SATURDAY 30TH MARCH 2019

Rilwan Akiolu Remains Oba of Lagos, Court Upholds Enthronement 16-year-old suit seeking to unseat him crumbles Akinwale Akintunde A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday upheld the enthronement of Rilwan Akiolu as the valid and lawful Oba of Lagos.

Justice Adebowale CandideJohnson dismissed the suit filed by two princes of Lagos, seeking to dethrone him as the Oba of Lagos, on the ground that they failed to prove their case against the

traditional ruler.

The two Princes, Adedoyin Adebiyi and Rasheed Modile, who are both of the Akinsemoyin ruling house of Lagos, had dragged Akiolu to court (16 years ago) to

challenge his installation as the Oba. Adebiyi and Modile were candidates chosen by their ruling house to contest the Obaship in 2003 after the demise of Oba Adeyinka

Oyekan, Akiolu’s predecessor on the throne.

However, they lost out to Akiolu whom they alleged had no rightful claim to the throne.

The duo of Adebiyi and

Modile are claiming that Akiolu was not entitled to ascend the throne because he is not a member of a ruling royal family by virtue of not Continued on page 6

Fashola: Presidential Villa to Procure Electricity Directly from Genco… Page 6 Saturday 30 March, 2019 Vol 24. No 8755

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Onnoghen to Open Defence Monday as CCT Dismisses No Case Submission Confessional statement is enough evidence to warrant that he enters his defense Alex Enumah in Abuja The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has dismissed the No Case Submission filed by the suspended Chief Justice of

Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, who is standing trial before the tribunal for alleged non asset declaration.

Onnoghen had yesterday asked CCT to quash the

six-count charge of nondeclaration of assets brought against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria for lacking in merit.

The federal government had

in January 2019, commenced proceedings against Onnoghen over his alleged failure to declare his assets in line with the provisions of the law for public officers.

Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, who dismissed the no case submission yesterday, also ordered the defendant to enter his defense if he has any.

He ruled that there was sufficient grounds to warrant Onnoghen respond to the charges against him, Continued on page 6

My 2nd Term Appointments will Reflect National Spread, Buhari Promises CAN urges president to stop bloodshed in Kaduna, rescue Leah Sharibu, others Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja promised to ensure that all appointments in the second term of his administration are predicated on merit and national spread.

Buhari made this commitment while receiving the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by its President, Revd.

Samson Ayokunle, who had visited him in the State House to congratulate him on his re-election.

The CAN president had enjoined the president to ensure fairness and even distribution of appointments across the country as against appointments dictated by ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Ayokunle also told the President that qualified men

and women who could add value to the country and move it forward were available in all parts of the country.

He noted that it was only by fair appointments that the president could give every part of the country a sense of belonging.

He said: "We solicit for inclusiveness and fairness as you constitute your cabinet and appoint worthy Nigerians to the headship and membership of critical agencies, boards and parastatals.

"Your Excellency, there is no ethnic or religious group in Nigeria where you cannot find highly qualified men and women that you can engage to add value to your administration and help in moving the nation forward.

This is the true and objective way in which you can give Continued on page 6

Atiku: Fintiri's Election, a New Dawn for Adamawa... Page 8

GOOD TO SEE YOU...

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, exchanging pleasantries during the Body of Benchers Awards in Abuja… yesterday

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Fashola: Presidential Villa to Procure Electricity Directly from Genco FG approves concessioning of 5 hydro plants Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Aso Rock Presidential Villa which is the official residence of Nigeria’s presidents has signed up to procure its electricity directly from a power generation company (Genco) instead of through a distribution company (Disco), Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has said.

According to Fashola, in a statement from his office, the villa has opted to sign up to the eligible consumers’ framework of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The eligible consumers’ regulation allows for consumers who use large volumes of electricity to procure their supply directly from a supplier, usually a Genco, with contractual

agreements reached.

The statement which was signed by Fashola’s Senior Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, also explained that the federal government has approved the concession of five small hydro power stations to private operators to run.

It noted that the developments followed the approval of a memo on the subjects by Fashola at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, adding that they were in line with the government’s desire to improve electricity supply and distribution in the country. “Chief among the approvals, received over the last two FEC meetings from memos presented by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde

Fashola SAN, is the Aso Rock Villa, the official residence of the president, which will benefit from the federal government’s eligible customer policy as the council approved a distribution expansion programme to off-take part of the stranded 2,000MW to provide dedicated power to the villa,� said the statement.

It indicated that the power ministry had earlier obtained approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to procure civil works that would facilitate uninterrupted power supply to the presidential villa, and that the project would be completed by Messrs Dextron Engineering Limited within six months.

According to the statement, a power supply plan has been initiated with North-South

Power Company Limited, operators of the Shiroro hydro Genco, to procure the dedicated supply to the villa.

Also approved alongside the villa project, the statement noted, was the final payment for the completion of the Afam 240MW fast power project in Rivers State; the construction of a dedicated solar power system for the ministry of power, works and housing headquarters in Mabushi; as well as the concession of the hydropower dams to facilitate electricity supply to rural and agrarian communities across the country.

It said the approval of the final payment for the completion of the Afam 240MW power plant sequel to a memorandum by the ministry seeking council’s

approval for the award of contract for additional work at the 132kV switchyard for the evacuation of power from the plant.

For the hydro dams, it stated that the approval for their concession was based on the recommendation of the ministry and that of water resources, to allow private sector investors run them and improve power supply by a total of 16.49MW. “The five small and medium hydro power plants to be concessioned include the 6MW Ikere Gorge Dam in Ekiti State to be concessioned to Messrs Power Control and Appliances Limited; the 2MW Omi-Kampe Dam in Kogi State, to be concessioned to Messrs Quaint Power and Infrastructure Nigeria Limited; the 300KW Zobe Dam; 4MW

Jibiya Dam in Katsina State to be concessioned to Messrs PanAfrican Global Infrastructure; and the 3MW Bakolori Dam in Zamfara State to be concessioned also to Messrs Pan-African Global Infrastructure,� added the statement.

The ministry, it further noted, has already concluded negotiations with the concessionaires and letters of notification have been issued to them to facilitate necessary action for early delivery of the project in compliance with regulatory procedures.

As for the solar project at the ministry’s headquarters, it said that 894 offices within the complex would have uninterrupted power supply when completed by Messrs EM-ONE Energy Solution.

CAN admonished the president to allow the National Assembly constitute its own leadership in a bid to promote stability and democracy, saying that will eliminate tension and suspicion.

"Sir, to ensure that this happens is to remove any apprehension and suspicion harbored towards the leadership of this country. We equally solicit that the principle of separation of power as it is enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would be allowed to thrive as an intrinsic aspect of modern day democracy," the CAN president was quoted by the president’s spokesman to have said.

While thanking the president over his efforts to put paid to bloodshed in the country, CAN also tasked him to ensure that security agents live up to their responsibilities, lamenting the unwarranted destruction of lives

in Kaduna in recent times as well as the unprovoked violence by herdsmen.

"Additionally sir, while we are thanking you for all your efforts at putting an end to bloodshed in the nation, we urge you to task the security agents to be more alive to their responsibilities by putting an end to insurgency, ethnic violence, kidnapping and herdsmen’s atrocities prevalent in our nation.

"Today, the Northwest of Nigeria which used to be peaceful is also witnessing violent activities.

The unnecessary killings in Kaduna and the detention of some leaders of Ajara Chiefdom in Kaduna State since January should be addressed without delay to douse all tensions. All efforts today by all of us should be geared towards forgiving one another and reconciling with one another," Ayokunle submitted.

"The evidence of the claimant's witnesses were full of contradictions. From the totality of the evidence before the court, I hereby pronounce His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Akiolu, as the valid legitimate Oba of Lagos.

"The case of the claimants is hereby dismissed", CandideJohnson held.

The judge also noted that it had been 233 to 239-years since a

lineage of Oba Akinsemoyin was able to become Oba of Lagos.

"For 200-years, all the Obas of Lagos trace their lineage to Oba Ado and not Akinsemoyin.

"A burden of the Akinsemoyin descendants has been to succeed the throne of the Oba of Lagos and this suit is reflective of that.

"I hereby hold that the obaship of Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is legitimate, lawful and valid", the judge ruled.

grounds that the trial must be conducted day to day in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA, 2015.

All efforts to plead with the chairman to allow the adjournment so that the defendant can adequately prepare for his defense yielded no result as the chairman refused all entreaties leaving Onnoghen's counsel, shouting “justice, justice.�

At this point, tempers were flayed, as lawyers from both sides engage each other in a shouting bout.

Meanwhile, the suspended CJN has filed a notice of appeal against the ruling of the tribunal on his no case submission.

In a Notice of Appeal, Onnoghen argued that the tribunal erred in law when it dismissed his no case submission

without appreciating the position of the law that due process was not followed in the filing of charges against him.

The appellant claimed that the CCB is bound by the provisions of the Code of Conduct Standard Procedure, 2017 with respect to investigation and report of investigation.

In the notice of Appeal, Onnoghen also said the 1st prosecution witness had told the tribunal that what his team did, does not amount to investigation, adding that investigation had not been concluded as at January 10, when the charges were filed.

Onnoghen therefore prayed the court of Appeal to set aside the decision of the tribunal that he has a case to answer.

He also urged the appellate court to allow the appeal and discharge him from the charges against him.

MY 2ND TERM APPOINTMENTS WILL REFLECT NATIONAL SPREAD, BUHARI PROMISES all in the country, a sense of belonging."

Responding, President Buhari, who pledged to foster peaceful co-existence among Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs, promised to ensure that appointments into political offices are based on merit and national spread to give every part of the country a sense of belonging.

"We will continue to strive for peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs. In the area of allocation of political offices, our focus will be on merit and national spread such that every part of Nigeria will have a sense of belonging," the president said.

Also responding to CAN's demand for the release of Leah Sharibu, who had been in the captivity of Boko Haram since February 19, 2018 over her refusal to renounce

her Christian faith, and the remaining Chibokgirls, Buhari promised to intensify efforts to fight terrorism and rescue those in captivity.

Ayokunle noted that every passing day spent by Leah in captivity inflicts pains on her parents and others who are also parents across the world, lamenting that Leah's life was being wasted in captivity for no known sin but her decision to stick to her faith.

He appealed to the president to deploy powers within his reach to rescue Leah from captivity so that she and others in captivity can freely enjoy their lives.

The CAN President said: "Doing all within you to free Leah Sharibu and according it top priority, shall confer greater credibility on your government and on you as a person. Please and please, Mr. President, let

Leah Sharibu and those in captivity of insurgents be freed to enjoy their lives."

Responding, the president said: "We remain resolute in the fight against terrorism and insurgency, and efforts to bring back all those in captivity and other victims of kidnappings will be intensified."

The president, according to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari at the meeting, commended the important roles played by religious bodies in the last four years of his administration and pledged to continue to support several programmes of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), meant to promote peace, tolerance, unity and harmony in the country.

Adesina also said CAN in its congratulatory message to the president on his re-election, prayed God to grant him

‘‘everything it takes to perform hundred times better than’’ he did in his first term, promising that the Christian body had the success of this administration at heart.

The statement added: "Rev Ayokunle welcomed the President’s pledge to run an inclusive government in a speech shortly after his re-election, noting that the gesture would give all in the country a sense of belonging.

"The leadership of the Christian body in Nigeria also called for ethnic and religious balance in the selection of leadership of the ninth National Assembly. “CAN also appealed to the president to see himself as the father of the nation and demanded for respect for the principle of separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution. “Against this background,

RILWAN AKIOLU REMAINS OBA OF LAGOS, COURT UPHOLDS ENTHRONEMENT being a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.

According to the claimants, only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling households were entitled to the throne.

They also alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when Akiolu was appointed as Oba in May 2003.

The then Lagos State governor,

state Attorney General, Prince Babatunde Akitoye and Chief Junaid Eko, head of the traditional white cap chiefs of Lagos, were joined as respondents in the suit.

Other respondents include Prince Kola Balogun and Mr. Musibau Kelani, who are head and secretary of the Eshilokun royal family, respectively.

In a judgment that lasted about two hours, Justice

Candide-Johnson held that the court lacked the powers to upturn the long established custom of over 200 years for enthroning the Oba of Lagos.

The judge also held that where a statute had given jurisdiction to tribunal to adjudicate on, the High Court shall only assume a supervisory role.

"The claimants alleged that the Solanke Tribunal submitted a report in 1976, which stated that

the Obaship stool is by rotation.

None of the claimants produced a copy of the report in court.

"The claimants failed to provide concrete or credible evidence of the alleged rotation of the two ruling houses.

"The claimants claimed the Akiolu branch of the Ologun Kutere line had gone into extinction. The third defendant (Akiolu) in his evidence was able to trace the lineage of his stool.

ONNOGHEN TO OPEN DEFENCE MONDAY AS CCT DISMISSES NO CASE SUBMISSION contrary to the submission of his lawyers.

The embattled suspended CJN, had through his lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, informed the tribunal that he would be filing a no case submission since the prosecution had not been able to establish a prima facie case against him, after it closed its case after calling only three of the six witnesses listed in the charge.

Awomolo had argued that that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) did not substantially comply with its own law in proffering the charges against the defendant.

According to Awomolo, the CCB did not verify the form filled by Onnoghen as admitted by the 2nd prosecution witness.

He submitted further that the assets declaration form, which Onnoghen is being accused of

not filling properly, was neither verified by the authorised persons nor the department saddled with the responsibilities to so.

Awomolo contended that the defendant did not fill the assets declaration form and that there was no investigation to show that it was done.

He argued: “Prosecution witness 2 said there is a register where all submitted forms are filed and a column to fill, after investigating the form.

The witness said neither the registrar, nor the director, nor department officer, investigated the defendant's form."

Awomolo also submitted that the maker of exhibit one (petitioner) was not brought to the court to testify.

He therefore declared that "the petition amounts to hearsay and should be expunged from record."

He cited section 84 of the Evidence Act, pointing out that for exhibit to succeed, the maker must present them, arguing further that exhibits 4 and 5 were presented by bank officials who were not the maker.

Delivering ruling, Umar however held that the confessional statement of the defendant that he made a mistake by not mentioning his five accounts in Standard Chartered Bank was enough evidence to warrant that he enters his defense.

The CCT boss said he would not allow technicalities to arrive at a conclusion in the trial of Onnoghen.

Umar further held that the defense rather than allowing the defendant to take punishment due to him for his confessional statement was out to prevent the tribunal from doing its job.

He stressed that the tribunal would not shy away from given punishment to anybody no matter his status in society, be it the president.

He held that the exhibits and witnesses called by the prosecution were weighty enough to put the scale in the part of justice. "We call on the defendant to enter his defense to clear his name because it has been dented so much", he said, adding that the no case submission “is discountenance and it is hereby refused.�

He subsequently adjourned till Monday April 1, for Onnoghen to enter his defense.

However, there was drama shortly after Awomolo requested for a short adjournment to enable his client prepare effectively for his defense.

But CCT chairman refused to grant the adjournment on the

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

NEWS

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

PEACE ACROSS FAITH...

President Muhammadu Buhari in a handshake with the Murshid of National Mosque, Prof. Shehu Galadanchi. Others are National Chairman, JIBWIS, Sheikah Abdullahi Bala Lau, FCT Imams Secretary generay, Isashaq Yusuf Zango, Dr. Tajudeen Adigun NASFAT Abuja, Sheikh Imam Ali-YaganJamaam Atu Nasril Islam Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, Secretary General JIBWIS, Sheikh Kabiru Haruna Chairman, Council of Ulamas JIBWIS, Sheikh Yakubu Musa, during a congratulatory visit by the Imams and Senior Islamic Scholars of the Federation and FCT held at. the Council Chambers, State House in Abuja.

Tax Holiday: Appeal Court Orders Retrial of NLNG’s Case against NIMASA Orders gas firm to continue paying maritime levies

Davidson Iriekpen

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday sent the suit instituted by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) challenging the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for collecting levies from it back to the High Court for proper trial as NIMASA did not get fair hearing at the lower court.

The judgement of the Federal High Court in Lagos had exempted NLNG under the NIMASA Act, Cabotage Act, Marine Environment (Sea Protection Levy) Regulations,

and other laws of the federation.

Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, who delivered the judgement, ordered the return of the case to the Federal High Court for fresh trial under a different judge but ordered that status quo be maintained.

By the ruling, the status quo reaffirming NIMASA’s powers to continue to collect the levies remains.

According to lead counsel of NIMASA, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the effect of the ruling is that the Federal High Court is ordered to revert to the fundamental is-

sue of fair hearing while NLNG continues to pay the statutory levies, pending another ruling by the lower court on the matter.

The dispute between NLNG and NIMASA is based on the refusal by NLNG to pay three per cent of the gross freight on all international outbound and inbound cargo carried by ships chartered by NLNG and its wholly-owned subsidiary company as contained in the NIMASA Act 2007; the refusal by NLNG to pay two per cent surcharge on cabotage trade undertaken by its vessels within 200 nautical miles of the

baselines and Nigerian coastal and inland waters as contained in the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003; and the refusal by NLNG to comply with the Marine Environment (Sea Protection Levy) Regulations of 2012 and the Merchant Shipping (Ship Generated Marine Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2012.

NIMASA had in 2010 commenced an action against NLNG, wherein it sought for an interpretation of relevant provisions of the Nigerian LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act,

INEC Blames Inconclusive Elections on Desperation of Politicians

Atiku: Fintiri’s Election, a New Dawn for Adamawa

SerikiAdinoyi Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă?

Adedayo Akinwale Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed increasing phenomenon of inconclusive elections in the country on lack of internal democracy in the parties and the desperation of candidates and their supporters driven by fear of losing everything.

Speaking yesterday on the occasion of issuance of Certificate of Return to Plateau State Governor-elect Simon Bako Lalong and other winners in the just concluded elections, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu added that “inconclusive elections existed prior to the present commission; it is also not surprising when a few big parties are contesting for power at every level. “Additionally, there is need to particularly mention the negative role of violence in our elections.

Democratic elections are rule-based and those parties, candidates, and supporters that resort to self-help by taking the path of violence undermine the virtues of democratic elections

which include choice in absolute freedom and peace.�

Represented by INEC National Commissioner Supervising FCT, Prof. Antonia Okoosi-Simbine, Mahmood lamented that “some parties and candidates engaged in violent behaviour, including manhandling election duty officials and intimidation of voters, collation and Returning officers.�

Meanwhile, Lalong and his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, who thanked the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state and the entire team of diligent officials “for the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections in the state and nation-wide, also appreciated the peaceful and calm disposition the citizens displayed up to the conclusion of the exercise is highly appreciated and commendable.

Lalong said, his victory was by implication, the decision of the electorate. “The electorate have once again reposed greater confidence in us and placed the future of Plateau State in our hands to deliver on our promises.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has described the election of Ahmadu Fintiri as governor of Adamawa State as the dawn of a glorious new era for the state.

Atiku, in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe, congratulated the Governor-elect for his resounding success at the polls in spite of the various antics of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate the wishes of the people in the state.

The former Vice President stressed that he was particularly delighted that the PDP came victorious in the governorship election in his home state, and that the decision of the vast majority of Nigerians to vote for the PDP signified that the party is truly a party of the

people.

Atiku said, “My home state of Adamawa has chosen the Peoples Democratic Party to lead them. I am truly proud of this and let me assure you that you have chosen a leader with the zeal and determination to put Adamawa on the best path. “You have chosen a leader who appreciates Adamawa’s diversity and who will run an inclusive government for the betterment of all,� Atiku said. “Our people have stood with Governor-elect Fintiri in the course of this election with an abiding commitment never to allow the power that be to rob them of their votes. I congratulate you on your election, while I also hail our people for making the right decision to choose you as leader at this point in time.

I am confident that the hope reposed in you is well placed and that your tenure will launch our state to greater heights.�

CAP N87, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, and the NIMASA Act of 2007. In January 2013, the action by NIMASA was withdrawn in a bid to amicably settle the dispute out of court.

Following the continued disregard of the provisions of the NIMASA Act and other relevant laws by the NLNG, in May 2013, NIMASA sought to enforce the provisions of the NIMASA Act and Cabotage Act as empowered under the Act, by demanding payment of the respective three per cent and two per cent charges due from the NLNG, consequent

upon which NLNG vessels were detained for non-compliance.

Upon the intervention of the federal government, through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), an agreement in principle was adopted, with NLNG undertaking to pay up all outstanding levies and comply with the requirements of the NIMASA Act 2007, the Cabotage Act 2003 and other relevant regulations at the time.

NLNG made a payment of $20,000,000 and the blockade was lifted.

Nigeria Needs $40bn to Complete Rail Interconnectivity Kasim Sumaina, Sunday Okobi Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Oluchi Chibuzor

Nigeria needs between $36 billion to $40 billion to complete the train interconnectivity of the country which will link all parts to the system, Transportation Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has said.

Amaechi who stated this yesterday when he assessed the progress of work done on the LagosIbadan rail project by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) lamented that the funding to achieve the connectivity was not there and pleaded with Nigerians for patience. “The directive of the President, Muhammadu Buhari is to the do everything possible to get the connectivity of the entire country and I tell Nigerians that, everybody have to be patient and we need to about 36 to 40 billion dollars to do that interconnectivity. And when we had the money, what did we do with it,� Amaechi said.

On the Lagos-Kano rail project, Amaechi stated that the government

was about going back to the China for negotiations, adding that, the Lagos-Calabar contract had been awarded, but “we are looking for money. “We’ve not even gotten money to complete Lagos-Kano project. And, I tell people, I’m from South-south and I am emotionally attached to that project and it’s unfortunate that, we have not gotten money to start that project awarded under President Goodluck Jonathan.�

He commended the contractor handling the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on the level of work done so far, noting that he was satisfied at the pace.

Amaechi, however, advised the company to ensure that the geological problem was sorted before the coming week in order to address the issue of the underground water, pointing out that, “we are having challenges at Kilometre 102 and they have assured us that by the second week of April, they should have gotten to Kilometre 109.

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

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In Brief FG Commences Nationwide School Census

The federal government has commenced the nationwide Annual School Census (ASC), with a view to generating reliable and timely basic and post basic education data from schools, to assist in proper planning, management and administration of the education sector, for enhanced learning and productivity. Flagging off the Census with the theme ‘Mobile Technology: A Veritable Tool for Enhancing the Generation, Reliable and Timely Education Data’ yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, noted that this year’s data would be generated using an Android tablet, to explore the maximum use of mobile technology. “I call on all stakeholders especially head teachers and principals who are custodians of school records and the main drivers of the process to accurately complete the Annual School Census forms using the mobile technology. I hope we will leverage on the series of trainings on school records keeping for head teachers and principals organised by the federal Ministry of Education and UNICEF in states and FCT in previous years, to gather timely and reliable education data.

We conducted geo-positioning of schools in some states which will help in getting the exact number of schools which will invariably validate the ASC data.

Separate Power, Housing Ministries

ENRICHING KNOWLEDGE...

L-R: CEO of Computer Warehouse Group, Adewale Adeyipo and Globacom’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs. Bella Disu, at the ‘Digital Economy’ session at the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda...recently

Fighter Jets Destroy Boko Haram Forest Logistics Base, Troops Kill Five Terrorists Kingsley Nwezeh Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

In a week of renewed onslaught against terrorists, fighter jets belonging to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) yesterday destroyed logistic equipment belonging to terrorist group, Boko Haram, concealed in forested areas, killed five terrorists while three others surrendered in an operation conducted in the Lake Chad Basin area connecting Nigeria, Chad and Niger Republic.

In a related internal security operation in the Niger Delta, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta and Sector 1 Operation Delta Safe uncovered a massive illegal bunkering site in Ughelli Area of Delta State.

A statement issued by MNJTF on its operations said the intervention force acting on intercepted Boko Haram communication, conducted airstrikes in Madayi, Meri and Tchoukou-Bol and destroyed Boko Haram logistic equipment concealed in thickly forested areas.

Similarly, troops of the MNJTF and national forces operating in Doro Naira and Ngolom environs

made contact with Boko Haram terrorists and at the end of the engagement five terrorists were killed, three captured, while others fled.

It said, “Two out of the three captured terrorists were eventually killed when the vehicle conveying them went over a road side bomb planted by Boko Haram themselves. “MNJTF troops in conjunction with national forces operating in Mallam Fatori - Bosso axis discovered and neutralised three road side bombs planted by Boko Haram terrorists. Also recovered were a gun-truck and assorted ammunition abandoned by fleeing Boko Haram fighters. “Tired of waiting for the unrealised Boko Haram Caliphate, three Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to troops of MNJTF Sector 1 in Balgaram, Cameroon.�

In a related development, Defence Headquarters, said troops repelled insurgent advance on Mitchika Town in Adamawa State and forcing them to flee after a fierce combat. “Some of the successes recorded

Committee on Prerogative of Mercy Frees 65 Inmates in Delta Omon-Julius Onabu Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹

A total of 65 prisoners from the Delta State Command of the Nigerian Prisons Service have regained their freedom courtesy of visit to prisons across the state by the Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion.

The Committee led by Hon. Justice I.U. Bello, the Chief Judge of FCT and including Deputy Comptroller-General of Prisons, Mr. Abubakar Garuba (DCG, OPS, CD) and other members, secured the release of the lucky prisoners upon review of cases involving the beneficiaries.

The committee while reviewing the cases of the inmates decided to secure the release of some of

them on condition of ill health, old age and payment of prescribed fines, noting that it was a way to decongest the prisons in the state.

The breakdown of the number of inmates released from the different prisons across the state shows that 14 persons were from Warri Prison, 15 persons from Sapele Prison, eight inmates from Kwale Prison, 10 inmates were in Ogwashi-Uku Prison and 118 inmates were from Agbor Prison.

The Comptroller of Prisons in the state, Mr. Sam I. Iyakoregha expressed appreciation to the federal prisons reform committee and the Delta State Government for the humane gesture, saying it would go a long way in decongesting the prisons in the state.

include, the repel of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack on Michika Town in Michika Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State. The insurgents who were on a looting mission for logistics had attacked a bank and some shops in the area, damaging an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and carting away food items. “However, the insurgents ran out of luck when troops of 143 Battalion and 115 Task Force Brigade at neighbouring Lassa in Borno State mobilised to the area and engaged the insurgents in a fierce combat forcing the insurgents to flee. “The fleeing insurgents were

again ambushed and neutralised by Special Forces troops at Maikadiri Village in Askira Uba LGA of Borno State. The gallant troops recovered one Hilux van, two Toyota Starlet cars loaded with looted food stuff and motorcycles from the fleeing insurgents, a statement signed by Defence Spokesman, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, said.

In the Niger Delta, troops of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA and Sector 1 Operation Delta Safe, while on patrol at Iwhrekreka community in Ugheli LGA of Delta State uncovered and destroyed an illegal refining camp with 18 ovens, 18 coolers and 39 waste pits.

Ugwuanyi Donates N10m to Family of Slain LG Scribe Pledges N5m reward for information on killed nurse

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has donated N10 million to the family of the Secretary to Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Dr. Nnamdi Peter Ogueche, to assist the family to cushion the effect of his demise.

He also pledged a N5 million reward for information that would lead to the unraveling of those behind the murder of Mrs. Maria Amadi, a psychiatric nurse in the state.

Ogueche was allegedly ambushed and killed while returning from a peace meeting between the natives and herdsmen.

Chairman, Uzo-Uwani LGA, Mr. Fidelis Ani, had while thanking the governor for his gesture, announced that the deceased would be buried on April 5 in Adaba.

Ugwuanyi who expressed commitment to apprehending those behind the assassination of Amadi, the Head of Nursing Services at the Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, assured that any person or persons with information on the perpetrators would be given

the N5 million without delay.

He made the offer when members of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Enugu State Chapter, accompanied

by Joint Health Sector Union and Association of Resident Doctors, visited him at the Government House, Enugu, to seek his intervention towards the unraveling of the assassins.

The governor who assured that the money would be made available immediately to the state Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Balarabe, stressed that it would go a long way in ensuring that those who perpetrated the dastardly act were apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.

Ugwuanyi condemned the unfortunate incident and promised “to get to the root of this crime�. He also commiserated with the families of the deceased and her colleagues, saying: “I am sincerely saddened by the gruesome murder of your colleague. I share in your grief.

It is a solemn moment for all right-thinking persons.�

An expert in the Housing Sector, and the Convener of the Abuja International Housing Show, Mr. Festus Adebayo, has lamented that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to merge the Ministry of Housing with that of Power and Works has stifled growth in the sector, while also contributing to housing deficit in the country. He called on the president to as a matter of urgency separate the Ministry of Housing from that of Power and Works so that there would be high level of concentration in the sector, as the federal government plans to deliver affordable houses to low income earnest. Adebayo made the call Friday in Abuja while addressing select journalists, where he also urged Buhari to use the housing sector to drive the economy, as he commences his second term in office. He stated: “President Muhammadu Buhari must as a matter of urgency separate the Ministry of Housing and Development from the Ministries of Power and Works. It is like the merging is not working because the power situation is not improving.

Dickson Vows Justice for Slain Photographer

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, on Friday visited the family of the late Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, who was allegedly killed by soldiers during the February 23, 2019 election at Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Dickson who visited the family alongside other top officials of the government again, called on the Nigerian Army to fish out the soldiers, who killed Dei and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seidougha Taribi.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that Dickson maintained that the duo were killed without any provocation. He assured the family that the state government would do everything within its reach to ensure that those who murdered them were brought to justice. “The federal government under the APC leadership of President Buhari has turned this state to a theatre of war in every election season.

Bauchi Govt Releases N510m for Boreholes

The Bauchi State Government in collaboration with the Department for International Development DFID of the United Kingdom and UNICEF under the Sanitation, Hygiene and Water, project SHAWN, has released the sum of N510 million as counterpart funding for the construction of 470 hand pump boreholes and solar schemes in 12 local government areas of the state in the year 2018. The UNICEF Chief of Field office, Bauchi, Mr. Bhanu Pathak disclosed this yesterday during the commemoration of the 2019 World Water Day, organised by the Bauchi State Rural Water Sanitation and Supply Agency, RUWASSA with theme ‘Leaving no one behind’, held at the Hazibal Suites Event centre in Bauchi. Represented by Mr. David Demian, the Chief of field office said that globally, 2.1 billon people live without safe water, adding that one in four primary schools have no drinking water service with pupils using unprotected sourced with around 159 million people collecting drinking water from surface water, the poorest and most disadvantaged children suffer the most.

Clergyman Partners Eagles Satellite TV

An American-based Satellite Television Station, Eagles TV, in conjunction with More Grace TV is set to beam to its programmes to viewers across 70 countries of the world , including Nigeria. This was disclosed Thursday, by the Co-Chairman of the Station and General Overseer, Divine Grace of Glory Ministry, Apostle Peter Obaseki, at a press briefing in Benin City, capital of Edo State. Obaseki who is also the Chairman of More Grace TV, stressed that the overriding interest was to bring to global notice, through the station that is popular in Europe, America and Sub-Sahara Africa, news and programmes of about Nigeria. He noted that programmes to be broadcast on Eagles TV include, Pre-Recorded as well as live programmes, noting that other programmes apart from religion would be broadcast on the station.�

Kidnappers who Rejected Woman’s N9,000 Ransom Apprehended

Three men suspected to be kidnappers have rejected N9,000 ransom offered them by a poor woman in Okpoko, Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State to secure the release of her husband, Mr. Chikodili. They have however been apprehended and the victim released. THISDAY gathered from a source who claims to be in the know that the kidnappers broke into the residence of the couple at No. 65 Nwokedi street, and took Chikodili. The source said Chikodili’s wife, whose name was not immediately ascertained pleaded for his release, saying she was willing to offer the sum of N9,000 for his release, but was turned down by the kidnappers. “They rejected the money and took her husband away, leaving her crying,� the source said. Luck however ran out on the gang as they took Chikodili to a forest, in the hope of keeping him longer and pressing on the family to pay a higher ransom when they were rounded up by members of the community’s vigilante.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 30, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY

Stefflon Don

Burna Boy

Burna Boy, Stefflon Don Waxing Stronger Ferdinand Ekechukwu writes that Nigerian music star Burna Boy and his British-Jamaican lover Stefflon Don have remained a trending topic with moments and gestures of both singers appearing healthy

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eeks after making their romance public to the delight of their fans, artiste Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy, and his girlfriend, British-Jamaican rapper Stefflon Don have remained a trending topic.

In a recent interview on the ‘Beats1’ show on Hot 97 FM in the United States of America, the Nigerian music star said this about his love interest when asked by the show host to clarify their relationship status. “On a more serious note, that’s my wifey.

If you wanted a wifey, she’s like the most perfect person with that perfect description. Unfortunately, she’s mine now...”

The Afro-fusion singer and songwriter had earlier taken to his Instagram stories to call her ‘wifey’ while commending her on becoming the 3rd best-selling female rapper in 2019. Sharing a post of the current selling female rappers with his sweetheart listed among Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, he wrote: ‘Wifey not playing with no one out here. Going #1 This year. Proud AF.’ Stefflon Don (real name Stephanie Victoria Allen) was ranked third with a million records sales.

She appeared behind Nicki Minaj

and Cardi B who are in the second and first positions with five and eight million records respectively. Stefflon and Burna confirmed their romance with a steamy kiss in new footage that recently surfaced online. In February, the British-Jamaica singer and songwriter, Stefflon had addressed her relationship status with the Nigerian artiste after a video of them appeared on the internet. “Relax guys he ain’t hit yet, but that’s bae,” she wrote.

The nine seconds video of them getting cozy was posted by the Nigerian dancehall artiste who has become a UK favourite. In the footage, Stefflon who was featured in a remix of Mariah Carey’s ‘A No No’ released March 15, 2019, was seen lying on his body sleeping while he filmed the video. After the video surfaced online, a music critic on Twitter throwback when Stefflon Don revealed she was in love and dating a Nigerian but didn’t mention names then.

Events following their romance have shown healthy moments and gestures of both lovers appearing healthy. There’s been a valentine exchange of gifts which appears Burna’s first experience of such and then the British rapper describing herself as a ‘lover girl’ that soaks in tears when she leaves him after a stay. According

to her tweets; “Nothing about him is small…I actually cried when I had to leave him….like who does that?!

Me….”

Though it’s been argued that with Stefflon Don, Burna Boy, 27, seems to be revealing a vulnerability that has been surprising. On the other hand however, a few had expressed reservation about how mushy Stefflon has gotten over time with the romance due to her tough girl persona that she has often displayed in the past.

Though, sometime in November last year, it was reported that American singer Drake hit up Stefflon Don on Instagram live and asked her out on a date. The British rapper was reported to have said yes and days later they were both spotted out together.

Well known for her single, “Hurtin’ Me”, featuring French Montana, which peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart, Stefflon in 2016 released her debut mix tape Real Ting, followed by another mix tape, Secure, in 2018. The 27-year-old won Best Female at the 2017 Mobo Awards and narrowly lost out to Jorja Smith in the 2018 Brits Critics’ Choice category. Don put herself on the UK music map with a series of remixes and cameos, rising to fame in 2015 with her take on Lady Leshurr’s #LUKATAR and a gender-flipped

version of Section Boyz’s Lock Arff.

Real Ting shares a name with her debut mix tape, which dropped a month later after a year of steadily increasing hype around the then blue-haired artiste. Real Ting went to number four on the iTunes hip-hop chart after being streamed over three million times in the first month of its release. True to her word, the mix tape sees Allen switching between sensual abashment (Tight Nooki), fierce rap (16 Shots) and smooth RnB (Gangsta), including Jeremih, Donae’o and Abra Cadabra as featured guests.

For the former Aristocrat Record artiste, Burna Boy who had a careerdefining run in 2018 has made the UK music chart with ‘Location,’ a piece off the debut album of Dave, UK based Nigerian rapper, titled ‘Psychodrama’ – which entered as number one in last week’s official albums chart. On the Jae5 produced track, Burna Boy and Dave can be heard bragging about their success and the attention they get from ladies, seeking the location of their latest interest.

The afro-fusion singer continues with his fire streak after kick-starting 2019 with two tracks – ‘Dangote’ and the Zlatan-assisted ‘Killin Dem’ – which are dominating the Nigerian airwaves. Burna is gearing up for his “African Giant” tour and it has an

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 30, 2019

11

SUPERSATURDAY Burna Boy, Stefflon Don Waxing Stronger

exciting lineup. A couple of months ago, it was announced that Burna Boy will be performing at Coachella 2019 and the music star called out the organizers for putting his name in small print.

The ‘Ye’ crooner rose to prominence in 2012 after releasing the lead single “Like to Party” from his debut studio album, L.I.F.E in 2013. Currently, Burna Boy is considered one of the biggest artistes from Africa with impressive streaming numbers

across Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Youtube, making him one of the most bankable music superstars of his generation. He rightly stated that he’s an “African Giant”, hence, the name of his 2019 tour. As part of the tour, in addition to performing at Coachella, Burna Boy would be headlining a concert at the historic Apollo Theatre in New York.

The event is set to hold on the 5th of April.

Apollo Theatre, which was opened in 1914 and

rebranded in 1934, is a noted venue for AfricanAmerican performers. With this, Burna Boy joins an impressive list of artistes that have performed at the theatre, including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, The Pips, The Jacksons, Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, D’Angelo and Prince.

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ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

THE THREAT TO GOV ISHAKU’S LIFE

The security agencies must take the threat to peace inTaraba seriously, writes Abbas Alhassan Buba

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he 2019 gubernatorial election in Taraba State has come and gone. Thank God the worst did not happen as the doomsday sayers had wished for the state. They had wished that the elections should not hold but should rather be disrupted through crisis that would provide enough reason and an opportunity for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be announced as winner. That opportunity did not materialize, thanks to Governor Darius Ishaku for demonstrating uncommon commitment to peace and for ensuring that those out to foment trouble and cause confusion did not have that opportunity.

The election took place and we now have a winner.

Sadly, however, the losers have been unable to manage their loss. The bitterness of the defeat has not only lingered in the APC, it has become very intoxicating and has given birth to some evil plots being hatched against Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, the winner.

A few days after the results of the election were announced, a certain young man known as Abdullahi Aliyu stormed the social media platform with the threat of a plot to assassinate Governor Ishaku. The threat is currently a source of anxiety and worry everywhere in the state and beyond.

Aliyu went a step further in his social media posting by congratulating Governor Ishaku’s deputy, Engineer Haruna Manu, in advance, and urging him to prepare himself to become the next Governor of Taraba State soon after Governor Ishaku would have been eliminated. The arrest and interrogation of Aliyu have since provided enough reason why the threat to Ishaku’s life as expressed by the suspect should not be ignored. It is obvious that he was speaking for some political godfathers in the APC still nursing the wounds of defeat.

Some details of the plot already in the public domain are indeed very frightening. Aliyu said Ishaku would be killed by the bullet. But there are also indications from additional findings in security quarters that an organized plane crash, a bomb attack or poison could also be employed to achieve this evil motive. And the only reason for this evil plan against Ishaku is that he, and not the candidate of the APC, won the gubernatorial election.

The 2019 gubernatorial election is rated as one of the best in the entire political history of the state. Despite all the threats to peace by the APC leadership in the state before the election, the exercise was generally peaceful and was adjudged credible. Violent clashes were rare on election day, and so voting took place in virtually all the polling centres in the state.

Everything went on well until a winner was announced and his supporters came onto the streets of Jalingo, the state capital, to celebrate the victory. At this

IT IS WORRISOME THAT THE LIFE OF A SITTING GOVERNOR CAN BE SO BRAZENLY THREATENED FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN THAT HE WON THE ELECTION AND THE OTHER PERSON LOST

point, thugs already armed by the APC descended on them, killing about seven and wounding more than 40 persons in two days of mayhem. It took the intervention of the governor for order to be restored. The most unfortunate aspect of the crisis was the religious dimension it assumed. The attacks were selective, nonMuslims, particularly Christians were the real victims.

They were the ones who got killed or got wounded.

This trend is unhealthy for peaceful co-existence in our beloved state.

As an indigene of Taraba State, I’m deeply concerned that killing for political reasons is now being actively promoted by some politicians in the state. It is even more worrisome that the life of a sitting governor can be so brazenly threatened for no reason other than that he won the election and the other person lost.

The threat to Governor Ishaku’s life must not be taken lightly. It is surprising that the security agencies in the state and at the federal level have not made any public statement about it even after the man behind the social media threats was arrested. They should not wait until the worst has happened before acting. Nobody knows the time-table of the evil plotters. That is the reason security agencies must be swift and decisive in their handling of this threat to the life of Taraba’s number one citizen.

Let me also suggest with all the emphasis desirable that the Police High Command must show enough interest, courage and professionalism in unraveling this very disturbing security threat. The Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, should invite critical members of the APC for interrogation. It is dangerous to ignore the threat, particularly when a suspect believed to be a supporter of the party is already under arrest. The police must make efforts to determine the extent of the plot to assassinate Governor Ishaku, those behind the plot and take extra security steps to protect the governor and his family.

For the peace-loving people of Taraba State, the times call for vigilance. We have not done any wrong by expressing our preference for Ishaku by voting massively for him instead of any of the other candidates in the election. It is our constitutional right to do so. Even one of the contestants in that election, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, has attested to the fact that the elections were free, fair and credible and has congratulated the winner.

What then is the basis for animosity, hate and threat to assassinate the winner?

We have a joint responsibility to defend and protect our governor. We must become far more alert than ever and to report the plots of the enemies of our governor and our dear state to security agencies promptly.

Buba wrote from Jalingo, Taraba State

ALWAYS VERY COOL AND CALM John Odah pays tribute to his friend and colleague, Seun Salako, at age 60

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ack then, 40 years ago, in 1979 as young and impressionable new undergraduates, one thing that stood us out was our hunger for knowledge. Compared to many of the ďŹ rst generation universities, our university had many challenges, including the one that persisted and was a constant source of worry: ours was a “university on the wheelsâ€?.

With hostels scattered around Jos town, and the temporary (now permanent) site located on Bauchi Road, and the permanent site where the students village and Naraguta hostels were located, further down on Jos and Bauchi roads respectively, coordinating logistics to attend lectures, go to the cafeteria and hostels were a constant hustle.

Partly as a result of the very favourable temperate weather condition in Jos, UniJos then attracted some of the best lecturers from around the world. In our Sociology class of 1979-1983, we had lecturers from the UK, Germany, Poland, India, Ghana, Sierra Leone, to cite a few, and some of the best Nigerian sociologists, anthropologists and criminologists trained from Ivy League universities in America, Britain and other parts of the world.

The situation was hardly different in other departments and faculties of our UniJos. This was why in the ’80s, ’90s and even later on, its products excel in virtually all areas of human endeavour – from the arts to the sciences, nationally and internationally.

This was the setting in which we spent a very productive and fruitful four years together with Seun Salako, being moulded to play our role in the national development of our country. We left UniJos at the end of our course as eager young Nigerians ready to put what we had learnt into practice. Our teachers, the Onoges, Alemikas, Adelakuns, etc., ensued that we didn’t think anything of our ethnicity or religious backgrounds. We were Nigerians in the purest sense of the word!

With Seun, our paths crossed early.

Apart from being in the same class, we became ideological soulmates, and our world view on a range of issues agreed substantially. Based on the above, we collaborated to transform our Sociological Students Association, and made it a radical association that was organizing radical lectures and radical programmes that was distinct in the Faculty of Social Sciences, and indeed the entire university. Seun and I, mid-way in our stay, served the association as Vice President and President respectively.

As progressive sociology students, our class of ’83 provided three members of the student union executive council in the 1981/82 session, under the radical Musa Yelwa presidency of the students union.

Seun was Public Relations Officer (PRO), Festus Osayi (who later went on to read Law, after our graduation), was Treasurer and my humble self was Welfare Secretary.

Without being immodest, we were at the heart of the profound changes that were brought to the student union leadership during that era. This included abolishing some of the privileges that students’ union executives used to enjoy.

Of course, we were thorns in the flesh of the university leadership led by Prof.

Emmanuel Emovon and late George Korgba, Vice Chancellor and Registrar respectively. The students’ union leadership then insisted on improvement to the living and learning conditions of the students, against the background of some of the challenges peculiar to the university earlier highlighted at the beginning of this tribute. Mrs Emovon, a princess of the Benin Kingdom, who taught us Nigerian Ethnic Relations course in our 3rd year, which also coincided with the year three of us were in the students union exco, had several work out of our class, as a result of our taking her up on issues pertaining to our engagement of her husband as Vice Chancellor, which she would bring up in our lectures.

I also recall the disappointment of the Registrar, who had singled out Seun to try to get him to talk us out of a boycott of classes, we had ordered as a result of welfare conditions on the campus. Because Seun was usually very cool and calm, the registrar felt that he could work through him to weaken the leadership. He told Seun, that most of the Executives from

the catchment areas of the university were not necessarily interested in studies, but to foment trouble, but persons like him from the South, who came to the university primarily to study, could work with the university to bring about sanity in the radicalism of the leadership of the students union. When he met a brick wall in Seun, he muttered: “you are just like them�, and chased Seun out of his office!

At the more personal level, during holidays, myself and the ‘Lagos Boy’ used to travel to my community in Edumoga in the heartland of Idoma, where we relished original pounded yam prepared by my peasant Mum. After National Service in 1984, Seun joined the teaching service of Lagos State Government. In 25 years of service as a teacher, Seun’s legacies in the three secondary schools he taught are the scores of young graduates that passed through him, who are now men and women in their own right, many of them PhD holders, making waves in their respective fields.

The ‘can-do’ spirit and the progressive thought he had inculcated in his teachings and bringing up of these youthful Nigerians are part of the lasting legacies of our Seun.

Happy Diamond Jubilee Seun Odah, former General Secretary of NLC, is currently Executive Secretary, Organization of Trade Unions of West Africa

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ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Happy Birthday, Sir...

Addressing the Poor Reading Culture in Nigeria

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igeria has been rated by the World Culture Score Index as one of the countries in the world with the lowest reading culture.

Available statistics from National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education show that 38 per cent of Nigerians are non-literate as four in 10 primary school children cannot read for comprehension. Regrettably, this adverse development is an ominous challenge the country seems not to be paying the needed attention.

There is generally a poor reading culture in the country. The rich literacy history the country is famous for is gradually been eroded.

Once upon a time, the country paraded the best set of authors and publishers in Africa. Then, reading was an innate affection for both young and old. This reading inclination reflected so much on the quality of leadership and civil discipline that brought pride to Nigerians anywhere in the world.

The downturn in reading and book readership actually has a global dimension, especially given the onslaught of the digital revolution.

Globally, the influence of new technology has altered the disposition to reading. Before now, schools engage and participate in reading activities to enhance the thinking and creative ability of students. But lack of availability of suitable reading materials, absence of well-designed reading activities, insufficient trained staff to prosecute reading culture in schools and ineffective monitoring and evaluation of readership promotion programmes are constant challenges currently affecting readership development.

In Nigeria, reading culture has suffered from widespread poverty, corruption, ineptitude and a dearth of dedicated quiet reading spaces like libraries. The decline in the standard of education has seriously affected reading ability. And it becomes harder when you have to deal with the many distractions and challenges that come with being an adult and living in a country like Nigeria. Perhaps, our socio-economic environment is not reader friendly. The daily struggle for economic survival provides little or no time for people to cultivate a good reading habit. Equally, high cost of books, particularly imported ones, has contributed to low readership promotion in the country.

Studies have shown that there is an almost symbiotic relationship between reading and intelligence. The analytical skills that provide the ability to understand issues and solve problems are the product of intensive reading. Reading regularly is a way to mental health which enhances emotional intelligence, helps with self-awareness, empathy, social skills and managing relationships more effectively. Reading also provides a therapeutic effect and inner tranquility, while also slowing mental decline. Thus, the relationship between reading, knowledge acquisition, intelligence and personal empowerment is crucial for economic and societal development. A critical mode of thinking and human development is lost in the absence of reading.

It is, however, cheering that certain individuals and organizations are making concerted efforts to revive reading culture in the country. The Lagos State

government, for instance, has been making huge attempts to revitalize reading culture, especially among the younger ones. The state government made the annual World Literacy Day one of the most celebrated in the state’s official calendar. Also, through the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) the state government has established libraries in almost all the state owned parks, availing users the immense opportunity to read while having fun. To further improve reading culture and empower children through books, government introduced a reading club in its parks where students meet with Nigerian authors on a regular basis to read to them and improve their reading skills.

It must be emphasized that the interest expressed by private institutions in trying to keep reading and literacy alive is commendable. Over the last decade, a number of literary prizes have helped in supporting Nigeria’s literary circles. The 9Mobile Prize for Literature, backed by the telecommunication company, the Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by the NLNG Gas Company and the Miles Morland Grant, which supports authors working on a novel for a year are among some of the clear-cut interventions aimed at improving reading culture in the country.

In February 2018, GTBank announced the launch of “The Dusty Manuscript�, a contest for Nigerian crime and romance fiction writers with finished but unpublished novels. The top three authors from the contest were rewarded with a publishing contract with Kachifo, one of the country’s renowned publishing houses.

Kehinde Akinfenwa, Lagos State Ministry of Information &Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

Birthday Wish for Tinubu at 67

“

What is the real beneďŹ t of Tinubu’s overlordship in the southwest? In my state, the government has been owing workers. And there is no real development beyond manufactured statistics. Even Lagos that is often cited as the state where things are happening is the worst city to live in the world, according to an Economist Intelligence Unit report. His wife wants to be the deputy senate president; his daughter is the Iyaloja of Lagos and his son is a consultant for the state. You see, it is all personal agenda for Tinubu, but Awo pursued the Yoruba agenda.â€?

A friend, a renowned scholar from Osun, analysed the incongruencies of the Tinubu phenomenon to me in those words.

Perhaps, putting Tinubu and Awolowo ( Asiwaju awon Yoruba) in the same petridish for analysis is an overreaching attempt at painting a picture in the clouds. But for every season, there is a man, who must push further the frontiers of legacies left by the heroes past.

Tinubu is a remarkable man. I reckon he was the first governor to run a citizen government. He was open, reachable and without the excess appurtenances of office; a quality which endeared him to the masses of Lagos. His achievements in the state despite the “Obasanjo blockage� will outlive him, and are even now the stuff of legend.

Over the years, he has fought and won many political battles, earning the deserving title of “Yoruba leader.� But as my dear friend from Osun puts it, “what is the real benefit Tinubu’s overlordship in the southwest?� Well, I have one answer to this question. He has succeeded in bringing the Yoruba to the centre of Nigerian politics again. Beyond this, I think there is no other benefit in terms of development, policy direction or infrastructure development in the region.

It is common knowledge that Awolowo introduced free primary education and free healthcare for all children in the western region, and increased the earnings from agriculture by boosting cocoa production. He also pursued the T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R Yoruba agenda with an ideology or philosophy – EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE (liberal democratic socialism) - which some of his DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU followers carried on after him.

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE The times and circumstances may be different, CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI but a man’s true wealth is not only measured by EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN how much he has acquired, but also by how much MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE his people benefit from such acquisitions. Today, how many people have access to free healthcare and quality education in the southwest which used to be a shining example to other parts of the country? And the region has even dropped from T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D first to third in WAEC performance rating.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA I think, Tinubu should have applied much of his GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, influence in deepening the ethos of Awo. He ought ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE to have continued on the path of that great legacy.

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI He can still do so though.

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH Well, I do not intend to be a wet blanket; Tinubu ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO happens to be the man for this season, but can he CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI be the man for all seasons?

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO Happy birthday, Asiwaju.

TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com Fredrick Nwabufo fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

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INEC Denies Fake CertiďŹ cate of Returns in Rivers Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that anyone found in possession of fake certificate of return in Rivers State would be investigated and made to face the wrath of the law.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State had alleged plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Governor Nyesom Wike, winners of the March 9 governorship election in the state by issuing them already prepared certificates of returns.

Making the revelation Friday, the Director of Strategic Communications for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Tonye Cole, Prince Tonye Princewill, alleged that there were unsigned certificates of returns dated March 14 with the name of INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in possession of some elements in the state.

But describing the certifi-

cates as fake, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the development should be investigated and culprits appropriately sanctioned. “Where did they get it from?

They should ask them where they got those certificates from.

We didn’t issue certificate to anybody. I saw some funny certificates that were not signed.

If the INEC chairman is going to issue certificate of return he would sign it. So, those ones that were not signed where did they get it from? “We even need to investigate them. Those that did that are criminals. They must have gone to forge those certificates, because a good artist can sit down and put that together.

Every certificate of return must be signed by the chairman of INEC, so anybody that has that is a criminal! You can quote me on that,� Oyekanmi said.

According to Princewill, who suspected foul play between some INEC officials in Rivers State and the ruling PDP, the APC grouse is that “Though the electoral umpire had sus-

JUSTIFYING THE FIGURES...

L-R: DG, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, Dr. Femi Adepoju; Minister of Enviroment, Suleiman Hassan Zarma and Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, when they appeared before the Senate Committee on Enviroment for the 2019 Budget defence for the ministry held in Abuja. ..recently JULIUS ATOI

pended the Rivers’ elections via a statement on March 10, 2019, some of the certificates

10 Bag First Class Degrees As Veritas Varsity Graduates 109 Students Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Ten students have been awarded first class degrees from various disciplines even as 109 graduate from Veritas University, a faith-based university owned by the Catholic Church under the Nigerian Bishops and Catholic conference.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Rev. Fr. Prof. Hyacinth Ichoko who disclosed this at the school’s premises in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, during the seventh pre-convocation press conference, said amongst those graduating are 32 post graduate students, and 46 undergraduates who have been awarded with second class upper degrees.

He said the school which has over 150 academic staff and had fulfilled, as well as submitted all the demands of the National Universities Commission in preparation to commence new courses, had 13

more programmes to introduce, beginning with Law, billed to begin by September, 2019. Other programmes are Theology and Basic Health Sciences among others.

While revealing that the 2019 convocation theme lecture is ‘Softening the skills of university graduates for competitiveness and excellence’, and which will be delivered by the Arch Bishop of Benin, and President, Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubeze, said the school which sits on a 200 hectares of land, presently had over 2000 students an still expanding.

Eulogising the cardinal principles of the institution which he said was beyond achieving qualification but includes the moulding of character and personality, the vice chancellor disclosed that N500,000 tuition per session had been subsidised by N1.2 million per student by the Bishops conference in order to make the

institution accessible to all.

He said, �109 undergraduate students are graduating and 10 have first class degrees while 46 have second class upper degrees. We also have 32 post graduate students. “The school is developing new faculties and colleges as well as programmes that will start by next session. Law as a programme is set to be established next session as one of the new courses. Several brains have already been contacted to assist in the formation of the programme. “We started also going to start in Computer Sciences too, so that our students are not left behind.

Another is Theatre and Field Arts as a lot of young people are interested in that field. Others are Computer Engineering and Electronic Engineering. Faculty of Medicine will also be established and we have a group of professors helping us and there are international groups as well.�

S’South, S’East Get First Functional Cardiovascular Lab in Bayelsa EmmanuelAddehinYenagoa

Respite may have come the way of patients suffering from heart-related ailments as the entire South-south and South-east geopolitical zones now have their first functional Cardiovascular Laboratory at the Bayelsa Specialist Hospital (BSH), in Yenagoa.

A card lab is a specially equipped hospital room where doctors perform minimally invasive tests and procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases, involving the use of tiny, flexible tubes which can be used instead of invasive surgery, to access the heart and blood vessels.

The medical equipment helps the care team to diagnose and treat blockages and other problems in the arteries, including reversal of strokes.

Renown Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Dafe Emmanuel, in an interview

at the specialist hospital yesterday, said since the inauguration of the hospital, which was built by the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, the lab now serves the 11 states that make up the South-south and South-east.

Dafe, who heads the cardiovascular unit of the hospital, however, said patients from other parts of the country also patronise the medical facility for various cardiovascular procedures.

He said: “In the Bayelsa Specialist Hospital we have a functional cardiovascular laboratory that serves the whole of South-south and the South-east. This is the only functioning card lab in these 11 states. “Other card labs working in Nigeria are three in Lagos and one in Abuja. The one in Abuja serves the whole of the North and it is privately driven. In Enugu the federal government tried to establish

one but it never worked. “There are only about four functional card labs in Nigeria.

This is how terrible it is. People die every day,� he said.

He said over 100 patients from outside the state patronised the hospital for cardiovascular procedures in the past one year, adding that they came from Abuja, Katsina, Zaria, Calabar, Benin, Owerri, Enugu, Port Harcourt among others. “We have had more than 100 patients since we the card lab became operational hat come from outside to get cardiovascular help here,� he said.

Dr. Dafe said the laboratory was equipped to manage all cardiovascular cases such as coronary setting, right and left heart cathetisation , geoplasting, peripheral balloons among others.

bear dates later than the April 15 date INEC said collated results would be declared. In

its latest press statement on the election saga in Rivers State, INEC gave April 19

as the date that certificates of return will be issued to winners.�

Appeal Court Refuses Omo-Agege’s Joinder Application Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Benin, Edo State yesterday dismissed an application for joinder filed by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central senatorial district for the Delta APC annulment judgment for lack of merit.

The Appeal Court also struck out application for joinder by the lawmaker-elect for Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency, Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive.

The appellants had approached the court for leave of the court to be joined as parties to the suit in which the Federal High Court, sitting in Asaba sacked the Jones Erue-led APC state executive committee which conducted primaries where both of them emerged as candidates of the party for the 2019 National Assembly election.

The learned Justices, in a unanimously decision, ruled that both applications filed by OmoAgege and Waive lacked merit and subsequently dismissed the case with a fine of N300, 000 against the appellants (Omo-Agege and Waive).

The Appeal Court gave reason for refusal of the applications saying the plaintiffs cannot claimed to be unaware of the case hence they cannot seek to be joined or challenged the judgement, at this moment.

It was learnt that only Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) that are parties to the case can bring an application to appeal the Asaba Federal High Court annulment judgment.

Omo-Agege and Waive had through their counsel, Mr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, while seeking the

leave of the court to appeal the judgement, filed an exparte motion which was granted to enable them serve Chief Cyril Ogodo by pasting service at the state party secretariat in Asaba.

It could be also recalled that the Federal High Court 1, Asaba, in its March 18, 2019, judgement delivered by Justice Toyin Adegoke sacked the Prophet Jones Erue-led factional State Executive Committee, instead upholding the Chief Cyril Ogodo faction as the authentic party’s State Executive Committee.

The court also in its judgement annulled all action taken by the sacked Jones Erue-led executive committee, including party primaries and the list of candidates which emerged from their factional primaries declaring it null and void.

You Will Not Lose Your Jobs, Ayade Tells Appointees Bassey Inyang Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹Ăœ

The Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, has assured political appointees, especially his 8000 aides that none of them would lose their jobs as he looks toward to assuming office for a second term.

Ayade who made the declaration on Friday shortly after he, and 25 people elected to the state House of Assembly were presented with a Certificate of Return, said the period of politicking was over, hence all should work together in the overall interest of the state.

The governor thus extended a hand of fellowship to members of the opposition parties to join him in ensuring that the state succeeds.

At the Mike Igini Conference Hall, INEC state secretariat,

Calabar where the event held, Ayade declared: “Politics has come to an end. We must quickly call our brothers from the other end, and sit on a round table and form of government of equity that will focus on the people. In my first tenure I was inexperienced, yet I expanded government more than the carrying capacity of the state. “I was not driven by emotion, I was driven by the sentiments that we needed to put food on every family’s table that is why Cross River has over 8000 appointees, first in the history of Nigeria from a state with the lowest allocation.

Every single family under my administration had food on their table, I did not do so because I had enough, I did so because I cared enough. “In my second term I am even

going to expand government much more, nobody is going to lose his job .It is time to put an end to all form of bitterness ,malice and grudge ,politics has ended it is time to face governance . “We need to build hope by coming together as a people. I want all the candidates who participated to come together so that we can inculcate their ideas into governance and move Cross River State to the next level.�

While presenting the certificates of return to Ayade, and 25 House of Assembly members-elect, INEC Commissioner supervising Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, Dr. Mustapha Lekky, said it was not enough for one to be declared winner, but the Certificate of Return has to be given to confirm that the individual has been duly elected.

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2019

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Ahiara Pillars Hail Ihedioha’s Election as Victory for Imo People Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

CERTIFIED TO RULE...

L-R: Wife of Lagos State Deputy Governor-elect, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; her husband, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his wife Dr. Ibijoke and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, after the collection of Certificate of Return to the Lagos State governor-elect and his deputy in Lagos‌recently

6 Banks Dominate Losers’ Chart on NSE Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Eighteen stocks, including six financial institutions-Unity Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank, First City Monument Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Wema Bank Plc dominated losers’ chart at yesterday’s trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Other equities on the losers’ chart were Transcorp Plc, Cadbury Plc, May and Baker Plc, Dangote Floor, UnionDac, Cutix Plc, Presco Plc, Wapco Plc, African Prudential Plc, University Press Plc and Cornerest Plc. Uniondac, Cutix, Fidelity, Cadbury, Presco and Unity Bank

topped the losers list, depreciating by 9%, 8.87%, 8.85%, 8.26%, 7.72% and 4.76% respectively.

The daily market statistics released by the NSE yesterday, showed that Fidelity Bank lost 20k to close at N2.06 per share.

Similarly, Unity Bank lost 4k to close at 80k per share, while Wema Bank depreciated by 3k to close at 77k per share. Also, FCMB lost 6k to close at N1.86k per share, while GTBank lost 85k to close at N36.05 per share, trailed by UBA, which depreciated by 10k to close at N7.70 per share.

Similarly, Cadbury, dropped by 90k to close at N10 per share, Wapco’s shares depreciated by 75k,

9th Senate : Imposition of Leaders Will Spell Doom, Says Senator DejiElumoye Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

A member of the National Assembly, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, has warned the leadership of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), against imposing a candidate as Senate President ahead of the inauguration of the ninth National Assembly in June.

Hunkuyi (PDP Kaduna North) said in Abuja on Friday that the reported endorsement of Senator Ahmad Lawan by APC leadership as the next Senate President mark the beginning of crisis for the party in the 9th Assembly .

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population and National Identity, said the 2015 shocker that produced Dr. Bukola Saraki as 8th Senate President ought to have served as good lesson for the party.

According to him, endorsing or anointing candidate by leadership of any party for any of the four presiding officers’ positions in the National Assembly was not only undemocratic but blatantly unconstitutional going by provisions of Section 50 ( 1a and b ) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

The provisions, according to

him, states: “There shall be a President and Deputy President of the Senate who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves�.

Hunkuyi added that clearly by the two provisions, only the 109 senators-elect and 360 Hon Members of the House of Representatives - elect , are empowered to decide who their leaders as regards the positions of President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker, should be at any given time, particularly at the commencement of a new Assembly. “Therefore, for any other person or group of persons outside the 469 constitutionally empowered persons to by way of pontification, anointment, selection, appointment or endorsement, saying Senator A or B, is the one for this or that position is not only wrong but making clear affront on democracy itself.

He wondered why Senators must be dictated to by The Presidency that must be railroaded or teleguided on issues that are strictly theirs ?

Cornerest, dropped by 1k, UPL lost 8k. Also, May and Baker lost 10k to close at N2.30k per share, Dangote Floor depreciated by 30k, African Prudential shares lost 10k to close at N3.80k, while Transcorp Plc, dropped by 2k to close atN1.21k per share.

However, 16 equities emerged gainers at Friday’s trading. They included Seplat Petroleum Plc, Carverton, Nestle Plc, Access Bank, Sterling Bank, Dangote Cement, Union Bank Plc, PZ Industries, Mobil, Eterna Plc, Ikeja Hotel and Custodian and Allied Plc. Ikeja Hotel, led the gainers chart having appreciated by 17k to close at N1,88k per share.

Also shares of Eterna Plc appreciated by 45k to close N5.30k, while Seplat gained N50 at yesterday’s trading to close at N590 per share.

Similarly, shares of PZ Industries closed at N9.80 per share having appreciated by 30k at the trading on the NSE yesterday.

Nestle gained N82.10 to close at N1,580 per share at Friday trading, while Caverton appreciated by 14k to close at N2.49 per share.

The three banking stocks that made the gainers chart- Access, Union Bank and Sterling appreciated by 10k, 5k and 1k respectively at yesterday’s trading.

At Thanksgiving Service, Secondus Says God Saved A’Ibom PDP from Defeat Okon Bassey Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus yesterday said it was only God that made it possible for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and other candidates of the party in the state to win the 2019 general elections.

The PDP National Chairman made the declaration at a Victory Thanksgiving Service held

by Governor Emmanuel and the State PDP leadership in the state at the Nest of Champion International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Prince Secondus noted that despite the use of the military against the people of the state, the Niger Delta regions and other parts of the country, the PDP still emerged victorious in the elections. “I am convinced that beyond doubt, the Akwa Ibom Government represented by Governor Udom Emmanuel has touched the heart of God. They invaded here with the army but they met with the armies of God. “The entire Niger Delta was taken

over by the military but God was on our side. He fought for us and had delivered Akwa Ibom and other states in the Niger Delta and He has also delivered other parts of the country,� he declared.

Governor Emmanuel while addressing the mammoth crowd said the opposition party in the state almost overwhelmed the ruling PDP in the state during the 2019 polls but God gave them victory.

Speaking on the theme of the Service, ‘The Dangers of Ingratitude’ the governor thanked God for the success of the PDP in the 2019 elections stressing that God redeemed the state by giving him and the party victory.

Governor Emmanuel dismissed the widely held claim that former governor, Godswill Akpabio discovered him and made him governor of Akwa Ibom State stating that it was God that discovered him, as such, no man can discover him.

He pledged to serve the people of the state will all his might, strength, intellect and connection, and make them his priority, adding that God has given the state a new beginning and launched it into a new path.

Ahiara Pillars, a key socio-cultural and political organisation, has congratulated the Governor-elect of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha on his victory in the recent governorship election held on March 9, 2019.

Ihedioha would be the second person from Owerri zone, after the late Chief Evan Enwerem, to lead Imo. In a statement signed by the National President of the association, Prince Iyke Nwaneche, the group described Ihedioha’s victory as “well-deserved and in the interest of Imo State and Imolites�.

The group noted that Ihedioha’s emergence at this time as governor was a sign of better things to happen in Imo State, and appealed to all and sundry to support his administration when he fully takes over the reins of power on May 29, 2019.

The statement read: “The patrons, executive and entire members of Ahiara Pillars heartily congratulate the Governor-elect of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, on his well-deserved victory at the recently held governorship election of our beloved state. “We recognise how keenly contested the Imo State governor-

ship election on March 9 was, and your resounding victory based on the overwhelming support you received from Imolites across the three senatorial zones. “Having monitored your political journey, we are confident that you have the requisite experience and competence as well as intellectual and mental capacity to turn the fortunes of our state which is generally believed to have been largely run aground by the outgoing government around. “As a critical stakeholder in Imo state, Ahiara Pillars joins other well-meaning groups and individuals in Imo to pray for the success of your tenure and to wish you God’s protection and guidance as you pilot the ship of our beloved state to anchor where all Imoliteswill be proud to say they have a governor who is service-oriented. Rest assured of our support in any area you deem necessary in the interest of our beloved state and for the success of your administration.�

Ihedioha, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, was declared winner of the keenly contested the Imo State governorship election, having polled 273,404 ahead of his closest rival and candidate of the Action Alliance, Uche Nwosu, who polled a total of 190,364.

NGC to Create Rapport with 350 Host Communities Sylvester Idowu Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“

The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it would continue to develop a robust and sustainable relationship with its over 350 host communities in the country to enhance business growth.

The Managing Director of NGC, Babatunde Bakare, gave the assurance yesterday during the official inauguration and hand over of a Basic Health Centre to the Oniparaga community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Bakare, who was represented by the NGC General Manager, Support Services, Mrs. Mariam Emmanel-Ate said the wellbeing of the community was paramount to the Social Corporate Responsibility thrust of the company.

According to the MD, the company had a Metering Stations located in 11 states in the country noting that by implication, its pipeline transverses

over 350 host communities. “We present to you this fully equipped Basic Health Centre as a token of our appreciation and our contribution to the development of Oniparaga Community. “As a company, we shall continue to solicit for your co-operation and assistance in the maintenance of peace and support for our business growth aspiration in the interest of the community and Nigeria in general. “NGC will always encourage and appreciate communities that promote peace, dialogue and understanding in the resolution of issues. This is the hallmark of our community relations engagement process,� he said.

Bakare urged the people to make judicious use of the multimillion Naira health facility project.

Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Mr. Tunde Ikumawoyi thanked the NGC and the people of Oniparaga for ensuring that the project materialised.

Elections: We ‘ll Not Abandon Those Who Made SacriďŹ ces, Says PDP Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă‹

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State chapter, has pledged not to abandon supporters, who made sacrifices for the party, including those who sustained injuries during the just-concluded general elections.

Several persons were either killed or maimed during the polls, including a leader of the party in Southern Ijaw and a Government House photographer, Reginald Dei. While lauding the people of the state for massively voting for its candidates in the elections, the PDP said it was particularly touched by those who lost their loved ones and sustained injuries.

In a statement signed by the

Director, Strategic Communication, Governor’s Office, Chief Nathan Egba Ologo, the party said the Leader of the party, Governor Seriake Dickson was grateful to the people for standing with the party despite provocation and intimidation.

The statement quoted the Chairman of the party, Cleopas Moses, as saying that the love the people had for the PDP was a long and enduring one and had been demonstrated in every election circle since 1999 till date. “The challenges and hurdles that were deliberately placed in your way in the course of your keeping faith with our party in the recently held elections were enormous, yet you neither wavered nor were discouraged.

Plus

Abimbola Adeseyoju Making Money Doesn’t Spur Me, Solving Everyday Problem Does

FASHION FILE GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND SHOWBIZFLAIR

Amazons of the 9th Senate

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

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PLUS

Amazons of the 9th Senate While the 35 per cent affirmation which sought to give that percentage of representation to women appear to have taken a back seat, only six women have booked their berth in the ninth Senate. However, the quality and personalities appear to compensate for their scant number.

Charles Ajunwa and Ahamefula Ogbu present them to you Uche Ekwunife

T

Tinubu

his is one fearless woman, not easily deterred by setbacks or controversies.

She has a bag full of experiences, legislative and otherwise. Ekwunife was born in 1970 in Nri in Anaocha when her surname was Ogudebe. She studied Business and accounting at the University of Calabar before proceeding for an MBA at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Ekwunife worked in the banking sector and rose to be an area manager.

Prior to her election as a senator in 2015 for Anambra, she had failed twice to realise the dream. In 2019, she won senatorial seat representing Anambra Central area. In 2015, she won the senatorial election but it was declared null and void and later in a repeat election; the contest was resolved in favor of Victor Umeh.

The banker-turned politician was a two-term member of the House of Representatives, where she represented Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency of Anambra State. She was deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts in her second term.

In 2010, she contested for the governorship of Anambra State on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPA) and lost. She also lost the race on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in 2014. She married a businessperson from her home community, Chief Larry Ekwunife.

Oluremi Tinubu A fiercely loyal party woman, she is politically and emotionally attached to the central idea of the dynasty and by extension, Nigeria. She has been a lawmaker who silently worked behind the scene. Wife of the strong man of Lagos politics, she was born on 21st September, 1960 and hails from Delta State. She shares the same passion in politics as the husband.

She is the youngest of 12 children and was brought up in Ogun State. She obtained a Bachelor of Science B.S. in Education from the University of Ife, and a National Certificate of Education in Botany and Zoology from the Adeyemi College of Education.

She was first elected into the Senate in 2011 on the plank of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Again in 2015, she re-contested and also won the seat for Lagos Central on the platform of the APC, a feat she repeated at the last election.

Oduah.

Rose Oko She comes very resilient and cerebral; she is expected to make her mark not being new to lawmaking. Rose Okoji Oko was born 27 September 1956 to Thomas and Agbo Ojeka from Opkoma; Yala LGA, Cross River State. She was her mother’s first child and seventh of 15 children from her father. She passed her first School Leaving Certificate in

1977 from WTC Primary School Enugu and in 1975, attended Federal School of Arts and Science, Ogoja in Cross River State for her Higher School Certificate.

In 1981, she graduated with a 2nd Class Upper in B.A. (Hons) Linguistics from the University of Calabar, Cross River State. She later proceeded to The University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA for Graduate Course in Linguistics.

A career Educationalist, Okoji Oko returned to University of Calabar and graduated with M.A. Linguistics in 1984. By 1990, she graduated from The University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State where she acquired her Doctorate in Linguistics. In 2007, she enrolled in The Management Institute of Canada where she acquired an M.B.A. Oko served as a tutor in Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar in 1981 during her National Youth Service Corps. Between 1982 and 1983, she taught at St. Patrick’s College, Calabar and in the same year became a lecturer at the Cross River School of Basic Studies, Akampka till 1984 when she moved to the University of Calabar as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Language and Linguistics. She was later promoted to Lecturer in the same department. In 1989 she was appointed as Commissioner of Education, Cross River State; a position she held till 1991 and doubled as Chairperson Better Life Programme, Cross River Chapter from 1990–1991.

In 1993 she was appointed Director General, National Defence and Security Council, Cabinet Secretariat under the military presidency. She held this position simultaneously with the National Commissioner, National Electoral Commission (NEC) now known as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

When civil rule was reintroduced in 1999, she joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and later, National Democratic Party (NDP) where she was the Deputy Chairman South, Board of Trustees, and ran for the Senate, Cross River State North Senatorial District and lost. She later joined the gubernatorial race in 2007 and lost. Thereafter, she returned to the PDP and won a contest for House of Representatives from where she has now been elected into the red chambers.

Stella Oduah Bold, brainy, beautiful and rich; she blinks last and can lead a charge for any cause of her conviction. She has been a lawmaker and therefore not new to the red chambers. Princess Stella OduahOgiemwonyi was born January 5, 1962 to a royal family of Igwe D.O. Oduah of Akili-Ozizor, Anambra State. She holds Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration respectively from the United States. Part of her working experience was with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from where she struck out to establish the Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited (SPG), an independent marketing company.

The former Minister of Aviation is one of the three female senators that got

ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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PLUS

Amazons of the 9th Senate

Oko

Akon

Ekwunife

Dahiru

re-elected. She won the Anambra North senatorial seat for the first time in 2015 and has repeated the feat.

She has thick skin and has demonstrated capacity to weather the storm as well as thread where men fear.

A development-driven being, she is bound to make her mark in the ninth Senate and is easily remembered for the remodeling projects and instilling standards in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Development Goals and Petroleum resources (Downstream) Public Service Matter.

Popularly known as (Binani), she is an entrepreneur. She was a member of the 7th National Assembly where she represented Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, from 2011 to 2015. She won Adamawa Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the APC.

Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru comes with experience and prepared educationally especially from a clime women are often neither seen nor heard. Born on the 11th of August 1971, she is a holder of Higher National Diploma in electrical electronics Engineering and Computer certificate from the University of Southampton UK. She was chairman of the House Committee on Constituency Outreach, member committee on Appropriations, Land Transports, Millennium

Akon Eyakenyi Beauty and brains, Akon Eyakenyi, smiles through circumstances with a kind heart. She was born on 24th February 1960 into the family of Chief and Mrs. Uweh Isangedihi of the Oro-Ukpabang stock in Mbokpu Eyo-Akan village, Urue-Offong/ Oruko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. She attended Government Primary School, Uko-Uyukim, Oron and later proceeded to Methodist Teacher’s Training College, Oron for her Teachers

Grade II Certificate (TC II).

Akon holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE), a Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) degree from the University of Calabar, a Master of Education (M.Ed) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Curriculum Education. She also holds a Certification (Special Class) from the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service.

She has held several appointments including Mistress I & II by the then Cross River State Education Board. She was also President of the Better Life Programme, Oron Local Government Council. Dr. Eyakenyi was also appointed as Supervisor for Education, Youths, Sports and Culture in Oron Local Government Council in 1991; Education Officer in Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education in 1993 and subsequently, Senior Education Officer from 1994 to 1999. Thereafter, Eyakenyi was appointed to serve as a Member, Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board from 1999 to 2000, where she contributed to the

laudable improvements in secondary education in the state.

She was appointed Commissioner for Industry, Commerce and Tourism in 2000, by Governor Obong Victor Attah and she revitalised moribund Champions Breweries, was instrumental to introduction of the Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, as well as other laudable projects In 2013. She was appointed as Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Technical Schools Board

by Governor Godswill Akpabio until her appointment as Minster of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in 2014 by the then President Goodluck Jonathan.

By June 2015, Dr. Eyakenyi was appointed into the Technical Committee on the Realisation of the Ibaka Deep Seaport; and in October 2016, she was appointed as Chairman, Governing Council of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua. Dr. Eyakenyi is married to Mr. Etim Eyakeny.

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

PLUS

Abimbola Adeseyoju Making Money Doesn’t Spur Me, Solving Everyday Problem Does ÌÓ×ÌÙÖË ÎÏÝÏãÙÔß ÓÝ Ë ÌÖßØÞ˜ ÐÙÜÞÒÜÓÑÒÞ˜ ÚÏÜÚÏÞßËÖÖã ÙÚÞÓ×ÓÝÞÓÍ ÏØÞÜÏÚÜÏØÏßÜ áÒÙ ÐÏÏÎÝ ÙØ ʨØÎÓØÑ ÝÙÖßÞÓÙØÝ ÞÒËØ ÐÙÍßÝÓØÑ ÙØ ÚÜÙÌÖÏ×ݲ ËÖÖ ÒÓ× ÓÑÏÜÓË˪Ý Ù×ÚÖÓËØÍÏ ÚÙÝÞÏÜ ÌÖÙÕÏ ËØÎ ãÙß áÙßÖÎØ˪Þ ÌÏ áÜÙØÑ˛ ÒÙßÑÒ Ë ×ËØ ÙÐ ßØÝßØÑ ÑÖÙÜ㘠ËÝ ÞÒÏ ËØËÑÓØÑ ÓÜÏÍÞÙÜ ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË˪Ý ÚÜÏ×ÓÏÜ ÜÏÎÓÞ ËÞÓØÑ ÑÏØÍã ËØÎ Ù×ÚÖÓËØÍÏ ʨÜט ËÞË ÜÙ Ó×ÓÞÏΘ ÎÏÝÏãÙÔß ÒËÝ ÑÙÞ Ë ÜÏÝß×Ï ÞÙ ÕÓÖÖ ÐÙܲ Ï ÞÏÖÖÝ Adedayo Adejobi áÒã ×ÙØÏã ×ÏËØÝ ØÙÞÒÓØÑ ÞÙ ÒÓט ÒÙá ÒÓÝ ÚËÜÏØÞÝ ËØÎ ËØÓ ËáÏÒÓØ×Ó áÏÜÏ Ë ÒßÑÏ ÓØʮßÏØÍÏ ÙØ ÒÓÝ ÍËÜÏÏܘ ÒÓÝ ×ÏØÞÙÜÓØÑ ÞÒÏ ØÏâÞ ÑÏØÏÜËÞÓÙØ ËØÎ ÒÙá ÒÓÝ ÖÓÐÏ ÜÏàÙÖàÏÝ ËÜÙßØÎ ÐË×ÓÖã

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ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS My Father and Gani Fawehinmi were a huge inuence on my Career

W

hen you graduated from the University, you didn’t apply for jobs like everyone else. Why?

I Like everyone, life ticks and tocks like time.

It stokes salient passion on which dreams come true.

This is same for the birth of DataPro Lmited, which was founded in the year 1995. I had worked under the tutelage of industry experts in consortium, financial publications, research firms and other industries for over nine years.

DataPro was birthed out of dire circumstances beyond my control. I said to myself, if I can do this, managing a company for somebody and doing very well. I could as well do this for myself. I’ve always had this interest of understanding what the present challenges were within the sector I was working and what I could do to close those gaps in terms of service because that’s essentially how entrepreneurship develops.

You are known to speak glowingly about how your work as a Compliance Professional has changed your life. Can you share this experience with us?

Working within the Compliance landscape comes with what we call the soft requirements such as integrity, honesty, very high ethical standard and conduct, transparency, accountability and good governance. My contact with Compliance changed my life. Compliance as we say is preventive not curative. What it means is that it is better to prevent the occurrence of any negative repercussion of non -compliance than to solve the consequences of non-compliance. Non-compliance could actually kill you and your business. It’s better to prevent the consequences of noncompliance than figuring how to survive when the damage has been done. It might be too late. So personally that is my guiding principle. I avoid the negative consequences that come with some habits and tendencies in life by avoiding the risks elements. Compliance should start from the family units. If we are not compliant at home, we cannot practice compliance at our work places. Compliance involves walking the talk and leading by example. You cannot be smoking at home and preaching to your kids that smoking is bad.

Children learn by what they see not what they hear. So for me, the major problem we have in Nigeria is that of non-compliance. If we all try to be compliant, Nigeria will be a better place. As a county, we have all the laws and regulations to make Nigeria a better place. It’s just that we have decided not follow the rules and regulations. Compliance simply means ability to obey rules.

If you could turn back the hand of time what would you do differently?

Maybe I would have started earlier because I’ve always had the spirit of being different, right from when I was young. Maybe I would have tried to go solo earlier and maybe I would have gotten married earlier too before l was 30. Perhaps by now, I would no longer be paying school fees, but just enjoying life with my lovely and supportive wife.

I’m always hopeful that things will be better and that’s what has kept me here. I’ve never talked about getting out of this country. This is where the opportunities are for me, this is my home. Maybe if I’ve come in contact earlier with the discipline of compliance, that would have helped me a lot. Had I known the advantages of doing things in such a way that you’re always conscious of the impact on the third party, maybe it could have been a different thing. Compliance has changed my life, it has helped me to be more focused and to look at things from a problem-solving perspective. It has reinforced my integrity and also shown me that honesty pays. What has also helped us is that we have zero-tolerance to unethical practices.

Asides your father, you were quite close to your uncle, the late Gani Fawehinmi.

How inuential were they in your career?

My father was quite instrumental to my career. Like me, my father believes strongly in the maxim that says “walk-the-talk. My maternal uncle, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) also helped with lots of encouragement. My mother is not left out on the rung of the ladder I climbed here, as she was instrumental to moulding a man out of the boy I was.

She was a strong influence on me. Coming from a very elitist family, I was lucky to have good mentors that could give me necessary background I needed. My wife has also been very supportive. Since we met, there’s been no drama. When you’re married to someone who has no drama, it gives you some level of comfort to be able to do your job. Distractions could come when you don’t have a settled

The Adeseyoju’s

home. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been able to manage my affairs. It has never affected my work. God has also blessed me with very good children who are also doing well in their various fields.

What were you like as a child?

As a child, I was very playful, but somewhere along the line, life caught up with me and a positive change garbed me.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?

Unfortunately the only thing I think about is how to solve problems of my client. From what I’ve learnt from Gani, the more you can keep thinking of a problem, the more you take totality of yourself into your job, the more successes you have. The more you turn your job into your life. the more you see solutions. I’ve been able to strike a balance though. Once I leave the house, the only thing I think about is work. I thank God for my wife, she can handle herself. She is also an entrepreneur and she is very busy running her company. We have just three kids and the two out of university can sort themselves. When I wake up to see the brightness of the new day, the only thing that wakes me up is new ideas for my customers’ goals. I go for the kill. With me, there’s no grabbing the bull by the horn. My mantra is simple, ‘Kill the Bull and let’s Move-On’!

What’s your favorite 90’s jam?

It has to be Frankie. I can’t remember who sang it. I love the song, because my wife’s name is Franca. So when I met her, what struck me was that song. And that was the song I sang. It was love at first sight. The nostalgic moments still rings like a bell in my mind.

What have you done to keep a healthy lifestyle?

The title would be, the man who doesn’t believe in procrastination. Anything I’m convinced about, I do.

Over the years I’ve been able to train my body, as one of the regrets I have is at a point in my life, I didn’t pay attention to my health.

For about 20 years I didn’t do exercise. I just woke up, wore my cloth and jumped into the car and start working. But in the last 10 years, I’ve been able to change my lifestyle.

Every morning, I gym, do press-ups, skip and exercise for an hour. I must sweat. If I don’t sweat in the morning, my day is not complete.

My diet has changed. I don’t eat red meat again. I eat a lot green vegetables, beans and I don’t take fatty foods, alcohol, sugar, milk or smoke. My health has witnessed a turn around, and I’ve focused on my business.

Now I’m so healthy. Today, I eat, drink and live healthy. An attestation to my healthy lifestyle is that I haven’t been sick nor have I visited the hospital in the last 10 years.

Do you think your mindset has anything to do with your success?

What do you enjoy most in your role and are you planning your succession?

What inspires you?

Solving problems and acquiring knowledge.

What do you look for when hiring?

Integrity and adaptation are a foundation, a lifestyle you must imbibe. Laziness would definitely take you out of the door. But basically, just work hard, be a great team player and be ready to adapt.

If you’re to write the annuals of your life what will you title it?

Yes, definitely, because you can only be an entrepreneur in this kind of environment if you’re resilient. If you always see the bright side where people see challenges, there are opportunities. We need to focus on the solutions. I don’t lament. I just look at solutions.

I’m a perpetual optimist who feeds on finding solution than focusing on the problem.

What I enjoy more is mentoring. After running the business for 25 years, my role is to mentor and set policies. I do more of oversight functions because I have a succession plan which is already in place. We are already grooming the successor. A succession plan is in place and we hope the company exists for the next 100 years.

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

Fashion File

‘Lines & Shine’

Collection by Maison De Helen

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

FASHION FILE

ËŠ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ęś Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ËŞ ÙÖÖĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹Ă“Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă˜

O

h la la‌ This is definitely a breath of fresh air in the Nigerian fashion scene. Nigeria’s emerging fashion brand Maison De Helen is tantalising our senses with its super stylish 2019 ready-to-wear collection titled “Lines and Shineâ€?.

The brand Maison De Helen is a family business, which was originally founded in 1990, it is currently run by Elsie Unuane. Like her predecessors, she devotes her time to exploring creative means to express fashion with the goal of establishing Maison De Helen as a global leader in the fashion industry.

Ms. Unuane took over the Lagos based brand as Creative Director and rebranded it in 2015 upon moving back from the United Kingdom after her studies there. She holds a Diploma in Chemical Engineering from Nottingham University, a BSc in Environmental Sciences from Bournemouth University, and an MSc in Environmental Sciences, Law and Management from Brunel University all in the United Kingdom.

However, with fashion running in her veins, she couldn’t stay away from her true calling.

Speaking about her inspiration behind Lines and Shine, Ms. Unuane explains:

“our first 2019 ready to wear collection is inspired by symmetry, lines and shine, these are characteristics that are very quintessence of the modern day woman. I have created luxurious pieces that cater to every woman and the different settings she finds herself.�

Pieces in this collection feature the finest of fabrics, elaborate embroidery and intricate beadings. They come in colours ranging from subtle to bold, while the designs are mainly influenced by strong-shoulders with deconstruction moving from midi to full length.

Shoot Credits Brand: Instagram/@maisondehelen Photographer: Instagram/@ praise_that_photographer Art Direction/Styling: Instagram/@ infoworldcharming Style Assistant: Instagram/@davidstarr_ Makeup: Instagram/@ceeyonceemua Hairstylist: Instagram/@highdtosin Hair Extension: Instagram/@lushhairnigeria Jewelry: Instagram/@stephuks_apparel Fascinator: Instagram/@enemaya_ stores Models: Instagram/ @dougherty_jessi | Instagram/@shairvictoria Graphics: Instagram/@trytune.

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

EVENTS

O

n Friday March 22, 2019, foremost accountant and Managing Director, Istabaraqim Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti was honoured with 2019 Community Award in recognition of his humanitarian gestures to the society by the Prioprietor of Crescent University and eminent jurist, Judge Bola Ajibola, SAN during 13th Founder’s Day Celebrations with a lecture titled ‘Integrity in Leadership: A Moral Compass for Societal Development’ delivered by Prof. Moshood Baderin.

The event was held at the institution’s premises in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Here are some of the dignitaries that graced the occasion.

L-R: Founder, Crescent University, Judge Bola Ajibola, SAN; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila; Alh. Ibrahim Marmara and 2019 Community Awardee and Managing Director, Istabaraqim Nigeria Limited, Alhaji RaďŹ u Ebiti receiving his award at the event

Awardee anked by his immediate family members: L-R: Dr. Moyo Ebiti, Alhaji RaďŹ u Ebiti, Alhaja Adebisi Ebiti and Mr. Tosin Ebiti

L-R: Alake of Egbaland, HRM, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and Registrar, Joint Admission and Marticulation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede

L-R: Asipa of Owu Kingdom, Chief Egbeyi Moroof; Akinsipo of Owu Kingdom, Chief Robil Ishola and Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Dr.) Adegboyega Dosunmu

L-R: Head of Service, Ogun State, Engr. Olanrewaju Bisiriyu, and deputy governor, Ogun State and representative of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga

2019 Community Awardees: L-R: Alh. Ibrahim Marmara, Alhaji Sheik Adenekan and Alhaji RaďŹ u Ebiti

L-R: Guest Lecturer and Professor of Law, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) , University of London, Prof. Moshood Baderin; Registrar, Crescent University, Barr. Zakariya Ajibola and Busar, Alhaji Bankole Jimoh

L-R: Mrs. Folake Rotimi and former deputy governor, Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu

L-R: Executive Secretary, MUSWEM, Prof. Dawud Noibi and Prof. Muibi Opeloye

2019 Awardee and CEO, Ibeji Foundation, Alhaji RaďŹ u Ebiti surrounded by a few beneďŹ ciaries of his foundation and undergraduate students of Crescent University: L-R: Animashaun Azeez, Abubakre Kamaldeen, Abdulsalam Ibrahim and Abubakre Quamarudeen

L-R: Prof. Moshood Baderin and Alhaji Mobolaji Lawal

L-R: Alhaji RaďŹ u Ebiti with wife, Alhaja Adebisi Ebiti

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 30, 2019

25

EXPRESSION

Mr. President’s Next FEC: Between Clientelism and Merit

“A

fter each war, comes the season of dividing the spoils. As it were, there is real hustling in the background as to who wants what, who gets what and ultimately, who divides the spoils. Let’s not pretend that politics is not about clientelism. In every clime, in every system, the fact does exist that people expect to be rewarded for their efforts in helping a party gain power. Overtime, we are much aware of how each party tends to use power as an opportunity to reward its supporters.

And one such avenue is in appointments whether as ministers, board and commission members and or one position or the other.

It is for this reason that in far advanced democracies, unions and public sector workers are rewarded by the party to the left, while ‘the right introduces corporate welfare, such as the granting of tax breaks or defence contracts.’

Therefore, one can imagine that after the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the federal level, not minding the legal challenge of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of the APC’s electoral victory, the fact remains that chieftains of the ruling party of every hue and size are angling on how much they expect to get for their ‘efforts’.

Did Alexander the Great and even before him, and has continued after him, not divide the spoils of his various victories to keep his war commanders happy?

But it is somewhat different in a democracy, no matter how provincial, of how much patronage government can give to individuals, groups and diverse interests if the core objective is national development. It is in this regard that it is becomes

Buhari

expedient to sound the alarm to President Muhammadu Buhari to carefully weigh the long term objective of his vision against the gathering hawks who are out to get reward for their exertions.

While arguments abound as to the proprietary or otherwise of the ‘spoils system’ there is little argument that it has subsisted through history.

According to political historians, the spoils system was widely used by President Thomas Jefferson, who believed that the policy of keeping rival Federalists out of government offices was germane. So it was that by 1840, it was the norm used in local, state and federal government.

Predictably, the United States, failing to create a balance between dividing the spoils of office and merit, fell far behind other nations in civil service standards of ability and rectitude. In 1841, when William Henry Harrison became presi-

dent, the practice had reached groaning proportions.

Why is it instructive that we interrogate the appointments of the next cabinet of President Buhari? If we are to go by our recent history especially as it has to do with the appointment of ministers and even members of boards and commissions, then there is need for this clarion call that while the president should be seen to want to give members of his party a foothold in his next administration, he should be decisive and act in the common interest on the country. After all, there is little room for any doubt as to his patriotic intentions and how much he agonises about its slow paced development.

One, Nigerians are hopeful that in the first month after being sworn in for second term, President Buhari will unveil over 90 percent of his appointees so that the needed acceleration will not only be maintained but further gained.

In reaching the decision as to those who should serve, the president needs to eschew absolute party loyalty, shun cabal tendencies and especially, be wary of lists from the ‘other room.’

For now, there are too many ‘other rooms’ some filial, some inherently provincial and ideologically twisted. It is these ones the president should turn his back on. The bright spot in the murky politicalscape is that there are individuals in the present set up that can assist the president in reaching decisions that will not turn out to be telling. One is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It is a given that he exudes brilliance and understands the need for the APC to indeed deliver on its Next Level Agenda after all when the president by 2023 bids good bye to the corridors of power, he, Osinbajo, still stands a chance to wear the president’s shoes in the whole arrangement of power shift.

So, Osinbajo needs to understand that he needs to be a moderating influence on

‘7 A. M. in the Morning’ Wrong

N

ATIONAL NEWS Headline of March 20 welcomes us today with this egregious blunder: “Security Chiefs (unnecessary capitalization) keep mum after closed doors (closed-door) meeting with Buhari” “The Management and Staff of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation…on his attainment of 55th birthday anniversary” A rewrite: on his attainment of 55 years or on his 55th birthday.

“He came at 7 a. m. in the morning” Either he came at 7 a. m. or 7 in the morning. Both cannot co-function.

The same thing applies to “p. m. in the evening”. ‘A. m.’ and ‘p.m.’ refer to morning and evening, respectively.

“We…reaffirm our commitment to the provision of affordable serviced (service) parcels of land….”

“Your Excellency, your unparalleled landmark achievements in infrastructural and human capital development transcends (why?)….”

(Full-page advertorial by Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, Office of the Executive Chairman) DAILY Sun Editorial of March 20 comes next with this schoolboy howler: “The greatest favour he can do…is to push for a reform of the system and devise a credible and systemic (systematic) means to inject more women….”

“The Commissioner…and entire staff of Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, Enugu State, wishes (how?)….”

“These are true manifestation (manifestations) of God’s love, presence and unfinished work in your life and eloquent testimony of (an eloquent testimony) your performance….”

“Accountability: A powerful deterrence (deterrent) to building collapse” (DAILY SUN OPINION Page Headline, March 25) Wrong: obituary announcement Right: obituary “Pharaohs invade Asaba, talks (where?) tough” “The Tribunal has (had) earlier nullified the election of the….” (THISDAY Front Page, March 23) “Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique in crutch (crunch) qualifying battle” “…to stimulate employment, build more roads and other social amenities or solve one social problem or the other.” Going by the contextual pluralism of the extract, the right expression should be: one social problem or another.

“Group assures on rancour free PDP Congress” Still on this recurrent blunder: who did the group assure?

And this: rancour-free….

“Kalu condemns do or die politics” This way: do-or-die politics.

“The race to Government House in Kano has began in earnest as….”

Without any effort: The race has begun….

“The non Passage (sic) of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) did not help matters….” 2018 Review: The non-passage (take note of the hyphen and lower case ‘p’)….

“I seize (take) this opportunity to express gratitude to my readers for their commitment and patronage.”

‘Seize’ is American aberration.

Last week’s edition of this medium offered our teeming readers copious goofs: “Ex-president Umaru Yar ’Adua was on his sick bed….” No eavesdropping: in his sick bed. One of the clerics who allegedly visited him sat on his sick bed. Got the point? “…a gubernatorial (governorship) aspirant in Ogun State under (on) the

platform of….” “…those who would have uttered (what?) them reduced everyone to spectators while they reached for each other ’s throats.” Get it right: each other ’s throat or one another ’s throats (depending on context).

“After all, as they say, ‘what is good for the goose is good for the gander ’ ’’. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

“Knowing what to wear and how to compliment (complement) it goes a long way….”

Vanguard COMMENT and VIEWPOINT of March 28 sent out the following errors: “The state, therefore, does not deserve the treatment being currently meted to it”. Classical expression: being meted out to it.

“Chief of Naval Staff advocates for increased productivity via industrialization” When used as a verb, ‘advocate’ does not admit ‘for ’. Let us avoid verbiage in headline casting: Naval Chief advocates increased productivity.

“For the university to recommend that students should pay for the damages while they have….” A common mistake: except in legalese, ‘damage’ cannot be pluralized. “…rather than investigating and finding out who were involved and check against future re-occurrence… beyond recurrence, can an event yet to take place happen in the past? “…the university is pointing its accusing fingers in the direction of the lecturers.” True idiom: point a/ the finger. No inclusion of ‘accusing’ or inflection of ‘finger ’.

“It is our belief that we members of the alumni association of our alma Mata (Alma Mater) have unique roles to play in the restoration of sanity on our university campus.” It is… restoration of sanity to (not on) our campus.

the overbearing influence of the famed Aso Rock cabal and the overreach of the ‘other room.’

Also, time has shown that every crisis is both an opportunity and a challenge.

The opportunity for the APC-led federal government is to demonstrate that the majority of votes they garnered at the presidential polls count for something.

And that something is to confound the naysayers wrong that indeed the mandate they have is to consolidate, positively, the Change Agenda.

These are by no means those with the right pedigree, there are a sprinklings of ministers and heads of commissions and agencies that have the right temperament that ought to be considered. If anything, the president owe Nigerians the duty to shun members of his close family that imagine that they know better than him in his appointments.

The president needs no reminding that Nigeria is in a race against time and he can, as he is already doing in his first time which has been validated by his victory at the polls, that there are Nigerians with abilities who abound everywhere who if offered the opportunity to serve will do so religiously without being beholden to one small tin god.

If the president looks the other way when lists from the ‘other room’ starts flying around, and capable persons are appointed to high places where policy is made, it is a brainer that the nation’s needs will be met. Will there be war within when this happens, certainly yes. But will the majority count their gains when merit trumps dividing the spoils; that is a certainty.

For now, let the drums beat and let the people dance unto NEXT LEVEL! ––Mariam Mohammed, Public Relations expert/media personality will be sharing her thoughts and insights on contemporary issues on ‘MUSINGs with Mariam’ every Saturday.

MEDIAGAFFES

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Isn’t it funny that it is the beak with which a bird builds it’s (sic) nest that it uses to scatter it.” Possessive: its “…the AU summiteers concentrated almost exclusive (sic) on the political independence and liberation of countries in (on) the continent.”

Vanguard of March 4 contained two putrid lines: “Monday’s action, which started at dawn, was as a result of the breakdown of series of negotiations…” An agendum: a series of negotiations.

“According to investigations, the deceased was said to be resting alone in his room at about 9.p.m….” Every reporter should be decisive based on timing which description to use: either at or about 9 p.m. The two cannot co-function.

“According to the source, the institution has a very high percentage of failure in the last academic year.”

Reported speech: the institution had (not has). “… that the authorities of the institution was (were) still waiting the result of the police analysis of the bomb”. “…in the next three years, its per capital income would have ...” This way: per capita income.

THE GUARDIAN On Sunday of March 24 circulated dozens of blunders: “Then it was catalogue of misses for the Super Eagles.” In the spirit of qualification: a catalogue of misses.

“The home of the chairman… was vandalized and most of his properties littered outside.” No chaos: most of his property.

26

˜ ˞ MARCH 30, 2019

SPECIALREPORT

Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja

Honest Assessment of CBN’s 5HSRUW &DUG 8QGHU (PHÀHOH The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele can be described as the proverbial cat with nine lives considering the storms he weathered in the past five years.Typically, in Nigeria’s political scene, it is usually not easy for a public officer who was appointed by a government to be retained in office when an opposition government wins an election. But Emefiele survived all the darts thrown at him. In this report, Obinna Chima examines the performance of the central bank in the past five year

M

ohamedEl-Erian,whoservedaschairofPresident Obama’s Global Development Council in his book: “The Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the Next Collapse,� highlighted challenges that confront central banks globally. In our local experience, it will be wrong if we fail to acknowledge the critically important role played by the CBN, more so, Emefiele who steered the apex bank to take up the gauntlet when all else seem to have failed According to El-Erian, central banks have been considered the only game in town because since the 2008 global financial crisis, they have been shouldering majority of the burden and could be said to have taken on the role of salvaging the global economy at the behest of their national governments. Owing to this, they have been described as ‘the only game in town.’ He further pointed out that central banks today, not by choice, but by necessity, have been venturing deeper into tricky terrain of unconventional monetary policies which have seen them heavily intervening in the functioning of markets.

He revealed that during the 2008 financial crisis, in the US, a myriad of emergency funding windows were opened to enable cash to be injected into the financial system, and from virtually any and all directions.

Indeed, just as highlighted in this synopsis, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) like other central banks across the globe, had its own challenges and also resorted to unconventional tools to wade through.

In Nigeria, faced with the challenge of the slump in crude oil prices in 2014, which thereafter snowballed into a foreign exchange crisis, the CBN had to continuously adjust its policies to achieve the desired results.

In addition, the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in forming his cabinet several months after he was inaugurated in 2015, then put the responsibility of managing the economy on the shoulders

of the central bank under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

Even when the economy slipped into a recession, the central bank had to intensify its intervention in critical sectors of the economy, in line with its development finance mandate, which played a significant role in supporting economic growth. This saw the regulator developing home-grown policies to surmount challenges that confronted the economy.

Development Finance Function

In the continued recognition of its role as an agent of development and aimed at ensuring self-sufficiency to reduce Nigeria’s excessive dependence on imports, the CBN has the last five years, invigorated its development finance activities and has maintained a particular focus on supporting farmers, entrepreneurs as well as small and medium scale businesses, through various intervention programs.

Some of these initiatives include the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP), Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and the National Collateral Registry.

Also, the CBN introduced the Real Sector Support fund; a facility meant to provide cheap funding at no more than nine per cent to new projects in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors; aimed at boosting output and creating jobs.

In the agriculture sector, ABP has ensured that Nigeria emerged from being a net importer of rice to becoming a major producer of rice. In fact, presently, over 900,000 farmers cultivating about 835,239 hectares, across 16 different commodities, had so far benefited from the ABP, which has generated over 2,7 million jobs across the country.

It was in light of the success of the ABP, with regards to cultivation of rice and maize that the Monetary Policy Committee in its meeting last November had recommended that the ABP should be applied to other areas such as palm oil, tomatoes and fisheries to mention a few.

The CBN recently disclosed that over $500 million was being spent annually on importation of palm oil, which necessitated the central bank to include the produce among items not eligible for forex.

Emefiele, had explained that efforts at supporting small scale farmers and SMEs was based on awareness of the critical role they can play in supporting our economic recovery and growth, as well as in creating job opportunities for millions of Nigerians. “So far, the CBN has through its MSME fund disbursed over N100 billion to the MSME sector, but we still feel a lot can be done. Under the auspices of the Bankers Committee, the sum of over N60 billion has so far been set aside under the AGSMIES fund to fund micro, small and medium scale enterprise businesses in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors of our economy. “The CBN recognises that the greatest challenge confronting MSME’s and local farmers is access to credit, and that to unlock the growth potentials in our country; these groups must access funding seamlessly. “In response to this challenge, the CBN will in due course take action that will directly bring banking services to the rural communities through the licencing of a national microfinance bank, which will have a presence in all local governments in Nigeria, thereby supporting the channelling of credit to our rural communities. “We will continue to explore ways, in partnering with the fiscal authorities, on how we can best provide farmers and SMES with the support they need to expand their operations,� he explained.

Clearly, the country’s overdependence on crude oil for forex revenue means that shocks in the oil market are transmitted entirely to the economy via the forex markets. This is what has continued to influence the drive to support infant industries and domestic production as well as the ban of 43 items from accessing forex from the interbank market.

Similarly, as part of its long-term strategy for strengthening the Nigerian economy, the Bank established initiatives to resolve the underlying challenges to long-term Gross Domestic Product growth, economic productivity, unemployment and poverty that had pervaded the economy over the past decades. Part of it was the establishment of credit bureau and the National Collateral Registry to improve

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 30, 2019

SPECIALREPORT

Stewardship has Been Stellar, Despite Many Hiccups

was also an additional step aimed at leveraging on the distribution networks of nonbank entities, such as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods companies, Fintechs, and Mobile Network Operators, in providing financial services to underserved communities.

“With these schemes in place, we believe that over the next two years, over 80 per cent of Nigerians will have access to financial services,” the CBN Governor said.

In line with this, the CBN this week disclosed plan to extend the cashless policy nationwide almost two years after the policy was halted.

Emefiele said all necessary structures have been put in place to improve banking services in the country. According to him, his predecessor, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, had introduced the policy, but the CBN under his leadership was not certain about the rate of financial inclusion and penetration in the country.

access to credit in the domestic economy.

Price Stability

In the last five years, the CBN has initiated far-reaching reforms in the foreign exchange market in a bid to stabilise exchange rate.

For instance, in 2014, the central bank stopped the bi-weekly sale of foreign exchange through the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) and Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS). The central bank took the decision following findings of round tripping and other sharp practices that had provided room for speculative attacks on the Naira and arbitrage. Following the scrapping of the auctions, the central bank asked authorised dealers and members of the public to henceforth channel all demands for foreign exchange to the interbank market. Prior to the announcement then, importers of fuel products and certain categories of manufacturers were allowed to buy their foreign exchange through the CBN window. But as the margin between the official and interbank rates widened in recent months, it then was more lucrative for eligible buyers to engage in arbitrage instead of importing the goods for which they had supposedly bought their foreign exchange from the official window of the CBN. The increasing demand pressure on the forex coupled with the low accretion to the country’s reserves due to weakening global oil price prompted the CBN to redesign a new framework for the management of foreign exchange in a period of declining supply.

Unveiling the new guidelines in June 2016, Emefiele had disclosed that the general operational principle of the exchange rate framework was that forex currency would be traded in the inter-bank foreign exchange market through the platform of the Financial Markets Derivative Quotation (FMDQ). A novel aspect of the framework was the introduction of non-deliverable over-the-counter (OTC) Naira-settled Futures, with daily rates on the CBN-approved FMDQ Trading and Reporting System, which according to the Bank would help moderate volatility in the exchange rate by moving non-urgent FX demand from the Spot to the Futures market.

The need to achieve exchange rate stability and also preserve the country’s forex reserves, also prompted the CBN to review downward the spending limit on the usage of the Naira denominated debit cards for transactions abroad, from $150,000 per person annually, to $50,000 per person annually. The daily cash withdrawal limit on the card was also fixed at $300 per person. The central bank had also urged all authorised dealers to ensure strict monitoring and compliance.

However, in spite of these measures, the activities of speculators which weakened the naira to an all-time low of around N525/$1 before the central bank started releasing its arsenals to confront them.

But the most potent instrument unleashed by the central bank was the introduction of the Investors and Exporters’ (I&E) foreign exchange in 2017, which has recorded over $50 billion transactions.

The Director, Corporate Communications at the CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, who recently disclosed the inflows into the I & E window, pointed out that out the amount, the central bank purchased about $9.67 billion.

The surge in the inflows recorded on the I&E was attributed to offshore investors interest in Nigeria’s fixed income securities.

The central bank had explained that the purpose of the window was to boost liquidity in the forex market and ensure timely execution and settlement for eligible transactions.

It had listed eligible transactions under the new window to include invisible Emefiele transactions such as loan repayments, loan interest payments, dividends/income remittances, capital repatriation, management service and consultancy fees.

Also, on the eligible list were software subscription fees, technology transfer agreements, personal home remittances and any such other eligible transactions including ‘miscellaneous payments’ as detailed under Memorandum 15 of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual.

While explaining that the invisible transactions under this window excludes international airlines ticket sales’ remittances, the CBN added that the window covers Bills of Collection and any other trade-related payment obligations, which are at the instance of the customer.

It is worthy of note that supply of forex to the window is through portfolio investors, exporters, authorised dealers and other parties with forex exchange to Naira.

The CBN is a market participant at the window to promote liquidity and professional market conduct.

An analyst at Ecobank, Mr. Kunle Ezun, said the central bank’s initiative helped to calm the strong volatility in the market. According to Ezun, the central bank did not take the decision in isolation of the market.

In terms of inflation, the cheering news from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) this month was that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, further decelerated in February 2019. Specifically, the last CPI report showed that inflation decreased to 11.31 per cent (year-on-year) in February compared to 11.37 per cent in January. It is worthy to note that inflation was at 18 per cent about two years ago.

Clearly, high inflation distorts consumer behaviour. It can also destabilise markets by creating unnecessary shortages.

Similarly, high inflation which is not the desire of any economy redistributes the income of people and brings about weak purchasing power.

That is why the CBN is never comfortable with this ‘evil’ and had had adopted restrictive monetary policy as part of efforts to win the battle against double-digit inflation, just as it has intensified its intervention in the agricultural sector.

For instance, Emefiele, recently revealed that the various initiatives aimed at encouraging domestic production, had resulted in Nigeria’s monthly import bill falling significantly from $665.4 million in January 2015, to $160.4 million as of October 2018.

According to him, many entrepreneurs are now taking advantage of policies aimed at ramping local production to venture into the domestic production of the restricted items with remarkable successes and great positive impact on employment.

“The dramatic decline in our import bill and the increase in

Cont’d from Pg. 21

Analysts’ Opinion

Emefiele

domestic production of these items attest to the efficacy of this policy.

“Most evident were the 97.3 percent cumulative reduction in monthly rice import bills, 99.6 percent in fish, 81.3 percent in milk, 63.7 per cent in sugar, and 60.5 percent in wheat.

“We are glad with the accomplishments recorded so far. Accordingly, this policy is expected to continue with vigour until the underlying imbalances within the Nigerian economy have been fully resolved.

“If we continue to support the growth of small holder farmers, as well as help to revive palm oil refineries, rice mills, cassava and tomato processing factories, you can only imagine the amount of wealth and jobs that will be created in the country.

“These could include new set of small holders farmers that will be engaged in productive activities; new logistics companies that will transport raw materials to factories, and finished goods to the market; new storage centres that will be built to store locally produced goods; additional growth for our banks and financial institutions as they will be able to provide financial services to support these new businesses; and finally, the millions of Nigerians that will be employed in factories to support processing of goods,” he had disclosed.

Also, a recent report disclosed that Nigeria has overtaken Egypt as the largest rice producer in Africa.

The Director-General, Africa Rice Center, Benin Republic, Dr Harold Roy-Macauley, who disclosed this, said Nigeria is now the largest rice producer at four million tonnes a year. Egypt was producing 4.3 tonnes annually but the country’s production had reduced by almost 40 per cent this year. Africa produces an average of 14.6 million tonnes of rough rice annually, he explained.

The feat disclosed by Roy-Macauley was the outcome of robust collaboration between the CBN and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, that focused on areas in the agriculture sector where the country has comparative advantage.

Also, after keeping the benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) unchanged for 33 months, the Monetary Policy Committee this week caught analysts and investors off-guard as it announced a reduction in the MPR from 14 per cent to 13.5 per cent.

The CBN hinged its decision on the need to boost economic growth.

The committee, however, retained the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 22.5 per cent and Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

Emefiele pointed out that the rate cut does not necessarily indicate an end to the monetary tightening cycle.

He said banks would be expected to adjust to the loosening in MPR so that its positive impact could be felt by customers. He also said the reduction in MPR had a “reasonable” correlation to lending to the real sectors of the economy.

The CBN governor said: “Now, having been on this path, particularly the MPR at 14 per cent since July 2016, and with the relative stability we have seen in the macroeconomic variables over the last two and a half years, we just think that this should be the next phase where we keeping our eyes on all other parameters, let’s see whether we can signal a direction from the monetary policy, in the direction of supporting and really accelerating growth in the country.

“Accelerating growth effectively means that we have to push harder to consolidate GDP, we need to push harder to make sure we create jobs. Doing this will naturally mean that we are softening gradually. But I repeat and I shouldn’t be misunderstood, that we will continue to do what we are doing, what we have done in the past keeping inflation at moderated levels, and exchange rate stable. We will continue to do so. I think we are moving in the right direction.”

Financial Inclusion

Cognisant of the fact that close to 40 per cent of adult Nigerians do not have access to financial services, the Bank has implemented series of initiatives that would drive our efforts aimed at building a more financially inclusive society.

Some of these measures include the promotion of alternative banking channels, agent banking and the Shared Agent Network Facility (SANEF), all of which are intended to deepen penetration of agent networks in underserved locations across the country.

The recent unveiling of the policy on Payment Service Banks

To the Head of Research and Strategy at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Ayodele Akinwunmi, Emefiele has effectively steered monetary policy on the right path.

“Look at the I&E structure for foreign exchange, in April 2017, when that policy was introduced, it changed the dynamics in the equities market and the stock market appreciated by 42 per cent in that year. “Also, in 2015, when the current president was sworn in, remember that for almost six months, we didn’t have a cabinet.

The economy then was managed solely by monetary policy and they ensured that the economy was stable. And it was because of the initiatives of the CBN Governor and his team, that made us not to feel the impact.

“It was like somebody driving with one leg or a human being walking with one leg. So, the CBN Governor helped in navigating the crisis and in stabilising the economy. In addition, look at the restriction of access to forex that was placed on 42 items.

“Some people may not appreciate that, but the reality of the matter is that if a country can only support its currency, not by foreign portfolio investments, but by the quantum of foreign earnings that you can generate. So, there were a number of things we were importing that we had the capacity to produce here.”

Continuing, Akinwunmi said: “So, the forex restriction on the official and interbank market that was place on those items, made the companies abroad to come to Nigeria to start operations here.

“Rice production has increased substantially and I remember that the CBN Governor said then that a central bank in a developing country like Nigeria, must play development roles in various sectors.

So, the CBN under his leadership has established a whole lot of funds to support some strategic sectors in the economy that have the capability to generate employment.

“As you are aware, one of the problems we have in Nigeria is high level of unemployment rate. If almost everything we consume in Nigeria are imported, what it then means is that you are exporting jobs and put pressure on the forex. But through the initiatives of the central bank under Emefiele, he has been able to introduce a lot of policies to ensure that some of those companies now see the need to come and establish in Nigeria.

“Few weeks ago, we saw that he (Emefiele) was at the Dangote Refinery and he pledged the central bank’s support to ensure the completion of the project. So, for me, he has done well. He has been able stabilise the exchange rate, even though we saw some depreciation few years back, which was not caused by him.

“If we have not diversified the productive base of the economy to generate income and diverse forex, oil price volatility would remain a challenge. Inflation came down consistently in 2018. In the banking industry, look at the way they are resolving the problems some banks had.

“We saw how Polaris Bank took over Skye Bank and no job was lost. He has ensured that no depositor lost his or her deposits and provided stability to ensure that the institution remains sound until they find a buyer. And the kind of engagement the central bank has with the banking industry which it regulates is something that is commendable.

“They involve the banks in major decisions and when they want to implement a policy, they get the views of the banks about some of the policies. So, for me, Emefiele has done well and if he is coming back, he is going to do better and if he is not coming back, I believe whoever takes over from him would continue the good work.”

On his part, Ezun, urged the president not to delay his announcement on who is to be the next CBN Governor.

“For me, I expect that before the end of this month, the president should have told us if he is going to retain Emefiele and if he is not to be retain, the incoming CBN Governor should be announced early.

“All these are some of the things that build confidence in the market. Investors need to start assessing the person and his monetary policy stance,” Ezun added.

To the Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu believes Emefiele has won a good fight so far.

He added: “At some point, there was a fiscal vacuum and then he was basically the one who was trying to restore the economy. If you recall, on a number of time, the MPC urged the federal government to improve the fiscal space.

“Basically, one can say that a lot of the recoveries that we witnessed so far can be attributed to his efforts as the CBN Governor. For instance, look at the I & E window, it was the major boost to achieving forex stability and growing the reserves to what it is today.”

Nevertheless, just as El-Erian highlighted, in order to avoid the residual effects of the financial crisis, there is need to ensuring robust and inclusive economic growth also through the use of fiscal and structural policies.

Also, to ensure that the economy realises sustainable economic growth, both monetary and fiscal policies must be seen always to be collaborating with the right mix of policies that can help unleash the untapped potential of entrepreneurs and businesses.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t ."3$) , 2019

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Power Oil’s Pay with Calories Fitness Instructor, Martin Bikalaid; Member of staff, Insignia Print Technology Enterprise, Mr. Stanley Ebhojie and Public Relations Manager, Tolaram Group, Omotayo Azeez - Abiodun during Power Oil ‘Pay-with-Calories’ campaign at Insignia Print Technology Enterprise, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos recently

Chief Executive Officer,Lagos State Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation; Mrs Kudirat Bamitale Hope; Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person, NAPTIP, Lagos, Mr Daniel Atokolo; Board Secretary, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board ,SUBEB,Mrs Foluso Kehinde and Founder, Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative during the initiative’s symposium to mark the 2019 Int’l Women’s Day in Lagos, recently

Power Oil Engages Staff in Fitness Challenge Vegetable cooking oil brand, Power Oil, has taken its fitness campaign, ‘Pay with Calories’ up a notch, as the initiative was extended to factory workers across the country.

The ‘Pay With Calories’ was a health and fitness focused campaign that engaged consumers in a series of exercises on treadmills and cyclers, which eventually had them rewarded with gift items based on the amount of calories they were able to burn within a specified time on the spot.

Before now, the initiative was limited to the firm’s external publics as part of its corporate social responsibility projects for a healthy population.

The campaign, which is now activated internally, will see over 4000 factory workers of Power Oil sister companies and others, actively engaged in fitness work for three weeks.

According to the company, beneficiaries of the

exercise included, De United Foods Industries and Seasoning Factory, both in Ota, Ogun State, Dufil Prima Foods Plc and Pure Flour Mills in Port Harcourt, Northern Noodles, Kaduna, Insignia Prints and Raffles Oil Enterprises, both in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, Ikorodu Noodle Factory and Standard Flour Mills in Lagos.

Speaking on the activity, the Brand Manager, Power Oil, Miss. Amisha Chawla, stated that the initiative further positioned the company as being employees friendly and committed to workers’ wellness.

She said: “Taking the campaign to these factories is most strategic, as we reckon that most of the staff might not have sufficient time to build their physical strength outside work hours, hence, we decided to bring the activity closer to them within their comfort zone. More interesting is

the free time they enjoyed to participate in the programme.”

She added that beyond the physical exercise that will also earn participants various prizes in exchange for the number of calories burnt, members of staff would also be guided on different ways and lifestyle to adopt for them to lead a healthy life.

Speaking during the programme at Insignia Prints, Public Relations Manager, Tolaram Group, Mrs. Omotayo Azeez- Abiodun, explained that the activity was important going by rising health concerns.

“In essence, our motive is to encourage every Nigerian irrespective of social economic class to further become mindful of his or her heart health by making efforts to maintain good body fitness,” she said.

NGO Marks Women’s Day in Style, Seeks Women Empowerment A non-government organisation, Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative, has sought for the empowerment of women as it marked the 2019 International Women’s Day amidst fun, glamour and enlightenment.

The event had the presence of experts from private and government agencies, including the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board ,SUBEB;National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person, NAPTIP and International Organisation for Migration, IOM, all of which educated and shed more light on women’s issues based on their respective fields.

They also deliberated on the theme of the event, ‘Think Equal, Build Smart Innovate for

Change’, in a panel discussion that centred on Education as well as Equality, Peace and Justice.

The education panelists, comprising member, Lagos Teaching Service Commision, Mr. Jacob Ashaka, a former Permanent Secretary , Education District IV, Mrs. Lola Are-Adegbite, Education Consultant, Abimbola Sotuminu and Founder, Children’s Development Centre, Dr. Yinka Akindayomi, all submitted that education of women is key to achieve economic emancipation.

The second panelists which included Zonal Commander, NAPTIP Lagos, Mr. Daniel Atokolo, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Panti Division, Mrs. Yetunde Longe

and Programme Director, IOM , Abraham Tamrat, dealt extensively on issues relating to equality, peace and justice as its concerns women.

In her address, Board Secretary, SUBEB, Folusho Kehinde commended the organisation for supporting government efforts in promoting the cause of women and the vulnerable in the society through its educational campaigns.

She said: “Live Abundantly has been consistent with its goals of letting women and children know their rights as well as preparing them to participate in the economic sphere through education and enlightenment. This, no doubt would go far in shaping the society into sanity”.

Uber Eases Access to Platform with New App Transportation Network Company, Uber has launched a new app called ‘Uber Lite’ , to enhance its accessibility.

According to the company, ‘Uber Lite’, which is termed: the new, lighter way to Uber, is a reimagined app that saves space, works in limited network and compatible with any and android phone.

Speaking on the innovation, General Manager (GM) for Uber in West Africa, Lola Kassim, stated that the new app was a product of consumers research on how to improve their experience on the platform.

“It is a redesigned Uber app, that will use less storage space and quicker in connectivity when booking rides.

“We believe that anyone, anywhere should be able to get a ride and after in-depth research, users expressed a need for a lighter app, which uses less data and requires less storage space.

Thus, I’m pleased to announce Uber Lite, which we believe will provide broad access to the platform while creating greater opportunity for everyone.

“Uber Lite retains the core functionality of the rider app, has in-app support, and includes critical safety features such as ‘Trusted Contacts’ ; a feature that allows riders to share their trips with about five friends and family and driver profiles, allowing riders to identify their driver and their vehicles before they get in,” the GM added.

P&G Offers Free Dental La casera Urges More Fruits Intake During Lent Check to 10m Nigerians The La Casera Company has urged christians to consume more fruits in order to boost their healthiness during this period of lent.

Particularly, it enjoined christians to cultivate the habit of breaking their fast, first with fruits, most especially Apple, which aids fast rehydration of the body.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Chinedum Okereke, stated that the firm felicitates with christians and also assured of its committment to customers well-being at all times.

He said Apple was best suited for breaking fasts because it is rich in anti-oxidants that help to reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes as well as nutrients that nourish our body.

Speaking further, he said: ‘‘We view our consumers as members of one big happy family, and so we journey with them as they

navigate the various aspects of their lives, in this case, the spiritual aspect . La Casera, being a foremost apple soft drink, contains five per cent real apple juice in it, a feat which is unrivaled in the apple soft drink segment of the market. ‘’Our brand is also mindful of economic situation of many Nigerians, which is why we have maintained a price of N100 for our 50cl stock keeping unit, that even offers 20% more content. We hope to be able to maintain this price point for as long as possible, just to ensure our consumers get the best quality at an affordable price.

“As an innovative brand, we are always looking at new ways to delight all our consumers and ensure that we are ahead of the curve, while still retaining the high quality. We have always been known for, this is one of the reasons we have the highest percentage of real apple juice in the soft drink market.’’

In celebrating the 2019 World Oral Health Day, Oral B, a toothpaste brand of P&G Nigeria, has said that it would provide free dental care service to 10million Nigerians, through its Mobile Dental Clinic Programme.

According to P&G Country Category Manager, Oral Care (West & East Africa), Tolu Pogoson, the free service would run for a period of four years.

Explaining the motive for the move, he said: “We are committed to improving the oral care of Nigerians, hence our drive to reach 10 million Nigerians, educating them on oral health and giving free dental checks through our Mobile Dental Clinic. We want to inspire individuals to take charge of their own oral health by taking specific actions to help prevent oral diseases and safeguard their overall health.” He informed further of the company’s plans to invest in enlightening Nigerians, with a view to

equipping them with knowledge needed to aid early detection of diseases and best treatment options, amongst other areas.

“Our efforts would be in educating consumers on the wider implications of protecting their oral health, helping them recognise that preventive care is always the best option. We would harp on early detection and treatment, which are crucial to ensuring the best outcomes against oral diseases and associated health complications”, he said.

With the theme of the 2019 World Oral Health Day as ‘Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health’, Pogoson called on individuals, families and communities to take action to protect their oral health.

“Poor oral health extends far beyond the mouth, with the possibility of taking a serious toll on an individual’s overall health and well-being.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

30.03.2019

NEWS

Spurs Set to Halt Reds Title Ambition

PAGE. 32

Emmanuel Amuneke The History Maker

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

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Emmanuel Amuneke The History Maker

Though he had led Nigeria to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2015 in Chile and had a stint with Sudan’s Al Khartoum SC before quitting the job, not many believe Emmanuel Amuneke is experienced enough to lead a country that was ranked 140 in the world by FIFA to its ďŹ rst AFCON after 39 years in the wilderness. Amuneke, however, achieved that feat with Tanzania

T

he order was indeed a very tall one, when last year, Amuneke accepted to tinker the Taifa Stars of Tanzania whose primary objective was to hoist its flag at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Egypt. The country’s last appearance at the biennial competition was in Nigeria in 1980 where they failed to qualify from the group stage.

Ranked 140 in the world by FIFA, Tanzania is not a superpower when it comes to Africa football and the challenge before Amuneke was how to turn around the fortune of the Taifa Stars and ensure a second AFCON

appearance.

After his unveiling, an elated Amuneke said he was beginning a new chapter in his career with his appointment as coach of Tanzania. “This is a new page of my career. I am a professional coach who believes any professional should be able to work anywhere. I am happy with the contract and I am ready to give my best as a coach in any place I find myself.

It’s a new page, a new environment but the same philosophy of the game,� he declared after he was announced as coach of the Taifa Stars.

True to type, he did the unthinkable as he made history with Tanzania by

guiding the Taifa Stars to their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance in 39 years after they defeated Uganda 3-0 at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam last Saturday Amuneke’s charges finished second in Group L with eight points, five behind leaders the Cranes of Uganda who have already qualified for Africa’s biggest football showpiece event.

In a telephone interview with THISDAY, Amuneke said, “Today is an emotional night for me and I’m delighted to have piloted this team to win this important match. It was an agonising moment before the match knowing full well that we must win to

stay in the tournament. “Football is a uniting factor here.

I can see the happiness on the faces of everybody while the untiring support from the beginning to the end was a motivational factor for my players who never failed to take their legs off the gas. My wish, for now, is to go back and review the series with my team and to know where we are lacking and also hope we get a good draw when the ceremony holds soon in Cairo, Egypt,�

Amuneke, was celebrated from the stands with few minutes left, fans were chanting his name having broken the jinx that had afflicted

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MARCH 30, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Tanzania in the Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifying series since the country last qualified in 1979 for the 1980 tournament.

With the feat, Amuneke has joined Stephen Keshi in the group of Nigerian coaches, who helped qualify other African national teams to the continent’s biggest football fiesta.

The former African footballer of the Year’s feat comes nine years after Keshi qualified and led Mali to the 2010 AFCON in Angola.

Tanzania Football Federation’s Technical Director, Oscar Mirambo, has hailed Nigerian coach Emmanuel Amuneke after leading the Taifa stars of Tanzania to their first cup of nations

since featuring last at 1980.

Mirambo was full of praises for Amuneke’s achievement with the Tanzanian national team and described the feat as a dream come true for millions of Tanzanians who have simply been told that the country has once been at the AFCON but now glad to see the national team playing at the AFCON a reality.

Speaking in the same vein, former Super Eagles safe hand Christian Obi said it was just unfortunate that Nigerian coaches were not given the respect they deserve on the home front, saying he never doubted Amuneke’s ability to do well in Tanzania.

“A prophet is not without honour except in his own country. It is just unfortunate that we don’t appreciate what we have in this country. Nigerian coaches are very good if given the right atmosphere to work. Amuneke is a very good example. He is technically and tactically sound and he has his coaching Grade A license,” Obi said.

The 1985 U-20 World Cup bronze winner indeed charged the eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation to reconsider its stand on Nigerian coaches.

“It’s high time the NFF should start reconsidering its stance and attitude towards Nigerian coaches. It should start giving them the respect they deserve. Given the necessary support, Nigerian coaches would take the country’s football to a position of envy,” the former Heartland of Owerri goalkeeper trainer opined.

Continuing, Obi said: “I must emphasise that Amuneke is not the first Nigerian coach that would take appointment outside the shores of the country. When Adegboye Onigbinde took over as manager of Trinidad and Tobago, their football was in crisis but he (Onigbinde) gave them some time to stabilise their football and before the expiration of the date he gave them he had begotten for them a good and stabilised national team.”

Obi is indeed optimistic that Amuneke would do well with the Taifa Stars.

“I know Amuneke very well, I have worked with him before. He knew his onions,” Obi said.

On his part, the National PRO, Nigeria Coaches Association, Etta Egbe said: “A lot of Nigerian coaches are technically inclined but we are being undermined by the football federation. You cannot because one coach failed; you then rub it on every other coach that is very wrong. If one coach disappointed, there are several good coaches that could be turned to.

“Though we trust that he has the quality and the technical know-how to take Tanzanian football to a new height, we would not leave him all by himself as he would enjoy our support and encouragement.”

Amuneke was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a member of the panel set up by FIFA to shortlist the 2017/2018 season men’s footballers and coaches of the year.

Amuneke said then, “As a player, I was privileged to have participated in the 1994 World Cup and now in 2018 I am privileged once again to participate this time, not as a player but as a fan and also one of the people going to make some major decisions.”

On his appointment to the FIFA Russia 2018 Technical Study Group, the former Africa Footballer of the Year said, “This role is a good one for me and Nigeria football as it goes to show that our football has grown.”

Amuneke who was part of the first ever Nigerian team to feature at the FIFA World Cup talked on the team experience going into that tournament in 1994 saying, “We were excited in the first place for being part of the 1994 World Cup but ahead of the first match against Bulgaria, there was a lot of excitement, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt, a lot of questioning mindset but most importantly we were very confident in our ability as a team and we played as a team, which was the secret behind our little success .”

On having several players he coached in the Golden Eaglets representing Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup, he said, “As a coach it is a thing of pride to see the players you coach at the U-17 level after few years playing for the senior national team, that is

pretty much what player development is all about and with FIFA’s main priority being development, Nigeria as a nation should not be left behind.”

In his playing days, his goals were always crucial and had given Nigeria victory on a number of occasions.

From the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, to the Afro-Asian Cup at the National Stadium in 1998 and many others.

Against the backdrop of calls in some quarters that new Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rorh should inject an appreciable number of home-based players into the national team, the former Nigerian international has a different opinion.

“The team still needs the services of the foreign professionals. If the coach should feature a good number of home-based players and fail to get the desired result, he would be heavily criticised for excluding the professionals. Though it is a good move to restoring the confidence of the local players, it is going to take a lot of time and exposure to meet up with the challenges. He still needs the experiences of those foreign-based players that are willing to give their best, not only putting on the national jerseys,” the former Barcelona of Spain player said.

The former African Footballer of the Year, who moved to Spanish giants FC Barcelona in 1996 for a fee of $3.6 million had his career at top flight cut short after he suffered a serious knee injury which in the process denied him a regular place in the Catalans team and also deprived him of a second consecutive World Cup with the Super Eagles. Amuneke never fully recovered from his injury and was released

by Barca to play for Spanish second division side, Albacete, Busan l’Cons of South Korea and Al-Wahdat SC of Jordan before retiring from football at the age of 33. He also spent some time as an assistant coach at Saudi Premier League, side Al-Hazm, but left the club to become a scout for Manchester United of England.

“It was very painful that the knee injury came at the time it came, especially after moving to one of the best clubs in the world and already had a wonderful season with them. It was a moment of despair in my footballing career having to watch my colleagues in the national team play in France 1998. After our impressive outing at the ‘94 Mundial, most of us had moved to big clubs in Europe, played alongside the best players in the world and were really looking forward to the France 1998 World Cup. Unfortunately, injury denied me of my dream but I took solace in God like I always do in every situation I find myself,” he said.

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

32

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

GLOBAL SOCCER

Liver Faces

With the League, Tottenh four leag look to s

L

iverpool face their toughest remaining test in the Premier League title race when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds lead the way at the top of the division by two points, but they have played a game more than champions Manchester City - away to Fulham last Saturday and will likely find themselves in second place ahead of kickoff.

Jurgen Klopp was keen to dismiss suggestions that Liverpool showed title jitters in their most recent outing, a 2-1 win at Fulham, as they required a late James Milner penalty to overcome the division’s second-worst side.

If not for Milner’s nerves of steel

from 12 yards, the Reds would have headed into the international break sitting second in the table and with little chance of toppling Man City.

As it is, though, they have occupied top spot for the past fortnight to ensure that City are unable to take their foot off the gas. After this tricky test against an admittedly out-ofform Tottenham side, Liverpool have just one more top-six team - awayday strugglers Chelsea on April 14 - to face in their remaining seven matches.

Klopp also has the Champions League to factor in, with Porto - the best team they could have hoped for to face over two legs for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

This is very much shaping up to be a season to remember for Liverpool

fans, then, though they more than any other set of supporters - in recent years, at least - know just how quickly joy can turn to pain.

The narrow win over Fulham was, no matter how Klopp puts it, a nervy affair and it was only the Reds’ fourth win in eight league matches. Those dropped points to Leicester City, West Ham United, Manchester United and Everton have allowed Man City to pounce, setting up what should be a thrilling conclusion to one of the best title races in years.

Liverpool also tend to fare well against fellow top-six opposition, having claimed 13 points from games against the sides in and around them this term. Only Man City (19) have collected more, while Man United are the only side to have have won fewer points from such fixtures than Tot-

tenham (seven).

The Reds’ impressive title charge has also been built on an impressive home record and a solid defensive return, though they have conceded six goals in their five Premier League home games in 2019, as many as they had in their previous 17 at Anfield.

Three more points this weekend will make it 37 home league games without defeat and at the same time ensure that Liverpool are very much in the title race to stay. Defeat, though, and it will not take long for the same old ‘bottlers’ tag to be bandied about.

It was only seven weeks ago that Tottenham were themselves being talked up as title contenders - rightly so after holding off Leicester to move to within five points of the top two.

That win at Wembley on February 10 made it four in a row in the top

ÍťÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Match Facts

rpool Title Race s Spurs’ Test

e international break over, attention turns back to the Premier , with this weekend headline ďŹ xture seing Liverpool host am Hotspurs. The Lilywhites may have lost three of their last gue matches but remain a tough task for Liverpool as the Reds strengthen their position in the title race at AnďŹ eld on Sunday

r Liverpool have lost just one of their last 24 home Premier League games against Spurs (W15 D8 L1), a 0-2 defeat in May 2011 under Kenny Dalglish. r Only Man City (19) have won more points than Liverpool (13) in Premier League meetings between the ‘big six’ this season, while only Man Utd (6) have won fewer points than Tottenham in such matches (7). r Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 36 home Premier League matches.

If they avoid defeat here, it will be the joint-second longest unbeaten home run in the competition’s history (Chelsea 86 2004-2008, Man City 37 2010-2012). r The Reds have conceded six goals in their five Premier League home games in 2019, as many as they had in their previous 17 at Anfield. r No player has scored more Premier League goals in 2019 than Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (9, level with Sergio Aguero), with the Senegalese star’s nine goals coming in his last nine games. r Spurs have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Liverpool (W1 D4 L7), winning 4-1 at Wembley in October 2017. r Spurs are winless in their last four Premier League games (D1 L3). They last went five without a win in the same campaign back in February-March 2012 under Harry Redknapp. r Mauricio Pochettino has never won against Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in four meetings in all competitions (W0 D2 L2). His only victory away against Liverpool was as Southampton manager in September 2013 when the Reds were managed by Brendan Rodgers. r Harry Kane has been involved in four goals in four Premier League appearances against Liverpool at Anfield (3 goals, 1 assist). r After a run that saw him score 11 goals in 12 games in all competitions between December and February, Son Heung-min has failed to score in his last five appearances for Spurs.

Indeed, each of Spurs’ last four goals in all competitions have been netted

by Harry Kane.

Head to Head

flight, but they have not picked up all three points in their four matches since.

The wheels started to fall off with a shock 2-1 loss at Burnley, which they followed up with a 2-0 reverse to Chelsea, a fortunate 1-1 draw against North London rivals Arsenal and a 2-1 defeat at Southampton last time out.

Victories in both legs of their Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund has softened the blow a little, setting up a quarter-final with Man City and ensuring that their campaign is not over just yet.

Any outside hopes Mauricio Pochettino had of lifting the Premier League title this term are now over, however, and all of a sudden Tottenham are looking over their

shoulder rather than ahead at the top two.

The defeat to Southampton three weeks ago, which Pochettino found particularly hard to accept following the concession of two late goals, leaves the Lilywhites’ top-four hopes looking a lot more precarious than they did a month ago.

In fact, with Arsenal taking on Newcastle United, Chelsea heading to Cardiff City and Man United playing host to Watford, defeat for Tottenham on Sunday could be pretty disastrous.

They hold a one-point advantage on fifth-placed Arsenal and are three points better off than Man United, while Chelsea are four points behind. This weekend, if all goes to form, could see the race for a top-four finish well and truly heat up.

Premiership Table

Team Liverpool Man City Tottenham Arsenal Man Utd Chelsea Wolves Watford West Ham Leicester Everton Bournemouth Newcastle Crystal Palace Brighton Southampton Cardi Fulham HuddersďŹ eld

P 31 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 31 30 29 30 30 31 31

GD 52 58 25 24 18 17 2 -2 -3 -3 1 -13 -9 -5 -10 -16 -30 -41 -39

Pts 76 74 61 60 58 57 44 43 42 41 40 38 35 33 33 30 28 17 14

Premiership TODAY

Fulham Brighton Burnley Palace Leicester Man Utd West Ham Sunday Cardi City Liverpool

v v v v v v v

Man City 12:30 Southampton 15:00 Wolves 15:00 HuddersďŹ eld 15:00 Bournemouth 15:00 Watford 15:00 Everton 17:30

v v

Chelsea Tottenham

14:05 16:30

NAME

CLUB

GOALS

Sergio AgĂźero Mohamed Salah Aubameyang Harry Kane Sadio ManĂŠ Raheem Sterling Eden Hazard Alexandre Lacazette RaĂşl JimĂŠnez Jamie Vardy GylďŹ Sigurdsson Richarlison Romelu Lukaku Paul Pogba Son Heung-Min Callum Wilson Roberto Firmino Joshua King Glenn Murray

Man City 18 Liverpool 17 Arsenal 17 Tottenham 17 Liverpool 17 Man City 15 Chelsea 13 Arsenal 12 Wolves 12 Leicester 12 Everton 12 Everton 12 Man Utd 12 Man Utd 11 Tottenham 11 Bournemouth 11 Liverpool 11 Bournemouth 11 Brighton 11

Hot Shot

Spanish La Liga Fixtures TODAY

Getafe Barcelona Celta Vigo AlavĂŠs

18-09-15

Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool

18-02-04

Liverpool

17-10-22

Tottenham 4-1 Liverpool

17-02-11

Liverpool

16-08-27

Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool

16-04-02

Liverpool

15-10-17

Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool

15-02-10

Liverpool

14-08-31

Tottenham 0-3 Liverpool

TODAY

14-03-30

Liverpool

13-12-15

Tottenham 0-5 Liverpool

Udinese Juventus Sampdoria

v v v v

LeganĂŠs Espanyol Villarreal AtlĂŠtico

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

v v v v v

Eibar 11:00 Real Betis 13:00 Valencia 15:15 Sociedad 17:30 Huesca 19:45

v v v

Genoa Empoli AC Milan

14:00 17:00 19:30

v v v v v

Atalanta Torino SPAL Napoli Sassuolo

11:30 14:00 14:00 14:00 17:00

2-2 Tottenham 2-0 Tottenham 1-1 Tottenham 3-2 Tottenham 4-0 Tottenham

13-03-10

Liverpool

12-11-28

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

3-2 Tottenham

12-02-06

Liverpool

11-09-18

Tottenham 4-0 Liverpool

0-0 Tottenham

11-05-15

Liverpool

0-2 Tottenham

10-11-28

Tottenham

2-1 Liverpool

10-01-20

Liverpool

2-0 Tottenham

SUNDAY

Levante Vallecano Sevilla Valladolid Madrid

Serie A

SUNDAY

Parma Fiorentina Frosinone Roma Bologna

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Participating schools slugging it out during the third edition of the Chess4Change Grand Slam held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere on Thursday

(L-R) Mr Akeem Adewole - Chairman, Lufthansa City Centre Tifa Travels, Mr Vivek Chandwani, ,Winner of The Duke of Edinburgh Cup, Nigeria QualiďŹ er 2019, Mrs Adelola Adewole - MD, Lufthansa City Centre Tifa

Defenders Spurred by Special Promotions in Battle against Morocco CivilDefendersbasketballteam has said that they are battle-ready as they faceAS Sale of Morocco in Abuja today. It is the tipoff for the Elite 8 stage of theAfrican League.

One of the things that have given these Defenders the confidence is the promotion incentive handed down from their Commandant GeneralAbdullahi Gana before the players left the country for the first stage of the continental competition which was held in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

The General Manager of the team and an ex-Nigerian international, Victor Okoro confirmed that the pre-tournament promise had been fulfilled.

He said, “The players have never felt so confident of themselves the way they feel now; the team is quite ready for the Moroccans and indeed any team for that matter. “The CG has truly motivated the players and this has gingered everyone heavily and has made preparations a lot easier for us.

They were promised special promotion if they qualified for this elite stage and that has been fulfilled. The players will get their letters by next week.�

It was learnt that the majority of the players who are bona fide employees of the Civil Defence Corps will get their letter while the remaining few have been

penciled down for employment.

The other teams in theAfrican top 8 bracket are ES Rades who will face JS Kairouan; Primeiro de Agosta against Petro de Luanda in an all Angolan affair and Smouha versusAlAhly. The Nigerians are targeting to hit the semi-finals of the competition playing in its first edition since it was repackaged.

Apart from getting the players set, the Defenders are going the extra mile to get the National Stadium Sports Hall filled. Okoro said a lot of the city residents were aware of the international fixture and they were also confident that a lot of fans would turn up at the arena.

“We did not just market it to the adults but we pushed it to the schools in the territory and we expect a quite a number of pupils and their guardians at the stadium. Quite a number of people have also shown interest from as far as Lagos,� the GM added.

AFA Sports management hailed the achievement of Civil DefenderssointheirAfricaLeague campaign, describing the players as a rare breed. AFA Sports who are their kit sponsors are backing them to get over AS Sale.

Rivers Hoopers were the other team for Nigeria in the competition but they failed to make it to this stage.

Lagos City, Birrel High School Sparkle at PWC Chess4Change Grand Slam Lagos City College, Yaba and Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Sabo, on Thursday emerged winners in the individual and team categories in the third edition of the Chess4Change Grand Slam held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Rahmon Idowu scored six points to win the individual event of the grand slam title, while Moyinoluwa Lawal of Government Senior College, Eric Moore, came second with five points as Egbe Benedict of Ireti Senior Grammar School, Ikoyi, fin-

ished in the third position also with five points.

With 21 and a half points, Birrel Avenue School beat Government Senior College Eric Moore, which amassed 17 points, while Lagos City College, Yaba, third with 16 and a half points in the team’s category of the competition.

Speaking at the event, a Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Jide Adeola, said the championship was part of building trust in the society hence the organisation of the Chess championship among the youths. “Chess is a game of the mind and by involving stu-

dents in the game, it will enhance their abilities to be socially inclined, think critically and also helps in solving important problems. “We feel that over time we will continue to build young people, who can participate in solving Nigerians problems,� he said.

On his part, the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, stated that the game of chess is a sport that needed to start off at an early age. “For us in Lagos

State, it’s a game that we have always been excelling. At the National Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara, Lagos State got six or eight gold medals. We are the dominant state in chess at the youth level. “And very soon we are going to be taking it to the very next level. That is why we have a companylikePWC sponsoringthiscompetition.Very soon,wearegoingtobelookingat quiteanumberofothercompetitions, as well as with the private sector. I think we have a good legacyinchessandwearegoing to build on that and improve upon it,� he stated.

Chandwani, Edo-Osagie Win Duke of Edinburgh Cup The maiden edition of the Duke of Edinburgh Cup, a charity tournament dedicated to the cause of the less-privileged all over the world came to a thrilling end at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 last Saturday with Vivek Chandwani winning the events top prize. To come tops, Chandwani grossed 36- stableford point, beating Iwinosa Edo-Osagie who also shots 36- stableford points on countback to the second position.

With their victories, the duo of Chandwani and EdoOsagie will represent Nigeria at the all-expense paid trip to the World Finals of the Duke of Edinburgh Cup in Windsor, UK later in the year in October.

Satisfied with the outcome of the event, John Casseerley , the Director of Operations of DofE, while thanking everybody present for the participating in the competition said the support will go a long way in putting smiles on

the face of the needy globally and especially Nigeria.

Wale Edun, Chairman; International Award for Young People in Nigeria, added that the success of the maiden DofE will help attract the world attention to the plight of young people in Nigeria.

While urging those in need not to give up in the face of challenges being faced in Nigeria, Ibukun Obatoyinbo, representative of the organisers of the event

being focused in life in spite challenges has good reward, adding that plans were also on to move the competition across the country.

NNPC/ Eroton E&P JV, Rite Foods ( Bigi brands), Stanbic IBTC, Niger Delta E&P, Megamound Properties Group, Mercure Moorehouse Hotel, Ikoyi, and Lufthansa City Centre/Tifa Travels were some of the event’s sponsors.

DofE is referred to in Nigeria as International Award for Young People.

Man Utd to Pay Molde £1m after Solskjaer’s Appointment Manchester United will give Molde a total of £1 milion in a goodwill gesture after appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their permanent manager, Sky Sports News understands.

Solskaer was announced as the long-term successor to Jose Mourinho on Thursday, with the Norwegian signing a three-year contract.

Sky Sports News understands Molde received part of the payment in December when they allowed the former United striker to take over at Old Trafford as the club’s caretaker manager.

The Norwegian side will now receive the second part of that payment, with Solskjaer keen to build a strong relationship between the clubs.

Solskjaer has won 14 of his 19 matches since taking the reins at United, helping to propel them back into the race for a top-four finish.

After improving the club’s league form, the 46-year-old masterminded a memorable comeback in the Champions League last-16 tie against PSG earlier this month, with United overturning a two-goal first-leg deficit to set up a quarter-final tie against Barcelona.

Solskjaer led United to a 5-1 victory over Cardiff in his first fixture in charge, sparking an eight-match winning run in all competitions which included successes at Tottenham and Arsenal.

United also enjoyed a 12-match unbeaten run in the Premier League before suffering their first league defeat under Solskjaer - a 2-0 loss at Arsenal.

United currently sit in fifth place, just two points off fourth-placed Arsenal, as they prepare to host Watford today.

Wilder may Force Klitschko Out of Retirement Wladimir Klitschko’s former promoter would like

to see the former world champion take on WBC title holder Deontay Wilder if he decides to come out of retirement.

The 43-year-old Ukrainian hasn’t fought since losing to Anthony Joshua at Wembley in April 2017 and announced his retirement later that year.

However, with Klitschko having admitted he continues to train and the heavyweight division attracting huge interest, there have been rumours he could make a return to the ring, with one company reported to be offering him a ÂŁ60m three-fight deal. “Wladimir had such a good championship run that a lot of people want to see him back in the ring,â€? the Ukrainian’s former promoter Tom Loeffler told Sirius XM. “I don’t know whether he’s content with what he’s accomplished. “It will be his decision. He’s been posting videos and photos showing the bug is still somewhere in the back of his head. “My personal opinion is I’d like to see him and Deontay Wilder. That would be a tremendous fight.â€?

Wilder will take on fellow American Dominic Breazeale in Brooklyn on May 18, but with future fights against Joshua and Tyson Fury looking far from certain, a meeting with Klitschko could be an attractive option.

Joshua will put his IBF, WBA and WBO titles on the line when he faces Jarell ‘Big Baby’ Miller in New York City on June 1, with his promoter Eddie Hearn having insisted he will continue his attempts to make a unification fight with Wilder.

Klitschko won Olympic super-heavyweight gold in Atlanta in 1996 before embarking on a professional career which saw 64 wins and five defeats, including an 11-year unbeaten streak that ended in 2015 against Fury, who fights German Tom Schwarz in June.

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Joshua Oluwayemi, Commits Future to Nigeria After Francis Uzoho committed the schoolboy error which gave Seychelles the equaliser in the 3-1 loss to Nigeria, it was obvious that the goalkeeping area is still one of the weakest links in the Super Eagles team.

It was, therefore, a piece of cheery news when Tottenham Hotspur whiz kid, Joshua Oluwayemi recently committed his international future to Nigeria over England in spite of having represented the English at the age-grade level

H

ighly-rated Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi has committed his international future to Nigeria over his country of birth England ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.

Born in Waltham Forest 18 years ago, Oluwayemi comes from a family of goalkeepers as his father, Abiodun Ogunyemi, was a goalkeeper for Ogun State University and attended Federal Government College Odogbolu, while his sibling, Tobi is also a goalkeeper at Tottenham Hotspur.

Oluwayemi has represented England at U-15 and U-16 levels and has said that he will accept an invitation to play for the Nigerian teams if approached by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Speaking after Tottenham Hotspur U-18s beat Southampton 3-1 in the first game hosted at New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Oluwayemi told mafisportsmedia.com : ‘’If Nigeria comes for me, then I’ll go but at the moment I am focusing on England youth, and then Nigeria first.’’ On playing the first game at the new Spurs Stadium, the second-year scholar said: ‘’It’s a very good experience, I am happy to see a lot of fans and the crowd coming over to support us. It was a good result.’’ Oluwayemi is learning to be a top goalkeeper under the tutelage of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal legend Pat Jennings.

Oluwayemi alongside Jubril Okedina in 2017 extended their stay at English Premier League side, Tottenham. Both players, born in the UK but eligible for Nigeria, have signed two-year extensions to their scholarship at the North London club and are among the 16 new intakes ahead of the 2017/18 football season.

They have been promoted to the Tottenham Hotspur U-18 team, and are eligible to feature in this season’s UEFA Youth League.

Since the controversial retirement of former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama, the goalkeeping department had been one problematic area for senior national team until the

arrival of Carl Ikeme, who steadied the ship.

He did not, however, last long as the Wolverhampton Wanderers FC safe hands was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July 2017, culminating in his early retirement from football. “After a tough year and intense chemotherapy treatment, I would like to let everyone know I am in complete REMISSION. I still have hurdles to get over to be cured but I can hopefully now move forward with some normality. “I would like to thank my family/ friends, to start with who have gone above and beyond for me. The support I have received from Wolves/Nigeria,

the football world and from people from all over the world has been hard to put into words. I can’t thank everyone at the Christie and Heartlands Hospital enough for their care!!! What next who knows‌I’m just taking it a day at a time,� Ikeme had announced.

Ikeme was in goal for Nigeria’s first three matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series (home and away against Swaziland in the preliminary stage, and away to Zambia in the opener to the group phase campaign) before being diagnosed of acute leukemia. His first cap was in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in September 2015.

During the 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, three goalkeepers were on parade- Ikeme, who lost out to acute Leukaemia, Daniel Akpeyi, who was shaky against Algeria in Uyo and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who Rohr has no total conviction in. With Dele Ajiboye and Dele Alampasu were outsiders, forcing Super Eagles Manager Gernot Rohr to turn his searchlight on the then 18-year-old Deportivo La Coruna’s Francis Uzoho.

With the commitment of Oluwayemi’s international future to his fatherland, one can only hope that the problem in the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles won’t last long.

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

FAIRGROUND with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

Mo Abudu's Original 'Wedding Party'

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

M

edia mogul, Mo Abudu's daughter, Temidayo's traditional wedding over the weekend might just be the biggest wedding in Nigeria this year and you may well agree with us that the only weddings known for such opulence are those of top government officials and aristocrats high net worth tycoons.

Of all other things, Mo is specifically known for her high taste when it comes to fashion and flair for sartorial elegance.

This explains why many were not quite surprised by the lavish ceremony she staged to mark her daughter, Temidayo and her long time boo, Adebola Makanjuola's big day. This isn't a box office experience, but the original wedding party and the sequel will be in Los Angeles in the next few months.

Aso ebi With the beautifully selected colours of the day (light shades of pink, black, white and blue, then peach, gold and green from the grooms side) Alari for Mo Abudu's mother and her friends.The aso-ebi star studded event was a sight to behold. Everyone in their own right made a fashion statement. The groom's mother aso ebi was gold and green while his father was peach.

The wedding planners were Funke Bucknor the CEO of Zapphire Events and Ibidun Ighodalo CEO Elizabeth R Events.

Mo and Temidayo Abudu's outďŹ ts / facebeats Mo and her daughter Temidayo had a first and second look, we can tell you for a fact that it was twice the appearance, twice the elegance and style. The fabrics for mother and daughter was from Uzz fabrics owned by Bisola Giwa-Osagie and Fadora fabrics owned by Yinka Fowora.

Mo Abudu's two outfits were designed by Lanre Da-Silva while and her daughter's was Couture by Tabik.

Mo Abudu's facebeat was done byBanke Meshida-Lawal and Temidayo's was by Bimpe Onakoya About the groom, Adebola Makanjuola.

He is the son of Chief Oluremi Muyinudeen Makanjuola, a billionaire and the chairman of Caverton Group and Lady Cassandra Omage. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business/ Trade and Commerce from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom; and a Master of Arts in Global Business Management and Leadership from Regent’s University, London. He is extremely private and has been dating Temidayo for a long time. At the wedding party despite the crowded settings, we couldn't help but

The Couple Adebola and Temidayo Makanjola

L-R; Chief Oluremi Makanjuola, Mother of the bride, Mo Abudu, The Couple Adebola and Temidayo Makanjola, the groons mother Cassandra Omage and Father of the bride Tokunbo Abudu

The Couple cutting the weddding cake

The Bride parent, Tokunbo and Mo Abudu

Ireti Doyle, Kate Henshaw and Funke Kuti

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and daughter, Princess

Linda Ejiofor and Ibrahim Suleiman

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi

Nkiru Anumudu and Toyin Saraki

Richard Mofe-Damijo

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

FAIRGROUND Mo Abudu's Original 'Wedding Party'

Mo Abudu and Toyin

notice the sophistication of the groom's family, the Makanjuolas too. Adebola's mother was simply gorgeous and elegant .

About the bride, Temidayo Abudu She is the daughter and first child of Tokunbo Abudu, a business man and a legal luminary and popular media mogul and EbonyLife TV CEO Mo Abudu. She is a TV producer who has earned prestigious name in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

Temidayo has worked on EbonyLife Films productions such as, On The Real, The Royal Hotel, Castle & Castle and Chief Daddy. She studied Marketing at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Who is Mo Abudu I call her the Iyalode of Nollywood. The first encounter and interview with her was at her Vic Laurence office in Victoria Island ages ago before her detour into media services.

From conquering the media space in Nigeria and indeed Africa, Mo Abudu has also become a force to reckon with in the film making business.

In 2013, Forbes Africa recognised Abudu as the first African woman to own a Pan-Africa TV channel. CNN referred to her as “Africa’s Queen of Media who conquered the continent” and in 2013 again, she was listed as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV

by The Hollywood Reporter. If you have been keeping up with the 54-year mother of two, then you would also know that she's all that and more.

In the world of fashion, Mo's social media pages have become a must-go-to spots for loads of fashion lovers and fashionistas in Nigeria, as she has just about the right amount of elegance, charisma and sophistication to keep her followers coming back for more.

With Mo, every appearance is a fashion statement and she can do no wrong in our eyes.

This was evident at the just concluded traditional wedding of her daughter, Temidayo. Despite all the gorgeous looks at the ceremony, one thing we all can agree on is that fact that Mo Fabulously stood out from the crowd. Nobody took her shine at the party, she glittered all through. From her first to second outfits, all we could see was the elegance, grace, sophistication and charm. Safe to say she stole the show, period!

But did Mo Abudu take the shine at her daughter's wedding?

Contrary to speculations making rounds on social media, Mo Abudu didn't outshine her daughter, Temidayo at her traditional wedding.

Let's look at this critically. Mo and Temi are two different people with totally different social orientations.

Socially, it's safe to say Mo is an extrovert while Temi is her direct opposite.

Thus, when it comes to fashion Mo is

Mr nd Mrs Peter Obi, Toyin Saraki and Obioma Imoke

also more out there, she doesn't hesitate to try and play around with just any comfortable pieces. You may want to consider Temidayo's conservative nature in this regard because she's totally not into fashion and style. She is indifferent and can’t be bothered.

Thus, we expected that much fashion statement from Mo on her daughter's wedding and I can tell you for a fact that they both shone differently and amazingly.

For the records, Temidayo is a known name as far as the entertainment scene is concerned in Nigeria. She's a filmmaker, a director and she's gradually carving a niche for herself in the industry.

The new political lion of Ogun State Ogun State governor-elect, Prince Adedapo Abiodun and his pretty wife, Bamidele, were at the wedding. His demeanor was calm. He sat with the former chairman of Skye bank, Chief Tunde Ayeni. Although Abiodun has tasted the corridors of power and contested for an elective office in 2015 when he lost in the contest for the Ogun East senatorial seat, he kept pressing forward undaunted because an inner voice was reminding him the vision was only for an appointed time.

Many knew and saw how his former friend, the outgoing governor, Ibikunle Amosu, fought him tooth and nails.

You may also recall that when president Buhari visited Ogun state, it was only Dapo Abiodun among the party chieftains that didn't wear the APC aso ebi during the rally. He was humiliated severally by the outgoing governor but kept calm all through the storm.

He supported Otunba Gbenga Daniel when he contested and in 2011, he joined hands with the incumbent, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, to win the election.

In 2015, and he wanted to be a senator, he was stalled and lost out completely.

Much is left to imagine about how governor Ibikunle Amosu feels right now after fighting Dapo Abiodun the way he did.

Dapo Abiodun is going to be the landlord of the same government for the next four years, this transition speaks truth to the transiency of power, so you'd understand the emotions behind Abiodun's confession, "If men were God, l won't be Governor-elect" Toyin Saraki This was her first social appeareance after her husband lost his bid to return to the senate and probably have lost out completely in the power tussle of the state politics, with Abdulrazaq Abdulraman as the governor-elect of Kwara State. Only time will tell if Bukola Saraki can hold sway politically in Kwara State again.

Anyway, back to Toyin.

She adorned the baby pink aso ebi, looked classy and sophisticated like she always does. She mingled with her friends and some acquintances, and obviously politics

Dr Ify Nwakwrsi and Lami Tumaka

Mariam, Mo Abudu And Biola Otufale

stretchy dark days are over now it is time to hit the fun streets with friends again.

Artists who performed at the wedding The arstists who performed at the wedding include, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, popular known as King Sunny Ade, who had everyone on their feet dancing throughout the event with his energetic performance. Closing the ceremony were Burna Boy and Tiwa Savage coming through with more amazing performances.

The relaxed ambience of the occasion as well as the assorted drinks and foods were top notch.

The wedding was graced by celebrities and top personalities like, Tunde Folawiyo, Jumoke Adenowo, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, Prince Abba Folawiyo, Hajia Lami Tumaka, Dr. Ify Nwakwesi, Pricllia Soyemi, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Jumoke Adenovo, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Femi Otedola, Lanre Olusola, Betty Irabor, Tara Durotoye, Ruth Osime, Dakore Egbuson-Akande , Kate Henshaw, Iretiola Doyle, Omawumi, Waje, Toke Makinwa, Nancy Isime, Toyin Lawani, Linda Ejiofor and husband, Suleiman, Funke Akindele and her husband, JJC amongst others.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

AUTO

Jaguar F-PACE new 300 Sport interior

Jaguar F-PACE New 300 Sport and Chequered Flag Special Editions Emerge Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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aguar has announced two distinctive special edition models for its award-winning F-PACE; the performance-focused 300 SPORT and the feature-packed Chequered Flag. They further enhance the World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Yearaward-winning F-PACE range, which offers the unrivalled dynamics and everyday versatility customers expect from a Jaguar performance SUV, according to a statement by the automaker.

300 SPORT Special Edition Powered to perform, the 300 SPORT comes with a 221kW2.0-litre Ingenium petrol with all-wheel drive.With400Nm of torque itcan accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 233km/h.

Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design, said:

“The Jaguar F-PACE has established itself as the ultimate performance SUV. Not only does it combine sports car DNA with the practicality of a larger vehicle, it does so with a great aesthetic. The latest special editions build on this visual appeal by enhancing the model’s sporting character to each create something unique. The F-PACE line-up has something for everyone.

The 300 SPORT is identified by distinctive Dark Satin Grey exterior detailing. Starting with the front grille surround, this extends to the side window surrounds, side vents, mirror caps and door finishers, as well as the rear valance. With 300 SPORT badges on the front grille and rear tailgate, it is available exclusively in Yulong White, Indus Silver and Santorini Black.

Step inside and the yellow contrast stitching on the instrument panel, centre console and leather seats provide a unique feel to the interior. The 300 SPORT logo is badged on the treadplates, carpet mats and steering wheel and is also embossed

on the front headrests.

Comfort and convenience features include Touch Pro Navigation, a Meridian sound system and 14-way electric front seats. Jaguar’s 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display provides a customisable and intuitive driver interface.

Customers buying the 300 SPORT will have the option of upgrading the standard specification with a number of additional features. This includes 18-way seats, with the option of heated front and rear seats. Adaptive Cruise Control and Adaptive Dynamics are some of the other features also available.

Chequered Flag Special Edition The Chequered Flag is based on the R-Sport model and comes with a distinctive exterior that includes a sport front bumper and striking Gloss Black detailing on the front grille, door cladding, side vents, and roof rails. The Chequered Flag is available in Yulong White, Santorini Black and in the newly introduced colour, Eiger Grey.

Nissan Group of Africa Advises on Devt of Automotive Masterplan for ECOWAS

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heNissanGroupofAfricahasrequested for an automotive masterplan that could make the most of the existing regionaltradeagreementsinECOWAS to build an automotive industry that is not just sustainable but internationally

competitive.

Nissan made this appeal through its Director of Sales and Operations Jim Dando, who said instead of allowingeverycountryinthesub-regionownavehicle assembly plant, which might not be economically viable, some countries should rather concentrate in their areas of proportional advantage.

“We would rather strategically create opportunities, that some might specialize in providing tyres, others batteries and shock absorbers, while those countries who do not ultimately assemble vehicles won’t all make the same vehicles because it doesn’t make sense to compete against each other.”

Mr. Dando who was speaking against the growing demand for vehicle plants in the sub-region said “Investing in an automotive plant is a huge undertaking, where there have to be incentives in place for the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and there has to be a very strong message against grey import market because these cars are being brought in cheaper than we can make them.”

Hesaidgreyimportsarehugelyproblematic,notjust becausetheyskewthemarket,buttheycreateexpectationsaboutaftersalesservice,whichthemanufacturers often can’t meet because the vehicles aren’t formerly made forAfrican conditions and therefore, there can’t be spares or trained technicians to service them.

The Nissan Group ofAfrica director therefore called on the various governments in the sub-region to be proactiveandshouldn’tbemisledbythehugerevenue in duties that accrue from grey imports as to jettison the unprecedented opportunities associated with

Auto assembly plant industrialization.

“The challenges we wrestled with is that used cars are imported in great quantities, and it is assumed that they generate a lot of revenue in duties and sometimes, governments are blinded by this, and when this happens, it blocks opportunity for industrialization.”

Mr. Dando would rather the respective governments raise import tariffs and duties on grey imports and drop the duties on locally made vehicles, while allowing the OEMs to import other range of vehicles at discounted duties.

Nissan Group ofAfrica is a founding member of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), a body set up in 2015 to make vehicles for African conditions as well as create sustainable, competitive and continental automotive industry.

Earlier in 2014, soon after the inauguration of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), the Nissan group also became the first Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to partner with West African Conglomerate Stallion Group to establish a wholly indigenous Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Lagos Nigeria.

Hyundai to Introduce Smartphone-based Digital Key on New Cars Hyundai has announced plans to introduce new ‘digital key’ technology on future models, allowing drivers to unlock and start their car via a smartphone. Selected new cars will start offering the technology during 2019. Users will download the digital key as an app, with each car allowing up to four authorised devices.

The system uses highly secure near field communication (NFC) technology, with antennas fitted in the front door handles and in a wireless charging pad inside the car. Users unlock the car by bringing an authorized smartphone close to the door, then start the car by placing it on the charging pad and pressing a start/stop button.

The vehicle will also recognize each user’s preferred settings, such as position of mirrors, seats and the steering wheel, as well as controls for the audio, video and navigation systems, and the head-up display.

“This is a practical application of Hyundai’s connected vehicle technology to create new, genuinely useful functions,” said Mike Song, Hyundai’s Head of Operations for the Middle East and Africa. “Not only will people be able to use their smartphone in place of a key, but they will also be able to authorize other drivers simply by sharing the app, without having to keep track of multiple sets of car keys.”

When sharing the car, a Hyundai owner will be able to limit the functions available for each digital key. This could include placing a time-limit for when the key will expire or setting an alert to warn the owner if the car is being driven too fast or is outside a designated area.

As well as offering convenience for drivers, the new technology also recognizes the changing nature of mobility and car ownership, such as the growing popularity of car-sharing schemes. Once car-sharing becomes more widespread, the digital key will be further programmed to support hassle-free vehicle rental, so the owner and driver can share a key without needing to meet in person.

Conventional or card-type keys will still be provided for those times when sharing the digital key would be impractical, such as when leaving the car in a repair workshop or valet parking.

NFC is a form of Radio Frequency Identification with high levels of security, data transmission only taking place when the device and reader are no more than a few centimeters apart. It is the same technology used for contactless payments via a smartphone.

“The Digital Key will benefit a very wide range of future Hyundai customers, as well as enabling innovative new schemes for vehicle sharing,” said Ho Yoo, Group Leader of Hyundai Motor Group’s Electronics Development Group. “We are studying other ways to harness this type of connected-car technology to greatly enhance the driving and ownership experience.”

Hyundai has also outlined plans to be the first car company to introduce smart fingerprint technology that allows drivers to unlock and start the car.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

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AUTO

New Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Saloon Expands Compact Car Family Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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henewA354MATICSaloonexpands the current AMG model range of Mercedes-Benz cars by an additional attractive entry-level model.

According to the automaker, it appeals to young target groups who are looking for a high level of performance and a comfortable amount of space for passengers and luggage.An acceleration time of 4.8 seconds for 0-100 km/h and the top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited) meet these customers’ requests for high driving dynamics also in the compact segment.

“Following the very successful launch of the hatchback model, things are moving along dynamically in the compact class segment at AMG. Sport saloons are the origin of Mercedes-AMG and part of the brand’s core. With our new A 35, we are transporting this history into modern times in the form of a very attractive model that serves as a point of entry into the world of AMG and also appeals to new customer groups”, states Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG. Plenty of space yet still compact The four-door saloon car is based on a wheelbase of 2729 millimetres and displays the powerful proportions of a dynamic and at the same time compact saloon car with sporty short overhangs at the front and rear. The radiator grille with twin louvres, the AMG Line front apron with flics on the air intakes, a front splitter and silver chrome trim elements are distinguishing AMG design features.

In the side view, the aerodynamically optimised 18-inch light-alloy wheels in twin-spoke design and the side sill panels of the AMG Line catch the eye. The muscular vehicle shoulder with a precise character line running below it emphasises

the perfectly contoured side volume. The side mirrors sit on the beltline as on a sports cars. The optionally available 19-inch wheels reinforce the typical AMG look.

The two-part tail lamps and the new diffuser insert underscore the rear end that emphasises width.

Additionally, there is the spoiler lip on the boot lid and the two round tailpipe trims positioned on the extreme left and right.

The great freedom: comfortable interior dimensions Above-average shoulder, elbow and headroom plus the easy access to the rear contribute to increased utility. The A 35 4MATIC Saloon is at the top of its segment with regard to rear headroom (944 mm). The boot holds 420 litres and was designed for practical usability. The boot opening is very large with a width of 950 mm and a diagonal of 462 mm between lock and lower edge of the rear window. This allows comfortable loading and unloading, even of larger luggage items. This applies in particular to the optional KEYLESS-GO comfort package with HANDS-FREE ACCESS. The HANDS-FREEACCESS convenience function enables hands-free and fully automatic opening of the boot lid with a kicking motion of the foot under the rear bumper.

Listens to words, reacts to gestures: the MBUX multimedia system In the interior of the A 35 4MATIC Saloon, the new MBUX multimedia system combines an intuitive operating structure with sporty design.

MBUX creates an even closer connection between the vehicle, driver and passengers. Emotionally appealing presentations underline the clear control structure and feature brilliant maximum-resolution 3D graphics. Visually, the two displays under one shared glass cover blend into a Widescreen Cockpit

Mercedes-Benz new A 35 4MATIC Saloon and as a central element consequently emphasise the horizontal orientation of the interior design.

And needless to say, the trailblazing voice control activated with the words “Hey Mercedes” is also on-board. Thanks to artificial intelligence, MBUX recognisesandunderstandsnearlyallsentencesfrom the fields of infotainment and vehicle operation, even if they are expressed indirectly. In addition, with the new optional MBUX interior assistant, select multimedia functions can be operated touchlessly and the reading light can be switched on and off.

True to its own style: the fully digital instrument cluster The customer can choose between three AMG display styles for the instrument cluster. The

Supersport mode is particularly striking with a central, round rev counter and additional information presented in the form of bars to the left and right of the rev counter: They have a three-dimensional depth. Via the AMG menu, the driver can call up various special displays such as Warm-up, Set-up, G-Force and Engine Data.

The touchscreen multimedia display also emphasises the dynamic character with individual AMG displays such as visualisation of the driving programs,AMG TRACK PACE and telemetry data.

Another new feature is the distinct AMG centre console with touchpad and additional switches for operating ESP® , manual transmission mode and adaptive adjustable damping (optional).

Uber Partners Safety, Security Experts, AXA Mansard on Safety for Driver-partners

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river-partners registered on the Uber app, today had the opportunity of engaging with law enforcement officials, health and safety organizations, and members of the local Uber team at a workshop geared towards improving safety and security on trips. The sessions highlighted different topics like where to obtain original vehicle registration details, how to minimize risks and prevent potential accidents while driving, improving wellbeing and stress management for driver-partners, and a thorough run-through of Uber’s in-app safety features.

“At Uber, we are committed to safety and are always working to build a better experience for driver-partners,” said Lola Kassim, General Manager West Africa, Uber. It made sense for us to collaborate with relevant safety and security experts, and organizations like AXA Mansard to organize a workshop that provides driver-partners with relevant and useful safety tips. The Driver safety tips are designed to help driver-partners feel empowered to be

safe and help them make safe decisions before, during, and after every ride.”

Speaking on the safety workshop, O’Yoma Ukueku; Greenlight Operations Manager for West Africa said: “At Uber, we’re constantly working to help make cities safer, and that includes listening to those who protect and serve our communities every day.

The workshop was designed to give driverpartners access to knowledge and information facilitated by subject matter experts on a wide variety of subjects that are critical to safety while on trips. As safety is a critical pillar to us at Uber, we are striving to ensure that driver-partners have access to information that improves the quality and safety of rides.”

The safety workshop is part of a week-long Safety-Week initiative organized by Uber as a way of amplifying and re-iterating its ‘Safety Never Stops’ narrative of making rides safer and more secure for driver-partners and riders.

Sessions at the Safety Workshop were facilitated by safety and security experts and a specialized local team from AXA Mansard.

Driver-partners registered on the Uber app, today had the opportunity of engaging with law enforcement officials, health and safety organizations, and members of the local Uber team at a workshop geared towards improving safety and security on trips. The sessions highlighted different topics like where to obtain original vehicle registration details, how to minimize risks and prevent potential accidents while driving, improving wellbeing and stress management for driver-partners, and a thorough run-through of Uber’s in-app safety features.

The Madness Called Mobile Phone

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do not envy Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps but I admire his recent crackdown on the craze on our roads which will be our focus next week.Some call it the new craze in town.For others,it is the voque,the status symbol.It comes in all shades;blackberry or Samsung or whatever. Truth is that these latest invention for freaky phone lovers are a delight to behold.For the mobile man,it provides all the tools to run your business on the move but for us in the Federal Road Safety Corps,mobile phone is a killer because of the level of abuse seen daily on the wheels and this craze doubles by the day and scares me stiff.Check out the average mobile users especially the ones who own cars.One trait among them is their mannerism on the wheels even though a good number display gross ignorance of relevant traffic rules and a diehard penchant for violating these rules.

This trait is no respecter of sex,education,tribe or height or even looks.Whether the user lives on the highbrowLekki,IkoyiorVictoriaIsland,beitbanana Island or maybe Douglas road in Owerri,Imo State or even Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory the show off is the same.All mobile phone users have their peculiar swag-attitude.Daily on the road,in all manner and shades of vehicle,they flount their new toy as they text,email,chat,phone,brouse the facebook,takepicturesanddoallsortsinthenameof displaying their new status.Some are bold enough to display this’’craze’’right inside the premises of the Federal Road Safety Corps and would go to

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 any length to deny their act when caught.The major highways are not even spared by them despite the speed craze by most drivers.Even in the church during services,they do same.

Section 4;sub section z (ff) of the Federal Road Safety Commission, (Establishment) Act, 2007, prohibits making or receiving phone calls while driving. In fact, it was because of this ugly trend that as sector commander in the federal capital territory a couple of years ago that, i introduced a compulsory psychiatric test for such offenders at the national hospital, in addition to one-week public enlightenment. You would be shocked to know that a good number of those arrested were found mentally unstable.Even the ongoing crackdown has revealed a lot which I hope to treat next week Today, the use of phone while driving, reading and sending text messages on the wheel has become the vogue all over the country. In abuja, it is the pastime for even drivers still struggling to master their grip on the steering. In lagos, kaduna, kano

and other cities, the madness has even caught up with okada riders and trekkers as they compete with drivers.. Phoning phobia is not just a nigerian problem. It is global.After all, human beings exhibit same mannerisms irrespective or color or race.

In far away england, a derby haulier was slammed four and a half years jail term for causing a fatal crash while talking on a bluetooth headset. According to Care on the Road, a publication of the Royal Society for the Prevention ofAccidents, Marvyn Richmond, aged 49,was so engrossed in a conversation with his mother that he failed to notice traffic ahead of him had come to a standstll, and ploughed into the back of the queue, killing a passenger in the van. He was jailed after being convicted at lincoln crown court for causing death by dangerous driving. Richmond, an hgv driver for 25- years was oblivious to all around him, because of the 23- minutes call to his mother and did not even apply the brakes of his scania hgv before ploughing into the traffic. Michael buston was killed outright, his brother-in-law, peter long was badly injured, and the driver of the lorry at the front of the queue, andrejz matkowski, lost both arms.

According to the report, the fact that he had both hands on the wheel did not alter the fact that he was severely distracted by talking on his blue tooth headset. The use of hands free, according to thetransport research laboratory, makes drivers four times more likely to have an accident, with concentration levels reduced for 10 -minutes after the call had ended. The report also showed that drivers making hands-free calls had slower reaction times than those who were slightly over the drink limit.

This case is similar to an incident in abuja, except that no life was lost and nobody jailed although the act cited above in section 20 now provides a 7-years jail term for anyone who causes death by dangerous or reckless driving.

In the United Kingdom, around 30 deaths on the roads each year are linked to mobile phone use even though the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident (ROSPA) believes this is “just the tip of the iceberg” because so few drivers admit to using mobile phones when they cause crashes.

Back home, the scenario is not different. However, statistics available to the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Sector Command indicates that in the year 2008, about 372-offenders were arrested for driving and phoning as at December 22.In 2009, the figure was 381. Some have crashed in the process. Some were lucky while others ended up with injuries or death. Despite these,the urge to own a blackberry has become the most dangerous virus. It is hoped that the new FRSC regulations, which makes it illegal not to report an accident, would no doubt improve data collections with respect to crashes caused by phoning and driving if only we own up to our daily blunders on the wheels.

Like I said earlier, the use of phone while driving, reading and sending text messages on the wheel has become the vogue all over the country even though the Traffic Act of 2004, says DONT USE YOUR PHONE WHILE ON THE WHEELS. Unfortunately,four out of five drivers in most cities would rather phone, text, chart and E-mail while on the move. Everybody including deviants would rather criticize than take a stand against such driving habits that have claimed lives and maimed others.

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

MARCH 30, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 30, 2019

POLITY

NACJ to Honour Men/Women of Integrity in April Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

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he phenomenal annual Integrity Lecture/ Award organised by the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ) will resonate this April with a few prominent Nigerians who will be decorated as men and women of integrity. The annual event which was initiated 2013 was motivated by the strong drive of the NACJ to contribute to the developmental progress of the Nigerian nation.

A statement from the Secretary General of NACJ, Charles Okhai reads: “We reasoned that for us to effectively contribute our quota to the progress of the country, we must of a necessity solve at least one of the problems facing the nation. In view of the fact that corruption is one of the major factors pulling back the nation’s wheels of progress, we had to develop a panacea called integrity to curb the menace of corruption. We believe integrity is the direct opposite of corruption. If Nigerians as a people are mentally integrity-conscious, especially our leaders in the corridors of power, the spate of corruption in our society will be drastically reduced.

“We make bold to say that we are not in the business of giving people awards for the giddy excitement of it, rather, we are propelled and driven by the need to get rid of the societal monster called corruption. For us, this is a worthy venture because no nation can attain her potential in development with the scourge of corruption like we have in Nigeria today. This is one thing that makes NACJ Annual Integrity Award a unique event, an award most powerful, meaningful, and impactful.

“A good number of our past recipients are quick to testify that the memory of the Award keeps them on their toes by constantly engaging themselves with regular self-evaluation and ensure that they don’t go offline of integrity. Also, the award is most prestigious because of the wide range of media channels that make up the Association. It is interesting to know that our membership is drawn from Television, Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, Nollywood, Advertising, and Social Media. This makes us the largest media platform in Nigeria.

“We don’t pride ourselves to claim that our awardees are perfect people as there is no such fellow on

Upkai

earth, but we painstakingly pick people who have consistently demonstrated sense of integrity in their

place of leadership.

“Our focus strongly hinges on the virtues of integrity and this underscores why we select prominent Nigerians to give lecture on integrity at every of our event.

Some of our past speakers include the erudite scholar, Professor Pat Utomi; popular and highly revered politician, Olujimi Agbaje; notable social activist, comrade Yinka Odumakin, British trained and intelligent Police officer, retired AIG Tunde Ogunsakin.

“Others are Olubumi Okojie, Nigeria’s symbol of journalistic excellence, Mr. Ray Ekpu, and a host of others. This year, Senator Dino Melaye will be on hand to deliver the Keynote address tagged: Integrity, the Essential Factor for Effective Legislation and Building a Virile Nation, while the theme, Integrity Is Everything, will be given by a renowned Journalist.

“This year event will feature five categories of Awards. We have The Integrity Man/ Woman of the Year; Young Person of Integrity of the Year; Man/ Woman of Integrity and Governor of the Year. For the first time, we will have Corporate Integrity Award, which will be conferred on one of the top banks in the country.

Amongst the deserving recipients this year is Dr Olugbu Ukpai, a Nigerian Medical Doctor based in Canada. His sense of integrity is highly commendable.

His humanitarian services cut across the globe. The programme is surely to be the biggest media event of the year.”

SecurexWest Africa 2019 Announces Speakers, Sessions

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rganisers of Securex West Africa Conference 2019 have revealed prominent topics as well as key speakers for this year’s conference.

This conference theme will be ‘National Security in a Boundaryless World: 21st Century Solutions to Nigeria’s Insecurity’.

Some of the key sessions announced include; ‘Implementing 21st Century Security Strategies and Solutions; the place of technology and social media’, ‘Security Sector Reforms and Policies in Nigeria, addressing a boundaryless operating environment’ and ‘Community Cohesion: security as an enabler of/for development; towards Solutions for Stability’.

Among the key industry experts set to take the stage

this year will be the Honorable Aliyu Gebi, Senior Special Advisor to the Minister of Interior, Mr Wale Olaoye, CEO Halogen Security, Dr Solomon Arase, Former Inspector General of Police and Capt. Aliyu Umar (Rtd), CEO Goldwater and Riversands Consults to name just a few.

A statement from the organisers read: “Having firmly established itself as the region’s leading exhibition and conference for the commercial, perimeter, cyber and homeland security, fire and safety industry, this year’s show is expected to attract more than 2,500 visitors, 85 exhibiting brands along with key industry stakeholders from governmental organisations and prominent industry associations.”

Securex West Africa will open from 16 - 17 April 2019 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R : Chief Compliance Officer, Rand Metchant Bank Ltd., Olubunmi Odufuwa, receiving certificate from Managing Director, Data Pro Ltd., Mr Abimbola Adeseyoju, having successfully fulfilled the requirements for the one-week training and examination programme leading to the award of Certified Compliance Profession held in Lagos… re-

L-R: Brand Manager, Baileys Nigeria,Temitope Ojo; Marketing Manager, Spirits, Aigbeme Okonkwo; Marketing Director, Adenike Adebola; Commercial Director, Barrow Omatsola; and Marketing Manager, Innovations, Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi, all of Guinness Nigeria PLC at the launch of Baileys Delight in Lagos...yesterday SUNDAYADIGUN

L-R: Zonal Pastor, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Chapel, Magodo, Pastor Kunle Taiwo; Chief Consultant, B. Adedipe Associates Ltd/Guest Speaker,Dr. Biodun Adedipe; Pastor-In-Charge, Lagos Province 21, Pastor Bayo Olugbemi, his wife, Fadeke; and President, Redeemers Men’s Fellowship, Daniel Adebola, during their Breakfast Meeting on Economic Empowerment and Financial Leadership, at RCCG Victory Chapel, Magodo, Lagos... recently

L-R: First National Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Toyin Ayinde; Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business Director, Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Mrs. Soromidayo George; 16th Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners – Lagos Chapter, Adebisi Adedire; Chairman, Eleganza Group of Companies, Chief Razak Okoya; and Director General – Office ofTransformation, Creativity, and Innovation Lagos State Government; Mr.Toba Otusanya, at the investiture of the 16th Chairman and inauguration of executive committee members of the Nigerian Institute ofTown Planners – Lagos State Chapter... recently

43

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťÍ¸Ëœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

JOE/FAJ THEFRONTLINES

What Do NigeriansWant from Buhari?

T

he 2019 general elections have ended and Nigerians have fulfilled their civic responsibility of choosing those that would run the affairs of this country in the next four years.

This four yearly electoral routine called democracy places the people in the forefront of decision making where they are required to use their votes to decide the fates of politicians clamouring to serve them. This is the only time Nigerians of voting age would exercise what they call people’s power.

In other climes, once the people exercise their right of voting in a new government, they automatically become the central focus of the new administration.

Is this the case in our country Nigeria? The answer is no because People’s power does not count here and it also becomes manifest in the way some successive administrations couch their policies most of which are anti-people.

Is it that Nigerians are asking too much from their elected officials or unreasonable in their demands? Today, we would look at what Nigerians desire from every successive administration and also what needs to be done to meet these expectations.

The first requirement that the people demand is Good Governance. These two words encapsulate quite a lot molded into them. Although there is no exhaustive definition of good governance, according to GKtoday “Good is a term used with great flexibility; Depending on the context, good governance has been said at various times to encompass: full respect of effective participation, human rights, the rule of law, multi-actor partnerships, and accountable processes, political pluralism, transparent and institutions, an efficient and effective public sector, legitimacy, access to knowledge, information and education, political empowerment of people, equity, sustainability, and attitudes and values that foster responsibility, solidarity and tolerance.

What is good governance? “Good governance� was initially expressed in a 1989 World Bank publication. In 1992, the Bank published a report entitled, Governance and Development; thereafter, the concept became the parameters through which public and private institutions are held accountable.

The concept of good governance involves effective participation, in Nigeria, after the elections, hardly do those in power aggregate the views or gauge the feelings of the people because election outcomes are hardly what they portray. Given the poor institutional structure guiding the electoral process, the votes of the people do not account as votes are often times rigged in favour of either the ruling party or those with deep pockets.

So the people no longer matter after their votes are cast, they have to wait for another election cycle which comes up after four years. During this period, no one is held accountable, there is no transparency in the conduct of government business; in fact good governance assumes a reverse role.

Nigerians care very little about religion and where their leader

JOSEPH USHIGIALE jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com 08023422660 (sms only)

Buhari

comes from, all they desire are very basic things to keep them happy, stay at home instead of risking their lives in the desert traveling to Europe of America in search of greener pastures.

With the huge endowment of both human and material resources, Nigeria has no reason to subject her citizen to such vulnerabilities.

What is to be done?

As it done in order clime, Nigerians desire Qualitative and Quantitative Education system that would afford all citizens whether from rich or poor backgrounds, equal rights to affordable education. The current system hardly guarantees neither qualitative nor quantitative education. Public schools are overcrowded, poorly administered and funded and nothing to write home about with most of them shutdown for several months due to lecturers strike action.

This has led to the proliferation of private schools which are overpriced and poorly regulated. In the end, because of the incessant strike action, there is always the exodus of prospective students abroad even to neighbouring countries like Benin Republic, Ghana etc.

Government needs to create employment opportunities to absorb the teeming youths who are churned out of the universi-

ties yearly. The current situation where universities churn out thousands of fresh graduate into the labour market without job opportunities to absorb them is an invitation to crime for those who have no self restraint.

With the saying that an idle mind is the devils workshop, no wonder majority of today’s youths are into yahoo yahoo, rituals, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking and all manner of vices.

Nigerians crave affordable housing scheme for vulnerable families. Until recently, the minimum wage in Nigeria was less than $50 per month. Today, even with the newly approved minimum wage of N30,000 per month, an average Nigerian worker still earns less than $100 per month. Given the harsh economic realities today, how can a family of six survive on less than $100 a month paying rent, buying food, take care of medicare, transportation, paying school fees etc?

Also needed is a reliable, durable and affordable mass transport system for the people. It is already established that on N30,000 take home salary, the salary can hardly take them home literally and not all Nigerians can afford to buy a car. So what alternatives do they have to survive and move from one place to other without feeling the pinch?

The developed world have perfected a safety net for their citizens by providing palliatives which include council houses, national health insurance schemes and affordable transport system. In the area of transportation, citizens who can afford it are given the choice between buying a car and pay more in gasoline tax, vehicle licensing etc and the choice of patronizing public transportation which is very reliable and affordable.

Nigeria needs to adopt this model for the benefit of millions of those that are vulnerable.

We do not need to remind ourselves of the cataclysmic role electricity plays in the economy. Yet, Nigeria has at no time been able to generate adequate electricity to provide uninterrupted public electricity power supply. All over the country, every household owns a generating set where it provides electricity for its needs. This is surely not the way to go.

Nigerians envy citizens of neighbouring countries like Senegal, Ghana where their countries have succeeded in overcoming the menace of election rigging. In Nigeria, most citizens have no confidence in the electoral system and most times shun or refuse to participate in the process because their votes do not count because of rigging.

Readers can continued online www.thisdaylive.com

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I

f you love to complain or criticise, come to Nigeria... or perchance you originate in this great country with such grumpy tendencies, you will have a hundred lifetime of issues, situations, incidents and countless ruckuses to provoke and agitate your senses. In one week, you will have a Ganduje bloody fight-back in Kano supplementary election...the legal and political yo-yo in Bauchi...the acrobatics and semantics of crucifying citizen Walter Onnoghen by the denizens of anti-corruption crusade... the blood-letting wizardry of Wike-Amaechi and ‘benediction’ of ultrapoliticking rocking Rivers State...and the list goes on.

Yet, in this and many other things Nigeriana, wisdom counsels caution and circumspection. The roiling of aggressive contestation of political, legal and economic power blocs may lure some patriots to intervene and interrogate surrounding tissues of civil affairs...but, we have learnt overtime that Nigerians are past masters of dissembling, and dramatic sabre-rattling which often ends in powdery hollowness. The more you see, the less you really know.

It may be convenient for some to quote Wole Soyinka’s piquant stimulant, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny�... and then run headlong into raging controversies, pontificating on this side or that, of contemporary controversies... only to have a chip of dried dung smacking stubborn heads weeks after. Many a critics had been reduced to quisling drivel after encountering the duplicity and shameless make-belief of Nigerian public affairs management and managers.

So, I have elected to step back from issues political and quasi-political, while soaking in the luxuriating engagements of restless and rampaging commentators, who are in a hurry to document the undulating “histories� of our nation-building exertions. May their roads be rough, as the inimitable Tai Solarin would have noted.

Permit me to pull at a subject close to my heart...the future of our children. With the levity governments in Nigeria have been dealing and toying with education (at all levels) it is urgent that parents take very serious steps to help their children and ward grow and flourish in a manner that will give them some edge competing in a digital and smart world. Our political rulers are neither digital nor

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

Ganduje

smart - what with the way the school calendars were kicked all over the place on account of elections and consequential disruptions...or the months wasted at home by university students because of the strike called by their lecturers as a result of prodigal abuse of past agreements between government and ASSU. When government officials deploy lies, blackmail and brinkmanship in an attempt to break lecturers’ resolve on a matter that seeks to make the government own up to, and perform its constitutional responsibilities!

I digress...my focus, as long ago as a decade, yet just like yesterday, is the long-suffering parents. Despite the failure and fumbles of our education administrators, Nigerian parents must step up, and from the formative years of our children, consider it very important to review and re-assess the quality and tenor of education our children are given in schools, and that which we give them at home.

We cannot hand the training of our children to teachers - because that is what they are paid to do? No! The

consequences of a mis-educated child would hardly be felt by the teacher. The shame and hypertension associated with the stench emitted by an ill-educated child are fully borne by his or her parents.

Do not seek good structures, great ambience and mindboggling tuition fees as yardsticks to pick “good� schools for your children. These things are not necessarily the moulding blocks on which you build a well-trained and schooled child. Even fantastic past results do not necessarily count as sure-fire proof of success in the education of a young mind.

What then is?

Few things should occupy your mind, and inform your deliberate actions to get the best education affordable, for your child(ren). For one, ask from involved parents whose children attend schools you have earmarked. There are all sorts of parents: some just drop their children in the morning and pick them at the close of work (not necessarily at the close of school); some don’t check their children’s school work until they bring particularly poor results home.

Involved parents monitor the progress of their children, gauge and engage their teachers to clarify or magnify areas that need attention.

Involved parents probe the deep mischievous crevices of their children’s minds to access their views of the school’s administration style, peer relationships and ancillary matters that can corrode or distract the minds of school children.

Such parents will find time to parley with school owners or administrators on issues and areas identified as likely pitfalls that can short-change the future of those children.

If you seek the opinions of such parents, and teachers of surrounding schools to the object of your interest; and ask for divine guidance in arriving at the best school for your child(ren), you are likely to live a blissful and wonderful life mentoring and nurturing them to the heights that God has laid down for them.

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˜ ˞ MARCH 30, 2019

TRIBUTE

Gabriel Okara: Exit of a Literary Giant Ferdinand Ekechukwu

“C

ertainly, things will change for the better.

No society is static. As the old writers pass away the young ones will take over the fight for change; it is a continuous fight. And change will come eventually.�

As optimistic as that statement from Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingabin Okara appeared just a decade before his passage on Sunday March 24, at the ripe age of 97, it bears a task for the existing and future generation of writers.

The celebrated poet, novelist and playwright made a mark on the African literary scene as one of the major pacesetters.

Reported to be the first renowned English Language Black African poet and the first African modernist writer, Okara is widely published in influential national and international journals. His exit sure leaves a vacuum in the literary firmament and as a dedicated and well-published writer in all the literary genres will be fondly remembered for his immense contributions to the development of African literature.

A largely self-educated man, whose verse had been translated into several languages by the early 1960s, Okara was born in Bomoundi in the Niger Delta in 1921. He was educated at Government College Umuahia, and later at Yaba Higher College. During World War II, he attempted to enlist in the British Royal Air Force but did not complete pilot training; instead he worked for a time for the British Overseas Airway Corporation (later British Airways).

A lifelong patron of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Okara in 1945 found work as a printer and bookbinder for colonial Nigeria’s government-owned publishing company. He remained in that post for nine years, during which he began to write. At first he translated poetry from Ijaw into English and wrote scripts for government radio.

He studied journalism at the then Northwestern University in 1949, and before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–70) worked as Information Officer for the Eastern Nigerian Government Service.

Together with Chinua Achebe, Okara was roving ambassador for Biafra’s cause during part of 1969. He attended the landmark African Writers Conference held on 1 June 1962 at Makerere University College in Kampala, Uganda, along with such writers as Chinua Achebe, Rajat Neogy, Bloke Modisane, Okot p’Bitek, Bernard Fonlon, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, Segun Olusola, Grace Ogot, Jonathan Kariara, Rebecca Njau, Wole Soyinka, John Pepper Clark, Saunders Redding, Christopher Okigbo, Francis Ademola, Ezekiel Mphahlele, Arthur Maimane, and others.

In 1953, his poem “The Call of the River Nun� won an award at the Nigerian Festival of Arts. Some of his poems were published in the influential periodical Black Orpheus, and by 1960, he was recognized as an accomplished literary craftsman. Okara’s poetry is based on a series of contrasts in which symbols are neatly balanced against each other.

The need to reconcile the extremes of experience (life and death are common themes) preoccupies his verse, and a typical poem has a circular movement from everyday reality to a moment of joy and back to reality again. Okara incorporated African thought, religion, folklore, and imagery into both

Okara his verse and prose. His first novel, The Voice (1964), is a remarkable linguistic experiment in which Okara translated directly from the Ijo (Ijaw) language, imposing Ijo syntax onto English in order to give literal expression to African ideas and imagery.

The novel creates a symbolic landscape in which the forces of traditional African culture and Western materialism contend. Its tragic hero, Okolo, is both an individual and a universal figure, and the ephemeral “it� that he is searching for could represent any number of transcendent moral values. Okara’s skilled portrayal of the inner tensions of his hero distinguished him from many other Nigerian novelists.

During much of the 1960s, Okara worked in civil service.

From 1972 to 1980 he was director of the Rivers State Publishing House in Port Harcourt. His later works include a collection of poems, The Fisherman’s Invocation (1978), and two collections of children’s poetry, Little Snake and Little Frog (1981) and An Adventure to Juju Island (1992).

One of Okara’s most famous poems is “Piano and Drums�.

Another popular poem, “You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed�, is a frequent feature of anthologies. In 1979, his Fisherman’s Invocation won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize.

In 2005, he bagged the highest literary prize in Nigeria, NLNG Prize, instituted by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural

Gas. Okara was very concerned with what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is faced with modern Western culture, as in his poem “Once Upon a Time�. According to Brenda Marie Osbey, editor of his Collected Poems, “It is with publication of Gabriel Okara’s first poem that Nigerian literature in English and modern African poetry in this language can be said truly to have begun.�

In April 2017, the Gabriel Okara Literary Festival was held at the University of Port Harcourt in his honour. The publication in May 2017 of the book Gabriel Okra, edited

by Professor Chidi T. Maduka, addressed Okara’s “place in African literature and the fact that he has not been given his full due in African literature�, which was partly attributable, said Lindsay Barrett, to Okara (like himself) not having been “university-based�, while Odia Ofeimun acknowledged Okara as “not just the oldest writer but a foundational producer of the literary arts in our part of the world.�

One of many personalities to eulogies Okara soon after his passing is a former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, who described the demise of the literary giant as a moment of deep and contrasting emotions. Sylva believes the octogenarian poet lived a worthy and fulfilled life and his demise should not be overtaken by mourning, but by celebration of a life well and completely lived. “A colossus has passed, but not without leaving prints on the sands of time and setting standards for literary and intellectual excellence. Okara’s passing is not one to mourn; it is for celebration and for pride and for the marking of a platinum point in cultural mileage. Our regards must go to the Okara family for presenting Bayelsa, Nigeria and the world with a titan who added value to our lives.�

Sylva further revealed that as a keen fan, admirer and friend of Gabriel Okara, he studied the poems of the Nigeria “Negritudist� (as termed by literary scholars) in his undergraduate years and beyond. “Particularly, is the poem ‘Call of the River Nun’ which is one of the most aesthetic and philosophical portrayal of the complex, but natural relation of life and death. Piano on Drums, on the other hand, like it must have been for millions around the world, was an artistic guide in navigating the maze of the culture shock at various points of earlier years,� said Sulva.

Okara continued to write even at advanced old age.

Married and divorced three times, he had two children of his own. At the century’s end, he was reported to be at work on a large poem called “The Rise and Fall of the Tortoise,� a common figure in West African storytelling.

In his twilight, Okara had reminded that “Writers express their own ideal society, the kind they would like to live in.

And sometimes they forecast what the society in which they live will become in future. But everything depends on the leadership. While writers try to show the way, it is left for the leaders to bring about the physical development. It is the leaders, the governors, the president and others who are in government that can change the society through initiating policies for development and executing such policies. They are supposed to effect the physical changes like good roads etc. that affect the lives of the people. The kind of change that writers bring about is that of attitude. And attitudinal change takes a long time. Sometimes it takes generations before some changes could be noticed.�

MOVIE

Joba Movie Storms Genesis Cinema for Media Screening Chinedu Ibeabuchi

T

he press got a foretaste of the much awaited suspenseful and emotional drama, Joba, on Thursday at the Genesis Cinemas, Maryland Mall, Lagos.

Before it is set for cinematic release from April 5, journalists were given opportunity to critic the faith-based movie.

The screening was attended by the movie producer, director and writer, Biodun Stephen, alongside cast like Blossom Chukwujekwu, Enado Odigie, Chris Iheuwa, and co-producer, Christine Osifuye. Other celebrities present include Bisola Aiyeola, Woli Arole, Gospel Singer Psalmos, and Senior Pastor of Christ Livingspring Apostolic Church (CLAM) Wole Oladiyun, among others.

When the media was invited to see Joba, they weren’t expecting less from Biodun Stephen, the brain behind some Nollywood blockbuster movies like Picture Perfect and The Visit that pulled huge cinema crowd; then Ovy’s Voice and Ehi’s Bitters rated as the best, by audience choice, on iRoko TV in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Although told using faith-based template, Joba has a strong and relevant emotional core

that exist at given period in everybody’s life. It connects the viewers to events in their personal lives that question their beliefs, self-esteem and tenacity. Biodun Stephen achieves this using vivid relatable life experience to pass a message centered on love, strength and omniscience of God. The movie plunges it audience into a very gripping emotional journey on the travails of a young Christian couple battling between their marriage and faith. The faith of the couple is tried, especially when all fingers are pointed to the husband as the cause of their troubles.

He must protect his wife who is on the verge of insanity, whilst still managing to keep his faith.

It is a production by Shutterspeed Projects in collaboration with Cross Dimension Production. Judging from Biodun Stephen’s cinema works like The Visit and Picture Perfect, Joba raises viewers’ enthusiasm and expectations to a rewarding high-quality offering. Joba did not only meet these expectations but also exceeds it with its compelling storytelling, brilliant performances from Blossom Chukwujekwu and Enado Odigie and with some laces of amusing scenes that bring touches of comic relief to an audience who is most likely on the verge of emotional outburst as a result of the captivating story.

The cast assemble was perfect. It showed in the chemistry between Ore ofe played

by Enado Odigie and Lamide by Blossom Chukwujekwu.

L-R: Senior Pastor of Christ Livingspring Apostolic Church (CLAM), Wole Oladiyun; movie producer, director and writer, Biodun Stephen and a guest at the press screening

Though a faith-based movie, one would praise the producer’s ingenuity in not making it look like a regular church story with a predictable end. Biodun Stephen brings her creativity in not even making a church scene from the movie, rather twisting the storyline

around the trails and tempest of the Christian couple. And as a director, she worked around the cast to squeeze out a perfect rendition of the script.

Showing from April 5 in cinemas nationwide, it will be a delight to see Joba.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

45

SHOWBIZFLAIR

2Face Idibia, Annie, Celebrate Wedding Anniversary ABIOLA AWOSIKA There is a Lot to Learn from Everywhere pg. 47

Epic ‘1929’ Movie Gets Cinema Date pg. 48

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

2Face Idibia, Annie, Celebrate Wedding Anniversary For their anniversary this year, celebrity couple Annie and 2Face Idibia took to their social media pages to drop sweet messages on what they mean to each other, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

N

ollywood actress, Annie and legendary musician 2Face, got married in Dubai on March 23, 2013.

After they walked down the aisle, the pair has continued to grow strong in love, enjoying the pleasures and moments that come with being married. Hence, the stars have as much inspired many with their love story.

For their anniversary this year, the partners took to their social media pages to drop sweet messages on what they mean to each other. Annie was especially gushy with her anniversary message to the love of her life. In an Instagram post expressing her appreciation for having a man as 2Face in her life all these years, she wrote: “Since dem born me... I never love person the way wey I love you ooooooo... Lost for Caption...

But I dey come back!!! This man ehennnnnnnnnnnnn I will be totally lost without you... Happy ANNIEversary!”

For 2baba, his wish on that day was to turn back the hands of time through the years and get Annie earlier than he did. In his Instagram post he dedicated to his wife, the singer says “6 years down. We dey enter the 7th and right now the only thing I wan do na 2 re-toast this African beauty. Thank u @annieidibia1 for being my earth, my world. Thanks 4 keeping my head sane. Thanks 4 being u. i will chose u over and over again but i will make it earlier than i did this time.”

Although there had been a recent speculation on social media of marital disagreement following a series of tweets which saw 2Baba apologising to Annie, it however appeared to be a stunt by the hubby to boost publicity for a new video which he featured the wife. The superstar once said about his wife “I have been fortunate enough to have met a couple of nice ladies in life and two of them even have children for me. But I think that Annie and I understand each other more. As with matters of the heart, it is very difficult sometimes to find the right words to explain it.

Somehow, you just know that this is the particular person that you want to stay with.”

Arguably one of Nigeria’s most loved couples, 2Face and Annie Idibia have come a long way to be together and their true love story is one that resonates. Annie first met 2Face Idibia at Even Ezra Music Studio when she was just 15.

She once said, “I think there was some electricity that second.” Coming back from Annie’s 16th birthday, 2Face showed off his boyfriend status by paying bus fares for all her friends.

He ended up not eating dinner that night but he was content doing it for love. Their relationship after some moments faced turbulent times. 2Face during his on and off relationship got two women pregnant. Despite the

2face and Annie

ups and downs, baby mama drama and crazy careers, they found ways back into each other’s arms proving that truly, love conquers all.

In 2012, 2Face proposed to Annie on

Valentine’s Day, a move which stirred her to tears when it happened as she wasn’t expecting it. Annie has two children for 2Face. His famous video African Queen which saw Annie mak-

ing appearances is the first video to be aired on MTV Base Africa. By the time they shot the “African Queen” video in 2004, they were already an item on the entertainment scene.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

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

MY STORY

Gists DSTV TO AIR CONTROVERSIAL ‘LEAVING NEVERLAND’ DOCUMENTARY The much-debated two-part documentary Leaving Neverland is a global hot topic at the moment, and DStv customers across Africa don’t have to wait long to see why this Channel 4 and HBO co-production has taken the world by storm. Just a few weeks after its controversial premiere in the US at the recent Sundance Film Festival, Leaving Neverland will be screened across two days on M-Net City, DStv channel 115 this weekend.

Directed and produced by five-time BAFTAwinner Dan Reed, the four-hour long Leaving Neverland unpacks the story of two individuals: James Safechuck and Wade Robson, now-adult men in their 30s, who befriended Jackson at the ages of 10 and seven respectively. Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck and Robson, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, Leaving Neverland crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, and explores the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both had a young son of their own. Playing out against the backdrop of our collective experience, the film documents the value of breaking silence, even when it implicates a powerful and revered figure.

“Bringing Leaving Neverland to African screens is testament to the fact that DStv brings the most compelling content to the continent as quickly as possible,” says MultiChoice Nigeria Chief Customer Office, Martin Mabutho. “Please note, however, that documentary is not suitable for younger viewers as it contains strong language, discussions of self-harm and graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse.”

Among the line-up of channels which have already acquired the documentary are Network Ten Australia, DR Denmark, VPRO Netherlands, SVT Sweden, ProSieben Germany, Channel One Russia, VRT Belgium, NRK Norway, TVNZ New Zealand, Discovery Italy, DBS Israel, Amedia Russia, YLE Finland, Fox Asia, Front Row Middle East, RUV Iceland, M6 France, HBO Latin America, HBO Portugal and Movistar + in Spain and HBO CEE. Additionally, there are a considerable number of deals which are currently in the final stages of negotiation.

ABIOLA AWOSIKA

There is a Lot to Learn from Everywhere Abiola Awosika is a socialite and the Creative Director of Out the Box Creations where they make The Potato Twirl, Frosted Peanuts and The Mini Pancakes. She has won the hearts of several celebrities and public figures with her products which are constantly in demand at events, shows and functions. Awosika tells Tosin Clegg about these amazing products, the secrets of her success, plans and much more.

OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI WINS FORBES WOMAN AFRICA SOCIAL INFLUENCER AWARD Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, the former Education Minister, has been announced as Forbes Woman Africa Social Influencer at the prestigious Forbes Woman Africa Awards inaugural gala dinner held this March in Durban, South Africa.

A former vice-president for Africa of the World Bank, co-founder of Transparency International, and anti-corruption activist, the award celebrates her efforts in launching the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media. Due to the global collaboration on the crisis, she was also named one of the World’s 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine and was shortlisted for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.

The awards event recognised a selection of Africa’s most influential women in business, sports, science, entertainment and leadership, including Dr. Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula (Forbes Woman Africa Businesswoman of the Year Award); Rachel Sibande (Forbes Woman Africa Gen Y Award); Caster Semenya (Forbes Woman Africa Sports Award); Sho Madjozi (Forbes Woman Africa Entertainer Award); Uche Pedro (Forbes Woman Africa New Media Award), among others.

“The ceremony was the perfect conclusion of a highly constructive day of networking and concept sharing by Africa’s most dynamic women,” said Methil Renuka, managing editor of Forbes Africa and Forbes Woman Africa. “I would like to congratulate every award recipient – the work

T

ell us about your brands?

We do potato twirls and serve it at several events.

It’s new and doing well in the market currently.

It’s been lucrative and successful as Nigerians love trying new things. We also have the Mini Pancake as deserts instead of the regulars, giving your guests opportunities to try new stuff. Also, we have the Candy frosted peanuts which is another thing we do and we make them a healthy snack for everyone.

What’s exceptional about your brands?

Like our name says, ‘Out the Box Creations,’ we are constantly thinking of new things and things you don’t just find everywhere.

We want you to have opportunity to try new stuffs and things you don’t just see everywhere.

How did you come about your creativity?

There is a lot to learn on Instagram and when you travel. People would always say it can’t work back at home but when you do, it works. So, we are constantly learning new stuff and trying to bring them in. So it’s never gone wrong as there is a lot to learn from everywhere.

What are your projects from the next couple of years? they are doing is impacting the lives of millions of young women worldwide, creating a space for them to, in turn, make their mark in a meaningful way.”

The dinner followed a full day of panel discussions and talks by New Wealth Creators from across Africa at the fourth annual Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit (#LWS2019KZN), hosted by the KZN Provincial Government in association with ABSA, the IDC, and Women of Africa.

I want to see myself as one of the top female brand owners and make Forbes and big platforms out there. So, for the brands, we see ourselves making more creations and ideas and not just limited to what we have now.

Who are your role models and mentors?

I look up to my Aunty, Ibukun Awosika and that’s one person I admire so much. Her story and how hard she has fought and that just make you realise that nothing can stop you as long as you are determined. I love Michelle Obama for some reasons as every speech her husband gives, he mentions her.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t."3$) , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Epic ‘1929’ Movie Gets Cinema Date Following its trailer recently released, historic movie ‘1929’, which reenacts the famous Aba Women’s Riot 90 years after the incident, makes cinema entry on April 19, 2019.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

H

istory has come to play in a new cinematic production titled 1929. The movie is about the famous 1929 Aba Women’s Riot. The true life story focuses on the anti-colonial revolt that claimed the lives of women protesters across the eastern part of Nigeria. Reminiscent of the past, the epic movie is a joint effort of Viensa Productions and Filmone Distribution and is set for release in cinemas across the country on April 19, 2019.

Remarkably, this production is coming 90 years after the incident that led to the unrest. Whichever way the period movie is represented matters a lot as it is one event that holds memories of a checkered past. Justifiably in a statement by the film’s Producer, Ndy Akan,

“1929 film was done in order to let the world know the part the Ibibio and Annang women played to stop women’s taxation by the colonial masters, particularly the women from Ikot Abasi, Opobo division.

“The general impression people have is that the 1929 women’s riot took place only at Aba; no, women from different provinces in the then eastern region of Nigeria played a major part to stop the imposition of tax on women. The film will serve as a point of reference for research, especially for young people. On a lighter note, the film is spiced up with a love story to delight the viewers, it is a historical film that will make you think, feel, laugh and learn and I will be happy to see people come out to watch history being made.”

By recorded account, the two months revolt which is also known as the ‘Women’s War’ in Igbo his-

tory broke out when Igbo women from the Bende District, Umuahia and other places in eastern Nigeria, converged in their thousands on the town of Oloko to protest against the policies imposed by the British colonial administrators in Southeastern Nigeria.

The protest involved women from six ethnic groups (Ibibio, Andoni, Ogoni, Bonny, Opobo, and Igbo). It was organised and led by the rural women of Owerri and Calabar provinces. In the events of the revolts, many Warrant Chiefs were forced to resign and 16 native courts were attacked, most of which were destroyed.

The movie, which has received critical acclaims from the media and movie buffs following its trailer released a week ago, was directed by Moses Eskor. The movie was shot in Uyo, starring top Nollywood actors like Sola

Sobowale, Ireti Doyle, and Sam Dede, one of Nigeria’s top male actors of the ‘Isakaba’ hit. Others are, Becky Odungide, Enobong Ekwere, Ndifreke Umoren, Nancy Bassey, Uduak Odungide, Ngozi Okeke, among others.

These star acts play alongside over 800 Akwa Ibom-based actors, who are mostly women. On the choice of the cast, the award winning director had noted, and truly so, that “these are strong, powerful and brilliant women who have changed the face of the Nigerian film industry and given it prominence within and outside the country, their ability to interpret roles is impeccable and that’s what this movie is all about. This is based on a true life story and interpretation is very important.”

On her part, the movie producer, Ndy Akan, said, “I am particularly proud of these women and what

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SHOWBIZFLAIR Epic ‘1992’ Movie Gets Cinema Date they have achieved over the years, the decision to cast them has been a long time coming, so to have them on a movie that showcases the history of a nation is nothing short of brilliant and I’m sure they will deliver to the maximum capacity.”

In the trailer for the upcoming ‘1929’, the two female lead cast Ireti Doyle and Sola Sobowale seem to live up to their billings. Ireti was all raged and charged suing for war as she leads the protesting women.

In one scene in the trailer, and with the solid, rioting presence of women behind her, Ireti marches up to Sam Dede’s (one of the warrant chiefs) menacing character, grabs his gun and snaps it into two.

Suffice to state the root cause of the Aba women’s riot was not an overnight event. It was long in the making.

The indirect rule system which was instituted by Lord Lugard in 1914 had given room to the possibility for British colonial administration to rule through ‘warrant chiefs.’ These warrant chiefs who were mainly top Igbo chiefs were appointed by the governor.

As a result of this vested power, the Warrant Chiefs became increasingly oppressive within few years.

Properties were seized, and imprisonment was the lot of anyone that dares to publicly criticize them.

Incidentally, the women were already becoming dissatisfied with the white authoritarians as a result of increased school fees, forced labour, and corruption by local officers.

In order to curb the manifesta-

Iretiola Doyle on set of the Movie “1929”

tion of disorder as claimed by the immigrant masters, the alteration of women’s positions in government and society was carried out.

Prior to 1929, women were allowed to participate in government and also, they had a major role in the market. Elite women were also privileged to participate in political movement. Chiefly, the ultimate event that birthed the war was direct taxation.

The British colonial administration had taken measures to enforce the ‘Native Revenue Ordinance’ in April 1927.

The then lieutenant governor of Nigeria had consigned a colonial resident- W. E. Hunt to bring an understanding of the objectives and provision of the new ordinance through explanation to the people of the five-provinces in the eastern region. This strategy was used to make clear the path for the direct taxation whose date of arrival was April 1928.

However, in September 1929, Captain J. Cook was delegated to take over duties of the Bende division temporarily from the serving officer, Mr. Weir, until the return of Captain Hill from leave. Within few weeks of control, Captain Cook had deemed the originally stated rolls for taxation insufficient, because they did not include details of a number of wives, children, and livestock in each household. He decided to revise the existing roll. And it was this arbitrary and vexatious act of Captain Cook that flamed up the two months fire of the Aba women’s riot.

Sam Dede

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Omotola Steps Out with Daughter Nollywood superstar, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde recently stepped out in style with her lovely daughter, Princess, for a wedding party in Lagos.

Mother and daughter left many heads turning.

Omotola and her daughter, Princess

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Niniola Gleams in ‘Designer’ Video Ferdinand Ekechukwu

S

inger, songwriter Niniola Apata (Niniola) has released a music video for her widely popular track “Designer” which features acclaimed producer Sarz. After a successful release of the audio which took off and quickly became a fan faourite, Niniola is back with the official video for the song and it’s just as glamourous and lavish as the lyrics.

The music video was shot and directed by Sesan.

The video portrays Niniola as a successful woman with all the needed luxuries of life. With a core celebration of luxury as connoted by the song’s title, the singer performs some dance moves in figure-hugging outfits that showcase her curves. In the video, Niniola’s character shares a smile with a guy who smiles back, indicating a ‘shot.’

This follows a totally random guy who approached Niniola’s character that was obviously having none of it.

She rejected luxury outfits and even a car from the ‘chance’ guy.

She was about to turn another knock on her door down only to discover it was her, ‘Mr. Perfect’ with whom she shared a smile at the club who was at her door.

The singer who describes her style of music as “Afro-House”, a blend of afrobeat and house music, in a chat recently made revelations on the other factors changed her life for the better in her music career.

The singer credits her hard work as catalyst to her success.

She also pointed out that her success was attributed to God’s intervention. “Preparation meets opportunity. To be honest it just happened. It’s the grace of God but as they say, when hard work and preparation meets opportunity, it just happens.

After Project Fame, I just wanted to prove myself. I knew I could sing but I just wanted more. I loved to dance and wanted to incorporate these two things. I didn’t know anybody in the industry.

“So, I went online in search for the best producer in Nigeria. This was in 2013. Sarz’s name kept coming up. I reached out to him and he requested that I give him a hit song. I dropped ‘Ibadi’ and that’s how it happened. One song changed my life. I just did the song ‘Maradona’ and knew that, like every other ones, it was good.

But when we dropped it, it went boom.

People and artistes from South Africa started reaching out to me.”

Niniola

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

NEWSXTRA

Accord Party Assembly Candidates Demand Fresh Polls in Rivers Ernest Chinwo Ă“Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž

SUPPORTING AGRIBUSSINESS...

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki (3rd left) anked by Senior Health Specialist, International Monetary Fund / World Bank Nigeria, Olumide Okunola (L); Vice President, Human Development, World Bank, Annette Dixon (2nd left); Global Industry Head, Manufacturing Agribusiness and Services IFC, Tomasz Telma (R) and other participants at the ongoing IFC Global

EFCC Docks Lawyer, 9Mobile Staff for N24.9m Fraud Kingsley Nwezeh The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Office, yesterday arraigned two suspected fraudsters, Feranmi Isaiah Akinluyi and Sogo Akinola, a.k.a Obaje, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja on a five-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N24, 980, 000 (Twenty-Four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira).

The first defendant, Akin-

luyi, a lawyer, and the second defendant, Akinola, also a lawyer and an employee of 9Mobile (formerly Etisalat Nigeria), allegedly swindled a number of unsuspecting victims by claiming to be into property business.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Feranmi Isaiah Akinluyi and Sogo Akinola (alias Obaje), on or about the 24th June, 2016 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, induced Kelechi Okani Darlington to transfer the sum of N9,000,000 (Nine Million Naira) only into your Diamond Bank Account

Sanwo-Olu Receives CertiďŹ cate of Return Segun James The governor-elect of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Femi Hamzat were presented their Certificates of Return by the National Commissioner in charge of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola in Lagos yesterday.

At a ceremony witnessed by top All Progressives Congress (APC) party men and state government officials, the state’s INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Sam Olumekun said that there were 45 candidates in the race for the governorship, and that with election of Sanwo-Olu, the people of Lagos State have spoken loudly and that all that was left is for the governor-elect to live up to the expectations of the people. “Lagosians have spoken, Your Excellency, and I dare say that they have spoken loudly and without equivocation. Therefore, the journey to a better Lagos is laid squarely in your court.

May God Almighty be your lone-star in this journey.�

Olumekun said that unlike the presidential election which

witnessed some skirmishes and violence in the state, the governorship election was crisis free and peaceful.

He, therefore, told Sanwo-Olu that “although the presidential election in Lagos State like in some states across the federation witnessed some pockets of violence, we are grateful to God in Lagos that the governorship election that produced you was free of rancor and it was adjudged credible, smooth, peaceful, free and fair by the international community.�

He thereafter praised security agencies under the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, the NYSC and the Central Bank of Nigeria for ensuring that election was successful.

Soon after the presentation, the governor-elect thanked the INEC for a tremendous job in the conduct of the election. He told Lagosians that he would not misuse the opportunity given to him and never abuse the confidence reposed in him and his deputy.

He promised to run an inclusive government that will take everyone along in order to make Lagos greater.

No. 0042435535, on the understanding that the said amount was to purchase a property known and situated on Plot 3, Block 1, Lekki County, Ikota Village, Lagos, which pretext you knew to be false.�

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In view of their no guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Yerima, asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand them in prison custody.

Counsel to the defendants, Olugbenga Akinlabi, informed the court that the charge was served on the defendants

just this morning in the court premises and that the defendants were standing trial before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja for a similar offence for which they are presently on bail.

The defence counsel, therefore, prayed for a short adjournment to enable him file and serve the prosecution with the bail applications on behalf of his clients.

Justice Dada granted the defendants bail and adjourned the case to May 6, 2019 for hearing of the bail applications and commencement of trial.

APC Youth Groups Vow to Resist Zoning Speakership to South-west SholaOyeyipo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

A coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) youth groups under the umbrella of North-Central APC Young Patriots have vowed to resist any attempt by the leadership of the party to zone the speakership to the South-west region.

Addressing journalists Saturday at the Stone Edge Hotel, Abuja, the coalition leader and convener, APC Young Patriot, Mr. Dominic Alancha, said though the party is yet to officially announce the zoning to the South-west, it should not take such decision to avoid a situation where the anointed candidates of the party lose key leadership positions in the 8th assembly.

According to him, “If the party goes ahead to zone the position of the Speaker to the South-west because it wants to foist a particular candidate on lawmakers disregarding popular support and equitable zoning formula, it will be shortchanging the Northcentral of its hard-earned right and this will be resisted by this group.�

Stressing that the motto of APC is justice, peace and unity, Alancha said: “One would expect that since the Senate Presidency was zoned to the North-east being the zone that contributed the highest number of votes after the North-west (3,238,783),

the Speakership position will naturally go to the next in line-the North-central zone who produced the second largest vote after the North-east (2,465,599).

So, why is the party suddenly shifting the goalpost when it comes to zoning the Speakership position by considering the South-west that performed less than the North-central and even already has the number two position of a Vice President? ls this an equitable thing to do?

Querying how the party hopes to engender party loyalty and supremacy without an equitable zoning arrangement, the APC loyalist insisted that the North-central parades qualified lawmakers who that can effectively lead the green chamber. “One of such persons is the current Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Ahmed ldris Wase, who is the most ranking North-central member having returned to the House for the fourth term,� stressing that “Hon. Wase is a true leader who has the unique ability to carry his colleagues along, protect the interest of the party, and possess the political sagacity to build bi-partisan consensus when needed. He is very much popular and loved by his colleagues who rally around him for true leadership,� Alancha stated.

House of Assembly candidates of the platform of Accord political party in Rivers State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the governorship and state assembly elections it conducted in the state on March 9 and organise fresh elections.

They also demanded for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Obo Effanga, and other critical staff of INEC involved in the suspended March 9, 2019 elections in the state.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, spokesman of the candidates, Duke Alamboye, said the candidates have completely disregarded any earlier declared results in connection with the March 9 polls in the state, as these figures were products contrived from very faulty processes, which have rendered them inchoate and unreliable.

Alamboye said: “Against the backdrop of these facts above therefore, we the Rivers State Accord House of Assembly Candidates, stand firmly with the position of our party and hereby demand unequivocally, for the following: “The rescheduling of the March 9, 2019 Rivers State Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in the State and a new date to be fixed for fresh Governorship and

House of Assembly elections in Rives State, within the stipulated time as approved by the Electoral Law “The redeployment of Mr. Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner and other critical staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC who participated and were involved in the March 9 election in Rivers State, especially given the fact that they have been victims of the intimidations, harassments, abductions and hostage situations they were exposed to during the election. “We also state clearly, that we have completely disregarded any earlier declared results in connection with the March 9, polls in Rivers state, as these figures are products contrived from very faulty processes, which have rendered them inchoate and unreliable. “The Accord is a law abiding political party and its governorship candidate remains Chief Dumo O.B. Lulu-Briggs, who is well known as a man of peace and an advocate for the process that will be beneficial to Rivers State and Rivers people.�

Alamboye stated that their demand for fresh polls is based on the reasons given by INEC for the suspension of the March 9 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state, pointing out that the process was trailed with violence, intimidation and militarisation.

ADVAN Supports Global Call for Brands to Hold Platforms to Account Bennett Oghifo

The Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) has said it supports the World Federation of Advertisers’ (WFA) call on all brands globally to hold social media platforms to account in the light of recent failures to block dangerous and hateful content.

This commitment to urge African member brands to hold all platforms accountable was made by the President of ADVAN, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, in her capacity as Regional Vice President for Africa of WFA at the opening of the WFA Global Marketer Conference in Lisbon, recently.

The WFA conference is an event which brings together more than 800 industry leaders, 80% of whom are brand owners.

WFA’s Regional Vice President for Africa, Folake Ani-Mumuney reiterated that while companies must decide their own approaches, WFA is calling on its members and brands worldwide – in their capacity as the funders of the online advertising system – to put pressure on platforms to do more to prevent their services and algorithms from being hijacked by those with malicious intent.

The call comes after multiple incidents on some of the world’s biggest digital platforms, including pedophile comments being left in comments below videos of children on YouTube, the glorification of self-harm and suicide content on Instagram and, most recently, the live-streaming of the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand on Facebook.

All these platforms are funded by advertisers and as such those that make them profitable have a moral responsibility to consider

more than just the effectiveness and efficiency they provide for brand messages, she said.

According to her, ADVAN together with the WFA is standing alongside its member association and colleagues at the Association of New Zealand Advertisers (ANZA), which has issued a call asking for members to think carefully about where they place advertising and challenging platform owners to do more.

The Chief Executive of ANZA, Lindsay Mouat said, “This is not an issue of brand safety, this is a moral question to hold social media platforms to account – in the same way we do for traditional media.�

WFA’s call to action reflects the fact that these are not challenges that could be addressed by one country alone but need global action.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as SUNDAY-OKEH OLUBUNMI, now wished to be known and addressed as SUNDAY-OKEH OLUBUNMI RUTH and my DoB was wrongly written as 9th August 1978 instead of 9th March 1978. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AMEDU SUNDAY ABRAHAM, now wish to be known and addressed as AMEDU ABRAHAM. All former documents remain valid.

ARM Pensions and the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADERINSOLA O M O P E L A D E ADELOSOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADERINSOLA O M O P E L A D E WA L E O Y E D E L E .

All former documents remain valid.

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Saturday, March 30, 2019

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MISSILE

Ndume on Lawan’s Adoption “By the provisions of the Constitution, neither Oshiomhole nor Buhari or any party leader, has the right to force on elected senators or members of the House of Representatives, their presiding officers” – One of the aspirants for the office of the Senate President, Ali Ndume, faulting the adoption of Senator Ahmad Lawan by the party leadership.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Abiola and the Parable of a Poor Man in the Kitchen

F

ellow Nigerians, I’m sure you are probably familiar with the stories of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. Yes, stories, for he was a man of many parts. MKO, as he was fondly called, had three initials that were synonymous with money (Money, Kudi, Owo). Each of the stories around him was the stuff of fiction, fact or “faction.” MKO was a man of sharp intellect, rare sagacity, and uncommon wit. He was a great storyteller, possibly in the mould of the ancient griots of Mali. His knowledge and repository of oral tradition and fables was legendary. He had remarkable tales for every occasion, and the way he stammered made his delivery unique and unforgettable. I was fortunate to have met and known this sensational prodigy who taught me so much, as an adopted son, and my great mentor.

As I prepared to put this column together, my mind flashed back to MKO, as it often does. This epistle is actually not about MKO. No. But there is no better way to illustrate the message than to borrow one of those evergreen witticisms of MKO, a man of superlative memory. My essay today is about the just concluded elections in our dear beloved country Nigeria, which was a complete mess to say the least. I will explain the various reasons and dimensions for my submission and conviction in a jiffy. Please, exercise some patience.

Despite earlier signals, and premonition, that the Buhari government was not likely to play by the books, I, like many others, suffered from unreasonable optimism that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would give us a pleasant surprise, against all odds. I had misplaced, and invested, my hopes and faith in the Chairman and leadership of INEC, a man called Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for crying out loud. I thought he would give us free, fair and credible elections just like Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega - a fellow academic whose tenure was well applauded for consolidating our democratic ideals - had done before him in 2015.

How did I allow myself to be fooled by the charms, charisma and carriage of this man, who exuded grace, intelligence and confidence? My soft spot for academia and intellectualism could have been responsible. Most people I know would always, naturally, expect university egg heads to handle assignments with total dedication, commitment and integrity, even at the point of death. A man with a degree of Doctor of Philosophy, cut to be a philosopher in words and in deed, a king and champion of worthy causes and believer in eternal accomplishments and legacy. He should be above many temporal cravings, the reason it is often said that “the teacher’s reward is in heaven.”

In the recent past, I had come to regard the employment of Professors as returning officers for INEC a masterstroke that was bound to reduce the cases of electoral malfeasance and corrupt temptations. Professors are known to live humbly and simply within their modest means. In our days, they were happy in the company of their colleagues, after work, in the confines of the staff club, where they washed down some affordable grilled fish and pepper-soup with criminally cold beer. I had been mesmerised and hypnotised by their admirable performance in the 2015 elections, under the headship of a man of honour, Professor Attahiru Jega. It is unthinkable, and unimaginable, what could have gone wrong so soon, four years down the line. Perhaps, we can find explanation in one of the favourite wise-cracks of MKO, “if you want to know if a fish is bad, smell the head, once the head is rotten the whole body is gone.”

Can anyone challenge that brilliant theory?

I did not know much about Mahmood Yakubu, but I took more than a cursory interest in him nearer to the elections when I started reading all sorts about him. There was a particular story that struck me, written by Professor Farooq Kperogi,

Late MKO Abiola whose essays I read religiously, almost like Biblical verses, just like I gulped everything written by Sonala Olumhense (right from my university days), and Abimbola Adelakun. Kperogi had stated, matter-of-factly, that Mahmood Yakubu hated Atiku Abubakar with a passionate venom.

While it may have sounded like beer parlour gossip, the writer went ahead to regale his readers with copious information at his disposal. As much as I tried to dismiss them as tales by moonlight, I still couldn’t obliterate them from my gumption.

It was difficult for me to fathom why a cerebral man would despise a fellow human being for whatever reason. Despite this, I was still willing to give Yakubu the benefit of doubts.

I decided to watch Yakubu very keenly and read every bit of information I could find on him. I was fascinated by the fact and realisation that I was about two years older than him. For me, he seemed to be a pride of my generation and I expected him to push the frontiers of human endeavours to sustain the confidence that many Nigerians had reposed in him. Any normal human would be inspired to raise the bar beyond where Jega had placed it. Never did I envisage the nightmare that the 2019 election turned out to be. It was as if Yakubu could not be bothered at all. In all honesty, I won’t put all the blame on him. I believe the terrain was deliberately made difficult by our politicians. The desperation in certain quarters was hopelessly difficult. The involvement of the

military was horribly depressing. I have never seen our respected and respectable soldiers misused and misdirected since the end of military rule.

Those who were already over-stretched by the wars against terrorists and terrorism suddenly found ample time, men and resources for intimidating voters and rigging elections. As I write this, no one knows what to make of the Rivers State debacle.

It is as if our country is under an evil spell.

I expected Yakubu to address the electorate, reassure them tangibly, conduct elections sensibly and professionally, have a balanced sense of judgment, and so on. I never expected the conundrum that ensued. To whom much was given, much was expected. Why did Nigeria have to waste millions of dollars on a sham called elections?

Why did innocent Nigerians die because of the incompetence of some people? Why did Yakubu behave incoherently with no uniformity in the operations and execution of the elections? Why did he allow some politicians get away with murder? Why did he not resign if some leaders were hell bent on rubbishing his achievements in life? There were too many unanswered questions and riddles? Did Yakubu think this election was a joke? Will he in good conscience say this was the election he planned to conduct, and this was his best performance? Is he a happier and more fulfilled man today than he was before this unfortunate charade? When tomorrow comes, how would he look at Nigerians and explain how he spent the humongous cash and resources allocated to him? I can’t stop asking, what manner of man would watch his reputation go up in smoke in order to please mere mortals like himself?

I’m sure the APC operatives would have done a better job of conducting these amazing elections.

Yes. Those guys, led by my dear Brother, Uncle Adams Oshiomhole would have replicated the same with, if not a higher, expertise we saw during their primaries when they recorded millions of votes for President Muhammadu Buhari nationwide and completed the exercise within a twinkle of an eye. The same geniuses conducted primaries in Lagos, and before you could say Jack Robinson, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had emerged victorious with a landslide, almost 2 million votes. So, how could APC perform better than INEC? Is that not a big shame to imagine?

I watched incredulously as Professors of several

decades standing struggled to add up figures that were obviously concocted inside the forest of a thousand daemons. The numbers were terribly harder than Additional Mathematics. What could be responsible for this type of monumental disgrace at a time technology has reduced the stress of over-using human brains? Then I remembered the words of Chief Moshood Abiola again, and the wisdom in his parable of the hungry man in the kitchen. The professors are not Masquerades from heaven. They are human beings on planet earth.

They have suffered under various governments and leaders who don’t see education as anything of value, or priority. Chief Abiola was to write: “you can’t put a hungry man in the kitchen and ask him not to taste or touch.” Food is very essential to the human body. With all due respect, it is thus tempting to conclude that the some of the Professors who failed us were those that suddenly found themselves in the kitchen with plenty of food to taste and touch.

We must salute all the wonderful people who made the difference, from the great INEC leader in Akwa Ibom, the incorruptible Commissioner of Police in Kano, the INEC official in Rivers who cried out for help while under danger, the one who was nearly killed at gun point in Imo State, because some people must win elections fair or unfair. They stood firm despite their lives being in danger. They did not try to eat what they lacked in arears and in advance. No man is perfect, but elections are too important to be toyed with. I must state, however, that the resoluteness of INEC in Imo State, and the unwavering decision not to give a politician employing duress any joy, is to be commended, but in the scheme of things, it is too little, too late! I will always give praise where praise is due.

If I were Yakubu, I will tender my unreserved apologies to the good people of Nigeria and without any hesitation, throw in the towel. He would forever thereafter be regarded as a man of courage and conviction, a hero and legend. Kings have been known to drink poison in the past as atonement for lack of peace and progress in their community. A sacrifice that they know is not too great to make so that their society may thrive.

It is not too late for Yakubu to fall on his sword and follow in the hallowed footsteps of those kind of great kings.

Philip Iyiola Abiola – A Legend Ahead of His Time Yesterday, in London, I attended, with Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, the funeral of my great friend and St. John’s Grammar School, Ile-Ife school mate - the physician, General Practitioner (GP), Pastor, Mentor, humanist and philanthropist - Dr Philip Iyiola Abiola who died in his prime at the age of 58 years. PI as he was fondly called by all those who knew him, succumbed to the deadly, dreaded curse of cancer, but it was as if God wanted to elevate a passion that he had, and bring it to the consciousness of not just his family and friends, but also the general public.

The creation of awareness of the fact that cancer and diabetes were beatable was what he lived for in his final few years. He was particular about the fact that there was a need to reconceptualise the treatment of these ailments in black people and ensure that treatment was tailored to their different physiognomy. I and Prince Aderemi had been by his hospital bed barely one week before he passed on.

I have not seen such a huge gathering of distinguished professional people from all over the world at such a gathering in a long time.

Some came merely for the day to pay their last respects to these Icon and giant. The tributes and eulogies that poured forth from family and

friends, at the unusually lengthy service of songs and the funeral reception, attest to the fact that this highly acclaimed man was of a special, rare and different breed, whose life and virtues should be emulated. This royal scion of Ile-Ife, cousin to the present Ooni of Ile- Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, urged that his funeral not be one of dirges and mourning, but full of songs of praise and celebration. And that is what he got from the outpouring of love shown to him, as encomium after encomium was heaped upon him.

Amongst the guests were, the Ogunwusi’s – Sooko Adegboyega, Adetunji, Tolu, Mrs Ogunwusi; the Aderemi’s - Adedamola and wife, Kemi, Adeyemi, Adelekan, Dr Deinde Orafidiya, Senator Jide Omoworare and wife, Bisi; HRH Segun Layade, his medical colleagues - Dr Kunle Oladinni, Dr Odejinmi, Dr Salawu, Dr Dapo Alalade, Dr Ayo Adebanjo, Dr Ropo Adeojo, Dr Oladipo Oguntola, ; Akodi Ife - Dapo Eluyemi, Niyi Murele, Sikiru Aiyedun, Gbenga Owolabi, Kola Famakin, Seyi Awofisan, Wale Odutoye, Lawal-King; His Ilara Mokin in-laws including Larry and Ronke Bakare; Mr Raphael Lewu and wife, Bimbade, From America came Pemi Adereti-Folarin, Adewale Adeyemo, Leke Ijiyode, Dr. Akin Awofolaju, Mr & Mrs Adebowale, Mr and Mrs Madamidola,

Dr Dapo William, Former Lagos State Speaker, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Hon. Odulana, Chief Bola Oba, the Adereti family from Canada, Mrs Biodun Olufisan-Magnus and daughters, Bolu and Kitan; the Adesiyans, Bose Agbesanwa, Deola Adesanmi, Jade Onigbode, Pastor and Minister Yemi Onigbode, Pastor and Mrs Omotayo, Mr and Mrs Akinyemi, Mr and Mrs Oladipo, Dr and Mrs Lawal, Mr and Mrs Elegbenla and Dr and Mrs bayo Ola amongst many others. The officiating ministers for all the events came from Christ Apostolic Church worldwide. Bidemi Alaran compered at the fantastic reception where Jazz and saxophone music soothed the guests. Dr PI Abiola is survived by his beautiful wife, Eunice Taiwo, his phenomenal children who made him proud on the day - Dr Bolade, Lawyer Okiki, Toyin and Seyi; and his siblings, - Moses and Michael.

At the graveside, five white doves were released in his honour. We at Ovation Magazine also honoured him by ensuring that ace photographer, Dragan Miki, was there to cover the events.

To say that he will be sorely missed is just simply an understatement. I believe my friend and brother Damola Aderemi, put it aptly when he said, “Without PI we are lost o!”.

Sun re o, Olokiki, Philip Iyiola, omo Abiola!!!

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