SATURDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2019

Drama, As Onnoghen is Forced to Take Plea in the Dock Suspended CJN refuses to sit down, gets bail CCT vacates arrest order Alex Enumah in Abuja The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, was eventually arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)

yesterday on six count charge of refusal to declare his assets as required by the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Act for public officers in the country.

Onnoghen was originally

billed for arraignment at the Tribunal on January 14 but had refused to appear in court on the grounds that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. He also challenged the jurisdiction of the Tribunal

both at the CCT and the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

However, following the CCT's order to the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State

Services (DSS) to arrest Onnoghen and produce him in court on February 15, for his arraignment, Onnoghen finally appeared before the Tribunal.

He drove into the premises

in a convoy with some of his personal aides around 9.40am and was received by a team of his lawyers, including Chief Chris Uche SAN, Paul Continued on page 6

Obasanjo Denies Fleeing Nigeria, Says He’s Ready to Vote‌ Page 6 Saturday 16 February, 2019 Vol 24. No 8714

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UK: Free, Fair Nigerian Elections will BeneďŹ t Africa, the World Ready to curb attempts to subvert Nigerian polls with Parallel Voter Tabulation Bennett Oghifo Few hours before the cancellation of Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for today,

the British Government issued a statement saying it was important for the polls to be free and fair, “as this would benefit Africa and the world.�

The British Government

disclosed that it had funded a Parallel Voter Tabulation for strict monitoring of the elections and also funded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to aid its

operations.

Harriett Baldwin, Minister of State for Africa at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said this in a statement last night, adding that the

2019 Nigerian elections were important, as “this is Africa’s largest exercise in democracy and for defenders of democracy, like Britain and the EU, which really matters,

adding that “Democracies are coming increasingly under threat.�

The statement said: “As Continued on page 6

Presidential, National Assembly Elections Postponed by One Week INEC cites operational difficulties Charles Ajunwa and Ahamefula Ogbu in Lagos, Adedayo Akinwale and Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja Citing operational difficulties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after a meeting in Abuja that lasted till early this morning, announced the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections earlier slated for today.

The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who addressed journalists after the meeting, at about 2:44a.m., said the Presidential and National Assembly elections would now hold on February 23.

A visibly worried INEC boss, who addressed the press with some of his national commissioners, said: “Ladies and gentlemen, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met on Friday, 15th February 2019 and reviewed its preparations for the 2019 general elections scheduled for Saturday, 16th

February 2019. “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible. “Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly elections to Saturday, 23rdFebruary 2019. “Furthermore, the Governorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections are rescheduled to Saturday, 9th March 2019. This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections. “This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take but necessary for the Continued on page 6

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ONNOGHEN IN THE DOCK...

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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 ˾ ˜ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

PAGE SIX

Obasanjo Denies Fleeing Nigeria, Says He’s Ready to Vote I believe I should be here to perform my civic responsibility Bennett Oghifo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described as “fake news” the trending social media post that he had left Nigeria ahead of the elections

beginning today.

The former president, who showed up at his Presidential Library in Abeokuta yesterday, asked journalists “Why should I travel out of the country before the election?”

According to him, “If not for anything, I believe I should be here to perform my civic responsibility, which is to vote according to the dictate of my heart tomorrow and on the second of March.

“Those who are carrying that type of rumour or fake news; I leave them in the hands of God; I am used to that kind of thing.

“In Yoruba land, if your head is hard, you don’t have

to worry yourself.

“Let anybody tell lies against you, let anybody issue fake news against you, let anybody abuse you, God will deal with them rightly and appropriately.”

A post on Facebook had accused the former president of leaving the country ahead of the elections. It said, “Breaking: Obasanjo jets out of Nigeria.

He can’t even wait for the thief he is imposing on Nigerians.”

denied the INEC accreditation and identification cards, ostensibly to shut them out of the election monitoring process and allow the APC a field day to manipulate the process.

According to him, “The development is already heightening tension and suspicion of underhand method by the commission to open the elections for manipulations and allow the APC to enter fictitious results for onward transmission to collation centres.”

The PDP also rejected alleged substitution of the already trained INEC adhoc staff in various states of the federation with members of the APC. The party said that PDP would never allow “this unscrupulous attempt at power hijack to stand.”

He stated, "This surreptitious ploy to use APC members as polling staff is a direct template by the APC in collusion with some INEC officials, to rig the elections for the APC. "This affront to the collective quest by the people for a credible election is akin to

sitting our nation on a keg of gunpowder.”

and peacefully. Britain’s support for the values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for individual and political rights links us with other nations which share the same values.

“For Britain’s role in Nigeria this means working with the EU, the Commonwealth, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the US and other supporters of democracy to help Nigeria build the institutions which ensure that Nigerians can vote, free from violence.

“To help Nigeria prepare for its elections, Britain has funded technical support to Nigeria’s Independent Electoral Commission which will manage the elections.

With the US, we are funding non-governmental organisations who will observe the election process.”

Baldwin said, “Support

by Britain in partnership with other democratic nations helped Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo move towards a peaceful outcome of their recent – albeit imperfect – elections. And at a time when we are seeing a decline in democracies around the world, support by Britain in partnership with other democratic nations has been vital in the positive steps forward we have seen in countries like Ethiopia and Armenia.

The statement described Nigeria as “a country of tremendous potential but with real challenges.

Its natural resources, agricultural potential and huge market offer enormous opportunity for growth with a spill-over to the wider continent.

“There are also substantial opportunities for UK businesses. But Nigeria is also home to the largest number of people living in absolute poverty in the world. Limited basic service provision is made worse by inequality and unemployment.

“The murderous actions of Boko Haram and an escalating conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders add further challenges. An over reliance on the oil and gas sector and fragile peace in the Niger Delta provide both opportunities and risks.”

must make himself available throughout the trial.

Following the setting aside of the bench warrant, the defendant applied for an adjournment in the hearing of all the pending motions in view of the elections coming up February 16 and March 2.

Drama, however, ensued when the Tribunal Chairman unilaterally fixed February 21 as the adjourned date.

Umar rebuffed all appeals by defence counsel to change the date, for not just being inconvenient for the parties but also that the matter was coming up at the Court of Appeal on that day.

Uche also impressed upon the Tribunal that both the defence and prosecution

had earlier agreed on either March 11 or 18, but Umar was adamant, insisting that what he had written he cannot erase.

It took the intervention of the second member of the Tribunal, Anabor to make Umar change his mind and adjourned till March 11, 2019, for the hearing of all pending applications.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the adjournment, Onnoghen's lawyer said, "Today, February 15, is a sad day for Nigeria, a sad day for the Judiciary and a sad day for the rule of law", lamenting that it was unfortunate for Onnoghen to be treated in flagrant disregard to due process of law.

Uche told newsmen that Onnoghen had been made to suffer indignity with the way he was made to take his plea in the charges against him.

He said that the struggle by concerned lawyers in the country is for the maintenance of the rule of law, separation of powers and survival of the Judiciary.

"The world will soon know the truth that there is more to the trial of Onnoghen before this Tribunal", he said.

Also speaking, counsel to the Federal government, Ibrahim Musa, agreed that February 15 is a sad day for the legal profession but said that the law must take its course.

PRESIDENTIAL, N’ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS POSTPONED BY ONE WEEK successful delivery of elections and a consolidation of our democracy.

“The Commission will meet with key stakeholders to update them on this development at 2p.m. on Saturday, 16th February 2019 at the Abuja International Conference Centre.”

In its swift response, the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus said that shoddy arrangement for this election by INEC was a deliberate pre- determined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power, even when it's obvious to him that Nigerians want him out.

Secondus in a statement Saturday by his media aide, Mr. Ike Abonyi, warned that the party would not accept anything short of a well organised electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP. He insisted that the postponement was part of a grand design by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost, adding

that it clearly exposes INEC as a failure, while also calling for the immediate resignation of INEC chairman.

He stressed, "With several of their rigging options failing, they have to force INEC to agree to a shift in the election or a staggered election with flimsy excuses pre manufactured for the purpose.

"For the avoidance of doubt the PDP sees this action as wicked and we are also aware of other dubious designs like the deployment of hooded security operatives who would be ruthless on the people ostensibly to scare them away."

In the last few days, there have been many incidents where materials and electronic devices for the conduct of the elections were either destroyed or stolen.

In Plateau State, a drunk security man was alleged to have set the INEC office ablaze, thereby imperiling the exercise by destroying sensitive materials, card readers and other electionready materials.

Also in Abia State, unknown arsonists torched

the Obi Ngwa INEC office where Permanent Voters Cards, computers and other materials were destroyed while in Anambra, an entire card reader for the state and other materials were destroyed by mystery fire.

In Niger State, election materials had not been received as at Friday afternoon while in Taraba, though assurances were being given that they would be delivered, they allegedly waited in vain for them.

There were reports that some of the materials for some states were hijacked making it impossible for INEC to cover up for such destroyed or lost materials.

In a related development, a statement by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) titled “The rampage has started” alleged that “the security forces of President Muhammadu Buhari has started implementing a script by sabotaging INEC and ensuring their election materials were stolen or destroyed.”

The statement by Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere said election materials in 10 out

of the 36 states were either burnt or stolen, alleging that the government wanted to create an impression that election could not go on simultaneously in all the states so that they could stagger it and ensure that there were enough security men to rig in states where the ruling party was weak.

PDP Accuses INEC of Hoarding Presidential, Senatorial Election Result Sheets Meanwhile, prior to the postponement of the election, the PDP accused INEC of hoarding the presidential and senatorial elections result sheets for undisclosed reasons.

The party also revealed that its monitoring and intelligence showed that INEC had been distributing sensitive election materials in most states of the federation without the Presidential and Senatorial elections results sheets.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement said that the party’s agents were being

Ahmed Raji: It is Better to Get it Right Than to Have Wishy Washy Election Reacting to the postponement, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji, noted that if the postponement was towards achieving a credible, free and acceptable election, it is in order. According to him, if the reason for the postponment is actually on logistics as it is being said, it is okay instead of the Commission to go ahead and conduct an election that would put it to ridicule both locally and internationally.

Raji, while stating that it is high time Nigerians begin to see election as a process, observed that budgetary allocation for the elections came a little bit late.

According to him election materials are not things people just pick from the shop, hence the commission needs adequate time to plan and arrange for some of this materials.

UK: FREE, FAIR NIGERIAN ELECTIONS WILL BENEFIT AFRICA, THE WORLD Britain leaves the EU and steps out into a new role in the world, working with countries like Nigeria to ensure that its people can vote freely and peacefully will be an ever more important objective.”

The British Government said it had systems in place to monitor the elections strictly. “We will be ready to call out attempts to subvert it as we have funded a Parallel Voter Tabulation which acts somewhat like an exit poll, helping to highlight any electoral malpractice that may have otherwise been swept under the carpet.”

The statement said over 60 UK observers would be stationed in 15 states around Nigeria to report on the conduct of the elections including whether people are prevented from voting

freely through violence.

“Along with observation missions from the EU, the Commonwealth, ECOWAS and many other international partners, we will speak out against any attempt to deny the Nigerian people their right to say who governs them for the next four years.

The UK Government, in tandem with the US, has already made it clear that those who encourage or use violence during the election could face restrictions on their ability to travel to the UK. “Nigeria has the chance to develop into an economic power-house and to lift millions out of grinding poverty. Credible, peaceful elections are one of the most important steps in that journey – and the UK, the

EU and other defenders of democracy are working together to support them.

“As Nigerians move towards this promising future, there will be positive consequences for the region, the continent and democracy around the world.”

According to the statement, ensuring that the will of the people is respected is one of the fundamental building blocks for a stable, prosperous country. “In 2015, Nigeria experienced its first peaceful transition of power from an incumbent to opposition party. This week’s elections offer a real opportunity to embed democracy. Nigerians, like any other people, want to be able to vote for whomever they choose, and for the election to be run fairly

DRAMA, AS ONNOGHEN IS FORCED TO TAKE PLEA IN THE DOCK Erokoro SAN, Ogwu Onoja SAN, among others.

Shortly after Onnoghen entered the courtroom at exactly 10.20am, members of the CCT, led by the Chairman, Danladi Umar, entered also and commenced sitting with Umar apologising to counsel for starting proceedings some minutes before the scheduled time of 10am.

While counsel to the federal government, Ibrahim Musa informed the Tribunal that the issue of the day was the arraignment of the defendant, Onnoghen's lawyer, Chris Uche SAN, stood up to request that the CJN takes his plea outside the box but Umar declined, pointing to the dock and

asked Onnoghen to enter into the dock for the charges to be read to him.

Onnoghen obliged him and beaming with smiles entered the dock. He, however, refused to seat when the CCT Chairman asked him to, insisting that he was okay and would only make use of the seat if and when the need arose.

Consequently, Umar directed that the charges be read to him to which he pleaded not guilty.

Between the reading of the first charge and the 6th, there were several stops occasioned by the need of the Chairman and another member of the Tribunal, Juli Anabor to settle on how to proceed.

Following his plea of not guilty, Onnoghen's lawyer asked the Tribunal to release the defendant on bail on self-recognition, which was immediately granted.

Uche, similarly prayed the Tribunal to discharge his client from the bench warrant issued against him since he voluntarily made himself available to the Tribunal for his arraignment.

Responding, Umar, accordingly held that the bench warrant issued on February 13 for Onnoghen's arrest, either by the Inspector General of Police or the Director General of the Department of State Services, (DSS), is vacated and set aside. He added a caveat that the defendant

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 16, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY

Ibra Ake is Still in Wonderland The only Nigerian on the winning list at the 61st Grammy Awards, Ibra Ake, is still in wonderland, writes Omolabake Fasogbon

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igerian-American multi-talented artiste, Ibra Ake is having a swell time at the moment as he won big at the 61st Grammy Awards that took place in Los Angeles, United States, last Sunday.

Before now, Ake’s name did not ring a bell in this clime despite his laudable feats in the creative industry abroad. Not anymore; Ake is now the hero calling the shot in the local tabloids and beyond, while also making Nigeria proud.

Ake, a music producer cum writer, who had his formative years in Nigeria, has paid his dues in the global creative unit and presently relishing payback time, as he caught global attention at the 61st edition of the highly coveted gramophone award, where he clinched the ‘Best Music Video’ producer award for producing Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’.

Ake’s trophy is also gaining more prominence globally for being part of the multiple winning works, ‘This is America’ at the much-respected show which played host to world’s creative best.

‘This is America’, for which Ake won the best video producer, bagged the ‘Record of the Year’ trophy. It equally stood out as the Song of the Year, Best Music Video of the Year, Best Rap/ Sung Performance.

The obviously elated commercial photographer

and art director could not conceal his excitement when he took to his Twitter page to celebrate his first Grammy recognition as he wrote: “I can’t believe I just won a Grammy. Where is the catch?Royalty forever!”

Ake in an interview once explained how he met ‘This is America’ star, Donald Glover, better known as Childish Gambino, as a freelance and budding photographer, who eventually developed a soft spot for his offerings, after which both of them rolled stronger in greater deals.

The California based filmmaker also spent part of his life in New Jersey and shuttles between cities around the world from Lagos to New York.

With a number of blockbusters credited to his brain, his unique approach to the creative has earned him rave reviews and recommendations, making him sell like hotcake.

Notable among his illustrious works was the Emmy winning comedy series, ‘Atlanta’, written by him.

Lauding his input to the creative industry, American based premier men’s magazine, GQ, commented: “His role as a creative guide and resource spans across the collective different albums and projects, including Atlanta, where he helped to adapt the show’s tone to its marketing outreach”.

Ake’s photography skills have taken him as far as shooting the covers of fast selling magazines and engaged in other personal photo projects which he

has shot in Cuba, Nigeria and other parts of his world. For him, creating transcends storytelling, but relates to identity and politics. It is with this perception that he sets out to pull all stops.

Earlier, he dropped his feelings about his awardwinning work saying, “With ‘This is America,’ it’s fun to see the reaction because the distribution is so large; it’s so weird to see your ideas disperse on such a large format.”

Although, Ake’s fame springs from his distinguished works outside Nigeria, he ties his exploits to his experience and upbringing back home and has not stopped spreading this.

He once hinted in an interview, “Every time I’m looking for a picture of Nigeria in the 70s, I’m never like, ‘let me check National Geographic.’ I’m always like, ‘What pictures did my parents take?’

It’s always true to their eye and what is important to them, which is definitely a different value, but I think there’s something very authentic about that.”

Beyond financial perspective, the latest Grammy recognition equally translates to a boost for Ake’s already made brand across board and indeed, a step to more golden trophies.

Ake’s win brings the number of foreign-based Nigerian artistes that have won the prestigious music industry award to seven, including ace percussionist Sikirat Adepoju, Lanre Babalola, Kevin Olusola, Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, Sade Adu and Hakeem Seriki.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 16, 2019

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SUPERSATURDAY

Abby Zeus’s Gospel of Boobs South African based-Nigerian model, Abby Chioma Zeus, preaches the gospel of boobs. She is the founder of The Boobs Movement, an advocacy platform she uses to educate women on reasons they need to be proud of their boobs.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu writes on her latest evangelisation

O

rdinarily the sight of Abby Chioma Zeus could make a virile man happy. However, the South African based Nigerian further teases men with photos of her baring her ample bosom.

Famous for constantly posting nude and raunchy pictures on social media, this blogger, artist, model and influencer (according to her Instagram profile), had for the umpteenth time, attempted to break the internet. She shared stripped-down photos of herself posing completely naked on her Instagram page with just her hands covering her tits.

The 26 year old Zeus calls herself “body positivity activist.”

Earlier, the model, who is the founder of The Boob Movement, an advocacy platform she uses to educate women on reasons they need to be proud of their boobs, listed 10 reasons why men should love busty bosom.

Zeus declared: “There are women who dream of a full cleavage every hour of every day! Us busty babes may not be able to button our shirts all the way to the top, but we’ve got something to make up for it.

“Who doesn’t love big soft boobies? Babies love them, straight men, gay men, teens, girls with small boobs etc.

“Ever wondered why your man always falls asleep on your chest?

That’s because tatas make the best cushions!

“You can hide anything in your bra.

Be it money, a cigar, your phone, bank cards, candy, all of it. It can all fit in your bra if it’s big enough.

“It’s easy to flirt You don’t have to say much! Your boobs do the talking. Just smile

and agree with them.

“When you cover up, it leaves people with mystery Ever heard of the saying, ‘leave something to the imagination’? When you cover up big boobs, you leave a lot to the imagination. It’s a very alluring situation.

“You don’t need a lot of accessories Big boobs are like an accessory all by themselves.

You can save a hella lotta money by not buying so many neck pieces and big earing.

“They are fun to play with Yes it’s true! Sometimes I pretend I’m a juggler lol.

They move all around and it’s kinda fun. Try it!

“They look great in tight dresses. This will have guys lining up to talk to you! “it’s warm in there in the winter time, even when it’s freezing cold, your boobs will always be a warm place to put your hands (if you’re wearing a bra).”

Last year, the leading force behind the Boob Movement had posted several unclad pictures of herself on social media to launch her brand.

According to her, she’s on a mission to make women embrace their body, especially their boobs and to flaunt it with freedom without fear of condemnation or low self-esteem. Zeus grew up hating herself for being gifted large bosom because her childhood peers taunted her to no end. But then, she has come to discover that her mother nature’s gift is a thing of pride and has thus boldly joined the campaign to encourage busty women all over the world to be proud of their gift.

Once responding to one of her followers, the busty boobs influencer who has a huge following on Instagram noted that her boobs has been big since the age of 13. According to her, “If you’re asking if my breasts are natural, yes, this is how I’ve looked since I was 13 years old. And I’m okay with it”. For Zeus, “the female body is the best work of art I know. I thank the artist every day of my life.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î

Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁĚ&#x161; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

BOTCHED ELECTIONSâ&#x20AC;Ś BOTCHED ELECTIONSâ&#x20AC;ŚBOTCHED ELECTIONSâ&#x20AC;Ś

ON THE HOME RUN...

President Muhammad Buhari with the Emir of Daura , Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruke at the musque in Daura ...yesterday

Voting out Buhari to Save Nigeria is Sacred Duty, Says IYM Emmanuel Ugwu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;

The Igbo Youths Movement yesterday urged voters in the botched polls to come out en mass to vote in the presidential and National Assembly elections today, saying that it had become imperative to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari in order â&#x20AC;&#x153;to save Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;?.

The group made the call in a statement entitled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hour of Decisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; issued by its founder, Eliot Ugochukwu-Uko to justify the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It becomes necessary to remind ourselves, why it is absolutely necessary, to vote out General Buhari. We all must participate in the sacred duty of removing General Buhari in order to save Nigeria,â&#x20AC;? he said in a statement.

Uko, who is also the secretary of the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), explained that the civil society organisations were against Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuation in office because he had â&#x20AC;&#x153;divided Nigeria through his parochial and nepotistic worldview.â&#x20AC;? According to him, Buhari had demonstrated his incompetence to run a complex nation like Nigeria and â&#x20AC;&#x153;turned regions against each other through

his lopsided appointments, horrified the nation by his tolerance of the brigandage of the herdsmen militia and shocked his 2015 supporters with his glaring ineptitude.â&#x20AC;?

He insisted that Atiku remained the best option for Nigeria at this critical point in time hence â&#x20AC;&#x153;anyone, who votes any other candidate aside Atiku Abubakar on Saturday, will only be helping inept General Buhari to hang on to power.â&#x20AC;?

The IYM leader faulted Mr. Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anti-graft war, saying that â&#x20AC;&#x153;after destroying the economy he embarked on a vengeful mission of punishing his political opponents in the guise

of fighting corruption, creating fear and despair in the land.â&#x20AC;?

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buhari turned millions of our youths into codeine and tramadol addicts, his directionless policies also made Betnaija gambling, the greatest preoccupation of the large army of unemployed youngsters, his mismanagement of the economy created. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His aides constantly tell us, he is not aware of anything. His dear wife screams for all to hear, that her husband is not in charge.

Many of his associates decamped to the PDP, abandoning him in his sinking boat. The cabal ruling Nigeria through him continues to destroy Nigeria, while hoping to

IGP Lacks Powers to Restrict Movement, Says HURIWA A civil rights group â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has charged that the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had no powers to abridge the fundamental rights of Nigerians by restricting movement of citizens guaranteed in the constitution of the country.

According to a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, such restriction amounted to abusing the constitution by illegally imposing restrictions of movement during elections as if he had the powers of law making which was the only way to exercise constitutional power

of derogation from fundamental rights at emergencies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In civilised climes, people are allowed to go about their lawful duties and enjoy their right to liberty and freedom of movement as long as they do not impede the conduct of the elections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The age long military style restriction of movement during elections was responsible for the outlook of elections as war situation. Under section 45 (1) of the constitution which allows for derogation of enjoyment of some rights under chapter 4, there are clear legal steps to be adopted even as the Police Inspector General is

CORRIGENDUM THISDAY Newspaper of Friday 15th February Vol. 24, No. 8713, erroneously captioned former Zambian Head of State (President) H.E. Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda, who is heading the EISA Observer Team as President of Malawi.

The paper regrets the slip any inconveniences arising from it.

Editor

not permitted to suo moto declare national emergency because he is ceased of the legislative powers of law making which is the only way to actualise section 45(1). â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is indisputable that the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution are binding on governments, authorities and persons. Section 1 (1) of the 1999 Constitution provides: The Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To further express the superiority of the Constitution, Section 1(3), if any other law is inconsistent with the provision of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What does section 45 of the 1999 Constitution say: 45 (1) Nothing in sections 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of this Constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society,â&#x20AC;? he stated.

Onwubiko cited several sections

of the constitution to buttress his position that the IG fouled the constitution and lacked power to restrict movement of citizens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The restrictions by the Nigerian Police Force, through an Order by the Inspector General of Police contravenes the Section 45 of The 1999 Constitution (as amended); -limits freedoms, as in all cases are where they impinge on the rights of others, or where they put the welfare of the society or public health in jeopardy. The lawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role is to ensure the fullness of liberty when there is no danger to public interest. The courts are the institutions society has agreed to invest with the responsibility of balancing conflicting interests in a way to ensure the fullness of liberty without destroying the existence and stability of society,â&#x20AC;? he further stated.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Article 12 of International Covenant Civil and Political Rights states that expressly cites the contravention of Restrictions to Movement during Elections.

manipulate the elections to earn a second term in order to turn this beautiful land to Somalia or Afghanistan. God forbid.â&#x20AC;?

Uko alleged that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;cabalâ&#x20AC;? in the presidency had â&#x20AC;&#x153;redeployed security and police officers in a manner to take advantage during the polls they know they are sure to lose, threatening foreign observers that, they will certainly send them home in body bags, remove the CJN unconstitutionally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;General Buhari and his goons, have no reason whatsoever to ask for a second term. Nigeria will implode if Buhari is allowed another term. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having failed to fulfill most

of his 2015 campaign promises and backed only by a greedy ally, Buhari knows nobody believes in his so called integrity anymore, he also knows he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win this Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s election,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The IYM founder painted a scary scenario of Nigeria should President Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate be renewed, saying that â&#x20AC;&#x153;current level of insecurity, hunger, suspicion, anger, despair, discontent, division and poverty, will only intensify.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The judiciary will be totally emasculated, the legislature, crushed and paralysed, then the journey to Afghanistan will truly begin,â&#x20AC;? he warned.

JYEI Urges Nigerians to Vote Responsibly Jeunesse Youth Empowerment Initiative (JYEI), a Lagos-based NonGovernmental Organisation has called on Nigerians, especially the youth, to â&#x20AC;&#x153;vote responsibly and bear in mind that the individual Permanent Voterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Card (PVC) was a Trust vested in its holder by fellow citizens.â&#x20AC;?

In a statement released in Lagos by its Communications Lead, Ms. Victorine Nyamsi, JYEI said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The PVC remains a trust that should be used responsibly by every voting adult as the consequences of its use affect all Nigerians, not just the individual voter alone. Therefore, every holder is an important stakeholder whose conduct should not be underestimated.â&#x20AC;?

According to the statement, it was surprising that despite an overwhelming number of people, especially young people who actively engage political issues on social media, the level of voter-apathy and low voter-turnout remained a worrisome trend since the previous elections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is even more worrisome that despite the increasing level of aware-

ness especially on social media, rather than reduce, vote-buying has taken new forms, thus becoming a parasite that has continuously threatened the credibility of elections in Nigeria,â&#x20AC;? the Organisation added.

JYEI therefore called on the youth not to restrict their political participation to social media rhetoric alone but to also engage in and involve themselves in the actual voting processes and do so in a responsible and rational manner, saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you refuse to participate, then you have left your fate for the next four years to be decided by others however they wish and you therefore lose the moral right to challenge the outcome. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many young people regard the Election Day as yet another holiday, and this is wrong.

Rather, the Day should be seen as an opportunity to directly contribute oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quota in deciding the fate of the Country and the citizens for the next four years.â&#x20AC;?

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019

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͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

BUHARI’S COVENANT WITH ASUU The truce is a welcome relief, writes Emma Agu

C

onspiracy theorists are likely to insist that, last week’s decision by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its months’ long strike, was predicated on the capitulation of the federal government to its demands; as the former feared an electoral backlash, should the situation remain unresolved before the presidential election. Those on the other side of the theory insist that ASUU used today’s elections to blackmail the federal government, to submission, as the later would not want to go into a very difficult election with the strike overhang.

No matter one’s position on the matter, nobody is likely to contest that this truce is a welcome relief. For one, it guarantees that the 2019 general elections will not be jeopardized by the strike. More fundamentally, is the crucial fact that, while the students can now return to school and pick up the pieces of their lives, their parents too can have some reasonable assurance that their ordeal is about to end. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who bore the brunt of the ASUU angst, with his education counterpart, Mallam Adamu Adamu, should now be counting their blessings that those long hours of excruciating negotiation, those taunting jibes from labour leaders calling for their heads and the anxious moments when the president’s patience could be running out, are now over.

For the above reason, the federal government and ASUU deserve commendation, for finding the courage to make the necessary concessions that broke the deadlock, in the strike saga. But let’s not fool ourselves: the imbroglio is not far from over. The truce is likely to last for as long as it is possible for the federal government to stave off another opportunity for ASUU to hold it to ransom. If experience is anything to go by, my informed guess, is that circumstances, such as a steep shortfall in revenue, could force the FG to renege on the agreements.

Why I am I so pessimistic? Our history! Now take a mental picture into the past. Recall that in 2013, out of sheer exasperation, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka had proposed that institutions of higher learning in Nigeria, be shut for two years, to address the rot in the education sector which, in his view, was at its lowest ebb. He made the call, at an education summit, convened by the Rivers State Government. The incumbent minister of transport, Rt. Honourable Rotimi Amaechi was Governor of Rivers State at the time while His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan was President of Nigeria. Soyinka’s 2013 proposal is instructive as it underscores the mischief of trying to blame the recent ASUU crisis on the present administration. To take such a posture will amount to pulling wool over the eyes of Nigerians while sending a clear signal that those who make such allegations have no solution to the problem.

To put the matter in its proper perspective, it should be recalled that the ASUU-FG face-off was caused by the failure of the federal government, to faithfully implement the agreement it signed with ASUU in 2009 when Goodluck Jonathan was vice president of the country. Jonathan inherited the matter but not without passing through some tortuous moments at the hands of ASUU. In fact, at one point, it took all the conflict management skills of David Mark, who was the President of the Senate, at the time to resolve the impasse. It was on that basis that, the Jonathan administration entered into agreement with ASUU in 2013, on how to resolve the matter. Unfortunately, most of the agreements were observed in the breach. For instance, on funding for the revitalization of public universities, the Jonathan administration agreed to pay N220 billion yearly from 2009 to 2013. Following the ASUU strike, the federal government paid the first installment of N200 billion, for one year. But it ended up not paying in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Those who want to hold the Buhari administration responsible for the recent impasse owe the public the duty to explain why the

BUT LET’S NOT FOOL OURSELVES: THE IMBROGLIO IS NOT FAR FROM OVER. THE TRUCE IS LIKELY TO LAST FOR AS LONG AS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STAVE OFF ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR ASUU TO HOLD IT TO RANSOM

previous administration committed the federal government to such an agreement, knowing that it had no money to pay. If that agreement had been implemented, there wouldn’t have been the recently ended ASUU strike.

It is noteworthy that the Buhari administration has agreed to release the sum of N25 billion, into the revitalization fund in April/May 2019, with a pledge to resume full implementation of the MOU, when the recommendations of the Report of the Stakeholders Workshop on Sustainable Funding of Education in Nigeria, of 27th-28th November, 2018 would have been activated.

The stakeholders achieved a major milestone by the agreement reached on the contentious issue of outstanding arrears of earned allowances in Nigerian universities. According to the MOU, government agreed to pay the already approved N20 billion by 15th February, 2019 while an additional N5 billion would be paid by 28th February, 2019. While it is reassuring that government has set clear milestones for settlement of the outstanding balance up to 2018, university teachers should not gloss over the moral challenge posed by the allegation that, in some cases, claims were inflated, by about 45% as revealed during the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), which was started by the current administration, in 2016. What happened?

If it is true that the forensic inquest into claims, by lecturers, revealed bloating of figures, that will amount to an unspeakable affront to the moral standing of some university dons and a justification of the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration.

Take it or leave it: our universities should never be associated with graft, no matter the temptation. For, if the crucible that ought to refine future leaders is tainted with corruption, what do we expect of the products of such contamination? While we bother about that, the university personnel should be celebrating the promise, that the outstanding balance will be slated in four equal instalments within a time frame of 36 months; in November, 2019, August 2020, May 2021 and February 2022. The fact that government also pledged to mainstream further payments of the allowances into the annual budgets, beginning with the 2019 budget shows that President Buhari, who seldom reneges on such promises, has indeed entered into a covenant with ASUU, for the period of his second term.

In spite of the promise of the agreement which also touched on salary shortfall, payment of earned academic allowances to loyal ASUU members of University of Ilorin, etc., we should never delude ourselves that the agreement is capable of resolving the serious problems affecting tertiary education in Nigeria, let alone discouraging strikes by lecturers and students. If the truth must be told, over time, even before the restoration of democratic rule in 1999, ASUU and all arms of government have refused to address the fundamental underlying disincentive to education funding in Nigeria. My take on this is simple. For as long as political office holders and top civil servants have the liberty to send their children to the best schools abroad, to acquire knowledge and skills from societies that have created good educational systems, for so long will such people be less obliged to revive the country’s educational system.

What this means is that the minimum desideratum for sustainable transformation of our university system, is to deny public office holders and other categories of civil servants, the privilege of sending their children abroad for further studies. The only exception should be for post graduate and other specialised studies. It is a sure bet that, should such a scenario be implemented, those parents in privileged positions will fall over each other to get schools properly renovated, equipped and structured and lecturers appropriately rewarded. Going forward, ASUU should insist that this should form part of its covenant with the federal government, as the Buhari administration gets set for its second term.

FEBRUARY 16 AND THE CYPHER Chuks Iloegbunam writes why the Cypher is not electable

T

he Cypher is said to wish that his “cold and iron” dispensation is revalidated on Saturday February 16, 2019. It cannot be realistically stated that, deep down, he really and truly yearns reelection.

He is not there. It can only be repeated what those behind the Mask have put out: that the Cypher covets a second term of office! This is the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English’s third ordinary meaning of Cypher (also spelt as Cipher): Zero.

Two questions are apposite: One, why does the epitome of Nothingness seek continued “leadership” over a country of nearly 200 million people? Two, why is there this insistent spectacle of a multitude salaaming Zero, positing him as the Mostest, and threatening that without his continued tenancy of Aso Rock, they would scatter the ground? The answers are blowing in the wind. But, before spelling things out for general benefit, another sentence or two on the theme of definitions.

The Cypher had a grand ride in 2015 because there was an avalanche of propaganda that blighted the sensory perceptions of those deserving of being exposed to the truth. The national swindle was orchestrated by a motley collection of the deceitful hypocrites. Things since changed. The taste of the

pudding is in the eating. Or, as Nigerians put it in marriage register, after a sampling of spouses one is placed in an unimpeachable position to determine the better husband or better wife. Or, again, as Stephen Osita Osadebe, the late, great Highlife music superstar sang it, “You step forward, you retreat. You repeat the going forth and coming back.

Then you decide for yourself which, between moving forward and backwards is the better option.”

The verdict is out there. People are fed up to the hairline with a government that is inchoate in character, nebulous in policy, callous in relating to the masses and encased in a veritable tissue of lies.

People with conscience will never stop asking why more than 300 Shiites were massacred under the Cypher’s watch. This is a crime against humanity.

People with conscience will never stop asking why IPOB agitators were buried by the hundreds in mire or put down by automatic gunfire. That is another crime against humanity. Are there not people today that consider themselves high but are liable to be docked at the International Criminal Court in the foreseeable future?

The greatest lament, though, is that the nation hurtles at a speed dangerously conjured by the force of Zero. Even Cypher’s wife went public to announce that the husband was not in charge. What

could be more damning? What other testament could hold better accord with veracity, even if that truth currently appears only latent in certain quarters? In creative and serious settings someone mostly unaware of their circumstances cannot possibly be entrusted with the responsibility of climbing up or down a flight of stairs. People who put such a mentally disarticulated person up for national leadership do incalculable harm to humankind because the contingency of their success is not of their candidate stumbling to a broken neck, but one of reducing the entity to a tinderbox.

That is why the Cypher is not electable. That is why he is certain to lose the February 16 ballot.

To return to the two questions in paragraph two.

The Cypher is not the one insisting on continued direction of the nation’s affairs. Incongruous Faces behind the Mask are responsible for the clearly avoidable calamity. If the Cypher stays, the Incongruous Faces get a fresh “mandate” for even wilder political excesses and further propagation of their ideological dubieties. Some of those shouting themselves hoarse at campaign stops and others restless with posting mendacity on the Internet cannot realistically believe themselves. Shame reduced a broad swathe of their kind to self-inflicted anonymity. Many of them are in it for the coins,

reeling as they are from the remorseless pummeling of the prevailing hard times. One of them boasted that his family lived abroad and he owned an American passport that he always carried about. If a conflagration resulted from a terrible choice, he would hit the nearest airport and hop on the first available aircraft!

Some from the educated but uncritical fringe cite the prophecy that Cypher was incapable of lasting another four years, for which reason he should be retained on a post more complex than his faculties since he would sooner peg off for their own man to mount the saddle. Apart from being irreligious, their attitude is as senseless as hoping that an unserviceable aircraft with a drunk at the controls would make a trans-Pacific flight to deliver Eldorado.

Besides, the proponents have not reckoned with the fact that senility is not the same thing as imminent demise. Cypher could outlive most of those expecting him to drop dead almost anytime.

At the last word, the fear is not the outcome of the presidential ballot. That one is settled. The mind-numbing fear is whether the umpire will not turn out to be wilful and, thus, announce other than the people’s verdict.

Iloegbunam, a journalist, wrote via iloegbunam@hotmail.com

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͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

The D-Day is here...

2019 and IPOB’s Futility Never expect a man to see you higher than he perceives himself...Ena E. Orugbo

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan brought the Igbo’s back into the mainstream. He was rewarded by the Southeast with 2.5 million fewer votes in 2015 than 2011. Do you know that the Igbo’s are entrenched in PMB’s cabinet? The Ministers of Investment and Trade, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Employment, and Science and Technology are of Igbo extraction. In 2014, India made $120 billion from export of Information Technology and Software services. In the same fiscal year, Nigeria earned $70 billion from crude oil sales. Sure, PMB could have done more to make his government more inclusive. However, who gave the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) the mandate to call for a boycott of elections?

The losses from the Nigerian Civil war are not limited to the two million Igbo’s who died. Nigeria is yet to recover from the 6 July 1967 to 15 January 1970 war. The true cost of Dim OdumegwuOjukwu’s led war might never be known. IPOB’s intellectual prowess should be devoted towards evaluating the economic, political, financial and human cost of the Biafra war and not a Sudanese Jubril or Cameroonian Hullabaloo. This brings the ensuing by Dr. Ena Orugbo to the fore, “no man is loyal except there is a cause and no cause is worthwhile except it is for common good”. The Biafra war was certainly not for common good; hence it did not get strategic buy-in from the West.

The most pressing challenges debilitating the Igbo’s of Nigeria are not limited to the Southeast. South-South, Northeast, and Southwest Nigeria have challenges that are peculiar to their jurisdictions. In addition, Dr. Tunde Bakare warns, “Never solve a temporary problem with a permanent solution”. IPOB and her Sheiks would have none of Bakare’s caution and they are oblivious of the South Sudanese case. In 2011, South Sudan broke out from Sudan after a protracted civil war. It is regrettable to announce that it took only two years, for the new nation to plunge herself into a fresh war. War begets war and the Southeast has a new window, 2019 election to put Nigeria first.

Philippians 2:4 says “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others”. IPOB, where were you when the Queen of Biafra, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was denied

Why APC is just ‘Turnioniown’

a senatorial ticket? IPOB, what suggestions have you proffered to the perennial erosion, plaguing the Southeast? IPOB, where were you when Ebola was threatening to overrun Nigeria? IPOB has been nowhere to be found when it mattered the most. A red card to lazy students of history, winning a battle is not tantamount to winning the war. An amber card to devotees of IPOB, what is your end game?

A green card to the great people of Nigeria; vote wisely on 16 February 2019.

IPOB has done a lot to stir debate but their intent and end game are futile. The Biafra war was needless, costly and Nigeria is yet to fully recover.

Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari have done their best. The ball is now in the court of Nigerians to right all wrongs. Therefore, vote the best candidate between PMB and Atiku.

It is erroneous to utterly dismiss the complaints of the Igbo’s. It is also expedient to reassure them that Nigeria is fertile enough for all. After all, the Igbo’s are tenacious and they ensure you shop, once you step foot into their stores. “Biko”, Timi Dakolo’s hit song, Great Nation should be subtitled in Igbo language.

Dr. Enameguolo Orugbo,j etageNG@gmail.com

I

t is easier to solidarise in “struggle” than in victory.

In 2013, the PDP galloped from one crisis to another until it imploded and lost power at the centre in 2015. But the party’s eclipse happened after it had enjoyed 16 years in power.

Currently, the APC is embroiled in tremulous wrangling. And this is just after three and a half years of savouring victory.

A few days ago, I watched as Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman, gave Rochas Okorocha, Imo State governor, a dressing-down at the presidential rally in the state. I was shocked at the national chairman’s indiscretion with words.

This is a governor whose support is crucial in the APC winning the presidential election in the state.

How do you expect him to really work for the party after a public and televised ridicule by the chief of that party?

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: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

The triggers of the kerfuffle in Imo State are the same as those in Zamfara State, where the governor vowed to assault any of the party executives who come to mediate in the crisis.

Why is the party unravelling so soon?

The APC presidential rallies across the states have accented the deep and festering sores in the party. I watched as Rotimi Amaechi and Abike Dabiri “squabbled” at the rally in Adamawa. And at the rally in Ogun, a despondent Bola Tinubu flung an APC flag like garbage.

More discomfiting is the distraught party supporters throwing projectiles while the president raised the hand of Dapo Abiodun, the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

And where is the logic in President Buhari asking supporters to vote for him, and at the same telling them to vote for any governorship candidate of their choice - “across party lines” – as he did in Imo and Ogun State? This must be a novelty in political immolation. It is a recipe for disaster.

But is this upheaval capable of causing an upset in the electoral fortunes of the APC? I think so, if it is not managed well and soon enough. This is exactly where the PDP was in 2015.

When political parties do not run on ideologies, but on interest, there is bound to be head-on collisions.

Obviously, the merger which resulted in the carnation of the APC was oxygenated by one interest – to grab power. But the brokers of the deal did not ask, “after we take over power what next? How do we manage it? How do we manage the pool of interests? And how do we deliver good governance to Nigerians.”

Success not prepared for could be a curse.

This here is the reason the APC is just ‘turnioniown’.

Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@ yahoo.com

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

BOTCHED ELECTIONS… BOTCHED ELECTIONS…BOTCHED ELECTIONS… Anxiety Mounts in Taraba over Non Arrival of Sensitive Materials Wole Ayodele ÓØ ËÖÓØÑÙ

PRAYING FOR POWER...

L-R: President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Razak Atunwa and other Muslim faithful praying during jummat at the Ilorin Central Mosque yesterday.

Less than 16 hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, anxiety has continued to mount in Taraba State over non-arrival of sensitive electoral materials in the state.

THISDAY investigations reveal that the sensitive materials, which are very crucial to the conduct of the elections were yet to arrive Jalingo from where they are expected to be distributed to other parts of the state as at 4.00p.m.

Following the non-arrival of the materials, there are indications that the elections may not hold as scheduled in several parts of the state due to the difficult terrain and topography of the state.

Accreditation exercise is expected to begin by 8.00a.m. across the country while it would take more than 16 hours to access some parts of the state especially Sardauna Local Government and Ngada development area where there are communities that cannot be accessed by road except motorcycles

and bikes.

An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said the materials were on the way and would arrive before evening.

But a resident of Jalingo, Yuguda Bitru expressed displeasure over the delay in the arrival of the materials even as he alleged that it may be a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the people of the state.

According to him, “There is no justification for delay in the arrival of the sensitive materials. Though INEC has given assurances that the materials would soon arrive the state, we’re compelled to believe that the delay is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the people of the state which is a worse form of rigging.”

Also lamenting the non-arrival of the materials to the state, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku told THISDAY that the delay would certainly affect the conduct of the elections in the state as he appealed to INEC to urgently intervene in the matter.

Atiku Raises the Alarm over Partisanship of PVC, Card Reader Manufacturer

Buhari Poised for Better outing in Abia

Shola Oyeyipo ÓØ ÌßÔË

Emmanuel Ugwu ÓØ ×ßËÒÓË

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Presidential election billed for today, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm that the Managing Director of Activate Technologies Limited, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa, whose company supplied the machines used in printing the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Niger East Senatorial district for th botched poll.

In a press statement issued on yesterday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Atiku stated that the revelation was a result of its extensive intelligence gathering network to identify and prevent the ruling party’s brazen and ultimately failed attempts to rig the results.

“It is public knowledge that Sani

Musa, popularly known as Sani 313 is a card carrying member of the APC and a close associate of several stalwarts of the party, including President Muhammadu Buhari who apparently pushed his nomination. But shockingly, the APC Senatorial candidate for Zone B of Niger State,Mr. Mohammed Musa, has a contract with INEC to supply key voting materials in an election he is participating in, which is a clear conflict of interest and raises questions of probity and oversight in the issuing of INEC contracts.

“The INEC contract was to ‘upgrade’ the card readers and to print PVC cards. Further investigations have shown that the ‘upgrade’ consisted of pre-programming the card readers to accept fake replica PVCs (copies of genuine PVCs) that the firm printed in Nigeria. These two activities were undertaken so that the APC could boost its vote tally

in its strongholds or force votes in Polling Units at PDP strongholds to be null and void by over-voting .

Our investigation also identified the seven states where this activity was due to take place and we have therefore informed the Observer Community and our own extensive network of over 176,000 Party Agents so that they can forestall this activity by checking cards as allowed under INEC guidelines,” Shaibu stated.

“Given that that Mrs. Musa’s previous company, Act Technologies, had a contract to supply and install PVC card printers in the INEC Headquarters, it does beg the question why Mr. Musa’s new company, Activate Technologies, was given a subsequent contract to print PVC cards itself?

Other investigations have revealed that an employee and Director of Activate Technologies and an APC member, Mr. Mohammed Keffi, was filmed at Abuja Airport

Domestic Departure Lounge on 29th December opening an official INEC envelope and then handling multiple ballot forms which he was checking off against his mobile phone. Sources also confirmed that this person was one of the people who was loading the fake card numbers into the ‘upgraded’ card readers in the residence of the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, as well as other ‘Card Reader Farms’ in Abuja and Kano. These ‘farms’ are under guard by members of Government Security agencies.”

The PDP Presidential candidate said while Alhaji Sani Musa has the right to hold any public office in spite of his line of business, it was morally unjustifiable to allow a well-known supplier of sensitive INEC materials to partake in an election in which the key materials to be used for the poll were supplied by him.

Imo: PDP Worries over Ghost Polling Units

EFCC Releases Telephone Lines to Report Vote Buying

AmbyUnezeÓØ áÏÜÜÓ

Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË

08123827088

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday released to members of the public telephone lines in each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through which they can reach the commission with information on Vote Buying during the elections.

In a statement to newsmen, Acting SO of the EFCC, Tony Orilade in urging members of the public to reach the commission with information on Vote Buying, disclosed that anyone with useful information, would be rewarded in line with the federal government’s Whistle Blowing policy.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), wishes to inform the general public that patriotic citizens with authentic information that can lead to arrest of culprits of Vote-buying should reach the Commission for prompt response.

“The numbers to call are as follows: ABUJA HQ------ 08141219896, 09077928772, 09051923475, 09074456025, 09051916064, 09066270016 ABUJAZONAL OFFICE----08033492025, 08123827088 LAGOS OFFICE ---08033106347,

PORT HARCOURT OFFICE -----08065642958

ThePeoplesDemocraticParty(PDP)in ImoStatehasraisedthealarmoverwhatit called“plansbytheIndependentNational Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the elections in the state in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) andAction Alliance(AA)”throughthecreationofghost polling units and voting points (VP).

SecretaryofthePDPCampaignCouncil, Hon. Ray Emeana who briefed the press yesterdaystatedthatthepartyhaduncovered secretplotbyINECcolludingwiththeAPC andAAtokeephiddentothepublicsome of the fictitious voting points in the areas occupiedbythecandidatesofthetwosister politicalpartiestothedetrimentofthePDP and other political parties in the state.

He listed the hidden polling units to include the local governments of Oru East, home of the APC governorship candidate,HopeUzodinma,IdeatoSouth, home of Governor Rochas Okorocha and Government Reserve Area (GRA) in Owerri, residence of Uche Nwosu, the AAgovernorship candidate.

Emeana noted, “for example inAwoOmammaward2,OruEastLGA,polling booths 001, 002, 003, 004 and extra voting

pointshavestrangelyemerged.SamesituationhascomeupalsoinAwo-Omamma ward111booth009,Amiriward1booth002.

The situation in Omamma ward is most alarming as it is unprecedented. In polling unit 001, six extra voting points have been created;sameforbooth006(threeextraunits), booth 008 (four extra units, booth 009 (three extra units), etc”.

Hesaid,“Thisscenarioisapplicableinthe GRAwardinOwerriMunicipalwherea totalof20extravotingpointshavesuddenly emerged. In Ideato South, Ogboko ward 1, all the polling booths have extra voting points of between two and three. Same also for Ogboko ward 11 Umuobom, Omuma-Ishiaku.”

Accordingtohim,thepertinentquestion is: why will such high numbers of extra votingpointsbecreatedinverylowdensity populatedplacewhileveryhighpopulated LGAs are left out?

Again, Emeana declared that the PDP had uncovered plots to declare the governorship election inconclusive as the arrangement of the APC and AA had brought military uniforms to be given to their thugs who would eventually foment trouble that would lead to the cancellation of the results.

KANO OFFICE ---08033500256 GOMBE OFFICE ---07061813411

Leaders of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are in upbeat mood that President Muhammadu Buhari would post a good performance in Abia State in the 2019 poll as “the ground has been watered well enough for good harvest of votes.”

In the 2015 general election, Buhari performed abysmally and could not even get the minimum 25 per cent of the total votes cast in Abia during the presidential poll.

But the governorship flag bearer of APC in Abia, Chief Ikechi Emenike told journalists yesterday that this time around Buhari’s popularity had soared in Abia so much so that he had become the candidate to beat in the 2019 presidential poll.

Emenike, who is very strong ally of Mr. President, had carried out extensive campaigns for him, penetrating the grassroots, telling the people that the South-east stood to benefit more by standing with Buhari and ensuring that their votes would be very conspicuous in his

Sensitive Materials Yet to Arrive Bauchi INEC Office Segun AwofadejÓ ÓØ ËßÍÒÓ

Barely few hours to the conduct of the first round of election in the 2019 general elections with the ENUGU OFFICE ---07064917920 presidential and National Assembly elections, sensitive election materials BENIN OFFICE ---08036008537 are yet to arrive Bauchi INEC office.

THISDAY checks revealed that MAIDUGURI OFFICE ---08035899836, the sensitive materials which include 08123827019 ballot papers and other forms for the conduct of the elections were UYO OFFICE ---08055112603, still being expected as at 7pm.

08180008030 A source at the INEC office who pleaded anonymity told newsmen SOKOTO OFFICE ---09085666666, that the sensitive materials were 08081765401 expected to come in from Kano but assured that as soon as they ILORIN OFFICE ---08034516071 arrived they would be cleared from the CBN and be distributed all MAKURDI OFFICE ---08036328837 through the night.

The source who is an official of IBADAN OFFICE ---07030885555 INEC allayed fears of any delay KADUNA OFFICE ---08037623831, 08058437872

“victory basket”.

It was a hectic campaign tours for Emenike and his team as they made sure they reached all the 17 local governments before the deadline expired for presidential campaigns.

Their whistle stop campaigns was capped on Thursday with a rally at the huge lawn in his country home at Okpuala Umukabia in Umuahia local government where thousands of party faithful gathered in solidarity with Mr. President.

At the rally a specially selected 10-man team of mobilisers for each of the 184 electoral wards in Abia were ‘energised’ for the task ahead to ensure that every eligible voter with permanent voter card (PVC) was encouraged to come out and vote on Saturday.

Emenike reminded the party supporters during the campaign visits of the imperative need to vote for Buhari on Saturday, noting that the people of South-east zone could not afford to be on the fringe when they should be in the mainstream of national politics.

in the conduct of the elections today because according to him, arrangements had been put in place to ensure that the materials were distributed to the INEC local government offices from where they would be distributed to the wards and then the polling units as early as possible today.

Meanwhile some of the Corps members to be used as ad-hoc staff for the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections are yet to be mobilised to their areas of operations across the state.

Some of the Corps members who spoke to our Correspondent as at 7.35pm said that they did not get to know their locations earlier enough to enable them move but expressed their readiness to move as soon as possible because it is service to their fatherland.

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

BOTCHED ELECTIONS… BOTCHED ELECTIONS…BOTCHED ELECTIONS…

IPOB Calls Off Election Boycott, Apologises for Lateness David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rescinded its earlier plan to boycott the 2019 general elections.

The group apologised for the late call off of the planned boycott, blaming it on forces who were bent on pushing them to the limit to wear her out, before finally acceding to their requests.

A press release by the media and publicity secretary of the group, Emma Powerful which was made available to THISDAY in Awka quoted the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu apologising to his teeming supporters for the limited time.

The group however said that the call off was done after a meeting of the group’s Directorate of State’s meeting which took time to evaluate its terms and conditions, and the substantial compliance to it by government forces.

IPOB however remained silent on the terms met which necessitated its calling off of the boycott, and which group it met too.

Part of the Release by IPOB read, “It is important we notify the

world at large and IPOB family in particular that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has called-off the election boycott in Biafraland. After a brief emergency session of the Directorate of State (DOS) late last night.

“The meeting was presided over by our leader, where it was determined that all our terms and conditions had been met by those wishing us to lift the ban on voting, it was unanimously agreed that the boycott should be lifted.

The signed document agreeing to IPOB terms and conditions are in our possession and will be made public in due course.

“We regret the lateness of this agreement that led to the calling off at the eleventh hour but it must be seen as a negotiating ploy designed to wear IPOB down which failed woefully. We stood very firm and got every concession we asked for in line with what our leader outlined in numerous recent broadcasts.

“Our leader made it clear on many occasions that unless our terms are met the elections will be boycotted. Having met those

SPIRITUAL INTERFACE...

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Sole Administrator, Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Hon. Olumide Olayomi and Lay President Of Methodist Church Lagos Diocese, Sir Gbolahan Olayomi during installation of Sir Gbolahan Olayomi as Lay President of Methodist Church Lagos Diocese at Olowogbowo Cathedral in Lagos, yesterday

conditions, our leader triumphantly lifted the boycott late last night.

“Therefore, it is full steam ahead towards Biafra restoration because IPOB has achieved something most

people thought was impossible.

IPOB worldwide has proven that the impossible is achievable with dedication and demonstrable sense of purpose.

“Therefore, we wish to inform the world that our preconditions and demands which we set out to accomplish from the onset, has been conceded to and

taken care of without much alteration. Our struggle for total Biafra independence has been enhanced as a result of this.”

VIEW FROM ABROAD

Nigerian Voter Data Statistically Impossible Voter registration documents seen by Guardian on eve of election raise fears of mass rigging

T

he number of new voters registered in Nigeria since January 2018 has increased by almost exactly the same percentage in each of its states, according to documents seen and analysed by the Guardian, raising fears that the results of Saturday’s presidential election could be open to mass rigging.

Voters in Africa’s biggest country by population will choose between the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari, his main rival Atiku Abubakar, and more than 70 other candidates.

Since the last presidential election in 2015, many more people have become eligible to vote, and many others have registered to take part in the polls for the first time. About 10 million new voters signed up between January 2018 and early 2019 – according to data released by the electoral commission (INEC) – twice the number that signed up in the first nine months of registration, between April 2017 and January 2018.

But analysis of the data for each of the country’s 36 states and its capital shows that INEC has increased the number of new registered voters by almost exactly the same percentage across all states. The correlation is a “statistical impossibility” and does not reflect Nigeria’s demographic changes, according to data analysts working with the Guardian. Additional data seen by the Guardian also shows irregularities in registration for the 2015 election, until now considered to have been free and fair.

On average, voter registration in each state increased by 2.2% between April 2017 and January 2018, and by 7.7% for the whole registration period ahead of Saturday’s election.

Plotted on a scatter line graph, there is a 0.99 correlation across all the states, without a single outlier. According to three separate data analysts, the parity cannot be a coincidence. “Only God works that closely,” one analyst said. If some of the new voters registered are fake, it would imply meddling at the electoral commission, though it is unclear whether it would be the rulingparty or the opposition that would stand to benefit.

Saturday’s election is seen as a referendum on Buhari’s first term, which has been marred by his prolonged absence due to illness, a weak economy, and the government’s failure to effectively tackle corruption and insecurity.

A faction of Boko Haram attacked a state governor’s convoy on Tuesday, killing four people and stealing vehicles; on the same day, 15 people were crushed to death at a ruling party rally in eastern Port Harcourt. On Thursday, 14 sacks of ballot papers were intercepted in Kano state – though police said they were merely “specimen” papers to educate voters.

There have also been reports that the privacy of citizens may have been compromised after INEC and the Nigerian communications commission allegedly allowed the ruling party to access

Nwankwo

personal data.

The 2015 election in which Buhari came to power was widely held to be free and fair. However, an analysis of separate figures shows that manipulation may have happened in favour of Buhari’s party, which was running in opposition to Goodluck Jonathan’s People’s Democratic party.

A clue may have been dropped last July when the INEC, perhaps inadvertently, publicly referenced a different set of results to the one on which Buhari’s victory was based.

Both documents showed 29.4 million votes were cast. But according to the original results, 31.7 million accredited voters participated in the election, whereas in the second set of results that figure dropped to 23.6 million.

The discrepancy suggests an additional 6 million accredited voters, far more than the APC’s winning margin - as per the original result set - of 2.6 million votes.

Smart-card readers were used for the first time in 2015 and the

second set of results was released in response to widespread criticism after the new technology malfunctioned, forcing millions of voters including Jonathan to use the manual process. The second result set appears to have disappeared from INEC’s website two months ago, along with all others relating to the 2015 poll.

There is frequently rigging in Nigerian elections, and it is not usually limited to whichever side happens to be in power at the time. Powerful politicians move fluidly between the two main parties, taking support and rigging mechanisms with them.

Buhari’s party chief may have revealed the truth with a slip of the tongue at a press conference in September.

“For democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of rigging – sorry, defeat – should participate in an election,” said Adams Oshiomhole.

–––The Guardian of the United Kingdom

Plus Bimbo Ademoye Moments Spent with My Dad Were the Best of My Life

Adekemi Muyibat I Live Within My Means… I’m Grateful for My Hustles

FASHION FILE GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND SHOWBIZFLAIR

pg.22 pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 45

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PLUS

Moments Spent with My Dad Were the Best of My Life Fun-loving Nollywood actress, Bimbo Ademoye is known for her role in series like This Is It and Desperate House Girls. Her acting career started in 2014 with a short film by Eva George titled, ‘Where Talent Lies’. Some years back, Ademoye was just a rookie combing audition centres. Today, she is one of the hottest in Nollywood. The 28 years old actress, who is also a fashion entrepreneur, shares the story of her travails and triumph in the movie industry with Ferdinand Ekechukwu

S

cene one, act two….

Set… Action! A director’s voice could be heard yelling from the scene. The cast and crew dotted all over the place while taking their turns on the set of a movie. Somewhere around location, fast rising actress, Bimbo Ademoye holds straight up her script trying to commit to memory her lines. It’s her first day on set. Some moments after taking her shots, she would be holding her phone and responding to a chat which has taken barely few hours to schedule.

“Yes it can be done,” she responded to the offer to chat at first, having missed a call. “But I’m currently on set filming, hence the late response.”

She’s on the set of the movie titled “The Confessor”, Ademoye revealed.

“This is my sixth project this year.”

That sounds quite impressive from someone relatively new in a bursting industry. It means she must be getting her act right. Besides, she’s driven by

passion and seeking every available acting opportunity she could find.

So far, she has lost count the number of movies she has featured since her breakthrough in 2015. On attempt at the figures however, she puts it above 50. “Erm…to be honest I’ve lost count, but about 50 if not more.” She has taken on roles in movies including “Gone” with Stella Damasus, “Light in The Dark” with Rita Dominic, and “In Back Up Fire”, and on to her award winning role in the movie “Personal Assistant”.

Between now and when she first started out in Nollywood, what has changed about the Best of Nollywood Awards 2018 Best Supporting Actress which influenced her meteoric rise?

Her response sounds convincing as much confidence as she is. She believes she has improved as a person and most importantly, an actor and still open to learning more, but can “confidently say that I’ve improved.”

To this truly it appears so having to turn down script due to unrealistic storylines with lack of depth to

My dad fought to keep us. Let’s just say I’m so glad he did. I do have a relationship with my mom. My dad just happens to be my best friend. I have the best father in the world. Moments spent with my dad were the best moments of my life. He made sure we had everything we wanted, even though at the time, he couldn’t afford a lot of things

acknowledging good ones.

She adds: “If there’s anything I owe my fans, it’s a good content, interesting and realistic roles.” Growing up as a kid, Ademoye realised she could act. She had tested her talent performing in front of over 600 guests as a pupil in form five and got a sound applause. “I was in primary five at that time. Their cheering and clapping made me feel like I don’t know, maybe Beyoncé,” she said letting out a smile.

Now acting alongside known names in Nollywood is actually an indescribable feeling.

The experience meeting these names she so adored on screen long before she joined leaves her with ticks of emotion.

She relieves: “It just makes me

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PLUS I Owe My Fans Good Content, Interesting, Realistic Roles thank God because I know that I’m on the right path. Sometimes, I shed a tear or two, then pinch myself back to reality.”

Possessing layers of multiple personalities, personify the real Ademoye character as she admitted to spontaneity, which makes a good trait for an actor, as most often expected to deliver on her role. It is not unusual though. But how spontaneous is she?

“Oh I have different personalities… sometimes even I surprise myself.”

On her personal life, she holds family and true friends close to heart, especially her father.

Childhood was amazing for her growing up with a single father. Her parents separated when she was two.

“My dad fought to keep us. Let’s just say I’m so glad he did. I do have a relationship with my mom. My dad just happens to be my best friend. I have the best father in the world. Moments spent with my dad were the best moments of my life. He made sure we had everything we wanted, even though at the time, he couldn’t afford a lot of things.”

As the chat progresses, she appeared a bit free to talk more personal. She thinks she’s dreary when asked to tell one thing which she hasn’t told anyone in the past.

“Why should I tell you if I haven’t told anyone,” she responded laughing, like she was taken aback but that would make the conversation lighter.

“In all honesty I’m a very boring person. I don’t think I have anything that serious that one or two persons don’t know.”

The last time Ademoye was in a relationship was in 2011. That’s pretty much a long time and appears quite unreal. So what has happened to her sex life since then… does she mean she has abstained from seeing a male person and its related activities like sex. Besides she’s a beautiful lady, fun loving and sexy. Could it be a thing of choice or guys don’t easily get attracted to her? “Oh well… I wasn’t even having sex at that time,” she said surprisingly. “I just haven’t found the one. I mean I’ve gone on dates and all. Just haven’t connected deep with anyone or vice versa.”

Hard to believe her, the question was flipped. “But you aren’t a virgin so why?” She responds, “And you’re sure of this how.” Wait…could it be that her boyfriend couldn’t take the excuse of her not having sex and got bored and then ended the relationship? “Not at all…we were in Covenant University, probably both virgins.” In passing she appeared to have admitted.

Doubted if she was being reasonably tactful with her response, she further responded. “Ha…I learnt the hard way. I’m still suffering from a headline that said I can act naked no matter the amount.” Since then “My daddy wouldn’t let me hear word. He reminds me every day. I just got off the phone with him. And he ended the conversation with ‘don’t act naked o.’

At 28 and doing good for herself without fear, the Business Administration degree holder plans to focus on herself as a person and as an actor to remain in the industry. “I want to work hard enough to a point where I don’t have to introduce myself. My only fear is to fizzle away without making a mark.”

Ademoye

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

PLUS

Adekemi Muyibat I Live Within My Means… I’m Grateful for My Hustles

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͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS Living Fake Life is Expensive

Adekemi Taofeek Muyibat is a fast rising actress in the Yoruba segment of Nollywood. She is fashion trendy and a member of selfie gang on social media. Muyibat, the first child in a family of five, graduated from Lagos State University, where she studied Business Administration. She says she is a proud indigene of Abeokuta, Ogun State. In this chat with Chinedu Ibeabuchi, Muyibat talks about growing up, her acting career and challenges

H

ow did your acting career start?

My acting career started years back under Actors Guild of Nigeria where I had to go for auditions. After a while, I stopped because of school. I came back around 2010 and I joined the Igi Aloye troupe.

New upcoming actors, at times, accuse older ones of being jealous of their sudden rise. What are your views?

I don’t see my senior colleagues as my competitors neither my mates in the industry. If you see me as a threat, that’s your own problem.

Your Instagram account was recently hacked. What happened?

movies.

What do you think has improved in Yoruba movie industry since you joined?

So many things have improved from setting to costumes to picture qualities and to storytelling. In fact, the industry as a whole is really improving.

What roles do you enjoy playing more?

I enjoy every role given to me. As an actor, you shouldn’t be boxed up in just one type of role. Versatility is what makes you stand out. I adapt to any role I find myself and each has its fun to relish.

If the script says act nude, can you go nude? Why?

Yea, my account was hacked.

I have no idea how and what happened. I opened another immediately and my fans are trooping in.

I can’t act nude because I have parents and siblings watching. Also, I am a role model to some people. I don’t have to act nude to show my perfection in translating a script.

Many celebrities are accused of living fake lives on social media.

Do you agree with this?

When not acting, what do you do? And how do you relax?

Living fake life is what they have decided to choose but Adekemi Taofeek has got no time for fake life because it’s expensive. I live within my means and I am grateful for my hustles. I am an actor and what you often see me post are either set scenes or my everyday exciting moments.

Before choosing to feature in a film, what do you consider?

Before I agree to work on a particular job, I usually go through the story, know the other cast and also, who is directing the movie. These elements work together to produce a blockbuster movie. My fans want me to give them the best of me in each role I play and I don’t wanna let them down.

How many movies have you featured in so far?

I have lost count. I work almost every time. It’s been from one movie to other. So, I have featured in lots of

When not acting, I am always at my boutique, shop or at home

Is Yoruba movie lucrative? You have other hustles like fashion store. Are you diversifying or this is mainly to augment income from acting?

Yes, it is lucrative; I have a boutique I manage. Aside acting, I love doing business as well.

How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style is simple and classy

Many actresses prefer to remain single to being tied down in a relationship. Where do you belong?

It’s not because they prefer being single but because they haven’t seen the right man yet. That is my view anyway. As for me, I am in a relationship and will be settling down soon.

Muyibat

FEBRUARY 16, 2019 Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE

Grooming a son on Valentines day.....

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that time of the month a time to show how much love can make the world a better place,to show love to our loved ones and also to someone out there.....not only do we teach our kids at this time but this is the best time to emphasize and show though illustrations.

Daddy and I have a six year old son amongst his 3 younger sisters...And we believe most times when the head is right the body is most likely to aline.

We believe kids emulate what the see more than when they are being told so wanted to show shawn that a man is someone who behaves with strong conviction by striking a nice balance between the heart and brain and not getting it confused..so he took shawn(our son) to a flower shop,spoke to him on sacrifice (on his little pocket money for his tuckshop at school)and also planned on how they were going to surprise me.Gladly that went well,so they picked up the bouquet of flower and left.on the other hand I also had to teach my daughters to always reciprocate love, we made hand made cards expressing them selves in the best way they could.

Dad and I and the kids dressed up to head out for our family dinner nothing big or extravagant but we did all that to show that we practice and also carried them along so they could be a part of the process.and guess what it was show time!!!,Time to present the flowers, the moment he had been waiting for...you needed to see the expression on my sons face...it was pricless...His dad and I looked at each other and truly felt fufiled.

Credits Photography by @efelopezphotography Models:Shawn, Olianna, Olivia,Amariah Daramola.

Makeup by @Makeupbyatl

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

Fashion File Grooming a Son on Valentine Day..... by

Adetutu Daramola

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Ë&#x153; Ëž FEBRUARY 16, 2019

PERSPECTIVE Jimi Agbaje and the Power of Leadership Adisa Akindele

J

imi Agbaje has shown phenomenal leadership skills and has proven himself to be a great leader so far. Why would we say this? Jimi Agbaje has organised his party and political campaigns single-handed over the years, building his own political structure. The first attempt under DPA was wholly on his own. Today, as the PDP flag bearer for Lagos, the party machinery is very much dependent on him to personally lead and in the process gather the contenders for the election battle for the House of Representatives and even Senate. He is endlessly strategizing and working out a winning game plan individually and collectively.

This requires leadership skills to guide, mentor and counsel such men and women, with which he is so pre-occupied. So, when people ask what JK has been up to these past years, they should ask these men and women. The party, which is so desperate to win Lagos, gave JK the mandate. They know that the question about his absence was never valid. Jimi Agbaje answers to no one but the Lagos people he wishes to serve. There is no Godfather in the background directing affairs.

The buck clearly stops on his table today and will continue to do so. There is no Godfather, pulling strings in the background. JK is so firmly in charge. The truth is that, whilst, his opponent only needs to worry about the location of his next speaking engagement and take strategic decisions on which colour suit and tie to wear, JK is dealing with the huge challenge of fund raising for his campaign and how to deal with the endless and wanton destruction of his billboards and campaign infrastructure, working hard to convince potential donours to stop being intimidated by the threats of

Agbaje huge reprisals by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bourdillonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; because he knows he, Jimi Agbaje will win this elections.

JK commands so much respect based on his pedigree, family background, accomplished parents, brothers and sisters. He is so trustedâ&#x20AC;ŚJimi we know, Jimi we trust. This is what great leaders are made of - someone who can inspire and be emulated. His focus and fight for Freedom, reminds one of the great Freedom fighters of East and South Africa, who had to fight for Freedom, very much in the way that Jimi is now fighting for Freedom from poor liveability, freedom from a broken

economy and freedom from a discouraging future. One can therefor understand why JK is so, admired today for displaying such courage to fight for the economic and social emancipation of the people of Lagos.

Talking about JKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pharmacy business pales into insignificance when you compare his past skills to the skills, he has been able to garner politically. He has envisioned and then engaged men and women to align with his vision, which has always been larger than the current rhetoric of his opposition, who believe that by doing what is expected of them, they will be doing the people of Lagos a great favour. JK has always, in his plans for Lagos, thought big and large in line with what a megacity like Lagos needs. When he started his journey at his first stab at Governorship his plan was to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of the state, hence his strategy for the state was to drive entrepreneurial governance.

This, vision grew bigger when he embarked on his second political journey to Lagos State house, where he stepped up and decided that Lagos would need very Bold and audacious Ideas and be ready to take advantage of the fresh opportunities, which these bold ideas will create for the entrepreneurial spirit of Lagos to lock into. Now he is talking about Big Ideas to re-anchor Lagos on an education paradigm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so different and so uniquely relevant to Lagosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; challenges.

His opponent might have long CVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and propagated track record in the public and private sector, but however, these are the professionals that great visionary leaders employ to execute their vision. There are many able and competent men and women out there, but the question is, who do they serve? Whose interests are they engaged to protect, whose call do they answer? Great Leaders like JK, have a knack for putting great teams together.

That is why his campaigns over the years, outclassed and frightened the opposition, who, despite their enormous campaign war chest, failed to buy the heart and soul of even the people they engaged for their campaign.

The skilled people that committed their skills and expertise to JKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cause did so with little or no compensation. Only true leaders can inspire such commitment. Leaders like JK create the vision, pull everyone towards that vision and do not have to buy or pay for it.

Lagos needs a great visionary leader that can leapfrog the state into the global megacity category. We have a large pool of great managers, accountants, strategists, bankers, project managers, sincere civil servants, who, like JKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opposition candidate, are standing by to execute the leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision. JK is that leader.

Lagos needs a strong, honest, focused, sincere, well meaning, fair, democratic, equitable leader. JK has shown great strength, coming back and back again, fighting the huge state backed machinery of vested interests without relenting. Even when he tired a bit and then focused on fixing his party to create a stronger platform for himself, it was only to come back and sayâ&#x20AC;Śno, I will not give up, I must not give up. We must rewrite the story of Lagos.

JK is going to free the state of Lagos from the political, economic and social bondage created by vested interests. He will lead the battle for freedom from the negative things that face this state and lead the battle for freedom to gain access and benefit from the positive things the state can offer.

Not to understand this new leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cry for Freedom, is to pity so many that have gotten used to not being free and so do not appreciate that they are in captivity.

I vote for a leader and not a manager. I vote for a Leader and a visionary. I vote for Jimi Agbaje - our Freedom fighter.

Why Election Boycott is not an Option Jude Ndukwe

W

hile Nigeria is preparing for what is possibly the most important elections in her history, some citizens are attempting the suicidal option of an election boycott even at a time they have the best opportunity to make a very bold statement with their votes and at a time historical facts world over shows that election boycotts do not work and, in fact, is to the grave disadvantage of the boycotters. This is true considering that those who are calling for the boycott of the forthcoming Nigerian elections seem to actually be those in more desperate need of a change of government that has been tyrannical and oppressive to them; several of them have also lost their lives while agitating for their cause.

That Nnamdi Kanu is abroad today against his will is because we have a government that would not allow him associate freely or enjoy his other constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights. The first strategic step for him and IPOB to take is to make their number count in this election and vote out the government that has been repressive to them. In fact, the best vengeance they can and should exert on Buhari and his government is to head for the polls on February 16, thereafter, they could have the space to pursue their legitimate agitations decently and without being hounded by anyone.

But calling for an election boycott in a region where the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major challenger who also is a liberal democrat with listening ears has his brightest chances amounts to uncounted but very effective vote to the incumbent even before the elections kick off.

There must first be life before referendum. The need to stay alive is why Nnamdi Kanu fled Nigeria to other countries. Even he realizes the need to stay alive in order to fight for a deserving referendum. But when you have a man that is determined to crush you and your followers because of your beliefs and sociopolitical causes as president, the chances of you achieving your goals become very slim while your followers continue to remain endangered species in the land. There is no better time and opportunity to prove to Buhari that IPOB as an institution has the power to make kings and unseat presidents other than the 2019 presidential election. It would be the kind of statement that would further boost IPOBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image before the international community as an

institution of strategy that wields enormous powers that can change the course of a nation according to their own wishes any time, any day.

It was Matthew Frankel that said â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śboycott itself is generally disastrous for the boycotting party. Individuals and parties tend to boycott elections in order to protest the policies of the ruling regime with the hopes that voters will choose not to show up, thus rendering the election illegitimate in the eyes of the worldâ&#x20AC;Śthis result is rarely achieved and the boycotting party often becomes completely detached from the organs of power, setting itself up for further setbacksâ&#x20AC;?. This is an indisputable fact as the unlikely second coming of the incumbent in Nigeria would be far worse than what it has been in his first tenure when he needs the votes of the people to continue in office. If he could do this to the wood when it is wet, what would he not do when it is dry?

In 1992, Lebanese Christians boycotted the elections in their country despite controlling one-third of the parliament in order to protest excessive Syrian influence.

This, unwittingly, gave the Shia Muslims in Lebanon the opportunity to increase their representation in parliament, an opportunity which the nascent Lebanese Hezbollah seized well to launch and assert themselves on the political scene of the nation with the grave consequences that followed.

The situation of election boycott proponents in Nigeria today is the same with that of Serbia of 1997 when Zornan Djindjic spearheaded the boycott of elections in that country. In the same vein, in the Southern Serbian province of Kosovo, a majority of Albanian voters who were also agitating for separation via peaceful means like IPOB is doing in Nigeria, boycotted that election.

The effect of their boycott was that it allowed Slobodan Milosevic to gain more grip on power to the detriment of not only the boycotters but the entire nation as Kosovo eventually became a theatre of humanitarian crisis.

The Iraqi Muslims are now only just recovering from their ill-advised and ill-fated decision to boycott the Iraqi 2005 elections. The stories of regrets follow so many groups that have attempted to use election boycott as a strategy for achieving certain aims.

For example, with its large followership, and participation, IPOB could have massively influenced the outcome of the last Anambra election against the incumbent. They did not like him for whatever reasons, yet, they fluffed the chance to participate in a process that would have

Yakubu, INEC Chairman eased him out, and probably have their own preferred candidate, a sympathizer to their cause emerge victorious.

And they take it from there. They did not want the incumbent, yet, they boycotted the chance to shove him out. Instead of seeing his face for only four years, they are now stuck with him for eight years. Who has lost?

The fact is that if Buhari wins the presidential election, IPOB members know that their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has little or no chance of ever returning to Nigeria. But with Atikuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidency, the chances of Kanu not only returning but also being meaningfully and robustly engaged on matters agitating his mind and that of his followers would receive attention rather than oppression.

One can only imagine if a Senator like Enyinnaya Abaribe had not emerged a lawmaker via election, if everyone had boycotted the election that made him a Senator, who would have stood surety for Nnamdi Kanu when one of the bail conditions required that a Senator of the Federal Republic do so? By that singular fact, Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB have become the singular largest beneficiaries of a participatory electoral process and should have imbibed the lessons thereof.

---jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: @StJudeNdukwe Continued online www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 16, 2019

POLITY

Alonge Bows Out as UCH’s CMD Folu Olamiti

P

rofessor Temitope Oluwagbenga Alonge, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, is due to bow out of office soon on completion of his second term on 28 February, 2019.

The world renowned Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon had been at the helm of affairs of the UCH, Nigeria’s first tertiary hospital, since March 2011 when he first assumed the office for an initial term of four years. He was reappointed in 2015 for a second term on merit following his satisfactory performance. His second term, which is now coming to a meritorious end turned out to be even better and more rewarding for the hospital with a lot of transformational developments and record breaking achievements to show.

At the inception of his administration in March 2011, the agenda he set for himself with his declaration to ensure “the rebirth of excellence” in all the operations of the hospital seemed an herculean, if not nearly impossible task, considering the then prevailing uncertainties and debilitating problems of the public health sector such as poor funding which remains a common obstacle to the development of all government owned tertiary hospitals in the country leading to infrastructure decay, low morale and disaffection of staff and frequent strike actions.

Undaunted, he promptly began to set up structures to deliver the vision and, somehow, he began to surmount many of the challenges through creativity, the support of management and staff who believed in the vision and with the help of God. Amazingly, within the first year of his administration, the hospital had made remarkable progress weighty enough to call for celebration.This was what led to the resumption of the celebration of the hospital’s annual anniversary in 2012, five years after it was last celebrated in 2007.

And so in 2012, a year after he became the CMD, the UCH resumed the celebration of excellence for real. One of the high points of the 2012 anniversary celebration was the commissioning of an ultra modern Geriatric Centre for the care of the aged and senior citizens, the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa. The Centre up till now is the only Geriatric hospital in the African continent offering holistic care for senior citizens and the aged.

The Geriatric Centre was named after the late Chief Tony Anenih, an elder statesman and politician who was inspired by Prof.

Alonge to build, equip and donate it to the UCH. Over 30,000 people have received treatment at the Centre in the last six years, which has enabled the UCH to develop expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of ageing related ailments and

Alonge

diseases. The hospital’s expertise in Geriatric care was further improved with the addition of an ultra modern Geriatric Rehabilitation Centre built, equipped and donated by another Nigerian Philanthropist, Sir Kessington Adebutu in 2 017. Today, the UCH is a Centre of excellence in Geriatric Medicine.

Since the wind of transformation began to blow in the hospital from Prof Alonge’s first year in office, it has not stopped. It has swept through several areas of the hospital’s operations resulting in the upgrading of several departments and units with the latest modern equipment and technology. It has manifested in the creation of new structures to promote efficiency. It has manifested in substantial investment on physical infrastructure, research, training and capacity development for staff and students to enhance their knowledge, skills and expertise. And it has also reflected in the provision of basic amenities for the comfort of the institution’s community, patients and guests.

Some of the key transformational developments under the Prof Alonge administration which have repositioned the UCH

as a Centre of Ecellence in health care delivery and the training of medical personnel include the upgrading of facilities for the treatment of heart related diseases and conditions. This entailed, among other things, the installation of a complete modern cardiology theatre, Intensive Care Unit and a Catheterization Laboratory (Cath-Lab) all parading the latest technology. The upgrade made it possible for the UCH to perform the first open heart surgery in any Nigerian teaching hospital in 2013 and it has continued to perform several successful heart surgeries year in year out.

Another giant stride was the upgrading of facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer which included the acquisition of state of the art cancer equipment such as Thermo graph and Mammogram machines, among others. In addition to these facilities the UCH has also developed protocol for the treatment of all types of cancer using the precision medicine method. Furthermore, the UCH is currently building a world class cancer centre modeled after the world’s most experienced and oldest cancer institute called Rosswell Park Cancer Centre in New York, USA. Among other facilities modernized under Prof Alonge’s administration is the Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre to address the treatment of complex cases and the reintegration of victims back to normal life in the society. Perhaps the most talked about is the development of the hospital’s proficiency and expertise in Nuclear Medicine and Neurosurgery whereby it has been performing complex brain surgeries with the latest procedure and technology referred to as awake craniology in which the patient is awake and can even respond to questions from from doctors while the operation was being done.

With all these giant strides there is no doubt that Prof Alonge has taken the UCH to greater heights and it can be safely concluded that he has substantially achieved his goal of the rebirth of excellence in the hospital.

A passionate advocate of reverse medical tourism, Prof Alonge is ready to blow the trumpet that the UCH has the expertise, latest equipment, technology and facilities (including ultramodern private suites for high profile persons) to successfuly treat Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad for complex diseases and conditions.

Regrettably, the ethics of the medical profession does not allow him to advertise the competencies of the hospital.

The success story of Prof Alonge would not be complete without mention of some of the enabling factors which helped propel his vision to actualization. Key among these are his creative embrace of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and his integrity which persuaded some of the nation’s leading philanthropists, corporate bodies, international organizations and the Federal Government (owners of the hospital) to support the lofty projects initiated by his administration.

––Folu Olamiti Media Consultant writes from Abuja.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Director, Workmen and Talents Agency Ltd, Mrs. Angela Adegboyega; Human Resources Director, Chi Ltd. Uzoamaka Bifom; President, Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Aderemi Adegboyega; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Abidemi Ganiat Raji; and Director, Employment Department, Lagos State Government, Mrs. Iyabo Motilayo Seriki-Bello, at the Workman and Talents Lagos Career and Job Expo, held in Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Executive Director, Finance, Halogen Group, Mr. Kola Idowu; Operative and Co-winner, Silverbird Heroes Award, Achi Daniel; Supervisor and Co-winner, Silverbird Heroes Award, Francis Emepueaku; Group Managing Director, Halogen Group, Mr. Wale Olaoye and Group CEO, Insight Redefine, Dr. Ken Onyali-Ikpe, after the two Halogen guards were jointly honoured with special HEROES AWARD at the Silverbird Man of the Year Awards after Francis and Daniel had found and returned a lady’s bag filled with dollars and other valuable items at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, …recently DAN UKANA

L-R: Bishop Tina Bawa-Shitgutrum; Chief Executive Officer, Rosemary’s, The Soft Furnishing Company, Ezinne Kufre Ekanem; Managing Director, Philosoville Limited and the initiator of Hymnodia, Kufre Ekanem; and Managing Director, Nitro 121, Lampe Omoyele, at the arrival ceremony of 14 hymntestants (contestants) to the Hymnstitute Show’s House in Lagos for the Hymnodia reality TV show on hymns

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Verdant Zeal Group, Dipo Adesida; Managing Director, RedGecko PR, Cornelius Onuoha; Alara of Ara, Osun State, HRH Oba Dr. Oyelade Abidogun; Executive Vice Chairman, Verdant Zeal Group, Dr Tunji Olugbodi and Head, Human Resource and Administration, Verdant Zeal Group, Abimbola Ogunleye, during the royal visit of the Alara to Verdant Zeal Court, in Lagos...recently

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 16, 2019

POLITY

UchennaAnnie-OkonkwoDrivesintoPolitics Remarkably sound, with marked enthusiasm about his acquired business success, and profundity of life, Uchenna Harris Annie-Okonkwo leaves much to be desired, even as a fresh politician and son of a prominent Nigerian, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

H

e tows his father’s accomplished footpath first in business and now venturing into politics. His success was not wholly defined by him being the first child of his parents. It was shaped and determined by virtues as being earnest, humble and resilient and driven by an aspiration for a better surrounding and inhabitable community. Sitting atop a privileged position at a multidimensional conglomerate with unassuming and tactful disposition, his managerial position oversees responsibilities that are met decidedly in commodity trading, specialising in fast moving consumer goods, with significant interest in oil and gas, mining and manufacturing.

From a private point of view and the peculiar Nigerian challenges, Uchenna Harris Annie-Okonkwo is on a strong footing, piloting the affairs of the company as the Executive Director. “We are graciously doing well,” he says for sure, “we have done very well in our areas of chosen interests.”

A native of Ojoto in Anambra State, he grew up partly in Aba and Lagos, where he completed his secondary education before moving to Canada for higher studies. Today, he has double honours in Political Science and Philosophy, a qualification good enough to steer him in his new venture and capped with a separate degree in Professional Writing and Strategic Communications.

His company Topwide Ventures Limited has successfully been in business since 1996. Thanks to his father Senator Annie Okonkwo, “my dad was first a successful businessman before a politician, so the influences run appreciatively concurrently. Growing up too was delightful by virtue of my mother’s inspirational stature. Her moral regimen was and continues to be a well of vintage wisdom. . . So between them, my education and all the people I have met and read about, my philosophy of life is already cut out to add my bit to uphold humanity through service by examples.”

No doubt a successful business Annie-Okonkwo entrepreneur by virtue of his family background, why venturing into politics? His reason is quite relatable. “If you are in a position to assist, help or change the course of events that brings succour to people, you cannot sit back and fold your alms and keep watching things being done in an irrational way and manner. Between our basic governance architecture, that is, the leaders and the followers, there has been a cascading defect in the leadership cadre. There are so many irregularities, inconsistencies and inefficiencies that have trapped our system into regression. We must as a collective, do something about it and one sure way is getting involved; getting involved by offering yourself for service through election .”

He may not hold much of an achievement in grassroots but have modestly done lots of poverty alleviation programmes which he doesn’t see as an accomplishment, but rather normal civic philanthropy. Adding that he feels fulfilled and excited whenever he visits the orphanages or render help to people. According to him, “It’s actually one of the reasons that propelled me into politics in order to possibly increase the scale of the lives I touch and will surely touch.”

Waxing philosophical, the young Annie-Okonkwo postulates. “You cannot prescribe drugs to a patient in the theatre from the balcony. Nigeria is a precarious political patient in the theatre and every concerned citizen should get involved to restore her or risk her being rested. I have therefore chosen

I see the same similarity here. Even though everyone has his own mindset in terms of what progressive development should be. But for me given my exposure and mindset, I see it further than bare average. I feel the need to go beyond familiar tokenism to offer vibrant service centered representation to a people that deserve more but continually gotten less. In my zone of Idemili North and South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, I have seen and studied the situation on the ground

the former and take my going into politics as a call for national duty, aware of the overarching need to objectively demonstrate a capacity for public good especially representing my people of Idemili North and South at the Federal House.”

He is well set out with a definitive mindset in his ambitious political stride to represent his constituents and offer probable solutions however similar it seems. “I see the same similarity here. Even though everyone has his own mindset in terms of what progressive development should be. But for me given my exposure and mindset, I see it further than bare average. I feel the need to go beyond familiar tokenism to offer vibrant service centered representation to a people that deserve more but continually gotten less. In my zone of Idemili North and South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, I have seen and studied the situation on the ground.

“Our people need inspiration that connects to reality, a hope that builds consensus, actions that generate results. My holistic agenda is purely captured in the simple phrase of my campaign thread ‘Together for Everybody, Service to Everyone’. It’s a clarion beckon to everyone as principal stakeholders in the political business of representation, not a transaction exchange that comes handy every four years. I and My Teamwork group have carefully cased up our needs and I will do everything within me to make sure that these researched alleviation methods are practically made elementary in a

sustainable manner.

“Infrastructures that unbutton self-empowerment, ideas that unlock creativity, attitudes that incubate trust will all be in the works for the most harnessed representation our people deserve and should get. We will not only get things done, but show people that things are not as complicated as the way vote traders have skillfully always presented it to them. You have to escalate actions above the basics which imply that you have to take steps from day one to move your people forward. It is as simple as doing it not excusing it. And you know what?

The magic of plenty actions will come from the abundance of our youth’s vitality, their reinforced determination to be involved and increasingly in charge.”

Annie-Okonkwo holds many thanks to global influencers like the French President Emmanuel Macron who was blunt in his message to the youths that their most important assignment should be to get “involved in their politics.” To him, it is a major morale boost to everyone and every youthful individual, to unleash their exuberance, tenacity and genuine purpose into politics. That way he believes the youths can get in line to transit from being gratified as leaders of tomorrow and as leaders of today for a better generation next.

With a plain resolve that he will along side with every interest mate pursue restructuring totally and hopefully, “we can achieve it. The youths will work better for their constituencies as more elastic stakeholders.”

Ë&#x153; Ëž FEBRUARY 16, 2019

27

VINTAGE

Shamima (inset before joining ISIS)

British Schoolgirl Who Joined ISIS is Pregnant, Wants to Return Home

A

schoolgirl who left Britain in 2015, when she was only 15, to join ISIS has been found heavily pregnant and she wants to return home.

Shamima Begum, a former East London schoolgirl, was tracked down by The Times to a refugee camp in northern Syria.

Shamima, now 19 years old, is the wife of an Islamic State fighter. She is nine months pregnant and has had two other infant children who are dead. Her husband is in captivity.

Shamima was one of three schoolgirls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; along with Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from Bethnal Green Academy who left their homes in February 2015 to join a fourth Bethnal Green schoolgirl in Syria who had left London the year before. They each married an ISIS foreign fighter, according to The Times.

Kadiza Sultana was reported to have been killed in an

airstrike on Raqqa in May 2016, while Shamima Begum has recently heard second-hand from other people that Amira Abase, and the other schoolgirl who left Britain in 2014, may still be alive.

When Shamima was tracked down by The Times, she said to them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t regret coming here.â&#x20AC;?

However, she added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not the same silly little 15-year-old schoolgirl who ran away from Bethnal Green four years ago.

She continued: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The caliphate is over. There was so much oppression and corruption that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think they deserved victory. I know what everyone at home thinks of me as I have read all that was written about me online.

But I just want to come home to have my child. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all I want right now. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do anything required just to be able to come home and live quietly with my child.â&#x20AC;?

But the UK isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eager to have Shamima back.

The security minister said he will not put British peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives at risk to save people like Shamima Begum who left the UK to join the Islamic state group.

Security minister Bell Wallace told BBC Radio 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Today programme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not putting at risk British peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives to go and look for terrorists or former terrorists in a failed state. There are consular services elsewhere in the region and the strong message this Government has given for many years is that actions have consequences.â&#x20AC;?

Mr Wallace told Sky News it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;worryingâ&#x20AC;? Shamima Begum does not regret her decision to join ISIS but added as a British citizen she has a â&#x20AC;&#x153;right to come homeâ&#x20AC;? but â&#x20AC;&#x153;actions have consequencesâ&#x20AC;?.

Reacting to Shamimaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plea to be allowed to return home for the sake of her unborn child, Piers Morgan shared a screenshot of an article where she asked to be brought home and he replied simply, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No.â&#x20AC;?

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

28

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

Chairman of Governing Council, Association of Forensic Accounting Researchers, AFAR, Prof. Muhammad Akaro Mainoma inducting Prof. Olusegun Ajibola as one of AFAR’s patron during AFAR’s inaugural training and induction ceremony in Lagos recently

L-R: Member, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Mrs. Titilayo Smith; Chairperson, Live Abundantly,Prince Gbenga Oguntayo ; Chairman,Lagos TESCOM, Mrs. Ariyo Elizabeth ; Founder & Executive Director, Live Abundantly, Dr. Ama Onyerinma and a former Board Secretary of Lagos State Universal Basic Education, Mr. Olatunji Anthonio Adefuye, during a workshop organised for teachers by Kosofe Local Government in collaboration with Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative in Lagos, yesterday

AFAR Holds First Induction, Charges Members on Ethics The Association of Forensic Accounting Researchers, AFAR,has inducted 160 members at its first training and induction ceremony.

The induction took place at Airport Hotels in Lagos with 150 fellows, 10 associate members and six patrons inducted.

Speaking at the occasion, President of the Association, Dr. Godwin Oyedokun reiterated the objective of the association was to prevent, detect and deter fraudulent practices across all sectors as well as promote education and certifications in various areas of forensics research and practices.

He noted that scientific research was paramount in preventing, detecting and detering all forms of fradulent vices that had eaten deep into the Nigerian system while the association exist to support organisations and government efforts in sanitising the system through research.

He said, “ Before now, forensic investigation used to be an unknown discipline, which is why government engaged the service of foreign experts to address issues.

AFAR is the first and world’s largest platform for forensic accounting researchers

with members spread across the country.

“The association boasts versed and competent professionals who are equipped with up-to-date knowledge on the practice. With AFAR’s presence in Nigeria,we see no reason why government and even businesses would seek foreign service anymore in this regard.”

In his address, Chairman of Afar Governing Council,Prof. Muhammad Akaro Mainoma charged members on ethical practice while discharging duties.

Mainoma emphasised that both research and ethics work hand in hand .He identified

LG Plans TV Innovation to Cover Loss in Mobile Phone Unit Technology company, LG Electronics is set to improve its Television business to offset the shortfalls in its mobile phone segment.

According to a report, the company had recorded huge sales decline in its mobile phone division for 15 consecutive quarters despite launch of new premium products.

LG in a statement attributed the loss to weak global smartphone demand and intense competition.

The report revealed that revenue at its mobile business division fell 24 per cent year-on year to $1.79 billion

representing 13.2 per cent of its total revenue in Q3 2018 compared with 17.6 per cent in Q3 2017.The backward trend continued in Q4 2018 as sales dipped further.

The company said it increased its marketing spendings to support the launch of its new product during the peak season and reduced channel inventories.

It added that its business structure had improved through better material cost controls and overhead efficiencies based on platform modularisation strategy.

LG said it has resolved to push 5G products and smartphones boasting

unique features as well as focus on key and operator- driven market such as North America and South Korea, where the brand has market edge.

The report also noted the company intends to focus more on premium OLED Television and large screen ultra-HD Television for both revenue and operating profit growth.

Meanwhile, LG Phones have continued to struggle with competition in Nigeria.

Its flagship, G7 ThinQ, parades latest sophisticated feature but still doesn’t wet market appetite as the likes of Samsung S9, IphoneX, Google Pixel 2, and other high-end products.

the connection between them as honesty of purpose, accountability of process and procedure, understanding of the philosophy of undertaking, wisdom to pursue only what is right, and the authority to make a difference.

Speaking further, he said, “Generally, it is said that without research there cannot be development. It is research that breaks new ground where individuals and community comes to terms with new reality, it is with research that problems are identified and solution found. Indeed, it is research that makes us know that ‘we don’t know what we don’t know’ “Apart from the fact that there is growing concern on the level of fraud cases, scholars also see the need to support the courts to get conviction on matters of fraud. You could ascertain that fraud has actually taken place but you may not have evidence to convict anybody.

This reality has necessitated the development of body of knowledge that can establish basis for conviction”.

In his address, a Professor of Accounting and Finance, Prof. Suleiman Aruwa, pointed out that Nigeria needs to do more in the area of research as some of the techniques and method employed in fighting fraud and corruption were no longer relevant with today’s realities, hence the inefficiency of outcomes.

The high point of the event was the unveiling of AFAR’s inaugural print journal, presentation of meritorious award to deserving Nigerians and launched a book on Forensic Accounting Research Development.

NGO Trains Tutors on Quality Hollandia Woos Consumers Learning, Growth Strategies with New ‘Pere’ Pack A non-government organisation,Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative,has charged teachers on effectiveness to aid improved output of education on the economy and the larger society.

The Organisation gave this charge at a workshop organised for primary school teachers in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos, in partnership with School Board Management Committee,SBME in the local government area.

Addressing participants, founder of the organisation,Dr. Ama Onyerinma reiterated the importance of teachers in the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal ,SDG,Four , which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning for all.

She stated in particular the influence of positive primary school

experience on the success of children socially and academically.

She said, “Primary Education encompasses the teaching of literacy, numeracy and reading skills. It also involve critical thinking, communication, social awareness and humanity.Positive primary school experience impact children to be life long learners and well integrated in society” While highlighting the link between education and economic growth, Ama said,”Education has a bearing on economic growth insofar it is essential to improve human capital. An economy’s production capacity depends on different factors, including physical capital, technology and number of workers, as well as their quality.

This quality is largely determined by what is called human capital.

An increase in workers’ educational level improves their human capital,

productivity and economy’s output”.

Ama emphasized that education can only achieved its numerous purpose with adequacy of teachers across the board and therefore urged all stakeholders to rise up to the demands of quality education in the state.

“Effective education requires quality , motivated, dedicated, skilled and innovative teachers , who understand that learning is a vehicle for change and social development”.

Earlier, Chairman of Lagos Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Mrs Ariyo Elizabeth commended the organisation for partnering with the state to improve quality of learning.

She added that the state was committed to improve the welfare of teachers in order to aid education output.

Hollandia Evap Milk has entered the market with new 120g pack to cater for all segment of consumers.

The new pack,branded ‘Pere’, translates as ‘no more, no less’, is intended to symbolize the product’s quality and affordability, thereby resonating with consumers across the country.

According to the company, the latest boasts same premium quality known to the brand and comes in a convenient portion size and a new pack format in the evaporated milk category, which will make it irresistible to consumers.

Speaking on the new product, Marketing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya, explained that the thought on the latest was

informed by the company’s desire to consistently deliver novel solution to consumer needs.

He said, “The new ‘Pere’ pack is unique and symbolizes our understanding of consumers’ value. Retailing at N100, we are confident that the new pack would delight consumers with its affordability, quality and convenient portion size.

“The pack is a statement of industry leading packaging innovation. It is an interesting way to also simultaneously represent the product’s value and disruptive approach in the evaporated milk category”, he stated.

The Hollandia Evaporated Milk 120g pack size joins the 190g and 60g pack sizes that are already on the shelf .

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

16.02.2019

NEWS

FA Cup: Chelsea, United Take Centre Stage

Leon Balogun Fading Dream?

PAGE. 32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

30

GLOBAL SOCCER

Leon Balogun

Fading Dream?

When Leon Balogun had his first Premier League berth for Brightonand Hove Albion in the Week Two 3-2 win against Manchester United, the Nigerian international felt his dream had finally come true. However, more than mid-way into the season, he is yet to establish himself as the preferred central defender of the Seagulls

W

hen Leon Balogun moved to Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer after nine years of playing in the German League, he admitted it would not be a walk in the park donning the colours of the Seagulls as he had to fight

for shirt with the two central defenders already in the club fold- Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy. However, his opportunity came earlier than he expected as he came in as a substitute in just two weeks into the Premier League against Manchester United.

Balogun has indeed expressed delight with his home debut for Brighton and Hove Albion after he

shone brilliantly for the homers.

“Thanks everyone (Brighton and Hove Albion) for the warm welcome.

Couldn’t really have wished for a better debut in the EPL, beating Manchester United at home!,” Balogun tweeted.

The Nigerian international, who spent the last three seasons at Mainz, believed the Premier League would

be faster than the Bundesliga - but when he shared his thoughts with his teammates, “they told me this is always the kind of game you play against United. They like to slow it down a little bit sometimes.”

Balogun indeed said he was surprised by Manchester United’s slow football, admitting he expected that the Premier League would be

31

FEBRUARY 16, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Victor Moses in action for Fenerbahce

faster than the Bundesliga, although his observations about United’s attacking approach probably revealed more about José Mourinho’s (the then former United Manager) methods than the overall state of English football.

“I had expected the Premier League to be quicker, but they told me this is always the kind of game you play against United. They like to slow it down a little bit sometimes,” the Nigerian defender said.

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton was indeed delighted with Balogun’s debut performance and he was impressive as Brighton recorded their first win of the campaign.

“In Balogun, you have someone you know won’t be phased. He’s played at a very good level and played in the World Cup this summer,” Hughton said.

Balogun’s central defence partner,

Shane Duffy said he was delighted with Balogun, saying, “He’s fitted straight in. He’s a big character in the changing room. He’s got a big voice. He’s played with big players in big games. That’s why you bring in players like that. They push us.

He was great. That’s another plus for us, that strength in depth with top players. You pick up injuries and suspensions so you need these kinds of players to step in.”

However, with the season fast winding up, the Super Eagles player remains just a fringe player in the relegation battling team.

Balogun hasn’t made the sort of impact envisaged at Brighton. The Nigerian was expected to stroll into Chris Hughton’s team after joining on a free transfer from Mainz in 2018. With 24 Premier League rounds gone, however, he’s started just five matches.

Despite an incredible career that

has spanned over a decade, Balogun would have still felt like a little boy when he heard of Brighton’s interest last summer. England is favourite destination for African football tourists, especially Nigerians.

For Balogun, it was a first-hand experience. The Bundesliga was all he knew. Born in Berlin to a Nigerian dad, the 30-year-old took his first footballing lessons at hometown club, Türkiyemspor Berlin. He then practiced his craft at five other Deutschland sides, including Werder Bremen.

The Premier League is different.

There’s more cash, quality players, odds and managers as well as better coverage. Balogun didn’t want to be left. He had no qualms moving abroad, with the FIFA World Cup on the horizon. That decision is already hurting the Nigerian.

Balogun is the third choice in Hughton’s centre-back hierarchy behind Duffy and Dunk. He’s been featured nine times across all competitions albeit the only contribution was a screamer against Crystal Palace.

While Hughton deserves some slack for the limited game time, Balogun is culpable too.

Indeed, the Nigerian has an imposing physical presence, standing at 6ft 3. He is fearless in tackles and brave on the air. He provides additional threat during set pieces and could occasionally provide that odd goal to win games. However, Balogun isn’t gifted in terms of pace.

It was, however, a dream come true for the former Mainz of Germany defender when he came off the bench to open his goal account for Brighton against Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium.

He made his fourth league appearance for Chris Hughton’s men against Crystal Palace as a first-half substitute and 25 seconds after, scored with his first touch to help his side claim a 3-1 victory.

“For me, it’s another dream in this football calendar year that I wanted to come true. I made my dream come true of playing in a World Cup and I made a big dream come true in moving to the Premier League. Now scoring in the Premier League with

my first touch in this game, it’s kind of unreal. I’m just happy. When I saw the ball bouncing I knew it was going to be tough, so I just hit it and luckily I hit it right. It was a great feeling,” Balogun said.

“Even though I might not be 100 per cent satisfied, I think I still did well and my goal was probably the most important thing about my performance. I personally feel that I never really got into the game - viewers might think different but you always have a personal level that you want to reach, and I don’t know that I really got it.”

“My job is to be ready, there is no question about it, and the club knows what I can do. I feel a certain trust even when I’m not starting which makes it easy for me to fit in to what s Dunk or Duffy have been doing. It’s never easy and you always want to play, but at the same time you have to be professional about it. You have to be ready for situations and moments and I think I was ready every time I came on - that is important,” he added.

The Premier League’s tempo is at an extraordinary level and requires defenders to flow with it. More often than not, Balogun is left in no man’s land, chasing attackers. At 30, the Nigerian doesn’t have age on his side.

He must improve on this. He must improve on this aspect to break the Duffy-Dunk duopoly.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

GLOBAL SOCCER

FA Cup Guardiola’s City Takes Quadruple Quest to Newport County After dismantling Chelsea 6-0 in the Premier League, Manchester City’s ambition of becoming the first English side to win a quadruple comes to focus this weekend as the Citizens travel to Newport County for a fifth round FA Cup encounter in a game City are the overwhelming favourite. However, the standout fixture is the mouthwatering encounter on Monday night between Manchester City and Chelsea

M

anchester City’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple will refocus on the FA Cup today when they take on League Two side Newport County in a fifth-round clash at Rodney Parade.

City have ruthlessly dispatched of lower-league opposition in both cup competitions already this season and will be huge favourites to do so again, although they travel to a ground becoming renowned as a scene for giant-killings.

There is no getting away from the fact that this is a daunting prospect for Newport County.

Only promoted back to the Football League five-and-a-half years ago, the Exiles currently sit 15th in the League Two table - 82 places below Man City in the English league ladder.

Relegation back to the Conference

does not look likely, but nor does a challenge for promotion and Michael Flynn’s side look set to content themselves for another season in the fourth tier.

The fact that they have lost 12 times in that tier this season does not bode particularly well for the visit of a Man City side in blistering form, and the Newport staff and players will be in no doubt as to the scale of the challenge which faces them on Saturday.

However, there is always that glimmer of hope in the FA Cup, and Newport have begun to make something of a habit of upsetting the odds in this competition.

The League Two outfit beat Leeds United and took Tottenham Hotspur to a replay in last season’s FA Cup, while this time around they have already claimed the scalps of Premier League Leicester City - who themselves have

beaten Man City this season - and Middlesbrough.

The triumph over Boro saw Newport reach the fifth round of this competition for the first time since 1949, and their reward was this money-spinning tie with the English champions, having begun this season’s FA Cup journey against Metropolitan Police in November.

It is not just the team that has developed a reputation for punching above their weight either; Rodney Parade as a stadium has been the scene of plenty of famous giant-killings in the past, most famously when Newport RFC toppled the mighty All Blacks in 1963 - a New Zealand team who enjoyed a level of dominance that even Man City could only dream of.

Admittedly, drawing inspiration from a rugby game 56 years ago may not be high on Flynn’s agenda ahead of this match, but the fact that two rugby

teams still share the stadium with his side - not to mention the increasinglyfrequent use of the ground by the Welsh women’s football team means that the playing surface could also act as a huge leveller.

The tightly-packed home crowd may also help to lessen the huge chasm which separates the two sides in almost every regard, and the hosts will take some belief from the fact that they have kept eight clean sheets in their last 12 outings on home turf.

Keeping Man City at bay is an entirely different prospect, though - perhaps even the most difficult in world football right now - and in reality Newport will know that anything other than a heavy defeat would constitute a success on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola may continue to publicly denounce his side’s chances of going all the way on four different

͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

33

GLOBAL SOCCER FA Cup Fixtures TODAY

Brighton v Wimbledon v N. County v

Derby County Millwall Man City

12:30 15:00 17:30

SUNDAY

Bristol City v Doncaster v Swansea v

Wolvers 13:00 Crystal Palace 16:00 Brentford 16:00

MONDAY

Chelsea

v

Man Utd

19:30

DStv, GOtv to Air Barcelona, Real Madrid Matches Action resumes in the LaLiga this weekend with league leaders, Barcelona and their eternal rivals, Real Madrid both in action. The games involving the two big timers and other encounters in the LaLiga will be broadcast live exclusively to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact and GOtv MAX subscribers.

Barcelona, the defending champions, will, on Saturday, seek to recover from their disappointing goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao when they host struggling Real Valladolid. The match will be broadcast on SuperSport 7 to DStv subscribers and SuperSport Select 4 for GOtv subscribers at 8.45p.m.

Valladolid, with just one win in their last 10 games across all competitions, are mired in the 15th position.

Real, who are brimming with confidence arising from their derby victory over Atletico Madrid last week, have hauled themselves into second position and will hope to kick on from there when they host Girona, who are one point above the relegation places, having lost six of their last

matches in all competitions and are without a win in their last 13 outings.

The match will be beamed live at noon on Sunday on SuperSport 7 and 10 as well as SuperSport Select 2 and 4.

Third-placed Atletico Madrid’s title hopes are fast fading after two consecutive losses to Real Betis and Real Madrid. They will hope to return to winning ways when they host relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano.

The match is live at 4.15p.m. on Saturday on SuperSport 7 and SuperSport Select 4.

Another mouth-watering clash will see 19th placed Villareal take on fourth-placed Sevilla. It is live on Sunday at 6:30p.m. on SuperSport 7 and SuperSport Select 4. Other games on today are Celta de Vigo vs Levante (1 pm on SuperSport 7and SuperSport Select 2 and 4), Real Sociedad vs Leganes (at 6:30p.m. on SuperSport 7 and SuperSport Select 4. On Sunday, Valencia will take on Espanyol (4:15p.m.), Real Betis will confront Deportivo Alaves (8:45p.m.). The matches will be live on SuperSport 7 and SuperSport Select 4.

Green House Wins Beehive School Inter-sports Competition

fronts this season, but as things stand their quadruple hopes are looking very strong.

Top of the Premier League table, in the EFL Cup final and big favourites to progress in both the FA Cup and Champions League, rarely has an English team been in such a promising position to scoop all four trophies.

Of course, there is a long way to go in the Champions League and the Premier League title race remains out of their hands at the moment, but despite uncharacteristic slip-ups against the likes of Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Newcastle United this season, it is clear that this City side is capable of beating any team.

The worrying thing for Newport is that they do not show any mercy whether they are playing in the Champions League or against a team from the lower English leagues, as the likes of Rotherham United and Burton Albion have already found out the hard way.

City have netted 20 goals without reply in four cup games against lowerleague opposition this season - including nine in one game against Burton and seven in another against Rotherham.

Ominously, Newport are the lowestranked team of all of them.

It is not only lower-league opposition which has felt the full force of Man City’s attacking might, though, and Burnley were thrashed 5-0 in the last round of this competition to leave City with 13 goals scored and none conceded in just two FA Cup games this term.

Then, of course, there was the 6-0 humiliation of Chelsea last weekend when City scored four times in the opening 25 minutes on their way to what was arguably the best result and performance of the Guardiola era.

City will come up against Chelsea again in the EFL Cup final next weekend, completing an important eight-day spell for their trophy hopes as they also take on Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday night.

The FA Cup is a trophy City have not won since 2010-11, though, and it remains the only major silverware that Guardiola is yet to claim from any of the countries he has managed in.

City’s hopes last season were ended at this stage away to League One Wigan Athletic in one of few low points from their record-breaking campaign, and Guardiola will be wary of complacency repeating itself as he looks to avoid an even bigger upset this time around.

Green House has emerged champions of Beehive School inter-house competition which took place at the school’s sports ground in Ikeja, Lagos. The house came tops with a total of 29 medals consisting of 15 gold, nine silver and five bronze medals.

Red House was second with 26 medals made up of eight gold, seven silver and 11 bronze medals while Yellow House came third position with a total of 26 medals which consisted of seven gold, 14 silver and five bronze medals.

Blue House ended up in pole position with 23 medals made up of five gold, five silver and 13 bronze medals.

The competition saw pupils take part in various track and field events such as the 25 metres and 50 metres race for the kindergarten children while the primary pupils took part in the 100metres and relay races, high jump, sack race and filling the basket events.

It also provided an opportunity for neighbouring schools to interact as they participated in the schools invitational relays.

Speaking at the event, the school’s PTA chairperson, Mrs. Bridget Elesin said, “I commend the school and the children for competing in an atmo-

sphere of friendship. We all know and appreciate that education is beyond academics and engaging in sports will keep the child fit and healthy while opening new doors for them to become future professionals. We cannot overemphasize the importance of sports and we are glad that the school places a high premium on roundly developing the pupils.

Thanks to the proprietress Mrs. Latifat Dosunmu and Beehive management for providing the facilities that has greatly supported sports at Beehive School.”

Mrs. Boyede Adebanjo, Director Beehive School, restated the school’s commitment to nurturing future leadings in every areas of life.

She said, “We will keep upgrading our facilities and systems to ensure that we measure up to global standards in every area of education. We are very proud of the excellent results we are seeing in our children’s academics and extra-curricular activities and they will be encouraged and supported to remain champions.”

The event, chaired by Chief Seun Ojuolape, was well attended by parents, grandparents and invited guests who also had fun participating in their own races.

L-R - Pamilerin Fadeyibi of Red House, Adesope Adekanbi, Green House and Olaoluwa Oshinibosi, Yellow House display their trophies with the Chairman of the day, Chief Seun Ojuolape at the Beehive School Interhouse sports competition.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

GLOBAL SOCCER

Onoriode Ehwarieme Throws Cap into the Ring for Joshua With 17 victories, 16 by knockouts, undefeated Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Onoriode Ehwarieme has never hidden his resolve to be ranked among the ‘big boys’ in the heavyweight category in the world. To achieve his ambition, for the umpteenth time he his throwing a challenge to the two most popular boxers in the divisionDeontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua

ndefeated Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Onoriode Ehwarieme, has maintained his belief that he is ready to take on the top dogs of the heavyweight division and has always called out unbeaten world champion, Anthony Joshua.

The 6’9 tall heavyweight has declared his availability to take on all comers as well as WBC Heavyweight Champion, Deontay Wilder. He had earlier stated he was the man who sent Joshua packing back to England when the British-born fighter with Nigerian roots came down to the West African country in an attempt to represent them at the 2008 Olympic Games.

In a chat with THISDAY, former Nigerian Olympian and now a boxing coach, Jeremiah Okorodudu is backing Ehwarieme’s resolve to take on Wilder and Joshua, saying he was more than ripe enough for such an ambition.

“Ehwarieme is an Olympian to start with and he has won most of bouts by knockouts. It is a good thing that he is now coming out to challenge Wilder and Joshua

and he stands a very good chance against any of them. He is more than ripe enough to fight any of them because he is a very good boxer,” Okorodudu said.

Continuing, the Los Angeles ’84 Olympian said since his managers were people who know their onions it would not be too difficult to get him such a high calibre fight.

“I have trained him before and I know his potentials. He is a very powerful boxer, but few people are giving him a chance because he is a Nigerian,” Okorodudu noted.

Joshua, 21-0, 20 KO’s is the unified WBO, IBF and WBA Heavyweight Champion after previously winning gold for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games during his amateur days, but according to Ehwarieme, Joshua whose parents are both of Nigerian descent had tried to compete for a place on Nigeria’s boxing team to the 2008 Olympic Games during a short stay in Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, Nigeria.

“I should have fought Joshua in the amateur qualifiers in 2008 when I heard he

wanted to compete but he didn’t show up. I didn’t get the opportunity to knock him out as an amateur so I will knock him out as a professional. He will not last eight rounds with me,” Ehwarieme had earlier stated.

“I want to beat both Joshua and Wilder to take the titles from them, yes that’s my mission and I intend to execute it. I will knock them out one by one, I’m going to be the champion of the world,” Ehwarieme who now stays in the United States boasted.

He is yet to take his fight in the US of course, but Ehwarieme is a well-travelled man and has already fought on three continents after making his debut in Indonesia in 2010, proceeded to fight in Ghana and later his native Nigeria before embarking on a five-fight stint in Argentina in 2016 and 2017. His last fight was back in Nigeria, a round 4 TKO victory over Kofi Johnson of Ghana at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on 29 April, 2018.

Now that he’s in America, Ehwarieme insists the time was ripe for him to finally follow in the footsteps of his idol, “The

Nigerian Nightmare” - Samuel Peter who won the WBC world heavyweight title in 2008 before losing it to Vitali Klitschko in his first defence.

Peter also later lost to the other Klitschko brother, Wladimir in 2010 for all of the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts but Ehwarieme insists he will make amends soon by bringing the world title back home to Nigeria. “Bring em on”!

“Samuel Peter is my motivation, he is the reason I’m in boxing. I was not happy when the Klitschkos defeated him to take his title away and I always targeted Klitschko before he retired. So if it’s Joshua and Wilder who now have the titles, I will take them down for Samuel Peter,” Ehwarieme had said.

“I’m assuring my fans in Nigeria and other countries that very soon I will bring them the world title, I will make them very proud. They should expect the world title from me, I will win the world title and present it to the president of Nigeria and make my king Ehwarieme very happy,” Ehwarieme added.

͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

35

GLOBAL SOCCER

Mikel Obi Still in Rohr’s Plan

Against the earlier insinuation that Middlesbrough of England midfielder, Mikel Obi could no longer be counted upon to play for the Super Eagles after he last played for the team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the national team Manager, Gernot Rohr, is still counting on him to lead Nigeria to the AFCON in Egypt

A

fter severally defending the Super Eagles captain on his availability for the national team, that he only asked to be excused from the team for a while, Nigeria national team Manager, Gernot Rohr, last month went on to admit that he was no longer certain over his future with the national team after he last played for Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Before then, Rohr had all along maintained that he and Mikel were in regular contact over the midfielder’s decision to regain full fitness before returning to international duty, the gaffer is now sounding less certain.

With Mikel also failing to fix any particular date on his much-expected return to the Eagles, the FrancoGerman gaffer had declared in a media chat last month that he did not know the Teda star’s schedule.

Dismissing suggestions that the Super Eagles are lacking a natural number 10 in the centre of the pitch ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with the international future of Obi Mikel up in the air, the German tactician has stressed that he was not searching for a playmaker and had identified three players who could replace the Chelsea hero if he was not available for selection.

“I am not worried about it because we have a lot of players who can be natural playmakers. You know we have players like Etebo who can be a playmaker, he can also be a good defensive midfielder,” Rohr had told national television.

“We have Alex Iwobi who played in this position and did very well in Johannesburg, we have Ahmed Musa who is coming in from the left side and can give good balls and score himself.

You know that it is not necessary to have this position of number 10 in modern football. Everybody must be able to make the play, to be a playmaker even the defensive midfielders or even the defenders have to give good balls and to construct the game.”

The scenario has however taken a new twist with Rohr saying recently that he hoped the Middlesbrough midfielder could lead his country to Africa Cup of Nations success later this

Captain of the Super Eagles Mikel Obi in a chat with Coach Rorh

year.

After leaving Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda earlier this year, Mikel has dropped off the international scene, yet his move to Boro could trigger a recall.

“We are happy to see our captain now playing for a big club. We hope to see him fit and playing regularly,” Rohr told footballlive.NG “That’s what we want for all players. They should keep playing well with their teams and keep doing well.

With Mikel playing in a tough league, maybe he can help Nigeria win the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.”

The tournament, which starts on June 21, won’t coincide with Boro’s promotion push with Tony Pulis’ side sitting sixth in the Championship.

Mikel has played two games for Boro in the league, impressing against pro-

motion rivals West Brom and Leeds.

Meanwhile, while expressing his dissatisfaction with the doubts that surfaced over his Super Eagles future last year, Mikel speaking via his Nigerian intermediary Babawo Mohammed wondered how doubts over his commitments surfaced in the first place.

“The doubts over his commitments got to him because he adores playing for the Super Eagles and as captain, he wants to be a shining light for the young players in the team,” Babawo said.

“If Mikel is no longer interested in playing for Nigeria he will make an official announcement but for now it’s due to injury. People should understand his commitment and love for the Super Eagles. He will no doubt support them to qualify for the Cup of Nations because he wants to play and

lift it again with the Super Eagles,” he remarked.

Mikel surprised bookmakers when he joined Championship side, Middlesbrough on a short term deal till the end of the season after he became a free agent in November after a two-year spell with Tianjin Teda in China.

“I spoke to a few clubs and I also spoke to Tony Pulis, had a good chat with him. He’s told me where he wants to go with it and it definitely fits with what I want to do.

“The club wants to get promoted so hopefully, I’m here to help in any way I can. It’s a family club and this is what I want. I like stability and this is why I was at Chelsea for a very long time.”

Pulis added: “I’m pleased to get him in. He is a man with a lot of experience and quality. He has a winning mentality and he wants to be here, be a part of what we are looking to achieve.”

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

FAIRGROUND with

Filmhouse Cinemas, Moët & Chandon’s Party

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

he inaugural edition of The Film Gala, hosted by Osas IghodaroAjibade, 2010 Miss Black USA Pageant winner and acclaimed actress, and Toni Tones, singer, songwriter and actress, at the Wings Tower, Victoria Island. It was presented by Filmhouse Cinemas, in partnership with Moët & Chandon, was held on the 26th of January, 2019.

Filmhouse Cinemas, the premiere movie/film platform in Nigeria and Moët & Chandon, the official champagne of the Golden Globes, collaborated to bring to the forefront of the Nigerian film industry bodies of work that are breaking the norm in contemporary Nigerian cinema and inspiring really creative pieces of art. It was no surprise that the theme of the night was “Married To The Arts.”

Gracing the purple carpet of The Film Gala was the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry.

The likes of Ngozi Nwosu, Chinedu Ikedieze, Shaffy Bello, Dakore Egbuson, Alex Ekubo, Kemi Adetiba, Iretiola Doyle, Oyeka Udoka, Waje, Omawumi, Abimbola Craig and Timini Egbuson were among the celebrities in attendance. More A-list industry stars, music luminaries and the upper echelon of Lagos society made their way to the gala in the most elegant fashion.

The Film Gala was curated to celebrate and honor the works of our game changers and groundbreaking members of our ever-blooming film industry.

The gala featured the best of Nollywood and various initiatives that left strong imprints in the industry, and society as a whole. Most importantly, it was an event that reflected the continuity of support, promotion of opportunity and growth that the community has given to Nigeria’s growing film industry.

In the same vein, the Film Gala awarded Michael Akinkunle Akinrogunde, an AFP Alumnus and filmmaker with Accelerate TV, with a N1 million cash prize from VISA and Filmhouse Cinemas, a distribution deal on his first feature-length film, and with The Lady its official statuette, for his short film, “Penance.” The young filmmaker was voted ‘best short film director’ and his film voted ‘best short film’ by the audience via live visual audience votes after his film and other incredibly outstanding shorts, carefully selected and nominated, were viewed.

Seyi Tinubu, CEO of Loatsad Promomedia, presented the award to Michael Akinrogunde, while the representatives of Filmhouse Cinemas, Lolu Desalu and of Moët & Chandon, Elizabeth Oputa, addressed the audience on this groundbreaking artistic partnership that will ultimately redefine award season in the industry and the film industry as a whole. Moët & Chandon has a long-standing affair with cinema and this innovative partnership with the foremost cinematic platform in the Nigerian industry, Filmhouse Cinemas, is sure to make luminous the magic in all the budding talent and art within the industry.

The team behind the gala, Filmhouse Cinemas, and Moët & Chandon, definitely brought the theme of the event to life with the decor and ambiance that depicted classical art and opulence. They also presented fine dining to their guests through the exquisite and sumptuous dishes of chef extraordinaire, Chef Eros. Guests were served a four-course meal consisting of Lobster Bisque, Duck Salad, Poached Chicken and an assortment of desserts. All the meals were paired with the finest selections of champagnes within the Moët & Chandon’s range.

The post-gala after party followed immediately after this exclusive event, which was held by the waterside of the Wings Tower, a specially extended section outside the main auditorium the gala event was held in. It began with an explosion of fireworks as guests danced and mingled, popping Moët and Chandon champagne and Hennessy bottles, reveling in the magic and grandeur of the lit night sky. And what a beautiful night it was!

Recognised for its quality and prestige, Moët & Chandon is the champagne of choice for celebration in both big and small moments. The venerable house has captured the attention of the brightest stars since the birth of the film industry. Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon contributed to introduce champagne to the world by offering a range of unique wines for every occasion. Moët & Chandon celebrates the thrill of living.

Kemi Adetiba and a guest

Ireti Doyle and Oyeka Udoka

Jane Michael and Mo Abudu

Dakore Akande

Mai Atafo and Seyitan

Lolu Desalu

Juliet Ibrahim

Nancy isime

Omawunmi and Waje

Bright Simons, Using Technology to Impact Everyday Life Reports reveal that counterfeit trade is worth about $700 billion a year. However, it is the trade in fake drugs specifically, that is a major cause for worry because about 2,000 people are estimated to die from falsified and sub-standard medicines yearly.

The challenges of the sale of phoney drugs is global however, experts are not relenting in doing everything possible to fight the anomaly. mPedigree is the global leader in the use of mobile and web technologies in securing products against faking, counterfeiting and diversion.

Partnering more than two-dozen telecom operators, Fortune 500 technology companies, and regulatory agencies in several countries, mPedigree has created more than a technology platform; they have helped launch a movement.

By powering partnerships, as well as delivering cutting-edge supply chain transformation technologies, such as their multi-award winning Goldkeys app and portal, mPedigree has been rendering services to the world’s leading pharmaceutical and consumable companies with the shared goal of protecting consumers, enriching their lives and transforming their communities through a cleaner, better, supply chain.

The President of the organisation is Bright Simons, whose current research and innovation focus at the Harvard Innovation Lab explores the power of new technologies that combine data analytics and thermosensitive polymers for temperature control

Simons

and accountability management in sensitive health cold chains for vaccines and biotech products.

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) has just included Bright among the three dynamic and visionary African and global leaders in the field of data management, evidence generation, and technology to their Board of Directors as they approach the mid-point of their 2017-2021 strategic plan.

“Mere imagination and enthusiasm are not

enough when breaking new ground, quality, solid, research and data are just as important. That's why, as a practicing innovator, I am so delighted at the opportunity to serve on the Board of the APHRC. “Simons said.

Also, recently, he was announced among those selected as the 2019 Braddock Scholars.

The Braddock Scholars Program is built on the belief that entrepreneurs are great at starting businesses, but the skills needed to effectively scale these innovations are very different. The program serves to bridge the “scaling gap” by channeling the expertise of mentors, all of whom are Aspen Institute Trustees, towards the specific challenge or opportunity the Scholars face.

In his words, “Over the last decade, parts of our mPedigree solution have greatly matured, but our biggest impact is yet to come. That impact would be driven by cutting-edge work in machine learning and organo-sensors we are doing right now, and we need all the support we can get to navigate the complexity of global deployment”, said Simons.

Bright Simons is the George Mallinckrodt Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and an Adrian Cheng Fellow at SICI-Harvard. Bright, for more than a decade, has been the President of mPedigree: a social enterprise ranked number 34 among world-changing companies

by Fortune Magazine in 2016 and among the world’s most creative companies by Fast Company magazine.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

FAIRGROUND

Lady Chukwudozie Eulogies Husband

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ehind every successfully man is indeed a dutiful, intelligent, loyal, beautiful, loving and hardworking woman. Lady Ada Chukwudozie, the amiable wife of industrialist, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, Chairman of the Dozzy Group, fits the above bill. At the recent 16th annual Sun newspaper Award, the Okija, Anambra State born business mogul was conferred with the Sun’s Manufacturer of the year (2018) Award. On hand to receive the Award on behalf of her husband was Lady Ada Chukwudozie.

Shortly after receiving the Award from Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Henry Dickson, Lady Chukwudozie who was accompanied to the stage by delectable wives of other industrialists, including Lady Ngozi Bishop Okonkwo, wife of Ekulo Group boss, Emma Bishop Okonkwo; Mrs. Julie Anyaegbu, wife of Chisco Group Boss, Chief Peter Chinedu, Chairman, Chi Pet Oil, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje, Big Chi Ngonadi, Oby Chinemelum, Rosemary Uneanya, a group of Ladies of Honor aka (House of Nlecha), among other female wellwishers, spoke glowingly about her husband.

A Chemical Engineer and a Publisher, Lady Ada Chukwudozie played a vital role in the growth and expansion of the Dozzy Group. She is not only a Director in the Dozzy conglomerate, she brings her professional background as a Chemical Engineer to bear in the petro-Chemical and allied manufacturing subsidiary of the Group.

Essentially, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie had a humble beginning, starting off in 1982., Gradually he nurtured and expanded his one-man trade and later transformed it into a limited liability company under the name, Dozzy Nigeria Limited. The quest for success in business took him to Hong Kong, China, Japan and many other Asian countries where he imported general goods. A shrewd businessman, Chukwudozie later diversified, leading to Dozzy becoming a conglomerate with Subsidiaries-Specialty Oil Company Nigeria Limited, Dozzy Plastic Industries Limited, Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited, Guttroff Gas Limited.

The Dozzy Group is also into Lubricant, Oxygen and industrial gas production, industrial automotive, household as well as high precision plastic products, wigs/artificial hair attachment production among others.

The Dozzy conglomerate also has interest in Real Estate, Logistics and hospitality.

The Oil and Gas sector of the Group came on stream in 1994 with the incorporation of Dozzy Oil and Gas. The sector has grown to become the Group’s flagship. Dozzy Oil and Gas operation is anchored on four areas: Blending, distribution, industrial Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Dozzy Oil and Gas depots are well entrenched in Nigeria’s three strategic, main port cities of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar. Dozzy Oil and Gas is

Mr. Daniel Chukwudozie, Chairman of the Dozzy Group , Lady Ada Chukwudozie, receiving the Sun Manufacturing Award from Gov Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa State

L-R: Mrs Lola Adefusika, Mrs Ngozi Bishop Okonkwo, Lady Chukwudozie and Mrs Julie Anyaegbu

Lady Chukwudozie with Mrs Nike Akande

determined to meet Nigeria’s energy needs a reason the company’s combined capacity of oil storage would be 200,000 metric tons when fully installed.

Chukwudozie enthuses about his company’s success story: “It takes a serious patriotic group in the present circumstances to build a petroleum product storage depot that is capable of handling 120 million liters of assorted petroleum products at once. We are happy the facility which we built in Calabar has helped to address the attendant high prices of petroleum products in most of the South

and women through philanthropist gestures and job creation. For example, he has over 300 skilled and unskilled combined workforces on his payroll in Dozzy Oil and Gas. The combined total workforce of the conglomerate stands at about 2,000.

Friends and well-wishers who accompanied Lady Ada Chukwudozie to receive the Sun Newspaper Award on behalf of her beloved husband were unanimous that the honour was a fitting recognition for a patriot and philanthropist who serves God, his fatherland and humanity without trumpeting it.

South, South East and parts of Northern Nigeria” Dozzy Oil and Gas’ sister company, Specialty Oil, is into blending of base oil into different brands. With a state-of-the-art and fully installed blending plant at Onitsha, Anambra State, the company has the capacity to blend 48 million litres of oil on continuous shift production roster.

Chukwudozie exudes patriotic fervor. Having tasted poverty and deprivation, the Dozzy Group boss goes about doing good-putting smiles on the faces of his fellow country men

Becky Madojemu, Seasoned Broadcast Journalist

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ecky Madojemu is a seasoned broadcast journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority(NTA).

She has been a broadcaster for over two decades.

A Husband Scorned is her first novel. So far, the reviews have been great from readers, who bought copies from an outlet in Benin and online mall, Jumia.

Meanwhile, most readers obtained copies directly from the author herself.

This captivating book of stories, is also on Nigeria's online version of Amazon, the e-book retail outlet, Okada Books.

Becky currently anchors NTA's popular news magazine programme, Newsline on Sundays.

Becky Madojemu, who hails from Opoji in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, is Founder, Naija Diva Express, a PRO firm. Becky also happens to be a part-time blogger She is currently Manager, News & Current Affairs, NTA Lagos Network Centre.

Academically, this graduate of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has a Bsc in economics.

She started her broadcast career with ITV Benin before relocating to Lagos after five years.

Between 2000 and 2002, she was a major contributor to CNN world report and her strongest point remains telling human-angle stories.

"A Husband Scorned" is a relatable mustread, as the reader is held spellbound from start to finish. There is no boring moment.

Becky explains that her easy-breezy approach was because she writes for the average Nigerian and not for fellow authors.

As a self-published novelist, it's humbling posting copies via courier to readers.

"The fact that they can reach me in order to acquire autographed copies for their private libraries and giveaways, is fulfilling" "My dream is that every Nigerian above age 13 gets to read "A husband scorned". She says.

Madojemu

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

AUTO Ford Motor Company Recognised as Global Sustainability Leader

F

Mercedes-Benz A Class

Mercedes-Benz Delivers Hit Over 180,000 Vehicles Worldwide in January Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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ercedes-Benz delivered 180,539 vehicles to its customers all over the world in January (-6.7%). The second-best start to a year for sales was influenced by important model changes in the high-volume SUV and compact-car segments. In particular, the model change of the B-Class, CLA and GLE, each with a double-digit sales decrease, had a negative impact on total unit sales worldwide despite the ongoing high demand for the cars with the star. From today’s perspective, the company expects the model changes to affect deliveries in the first quarter. With a high degree of probability, the full year will be affected also by exogenous challenges and geopolitical risks.

At the same time, Mercedes-Benz Cars assumes that the model offensive will lead to sales growth in the second half of the year. The company with the three-pointed star therefore expects to slightly

increase its worldwide unit sales overall, and to achieve another record in 2019. Last month, Mercedes-Benz defended its market leadership in the premium segment in markets including Germany,theUnitedKingdom,France,Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, South Korea, the United States, Canada and Brazil.

“With more than 180,000 vehicles delivered, Mercedes-Benz has started the year 2019 with the second-best January ever. Last month was below the strong figure for the previous year; this was in line with our expectations, however, due to important model changes. With the B-Class, the CLA and the GLE, we look forward in the coming months to the new generations of models very popular with our customers and expect the model offensive in our high-volume segments to provide significant sales impetus,” said Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. “2019 will be a challenging year for the entire industry. But we expect to inspire our customers with new models – especially in

the second half of the year – and therefore aim to achieve a slight increase in unit sales and a new record in the full year.”

Mercedes-Benz unit sales by region and market In Europe, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 57,963 vehicles in January (-11.2%). In the core market of Germany,19,296modelswiththestarweredelivered – representing an 11.9% decrease in unit sales. The new A-Class continues to be especially popular with customers in Europe and Germany, with strong double-digit growth at the start of the year.

In the Asia-Pacific region, 93,234 vehicles with the star were handed over to customers last month (-1.3%). In China, the largest sales market, 71,697 units were delivered to customers - the best start to a year so far (+4.8%). In addition, for the first time more than 70,000 Mercedes-Benz cars were sold in China in one month. The main drivers of this development were once again the long-wheelbase versions of the C-Class and E-Class sedan, both of which posted double-digit growth.

ord Motor Company has received an Agrade for its water security efforts from CDP, the environmental impact nonprofit that drives sustainable economies.

This marks the fourth year in a row Ford has earned an A from CDP for its water management efforts, according to a statement by the autocompany.

The statement said Ford is the only automaker and one of fewer than 30 companies globally to be awarded an A for water security, in recognition of its efforts to manage water sustainably.

Since 2000, the company has worked to conserve water through its global water initiative and has reduced operational water use by 62.5 percent, saving 10.4 billion gallons of water. Ford is on track to achieve its goal of reducing water use by nearly three-fourths by 2020, with a long-term goal of using zero drinkable water in its vehicle manufacturing processes.

“Access to clean water is a fundamental human right,” said Kim Pittel, vice president, sustainability, environment and safety engineering, Ford Motor Company. “We know we play an integral role in establishing best practices to help protect the environment – both for Ford and our supply chain.

Through our integrated approach to sustainability, our goal is to improve the lives of not only our customers, but communities around the world.”

Ford received an A- for its climate change efforts for the third year in a row.As part of the company’s commitment to deliver on its share of CO2 reductions consistent with the Paris ClimateAccord, Ford is investing $11 billion to introduce 16 fully electric vehicles within a global portfolio of 40 electrified vehicles through 2022. Additionally, in 2017 Ford achieved its goal to reduce the company’s global carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing operations by 30 percent per vehicle produced by 2025, eight years early.

“Congratulations to all companies that made it onto CDP’s A list this year,” said Paul Simpson, CEO of CDP. “As the severity of environmental risks to business becomes ever more apparent, these are the companies that are positioning themselves to provide solutions, seize new market opportunities and thrive in the transition to a sustainable economy.

We need to urgently scale up environmental action at all levels to meet both the goals of the Paris Agreement and sustainable development goals. It’s clear the business world is an essential player in this transition and the A list companies are set to make a substantial contribution to those goals.”

Ford’s annual sustainability report has tracked the company’s comprehensive approach to managing corporate social responsibility issues related to climate change, water conservation and air quality among others, and has identified opportunities for significant impact across the business since 2000.

Uber Driver-partners Win Prizes, as New Greenlight Hub Opens in Abuja

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ber has officially opened it Greenlight Hub in Abuja, strategically located at the upscale Jabi Lake Mall inAbuja, officials have said.

A statement by the company said the Uber Greenlight Hub is part of its continued commitment to driverpartners, and would be open five days a week, serving as a resource centre where existing and potential driver-partners could receive support for app-related inquiries.

“Driver-partners remain a critical part of Uber operations in West Africa,” said O’Yoma Ukueku; Greenlight Operations Manager for West Africa.

Providing a functional, modern and technologically enabled support centre for them reinforces our commitment to continually providing real-time, onsite support to driver-partners. Uber’s team of dedicated, well-trained and professional Experts will ensure that their concerns and inquiries are addressed and resolved.”

The launch of the Uber Greenlight Hub also served as a driver-partner appreciation event, where driver-partners were feted with food and drinks.

Notable driver-partners who had distinguished themselves by providing excellent and professional service were also rewarded with a variety of gifts including brand new generators, refrigerators, plasma televisions and microwaves.

According to Lola Kassim, General Manager West

Africa, Uber “Driver-partner support is something that we take seriously at Uber, and that is why we have opened this location at the Jabi Lake Mall - centrally located to a wider number of driverpartners. The launch of the Greenlight Hub serves a dual purpose of providing a world-class support centre for Uber driver-partners and also provides us with an avenue to celebrate and appreciate those who have ensured that Uber remains top of mind.

We remain committed to creating economic and business opportunities for those signed up to drive on the Uber app, and we’re here to help ensure they reach their goals.”

For Samson Yusuf who received a prize as the driver-partner with the most number of trips in Abuja: “Winning this prize and being recognized

by Uber means a lot to me. I started off as a driver to a fleet partner, but as a result of commitment, consistency and the constant support of the Experts at Uber, today I’m a proud owner of my own cars, all operational on Uber. It is something that a lot of people can achieve through hard work and being focused.”

The Uber Greenlight Hub will be open Monday through Thursday, from 9am - 4pm, and on Friday, from 9am - 3pm, excluding public holidays.

Uber’s mission, according to the statement, is to help people get a ride at the push of a button everywhere and for everyone. We started in 2009 to solve a simple problem - how do you get a ride at

L-R: Head of Communications West Africa, Uber, Francesca Uriri; Longest Driving Partner in Abuja, Okeoghene Otuagomah; General Manager West Africa, Uber, Lola Kassim; and Greenlight Operations Manager, West Africa, O’Yoma Ukueku; at the official launch of the new Uber Greenlight Hub in Abuja… recently

the touch of a button? Six years and over five billion trips later, we’ve started tackling an even greater challenge: reducing congestion and pollution in

our cities by getting more people into fewer cars.

The Uber network is now available in over 600 cities in over 80 countries spanning six continents.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

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AUTO

Kia Presents Rio Cars to Nigerian Winners of Access Bank Lagos Marathon 10Km Stretch Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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he two Nigerian runners, who were the first to cross the first 10 kilometres line of the 42-kilometre Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, have been presented with 2018 Rio cars by Kia Motors Nigeria.

This is the maiden year for Kia Motors, as the automobile partner of the marathon. The 2019 Kia Sportage led the race as the clock cars and the project vehicles for the race while the all-new 2018 Kia Rio models were slated as prizes for winners of the 10-kilometre fun race.

The elated winners, Hart Priscilla, who lives in Port Harcourt and Abdulateef Olufunmi, in Lagos, received the keys of the new Kia Rio, which the company officials said is worth N8.1 million each.

Hart, a final year Electrical Engineering student at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, said she is a fitness model, and a personal trainer. “I run like 10 to 15 kilometers three times a week and I’ve been doing so consistently for a year now.”

Olufunmi is a footballer who also sells solar panels and accessories with ultimate desire to join one of the clubs in Europe.

Presenting the Rio keys, Vice President, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Olu Tikolo said the brand has fulfilled its promise, drawing a parallel between

the race and Kia. “Marathon is a test of endurance and reliability which is exactly what Kia is about. Kia cars are very durable, they are reliable and their endurance levels are high and that is why we can afford to give five-year warranty on these cars.”

Tikolo said on the development side, “We are talking about youth development, and economic development. Kia is known for sports development all over the world. Kia is associated even with the World Cup, the Australia Opens and others.”

He said the 10-kilometer stretch of the race was reserved for Nigerians so that they could compete and win something. “We had the 10-kilometer stretch for local to encourage them, because we know that if we leave it open, like the 42 kilometres, for everybody, the locals might not get to it.”

Head of Events and Sponsorship, Access Bank Plc, Oge Nwachukwu said, “We cannot underestimate the success and impact the race as brought upon the country and the financial institution.”

The Lagos City Marathon, now in its Bronze stage, aiming for Silver, is one of the most renowned marathons in Africa with over 400 professional athletes across the globe running in the race. In recent years, it has become the best-known marathon in Nigeria and one of the fastest growing in the world.

L-R: Head, Marketing, Kia Motors Nigeria, Olawale Jimoh; Brand Manager, Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Damilola Pedro; winner, 10Km fun race, Male Category, Olufunmi Abdul-Lateef; Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh; winner, 10Km fun race, female category, Hart Priscillia; and Vice President, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Olu Tikolo, at the Kia cars handover ceremony for the Access Bank Lagos City marathon winners, held in the Kia Showroom, VI, Lagos… recently

World Premiere for the new BMW 7 Series

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MW is sharpening the profile of its flagship models in the luxury segment. The new edition of the BMW 7 Series makes a clear statement of intent with its confident presence, sophisticated elegance and strikingly innovative control/operation, driver assistance and connectivity technology.

A statement by the premium carmaker says the new exterior design exudes significantly greater presence and elegant precision. New interior appointments create refined, feel-good ambience and further enhance long-distance comfort.

New striking and high-prestige appearance thanks to 50-millimetre taller front end. There is a new BMW kidney grille with single-piece surround and surface area around 40 per cent larger. It has slimmer headlight units, optionally with BMW Laserlight. Outer air intakes now with large, painted plates and eye-catching chrome trim strips.

Vertical Air Breathers in the front side panels bring extra precision, clarity and solidity to the car’s flanks. Side trim strips now extend into the rear apron.

There is extensively re-designed rear end.

Rear apron contours adopt the design language of the front air intake trim. Integral exhaust tailpipes with larger chrome surrounds are some of the features. New, three-dimensional

and 35-millimetre slimmer rear lights with red/ black surfacing. Sharply defined, very slim light strip (six millimetres wide) below the chrome bar between the rear lights provides an extra stylistic flourish.

There are expanded portfolio of exterior paint finishes and light-alloy wheels. Design Pure Excellence for the exterior and interior and M Sport package provide scope for individualisation. Extended BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line is now available.

Stylish sophistication is designed for the interior. Exclusive Nappa leather upholstery with extended quilting, new fine wood interior trim strips and ambient highlight in smokedglass look create harmoniously crafted luxury ambience. It has leather steering wheel with optimised arrangement of multifunction buttons; re-positioned tray for wireless charging of mobile phones. BMW Touch Command with upgraded hardware and software. It has rear-seat entertainment system with full-HD touchscreen display.

Enhanced acoustic properties optimise long-distance travelling comfort: improved soundproofing around the rear wheel arches, B-pillars and seatbelt outlet covers in the rear, and for the side windows and rear window (acoustic glass).

There is an updated line-up of engines. All variants meet the Euro 6d-TEMP exhaust stan-

The new BMW 7 Series

dard. V12 engine in the BMW M760Li xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 12.5 – 12.4 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 285 – 282 g/ km) now with gasoline particulate filter. New V8 engine with maximum output raised by 60 kW/80 hp to 390 kW/530 hp for the BMW 750i xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 9.5

Another Night Journey Tragedy

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ama proudBarigaboyandalsoprivileged to be a proud Grammarian .I attended CMS Grammar Bariga for my Higher School Certificate,(HSC) before proceeding to the greatest University: the University of Lagos,Akoka for both my first and second degrees. This piece is not to reel out any dozier on CMS Grammar School or even the University of Lagos, Akoka..I am however writing this weekend because I am saddened by a recent story an old boy of CMS Grammar School, Abuja Chapter posted on our platform. just a couple of days ago on the tragedy that befell an old boy who works with a company in Nigeria .The company policy according to the story, mandates staff to travel only at night.

I am yet to confirm this policy but if this is true, I do hope that something urgently will be done to reverse this dangerous policy. While we await the full details of the company policy, please allow me to share my pain and the pain of most of my colleagues in Abuja.. According to the report, the victim whose name I have chosen not to use in this piece works for this company and was said to be driving one of the three new vehicles that the company was bringing toAbuja from Lagos by night. According to the story, he was trying to swerve from another vehicle facing him head-on when he ran into a pile of planks stacked on the roadside. The incident I learnt happened around 4am but they were not rescued until 7am.By this time, the passenger by his side had died. The man whose name I

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 have concealed from the story has a broken right leg and has been referred to a specialist hospital in Abuja from Okenne After all the noise and campaigns and warnings against this trending travel pattern that daily wins more convert than even the various religious beliefs does, what really is the reason for this suicide driven travel pattern that addicts maintain is cozy, cheap and also fun. As I write and reflect on the tragedy, my heart beats faster than ever. This is not death arising from terror attack nor militancy, not even from cult -gang clashes but from avoidable road traffic crashes .It reminds me of a similar crash sometime in 2017 on the Lagos-Ibadan highway caused the death of 30 people on a Thursday night.

That occurred at about 8 p.m. at Km 95 around the Elebolo Quary Area on the Ibadan axis of the road. Ten other persons were injured in the crash involving 40 persons and two Mazda buses.

“The crash occurred at a construction site, and it resulted from route and speed violations. “This

has further underscored the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi’s advice to motorists to avoid night journeys, be careful around construction sites and drive within approved speed limits. But the more we warn on the dangers of this travel pattern, the more the converts.

I have written several times on this death wish yet the apostles night travel keep canvassing reasons why they can never give up their free choice which can not be restricted by law. This is because globally, there is no legislation anywhere in the world that prohibits night travel. However, the FRSC has a mounted a consistent campaign against night travel. While the Corps appreciates the rights of individuals in a democracy, the commission in keeping with the peculiar Nigerian situation took its stand for several reasons, which in fact culminated in series of workshops held with stakeholders to raise awareness on the dangers involved. While acknowledging the emergence of night travel due to the collapse of rail systems, prohibitive cost of air travel and inadequate inland waterways, the Commission however, took cognizance of the inherent road crash dangers and the need for caution among travelers.

There are several tragedies that have been recorded. Recall the case where 70 people lost their lives when two luxury buses collided in the night along Zuba – Gwagwalada road; ditto Ife andAba crashes.Although few accidents occur at night, heavier fatalities and casualty rate usually occur. But why is FRSC concerned about night journey? One of the obvious reasons is the fact

– 9.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 217 – 217 g/km) and BMW 750Li xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 9.6 – 9.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 218 – 218 g/km).

Also available: three diesel engines with up to four turbochargers and outputs ranging from 195 kW/265 hp to 294 kW/400 hp. that rescue operations like you read in this recent case is minimal and most often non-existent in the night. Presently, except for the Federal Capital Territory, CT and other cities in the country, the FRSC team rarely does night patrols along major highways simply because of the dangers involved. Remember that the outcome of a road crash for the victim in terms of their chances of survival and long term prognosis is affected by the level of available medical care.

Unfortunately, ambulance services is still epileptic and even rescue effort are even complicated by the absence of health centers or even the attitude at most hospitals. Consequently, because access to emergency services is poor, death before arrival at the hospital is usually high. In many cases there is no availability of ambulance, while road crash victims rely on passersby for help. Lack of any medical interventions or prompt rescue operations and long difficult journeys to hospitals reduces the chances of survival Visibility is another problem. Globally, it is recommended that improving the visibility of road users is one of the specific intervention that can yield good results. Seeing and been seeing are fundamental prerequisites for the safety of all road users and there are several ways of enhancing visibility.

The use of extra reflectors on the vehicle or light reflective vests of the thin plastic material is also recommended by the United Nations and is contained in the National Road Traffic Regulation, 2004. Illuminating crosswalks, including the flood lighting of pedestrian crossing and increased illumination at crosswalks are also recommended strategies.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

FEBRUARY 16, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

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SPORTS XTRA

Nigeria, S’Africa Battle for U-20 AFCON Third Spot Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles will today take on their South African counterpart- The Amajita, for the third place in the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations at the Seyni Kountche Stadium.

Both teams emerged from Group A, with Nigeria topping the table, while South Africa lost to Senegal by a lone goal in the first semifinals, the Flying Eagles lost 4-2 via penalty shootouts to Mali after a 1-1 draw at regulation time.

However, Flying Eagles ace, Afeez Aremu has ruled himself out of today’s third-place playoff. The central midfielder suffered

a training ground injury two days before the Flying Eagles lost on penalties to Mali and was not included in the line-up for the first time since the start of the tournament.

It is believed that Aremu will spend a few weeks on the sidelines as a result of the toe injury, effectively ruling him out of tomorrow’s game.

The fact that IK Start released him to the Nigerian Federation was a show of magnanimity as the tournament is outside the international window for national team activities and missed the start of their training camp.

Meanwhile, South Africa head coach Thabo Senong has predicted a tough encounter when his team face the Flying Eagles in their third-place match today.

Senong said the game against the Flying Eagles will not be a stroll in the park but a difficult one for his team.

The head coach is however positive his team will do everything in their power to win the match.

Both teams qualified for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland after finishing in the top four of this year’s biennial continental youth tournament.

The two teams battled to

a goalless draw when they met in the group stage two weeks ago with the Flying Eagles finding it difficult to break down a resolute Amajita defence.

However, Senong insisted his wards have what it takes to beat the Flying Eagles this time around and end the competition on a high.

“We played to a 0-0 draw the last time we played Nigeria in our Group A encounter. Every game we participate in we always approach it with the intent of winning it. The same attitude will be applied in our third-place play-off match against Nigeria,” Senong told reporters.

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Iwobi Gets ‘Mixed Ratings’ in Arsenal’s Loss to BATE Alex Iwobi played for 90 minutes as Arsenal slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to BATE Borisov in Thursday’s Europa League Round of 32 first leg fixture.

Unai Emery’s men are faced with the task of winning the second leg with more than a goal advantage.

These are how some of the media in England rated Iwobi on the night.

The mirror.co.uk in their appraisal of the performance of the Nigerian wrote: “Alex Iwobi. 6 - Lively on the edge of the area but lacked the creativity to play a final ball.”

The4thofficial.com considered the Nigerian as the Gunners’ best outfielder on the night.

“LAM:Alex Iwobi – 6/10.”

“He was Unai Emery’s biggest weapon going forward,

but he lacked the cutting edge in the final third.”

ESPN. com gave Iwobi a 6 out of 10 which ordinarily is a pass mark albeit in this case a rather unsatisfactory showing by the Nigerian.

“MF Alex Iwobi, 6 - The Nigerian tends to have one good game followed by one bad one.

“After a decent showing at Huddersfield at the weekend, he was poor on this night. He seemed more affected than most by the bumpy pitch.”

For www.madaboutepl. com, it was a below-par performance by Iwobi which earned him only a 4 out of 10.

“Alex Iwobi 4/10. Just like Guendouzi, Iwobi showcased immense work-ethic but he struggled to make his presence felt in the final third.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

JOE/FAJ THEFRONTLINES

Boko Haram: Where Are the Drones?

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his is perhaps not the best of times to comment on the military’s current offensive against the Boko Haram sect. The reason is traceable to the recent spat between the military and one of the news organisations accused of leaking sensitive information about impending military operations.

Therefore, this piece, on the strength of a resurgence in the sect’s deadly operations in recent times, is directed at pointing out or suggesting to the military hierarchy, possible new globally-tested strategies that could help up the ante in the current push against the sect.

Since 2012 when the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents first began their campaign in the North-east to protest against western education, over 38,000 persons have so far been killed to date. This figure includes casualties involving the sect, civilian population and about 2000 of state actors according a recent report by the Council on Foreign Relations.

Going by assurances given to Nigerians by President Muhammadu Buhari in his inaugural address and the pronouncement by Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the sect had been technically defeated, one would have thought that by now Boko Haram would be history. Regrettably it is not and it has become deadlier and bolder than ever before.

Although, the military have made remarkable successes in the fight against the sect, recovering swathes of occupied territories, some kidnapped men and women including the federal government negotiated release of some of the Chibok girls, a lot still needs to be done.

Which is why it is now imperative for the military hierarchy to save the lives of soldiers most of whom are hurriedly trained and drafted to the front, by returning to the drawing board to rejig its strategies if this war must be won. As it stands, it has become apparent that the current strategies and methods deployed to prosecute the war have not yielded the desired results and therefore there is a need to learn from the experiences of others to innovatively confront the sect.

A couple of examples from other climes will suffice. In August 1990, the former Iraqi strongman, Saddam Hussein decided to attack and annex Kuwait as its new province. He massed over 300,000 ground forces into Kuwait over running that country’s combined military comprising of the army, navy, Airforce etc.

But his Arab neighbours fearing an imminent threat to their survival, appealed to the United Nations; the United States eager

WITH

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

Buhari

to prevent an escalation of a full blown war in the Middle East and to protect such allies as Isreal and Saudi Arabia decided to pick up the challenge.

Operating under the UN’s mandate, the US formed a coalition of 28 countries pooling almost 670,000 ground forces added to another 425,000 US marines and 3000 jet fighters under the command of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf to confront the Iraqis and push them out of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

According military.com, Schwarzkopf did not want a ground war with the Iraqis to avoid heavy casualties on the coalition side.

According to his memoirs, he implemented his operational plan to defend Saudi Arabia and expel Iraq from Kuwait using Gen. Colin Powell’s (then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) doctrine of overwhelming force and incorporated Montgomery’s desert armor tactics from the second battle of El-Alamein in World War II, all in an effort to minimize casualties on both sides.

Rather than engaging the already entrenched Iraqis in ground battle, the ground commanders changed strategy and ordered the U.S. Air Force using over 3000 jet fighters to launch more than 100,000 sorties (air missions) starting on Jan. 17th, 1991 and dropped more than 88,500 tons of bombs. The Air War was one of the most massive, effective air campaigns to date. According to Schwarkopf “Once begun, the ground war lasted only 100 hours before Iraq capitulated.”

At the end of that campaign, the US lost about 148 servicemen in active combat. But between 2001 to 2011, the US lost over 6000 servicemen in both Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts about 4000 of deaths recorded under the former President George W. Bush’s regime. In the Vietnam war which started in 1955, the United States lost an estimated 58,220 servicemen by end of the war in 1974 according to military.com.

Thus under the President Barack Obama presidency, Obama adopted a new strategy to keep American servicemen safe and out of harm’s way. One of the strategies he adopted was the use of military drones. According to thebureauinvestigates.com the use of drones aligned with Obama’s ambition to keep up the war against al Qaeda while extricating the US military from intractable, costly ground wars in the Middle East and Asia.

Even though his decision to adopt such a controversial approach came under severe criticism at home, the Obama administration insisted then that drone strikes were so “exceptionally surgical and precise” that they pluck off terror suspects while not putting “innocent men, women and children in danger”.

The success of this strategy can be captured in the result recorded throughout the period of the Obama presidency. About 542 drone strikes that Obama authorized killed an estimated 3,797 people, including 324 civilians without losing a single American service personnel according to cfr.org.

The current war against Boko Haram has a lot to learn from the illustrations above and there is more to gain and very little to lose if the military adopt the globally tested strategy in prosecuting not only the current war against insurgency but in other operations.

About this time last year, the Nigerian Airforce under the current leadership invited Buhari to inaugurate a prototype drone.

At the occasion, the President acknowledged that “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle can loiter and maintain an ‘‘unblinking stare’’ over a chosen area for hours. Thanks to the ability to ‘‘watch and wait’’, its operator, often miles away, can provide a continuous stream of vital information on enemy activities and if the platform is weaponised, it patiently chooses the best moment to engage.

Readers can continued online www.thisdaylive.com

ͺ͸͹΁ ÖÏÍÞÓÙØÝ˝ ÒÏ ËÖ× ÐÞÏÜ ÒÏ ÞÙÜ×Ý

A

s Nigerians go to the polls to re-elect the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari or elect his main rival,AtikuAbubakar, millions of Nigerians hope these elections will be free, fair, credible and peaceful. Though commentators love to call it a two-hour race, let me assure you that this is not exactly a two-party affair. There are over 70 other political parties angling for the prime job...with gusto from four or five contenders admittedly less visible or endowed. Unfortunately, man-made hurdles and years of elite marginalisation have combined to tie our waists to the convenience of accepting, rooting and justifying whatever and whoever the ruling party,All Progressives Congress,APC, and the former ruling party, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, dump upon us.

So, today, by the crafty manoeuvrings of stubborn strategists, and the peculiar misadventure of the Nigerian situation, we are saddled with two septuagenarians, former uniformed men of same faith and tongue, with highly debatable credentials to lead us into the future.

However, it is already too late in the day to be foaming in the mouth about the exposure, alertness, integrity and astuteness (or lack thereof) of the main contenders. Rather, we should worry more about the consequences and robustness of preparations, projections, provisions and postures of the election’s umpires (the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC).

As we troop to the polls, it is perhaps useful to reflect on the few incidents and outbursts that may influence the course of these national elections. We do not need to go as far back as when electioneering campaigns were unleashed officially on Sunday, November 18, 2018. So much have transpired in the past three months that will take several books to capture moderately. Therefore, in gazing at today’s events and that of March 2, we shall focus on few of the sparklers thrown into the political furnace only in the election month of February.

Rainfall of Polls & Predictions As it is now common, many mainstream publications threw their so-called objectivity into the thrash-bins, and promoted vigorously what they considered as Nigerians’ voting preferences several days before the actual election. Of course, each publication gave the “tight race” a convenient spin towards its favourite, after elaborate “investigations”. The Nation newspaper saw a Buhari victory in its “Buhari Versus Atiku: How States Will Vote”; from ThisDay’s “field intelligence gathering”, Atiku was the clear leader in its “How Nigeria May Vote, State by State”; The Punch prevaricated in its “Presidential Race: The Battleground States”, splitting the contest almost equally between Atiku and Buhari, with 15 odd states as dominoes that can fall either way!

Expectedly, in the days prior to election day, more newsprints and bytes would have been surrendered to predictive diagrams

and surveys. Surely, more abrasive publications would step out with formal endorsement, and front page “alright sir” prognoses.

While one does not begrudge individual freedom of expression (I am right here exercising mine), one is a bit perturbed why corporate entities imperil the lives of staff and families by critical partisan posturing - because that’s how it’s done in civilised world? Without admitting that we are less than civilised here, it is in enlightened self-interest to remain corporately non-aligned within a society that often sees politics as ethnic vibrations (euphemistically dubbed “all politics are local”).

By the way, the international media have not also been shy on who will win - such presumptuousness! The Economist Intelligence Unit gave it to Atiku (twice, really). A nebulously named British Business Group and the grandiloquent Eurasia Group were bent on Buhari, with the latter posting an emphatic 60% bet on the incumbent. The BBC elected to be enigmatic - “too close to call” a winner for the Brits in an opaque article: “Nigeria Election 2019: Mapping a nation in nine charts”!

Of course, there are also those who claim to see the ballot paper of God in elections - prophets, seers, forecasters and prognosticators whose “revelations” were not unanimous concerning whom God wants to lead us. Assuredly, God is not confused... but His creations often are.

INEC Removes the Choke that was Zakari The news crept on us casually about two weeks before the general elections: ‘INEC moves Amina Bala-Zakari, Others Out of Collation Hub’.

Well done, INEC, for not remaining stiff-necked over this Zakari posting, and associated baggage... and kudos for maintaining your stiffness over Zamfara APC, Rivers APC and Ogun PDP... until the law reverses itself.

All we ask for is that INEC continues to be independent, law-abiding, responsive and commonsensical! We may just have the most peaceful and fairest election on our hands.

Pressure or Anticlimax: Wages of Endorsement Even with the power of clairvoyance, it is nigh impossible to isolate the potency of recent endorsements garnered by both Buhari and Atiku.

Since the close of last year, “professional endorsers” have been relentless - prominent are the regional socio-cultural but politically exposed groups (Ohaneze N’digbo, Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), etc) had raised Atiku’s hands. Miyetti Allah, at the last check, seemed unsure - depending on the state or region - of whom to entrust their cows with between their two kinsmen.

Now, my next statement is not a joke, nor an attempt to disparage: it has been reported that the Association of White Witches in

COUNTERPOINT BY

FEMI

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

Nigeria (AWWN) claimed Atiku as their favourite; in the same vein, members of the National Association of Nigerian Prostitutes, NANP vowed to mobilise their members nationwide as they had endorsed Atiku. They also hinted at a weekend of free service in coital support of the Wazirin Adamawa, pledging two weeks ago to assail Abuja with at least 10,000 soldiers of the flesh in solidarity with the PDP candidate.

Well, Buhari is not an orphan in this lucrative business of endorsements. Apparently, his candidature had divided even the ethnic tin-gods as factions of Afenifere, Ohaneze and other stakeholders have punctured the Atiku bubble, and rather hooted for Buhari. Or elected to stand aloof. The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF also rose from its slumber this week to pull down the totem of NEF, declaring support for Buhari. Smaller political parties have also been queueing, in tens, to endorse either Buhari or Atiku - mostly in battleground states.

A few summersaults from “critical stakeholders” have clearly indicated that endorsement is now the fastest growing”industry” in our political “society”. Some are so fluid that it took rigorous research to identify who, between the two contestants, had a subsisting endorsement of a notable. A monarch once endorsed a visiting Buhari on a Tuesday, and by Thursday, confronted with a boisterous Atiku, the monarch simply withdrew his earlier affection, and decorated Atiku with a fresh endorsement, without even a pause for self-recrimination, or public abnegation... inside the same palace, barely two days apart!

As if to buttress the axiom, many roads lead to the market, some disparate organs have erupted with their own racket. The other day, former military administrator of Lagos State, serial governorship candidate in Adamawa State and APC stalwart, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) led 70 other generals to copiously salute Buhari, and in the words of one of the most senior delegates, Vice Admiral Jubril Ayinla (former Chief of Naval Staff), “to pledge our full support and continued loyalty.” Reports indicate that the civilianised infantry also included two former Lieutenant Generals, 15 Major Generals, two Rear Admirals, eight Air Vice-Marshals, 12 Brigadier Generals, three Commodores and nine Air Commodores.

It seemed an intimidating array, timed with precision and pomp. Little wonder, PDP quickly lashed out, and condemned this particular mass endorsement as an act of “name-dropping”! I have not stopped laughing... Nigerian politics!

Readers can continued online www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯʹ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Campaign Trail, Not Train

EBERE WABARA

T

HISDAY POLITY of February 2 welcomes us today with this banner headline blunder: “Dapo Abiodun’s campaign train (trail) lands in Ogun East” “…writes on the campaign tour of the Ogun State governorship flag-bearer (standard-bearer) of the APC….”

“Group preaches violent-free (violence-free) campaigns” (Source: as above) “PDP demands for Buhari’s disqualification for using ‘mercenaries’ at Kano rally” Yank off the first ‘for’ because it is otiose. As a verb, but when used as a noun, the form changes and takes ‘for’. (Source: as above) The next two errors are from DAILY Sun Editorial of February 4: “The British has (have) pledged support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society, (needless comma) to help deliver credible elections.” Alternatively: Britain has…. “…is one full of heroic incidences (incidents) and the triumph of the human spirit against all odds….” (DAILY SUN OPINION Page, February 4) “2019: Atiku’s endorsement by Ohaneze, NEF, others mark (marks) end of Buhari’s Presidency” (NATIONAL NEWS Headline, February 4) This is a simple error of attraction.

“Gang up (Gang-up) against Buhari will fail again like in 2015—Presidency” (Source: as above) “More women group (groups) join campaign for Buhari/Osibanjo’s reelection” “…I heartily congratulate you on this auspicious occasion of your 75th birthday anniversary.” Yank off the last word in the extract.

“Your steadfastness, uncommon dedication, courage and selfless service to humanity is a source (are sources) of pride to all of us who share your faith.” “…we have arrived at a cross-

BY

road….” (DAILY SUN OPINION Page, February 6) 2019 elections: at a/ the crossroads “Atiku’s visit to USA demystifies APC (APC’s) propaganda” (DAILY SUN Banner, February 6) “Buhari has consistently kept faith with Nigeria. He is not about to join (climb/jump on) the bandwagon.”

(Full-page advert endorsed by BuhariOsinbajo Corporate Support Group, THISDAY, February 9.

FEEDBACK

Mr. Ebere Wabara’s column, although not novel, is a good effort to redress the attenuating standard of journalism in our land.

But since his goal is to call writers’ attention to their mistakes to avoid recurrence and educate readers generally, mentioning errors’ sources are (sic) absolutely irrelevant and unnecessary.

Besides, in his column (January 12) comments such as: “Is The Guardian still the flagship of Nigerian journalism?” “The self-acclaimed Voice of the Nation (referring to Daily Sun), no standard publication dispenses with it (still Daily Sun),” are scandalous, to say the least. Maybe these snides (sic) are also part of the errors by Wabara’s judgment!

The gentleman of the press even failed to do enough justice to his own paper’s errors. His sharp and piercing eyes could see only one of the numerous! ‘’A court ruled (a comma missing) affirming zoning (another comma missing) but paradoxically dismissing Atiku’s suite,’’ the only one seen by Wabara, that is, suit!

Mr. Wabara should note that independent clauses or sentences connected by a coordinating conjunction such as ‘an’,’or’,’but’,’nor’,’for’, ‘yet’ and ‘so’ should admit a comma before the conjunction—in this case - ‘but’ Hope Wabara’s life ambition to work in The Guardian was not dashed by the Flag-bearer (standard-bearer), denying him employment, hence the bitterness?

Anonymous, Lagos

...My Intervention

I must thank Mr. Anonymous for the incoherent feedback which has been perfunctorily and marginally edited.

Ordinarily, I should have dismissed this mail and its combative content that reeks of diatribe. But, there is no doubt that there are other readers with his kind of preposterous disposition to intellectual issues who need to be civilized.

This columnist welcomes rejoinders in any form, but let such contributions be in good taste. The media platform is a public space for the exchange of ideas and information. It should not be abused under any disguise, especially when you do not know the background of your audiences. No matter the level of provocation—if that is the right word—we should show maturity and responsibility.

The moment you exclude the identities of publications with highlighted blunders, this column loses credibility as far as I am concerned. What it means, going by the contributor’s befudled thinking, is that I could just concoct errors without any attribution (source)!

The essence of the identification is for reference purposes and confirmation. I am not a fictional writer. ‘Wordsworth’ is a scholastic column that strives for language purity (not perfection, as there can be none) in the Nigerian media, particularly. It is not a soft-sell platform for journalistic gossip, mischief and celebration of inanities.

It should interest one and all to know that I do not have anything against any publication by virtue of my robust media pedigree having worked in three out of four national newspapers as a full member of the Editorial Board (among other editorial and administrative assignations), edited one of them almost a decade ago and written award-winning articles that cut across multifarious disciplines in the heyday of Daily Times and beyond. So, when I ask whether ‘‘The Guardian’ is still the flagship of Nigerian journalism’? It simply infers, to those who appreciate etymological

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

and morphological registers, which the publication has fallen below my expectation. This is easy to understand by any cerebral mind. It is not derogatory at all.

With regard to ‘DAILY SUN’ (the place I work and maintain two racy columns), even the publisher (who is a friend of mine and employer) and the entire directorate know full well that I can never, no matter the circumstance, run the medium down because of my very special relationships with the organization’s management and staff. If I may ask, what is wrong in my questioning institutional self-acclamation?

As for having any employment grouse about ‘The Guardian’, I just laugh at the idiocy! If Mr. Anonymous gets to know my profuse career antecedents and job currency, he would be shocked at his imbecilic ignorance.

In my part of country, we say that someone who does not know another contemptuously calls him his friend.

My not correcting all faulty punctuation marks is not an oversight or incapacity. It is to avoid trivialization of this column. As critical as they are to classical writing, they are too mechanistic for me to dwell on. I am interested only in lexical and structural gaffes, not the totality of the grammar of English.

If I address all the media language goofs, this column is likely to become stupendously academic, didactic, boring and unappealing. There is even no space for that. My goal is to make it educative and entertaining for pleasurable reading. I have gone this length to foreclose receipt of shallow, vexatious and baseless rejoinders. I look forward to constructive criticisms, rich contributions, analytical comments and logical observations that culminate in reader enrichment and the columnist’s edification.

Finally, as you move to the next column, let me reaffirm that I am a gentleman of the press on sabbatical to Dr. Orji Kalu’s reputational management.

POLITY

Ë×ÓÖã ÞÙÜã ËÖÖÏÎ ˩ ÙàÓØÑ ËØÓÏÖÖË˪ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

D

ay before the official release of the movie ‘Loving Daniella’, which opened in cinemas on Friday February 8, 2019, a private screening of the film was held at Ozone Cinemas Yaba Lagos for media persons. A production of Uddy Udoh, Bassey Essien, and Akin Akolade and directed by Ike Nnaebue, Loving Daniella is about love, human understanding and care.

It portrays the relationship between a young man, Efe (Blossom Chukwujekwu) and a pretty lady, Daniella (Theresa Edem-Isemin), whose distraught parent would get to the height of any medical suggestion to seek remedy for her rare mental illness which makes her think and act like a child ever since she was seven. “Sorry excuse me. There’s something I have been longing to tell you before now and I think it’s the right time.”

Daniella’s aunty tells Efe who responded “okay?” while wondering what that thing about his love interest could be. “Daniella is sick . . . she has a mental disorder that makes her behave like a child, yes.

Right from when she was seven years old and that has been going on

Edem-Isemin

till now. And I don’t think you want to meddle with her fragile heart,” at this point leaving Efe dazed. “. . . I don’t think you understood

everything I said; she is sick!”

Like someone in doubt, Efe would meet Daniella’s father, Otumba (Jide Kosoko), who also confronted him

with the sad reality. “They kept saying Ella’s case is mild and borderline and that she is supposed to outgrow it. But several years down the lane, her case still defies prognosis. Are you sure of this decision (to marry Daniella) because Ella’s case could be highly embarrassing sometimes. . . But there’s this renowned psychiatrist in Antigua who came highly recommended.”

A family story of its kind in very simple dialogue which might look pedestrian in some alternative views, but interestingly not, almost immediately from the first few scenes, takes discerning viewers into the story and what the Daniella character is all about with her colourfully figurative toys. Shot in Lagos and Antigua Island in the West Indies, ‘Loving Daniella’ makes for a good family viewing.

However then the family seeing the movie should have in mind few explanation to make should their inquisitive child asks mummy or daddy what the meaning of “I want to sign on your lollipop before you go hang out with the boys”, as the crazy side chick, Jumai (Omar Mathurin) tells Efe, who finally in the movie weds Daniella. Other stars featured in the movie include Rachael Oniga, Joseph Benjamin and Alex Ekubo among other foreign stars.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

45

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Kunle Afolayan Projects ‘Mokalik’ for Film Festivals NINA RICCHIE

ESTHER WHYTE

I’m Not Someone Who Follows, I Like to Do What I Feel

Most of My Peers are not Ambitious

pg. 48

pg. 49

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Kunle Afolayan Projects ‘Mokalik’ for Film Festivals Known for his production value and attention to details, even with the low production cost on his forthcoming movie, ‘Mokalik’, Kunle Afolayan projects the work for film festivals and international awards.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

K

unle Afolayan wants to scare you, he wants to thrill you, he wants to make you laugh, but most of all, he would like you to suspend your disbelief - in his plots, yes, which tend to be over the top, but also about what is possible in Africa.

For one who has seen nearly all his previous works, these features have successfully, at different times, reflected in his story lines, thus, sustaining a legacy. These, he projects in his movies, namely, ‘The Figurine-Araromire’; ‘Irapada’ (redemption); ‘Phone Swap’; ‘October 1’; ‘The CEO’; ‘Roti’ and more recently, ‘The Bridge’.

In a recent interview on CNN African Voices, Kunle stated: “Growing up Yoruba was my first language, English was learned in school and I believe I am so proud of my tribe and my heritage and where I am from and who I am.

Which is why in most of the films that I do, I’m always trying to showcase the richness you know of who we are as Africans, as Nigerians and also as a Yoruba man.

And all of these reflect in most of my films, not only in the language but also in the aesthetics, in the costumes, in make-up, in music, in everything.”

It is not surprising, especially coming from a chip off the old block. His father Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love) of blessed memory was one of the pioneers of commercial filmmaking in Nigeria.

Kunle had followed his father around and learnt the art and business of entertainment based on errands he ran for his father.

So, the inspiration and the title of his most recent effort, ‘Mokalik’, are understandable; it is a local accent for mechanic. Notably, a slight departure from the previous films he had shot, such as ‘Irapada’ and ‘Roti’, the celebrated actor, producer and director had drawn inspiration for Mokalik during his constant visit to the mechanic workshop where his much publicised vintage car (Thunderbird Ford 1965) was refurbished.

Similarly, for the film title (a Yoruba corrupt pronunciation of mechanic), Afolayan picked from a scene in one of his late father ’s classics, ‘Taxi Driver ’. According to Afolayan, “it is the story of a young boy who is brought to come and learn how to be a mechanic and a lot of things happened in the process. We gonna see love, we gonna get educated.”

The plot follows a day in the life of an 11-year-old boy, Jaiye, from the middle-class suburbs, who is sent by his parents to work at a mechanic workshop for the day— in order to give him a dif-

Kunle Afolayan

ferent perspective on life from the diverse people he meets. When his father arrives to take him home; Jaiye has to make up his mind if he wants to return to school or take on his apprenticeship full time.

A comedy drama, the movie stars awards-winning singer, Simisola Ogunleye (Simi) in her debut role, reality TV star Tobi Bakare, alongside a cast of prominent actors like Femi Adebayo, Charles Okocha, Faithia Williams, Lateef

Oladimeji, and some of Nigeria’s old comic actors who are almost being forgotten like Wale Akorede (Okunu), Ayo Ogunshina (Papa Lolo), Dayo Akinpelu (Alabi Yellow), among others. The Afro-pop artiste Simi plays the daughter of one of the two buka owners in the film, whom Jaiye develops a crush on.

Written by his longtime partner and famous writer, Tunde Babalola who also shares credit in Afolay-

an’s October 1 movie, ‘Mokalik’ is set in an automobile repair workshop. With no official date yet disclosed for the movie premiere and the cinema release, it sure been gathering momentum following its trailer released a fortnight ago after a series of teasers. In the first teaser, shows Simi and Jaiye having a chat about their life’s goals, where Simi reveals that she wants to sing, but is hindered by her parents’ refusal. Clearly,

47

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR Kunle Afolayan Projects ‘Mokalik’ for Film Festivals

Simi and Kunle Afolayan

‘Mokalik’ is set in an automobile repair workshop. With no official date yet disclosed for the movie premiere and the cinema release, it sure been gathering momentum following its trailer released a fortnight ago after a series of teasers Simi’s multifaceted talent isn’t limited to music, as the snippet teases a pretty good performance.

Afolayan’s most recent film, The Bridge, saw Chidinma launch her acting career, and now he has done same for Simi in Mokalik.

The multiple award-winning movie practitioner believes the film will traverse commercial and artistic ends, having been provoked by the expectations of his diverse audience and fan-base across the world.

Known for his production value and attention to details, even with the small available resources in terms of equipment and all of that, Mokalik got support from Canon which was shot on EOS C300 Mark II, with Canon Cine lenses, the filmmaker says: “We are very delighted and grateful for the camera support extended to us by Canon Central and North Africa team here in Nigeria,” adding, “EOS C300 Mark II – Stunning 4K quality and versatility allowed me as a producer to experience the creative vision in stunning

cinematic details and provides footages, suitable for extensive post-production work.”

Once, Afolayan had declared that he would be giving personal production a break because of the frustration of recouping investment in the motion picture business.

This is perhaps, the reason for the low budget movie which targets film festivals and some international awards.

On completion of the forthcoming project which took about four months, Afolayan in his signature style, had announced his latest movie and thanked his team for the effort put in.

He wrote; “It’s A Wrap! Even with the challenges, ‘Mokalik’ is still the film we completed within very short period of time. A big thank you to all the cast and crew especially those that volunteered to work free for reasons best known to them.

Watch out for “Mokalik” a Kunle Afolayan film. Ire it’s time to party.”

Lateef Adedimeji and Femi Adebayo

Kunele Afolayan and Charles Okocha

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

48

SHOWBIZFLAIR I thought maybe I was too young and I needed to train a little more. At 12, I started n ssinging at church and the church choir was a bit late on accepting kids to sing, I guess due to people’s schedules. But I sang in d tthe choir till I was 16.

I can do basically a little of everything But I’m an afrobeat artiste, and my ability tto change styles and personalities in every rrecord I release is definitely what makes me stand out from the rest. I’m not really m ssomeone who follows; I like to do what I ffeel, which gives me that versatility.

Challenges Some of the things I face as an artiste aare the growing up in different musically iinclined environment. Afrobeat is not sometthing Canadians listen to, although it is gradually getting some attention it’s still g a bit of a challenge, hence that’s one of the rreasons I decided to come back to Ghana.

Another one would be that being a single A mom, focusing on raising a son and focusing m on my career can be really challenging. o God is my biggest role model Then my parents, I look up to them a lot, having to survive in a foreign land and h rraising a beautiful family is not as easy as iit looks. A lot of these kids end up in bad ccompany and eventually end up in jail or iin really bad situations. Role models will definitely have to be Rihanna because of d her persevering spirit, she never gives up h on her dreams and looks at her now. I also o llike Cardi B her attitude is dope and she’s ssuper real, I could relate to both of them.

Ghana music industry is still a growing market Just like a baby needs a lot of attention aand nurturing. Ghana has a lot of talents, w which are yet to be discovered. I believe with ttime Ghana will be a force to reckon with.

A Already with names like Dblack, Sarkodie, S Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, who already h have done a lot in putting Ghana on the m map. It has a lot of potential and just needs p people who are ready to sacrifice and invest iin it to make it successful.

Nigerians just understand the music busin ness better than us. They have been doing tthis way longer than Ghanaians. Nigeria’s p population is also a contributing factor.

D Due to their large number, they are able tto influence other cultures with their music.

G Ghana is gradually catching up, hopefully, v very soon our Ghanaian artistes will be as ssuccessful or more.

Nina Ricchie

I’m Not Someone Who Follows, I Like to Do What I Feel Canadian-born Ghanaian music star, Nina Ricchie is the rave of the movement. She came back to West Africa recently to push her afro beats music. This was of major priority and she came with a lot of fire, energy, vibes, will and much more. She talks to Tosin Clegg about herself, growing up in Canada, coming home and a lot more I just love music, dancing, spending time with family was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and I grew up listening to music. My father used to have parties at the house, with good old Uncle Pat Thomas, a Ghanaian artiste, performing for people when he came down to party with us in an area called Jane and Finch, where most of the West African population in Toronto were based. I just love music, dancing, spending time with family, travel-

I

ling the world and, of course, shopping.

Lol, which girl doesn’t?

When it comes to dreams I had and still have a lot of dreams Growing up in Canada was kind of tough. Especially when your parents are immigrants and you are raised in two different cultures, the African culture at home, which is so strict and then when you visit other peers and it’s more liberal. When it comes to dreams I had and still have a lot of dreams, I’m a goal setter and don’t

stop at anything until I achieve my goals.

So, when I set my mind on something I’m unstoppable. I have two sisters and two brothers, two live in Toronto and two live in Kumasi, Ghana.

Music has always been a part of me It was my getaway, and music started for me at eight years, playing the piano and learning to read. I joined a girl group called LYN at 10 and started singing at shows. At 11, I was auditioning to be on Sony recording label, but wasn’t selected.

Role models and mentors Don jazzy is such a talented producer aand looking at what he’s done for his label, I can tell there’s a lot I can learn from him.

22baba is a legend and doing something w with him will just be a dream come true, aand working with artistes like Rihanna, D Drake, Migos, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and m more, are all dreams which one day will ccome to reality.

Well, I am very particular with what I eat And that’s because I’m a very picky persson; I don’t eat anything and everything.

I love working out a lot, workout about ffour times a week, drink lots of water, pray, w write music and mind my own business.

Advances from men are normal for any woman I’m used to it; most of them want one thing.

I’m more into intelligent conversations, so once you start talking about my looks the deal is off. I’m an intellectual person and to have that kind is a beautiful thing. I’m someone who will basically quiz you before we go on to the next step, which would be another dinner possibly on the beach.

I absolutely love the beach; it’s another place I like to hang out. Honestly, every part of me is desirable, from head to toe.

I’m wonderfully and perfectly made says, my creator.

I enjoy singing and dancing Also, my social media and spending time with family, as well as going out to some social events sometimes. In a few years, I wanna perform at the BET awards and be named one of Africa’s biggest artistes and possibly perform at All Popular Award ceremonies or at least be that special guest being interviewed on the red carpet.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

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

49

SHOWBIZFLAIR

ESTHER WHYTE

Most of My Peers are not Ambitious Esther Whyte is a multiple award-winning teen actress, TV host and film producer from Calabar. Her major breakthrough was in 2016, when she produced, Era of Errors, earning her nominations and features. She tells Tosin Clegg about her journey, her production plans and lots more

H

ow did the journey begin?

The journey began in 2011 when I attended an audition just to see Ini Edo who was tagged as the host of the audition. I didn’t know the meaning of audition then. So, I didn’t go there to be auditioned, I went to see the screen goddess I was obsessed with. When I got there and I didn’t see her, I had to disturb the organisers of the audition to show me where she’s at and they asked me to read a script which I did.

They told me I will make a good actor, which I knew already, but I was scared that I will never appear on the big screen.

They gave me a free Actors’ Guild of Nigeria membership form to fill, the following week, I got an ID card and before I knew it, at age 11, I was called to feature alongside Ini Edo in a movie titled Behind the Melody and since then the journey has been quite amazing.

Tell us about going into movie productions at a young age and the challenges you came across?

Launching into the film making scene at age 16 was quite exciting for me, the only challenge I had was lack of funds and when I overcame that, I had to face working with amateur teen actors.

What are your ongoing projects?

I’m currently working on my TV show which will be premiering before my 19th birthday.

It’s called ‘Esther-Whyte Teens Show’ and the major aim of the show is to discover, display and empower talented teenagers.

Who are your role models?

They are, Ini Edo, Taraji P Henson, Genevieve Nnaji and Halle Berry. These are amazing ladies who inspire me a lot.

What makes you exceptional from your peers?

I really don’t like giving myself too much credit though, but most of my peers are not as ambitious as I am.

They’re not career and future conscious as I am, some do not have patience, they only consider their present state and that makes me totally exceptional from them.

Whyte

50

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Agbani Daregoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sexy Bikini Photos Former Miss World and now mum of one, Agbani Darego-Danjuma, shows off her trim and amazing figure in photos shared on her Instagram page

Darego

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t'&#36"3: , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Emenike Glows with Iheoma Former Super Eagles player, Emmanuel Emenike shared a photo of himself and his wife, Iheoma Nnadi, (former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria) on Valentine Day with heartfelt words. He wrote:@iheomannadi, a life with someone caring, passionate and loving like you is what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always dreamed of. Thank you for being that person in my life. I love you so much. Happy Valentine Day, my special. Emenike and Iheoma have a daughter together and have been married for a year

51

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019

52

UTILIZATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 8TH OF FEBRUARY 2019 S/N

CUSTOMERS

S/N

CUSTOMERS

S/N

CUSTOMERS

1

OMOLADE VIVIAN

572.25 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

119

AWOTUNDE EUNICE OLAJUMOKE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

237

OKEKE WALEOLA MOSEKOLA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

2

IBIDAPO E OKUNNU

AMOUNT (US$)

1,137.90 PTA

PURPOSE

359.00 4-Feb-19

RATE DATE

120

OGOEGBU CHILENYE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

238

AGBAI OKORJI PRINCE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

3

AMULUCHE S. CHUKWUMA

3,997.35 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

121

AJAYI SOLOMON AKINWUMI

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

239

LINDA ADAKU NWANNE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

4

AJIBOLA B. AUGUSTUS

343.23 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

122

NLEWEM N. MARK

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

240

IHEANYI OKORONKWO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

5

AJIBOLA B. AUGUSTUS

343.23 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

123

OKUSANYA ADENIKE FLORENCE

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

241

EZEH IFEANYI VICTOR

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

6

FAMEWO ODUN

3,891.15 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

124

AHMAD SAADATU ABBAS

3,400.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

242

AMOKE OLUCHUKWU EBERE

7

IKYE-TOR P. MDE

3,935.50 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

125

AJULUCHUKWU T. ONYEBUEKE

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

243

8

AYOADE A. MUJIDAT

3,944.68 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

126

AGWU ONYEBUCHI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

9

PRINCE B. TARWA

3,881.40 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

127

AGWU GRACE SAMUEL

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

10

OBUAH C. NKECHINYERE

1,293.80 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

128

AJIBOLA B. AUGUSTUS

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

11

ADANINI V. AKHERE

1,944.75 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

129

JOSEPHINE OGBOYE

4,000.00 PTA

12

IRUSOTA ISI ANGELA

1,947.00 PTA

13

UDEALA N. UGO

14

BELLO MUINAT

15

KIAP ERIC

16

MOKUOLU B. OLUBUNMI

17

OKEJA P. IFEOMA

2,858.68 PTA

18

ONWUBUYA IJEOMA

19

OKORIE E. CHINWENDU

20

359.00 4-Feb-19

130

ISIAKA SAFAAR ATANDA

649.05 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

131

CHINELO OJUKWU

3,246.25 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

132

UMAR AISHAT

779.64 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

133

DURU DARLINGTON ALAOMA

1,949.10 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

134

YAKUBU A. YUSUF

359.00 4-Feb-19

135

ORPAH A. SHITTA

3,993.46 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

136

ANI NICHODEMUS & STEPHANIE

780.48 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

137

ADEDAYO ONIZE VERONICA

1,392.39 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

21

OKWARA O. EVAREST

3,919.20 PTA

22

SIYANBOLA T. OMOWUMI

23

NGOZI ALEXANDRIA OLUWASEUN

24

AMOUNT (US$)

PURPOSE

RATE DATE

AMOUNT (US$)

PURPOSE

RATE DATE

560.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

TUNAU M. BELLO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

244

OPEYEMI L. REBECCA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

245

MOHAMMED HABIBA NASIR

1,500.00 PTA

246

UCHEGBU OFIEPRE VALENTINA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 4-Feb-19

247

MAINASARA H. KATANGA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 4-Feb-19

248

HAMMA BAMAI DAMATURU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

557.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

249

DR.GLORIA PATRICK-FERIFE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

250

EJEZIE B. CHIAGOZIE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

3,533.31 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

251

IYOHA RICHARD OSAGIE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

9,724.61 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

252

JOHN OGBU DAVID

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

12,351.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

253

NWAFOR-ORIZU ONYINYE NGOZI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

7,371.41 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

254

BABATUNDE OJO STANLEY

900.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

ABE SOLOMON

1,699.24 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

255

NSONWU, HENRY CHIEDU

1,500.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

138

KENNYLAS VENTURES

8,000.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

256

NWAZUOKE U. JOSEPH

1,200.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 4-Feb-19

139

AJALA MUKAILA OLUSHOLA

2,000.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

257

OSHIFODUNRIN ABAYOMI

1,900.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

3,982.56 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

140

DUNKWU ANTHONIA IFEYINWA

1,440.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

258

PRITCHARD PETER A

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

657.50 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

141

AKHIGBEMIDU MARTINS ODIGIE

4,765.90 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

259

OSINOWO A. ADEWORI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

ELEGBOGUN R. AIGBEWE

2,630.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

142

TECHNO INFRA HABITAT CONSULTATION

14,406.90 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

260

ISIAKA O. OLAYINKA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

25

OLAJIDE OLUWATONI

3,945.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

143

MOMOH KUBI

10,637.73 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 4-Feb-19

261

OJILE THERESA OCHEANYA

1,500.00 PTA

26

AJOSE-ADEOGUN BOLAJOKO

3,991.23 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

144

CBN

95,052.50 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 4-Feb-19

262

OMOTOLA G. OLABISI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

27

ABDUL AZIZ DAUDU

3,304.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

145

CBN

22,717.26 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 4-Feb-19

263

MAINASARA A. KATANGA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

28

EJIKE CHUKWUJEKWU

925.12 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

146

ROOSKEY ELECTRICAL

362.90 4-Feb-19

264

UDEH C. ANIAGOLU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

29

AHMED A. WAZIRI

3,995.76 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

147

JUST FOOD

362.90 4-Feb-19

265

OKIRIE HELEN

3,500.00 PTA

30

OKORONKWO D. CHINENYE

728.04 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

148

KEYSTONE BANK

362.55 4-Feb-19

266

ESTHER KOKO ESSIEN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

31

NWANKWO N. SOTONYE

3,997.57 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

149

MOZEA K. ONWEAZU

220.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

267

ADIGUN OMOLARA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

32

ELUFIOYE S. TEMITOPE

2,651.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

150

UDOMA L. CHIOMA

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

268

APPAH L. KUROTIMINIPRE

1,500.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

33

DANBAKI ENOCH KIMBI

2,982.38 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

151

ABUTU, Jeremiah Adegbe

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

269

IBRAHIM UMAR SANI

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

34

UGWUMBA E. KALU

3,976.50 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

152

PAUL EMILIA IMABONG

2,700.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

270

OYOLOLA Y. ADEBOWALE

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

35

IFEYINWA OBIECHINA

3,993.30 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

153

PETER J. OSEVWE

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

271

UDUBRA O. HAMILTON

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

36

STELLA ROBERT

3,994.50 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

154

NWEWOR AMAECHI

700.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

272

MAMU HAJIA ABUBAKAR

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

37

GIWA-OSAGIE O. FRANK

3,977.49 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

155

OKONOFUA C. OMOSEFE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

273

IGWEGBE A. OSITA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

38

EMMANUEL N. OKAFOR

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

156

OLAMIDE RAJI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

274

ALALIBO STELLA OKE

4,000.00 PTA

39

ATOE NOSA GODFREY

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

157

OBI IJEOMA GEORGIAN

1,316.19 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

275

TITILOLA O AKINLADE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

40

JOLAYEMI COMFORT

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

158

OLUSANYA A. ABOSEDE

1,301.81 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

276

SALE IBRAHIM NYAM

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

41

EDUGIE D. OGUNADE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

159

SALISU ABUBAKAR

2,626.57 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

277

EZEANI S. ONYINYECHI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

42

UGOANYANWU UGONNA

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

160

NDIMELE OZO-MEKURI

3,939.86 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

278

SOMOLU ARINOLA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

43

UKOT JULIET SAMUEL

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

161

ATOE I. PHILOMENA

3,283.22 PTA

359.00 5-Feb-19

279

ARIBISALA O. OLASIMBO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

44

PROF. OGEDENGBE KOFOWOROLA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

162

ADEKUNLE M. ADEBISI

1,313.40 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 5-Feb-19

280

EZECHIEFOH HENRIETTA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

45

EBIKIBINA J OGBORODI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

163

CBN

100,626.82 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 5-Feb-19

281

BALOGUN ADEJOKE OLAYEMI

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

46

NWAOGU, C. CLINTON

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

164

CBN

28,606.10 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 5-Feb-19

282

JOHN ADEBIYI I. OPEYEMI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

47

OSIBOGUN A. OLUGBOYEGA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

165

GIVANAS NIGERIA LTD

66,908.31 H VEGETABLE FAT

307.30 5-Feb-19

283

ADAMU PETER EMMANUEL

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

48

UCHENDU OBI AUGUSTINE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

166

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE

8,000.00 VISA FEES FOR NOV. '18

363.00 5-Feb-19

284

CHUKWUEMEKA P. NGOZIKA

4,700.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

49

ADERIBIGBE P. OSAMA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

167

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE

21,000.00 VISA FEES FOR NOV. '18

363.00 5-Feb-19

285

BABAH RAMAT ITEMOAGBOR

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

50

SOLADOYE O. MODINAT

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

168

SOLPIA NIG. LIMITED

363.00 5-Feb-19

286

MANNIR HARUNA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

51

OBIDIKE TOCHUKWU DOMINIC

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

169

LOTUS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

25,465.02 PLAIN PAPER

362.75 5-Feb-19

287

CHUKWU VICTOR AKACHUKWU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

52

ADANINI V. AKHERE

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

170

LOTUS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

119,321.70 PLAIN PAPER

362.75 5-Feb-19

288

AMANAMBU NNEKA AUGUSTINA

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

53

ISOKARIARI G. TELEMA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

171

LOTUS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

117,327.84 PLAIN PAPER

362.75 5-Feb-19

289

MOMOH, HADIZA TIJJANI SULE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

54

INVIROTECH GLOBAL RESOURCES

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

172

AMARVI C. OLUYEMISI

3,886.88 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

290

DURU IHEOMA EZE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

55

OGUNSUYI BANKOLE

2,500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

173

VICTOR C. MURUAKO

3,998.82 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

291

ESIO OKITEFRE OBOHO

2,500.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

56

ADENIJI BOLAJI OLADIMEJI

850.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

174

ODION-OBOMHENSE AUSTEN

3,968.88 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

292

NWOFOR ALEXANDER M E

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

57

REBECCA OPUBO-DENNIS

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

175

AMARVI O. LOUIS

3,911.36 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

293

RAJI IBRAHIM AYODELE

1,700.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

58

ALMONA I. SCOTT

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

176

CHIJIOKE LAWRENCE CHIJIOKE

2,651.80 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

294

OYETADE OLABODE AKINYELE

1,600.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

59

ODIGWE E. ODONMA

1,600.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

177

ELEMUO V. NNAEMEKA

3,919.50 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

295

ENGR NUA O OMISANYA

1,700.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

60

ZUBAIR A. AJOZE

500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

178

OSHIFODUNRIN ABAYOMI

1,962.75 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

296

CHIDAWA EMILLY CTHERINE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

61

DR EFFIEM J. ABBAH

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

179

OPARAODU NYEMA DAVID

1,970.10 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

297

SULEIMAN YAHAYA

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

62

ADERELE O. AKINNOLA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

180

OMONUA EHI PATIENCE

990.68 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

298

AHMED SALIHU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

63

WILLIAMS ABISOLA OLAYEMI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

181

HENRY E. M AKPAN

3,955.20 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

299

A.OBI GENERAL INVESTMENT LIMITED

8,705.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 6-Feb-19

64

NNADIRINWA EMILIA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

182

ADEBAYO A. ABIODUN

3,977.84 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

300

DR. ADEMUYIWA O. BABATUNDE

3,500.00 SCHOOL FEES

65

NEBENU C. FRANKLIN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

183

IKECHUKWU OGBONNA

3,885.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

301

MADUEKE DOROTHY ODINAKA

2,267.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 6-Feb-19

66

AKINWALE V. FEYISAYO

1,395.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

184

ADAMANI, ENAN WILLIAM

910.56 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

302

EDET GLORY. T

2,376.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 6-Feb-19

67

MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

185

KENTEBE GRACE NGOZI

3,999.93 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

303

ADETOMIWA KOFOWOROLA EVELYN

3,780.08 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 6-Feb-19

68

STELLA N ONUOHA

2,850.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

186

ILIKA NWANNEKA FRANCES

3,964.50 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

304

CBN

133,192.03 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 6-Feb-19

69

OHIA ERNEST UKWUOMA

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

187

GLADSTONE A IKENI

2,662.20 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

305

CBN

45,895.69 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 6-Feb-19

70

OGUCHI ARINZE EKENE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

188

NWEKE OBIOMA

3,977.70 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

306

BRIGHTPRODUCTS LIMITED

71

ADESHIDA E. ABAYOMI

500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

189

OLUSANYA B. KAMARUDEEN

3,969.33 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

307

SOLPIA NIGERIA LIMITED

72

HUSSAINA UMAR

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

190

CANON E. OSSAI OKAM

3,969.60 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

308

BUILDWELL PLANTS & EQUIPMENT IND LTD

73

MSHELBWALA J. ADERONKE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

191

OKAM GENEVIEVE OKPARA

3,969.60 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

309

TANZANIA HIGH COMMISSION

8,360.11 VISA COLLECTION FEES

362.80 6-Feb-19

74

FELIX A ABIKOYE

400.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

192

AGENMONMEN O. STEPHANIE

3,955.20 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

310

ROOSKEY ELECTRICAL

60,035.60 AC MOTOR SINGLE PHASE

362.50 6-Feb-19

75

EKANEM ENO EDEM

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

193

PRINCESS G DOUGLAS

66.30 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

311

ROOSKEY ELECTRICAL

120,130.60 AC MOTOR SINGLE PHASE

362.50 6-Feb-19

76

ABUMERE LUCKY OMORIA

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

194

IBRAHIM GUSAU LAWAL

461.44 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

312

ROOSKEY ELECTRICAL

31,936.80 AC MOTOR SINGLE PHASE

362.50 6-Feb-19

77

EDEKOBI CHUMA TONY

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

195

NWEKE UYAMADU

3,977.70 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

313

AIRTEL NETWORKS LTD

14,800.00 DEALER SIM

362.00 6-Feb-19

78

UGWUMBA B. OKWUNNA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

196

EJEKWU N. CHINEMEREM

2,516.74 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

314

OMORU L. OGHENEMUODE

79

UZOWUIHE OBINNA JOHN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

197

IFEGBO I. JENNIFER

1,897.33 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

315

IZEDONMWEN JOY OGHOGHO

80

OMOTUYOLE OLAJUMOKE

500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

198

OLUWAFEMI I. ADESOLA

3,902.40 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

316

81

AKANBI OLAWALE

500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

199

EIGBADON A. THERESA

526.72 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

82

OMOTAYO O. FLORENCE

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

200

EDOZIE N MADU

2,636.80 PTA

BABAH RAMAT ITEMOAGBOR

120,153.60 AC MOTOR SINGLE PHASE 75,469.42 COMELLE CM ICE CREAM POWDER 2,600,000.00 INTERBANK

713,600.00 ARTIFICIAL FILAMENT TOW

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 6-Feb-19

104,576.00 PROPYLENE COPOLYMER 8,000.00 ARTIFICIAL FILAMENT TOW 70,000.00 LOAN REPAYMENT

306.75 6-Feb-19 363.00 6-Feb-19 362.80 6-Feb-19

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

500.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

UGBO FELICITAS TAIWO

1,500.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

317

OLADOKUN O. STEPHEN

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

359.00 6-Feb-19

318

OLADOKUN O. ANTHONIA

5,000.00 BTA

2,975.97 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 7-Feb-19

83

OKONTA HENRY CHINEDU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

201

319

SAIDU TALATU

1,300.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

84

OLUWASOLA TENIOLA OMOLOLA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

202

BANJO ABOSEDE TEMITOPE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

320

UZOMINMA CHISARA ANN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

85

NDUKA PROMISE UGWUAKPO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

203

OKAFOR O. CHUKWUDI

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

321

UABOI G. AGBEBAKU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

86

AKINWUNMI B. OLAYODE

2,200.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

204

ANYA CHIDIEBERE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

322

SOPEKAN OLASUMBO

2,500.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

87

IGWEBIKE CHINEDU NNAEMEKA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

205

OKOLI VALENTINE UMEADI

500.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

323

UMEH C. LINDA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

88

OBIONU CHRISTOPHER

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

206

ANANTI C. KENNETH

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

324

ADEKUNLE S. OLALEKAN

1,717.81 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

89

ABE OLUWASEUN BENJAMIN

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

207

OKOH S. UCHENNA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

325

AGBAKWURU C. NKECHINYERE

1,915.80 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

90

OLANREWAJU S EHIE

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

208

UZOSIKE C. BENEDETH

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

326

DAN-CHIGWALU T. ARINOLA

3,940.00 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

91

EMEABA U EKE

1,500.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

209

OBOITE FELIX OGHOGHO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

327

EIGBADON A. THERESA

3,940.19 PTA

359.00 7-Feb-19

92

OYEYEMI GAFFAR YAHYA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

210

UGBO KALU KALU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

328

OHAEGBULA K. CHUKWUEMEKA

8,651.20 SCHOOL FEES

93

TOCHUKWU CYRIL OBELLE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

211

OYERO O. GBONJUBOLA

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

329

OGBEREKARE MARGARET

2,215.00 SCHOOL FEES

94

FATOKUN ELIZABETH ADEOLA

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

212

ABDULLAH N. YUSUF

3,100.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

330

CBN

98,395.49 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 7-Feb-19

95

VICTOR ENAHORO

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

213

ONOCHIE-MORDI PRUDENCE I.

3,600.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

331

CBN

28,202.07 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 7-Feb-19

96

ONWUNZO BETHRAND EZIUZO

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

214

OKPALA NNAMDI

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

332

AYANGBENGA O AYANWANDE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

97

ONWUNZO CHINENYE ESTHER

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

215

AYUBA LEAN RUTH TENI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

333

UMMI A SABO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

98

OKOEGUALE O. FREDDIE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

216

MAMUKUYO O ARIYO

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

334

ANTHONY O. IBE

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

IWARI C. POLLYN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

335

MORDI FREDRICK OJORE

2,500.00 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

359.00 7-Feb-19 359.00 7-Feb-19

99

AZUBUIKE FRANCIS KING

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

217

100

DIKE IFEYINWA CATHERINE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

218

OKONKWO W. OKWUCHUKWU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

336

UDOH TOMMY VICTOR

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

101

ABDULAZEEZ HAFSAT

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

219

OLUGBOJI ADEDAYO EUNICE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

337

PHILIPS U. JENNIFER

3,996.10 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

OLUGBOJI OMONIYI AKINDEJI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

338

SULE JAMES

3,918.00 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

3,923.40 PTA

359.00 8-Feb-19

102

NNAKENYI L. OKECHUKWU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

220

103

WINIFRED C OLUMATI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

221

AGWANIHU CHARLES CHIJIOKE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

339

OKEJA P. IFEOMA

OKORO WISDOM A

1,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

104

JOSEPH ODAMA

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

222

340

CHIME CYNTHIA E

11,526.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 8-Feb-19

105

RITA E MICHAEL-OJO

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

223

IWUMUNE C. CHUKWUDUBEM

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

341

OKAFOR M. CHUKWUDILIM

11,765.00 SCHOOL FEES

359.00 8-Feb-19

106

ODUWOLE T. IDOWU

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

224

GORDON CHIBUEZE ILOGU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

342

IHUNWO M. WICHEGBULE

1,911.93 SCHOOL FEES

ADEWUNMI, LYDIA YESIDE

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

343

SADO ESHIOGIEMHE

3,917.70 ACCOMMODATION FEES

359.00 8-Feb-19

101,661.00 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 8-Feb-19

30,183.65 IMTO TRANSFERRED TO CBN

357.00 8-Feb-19

44,612.00 CRUDE DENATURED ETHYL ALCOHOL

362.00 8-Feb-19

107

MOHAMMAD Y. MIUSTAPHA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

225

108

BOLUM MARTIN NWACHUKWU

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

226

OLUROTIMI AWOSILE

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

344

CBN

EZIKE EMMANUEL IKENNA

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

359.00 8-Feb-19

109

MAMMAN V. TARI

2,800.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

227

345

CBN

110

OLUSEGUN SANNI

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

228

TOYIN A OYEKANMI

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

347

UNIKEM INDUSTRIES LIMITED

111

ILOABUCHI CHUKWUMA WILFRED

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

229

OYEKANMI DAVID

3,500.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

348

LOTUS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

173,858.51 PAPER BOARD

362.50 8-Feb-19

NGWU UCHENWA O. STELLA

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

349

LOTUS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

65,787.41 PAPER BOARD

362.50 8-Feb-19

112

ANDREW SAEED

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

230

113

UKA NNANNA KINGSLEY

2,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

231

NWANMA RAY KELECHI

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

350

LOTUS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

178,582.42 PAPER BOARD

362.50 8-Feb-19

114

OKUNLOLA ADEMOLA ZACHEUS

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

232

AIGBOJE INI EMANNUEL

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

351

LOTUS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

234,037.72 PAPER BOARD

362.50 8-Feb-19

MBANUGO CHUKWUEBUKA O

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19 359.00 6-Feb-19

115

ORIKOHA URE JOY

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

233

116

KAFILAT A BALOGUN

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

234

OJEBA EMMANUEL BELLO

4,000.00 PTA

117

TAMUNOMIEIBI WAKAMA

4,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

235

EZEGBUNAM G. CHIBOROM

5,000.00 BTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

118

UGWUEKE P. EKPEOGWA

3,000.00 PTA

359.00 4-Feb-19

236

YAHAYA SHAIBU ABU

600.00 PTA

359.00 6-Feb-19

www.ubagroup.com

Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global bank

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019

53

SOURCE OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 8TH OF FEBRUARY 2019

www.ubagroup.com

S/N

SOURCE

S/N

SOURCE

S/N

SOURCE

1

AUTONOMOUS

175.61

360.00 4-Feb-19

117

AUTONOMOUS

786.90

360.00 5-Feb-19

233

AUTONOMOUS

400.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

2

AUTONOMOUS

AMOUNT (US$) 1,130.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

RATE DATE

118

AUTONOMOUS

AMOUNT (US$) 130.32

360.00 5-Feb-19

RATE DATE

234

AUTONOMOUS

AMOUNT (US$) 352.04

360.00 7-Feb-19

3

AUTONOMOUS

320.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

119

AUTONOMOUS

39.10

360.00 5-Feb-19

235

AUTONOMOUS

4

AUTONOMOUS

400.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

120

AUTONOMOUS

496.53

360.00 5-Feb-19

236

AUTONOMOUS

300.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

5

AUTONOMOUS

350.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

121

AUTONOMOUS

7,280.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

237

AUTONOMOUS

1,217.09

360.00 7-Feb-19

6

AUTONOMOUS

192.40

360.00 4-Feb-19

122

AUTONOMOUS

10,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

238

AUTONOMOUS

200.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

7

AUTONOMOUS

219.56

360.00 4-Feb-19

123

AUTONOMOUS

1,800.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

239

AUTONOMOUS

600.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

8

AUTONOMOUS

465.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

124

AUTONOMOUS

3,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

240

AUTONOMOUS

174.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

9

AUTONOMOUS

508.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

125

AUTONOMOUS

10,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

241

AUTONOMOUS

88.50

360.00 7-Feb-19

10

AUTONOMOUS

266.97

360.00 4-Feb-19

126

AUTONOMOUS

150.00

357.00 5-Feb-19

242

AUTONOMOUS

907.20

360.00 7-Feb-19

11

AUTONOMOUS

603.44

360.00 4-Feb-19

127

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

243

AUTONOMOUS

396.90

360.00 7-Feb-19

12

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

128

AUTONOMOUS

5,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

244

AUTONOMOUS

226.80

360.00 7-Feb-19

13

AUTONOMOUS

50.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

129

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

245

AUTONOMOUS

565.44

360.00 7-Feb-19

14

AUTONOMOUS

1,376.18

360.00 4-Feb-19

130

AUTONOMOUS

1,136.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

246

AUTONOMOUS

756.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

15

AUTONOMOUS

401.21

360.00 4-Feb-19

131

IMTO

132,716.15

355.00 5-Feb-19

247

AUTONOMOUS

565.44

16

AUTONOMOUS

1,250.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

132

IMTO

1,452.94

355.00 5-Feb-19

248

AUTONOMOUS

432.83

360.00 7-Feb-19

17

AUTONOMOUS

190.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

133

IMTO

37,555.84

355.00 5-Feb-19

249

AUTONOMOUS

1,102.62

360.00 7-Feb-19

18

AUTONOMOUS

6,800.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

134

IMTO

585.62

355.02 5-Feb-19

250

AUTONOMOUS

264.63

360.00 7-Feb-19

19

AUTONOMOUS

9,545.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

135

AUTONOMOUS

40,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

251

AUTONOMOUS

375.52

360.00 7-Feb-19

20

AUTONOMOUS

480.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

136

AUTONOMOUS

177,777.78

360.00 5-Feb-19

252

AUTONOMOUS

336.67

21

AUTONOMOUS

351.65

360.00 4-Feb-19

137

AUTONOMOUS

99,990.00

362.00 5-Feb-19

253

AUTONOMOUS

258.98

360.00 7-Feb-19

22

AUTONOMOUS

1,961.54

360.00 4-Feb-19

138

AUTONOMOUS

20,600.00

361.50 5-Feb-19

254

AUTONOMOUS

1,140.21

360.00 7-Feb-19

23

AUTONOMOUS

2,265.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

139

AUTONOMOUS

70,000.00

362.00 5-Feb-19

255

AUTONOMOUS

900.00

24

AUTONOMOUS

62.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

140

AUTONOMOUS

58,000.00

361.80 5-Feb-19

256

AUTONOMOUS

300.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

25

AUTONOMOUS

5,188.98

360.00 4-Feb-19

141

AUTONOMOUS

100,000.00

361.50 5-Feb-19

257

AUTONOMOUS

300,000.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

26

AUTONOMOUS

68.98

360.00 4-Feb-19

142

AUTONOMOUS

4,777.00

361.00 5-Feb-19

258

AUTONOMOUS

50,000.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

27

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

143

INTERBANK

2,500,000.00

361.80 5-Feb-19

259

AUTONOMOUS

260,000.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

28

AUTONOMOUS

655.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

144

AUTONOMOUS

139.73

360.00 6-Feb-19

260

AUTONOMOUS

100,000.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

29

AUTONOMOUS

800.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

145

AUTONOMOUS

980.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

261

AUTONOMOUS

30

AUTONOMOUS

190.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

146

AUTONOMOUS

700.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

262

AUTONOMOUS

64,000.00

361.00 7-Feb-19

31

AUTONOMOUS

265.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

147

AUTONOMOUS

967.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

263

AUTONOMOUS

125,000.00

361.00 7-Feb-19

32

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

148

AUTONOMOUS

490.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

264

AUTONOMOUS

382,600.00

361.00 7-Feb-19

33

AUTONOMOUS

1,070.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

149

AUTONOMOUS

487.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

265

AUTONOMOUS

3,000,000.00

361.00 7-Feb-19

34

AUTONOMOUS

850.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

150

AUTONOMOUS

360.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

266

AUTONOMOUS

200,000.00

361.00 7-Feb-19

35

AUTONOMOUS

250.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

151

AUTONOMOUS

95.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

267

IMTO

129,744.61

355.00 7-Feb-19

36

AUTONOMOUS

1,150.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

152

AUTONOMOUS

150.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

268

IMTO

1,449.38

37

AUTONOMOUS

1,990.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

153

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

269

IMTO

37,085.12

355.00 7-Feb-19

38

AUTONOMOUS

490.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

154

AUTONOMOUS

158.77

360.00 6-Feb-19

270

IMTO

517.64

354.97 7-Feb-19

39

AUTONOMOUS

72.38

360.00 4-Feb-19

155

AUTONOMOUS

240.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

271

AUTONOMOUS

1,693.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

40

AUTONOMOUS

175.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

156

AUTONOMOUS

1,500.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

272

AUTONOMOUS

34.28

360.00 8-Feb-19

41

AUTONOMOUS

880.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

157

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

273

AUTONOMOUS

169.28

360.00 8-Feb-19

42

AUTONOMOUS

10,359.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

158

AUTONOMOUS

188.84

360.00 6-Feb-19

274

AUTONOMOUS

200.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

43

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

159

AUTONOMOUS

100.07

360.00 6-Feb-19

275

AUTONOMOUS

245.80

360.00 8-Feb-19

44

AUTONOMOUS

9,757.44

360.00 4-Feb-19

160

AUTONOMOUS

2,777.77

360.00 6-Feb-19

276

AUTONOMOUS

438.27

360.00 8-Feb-19

45

AUTONOMOUS

6,466.81

360.00 4-Feb-19

161

AUTONOMOUS

1,853.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

277

AUTONOMOUS

850.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

46

AUTONOMOUS

183.13

360.00 4-Feb-19

162

AUTONOMOUS

917.02

360.00 6-Feb-19

278

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

47

AUTONOMOUS

114.46

360.00 4-Feb-19

163

AUTONOMOUS

1,500.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

279

AUTONOMOUS

481.64

360.00 8-Feb-19

48

AUTONOMOUS

171.69

360.00 4-Feb-19

164

AUTONOMOUS

651.80

360.00 6-Feb-19

280

AUTONOMOUS

1,962.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

49

AUTONOMOUS

137.72

360.00 4-Feb-19

165

AUTONOMOUS

175.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

281

AUTONOMOUS

165.00

50

AUTONOMOUS

102.43

360.00 4-Feb-19

166

AUTONOMOUS

470.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

282

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

51

AUTONOMOUS

1,479.61

360.00 4-Feb-19

167

AUTONOMOUS

140.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

283

AUTONOMOUS

7,020.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

52

AUTONOMOUS

1,058.49

360.00 4-Feb-19

168

AUTONOMOUS

34.82

360.00 6-Feb-19

284

AUTONOMOUS

240.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

53

AUTONOMOUS

455.26

360.00 4-Feb-19

169

AUTONOMOUS

54

AUTONOMOUS

2,247.87

360.00 4-Feb-19

170

AUTONOMOUS

55

AUTONOMOUS

81.07

360.00 4-Feb-19

171

AUTONOMOUS

56

AUTONOMOUS

796.71

360.00 4-Feb-19

172

57

AUTONOMOUS

250.40

360.00 4-Feb-19

173

58

AUTONOMOUS

341.45

360.00 4-Feb-19

174

59

AUTONOMOUS

28.45

360.00 4-Feb-19

60

AUTONOMOUS

993.62

61

AUTONOMOUS

62

346.74

1,544.44

RATE DATE

360.00 7-Feb-19

360.00 7-Feb-19

360.00 7-Feb-19

360.00 7-Feb-19

360.00 7-Feb-19

355.00 7-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

63.49

360.00 6-Feb-19

285

AUTONOMOUS

10,000.00

100.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

286

AUTONOMOUS

922.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

50.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

287

AUTONOMOUS

1,492.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

AUTONOMOUS

510.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

288

AUTONOMOUS

28.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

AUTONOMOUS

2,675.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

289

AUTONOMOUS

34.91

360.00 8-Feb-19

AUTONOMOUS

59.66

360.00 6-Feb-19

290

AUTONOMOUS

75.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

175

AUTONOMOUS

113.40

360.00 6-Feb-19

291

AUTONOMOUS

978.20

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 4-Feb-19

176

AUTONOMOUS

113.40

360.00 6-Feb-19

292

AUTONOMOUS

170.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

119.51

360.00 4-Feb-19

177

AUTONOMOUS

283.50

360.00 6-Feb-19

293

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

AUTONOMOUS

274.96

360.00 4-Feb-19

178

AUTONOMOUS

340.20

360.00 6-Feb-19

294

AUTONOMOUS

196.00

63

AUTONOMOUS

654.67

360.00 4-Feb-19

179

AUTONOMOUS

283.50

360.00 6-Feb-19

295

AUTONOMOUS

240.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

64

AUTONOMOUS

2,609.86

360.00 4-Feb-19

180

AUTONOMOUS

175.77

360.00 6-Feb-19

296

AUTONOMOUS

2,065.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

65

AUTONOMOUS

234.89

360.00 4-Feb-19

181

AUTONOMOUS

963.90

360.00 6-Feb-19

297

AUTONOMOUS

680.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

66

AUTONOMOUS

300.00

357.00 4-Feb-19

182

AUTONOMOUS

374.22

360.00 6-Feb-19

298

AUTONOMOUS

2,020.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

67

AUTONOMOUS

6,550.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

183

AUTONOMOUS

43.09

360.00 6-Feb-19

299

AUTONOMOUS

1,075.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

68

AUTONOMOUS

370.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

184

AUTONOMOUS

226.80

360.00 6-Feb-19

300

AUTONOMOUS

517.49

360.00 8-Feb-19

69

AUTONOMOUS

7,400.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

185

AUTONOMOUS

170.10

360.00 6-Feb-19

301

AUTONOMOUS

355.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

70

AUTONOMOUS

8,000.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

186

AUTONOMOUS

170.10

360.00 6-Feb-19

302

AUTONOMOUS

990.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

71

AUTONOMOUS

256.09

360.00 4-Feb-19

187

AUTONOMOUS

129.49

360.00 6-Feb-19

303

AUTONOMOUS

372.17

360.00 8-Feb-19

72

IMTO

125,119.09

355.00 4-Feb-19

188

IMTO

175,710.03

355.00 6-Feb-19

304

AUTONOMOUS

548.48

360.00 8-Feb-19

73

IMTO

1,617.58

355.00 4-Feb-19

189

IMTO

1,879.34

355.00 6-Feb-19

305

AUTONOMOUS

339.27

74

IMTO

29,779.16

355.00 4-Feb-19

190

IMTO

60,227.35

355.00 6-Feb-19

306

AUTONOMOUS

508.90

360.00 8-Feb-19

75

IMTO

510.52

354.98 4-Feb-19

191

IMTO

966.90

354.97 6-Feb-19

307

AUTONOMOUS

1,130.89

360.00 8-Feb-19

76

AUTONOMOUS

450,000.00

361.50 4-Feb-19

192

AUTONOMOUS

10,000.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

308

AUTONOMOUS

282.72

77

AUTONOMOUS

83,500.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

193

AUTONOMOUS

9,000.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

309

AUTONOMOUS

79.16

360.00 8-Feb-19

78

AUTONOMOUS

60,000.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

194

AUTONOMOUS

3,000.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

310

AUTONOMOUS

1,017.80

360.00 8-Feb-19

79

AUTONOMOUS

300,000.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

195

AUTONOMOUS

2,800.00

357.00 6-Feb-19

311

AUTONOMOUS

551.87

360.00 8-Feb-19

80

AUTONOMOUS

20,000.00

360.00 4-Feb-19

196

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

312

AUTONOMOUS

1,058.51

360.00 8-Feb-19

81

AUTONOMOUS

484,850.00

362.00 4-Feb-19

197

AUTONOMOUS

3,746.46

360.00 6-Feb-19

313

AUTONOMOUS

192.25

360.00 8-Feb-19

82

CBN

3,000,000.00

357.00 4-Feb-19

198

AUTONOMOUS

1,002.00

360.00 6-Feb-19

314

AUTONOMOUS

395.81

360.00 8-Feb-19

83

CBN

3,000,000.00

357.00 4-Feb-19

199

AUTONOMOUS

5,134.99

361.00 6-Feb-19

315

AUTONOMOUS

56.37

360.00 8-Feb-19

84

AUTONOMOUS

329.50

360.00 5-Feb-19

200

AUTONOMOUS

2,642.66

360.00 6-Feb-19

316

AUTONOMOUS

205.18

360.00 8-Feb-19

85

AUTONOMOUS

4,230.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

201

AUTONOMOUS

2,000.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

317

AUTONOMOUS

352.87

360.00 8-Feb-19

86

AUTONOMOUS

2,117.50

360.00 5-Feb-19

202

AUTONOMOUS

2,305.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

318

AUTONOMOUS

312.85

360.00 8-Feb-19

87

AUTONOMOUS

2,100.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

203

AUTONOMOUS

1,639.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

319

AUTONOMOUS

394.59

360.00 8-Feb-19

88

AUTONOMOUS

2,937.31

360.00 5-Feb-19

204

AUTONOMOUS

625.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

320

AUTONOMOUS

57.50

360.00 8-Feb-19

89

AUTONOMOUS

180.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

205

AUTONOMOUS

72.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

321

AUTONOMOUS

310.03

90

AUTONOMOUS

133.04

360.00 5-Feb-19

206

AUTONOMOUS

95.12

360.00 7-Feb-19

322

AUTONOMOUS

518.60

360.00 8-Feb-19

91

AUTONOMOUS

102.51

360.00 5-Feb-19

207

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

323

AUTONOMOUS

1,127.39

360.00 8-Feb-19

92

AUTONOMOUS

504.09

360.00 5-Feb-19

208

AUTONOMOUS

129.09

360.00 7-Feb-19

324

AUTONOMOUS

4,509.56

360.00 8-Feb-19

93

AUTONOMOUS

765.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

209

AUTONOMOUS

300.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

325

AUTONOMOUS

87.94

360.00 8-Feb-19

94

AUTONOMOUS

665.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

210

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

326

AUTONOMOUS

2,029.30

360.00 8-Feb-19

95

AUTONOMOUS

396.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

211

AUTONOMOUS

2,900.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

327

AUTONOMOUS

2,367.52

360.00 8-Feb-19

96

AUTONOMOUS

102.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

212

AUTONOMOUS

36.70

360.00 7-Feb-19

328

AUTONOMOUS

338.22

360.00 8-Feb-19

97

AUTONOMOUS

154.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

213

AUTONOMOUS

350.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

329

AUTONOMOUS

1,991.76

360.00 8-Feb-19

98

AUTONOMOUS

12.69

360.00 5-Feb-19

214

AUTONOMOUS

75.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

330

AUTONOMOUS

901.91

360.00 8-Feb-19

99

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

215

AUTONOMOUS

1,485.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

331

AUTONOMOUS

3,526.75

360.00 8-Feb-19

100

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

216

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

332

AUTONOMOUS

4,501.68

360.00 8-Feb-19

101

AUTONOMOUS

338.31

360.00 5-Feb-19

217

AUTONOMOUS

434.84

360.00 7-Feb-19

333

AUTONOMOUS

102

AUTONOMOUS

3,000.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

218

AUTONOMOUS

1,380.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

334

AUTONOMOUS

250.00

357.00 8-Feb-19

103

AUTONOMOUS

1,500.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

219

AUTONOMOUS

980.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

335

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

360.00 8-Feb-19

104

AUTONOMOUS

1,447.96

360.00 5-Feb-19

220

AUTONOMOUS

627.50

360.00 7-Feb-19

336

AUTONOMOUS

39,317.43

360.00 8-Feb-19

105

AUTONOMOUS

1,993.00

360.00 5-Feb-19

221

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

337

AUTONOMOUS

25,000.00

106

AUTONOMOUS

398.71

360.00 5-Feb-19

222

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

338

AUTONOMOUS

5,000,000.00

361.15 8-Feb-19

107

AUTONOMOUS

79.74

360.00 5-Feb-19

223

AUTONOMOUS

5,449.15

360.00 7-Feb-19

339

AUTONOMOUS

4,900.00

361.00 8-Feb-19

108

AUTONOMOUS

2,050.50

360.00 5-Feb-19

224

AUTONOMOUS

980.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

340

AUTONOMOUS

97,000.00

109

AUTONOMOUS

1,355.61

360.00 5-Feb-19

225

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

341

AUTONOMOUS

110

AUTONOMOUS

569.58

360.00 5-Feb-19

226

AUTONOMOUS

170.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

342

IMTO

111

AUTONOMOUS

455.67

360.00 5-Feb-19

227

AUTONOMOUS

200.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

343

IMTO

1,473.62

112

AUTONOMOUS

1,708.75

360.00 5-Feb-19

228

AUTONOMOUS

1,500.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

344

IMTO

39,644.51

355.00 8-Feb-19

113

AUTONOMOUS

56.96

360.00 5-Feb-19

229

AUTONOMOUS

787.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

345

IMTO

600.35

355.01 8-Feb-19

114

AUTONOMOUS

56.96

360.00 5-Feb-19

230

AUTONOMOUS

780.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

115

AUTONOMOUS

797.42

360.00 5-Feb-19

231

AUTONOMOUS

785.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

116

AUTONOMOUS

569.58

360.00 5-Feb-19

232

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

360.00 7-Feb-19

668.66

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

360.00 8-Feb-19

361.00 8-Feb-19

4,736.99

361.00 8-Feb-19

134,074.38

355.00 8-Feb-19 355.00 8-Feb-19

Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global bank

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ ͺ͸͹΁

54

NEWSXTRA

Protest Rocks Ekiti Community Over Killing of Farmer by Suspected Herdsmen VictorOgunjeÓØ ÎÙ ÕÓÞÓ

EMPOWERED TO SPEND...

L-R: Supervisor for Budget, Dr. Olalekan Yinusa; Supervisor of Finance, Mr Bola Oyebamiji; Governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and Speaker of the House, Dr. Najeem Salam during the 2019 Budget Approved by State of Osun House Of Assembly led by Dr. Najeem Salam at Governor’s Office Osogbo...recently

66 Killed in Kaduna Community Clash John Shiklam ÓØ ËÎßØË The Kaduna State Government has confirmed the killing of 66 people in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

The government in a statement on Friday by Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Governor Nasir el-Rufai, said among the victims were 22 children and 12 women, adding that four wounded persons rescued by the security agencies were receiving medical attention.

He said security agencies had been deployed to the area, while some arrests had been made.

The statement did not give details of how the incident took

place, but it was learnt that the killings occurred following a bloody clash between the Adara and Fulani communities in the area.

Sources said the problem started on Sunday night when gunmen suspected to be Fulani invaded Angwan Barde, an Adara community killed 11 people, with several others injured.

On Monday, angry youths in the community were said to have embarked on reprisal attacks, leading to the bloodshed.

Arunwan said security agencies had recovered 66 bodies.

“Security agencies today reported the recovery of 66

bodies that were killed in attacks by criminal elements on various dispersed hamlets in the Maro Gida and Iri axis of Kajuru LGA,” the statement said.

According to Aruwan, the communities affected include “Ruga Bahago, Ruga Daku, Ruga Ori, Ruga Haruna, Ruga Yukka Abubakar, Ruga Duni Kadiri, Ruga Shewuka and Ruga Shuaibu Yau.” The statement condemned the attacks and commiserated with the families of the victims.

The government urged community, traditional and religious leaders in the area to encourage residents to

avoid any reprisal attacks and to leave the matter in the hands of the security and law enforcement agencies.

“The killings are being investigated and residents are assured that indicted persons will be prosecuted.

“Residents of Kaduna State are enjoined to uphold peace and harmony, shun violence and allow the elections to be held in an atmosphere of calm. Any suspicious activity should be reported to the security agencies in person or through the following lines 09034000060 and 08170189999”, the statement said.

Stop blaming APC for your failures, Amaechi tells Wike

NEMA Receives 160 Stranded Nigerians in Libya

The leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has admonished the state governor, Nyesom Wike to accept his failure as the chief security officer of the state and quit trying to pin acts of violence on the APC. Amaechi spoke at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Thursday, addressing Wike’s ‘malignant and calculated outburst’ alleging that the APC intends to visit violence on the state. Governor Wike had in his state broadcast on Thursday evening accused Amaechi and the APC of plotting to incite violence in the State. Wike also tried to make political capital of the stampede that led to the death of some persons at the APC Presidential rally in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Amaechi said, “I listened to our governor today. Again, like the child he is, rant and say we intend to visit violence on the people. All of you who have worked with me would know that I don’t like violence, because if you kill someone, you cannot replace him, you can’t bring him back to life. You can replace houses, you can replace cars and all that... You certainly can’t replace life.

“We lost 15 persons. I was touring people’s houses, trying to identify with their pain. If the governor can remember when President Goodluck Jonathan

Chinedu Eze

came here and we lost 23 Nigerians in Rivers State, the same stampede, I couldn’t eat. I was watching them take lunch, I couldn’t, I was crying because those 23 persons are gone whether for good or bad just like these 15 persons will not come back. So I’ve never and I will never support violence. But I don’t also support injustice.

Amaechi wondered why Wike is ‘trying so hard to avoid elections and enlisting different institutions to aid his cause. He also called on INEC to exonerate itself from being accused of trying to help the PDP by doing the needful and obey the stay of execution order by the court of appeal and relist Rivers APC and its candidates for the elections.

“An example is the fact that there is a stay of execution granted by the court of appeal in Port Harcourt. Just because the INEC chairman was the head of TETFUND under Wike when he was a minister of education, he has refused to implement that judgement.

He doesn’t have the right to choose which one to implementandwhichone nottoimplement.Obviously,he’samong theinstitutionstryingtoassistWikebecome a second term governor without election.

We understand, but again, we believe in the judiciary, the uprightness of the judiciary, I hope so, and you heard the President when he said that the injustice will be addressed.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 160 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

The returnees were received by the Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Idris Muhammed at the Cargo Wing of MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

The returnees were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with EU’s special intervention on Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme and arrived Nigeria at about 7:50p.m. on Thursday evening aboard Nouvelair Airline of Libya.

The returnees were made up of 68 female adults, one female child and five female infants.

Also, there are 79 male adults, two male children and five male infants, making up 74 females and 86 males, including a psychologically traumatised adult male.

The Coordinator while receiving the returnees urged other Nigerians still aspiring to travel out of the country to desist from irregular migrations which removes the fundamental rights that such migrants could have enjoyed and by that, expose them to avoidable risks.

A returnee, Mrs. Adebisi Komolafe from Osogbo, Osun State while narrating her experience explained, “Nigerians need to be praying fervently for our leaders especially the President. Despite the bad situations in Libya, the people believe in their leaders and are praying fervently for them.

They still see hope in their country.

“If Nigerians can avoid blaming government for everything, with faith and sincerity our prayers will be accepted by God. “God will guide our leaders right if we direct our supplications to Almighty God to guide our leaders right.

“I don’t wish any Nigerian should think of travelling to Libya, I never knew the situation in Libya before I left, if I had known, I wouldn’t have travelled there,” she said.

She also emphasised that Nigeria was far better than Libya, adding that Nigerian citizens need commitment and patriotism.

“We need prayers and sincerity in Nigeria. I worked as a housemaid and had opportunity to make some money but the lack of government is a serious problem there. I cannot send money back home since I left Nigeria in 2016.”

The people of Ayegbaju Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Thursday evening protested over alleged killing of a farmer, Elijah Ogor by suspected Fulani herdsman.

Ogor, who is in his 30s and hailed from Benue State, was killed inside his farm located between Ayegbaju and Ido Ekiti on Wednesday after his farm was allegedly destroyed by cattle .

The protesters blocked Ifaki-Ayegbaju andAyegbaju-Oye road and prevented movements of vehicles for over an hour in and out of the town.

One of the protesters, who identified himself as Adeleye, said the victim was shot by suspected herder at the back and died in the pool of his blood right on his farm.

“All we want is justice. How could any Fulani cattle rearer go to someone’s farm and destroy it and still went ahead to kill him? This is unjust and callous.

“This issue must be investigated thoroughly and whoever was involved should be prosecuted accordingly,” he lamented.

Immediately the death was reported through the Seriki Fulani in Ekiti, Alhaji Abashe Adamu, the task force of Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria(GAFDAN), Ekiti chapter, swung into action and combed Ayegbaju-Ido-Iludun expansive farmland and arrested one Umar Abubakar Sanda , in connection with the death.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sanda’s arrest, GAFDAN’S Secretary in Ekiti, Hon. Toyin Ibrahim, said: “We got the information from Seriki Fulani that a farmer was killed in Ayegbaju .

Our task force , comprising virtually all the ethnic groups in Nigeria moved into that bush and arrested Umar Sanda.

“At the point we saw him, he was holding a rifle and with live cartridge inside. We queried the rationale behind the carrying of firearm which contravened Ekiti State Anti-Grazing Law, but he gave no reason. He was just raising issues that would make him look innocent.

“The reason why we suspected him was that, two other people were with the deceased when he was shot, they escaped from the scene and the description they gave showed that the suspect was involved.

“As law abiding group, we immediately took Sanda to the police station at Ido Ekiti where he was detained. Part of our mandate in GAFDAN is to arrest cattle rustlers and errant herdsmen, who destroy farmlands or commit other offences.”

Ibrahim appealed to the government to empower the group to be able to carry out the mandate of ensuring harmonious relationship between farmers and Fulani herders.

He said the group would also support the security agencies to reduce senseless killings by errant Fulani herdsmen.

When called for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command. DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the crime.

“We learnt a farmer was killed inside the farm and he had been apprehended and brought to the police. He is presently being detained in our custody and once we conclude investigation, we shall charge him

Two Arrested for Allegedly Planting Explosives on Ebonyi Bridge Benjamin Nworie ÓØ ÌËÕËÖÓÕÓ

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over an alleged attempt to bomb the six-span Ugwogo Idembia Bridge in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

In an interview with newsmen, the Police Public Relations Officer ASP Loveth Odah gave the names of the suspects as one Nweke Kingsley and Chijoke Uwakwe.

The PPRO who condemned the attack said that the command was battle ready to arrest and prosecute any member of the proscribed organisation ahead of the election adding that the command would deploy adequate security to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

Earlier, the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi in a live broadcast described the incident as a case of terrorism.

The governor disclosed that the suspects were arrested by the state internal security while trying to detonate an explosive at the Idembia bridge in the state.

According to the governor, “as the Chief Security officer of the state, I was briefed by security agencies that a House of Assembly candidate went to quarry site to buy explosives and the people came and reported to us, they refused to sell to him. We had to immediately report to the security agencies and they have the name of the person. They moved into action to arrest the person and I have said they should declare him wanted.

“Subsequently, four hours later, we got information that a meeting was held and it was agreed to plant

explosives in hotels, in flyovers and bridges including bridges built by past administration in the state.

While we were still examining the authenticity of the information, Commissioner for Internal Security called to say that the Community and Neighbourhood Security Watch apprehended two people that have succeeded in planting explosives at Idembia Bridge and they have not detonated it.

“They were still planting it, they go to the expansion of the bridge the weakest link to plant it. They have been apprehended and sent to the Army and the Army has sent them to the police. So, they are being investigated.”

The governor further stated that, “Two House of Representatives candidates in Ezza North LGA were shooting guns. Incidentally, a police orderly was attached to one of them who participated in the shooting of gun. The matter has been reported to the police to fish out the police orderly and he must be arrested. Moreso, Army personal also arrested one of the candidates of a political party along the road with a pistol. Then in Ikwo, somebody was arrested with gun for terrorizing his community.

“I have encouraged Ebonyians to come out and vote because we have enough security and that any disturbance, they should just let the security agencies know. Security agencies are equal to the task and they are very neutral and well prepared to protect the people.”

Governor Umahi urged Ebonyians not to be afraid of anything adding that men of the security forces are on ground to protect the lives and properties of the people

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͸Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î

55

NEWSXTRA

Group Commends INEC for Peaceful Election Campaign VanessaObioha

The Values Reorientation Initiative andAdvocacy group has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a peaceful election campaign in Lagos State.

In a summary of their observation report, the group said that the electoral bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preparation and training of both the election duty staff and ad-hoc staff was very professional and organised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatever happened in the pre-election campaign to a large extent determine the outcome of the elections. From our observation in Lagos, it was peaceful. Previous elections have witnessed more violence, but this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has been violence-free. To a large extent we can say it measured up to international standards,â&#x20AC;? said Larry James, the executive director of the

VISITING FOR KNOWLEDGE ...

Globacomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director, Customer Care, Ms Maria Svensson (fourth from right) and Mrs Abimbola Umozurike, also of Customer Care Department, (second right), with staff and students of At-Tanzeel Secondary School, Ikorodu, Lagos when they paid a visit to Globacom recently.

All Calm in Daura, Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town Nseobong Okon-Ekong

An atmosphere of peace pervaded Daura in Katsina State, the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is contesting in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The large number of security personnel which was noticeable when the President went for the Friday Jumat Service thinned out into a sizeable presence on the major roads leading into the town from Katsina, Kano and Niger Republic.

The Divisional Police Officer in-charge of the Central Police Station in Daura, Mr. Moham-

med Suleiman Buhari, said all was calm and that there was no report of untoward incidents.

He revealed, however, that more security personnel were on hand from neighbouring states. â&#x20AC;&#x153; We have Mobile Policemen from Kano and Jigawa states to complement the men we have on ground. After securing the environment when the President went to the Mosque in the afternoon, they have withdrawn. You may see them again tomorrow, patrolling the town.â&#x20AC;?

President Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s country home is off the highway leading to Kongolam, about 10 minutes drive to the border

with Niger Republic. There are check points of different military and paramilitary agencies on the Kongolam road, including the Army, Police, Customs Service and Immigration Service.

The usual burst of activities at the Kongolam border post had slowed down as officials of the NIS enforced the 48-hour closure of the border, ordered by the federal government. An official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at the Kongolam motorpark, Alhaji Momoh Ahmed confirmed limited transaction at the Nigeria-Niger border â&#x20AC;&#x153;Business has been dull today because of the

closure of the border,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The lone major hospitality provider in Daura, the Katsina State government-owned, Daura Motel was counting its gain, according to its Assistant Manager, Mallam Yusuf Garba. He noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;all the 54 rooms are full. It is usually like this once there is a big event or the President is in town, otherwise, for the better part of the year, the rooms are empty, even at weekends.â&#x20AC;?

Some journalists and other professionals on the trail of Buhari to monitor the Presidential election have to seek accommodation at ABM Guest Inn at Kongolam,

Groups Decry Burataiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clamp Down Order in Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;East

Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;River: Owan-Enohâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Govin-Waiting, Says Ettah

Ndubuisi FranciĂ? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039;

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman, South-south, Ntufam Hilliard Ettah has dismissed any hope for the return of Governor Ben Ayade for a second term, predicting that the odds were positive that the APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator John OwanEnoh was set to create a major upset in the March polls.

Ettah also accused Ayade of meddlesomeness in the affairs of the APC by surreptitiously funding clandestinely spurious activities in cahoots with the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Pastor Usani Usani to disrupt the rising profile of the APC candidate in the state.

Addressing a cross section of journalists recently on the Appeal Court judgement, Ettah clarified that â&#x20AC;?the overall implication of the foregoing was that Pastor Usaniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s onslaught against the party had no place to fester. It is indeed a futile exerciseâ&#x20AC;?

According to him â&#x20AC;&#x153; the issue of the replacement of the Sir John Ochalla-led executive committee with that of Etim John is also an exercise in futility going by the clarifications made aboveâ&#x20AC;?.

Ettah enjoined Cross Riverians to, by this clarifications, disregard the antics of Pastor Usani and his sponsor, Ayade insisting that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Senator John

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG) has strongly condemned the recent directive by the Chief of Army Staff, LtGen. Tukur Buratai, to the GOCs and Brigade Commanders in the South-east region to clamp down on the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other splinter groups on the pretext that they are threatening to disrupt the conduct of the 2019 general elections in the region.

The coalition, comprising no fewer than 26 civil society organisations spread across the country, including Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Save Nigeria Group, Centre for Social Justice, and Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, among others, said the proposed military action in the South-east was uncalled for and provocative.

In a statement made available to THISDAY in Abuja, Wednesday, CCSG urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Chief of Army Staff to order and to desist from such provocative action.

According to the coalition, the clamp down order, coming a few days to the presidential and other elections, appears to be an attempt at suppressing the voters in the South-east through intimidation and militarisation of the zone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the avoidance of doubt, â&#x20AC;&#x153;vote suppression is a strategy used to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing specific groups of people

from voting. In the circumstances, the proposed deployment of the Army to the South East of Nigeria in anticipation of the general elections is totally unacceptable and condemnable â&#x20AC;&#x153;We recall that the last deployment of soldiers tagged â&#x20AC;&#x153;Operation Python Danceâ&#x20AC;? led to massive violation of human rights, especially the rights to life, human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of movement,freedom of association, etc. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We further recall that despite the documentation and empirical evidence of these massive violations, the Nigerian authorities have failed, refused and neglected to bring the perpetrators to justice,â&#x20AC;? the civil society groups lamented.

While acknowledging the duty of the security agencies to take pre-emptive action to prevent the breakdown of law and order, such actions, it noted, must be done with full respect to the rule of law and constitutionalism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Such pre-emptive action must be based on credible empirical evidence and not on mere conjecture or simply an established pattern of intimidating the South-east region.

Assuming such evidence exists, it is the duty of the police to maintain law and order and an invitation can only be extended to the military if there is an escalation which the police is not equipped to deal with. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is not the duty of the army to see to the day-to-day security of lives and property as this is the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force.

Owan Enoh remained the authentic APC gubernatorial candidate with the potential to coast home to victory in March 2, 2019 pollsâ&#x20AC;?.

He said â&#x20AC;?Pastor Usani Usani cannot and should never be taken seriously in his governorship bid having failed to resign from office as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

Ettah sighted the electoral guidelines as released by INEC which provide that anyone either in public employment or appointive position and who is standing for election must resign at least 30 days to the electionâ&#x20AC;?.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;in a judgement delivered y Hon Justice Adeniyi Olukayode of an Abuja Federal High Court (15) on the 17th day of January, 2019, the court dismissed a suit filed by the Minister, Pastor Usani Usani where he was seeking among other things to be declared as the governorship candidate of the APC in Cross River stateâ&#x20AC;?.

The Judge also accused Usani of forgery just as he declared that Pastor Usani was not an aspirant in the first place having not taken part in the legitimate primaries conducted by the national leadership of the party on the 30th of September and 1st of October, 2018.

group. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So far, we can say that the election has been peaceful and we hope it will be replicated at presidential and National Assembly election tomorrow (today).â&#x20AC;?

For the report, the group assessed the pre-election activities based on the promotion and protection of the civil and political rights of participants; deterring manipulation, fraud and exposing such problems if they occur; and facilitating the correction of errors or weak practices even while the election process is still underway.

For todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s election, the group deployed 250 observers who would keenly watch the elections in 245 wards in Lagos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We urge all participants in tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (today) election to maintain the standard that characterise the pre-election activities,â&#x20AC;? James concluded.

Election: Ballot Papers For Two Senatorial Zones Yet to Arrive Niger LaleyeDipo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;

Less than 24 hours to the presidential and national assembly election some sensitive materials including ballot papers are yet to arrive Niger State.

THISDAY learnt that the ballot papers for the senatorial and House of Representatives election for Niger North and Niger East senatorial zones were yet to be received.

Only the ballot papers for the presidential election and that for Senate and House of Representatives for Niger South senatorial zones were received.

According to findings, the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state had â&#x20AC;&#x153;urgently dispatchedâ&#x20AC;&#x153; officials to Abuja to find out what was responsible and collect the ballot papers.

State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sam Egwu when contacted confirmed the development saying that â&#x20AC;&#x153;everything is being handled,

we have sent people to Abuja to collect the ballot papers.â&#x20AC;?

Professor Egwu however said the sensitive and other non-sensitive materials already received had been dispatched to the relevant constituencies saying that â&#x20AC;&#x153;I assure everybody that the materials will get to the polling stations at the right time.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are ready for the election 85 per cent,â&#x20AC;? Egwu declared.

Reacting to the security situation in some local governments, the Resident Electoral Commissioner said three local governments â&#x20AC;&#x153;Munya, Shiroro, and Rafi â&#x20AC;&#x153;have been identified because of their closeness to Zamfara and Kaduna states saying that special security arrangements had been made.

He pleaded with communities to assist by providing security of their own to ensure a peaceful election.

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The certification,whichcoverssalesand supply of industrial and oilfield chemicals and provision of oilfield engineering solutions; well testing services and early production facilities â&#x20AC;&#x201C;, was conferred on the company recently.

The international standard certification was awarded after the company had demonstrated its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements as well as enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system.

Mr. Chika Ikenga, the Group Managing Director of the company, expressed delight with the certification and promised not to let the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards drop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Customer satisfaction has always been the foundation of Eunisellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brand promise. Now it is mandated and we look forward to continuing to help your business grow through service excellence,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an independent, non-governmentalorganisationthatoversees the drafting of ISO 9001 and many other international standards. ISO, through its 164 memberorganisations,bringstogetherexperts â&#x20AC;&#x153;toshareknowledgeanddevelopvoluntary, consensus-based,marketrelevantInternational Standardsthatsupportinnovationandprovide solutions to global challenges.â&#x20AC;?

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CHANGE OF NAME , formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINNOLA MERCY MOSUN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS HUNNUMOIETT MERCY MOSUN . All former documents remain valid, Central Securities Cleaning Ltd and the general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADIO RASAKI, now wish to be known and addressed as GARBA ABDUL RAZAK ADIO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEOLA FATIMOH IYABODE AYOKU, now wish to be known and addressed as ADESANYA FATIMOH I. AYOKUNLE . All former documents remain valid.The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OWAKA UCHE NANCY, now wish to be known and addressed as OKONJI UCHE NANCY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES This is to notify the public that my name was wrongly written on my Bank Registration as THOMAS ANTHONY AYEMERE instead of UWAGUE ANTHONY AYEMERE . My correct name is UWAGUE ANTHONY AYEMERE. All former documents remains valid,the general public should please take note.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

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MISSILE

Wike to Amaechi “I have no problems with Amaechi’s threat of violence, but can he bring his son to lead the war? I challenge Amaechi, he has a grown up son, who should lead the violence” – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, reacting to alleged threat by Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, to deal with the PDP in the state.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Four Years After, We are Back to Square One

F

ellow Nigerians, how time flies indeed. About four years ago, we went through this very ritual, though the election was shifted by six weeks, for reasons we believed was an excuse to get the ruling government better prepared to consolidate its grip on power. Before long, the six weeks arrived, and there was no hiding place. Even as I write this, many doubting Thomases still believe the APC government is not sincerely ready for today’s Presidential election and that it may still spring a surprise on us. Thus, there have been unconfirmed stories of the elections being postponed for a matter of days because of logistic problems. For my own part, I doubt that the authorities will act in such a cavalier manner, particularly as there are numerous local and international observers and world media around. All eyes are on us.

As you know already, my people are never short of conspiracy theories. These have been fuelled by strange events and activities that are occurring very close to E-Day! For example, there have been reports of sporadic fire outbreaks in a few INEC centres, very strange indeed when one considers the proximity of such fires to the election date. However, I have not seen much coverage explaining the magnitude of the respective conflagrations. We have also read reports of some sample ballot papers being found inside many sacks in Kano. Again, no one has come out to explain what any sane human being could be doing with sample ballot papers. The main thing is that PDP is being treated to mind-games in this high-stakes plot, the end of which no one can predict.

Say what you will, I choose to trust two key people in the whole of this election saga. The first is the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has already attained the peak of his academic career and would not want to taint and end his distinguished life as a fiendish villain despised by all and treated like a maggot. So far, Professor Yakubu and INEC have managed to acquit themselves well in the preparation and run up to these general elections. They may have blotted their copy book particularly with regard to INEC’s role in the Osun State governorship elections but as this is one of the election cases currently trundling through the courts, I will say no more.

It would be the height of foolishness and foolhardiness on his part to lower the bar as set and measured by what his immediate predecessor, Professor Attahiru Jega, achieved with a resounding ovation, barely four years ago. I refuse to imagine that Professor Yakubu would sacrifice his personal reputation and remarkable life, for politicians whose lives have almost expired.

Two. The other important man I choose to trust, almost blindly, although I know little or nothing about him, is the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who recently took over from the querulous, cantankerous and rambunctious Ibrahim Idris who fought more battles against real and imaginary enemies than he tackled the horrendous

Yakubu

security challenges in the land. I have taken time to watch and study Adamu, as meticulously as possible, in the short time since he has been appointed acting I-G. and I’m reasonably convinced that he is educated, intelligent, smart, charismatic and cosmopolitan. I am unsure about some of the decisions he has taken, one relating to the re-deployment of Commissioners of Police in Ogun State. It seems to me that this decision is in good faith and is made because of the disgraceful way in which street urchins and thugs were brought into the arena to hurl stones at the President and other APC leaders during the Presidential rally in Ogun State. This was a remarkable show of shame orchestrated to serve the interest of an opposition candidate and shows the real tragedy that has befallen APC, as the general elections loom. It is inconceivable that the Police would not take steps to ensure that the mayhem that occurred that day is not allowed to repeat itself during the elections. For me, it would be a calamity if it turns out later that I have wasted all these superlative adjectives on another recklessly irresponsible police officer. It is always a pity seeing some overzealous people throw decorum to the winds in order to please a god with feet of clay. Time will tell.

For whatever it means, and because I bear him no grudge, I have said it numerous times, and reiterate, that I personally like President Muhammadu Buhari. His personal attributes particularly his discipline and abstemiousness are worthy of emulation.

He has demonstrated in the past that he is a credible person, although that has been put to question by some of the actions that his government has recently been taking. There is a hint of desperation to cling to power which does not augur well for our country or indeed the President himself. I therefore will wish, and pray, that President Buhari meant every word he uttered in his various promises to the nation that he’ll execute free, fair and credible elections starting from today. I have no reason to doubt him. He is acclaimed as a man of integrity. This is the time for him to prove that he is indeed a man who is passionate about Nigeria and means his word that the country will not

be broken up and Balkanised. God has been very kind to President Buhari and his family. He practically returned from the dead less than two years ago and has somehow managed to steer the ship of State from then till today. Nigerians have not complained too much about the situation they found themselves. Rather, as is typical, they prayed for the restoration of good health to their President and their prayers were answered. Therefore, if Nigerians reject him at the polls, in a free and fair contest today, or whenever it pleases the almighty INEC, he should thank Allah for the uncommon opportunity and grace given to him for the second chance to serve Nigeria as it’s supreme ruler. He should go home in peace, to enjoy quality time with his gorgeous wife, beautiful children and adorable grandchildren. The Presidency is nobody’s personal property or fiefdom. He should take solace in joining the commendable and enviable company of other incumbent Presidents in Africa, like Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, who made no fuss before accepting defeat in good faith, no matter the secret pains.

President Buhari should remember to call his successful opponent, most likely, Atiku Abubakar, and offer his best wishes.

I promise, this gesture will turn out to be an icing on Buhari’s cake for final retirement. His apotheosis would also have been guaranteed instantly.

On the other hand, if Atiku Abubakar, fails in a free and fair contest, he should accept his destiny with equanimity. I can understand that it would be a difficult time for him because it has been a long arduous journey for him to eventually land the presidential candidacy and ticket of a mainstream party. It is natural that he and his supporters will feel very disappointed having worked extremely hard to defeat and unseat President Buhari. Atiku should take solace in the fact that he has fought a good fight. His campaign has proceeded in a decent manner and he has concentrated mainly on the issues and not allowed himself to be dragged into the gutter politics that has sometimes been employed against him by some of his more overenthusiastic and fanatical opponents. Atiku must accept that in every contest, only one person can win. As long as the election is free and fair enough, the over-all interest of the country must be considered. Besides, there are remedies already embedded in the electoral act if there has been any unfairness. Justice may tarry, but it will come eventually, no matter how much people may try to manipulate the system and the judiciary.

My only worry is about President Buhari’s footsoldiers. From their utterances and body language, it is obvious that they are spoiling for war and are only ready to go down fighting. They do not seem to care about the outcome of free and fair elections as long as their candidate does not lose. They have boisterously announced to the world, and the President himself has echoed them, that no one can unseat him. That statement may be considered condescending and outrightly arrogant

and capable of pouring petrol into the raging fire.

This is very sad because only four years ago, we witnessed the public ignominy suffered by Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe who was busy throwing tantrums like a baby while results of the contest between Buhari and President Jonathan were being announced. It was such a show of shame.

Why would the government that came in after that disastrous melodrama repeat the same nonsense? Indeed, on reflection, it seems to me that this Government has in recent times been following the same path to perdition that the PDP and Jonathan followed towards the end of that administration. It is like history repeating itself. There is a surreal element of déjà vu playing out. It is my hope that the same silly season and scenario does not repeat itself come the final collation and announcement of results. Nigeria cannot afford such shame and indignity again.

What is wrong with some of the young folks in APC who behave as if they can’t find other things to do expect government work? And because of their own personal avarice and self-aggrandizement, they are unconcerned about the greater good of the greater number of people and their country.

No one should ever think of setting Nigeria on fire again. Nigeria has been too kind to these people, and they should, please, leave Nigeria in peace and not in pieces.

From where I stand, I can see very clearly that whatever happens, whenever this election is held, now or in the near future, the ruling government is clearly in trouble and the ruling party has virtually collapsed, with almost no hope of redemption in sight.

A house divided against itself that still wishes to stand tall may be mere wishful thinking. APC has abdicated governance and its leadership has started behaving like Emperors and conquerors. The in-fighting is so much that we no longer know who is actually in charge. In all honesty, how can a party that can no longer direct its own affairs, and a President who seems to be clueless about how to maintain party unity, discipline and loyalty, and is apparently not in charge of virtually anything, ask for people’s votes in good conscience? Such a party cannot deliver good governance, much more the change that was promised four years ago. However, it is ultimately the people’s choice as to which road they want to traverse.

From Lagos to Ogun to Adamawa to Imo to Rivers to Zamfara to Kaduna to Delta, it has been one tale of woe or the other. And it all boils down to the refusal of party chieftains to act as true democrats.

What is worse, the party has rubbished some of the key figures that brought it to power, many of who have since returned to where they came from, PDP. The major assets that brought Buhari to power have all collapsed and it mainly liabilities that can be seen all around.

The day of reckoning is here. The People will have their say. The contending gladiators must also ensure that the People must have their way. Their choice must prevail no matter whose ox is gored.

Nobody is bigger than Nigeria.

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