the tiled floor) - or, God forbid, both the snake and fire taking desperate pot-shots at us...in fact, the potential for tragedy was quite high. But here we are, still standing, and we are alive, to the glory of God. Much later, we received all sorts of concerned homilies and palliatives - how to keep snakes out of living quarters. We found out from worried friends and family members all kinds of antidotes and attack mechanisms: place drops of honey in likely inlets around the house...or use papers soaked in honey... the smell of honey, bitter kola (Orogbo in Yoruba), garlic, etc, can drive snakes to death, literally! Someone suggested that since at 24-26 inches long, it might be the young one of a careless mother, we should, therefore, conduct an extensive search, especially the ceiling areas...and then fumigate regularly. Another popular advice was the sprinkling of “holy-water� around the house, since snakes usually stay away from human habitation, this might be a “spirit�-led emissary from the banks of hell, and only the Holy Spirit can stop them in their tracks. Whatever it was that attracted the slithering visitor, it is a grateful and thoughtful heart that is narrating what could easily have been something unspeakable. Compliments of the season!

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

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EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Diligence v. Hard Work

EBERE WABARA

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AILY Sun Front Page of January 16 muddled up ‘diligence’ and ‘hard work’: “He said from the way the award came he was convinced it was based on pure recognition of diligence, hardwork (sic) (hard work) and dedication to duty by staff and management (the staff and management) of JAMB.â€? ‘Diligence’ encompasses ‘hard work’, ‘carefulness’ and ‘thoroughness’. Got the point? â€œâ€Śstating that N1 trillion out of the N12 trillion borrowed over three years could have solved majority (a majority) of the country’s infrastructure (infrastructural) problems.â€? (THISDAY Front Page, January 12) “Oshiomhole: S’East can’t trust PDP again after 16 years (years’) betrayalâ€? (Source: as above) “OGSO alumni meets (meet) in Lagosâ€? “May Allah continue to grow you prosperously in all your endeavour (in your entire endeavours ).â€? “May your gentle soul find rest in the bossom (bosom) of the Lord.â€? â€œâ€ŚUgwuanyi said for recognizing those making outstanding contributions to the country’s development, The Sun will (would) continue to rise and be celebrated.â€? “He said he wholeheartedly accepts (accepted) the award and appreciates (appreciated) it.â€? The two extracts above from the window of DAILY Sun of January 14 fall into what is known as reported speech, which is usually in past tense. â€œâ€Śto avoid the inevitable conflict of interest (interests)‌.â€? (DAILY SUN Editorial, January 14) From the Business Report of January 14 comes the next headline blunder: “Nigeria can be West Africa (Africa’s) auto industry’s powerhouseâ€? “Back to Soil (Back-to-Soil) series ‘ll encourage Nigerians to go into farmingâ€? (Source: as above) “Like (As) I said earlier‌.â€? Let us continue with a visit to Champion House, Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos: “Soldiers take over troubled spotsâ€? Let peace reign: trouble

BY

spots. “ Post election violence spreadsâ€? (Vanguard Headline, December 19) Towards a better life for the people: Post-election violence‌. Yet another headline solecism from Vanguard of the next day: “Post poll violence continuesâ€? Solution as above. Somebody should inform editors at Kirikiri Canal of this recurring lapse. “Man killed in car accidentâ€? (Vanguard Headline, December 19) Why not ’’Man dies in car accident?’’ He was not killed! “Nigerian loses his life in a ghastly auto crash in Greece.â€? It was a fatal (not ghastly) accident. “President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, expressed sadness over the sporadic violent protest (protests)‌.â€? (Vanguard, December 19) The next headline blunder is from last week’s edition of this medium: “Police arrest four over Maiduguri explosionâ€? Do we arrest the entire editorial team for (not over) lexical recklessness? “Bribery enthrones mediocrity and crucify merit.â€? (Source: as above) The Tabernacle of bribery crucifies merit. “Gang up against Buhari will failâ€? (NIGERIAN Tribune Headline, 15 December) Phrasal verb: gang up; noun: gang-up (which applies here). “We were treated to another similar incidence.‌â€? All newspapers should know the difference between ‘incidence’ and ‘incident’ (which is the correct etymology here). “Although the governor’s last minute romance with the main opposition party is held against him.‌â€? Saturday People: last-minute (take note of the hyphen) romance‌. “Thus, a core investor‌with regards to optimal use of the machinery.‌â€? (THE GUARDIAN, December 12) Either: as regards or with regard to‌. “In the heydays of the goggled General when fuel was often unavailable‌â€? (THE GUARDIAN, December 20) Stranglehold of oil workers: heyday (uncountable). “Last year, many houses of the Igbo in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos, were razed down.‌â€? (THISDAY, December 20) No word abuse: simply razed (not razed down). Discard

the contrary views by some registers! Yet another headline gaffe: “Restrictions on inter-bank foreign exchange trading is (are) killing the market.â€? “Armed robbers now have good company— street thugs and unofficial vigilante groups.â€? (THE GUARDIAN, December 20) Democracy as a disincentive: vigilance groups. “2015: Jonathan points accusing fingers at INEC‌.â€? (DAILY TRUST, December 20) People in the news: Jonathan points the finger. No obtuse addition. “Nigeria is at a crossroadâ€? (VANGUARD, December 25) Fixed expression: at a/ the crossroads. “Stationeries badly needed by.‌â€? (DAILY INDEPENDENT, December 20) ‘Stationery’ is non-count. “But what appears criminal is the desire of these off-springs of.‌â€? ‘Offspring’ does not take any inflection. The next three goofs are from VANGUARD of December 20: â€?‌the process of economic integration from which will emerge an economic block (bloc).‌â€? “There is a tussle going on between these two (would it have been three?) arms of government.â€? “Nigerian leaders and politicians have continued to adopt and acquiesce to (in).‌â€? “Globacom sets (set) to rule domestic marketâ€? (Nigerian Tribune, December 20) “I have been briefed that the wrangling among the leaders of PDP are (is) over.â€? (SUNDAY VANGUARD, December 24) BusinessDay of December 20 disseminated an embarrassing impropriety: “Now that the Police has (have) taken over the supervision of the‌.â€? â€œâ€Śand ensure it does not reoccur again.â€? (THE GUARDIAN, December 20) ‘Reoccur again’? Run for cover, my dear reader! Just recur. Recur, recurrence, recurrent. Occur, occurred, occurrence. “Lack of incentives anger ( angers ) local manufacturersâ€? (THE GUARDIAN, December 20)

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“They provide temporary relief.â€? (Source: as above) ‘Temporary relief? I strongly object to that clumsy expression because there is no permanence in ‘relief’. THE PUNCH of December 20 circulated three solecisms: “The patients pay for each act of ‘healing’ through their noses.â€? Get it right: they pay through the nose. “At the launching programme (launch) in Abuja.‌â€? “Acursory look at the figures show (shows) that.‌â€? Daily Sun of December 19 circulated copious shibboleths: “The end point is that people wait for between three to five hours to pay in their drafts.â€? English without tears: between three and five. “With the attainment of the highest office at any strata of government‌.â€? Singular: stratum; plural: strata/ stratums . “It may be difficult for Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu to resurrect again politically after his disastrous outing in the presidential elections.â€? Please, yank off ‘again’ in the interest of lexical sanity and our democracy. “They better not rely on INEC.â€? This way: They had better not rely on INEC. “Like (As) we had said at various forums‌.â€? “So, the government cannot ask the Supreme Court to interprete the law.â€? Spell-check: interpret â€œâ€Śthe reduction in the number of road accidents and causalities.â€? This way: casualties. “...to that extent, we shall congratulate its authors for (on/upon) hearing the deafening cry of Nigerians for an effective legislature.â€? (Nigerian Tribune, December 20) â€œâ€Śwere simultaneously a continuation of the power-bloc struggle in Nigeria and unanticipated fallouts from that struggle.â€? ‘Fallout’ is uncountable. “Out-of-control trailer crushes 15 persons to deathâ€? When people are crushed by a trailer, they cannot be alive except there is divine intervention. So, ‘crushed to death’ smacks of lexical insensitivity.

PERSPECTIVE

ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžË? Ă’Ă?Ă˜ Ă–Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Vincent Obia

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here is glamour, glitz, and glam. Quality and elegance, staff and guests sashaying in shapes and colours of designer labels. A huge party, complete with flashing blue disco lights and comperes doing what they know best. Black is also on display, with most guests loyal to a black tie dress code. And the hall decoration: a portrayal of class and the reliability and ubiquity of blue. Each and every little thing about the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Merit Awards and Corporate Dinner is a reflection of the new management led by Dr. Dakuku Peterside. A tough act to follow, Dakuku knew what he wanted when he led his team to organise a night out for maritime stakeholders and other members of corporate Nigeria, individuals and groups continually striving for achievement, producing results, and delivering progress: a celebration of excellence. Aptly tagged ‘A Nautical Night of Excellence’, it is an evening to honour outstanding industry stakeholders and NIMASA staff. The date is January 12, and venue, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. “The maritime industry in Nigeria has grown from strength to strength, especially in the past two years,� Dakuku says. “Our stakeholders, players in the industry are doing great exploits. They are breaking old records, they are setting new standards.� He explains, “Today, it is globally acknowledged that Nigeria is a force to reckon with in the maritime community. All of this could not have been possible without our people. Our people are the reason we are making giant strides, doing great things. Their sacrifice, their selflessness, their commitment, the professionalism, and their resilience. “Aside from our people, our stakeholders

Dakuku flanked by some of the long service awardees, Director, Internal Audit, Victor Onuzuruike (right), and another awardee have been wonderful. We acknowledge that in the industry, we are facing a lot of tailwinds. Despite these challenges, our stakeholders have been resilient, they are doing great exploits, they are making giant strides. “So tonight, we have gathered all of you, great and mighty men and women, to celebrate our people, to celebrate our stakeholders, to celebrate excellence, to celebrate the resilience of a people, to celebrate accomplishment , to celebrate the best of the best.â€? The quality of attendance matches the classiness of the venue. Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar ( rtd ); Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; and renowned economist, entrepreneur, and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu, were among the crème de la crème of Nigerian

business and politics at the occasion. Others were the governors of Edo, Kebbi, and Ondo states, Godwin Obaseki, Abubakar Bagudu, and Rotimi Akeredolu, respectively. It was hosted by Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, and chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who was represented by Minister of Budget and Planning, Udo Udoma. Royal fathers of the day were the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, and the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi. There were also heads of maritime agencies and captains of maritime industry, including Chairman of the NIMASA Board, General Jonathan India Garba ( rtd ); president of Nigerian Ship Owners Association, Aminu Umar; chairman of the Nigerian Ship Owners Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orak-

wusi; former Director General of NIMASA, Temisan Omatseye, among others. NIMASA organised the shindig not only to honour outstanding staff and industry players, but also to entertain them. Music acts, like Mr. Easy, Flavour, Tiwa Savage, and Rude Boy Paul, combined performances with bantering comperes – Osakioduwa, Chi Girl, and Toby Bakare – to make the congenial event even more glorious. The awardees’ list is most telling evidence of a newfound regulator-operator harmony in the Nigerian maritime industry. They include MAERSK Nigeria Limited, Shipping Company of the Year 2018 - Vessel Traffic (Foreign) award; GAC Shipping Nig. Ltd, both Shipping Company of the Year 2018 - Cargo Throughput (Foreign) and Shipping Company of the Year 2018 (Regulatory Compliance) Foreign; and West Atlantic Port Services was Indigenous Shipping Company of the Year 2018 - Vessel Traffic. Highlights of the awards included the Special Recognition Award for the mid-sea rescue of 13 passengers after a PDSC incident given to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited got, and Special Posthumous Recognition Award for Sea Rescue Bravery given to a young man, Joseph Blankson, for sacrificing his life to rescue 12 other passengers involved in a boat mishap in Rivers State. The moment turned briefly solemn as Blankson’s mother and family members mounted the stage to receive the award on behalf of their late son, their faces breaking into sobs and tears, amid sombre expressions from the audience. Despite the bitter tone, Blankson got a standing ovation for his bravery and act of kindness. Especially noteworthy is the Special Recognition Award given to Amaechi by maritime stakeholders.

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Lota Chukwu Growing Up Was Fun…. I Spent Most of My Time Reading Books, Climbing Trees and Learning to Cook UYOYOU ADIA I Wanted to Be a Footballer But Things Didn’t Work pg. 48

Doris Ariole’s Stories Rated Among Top 20 Movies of 2018 pg. 50

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR LOTA CHUKWU

Growing Up Was Fun…. I Spent Most of My Time Reading Books, Climbing Trees and Learning to Cook Though, Jenifa’s Diary threw Lota Chukwu to limelight, she has grown quickly to earn herself a place in the hearts of producers. Recently, at the 2018 ELOY Awards, organised to celebrate women of excellence who are blazing the trail in their chosen fields, Lota won the Actress of The Year (TV and Web Series) for her role in the TV series, Ajoche. This 29-year-old talented and stunning queen of the silver screen talks to Chinedu Ibeabuchi about her career progression and why 2018 is undoubtedly her best year so far

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owwouldyoudescribe growing up? Always wanted to be an actor?

Growing up was fun. I was brought up in a small and quiet town. So, moving to Lagos was a bit of a cultural shock. I spent most of my time reading books, climbing trees and learning to cook. I was definitely brought up in a place of love, care and peace. I grew up wanting to be an engineer or a doctor, professional careers that children in the 90s wanted to be. The older I grew, the more I found my interests elsewhere and I couldn’t wait to be old enough to pursue those interests. Top of the list was acting and as soon as I could, I moved to Lagos to hone my craft and chase my dream.

Did your parent support your acting dreams or they wanted you to be something else? My parents had no idea what I wanted to do, but the minute they found out, I had to prove to them I knew what I was getting in. Lucky for me, we already had a relationship based on trust, so, it was easy for me to get them on my side.

What are the biggest challenges you faced trying to break into the industry? I guess I faced the same challenges newbies face in their acting career. Being turned back and told no, messing up at auditions due to fright are some of them I remember.

From when you started your career till now, what has changed? A lot has. From the basic things like being recognised in the market to being recognised by some people, I looked up to growing. Still, I try to keep myself grounded and spend my time doing the same old things I love like cooking, writing, spending time with my dogs etc.

How would you describe your career year in 2018? It’s been a fulfilling year. It’s undoubtedly my best year so far, career-wise as both an actress and a food show host/creator. I featured in a couple of movies, some out already to great reviews and others will be coming out in 2019. I played the lead on an

M-Net telenovela, and my portrayal of the character has been applauded by fans and movie critics alike. I launched two new shows (Lota Takes Short and Lota’s Chow Files) in addition to my already running show, Lota Takes. So all in all, I’m very grateful because 2018 was super amazing.

Aside the fame, would you say acting is a sustainable career for you? Definitely. The fame has never been a motivation for me, neither has the financial rewards been. I’ve been blessed to be getting both and I’m very grateful to God for it. So far, it’s been great and I’m hopeful it will get even better.

What are those factors you consider before taking a script? For me, a script has to speak to my art. I love characters that challenge me and stretch me beyond what I’ll normally do. Also, I love stories that are interesting. Stories that I believe the audience would want to watch. I have to be able to put myself into that story and my disbelief has to be suspended. If I don’t believe the character I’m portraying, I doubt my audience will too.

New generation of actors are often accused of popularity seekers and lack creative skills. Do you agree with this? I think we are in an age of being seen. This is the era of social media and a lot of actors now understand that we are in the business of show: showbiz. I think we are all looking for avenues where we can get faster into the peripheral vision of our fans and producers alike. As for creativity, I believe that actors are only as good as the opportunities we are given. Not everyone is lucky enough to have played characters that show their acting prowess. Until such opportunities have come, we’d never know who is good or bad.

Who are your role models in the industry? There are so many talented actors in Nollywood who I look up to, and it would be an injustice to myself to pick one. Funke Akindele, Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde etc... These are some of the women who have influenced my career.

Chukwu

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SHOWBIZFLAIR Growing Up Was Fun….

Growing up was fun. I was brought up in a small and quiet town. So, moving to Lagos was a bit of a cultural shock. I spent most of my time reading books, climbing trees and learning to cook. I was definitely brought up in a place of love, care and peace. I grew up wanting to be an engineer or a doctor, professional careers that children in the 90s wanted to be How do you contend with raunchy fans? Honestly, I’ve been quite lucky and those things don’t come my way.

Aside acting, what else do you do? I’m a food enthusiast, a lover of all things food... So most times I’m always working on either one of my three shows, ‘Lota Takes’ ‘Lota Takes Short’ and ‘Lotas Chow Files’. The shows also grant me the opportunity of sharing my knowledge about food and learning in the process. I also write, sketch etc...

When should your fans look forward to seeing your produced movie? My fans will be the first but right now, I’m acting, not producing. For everything, there is a right time.

What can you say about piracy in Nigeria? I think it’s wrong and thank God there’s a lot of awareness going on right now about the damage it is doing or has done so I’m glad everyone is working hard to end it as soon as possible.

What is your utmost advice for aspiring men and women thinking of going into acting? Skills and talent are very important. It goes beyond having just a pretty face or nice body... you need to be really talented. Also, acting is hard work, and you must be disciplined. Above all, you need God’s grace.

Many still see Nollywood as still behind. Do you share the same view? What are those touches you feel are still missing to make Nollywood at par with Hollywood? I think Nollywood as an industry is really growing, we’ve come a long way, right now we are dominating the cinemas and I think we are doing great. I think all that is missing to bridge the gap is the audience and finance.

Finally, can you share briefly your family background? I’m the last in a family of four. I am from Nsukka in Enugu State. I grew up in Benin City but had to relocate to Lagos to chase my acting career. I grew up watching my mother cook, and I hope to pass that knowledge on to my daughters someday.

Chukwu

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Uyoyou Adia

I Wanted to Be a Footballer But Things Didn’t Work Budding filmmaker, actress and scriptwriter, Uyoyou Adia ended 2018 on a high note with three awards for her short film, ‘Lost’. She talks to Tosin Clegg about filmmaking, her works, personal life and so much more

Adia

I have been a filmmaker for a year now came into the industry fully in October 2017. I had done a couple of acting gigs in 2013 or thereabout, but I decided to take a break because of school, so I came back fully in October 2017. 2018 was a surprising year. I didn’t think I would be where I am right now, within a year. It’s been full of speed and it’s been a fast-learning process for me.

I

I have acted in just two movies One of them is my short film, ‘Lost’, which I directed. I also took part in a feature film but I’m not allowed to disclose the name just yet since it’s not out. That is left for the producers. I also produced a short movie, ‘Roots’. My first year in the movie industry As I said, it’s been a year of speed. It’s been an eye-opening year for me. I’ve quickly learnt how and when to do the things I want to do. I’ve learnt how to do almost everything in the filmmaking business. In the space of one year, I’ve had a couple of acting jobs, writing gigs and all that. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt so far is to be humble To be very honest, entering into the industry, I used to hear a lot of existing filmmakers, the people we look up to, tell their stories from the past. They always used to say how someone gave them a chance, or someone took a chance on them. So, I always asked, if someone gave them a chance, why don’t they take a chance on us young filmmakers? But then I got to look past that. The fact that they are not giving me a chance does not mean they are not giving someone else a chance. So, I

quit feeling being entitled to their help and just worked myself up. It’s not like I was proud, but then, I wasn’t humble enough to accept that I was not good enough. So right now, that was my biggest lesson learnt this past year. My short film won three awards Like people always say, it is a family film. They call it the Adia family film because it stars my brother, myself and my mum. I shot it on my phone and it was a project that I gave birth to because of the African Smartphone International Film Festival where I won the award. I did that project because of the festival in particular. I was on a project that went into the festival in 2017 and I challenged myself to shoot a film with a phone for that festival. The story came about when I realised that most of the films that touch on depression or mental health issues almost always address the female gender. It felt like the male gender does not go through it. It felt like they were not depressed, it felt like they were the strong ones, it felt like nothing gets to them. So, I wanted to tell a different side of the story to let people know that it could happen to anybody. Nobody is safe. Sometimes, no matter how strong the male gender wants to appear to be, they are not always that strong. Sometimes I write stories based on what is happening around me and what society is going through at the time. As at the time I wrote that script, there was a lot of discourse about depression going on. So I got my inspiration from all that. I had to deal with depression in my secondary school and didn’t finish when my mates did. I had to return to school for an extra year and that really kept me down. But the thing is, I don’t like being pitied. No matter how depressed I am or how down I feel, I like to look at the people around me and

know the friends that can help lift my spirit. I never let it get that far that I start having suicidal thoughts. I’ve only had suicidal thoughts once in my life, and that was during my Pre-degree days. Because I was delayed in secondary school and the following year, I managed to pass, I went for my pre-degree in UNAAB, Now FUNAAB, Abeokuta, I didn’t pass that as well and I knew my dad was going to be really furious with me and I didn’t want to go back home. At that point, I considered suicide. I had to call my mum and explain to her. After that, I have never contemplated suicide.

to get into the Accelerate Filmmaker Project this year. I made it to the top 15 but I couldn’t continue because I had somewhere to be. But ‘Lost’ was my baby project and to see it bring back this result was amazing.

I didn’t know I wanted to act Acting came at a later time for me. I wanted to be a footballer. My dad wanted that for me also but things didn’t work out as planned. Acting came at a time when a friend of mine wanted to tell a story and he didn’t have people to act for him. He asked me if I was interested and I said, yes. From that moment, I knew this was it. I’ve always wanted to be in the entertainment industry but I didn’t know where exactly I would fit. So, when he asked if I would go into acting, I said, yes. I did it and I told myself this is the industry I want to be in.

I don’t have a spec This is not being cliché, but I just need the person in question to be God-fearing. I believe if you are Godfearing, fear go catch you to do some kind things. If you’re God-fearing, that means you love God which also means that you will love me the way God loves you. If you’re God-fearing, that means, as much as you have respect for God, you have respect for me as your partner. I also like someone that believes in my hustle, someone that supports my hustle, someone who believes in me, what I’m about and what I’m doing. And please let him be fine too. I like fine people.

Winning three awards in one night As you can believe, I was over the moon, like I didn’t know how to feel. As I said, I made that film specifically for that festival and for them to select my film first of all, I was very grateful. I was always questioning if the film was good enough to get into the festival. But when it got selected, I was happy. And then winning in three categories, I was blown away. This is one year into film making and that was my directorial debut, it was the first film I wrote. Before now, I had done a one-minute short film

I do have admirers But honestly, I’m just more focused on myself, making myself a better person right now and building a career than I’m more concerned about a relationship. I’m not worried one bit. There’s a time for everything. You cannot rush into something and rush out of it.

I love listening to music a lot I love watching movies. I love playing football as you know and I love hanging around friends. My mum is a very dramatic person At that point when I was shooting, I didn’t have an alternative but she was a perfect choice because the chemistry between her and my brother was already there. So, I didn’t even think about it twice. I’m not trying to draw her in, but I think she will do a couple of films for me in the near future.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

Tosin Clegg 07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY

Gists PEFTI FILM INSTITUTE PARTNERS COVENANT UNIVERSITY

PEFTI Film Institute recently partnered Covenant University to provide added practical training for the university’s Mass Communication undergraduates. The intensive session lasted from 16th – 22nd December 2018 and took place at PEFTI Campus in Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos State.

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The Film and Broadcast Workshop, organised by PEFTI, integrated Content Creation, Script-Writing, Acting, Cinematography, Directing and Editing. The 105 students were in the capable hands of PEFTI’s best lecturers, as well as two renowned industry practitioners who have worked with several notable brands - Steve Sodiya (Wedding Party 1 & 2, Figurine, Wives on Strike, etc) and John Adeloju (Google, X-Factor, AFRIMA, etc). During the one-week session, the 200, 300 and 400 Level Mass Communication undergraduates also visited wapTV, Nigeria’s leading Family Entertainment TV channel, where they received thorough, realworld experience with the operations of different departments at the station. They even co-hosted interactive live programmes which were watched by millions of viewers across Nigeria via all Satellite TV providers of wapTV Network; namely DStv 262, StarTimes 116, GOtv 102, StarSat 189, PlayTV 275 and MyTV. The Managing Director of PEFTI, Abiola Adenuga said: “We are really grateful to the Covenant University team who made this possible; especially the Mass Communication H.O.D. - Dr. Olusola Oyero; and the lecturers – Dr. Oscar Odion Odiboh, Dr. Suleimanu Usaini, Dr. Olatunji Oyedepo, Miss Tolulope KayodeAdedeji and Miss Thelma Ekanem. The students had lots of fun at PEFTI while they were taught best industry practices, as well as very practical tutorage with all the latest gadgets; including RED Cinematic Camera, Canon 5D MK IV camera, a wide range of Camera Drones and other ultramodern recording and broadcast equipment.”

ISIOMA SAMSON

Determination Keeps Me Going Isioma Samson is a model of a unique class who started her career with Pages Modelling Agency before moving to Fabulousdotcom Models, South Africa. Isioma tells Tosin Clegg how she overcame rejection at the beginning of her modelling career, her works so far and lots more

TOMRICE ENTERTAINMENT WORLDWIDE KICKS-OFF WITH TWO ACTS

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hy the choice of modelling?

Tomrice Entertainment Worldwide is a distinctive record label that is set to focus on what is important and this is by investing in the music and the talent behind the music. They believe in creating collaborative and innovative techniques using unique strategies to project their artistes to the environment which is created for artistes to thrive and reach their maximum potential in an atmosphere free of stress. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, which held on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, the General Manager of TREW, Olumide Mark, said he intends to focus on what is important by investing in music and the talent behind the music via the platform. “We believe in creating collaborative and innovative techniques using unique strategies to project

our artistes to the world. For us we see a bright future, one in which an enabling environment is created for artistes to thrive and reach their maximum potential in an atmosphere free of stress,” he said The management also used the opportunity to unveil two budding acts, Franklin Chukwunonso with the stage name Billi, and Isaac Osemudiamen a.k.a Isick to the music label, describing them as the next big thing in Nigerian music space. Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the label, Nduka Obasi expressed optimism that both artistes embodied several talents in terms of melodies with meaningful content that will cut across the globe. “I have no doubt signing these talented artistes because they are blessed with musical skills that will change the face of music,” he said.

I’m from Delta State but was born and bred here in Lagos and after my secondary school, I decided to go into modelling. Then I started going for auditions but unfortunately, I wasn’t picked, but I still kept on going. It has just been a passion and that’s why sometimes if I go for casting and I wasn’t picked I would keep on pushing and looking out for what’s in others that I don’t have. There was something I started with then; I used to go and catwalk and wear upcoming designers’ clothes, and that was the first step I took.

Tell us about your works so far?

I have worked with several corporate brands such as Nandos (SA), True Worth (SA), Snapcash for Sterling Bank (Nigeria) and have also done some fornFashion Designers such as David Tlale (SA), Esé Azénabor Atelier (USA), Martele Agele (NIG), Tsotetsi (SA) and many more.

What’s exceptional about you?

I’m determined and have been through a lot. So, I’m the kind of person that puts my mind to something and go with all I have to achieve it. Modelling is so cut throat and there are a lot of fine girls but my determination keeps me going.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

With scores of screenplays to her credit, Doris Ariole is passionate about improving the quality of Nollywood films, with her reputation soaring daily among notable producers looking to offer the market better quality movies

Doris Ariole’s Stories Rated Among Top 20 Movies of 2018

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ivemovieswritten by Doris Ariole are among the top 20 movies of 2018 on iROKOtv, based on audience reviews

and ratings. The movies are Love in Sight, Akunne, Never Yours, Expired Maiden and In Every Way. In the ratings released last week by the entertainment platform, Love in Sight was audience’s third favourite movie of 2018, Akunne earned fifth place, In Every Wayearned 8th place, Expired Maiden was 9th and Never Yours was 13th, according to viewers’ estimations. Highly jubilant of her feat, as expressed on her Instagram handle, @dorisariole, she believes that her biggest awards as a storyteller, which she prefers to call herself, will be audience reviews and ratings. With scores of screenplays to her credit, Doris Ariole is passionate about improving the quality of Nollywood films, with her reputation soaring daily among notable producers looking to offer the market better quality movies. An Amaka Igwe acolyte, Doris has often demonstrated that a good film always starts with a good script, which is a good story well told, and then the good script gets

into the hands of a good team. This forms part of her mantra when writing a script. Her first Nollywood script was Sister’s Love in 2006, which featured Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade Ekehinde as biological sisters. It explored sibling rivalry. Her directorial debut, Benevolence, featuring Kalu Ikeagwu in a lead role, was nominated for the Most Inspirational Feature Film at the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, USA and got an AMVCA 2018 nomination. Aside from training under Amaka Igwe for about four years in the areas of acting, writing, producing and directing, Doris training with Delyork in 2014 was another big boost to her confidence to direct. She recently spent two months in America and London on a few advanced courses in story and script writing, the highest of them being under the world’s most sort after Story teacher, Robert McKee, a training her late mentor Amaka Igwe recommended. She hopes to bring her training and experience to fore in assisting budding and aspiring creative minds through her GOD IS A FILMMAKER initiative with maiden edition in January 2019. Doris on stage with cameramen

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Rihanna Steps out for 2019 Pop star, Rihanna, commanded attention while exiting Annabel’s private members’ club in London, where she attended a party on New Year’s Eve. The 30-year-old singer went braless in a plunging glittering silver gown which flaunted her cleavage and chest inking. She paired the sexy dress with cream-coloured fur coat and a pair of sparkling heels. The Umbrella hitmaker also accessorised with silver earrings and nineties-inspired silverrimmed glasses.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Î

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NEWSXTRA

Stop Cabal Embarrassing Your Government, G9 Tells Buhari

PEACE BUILDING... Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar being received by members of the United States Institute of Peace and Albright Stonebrige Group in Washington DC...yesterday

Buhari: Property Seized From Corrupt Politicians to be Sold John Shiklam Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‹

President Muhammad Buhari said yesterday that houses, companies and other property seized from “corrupt� politicians would be sold and the money plough into the treasury to avoid the mistake he made as a military Head of State in 1984. Speaking in Kaduna at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign rally at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Buhari said fighting corruption in a democracy is not easy. He recalled that upon becoming a military of Head of State in 1984, he arrested all corrupt politicians and detained them and after

investigations, their property stolen were seized. He, however, regretted that the seized property were returned to the thieves after he was over thrown. Buhari who spoke in Hausa language said: “Fighting corruption in a democracy is difficult, you know what I did before (as a military Head of State). I arrested the big men and detained them and I ordered for investigation. “Those who were found to have stolen, we seized their stolen things from them. “Only two people were not corrupt, the two of them have died - Bilyaminu Usman, Education Minister and Mallam Adamu Ciroma, former

2019: Orji Warns Ikpeazu’s Kinsmen Against Sabotaging Charter of Equity Emmanuel Ugwu Ă“Ă˜ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă’Ă“Ă‹

Senator Theodore Orji has said that the Abia charter of equity under which Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu became the first person from Ngwa stock to emerge governor of Abia is all inclusive and not just limited to the office of the state chief executive. He therefore warned the people of Ngwa against supporting other senatorial candidates who are challenging him for the senatorial seat as it would run counter to the spirit of equity from which the Ngwas are now benefiting. Orji, who represents Abia Central senatorial district, clarified the issue equity in Abia politics while addressing his kinsmen at two separate events at Ossah Ibeku where he inaugurated a new market and Emede where he opened a town hall and inaugurated a road project. His second term bid is being hotly challenged by the opposition senatorial candidates notably Nkechi Nwaogu of the All

Progressives Congress (APC) who was in the senate for eight years on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before Orji took over from her in 2015. He said that the Ngwa component of Abia Central comprising Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa should not support the opposition candidate because “Ngwa people cannot hold the governorship and senatorial positions at the same time.� The former governor said that he expected the Ngwa part of Abia Central to back his second term ambition so that equity could be fully served in all ramifications, adding that he has performed creditably to deserve a revalidation of his senatorial mandate in 2019. He reminded his kinsmen that it took his courageous decision to implement the state charter of equity and backed the Ukwa/Ngwa bloc to produce his successor when after completing his second tenure as governor of Abia before proceeding to the Senate.

Central Bank (CBN) governor and minister. They were not found guilty. “ He lamented that after he was overthrown the seized property were returned to thieves. “I was arrested and detained and the stolen property was returned to the thieves. “As God will have it, I am back again. This has strengthened my faith and by the grace of God, all those who looted this country, we will follow them one by one and arrest them. “All the property that have been seized from them; houses and companies would be sold and the money will be ploughed back into the treasury. “When I was arrested, they returned

the property to them, this time around we will sell the stolen property...� he said. According to him, his administration has fulfilled its promises to Nigerians. Buhari, however, promised to address problems of youths unemployment and security, especially the Boko Haram insurgency and kidnapping. Also speaking, the Director General of the Presidential Campaign and Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, urged Nigerians to reject the PDP, saying that the party had nothing to show for the 16 years it was in power.

Elections: FG Reads Riot Act to Political Acts over Firearms Build-Up, Hate Speech The federal government has read riot act to political actors over reports of firearms build-up with intent to threaten the electoral process and national security in the country ahead of the general elections starting next month. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Monguno (rtd), gave this warning on Friday during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja. Monguno who is the co-chairman of ICCES stressed that desperation of some politicians in circumventing the electoral laws, ethics, and moral dictates by resorting to thuggery, armed violence, disruption of the voting process, and vote buying, was another concern. According to him, “All of these constitutes not only serious electoral infractions, but major national security threats.� He warned that any political actor whose conduct threatens national security be dealt with. “Any political actor who by his or her conduct threatens the electoral process, contravenes the law or endanger national security and democratic values will be

isolated and dealt with in the most professional and pro-active manner. “Politicians are, therefore, strongly advised to place national security interests above narrow political considerations by situating all their electioneering activities within the provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws. “Electoral offences and sundry misconducts that could threaten national security and the electoral process will be decisively dealt with. “It needs to be emphasised that the level of responsibility and patriotism demonstrated by politicians and their loyalists are critical to the integrity of the electoral process and the credibility of the outcome,� he said. Monguno while urging Nigerians to resist the temptation of being used as cannon folders during the elections by ‘misguided and desperate politicians.�, charged all security agencies to protect citizens’ rights, within law. He also charged them to work in harmony and within professional and legal dictates, and shall collaborate effectively with the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in guaranteeing a successful 2019 General Elections.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to immediately stop the cabal that has consistently embarrassed his government from further dragging his administration in the mud. In a release by the G9, the umbrella body of all Self-Determination groups in the country and signed by its Convener Akogun Tola Adeniyi, the Jagun Oodua, the body laments what it calls the enthronement of dangerous double standards and provocative precedents. G9 cites the cases of Ali Modu Sheriff’s alleged laundering of N300 billion Borno funds, ex-Governor Adamu Muazu’s alleged corruption, ex-Governor Yuguda’s alleged money laundering, Senator Kwankwaso’s alleged diversion of N3.08 billion LGs funds, Shekarau’s alleged N950 million fraud, the Wamako case, Akpabio’s alleged N108 billion fraud. Orji Kalu’s alleged N3.2 billion fraud, and several other cases that were swept under the carpet once the alleged ‘fraudsters’ joined the ruling APC. So many other recent alleged frauds perpetrated by big names in the current administration that were left untouched were also cited. And yet the same Government pretending to

be fighting corruption is vilifying people in the Opposition parties as well as perceived enemies. In regard to provocative precedents G9 laments that since the unprecedented desecration of the office of the IGP by the government of Obasanjo with the vindictive persecution and humiliation of IGP Tafa Balogun the office of the IGP has not been accorded the historic respect and reverence from the Nigerian public again. While G9 believes that nobody is above the laws of the land it also believes in the sanctity and sacredness of institutions. Institutions are the pillars of civilized societies. We are duty bound to protect our institutions and should never sacrifice them on the altars of political expediency and jobbery. Under President Buhari, the Cabal fingered as the puppeteer of his administration has notoriously desecrated the hallowed offices of both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Buhari will go down in history as the first President to put his Senate President in the dock! It is a provocative precedent to destroy the national Assembly by getting it invaded by another arm of Government.

PSC to Monitor Policemen During 2019 Polls Ernest Chinwo Ă“Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said it would establish a team to monitor the conduct of policemen during the 2019 polls to ensure they are apolitical during the exercise. Speaking with journalists after a meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday, Commissioner in charge of South-south in the PSC, Mr. Austin Braimoh, said the action is aimed at addressing the negative contributions of the police to the electoral process . The meeting with the Rivers State governor lasted for over one hour. The meeting held behind closed doors. Also in attendance were the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Usman Belel, the representatives of the Commissioner of Police, Akwa

Ibom and Delta States. He said: “The Police Service Commission is setting up a team that will monitor the conduct of policemen during the general elections. “We are mindful of the fact of that in every wrong activity during any election, the Police are usually blamed. The new board has deemed it necessary to go round the zones and sensitise that the commission will not fold its hands to watch the election manipulated.� He said that the action is necessary because the Nigerian Police contribute 80 per cent of the security personnel for elections, hence the need for action to be taken. Braimoh said that a 12-point guideline has been drawn up to regulate the conduct of policemen during the elections. He said the guidelines have been circulated across the country.

Buhari’s Campaign: Tinubu’s Inuence not Limited to South-west, Says Bakare Bennett Oghifo

President Muhammadu Buhari made the proper choice of who to lead his re-election campaign by ceding the role to Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos, Mr. Hakeem Bakare has said. Recently, President Buhari, who was co-chair of his re-election campaign with Asiwaju Tinubu, relinquished the role and put the APC National Leader fully in charge. At their campaign rally, the president said, “Even though we have only 40 days, this campaign is going to task us all because we intend to touch all corners of our great and vast country. But I must also add that, though we will all be deeply involved, I would like to assure the nation that I

will do my part without making governance or my work suffer. “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my co-chairman, will be fully in charge and is going to be on 24-hour vigil. That is to say, the operational buck of this campaign stops at his table, and I, therefore, urge all of us in the leadership of this campaign, in the field operations on the campaign trail and in the Secretariat to consult with Asiwaju whenever guidance is needed.� Bakare, the APC chieftain, who spoke on the competence of the Asiwaju on sidelines of the campaign rally of the party in Lagos recently, said keen watchers of the National Leader of the APC, would easily recognise the fact that he wields immeasurable influence in all communities in the country.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚Î

NEWSXTRA

Buhari Meets with Miyetti Allah, Promises to End Herders-Farmers’ Clashes Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja appealed to cattle herders and farmers throughout the country to accommodate and tolerate one another, saying his administration was working towards finding a lasting solution to herders’ violence. The President, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made the promise when leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association on Nigeria (MACBAN), who had earlier endorsed him paid him a courtesy visit in the State House. According to the statement, the president appealed for calm among

all citizens, saying his government would give equal respect to all citizens irrespective of their ethnic, religious and geopolitical backgrounds. He quoted him as saying, “I appeal to all farmers and herders for restraint, mutual respect and tolerance for one another as people destined to live together in this great country. “I appeal for patience and understanding as the administration works towards lasting solutions to these conflicts.� The statement also said the president urged the herders to support him in the task of bringing lasting peace to the country and simultaneously called on state governors to work with the

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, whom he said had been mandated to work out a solution to the conflicts. According to the statement, the president had mandated Ogbeh to work out solutions to the crises in collaboration with the states in a way that herders will have access to water for their livestock and on the other hand, security guaranteed for farmers against the destruction of their farmlands. Shehu also said Buhari attributed part of the conflict between the two groups to the climate change phenomenon and population explosion, alleging that its politicisation by selfish individuals whom he said did not mean well for the country aggravated the matter.

Court AfďŹ rms Emenike as APC Guber Candidate in Abia Emmanuel Ugwu Ă“Ă˜ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă’Ă“Ă‹

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has suffered a setback in his bid to foist a particular governorship candidate on the Abia State chapter of the party as an Abuja High court Thursday affirmed Chief Ikechi Emenike as the authentic flag bearer. Two governorship candidates had emerged from parallel primaries of APC with Emenike emerging from the Dr. Emmanuel

Ndukwe state executives which have legal backing while Mr. Uche Ogah emerged from the faction led by Hon. Donatus Nwankpa. On November 29, 2018, an Abuja High Court in its ruling on suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3097/18 voided the candidacy of Mr. Ogah, saying that Chief Emenike was the validly nominated flag bearer of the party since he emerged from the authentic state leadership of Abia APC But in defiance of the court order, the national leadership of APC submitted Ogah’s name to

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which published his name on the list of governorship candidates. Still defying the court Oshiomhole on January 11, 2019, handed over the party flag to Ogah at a campaign rally organised by the faction that threw him up. While ignoring the court order Ogah and his Abia faction of APC went to the court and applied for stay of execution of the order voiding his candidacy to enable him to stand for the forthcoming governorship poll.

Umahi Flags-off PDP State Campaigns, Vows to Resist Any Form of Manipulation Benjamin Nworie Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ‹Ă•Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă“

Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, yesterday, flagged off the state campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party, reiterating that they will resist any form of manipulation that may hinder the credibility of the forthcoming general elections in the state. Speaking at Ikwo council area during the flag off, Umahi noted that though he has signed a peace pact for the free conduct of the elections but the smooth process would be

dependent on how security agencies and INEC comport themselves for a free and credible polls. The governor vowed to sanction any political and public office holders who engage in anti-party activities in the state. Umahi, who received over 5000 APC members into the PDP said he had nothing to fear concerning the election as those masquerading themselves as contenders lack moral justification. He however counted PDP’s achievement from 2015 till date

Coalition of Political Parties Adopt Buhari Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Coalition of Progressive Political Parties was said to have, yesterday in Abuja, endorsed the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari for February 16, 2019 presidential election. A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president who received members of the coalition in the State House, remarked that he respected their “consistency, firmness, integrity and steadfastness.� Adesina also quoted the president as saying, “I am happy with your decision to continue to support us. I respect your consistency from 2015 to date. “Your belief in one Nigeria is

admirable. This visit has raised my morale; you support us quietly, without noise, and it encourages us to press on.� The statement added that the leader of the coalition, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, stated that endorsing the president for a second term in office was spurred by “the many successes of the administration, including, strides in the fight against insurgency; efforts to redress the country’s huge infrastructural deficit; and the yeoman’s fight against corruption, among others.� It also said Ibrahim pledged that the coalition would campaign for Buhari round the country, confront fake news with facts and figures and added that a formal declaration of their support would be made soon.

and promised to provide more dividends of democracy to the state. “This is a wonderful start. People might not know this is ordinary local government campaign, but a zonal or state rally. The mobilisation today is unprecedented. We are taken notice of the mobilisation as we go round the 13 local government areas.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS ESTHER OMETERE ALABI Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ESTHER OMETERE ANYAKWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. I formerly known and addressed as MISS DICKSON, UDO EZINNE, Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDO OLAWALE PHILIP OLUWASEYE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as UGWAH PAUL, Now wish to be known and addressed as UGWAH PAUL DONATUS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME I, ANDREW GODSPOWER wish to correct my name which was wrongly written as ANDREW GODSPOWER GODSPOWER instead of ANDREW GODSPOWER. I now wish to be know and addressed as ANDREW GODSPOWER. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

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5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

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MISSILE

Agbaje to Sanwo-Olu “The governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, chastising the candidate of the APC, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.” – The governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, chastising the candidate of the APC, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Why Atiku’s US Trip is a Super Coup Against APC

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ellow Nigerians, this season of jolliness and bonhomie has not been the best of times for the ruling party, APC, and certainly not for its Presidential flagbearer, President Muhammadu Buhari. It may not be unfair to say that this has been one of the worst weeks since the President returned to power on May 29, not May 19, 2015. The President has come under a barrage of social media attacks for series of gaffes on his part in recent time. The first was the interview he granted the Editors of Thisday newspapers and their sister station, the fast rising, Arise News Channel. That amateurish video production was so dire and awful that had it not emanated from the Presidency it would have been condemned immediately as trash. As it is, it seems symptomatic of the malaise currently dogging the President and his team. The story was told of how the President’s handlers insisted they must handle the recording themselves and hand the tape over to Arise News Channel. That is fine, no problem, but the production turned out to be beneath acceptable standards of journalism and certainly belied the efficiency and perfection one would expect from the Presidential Team. The audio and vision were not the best, not to talk of the meat of the interview itself. The President came across as someone not too sure, or confident, of himself, and what his job entails. The unfortunate display which was avidly circulated by social media aficionados did not compliment the President at all. As if that was not bad enough, there was yet another interview, in quick, rapid-fire succession, organised on the governmentowned NTA. This one was a total PR disaster for President Buhari despite the fact that the cerebral Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was co-interviewed by one of the best television personalities in Nigeria, and beyond, Kadaira Ahmed, and in his inimitable intellectual, charismatic and charming manner, the Vice-President tried to limit the damage being done by his boss. As much as the interviewer tried to be mild-mannered and pleasant, unlike her usual combative style, the interview just didn’t flow in the right directions. Opportunities were missed and justifications and explanations were stilted. There were just too many negative soundbites which ignited cyberspace and in no time went viral globally. As they say, when it rains it pours, and this was the case for APC, two days ago, when The Boss, a popular online newspaper, broke the news of Atiku Abubakar’s trip to the United States of America. For over a decade Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had not been able to obtain a US visa talk less of travelling in that direction. It was one of the nagging questions I posed to him when I got an exclusive session with him in Lagos, long before he won the PDP ticket. His answer became a major point of controversy, as he told me, candidly, that he had applied for American visa and was yet to be granted. Naturally, his political enemies went ballistic and taunted me and him endlessly about his inability to enter the US, as if I was his spokesperson and more importantly as if a visit to the US was indeed a precondition for winning the Presidential election. Many swore that he would never surmount that

Atiku

obstacle, matter-of-factly. They stubbornly rejected the notion that if Atiku was afraid of America, he would never have attempted to apply for a visa, in the first instance and, that, if America wanted him so badly, he would have been granted the visa so that he could be snared and entrapped, or in the absence of that, he would have been put under International Police (Interpol) watch, and he would have long since been picked up on one of his frequent trips abroad. Truth is logic no longer knows logic in our climes. So, it was assumed that Atiku and America were on permanent divorce, due to irreconcilable differences. At a point, even the ruling party warned the United States not to be swayed or tempted to issue him the much sought-after visa, and everyone wondered if it was their business to dictate to America. Now, let’s fast forward. Atiku won the Presidential ticket of PDP and went about his business. His victory was dismissed by the APC as a non-event and its supporters even boasted, openly, that Atiku will never defeat Buhari. They never forgot to end by adding, “a man who cannot attempt to enter America.” But the ways of God are not the ways of man. The men of power began to flex muscles and subjected Atiku to subliminal attacks. A Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years, from 1999 to 2007, some courtesies that used to be extended to him were suddenly withdrawn. His plane was frisked, and he complained about being searched, more than usual, on return from one of his foreign trips, but the gentleman bore it all with equanimity. In no time, thereafter, rumours began to fly about the seeming and perceived intimidation of his supporters. His campaign found it tough to raise needed funds. No one wanted to fall into the hands of Buhari’s goons. But Atiku remained defiant and trudged on, like the old Roman soldier. His campaign was dissed as lacklustre, and not able to match Buhari’s fire-power and razzmatazz. All seemed tight and tough for Atiku but he maintained a steady focus. His campaign started at a slow but steady pace. Surprisingly, he kept packing the crowds, while the Director General of The Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign and The President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, remained uncharacteristically upbeat.

He was dancing so much at rallies that many began to wonder the source of his sauce. He constantly lit up the campaigns. Saraki and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, stewed so much as they danced Shaku Shaku style and tried to compete with our best choreographers. We didn’t have to wait long for answers to the posers. It landed, without warning, at my desk Thursday afternoon. I was on a flight from Monrovia, Liberia to Lagos, Nigeria, and was in transit in Accra Ghana, when it landed, thunderously. Scoops are the best meals of journalists. It won’t be wrong to call them our opium. Before we took off, I quickly drafted an urgent press release which I fired to our Editors. Their initial response was that of incredulity, but I told them to shoot immediately. No other media group should beat us to this. You only get such exclusives once in a green moon. By the time we landed in Lagos, I rushed to put on my phone and ran to open my biggest addiction, Twitter, something I share in common with President Donald Trump. I was happy our story was everywhere but sad our mainstream media seemed unable to confirm the biggest story of the year, or too scared to take a risk because they felt it was an impossibility. As soon as we disembarked, and I climbed into my waiting car, I zoomed to work on my phone, frantically. I called some impeccable contacts who gave me the blow by blow account of how Atiku left Nigeria, unannounced, and obtrusively, on his most important journey ever, the game-changer any politician would wish for, exactly one month to the biggest election of all time. I called the Editors and fired some more authoritative gist. We did an update on how Atiku left Lagos, in company of Saraki and Senator Ben Murray Bruce and others. Then my phones began to buzz. I was told Daily Trust has debunked our story based on an interview granted them by Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe. I simply ignored the talk of the story being fake. I expected Paul to avoid being so categorical but… We moved on knowing news bomb would soon explode and expose whoever was right or wrong. Shortly after, I saw the story on Cable News, owned by my dear Brother, Simon Kolawole, and I said now we are inching closer to an eventful evening. Then, at The Boss, we did our last update before everywhere finally exploded. This time, it was how Atiku’s plane filed a flight plan to London, from where it changed and headed to Washington. All this while doubters, and APC supporters, were on my case, flashing the Daily Trust story at me, but I remained unperturbed. I saw a Punch story that the Nigerian Embassy said it was aware of Atiku’s presence in the US. I smiled to myself, knowing very soon, they will know by which technology he navigated his way to America. Soon, and very soon, we shall see the Wazirin in America. I already queued up for the first pictures. And it came. That was how in one second, Atiku, or the Atikulated campaign, took off with uncommon favour and fervour. My dear friends in APC went quiet, a few threw the usual tantrums. I had expected them

to pretend a little, but they couldn’t hide their shock and, possibly, disappointment in America. By yesterday, my big Brother, Alhaji Lai Mohammed came out of the grove to declare, majestically, that if Atiku likes, he can pick up a green card in America and stay there for as long as he wants. Wow, he was not done. He became an instant Prosecutor, or Minister of Justice, EFCC boss or Supreme Court Justice, when he pronounced Atiku guilty of bank fraud and malfeasance, and that he should be ready to answer questions about the collapse of Bank PHB, upon his return. This coming after about one day gone in the United States, and one month to the start of the general elections. Lord have mercy. Why is APC fighting on all fronts? Who is misleading my friends and, once upon a time, fellow Buharists. Are they not tired of this commotion, tension and confusion. Not too long ago, the Senate President and the legislature; more recently, the CJN and the Judiciary; now the leader of opposition, Atiku Abubakar. My prediction is very simple and straight-forward. It seems to me that APC needs a miracle to win the next election, if it continues to follow this destructive path. APC has inflicted these difficult times on itself. I am not sure that some of the distinguished party faithful are not working directly against the interests of the party and its presidential candidate. There are apparently Fifth Columnists abroad! Otherwise, the only other thing that can be said is that the party appears to be hell bent on following the PDP template for rejection and failure that the same APC constantly and serially condemned just before the last elections. All the party’s antics now smack of great desperation and panic attack as they seek to land the plum job of President of Nigeria. The senior members should have summoned the courage to advise the President to serve only one term, especially after his health failed so spectacularly two years ago. His amiable, cerebral and inspired Vice-President would have taken over and unified the country. But hell no, they didn’t see the need. How on earth, and at this time and age, did APC expect Buhari to run a serious campaign and manage a big and complex country like Nigeria, given all that seems to be wrong? At least the President was honest enough to acknowledge this when he ceded leadership of the campaign to the irrepressible Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The only problem is that this gambit itself appears to have backfired as the President has made more appearances on the campaign trail and hustings than the appointed leader of the campaign. I’m wondering if APC remembers the promises made to Nigerians to make the economy better, corruption exterminated, the Naira stronger and security tighter. In good conscience, have they delivered? This, will be answered hopefully next month, when the people troop out to vote. Congratulations to Atiku on what is turning out to be a good trip for him both at home and abroad. The APC is jittery and this alone may be worth the medal for Atiku. Meanwhile, we await your arrival and looking forward to your trial ... God help Nigeria.

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