SATURDAY 6TH APRIL 2019

Shell Plans $15bn Investments in Nigeria, Targets 70% Local Content To power over 1.2 million homes with Ohaji gas project

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) yesterday said that it would be expending about $15 billion across 24 oil and

gas projects in Nigeria in the next five years.

Speaking at 2nd Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), concluded in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Managing Director of

Shell, Mr. Nosa Okunbor, who spoke on the need for Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities in the oil industry, also said that the oil giant would, in the next five years, surpass a 70 per cent

target in the deployment of wholly Nigerian human and material resources to achieve its production benchmark.

The two-day programme was themed "Maximising Investment into the Nigeria

Oil and Gas Industry for the Benefits of the Nigerian People" and was organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) headquartered in Bayelsa.

Okunbor added that when completed, the ongoing projects, in the next five years, were capable of generating thousands of jobs in the Continued on page 7

OPEC Praises Nigeria, 8 African Countries for Helping to Stabilise Oil Market… Page 7 Saturday 6 April, 2019 Vol 24. No 8762

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N250

N

Bloodbath Continues in Zamfara, Bandits Kill 50 Bennett Oghifo with agency report

ALL FOR OIL AND GAS...

L-R: Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote, at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair in Yenagoa, Bayelsa… yesterday

At least 50 people, including several members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), in Zamfara State have been killed in Kaura Namoda by rampaging bandits.

This is coming on the heels of a robust security action plan tagged, ‘Operation Puff Adder’ launched by the Ag. Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu aimed at flushing out criminal elements across some states of the federation, Zamfara inclusive.

The Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, Sanusi Rikiji, who revealed this during Continued on page 7

Onnoghen's Negotiated Resignation Awaits President Buhari’s Next Step Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Alex Enumah in Abuja With the resignation of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, done and dusted, following the submission of his letter on Thursday, all the stakeholders in the long-winding drama are now awaiting the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari for his seal on the deal,

which sources confirmed to THISDAY, was “negotiated.”

President Buhari is attending the World Economic Forum holding in Jordan and the Investment Summit scheduled to hold in Dubai. He is expected back in the country on Tuesday.

Onnoghen is currently being prosecuted by the federal government on a six count charge bordering on alleged failure to declare some of

his assets in line with the provisions of the law for public officers. He was specifically accused of not declaring five of his accounts in Standard Chartered Bank located in Wuse Abuja.

Sources said key stakeholders negotiated a soft landing for the suspended CJN “to ensure that the Judiciary is not bruised.”

This, the source said, also resulted in the NJC

recommending his compulsory retirement instead of a dismissal demanded by the Presidency.

The option of voluntary resignation by Onnoghen was also put forward by the stakeholders, which the suspended CJN quickly accepted.

“All the stakeholders are waiting for the arrival of the President to seal the deal.

They are very hopeful that

he would respond positively.

They expect Buhari to either accept Onnoghen’s resignation or approve the compulsory retirement recommended by the NJC. Either is a soft landing for Onnoghen,” said another sources last night.

A member of Onnoghen’s legal team, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday afternoon on condition of anonymity, said: “The CJN has tendered his resignation letter. I spoke to

him earlier today. I can confirm to you that he has resigned.

But I don’t have his approval to formally speak to the press.

Yes, he has resigned. He sent his letter to the President through the NJC.” However, the Director of Information, NJC, Soji Oye in a telephone conversation with THISDAY said he could not confirm the report of Onnoghen’s resignation.

Continued on page 7

2

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

3

4

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

5

6

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

51

7

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE SIX

OPEC Praises Nigeria, 8 African Countries for Helping to Stabilise Oil Market Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has said that more than one-third of the 24 countries currently working together under a negotiated framework to cut down oil outputs and inventories, to stabilise prices in the global market were from Africa.

It explained that these countries included Algeria; Angola; the Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Libya; Nigeria; Sudan; and South Sudan, adding that they were contributing to the oil market stabilisation efforts it initiated with non-OPEC oil producer led by the Russian Federation within the ‘Declaration of Cooperation’ framework reached in 2016.

Speaking at a recent conference organised by the African Petroleum Producers Organisation

(APPO) in Equatorial Guinea, OPEC’s Secretary General, Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, also stated that the cartel recognised the need for more oil inventories to drop despite some healthy developments from their observation of the agreement to cutback their production levels to rebalance the market.

"When looking at the ‘Declaration of Cooperation’ it gives me great pleasure to say that over one-third of the 24 participants are from Africa: Algeria; Angola; the Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Libya; Nigeria; Sudan; and South Sudan.

"Moreover, half of OPEC’s Membership comes from this continent of Africa. This underscores the vital role this great continent plays within OPEC, within the ‘Declaration of Cooperation’, and within the global oil industry," said

Barkindo.

He explained that in terms of oil, Africa has around 130 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves; an increase he noted was around 50 per cent since the end of last century.

"And in terms of proven natural gas reserves, the figure is over 15 trillion standard cubic metres, a number that has more than doubled since the mid-1980s.

"It is irrefutable evidence of the petroleum potential of Africa, the exciting and abundant opportunities, and the role that this industry can play in unleashing tremendous economic development and prosperity across the continent," he added, while calling for countries of the continent to build alliances to make the most of their hydrocarbon resources.

Turning to the status of the oil market, Barkindo, stated that the OPEC recognised the

current, critical uncertainties surrounding the global oil market throughout 2019, and stressed on the shared responsibility of all participating countries in the ‘Declaration of Cooperation’ to sustain market stability and prevent the recurrence of any market imbalance.

He explained that: "Every country understands the importance of achieving full and timely conformity with their voluntary production adjustments under the decisions of the 175th Meeting of the OPEC Conference and the 5th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, on the 6 and 7 December 2018.

"Overall conformity levels to the new voluntary production adjustments, reached almost 90 per cent for the month of February 2019, which is up from 83 per cent in the month of January. We expect them to improve further in the

coming months.

"While we have seen a marked improvement in market conditions in the 1Q19, compared to the turbulence and volatility of the 4Q18, with the market steadily moving towards a more balanced state, we still believe we need to see inventory levels drop further."

According to him, "We also recognise the fact that underlying risks remain, such as ongoing trade negotiations, monetary policy developments, as well as increasingly complex geopolitical challenges and climate change-related concerns.

"Additionally, we need to see a further pick-up in industry investments, particularly for long cycle projects. We need to remind ourselves that exploration and production spending fell by an enormous 27 per cent in

both 2015 and 2016, and only increased by 8 per cent in both 2017 and 2018."

He added that it was for these reasons that the cartel and its partners have continued to take a very measured approach through the ‘Declaration of Cooperation’, saying, "we look at the economic and market outlook, and we listen to consumers and other stakeholders."

"The ‘Declaration’ is not about short-termism. We are focused on continuity; we are steadfast and completely unwavering; we have longterm objectives and goals.

"This was exemplified in Baku through further statements of support by participating countries for a permanent intergovernmental platform, under the Charter of Cooperation between Oil Producing Countries," he added.

otherwise we knew Nigerians, reasonable Nigerians knew from the word 'cooked' that those allegations were not cooked up and if they were real, the next thing for the CJN to have done was to have stepped aside and the question of, he wouldn't be the only one, why him? There is nowhere in the world where judgment is passed on every sinner at once.

"It is not every armed robber you can catch the same day. And even some you know, the slow will of justice may not catch up with them immediately but we must continue to see evidence that we are moving towards that sanity that we are making progressive efforts and sending strong signals to people who think this country must continue as long as they are comfortable and the rest of Nigerians are suffering. We must send that signal to them.

It is not going to be business as usual".

He said the lesson to be learnt from the travails of the former CJN is that no one, no matter how highly placed is above the law, adding even if the president misbehaves, he should be ready to face the law.

"Now, you have seen the head of National Assembly, Senate President, you have seen him in the dock. Now, you have seen the CJN in the dock. So, one day, we will see a President that will also misbehave in the dock which now shows that nobody is above the law of this country, that we are all equal before the law.

"So, anybody who finds himself in any position, should now begin to look closely at his own actions knowing fully well that today may protect him but tomorrow may expose him," he said.

projects covering export gas, domestic gas and oil projects spread across Deep Offshore, Shallow Water, Swamp and Land terrains.

"Benchmark for all these projects is to meet and where possible surpass the 70% Nigerian Content target.

Employment opportunities are huge, not to mention the spin-off in allied services."

He also listed the onshore oil

opportunities as the drilling and completion of over 100 wells; flowlines and bulklines of over 700 km, noting that most of the opportunities would be driven by six infill projects.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, noted that the event was to showcase opportunities in the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream sectors of the Petroleum Industry.

He noted it will also provide stakeholders with information on upcoming projects to enable Nigerian companies/ manufacturers tailor their business development strategies.

"It will help identify high impact activities with potential for in-country value addition and develop a five-year roadmap to ensure sustainable Nigerian Content Development," he said.

at curbing the excesses of criminals, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, yesterday launched a robust security action plan tagged “Operation Puff Adder.”

The Operation, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Department of State Services (DSS) and involves massive deployment of well-trained, well-equipped and well-motivated personnel and combined operational assets from the various security agencies, is tailored towards ridding the country, especially the Kaduna – Abuja Expressway, Kogi, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara States of all forms of crimes and criminality.

During the inauguration, which took place at katari Bishin District, Abuja –

Kaduna Expressway, the IGP, while noting that no police anywhere in the world, no matter how well-trained, equipped or motivated, can solely achieve its community security and safety mandate without the support of the community, called for the full support and cooperation of the civil populace, particularly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth associations, market bodies, cultural associations and professionals among others in the fight against criminals especially kidnappers, armed robbers, cattle rustlers amongst others.

The IGP also made a special appeal to drivers, commuters and indeed all citizens that may come in contact with police officers deployed for the operation to cooperate with them and show understanding in the interest of public safety.

The police boss however, sounded a note of warning to persons who engage in criminal activities, especially along the Abuja – kaduna Expressway, to give-up their nefarious activities and embrace other legitimate means of livelihood or face the full consequences of their actions.

During the welcome address, the representative of the Village Head of katari, Bishin District, kaduna State, Gambo G. Gambo commended the IGP for the launch of ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in the area, noting that the operation has stated yielding positive results with the arrest of five armed criminals in the area on 4th April, 2019. He therefore thanked the IGP and enjoined the officers deployed to the area to ‘‘do good to the good and do bad to the bad’’.

ONNOGHEN'S NEGOTIATED RESIGNATION AWAITS PRESIDENT BUHARI’S NEXT STEP Similarly, the Director of Information, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Festus Akande, told THISDAY that he was not aware of the resignation of the CJN, and dismissed it as mere rumour.

"As at the time I left the office yesterday, there was nothing like that. And I have called the office after the news broke, there is nothing like that", Akande said.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal where Onnoghen is being prosecuted on the non-asset declaration charges had on April 3, adjourned till April 15 for parties to adopt their final written addresses as well as to fix a date for Judgment and ruling on other pending applications.

Onnoghen was suspended

by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2019, 10 days after his trial commenced at the CCT, on the orders of the CCT.

The suspension order was sequel to an exparte application by the federal government, which prayed the CCT to suspend Onnoghen pending the determination of the trial.

The Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, in granting the exparte motion also ordered President Buhari to swear in the most senior to Onnoghen in the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad as Acting CJN. If his resignation is confirmed officially, by virtue of section 306 of the 1999 constitution, it will take immediate effect.

Section 306 (1) stipulates: “Save as otherwise provided in this section, any person who is appointed, elected or otherwise selected to any office established by this Constitution may resign from that office by writing under his hand addressed to the authority or person

by whom he was appointed, elected or selected. (2) The resignation of any person from any office established by this Constitution shall take effect when the writing signifying the resignation is received by the authority or person to whom it is addressed or by any person authorised by that authority or person to receive it.”

APC: Buhari Has Been Vindicated Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the resignation of Onneghen was a clear indication that his suspension

by President Buhari was not a witchhunt.

The party also said that the development has proved it right that the allegations against the CJN were not cooked up and that they were indeed very serious

and warranted the action of the President.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, who spoke to journalists yesterday said that the party rose in the defense of the President because it knew that he meant well and that the real purpose that drives his actions was national interest.

"Now, events have proven the President right. Events have proven the party, APC right. Events have proven those Nigerians who believe Nigeria first and any other things after - events have proven them right," he said.

Onilu said that when the issue first came up, the opposition especially PDP and some of their allies on the Civil Societies, cried foul, impugning political motive without properly interrogating the allegation.

Onilu said: "We all can only be hiding behind one finger,

SHELL PLANS $15BN INVESTMENTS IN NIGERIA, TARGETS 70% LOCAL CONTENT industry and cited the Assa North, Ohaji project in Imo State as capable of generating 1,200 megawatts and powering over 1.2 million Nigerian homes.

"These remain exciting times for Nigeria as Shell along with its partners will be maturing several projects in support of Nigeria’s growth ambition.

"A cocktail of policies and the active support of government and its agencies like NCDMB

have made these investments possible as industry continues to witness improved cycle times.

"We have an investment portfolio of over $15 billion over the next five years. Shell’s investments will bring huge benefits to the country and its people in terms of contracts and jobs" he said.

According to him, the company has already taken a Final Investment Decision

(FID) on the 300million scf/d Assa North Ohaji (ANOH) gas project, which on completion is expected to generate circa 1200MW to power circa 1.2m homes (1MW – 1000homes) by supplying gas into the domestic gas market.

He added: "In addition to these, we are also maturing several sizeable projects planned to start within the next five years. Twenty eight

BLOODBATH CONTINUES IN ZAMFARA, BANDITS KILL 50 a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda, said the killings took place on Tuesday and attributed the incidence to CJTF confrontation with the bandits in a community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.

According to a News Agency of Nigeria report, the Speaker, who led the state government delegation on the visit, decried the worsening security situation in the state.

Rikiji said: “We were told that the members of CJTF had mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest, which led to the killing of over 50 persons, including CJTF members.”

Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment

Committee, described the CJTF’s act as “unprofessional,” saying, “confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.”

He added: “Their duty is to support security personnel to carry out operations, not to lead operations. Only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits.”

The Speaker urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domains to avoid taking laws into theirs hands.

“This is the directive from Governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.

“We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected

victims from the local government chairman, with the aim of assisting them.

“The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he said.

Responding, the Emir of Kaura Namoda, Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem.

The chairman of the council, Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.

Police Launch Massive Operation to Flush Out Criminals Meanwhile, as part of deliberate measures aimed

8

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

NEWS

News Editor Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (sms only) Email ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

GENDER REPRESENTATION...

L-R: Incoming Ekiti State female House of Assembly members, Hon. Teju Okuyiga (Gbonyin Constituency); Hon. Kemi Balogun (Ado Constituency II); Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba (Emure Constituency) and Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle (Ekiti South West Constituency I), during a visit to Erelu Fayemi shortly after collecting their Certificate of Return from INEC in Ado-Ekiti…recently

Atedo Peterside Confirms His Jet Robbed on Lagos Tarmac Chinedu Eze Chairman of ANAP Jets, Mr. Atedo Peterside, has confirmed to THISDAY that his jet was robbed on the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while waiting for clearance to take off.

According to him, the incident happened about 8:00p.m. last Sunday and lamented that the ability of unscrupulous persons to have access to the airport showed that the Lagos airport was insecure and as the nation’s busiest airport, concerned authorities should be worried about what happened Investigations into the incident

by THISDAY revealed that security breaches occur daily at the airport because there is no comprehensive security and perimetre fencing, so people easily go into the airport and hide in the bushes that surround the airside, where aircraft taxi to take off.

According to the safety procedure adopted by FAAN since the incidents of robbery on taxing

aircraft, every aircraft taking off is escorted by patrol vans with security operatives and arriving aircraft are also escorted by patrol vans.

Reports however indicated that when the ANAP Jets aircraft was about to take off, it was not escorted and it was directed to wait at the holding point for another aircraft to take off at the runway by the Air Traffic Control.

It was while it was waiting that suspected thieves came out from the bush and accessed the cargo hold of the flight and took the only bag in the hold.

Peterside dismissed the doubt being expressed by FAAN officials and said, “I will be surprised if anybody will deny it. When they opened the cargo hold they saw only one bag in it and they took it. They would have taken all the bags if there were more bags there.

What this shows is that Lagos airport is vulnerable in terms of security. If the security at the airport is fortified, they should not have been able to enter there at all.”

He also expressed concern about the untamed bushes that grow around the airport and said they provide thieves areas to hide and carry out their unscrupulous acts.

According to him, it was standard procedure that the cargo hold was not locked when people are inside the aircraft and at landing the ground staff could easily access the hold, adding that for safety reasons in case of emergency, such doors were not locked so that they could be opened during evacuation by ground personnel.

“When you are coming to land all your doors should be in a position that they could be opened from outside. This is manufacturer’s specification and you don’t have to breach such recommendations. You cannot make aircraft impregnable. The solution to this is to provide efficient security system. But the aircraft could be locked from outside when no one is in the aircraft. You have to obey the directive of the manufacturer.

But I wish to note also that

FAAN manages other airports in the country and some of them are secure. They have not robbed our aircraft in Benin, Owerri and it has been a long time they robbed aircraft in Abuja, so the problem is a Lagos problem.

Almost all the robbery incidents happen in Lagos,” he explained.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, told THISDAY that it had been difficult to confirm such incidents but despite that the agency had fortified security at the airside and other parts of the airport.

She said FAAN acquired more patrol vans, trained more security personnel who in a joint security operation patrol the airside of the airport regularly.

Also a top official of the agency at the international wing of the Lagos airport told THISDAY that investigation was still on-going.

“We are still investigating because the point of the incident was inside the active area of

NNPC’s Refinery Pays Kaduna MoreTaxes Despite Poor Outputs Chineme Okafor ÓØ ÌßÔË The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, one of the country’s crude oil refineries that is run by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is one of the highest tax payers to the government of Kaduna State, Mr. Nasir el-Rufai, the state governor has said.

According to el-Rufai, the refinery which capacity utilisation remained at zero for most parts of the months in 2018, and was not refining crude oil despite receiving the commodity from its parent body, the NNPC, pays the state its taxes regularly.

The governor in a statement from the NNPC yesterday in Abuja disclosed this to the corporation’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, during a courtesy call on him, he however did not disclose the type of tax the unprofitable refinery pays to the state.

The NNPC’s monthly operations and financial report for December

2018, indicated that besides a profit of N2.957.33 billion recorded by the Kaduna Refinery in April 2018, all other months, it made losses.

Notwithstanding, el-Rufai, said it paid its taxes promptly.

He was also quoted to have stated in the statement signed by NNPC’s Group General Manager Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, that the state would support the NNPC to build its Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project.

The governor described the AKK gas line project as a very important one to Kaduna, noting that the people of Kaduna were happy it would support the state’s power demands.

“Already, we have gone ahead by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with OCIP of Morocco for the development of a fertiliser plant in Kaduna State.

“As soon as the gas is here from the AKK Pipeline project, it will open up many possibilities.

Therefore we are ready to support you in whatever way we can,”

said el-Rufai.

He stated that the state would welcome the emergence of more independent power plants (IPPs) and was ready to provide land to achieve that, just as he called on the NNPC to build more fuel retail outlets within Kaduna.

Baru, in response told the governor that NNPC was open to partnership with the state and other stakeholders to accomplish the AKK gas line project.

He said: “We are very much pleased with the feedback from Governor el-Rufai. We are open to collaborations that will ensure the fast delivery of the AKK Project.”

Aside the AKK project, Baru, said the NNPC was keen on executing other projects that would trigger industrialisation and create jobs in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the corporation also said it would support ongoing initiative by the federal government to diversify the country’s economy through agriculture by providing the fulcrum for the attainment of a mutually

beneficial relationship between agriculture and industries.

Baru, said at the 40th Kaduna International Trade Fair in Kaduna, that the NNPC would continue to provide the enablers for the actualisation of Nigeria massive agricultural potentials in line with the aspirations of President Muhammadu Buhari for the sector.

He said on completion, the AKK would deliver gas to Abuja, Kaduna and Kano power plants to power factories in the northern parts of the country and the national grid.

He added that in order to bridge the medium term domestic gas supply deficit by 2020, seven Critical Gas Development Projects (7CGDPs) had also been identified, saying that the desired outcome of this initiative would boost domestic gas supply from about 1.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) to 5bscf/d with a corresponding 500 per cent increase in power generation to buoy capacity utilisation of industries.

the airport and not at the usual end of the runway. We are still investigating,” the official said.

When contacted, spokesman of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye told THISDAY that he was not aware of the incident and promised to find out.

However, aviation security expert, Ayo Obilano said while he was not sure of the current incident, similar incidents had happened before and noted that there must be a system failure in terms of security.

“Aircraft should be escorted.

If they had escorted the aircraft this would not have happened.

The Air Traffic Control might not have informed the Rapid Response team to escort the aircraft or that the team was not there. So to me, communication is key,” he said.

It has to be noted that many incidents have happened in the past and even pilots that had operated Lagos and other airports in the country confirm that for many years such incidents have been happening at the nation’s airports, especially in Lagos.

In early December 2017, there were reports that a private jet was attacked on the runway18R of the airport by unknown bandits when taxiing to the hangar of Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) Ltd. The jet was said to be arriving from

Istanbul between 2110 and 2130hrs after landing in Lagos.

The pilot of the flight was Captain Emma Heering, who reportedly discovered that the rear door of the aircraft was opened while taxiing to the hangar.

About two weeks later, another theft was reported on the airport’s runway, and this time, it involved two known Nigerian musicians, Tiwa Savage and Wizkid. A private jet conveying the two artistes from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, was allegedly robbed while taxiing on the runway.

Sources at the airport informed THISDAY that the aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 605 jet with registration number T7-A00, arrived Lagos about 8:33p.m on December 26 and was slowly taxiing to the arrival hangar when the cargo compartment was burgled.

Reports said the jet had slowed to allow an Ethiopia Airlines cargo plane with registration number ET-ARH to push back for takeoff.

The pilot of the business jet, Captain Cloud Cote, noticed the cargo door had been opened by burglars and promptly notified the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria security. But the burglars had disappeared before FAAN officials could make it to where the attack took place, a source had disclosed.

Police Arrest Two Suspects in UNILAG Graduate Medical Doctor Murder Bennett Oghifo

The Lagos State Police Command said they have two suspects in custody over the stabbing to death of a medical doctor, Stephen Urueye, about 24 hours after his graduation ceremony at the University of Lagos.

Sources said Dr. Urueye, a House Officer at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), was stabbed to death on Thursday, this week in front of the main gate of LUTH at Idi-Araba, Lagos.

He was reportedly rushed to the emergency unit where doctors’ battled to save his life was unsuccessfully. The murder sparked massive protest by members of the hospital community, who condemned incessant attacks by hoodlums in and around the hospital.

Students of UNILAG also took to the streets, calling on the authorities for protection, and demanding that the killers of Dr. Urueye must be apprehended.

9

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

The Broken Vessel Called War against Corruption

T

wo weeks ago, the United States Department of State reported a climate of impunity in the Buhari government “that allows officials to engage in corrupt practices with a sense of exemption from punishment.” In the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018, the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, said Nigeria had made little progress in efforts to limit corruption in its public service.

It stated: “Although the law provides criminal penalties for conviction of official corruption, the government (Nigeria) did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.

Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security services.”

The report stated further that Nigeria’s two key anti-corruption agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had broad powers to prosecute corruption, but rarely applied such powers to conscientiously and logically prosecute corruption cases.

I thought that there would be a vigorous reaction from the Buhari government on this US report, with facts and figures. Two weeks after, none came. I guess there is really nothing to defend in this fantasy war against corruption.

Just few days back, Transparency International (TI) also punched holes in Buhari’s hyped war against corruption. The Berlin-based organization, leading global fight against corruption, reported that substandard anti-money laundering measures of the government; corruption in Nigeria’s defence and security budgets; attacks on civil society organisations (CSOs) and journalists, amongst others, had all contributed to Buhari’s failure in his war against corrupt practices.

TI, in a summarised review of Nigeria’s latest ranking in its 2018 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), where the country scored 27 out of 100, and was well below the regional average of 32 in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, noted that of the various anti-graft commitments and promised made by the Buhari administration since he assumed office, less than a quarter had been delivered.

The USDS and TI are not saying anything new about Buhari’s make-believe war against corruption. Many patriots have persistently pointed out the flaws in it, with a long list of untamed sleaze cases - NNPCgate, Maihajagate, Mainagate, Barugate, Yusufgate, Babachirgate and the rest of them.

Imagine a government that is fighting corruption approving a frightening N1.4 billion for the design of a 12-floor head office building in Abuja for the Department of Petroleum Resources? The architectural and engineering designers alone will pocket N1.4 billion.

Yes, N1.4 billion. The Federal Executive Council gladly approved the contract.

The shenanigans are unending. Can you imagine a government that is fighting corruption approving a frightening N1.4 billion for the design of a 12-floor head office building in Abuja for the Department of Petroleum Resources? The architectural and engineering designers alone will pocket N1.4 billion. Yes, N1.4 billion. The Federal Executive Council gladly approved the contract.

The total projected cost of the building when it is done is about N35 billion. This will take the building’s cost to N36.4 billion. I guess the building will be made all of gold. This is happening in a country where millions of people go to bed without meals and wake up not sure of where breakfast will come from. This profligacy is happening in a country rated among the eight hungriest in the world, with millions of people starving in the North-east. Daily, revenues that should go into the Federation Account are squandered

by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies in a supposed era of change.

Last Monday, I watched the Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, perspiring while defending the 2019 budgetary proposal of the ministry before lawmakers. The Senate Committee on Trade rejected the ministry’s budget proposal because it voted N42 billion for a firm, Nigeria Special Economic Zone Company, which the minister said was a government firm, but the lawmakers found out that it was a private company.

The panel confronted the minister with facts and figures showing that the firm was privately-owned and that the firm’s name was Nigeria Sez Investment Company

Limited and not Nigeria Special Economic Zone Company as claimed in the documents presented by the minister. This should not be happening in an era of change.

Under Buhari, the NNPC is permanently into these trickeries. Which corruption is bigger than spending billions of Naira (unbudgeted) on petroleum subsidy? The grossly mismanaged corporation recently reported that it incurred a loss of N228.1 billion between April and November 2018, a period of just seven months.

Money gobbling has been the name of NNPC’s game under Buhari. This corporation once told a bewildered nation that petrol consumption had jumped to 60 million litres daily, with N1.7 trillion paid as subsidy in 2017. Rent seekers in the oil industry are still collecting the proceeds of crude oil sales under Buhari’s watch. This is why the NNPC spent a monstrous $5.8 billion on the importation of 9.8 million metric tons of petrol in four months - October 2017 to January 2018.

Many are questioning these figures. NNPC’s petrol import and expenditure claims are cloaked. The four refineries owned and operated by the NNPC are in shambles. They posted a cumulative loss of N114.3 billion in the first 11 months of 2018.

It is depressing to note that many of the sleaze allegations in the last four years are waved aside with impunity. I can’t forget that of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu. Last year, the sacked Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TeTFund), Abdullahi Baffa, had alleged that he was forced out of office owing to his refusal to provide monetary kickbacks to Adamu. Baffa told BBC Hausa Service that the Minister had sent a contractor to him demanding his share of N200 billion disbursed by the agency to tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Bafa alleged: “If they bring any evidence indicting me, I’m ready to accept death punishment. I do not regret my refusal to obey the minister’s directives because I cannot sabotage my country. Go and ask the minister. Eight months ago, Mallam Adamu Adamu sent one of his biggest contractors to tell me that the minister was angry with me for three reasons. The third issue was that TeTFund disbursed over N200 billion to universities without remitting the per cent kickback, amounting to at least N20 billion at 10 per cent rate.”

Like so many other untreated sleaze cases involving government officials, our anti-graft agencies did not show interest in the Adamu case. Fighting corruption in Nigeria is evidently a padi padi arrangement.

Osinbajo’s Obsession with PDP Nigerians are obviously tired of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s ‘PDP 16 years of failure’ mantra. The Vice President and his cohorts are the only ones unaware of this. This is why Osinbajo is still chanting the mantra. It was appalling watching him at the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Abuja whistling that the PDP did not complete any major infrastructural project in 10 years. Haba! This is outlandish. My dear vice president often forgets that the Buhari government will be judged by how much it is able to impact on the lives of Nigerians and not how much it is able to pummel its predecessor. Whenever Osinbajo mocks the previous government over corruption, I just laugh. Corruption under this government is also frightening.

The 2017 Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International revealed that sleaze in Nigeria was more severe under the Buhari administration.

Osinbajo is regaling us with stories about corruption under the PDP, while Nigeria wallows in darkness, poverty, disease, hunger, unemployment and malnutrition. Scores of frustrated Nigerians, who are victims of the poverty in our land, die daily trying to cross treacherous routes to Europe. The VP and his principal should concentrate on how to drag Nigeria out of the current mud this country has been thrown into by their almost four years of “change,” instead of all these Mongo Park stories. A serious government would have ensured a robust engagement of the poverty and unemployment ravaging our land. I have not seen this in the last four years. Osinbajo should be worried that Nigeria has surpassed India as the country with the largest number of people living in life-threatening poverty.

The World Poverty Clock named Nigeria the poverty capital of the world last June when it revealed that this country had 87 million people living in poverty. The latest statistics from the World Poverty Clock shows that the number of extremely poor Nigerians has risen to 91.6 million. Yes! 91.6 million Nigerians are living below a dollar a day as of February 13, 2019. This implies that virtually half of Nigeria’s population now lives in extreme poverty. This should task Osinbajo and his principal. Nigerians want to see this government executing pragmatic policies that will pull millions of people out of poverty in its “next level.”

IG Must Arrest Killers of NYSC Members in Bayelsa For those who have not been following the gory story, this is a quick recap: Precisely 17 days ago, March 20, gunmen stormed the residence of a private school proprietor in Swali, a suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and shot three members of the National Youth Service Corps, staying in a lodge provided by the school’s proprietor. The NYSC members were attached to Victory Group of Schools in the Bayelsa State capital. While two of them died in the attack, the third one was critically injured. Yes, Popoola Olamide, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University/indigene of Oyo state and George Onokpoma from Delta State were murdered by these bastards. The walls of the room were riddled with bullets while blood soaked the floor; the blood of innocent young Nigerians, whose only crime was heeding the call to serve motherland. This

is one big mess of a country. Unending tears are flowing in the homes of the two murdered NYSC members. Parents that have invested heavily in these young men, up to university levels, had their corpses sent home to them.

The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Olusola David visited the state secretariat of the NYSC a day after the incident. He met with the state NYSC Director, Mrs Lotto Bolade, expressed shock over the incident and assured the NYSC of a security strategy to ensure the safety of corps members in the state. Asimim Butswats, spokesman of the police added that the command had launched a manhunt for the gunmen. That was where it all ended. All talks, no action. As I pen this piece, there is still no news about arresting the gunmen. The Bayelsa Police boss

and his men are clearly coldblooded.

In sane climes, the entire security force in the state would have proactively moved to apprehend the killers of these NYSC members. But this has not been the case. 17 days after the heinous crime, the gunmen are still at large. The most painful part is that the Bayelsa State Police Command has been acting as if nothing happened. We are talking about the truncated lives of innocent young men who came to Bayelsa to serve the nation; then, have their corpses sent home to their parents.

The bastards who committed this heinous crime must not go unpunished. Today, I challenge IG Mohammed Adamu to smoke out the killers of Olamide and Onokpoma.

The culprits must be arrested and brought to justice.

Time to Deregister Frivolous Political Parties One of the biggest problems the Independent National Electoral Commission created for itself in the 2019 elections was the large number of political parties it registered. It was the first time in the country’s history that ballot papers had 91 political parties.

It evidently created logistic glitches for the umpire itself. For the voters, it was horrendous, as they spent time sifting through the long list on the ballot papers clogged with all

manner of political parties. The most painful aspect is that these jankara political parties only existed on paper, creating gridlock in the electoral process. This must not be allowed to happen again in this country. Yes, it is part of democracy to allow as many political parties as possible, but for now, this country lacks the capacity to manage such a large number.

Our election umpire does not even have the capacity to monitor the 91 political parties.

INEC must move very fast to trim down the number of political parties before subsequent elections. There are constitutional provisions guiding deregistration of political parties, based on performances in elections.

INEC should activate these. Recall that the Attahiru Jega-led INEC did same in 2014.

The 2017 amendment to Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, empowers INEC to deregister any political party on the grounds

Osinbajo

of “(a) breach of any of the requirements for registration; (b)failure to win at least 25 per cent of votes cast in: (i) One state of the federation in a presidential election; or (ii) one local government of the state in a governorship election; (c) failure to win at least – (i) one ward in the chairmanship election; (ii) one seat in the national or state House of Assembly election; or (iii) one seat in the councillorship election.”

So, INEC, please go ahead and deregister all the political parties that have failed to meet the constitutional prerequisites based on performance at the 2019 elections.

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY Blossom Chukwujekwu

With Joba, I Went Through Emotional Journey I Never Thought Existed If you have seen The Visit, Ghana Must Go, Okafor’s Law, then you will know that Blossom Chukwujekwu is a master storyteller. But if you haven’t, there is the opportunity to see Joba now showing in Cinemas nationwide. Blossom shares his experience in the movie, career and his view about the industry with Chinedu Ibeabuchi

W

hat was your acting experience like with Joba?

My experience is what you just saw on screen. From what I observed in the hall during the premier, I saw very emotional tempers and some were crying, I as well cried. In one of those scenes while shooting, they had to pause production for about 30 minutes because I kept on crying. Joba is a very emotional movie. We had a fantastic director who understood the emotional drain we had to go through. So it was a great experience.

Concerning the movie, Joba, what do you think resonate with people?

When a new couple gets married, the next thing is to start a family. And you know that there are a lot of couples going through challenges. I think this is very relatable to the common Nigerian family and even across the world. But basically, I think that what people can take out of this is that no matter the circumstances and situations, trust in God. Sometimes, as difficult as it might seem, we might be blinded by the situation that we wouldn’t want to take a step back or be silent to see what He (God) is telling us. It is important that we review how we face our challenges and just maybe give God more attention for us to really see what He is saying in the silence. We might want Him to speak in certain ways but He is probably speaking in the wisdom which we might not probably understand and which leads to the fact that we should just know God more. In a family of two kids for example, the parent will not necessary relate to the two of them the same way. They definitely love them equally but they relate with them differently based on personality types.

You fit into this role perfectly, were you acting from experience?

Acting first of all is based on whether it’s your experience or other people’s experience. So, acting is drawn from experiences. Mind you, there are not so many men like Lami (lead male character in Joba). I dare not even say I am like Lami. So, basically it’s for us men to mirror Lami and note that there is a lot that we need to take responsibility for. You would find out that it took the responsibility of Lami – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, ethically – to be strong for his wife. I dare say that as men, we really need to do better. Joba takes me through emotional journey I never thought existed.

Talking of being strong for your wife, the scene where you were forced to sit down and watch your wife raped. How did you take it?

You don’t wish or pray even that for your enemies. Biodun Stephen (the director) will tell you how Enado Odigie and I were after that scene. We shot that scene close to forty-five minutes because it was as we were there seeing it happen life. When the scene ended, I remained still, crying. They had to come and drag me. It was difficult to instantly readjust to myself after the scene because you have to make the acting look real and that knocked me off my feet. So, you can’t even think of that for your enemies. It is easier said than done to behave rationally after the event. It takes guts to see your wife after the incidence and love her enough to want to make love with her.

Looking at your career, any regret so far?

No regret thus far. This is where I am supposed to be. I was born to be here and that’s what I believe, even though I supposedly stumble on it, but I found out that this is what I am supposed to do. It’s almost 10 years now. It’s been a challenging and rewarding experience. You have to know what you want, work towards it and never reduce the size of your dreams; make sure that you improve your attitude, discipline and skills to match the destiny that you want. Was it challenging? Absolutely! Are there still challenges? Absolutely. But there are no regrets because I love what I am doing.

Blossom

Piracy is still a major issue in Nollywood. What’s your take on this?

I don’t think piracy is necessarily the issue. What I think is the issue is that all of us need to unlearn and relearn so that we are able to create the structure that we want. Structure is the key thing. If there is no structure, piracy will thrive. For instance, the distribution structure. It is only in distribution that the craft and

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

11

SUPERSATURDAY It is Important That We Review How We Face Our Challenges art of filmmaking become a business. If there is no proper distribution structure, there is no business of film, it becomes just an art. If you are making film, you want to monetise or commercialise it. That is where distribution comes in. So, the problem is that there is no proper distribution structure. And films are about timing from box office to festivals to pay-tv to DVD. These structures have to be put in place.

We have about 40 cinemas now in Nigeria. It’s not enough. That’s like one screen to five million people.

That’s not enough. You still need more investment in the distribution channel. People are beginning to understand that Nollywood is a potential investment opportunity.

Nollywood is about $7.5 billion industry. For those who condemn Nollywood as crappy films, take it or leave it, those films are the films that put us on the map.

How profitable is acting for

you? Is it paying your bills? Do you do acting alone?

Yes, it’s paying my bills but I don’t do acting alone. The value that you place on yourself and the standard that you set, that’s same value that people will place on you. That value grows over time and also entails you understanding the industry.

Have you had any cause to reject a script?

If it doesn’t align with my direction, then there is really no need.

It’s not just the money, there are different factors like the core story, production value, etc.

‘The Visit’ movie, how were you able to produce a masterpiece role?

Funny enough, just as Joba, Biodun Stephen wrote and produced The Visit. You now know why I would always want to work with her. It takes a lot of work to put The Visit together. The point is that it is important that every character you play is unique. You have to immerse yourself in that character by first of all internalising the character.

That’s the work we do as actors. It takes a whole lot of work to create a complete different personality from scratch and we are grateful to directors like Biodun Stephen who are willing to give us the time.

Are you of the consciousness that at a time, script might be not coming as they are coming now?

That’s not in my consciousness.

I can never have that in my consciousness (laughs). Have you not heard that actors don’t die? As old as you get, you will get scripts that match your personality. You have to be smart also to branch out to other areas like distribution, production, etc. I have a business mindset.

If I wasn’t into acting, I probably would have been in Alaba market selling spare parts (laughs).

Aside acting, who is Blossom?

Blossom is a new creation.

Blossom is a child of God. Blossom is married. Blossom is a man who is trying to get better.

Blossom is a businessman.

Blossom is a philanthropist.

Blossom is a soul winner.

N ever Reduc e t h e Si ze o f You r Dr e am , Wor k Very H a r d Towa r d s i t

12

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

COMMENTARY

A GLIMMER OF HOPE

There is still more to do, but there are remarkable improvements in the Prisons, writes Beatrice Yohana

N

igerian prisons are notorious for being congested, holding more convicts and awaiting trials beyond their carrying capacities.

Of recent, a new narrative is unfolding in the various prison formations, behind the thick walls.

With four international awards and recognition by global organizations, the Nigeria Prisons Service has taken a 360 degree turn for the better and there are facts to back up this claim. The unique approach to offenders’ rehabilitation has caught the attention of both regional and global communities for the first time since the establishment of the Prisons Service in 1862, it won four International awards in 2018.

The star in the pack is the Superior Achievement in Branding Reputation and Engagement (SABRE) Award on Public Education in Gaborone, Botswana. The NPS also bagged a Certificate of Excellence in Public Sector (Prison Decongestion Tackling and the Plight of Awaiting Trial Persons) awarded by Holmes Report which was presented in Gaborone, on May 10, 2018.

Also in the kitty is the 2018 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Confucius Prize for Literacy and Skills Development presented in Paris, France on September 7, 2018.

For its advocacy on prison de-congestion, the NPS won the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Award on Crisis Management for Media Campaign on Prison Decongestion and Plight of Awaiting Trial Inmates which was presented in Barcelona, Spain on October 19, 2018.

From the moment Comptroller-General of Prisons, Ahmed Jafa’aru, mounted the saddle in 2015, the Service has witnessed a steady growth in consonance with global best standards. The first challenge he battled was the dilapidated infrastructure some of which were over 70 years old. But in a spate of three years, new and ongoing projects have been initiated and revived with a good number already completed and put to use. Many cells have also been renovated in different prisons across the federation. In all, about 380 projects (new constructions and renovations) have been inaugurated to date. Of significant mention is the 3000 capacity ultra-modern prison planned for each of the geo-political zones. Kano is hosting the modern edifice for North West now almost completed.

To actualize its core mandate of inmates’ reformation and rehabilitation, the NPS is providing opportunities for those that have no formal education to be trained in sundry vocations and the scope has significantly increased under the current dispensation. A total of 394 inmates acquired the Trade Test Certificate in different trades between 2015 to date. On discharge, the After Care Unit has presented start-up tools to selected skilled inmates for proper reintegration and economic empowerment.

Furthermore, formal educational programmes ranging from Adult Education, WAEC/NECO, NCE to degree programmes in the university is now available for inmates interested in pursuing higher education. Since 2015 to date, 4,757 inmates enrolled for the adult education programme and 1,162 graduated. One thousand, four hundred and four others sat for the Senior School Certificate Examinations and 634 passed with five credits including Mathematics and English; 193 inmates took the NECO and 54 passed with five credits including Mathematics and English.

Fifteen candidates also sat for NABTEB Examinations and all passed while 267 others have acquired the First School Leaving Certificate.

THE PERSISTENT UPSURGE IN THE NUMBER OF AWAITING TRIAL PERSONS POSED A THREAT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S PRISON DECONGESTION DRIVE

In 2017, 50 inmates in Ogun State graduated from Yewa College of Education with NCE while 60 others also matriculated for the same programme. Under the current administration, more inmates have been able to actualize their dream of having university education while in custody. The Service has sustained a fruitful partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria which now has about 465 students studying different courses such as Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution, Criminology & Security Studies, Political Science and Law. Twenty-three of the inmates are undergoing Post-Graduate Programmes, among them six post-graduate diploma students, 16 Master’s and one PhD student. More study centres are being established across the prison formations.

Prison farms, some of which were hitherto moribund, have witnessed a revival with the purchase and distribution of 22 new tractors and accompanying implements. In a bid to attain a level of agricultural production where the prisons will be able to generate substantial foods required for inmates, the service has carefully selected three farms on the basis of specialty and comparative advantage. They are in Kujama, Kaduna State for maize; Lakushi in Plateau State for rice and Ozalla in Edo State for palm oil.

Healthcare has taken the front burner with the purchase and distribution of a huge stock of drugs to all prison formations. Ambulances were also procured and distributed to all prison commands to bring healthcare to the door step of prison inmates.

Staff morale which was at its low ebb has been boosted with the implementation of different motivational packages and incentives. For instance, promotion has been regular, and barracks accommodation is now available. Uniforms, including accoutrements are also being provided. The Prisons Welfare Insurance Scheme has been revitalized and the next-of-kin of deceased staff are now promptly paid their benefits.

Management has given priority to staff re-orientation in respect of prisoners’ rights through the development of training manuals.

Structurally, crèches and nursing mother cells have now been factored into the prison architecture to address vulnerable groups in prisons.

Inmates data are now captured electronically thus putting an end to the cumbersome manual process. The system is also expected to improve access to justice and assist other security agencies in identifying ex-offenders.

Despite these landmark achievements, the service is still beset by a few challenges including overcrowded prison cells, inadequate vehicles for taking inmates to courts and poor funding. The persistent upsurge in the number of awaiting trial persons posed a threat to the federal government’s prison decongestion drive. Indeed, stakeholders are agreed that this worrisome trend can only be reversed when state governments adopt and implement the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The Prisons Service spokesman, Francis Enobore, attributed the achievements in the service to the improved funding by the federal government. Even with the significant intervention in the area of logistics, Enobore said a lot can still be done in the area of logistics.

“Presently, the service records between 69 and 70 per cent of inmate population as awaiting trial persons who are to be presented to about 5,022 courts nationwide. More funding is required to procure additional vehicles,” he noted.

CONTENDING WITH EXTREME HEAT WAVE Tayo Ogunbiyi urges all to plant trees to combat global warming

T

he heat wave currently being experienced from across the country is becoming quite alarming, and to say the least, unbearable. It would thus be an understatement to state that many of our compatriots are finding it very difficult to cope.

Children are principally worse hit as they develop heat rashes and become naturally uncomfortable, particularly at night.

According to medical experts, excessive heat has damaging effects on victim’s health as it can lead to dehydration-due to excessive loss of water, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and sometimes death.

Among others, critical danger indicators to pay attention to in hot weather include weakness, tiredness, and dizziness, shortness of breath, vomiting and general body disorder.

Experience from across the globe actually validates the reality of the menace of excessive heat.

In August 2003, Northern France had a nasty experience of rare extreme heat for over three weeks. The result was catastrophic as it led to the death of over 15,000 people. Same year in England, over 2,000 people died as a result of a 12-day heat wave.

With the current state of heat wave in the country, one only hopes things won’t become worse.

Unfortunately, succour is not likely to be in sight yet as experts have warned of more hot days, warm nights and heat waves ahead. In Lagos, the situation is even more unpleasant as the metropolis is presently experiencing a protracted heat wave which has

ushered in strange hot weather with temperature over and above 32 degrees centigrade.

Characteristically, lots of tips are being offered by experts on how to keep abreast of the situation. Top on the bill is a good eating habit that is effectively complemented with drinking plenty of hygienic water at intervals. Naturally, to fight dehydration, the body requires constant supply of water.

Reduction in the intake of caffeinated or intoxicating drinks is also one of the recommended antidotes to the consequences of excessive heat. Also, ensuring good ventilation in residential places as well as regular bathing at night has been recommended.

It is, however, important to stress that being a direct consequence of the global warming challenge which the entire world is currently contending with, long term solutions as against immediate remedies would be more appropriate and effective in dealing with excessive heat. In this respect, one would like to make a strong case for tree planting.

Trees have been scientifically proven to be very useful as first line of defence in the fight against global warming as they absorb the carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere, replenish the air with oxygen and also contribute immensely to the aesthetics of the environment. They check erosion and stem the tide of windstorm by serving as wind breakers.

On another note, trees are brilliant cleansers. They remove other pollutants through the pores in the leaf surface. It is considered that trees act as what

some call a carbon sink, storing the gas in its branches, trunk, leaves, etc., instead of leaving the gas to become free-floating and further polluting the atmosphere. In this natural function alone, trees directly reduce the growth of the greenhouse effect and counteract global warming.

Trees also serve the purpose of overall air quality enhancer, and a much-needed one at that. They provide natural habitats for many small creatures, and reduce the temperature by providing shade.

All in all, a tree is not just a beautiful work of nature standing amongst the many phenomenal picturesque settings of this world; it is a powerful and vital tool for human survival.

Modern science recognizes that without tree manufacturing oxygen, life on earth would have been impossible. As the world concentrates on global warming and its adverse effects on climatic changes, it is imperative that the public be more educated and enlightened on efficacy of trees. Although planting of trees has long been a suggestion to better the earth, there is a desperate need for sustained action at making it not just an annual ritual as it is being practiced in most states of the country but what everybody, especially land owners, must embrace if we are to take the decisive trend of climate change serious.

According to climate experts, human-induced global deforestation is responsible for 18-25% of global climate change. The United Nations, World

Bank and other leading non-governmental organizations are therefore encouraging re-forestation and other activities that promote tree planting to mitigate the effects of climate change. Ironically, as simple as tree planting process is, only quite a few pays adequate attention to it in this clime. This is not surprising since we are used to waiting for disaster to occur before doing the right thing.

It is in order to alter the trend and preserve the environment that Lagos State government has been urging residents to embrace the culture of planting trees in view of its obvious benefits. Tree planting is one of the most valuable tools available to provide environmental stability. Consequently, the Lagos State government has embarked upon a plan that will see it planting 10 million trees by 2020.

It has, therefore, become imperative for individuals, corporate bodies, community leaders, religious bodies, NGOs and all tiers of governments to give sufficient attention to tree planting. In view of the enormous importance of trees to the quality of human life, it would be foolhardy to neglect this simple and less expensive venture that is naturally endowed with life giving aura.

With natural disasters occurring across the world, as a result of the abuse of the environment, this is the time for everyone to have a rethink about our attitude to the environment.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

13

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

INSIGHT

How long will the agony continue?

Chinemelu Ezeh: The Young Scientist

H

e is only 28 years old, but he is already rubbing shoulders with scientists and inventors at the highest level of advanced technological research.

It’s not simply because Chinemelu Ejiamatu Ezeh has, at such an early age, earned a PhD. It’s to do with the field - Assistive Robotics – in which he has earned his doctorate. It’s also because he earned this from the University College London (UCL), one of the world’s renowned institutions in scientific research.

But, more than anything else, it’s because Dr. Ezeh, who initially studied at Imperial College, London, is the developer of a novel device for sharing control between a wheelchair user and a smart wheelchair. He has, subsequently, developed a smart wheelchair prototype using Gazebo, the Open Source Robot Operating System (ROS), in a modular standardised distributed architecture as a proof of concept towards a large European collaboration on the smart wheelchair production (ADAPT project).

Dr. Ezeh is the second child of former director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka M. Ezeh, a civil engineer and one-time president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and Veronica Ezeh, a director at the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Chinemelu is taking after his elder sister Onyinye, who has MEng Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London and a PhD from University of Reading, UK. His younger brother Olìsa is taking after their civil engineer father and is a final year PhD student of structural engineering of the University of Sheffield, Sheffield UK. Chinemelu won a UCL PhD scholarship worth £27,500 p.a. for three years (2014-2017).

Before then, he had been selected as Google’s Top Black Talent in 2012.

He started showing his talent in science while still a high school student at the Turkish Nile College in Abuja, when he placed seventh in the National Mathematics Olympiad, Nigeria in 2008.

In the course of his doctorate programme, he was co-founder and president of the UCL Robotics Society (2015-2017), during which he led in the design of the protocol for the society, as well as setting the society’s vision, determining leadership structure, building the website and newsletter structure as well as forging collaboration with institutions,

including the UCL Computing Department.

During this period, he raised funds for, and took the lead in, the development of the first robot prototype for the society’s participation in Eurobot, an international robotics contest dedicated to universities.

He developed and taught beginner robotics workshops to more than 50 people. He also organised a hackathon, where the society developed an automated robot arm.

Being familiar with the challenges of deploying technological solutions to his country’s developmental challenges, Dr. Ezeh has no qualms returning to Nigeria to make his skills and knowledge available. In the light of this, he made a brief visit to Nigeria recently to explore opportunities, including the prospects of work with the armed forces. He is yet undeterred by the grim prospects of working in an environment in which allocations to the technology sector or in the company of those with a significantly low appreciation of research and development compared with the Western world.

But will he find the Nigerian environment, in terms of the tools to work with, auspicious enough to give his best in the task of solving Nigeria’s myriad problems?

Tommy Odemwingie, tomigie@yahoo.co.uk

Remembering Abubakar Rimi “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”

-Unknown author

A

pril 4, 2019 made it nine years after the demise of Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi. Rimi lived a fearless, dogged and courageous life worth emulating. He was a vocal politician who cared and assisted the ordinary citizen (talaka). Rimi fought for the common man; that was why before his death, he was regarded as a political activist and true disciple of late Malam Aminu Kano.

His legacies will remain in the hearts of many. He was elected as governor on the platform of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in 1979 and did a lot that brought about progress in old Kano and present day Jigawa States.

He gave education a special attention and introduced an adult education programme in Kano in 1980 which later inspired replicas in other northern states under Agency for Mass Education whereby un-educated adults were trained just as equivalent as secondary school leavers.

This programme was recognized in 1983 as one of the best adult education programmes on the African continent by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Also knowing the importance of the media, Abubakar Rimi established the Kano State television station known as C.T.V (City Television) and the Triumph Publishing Company.

Women were not left out, because he was the first governor to appoint a female commissioner. This gave women a sense of belonging. During the reign of Rimi there were massive road projects as well as in electrification, among others.

Abubakar Rimi remains indivisible on the history of present day Kano and Jigawa States. That is why he was called a truly ‘people’s governor.

Also when he was the chairman of Nigerian Agricultural and Co-operative Bank (NACB) he helped the commoner, small scale and the medium enterprise to boost their business with loans.

Rimi provided many local government areas in the country with new International T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R Direct Dial (IDD) Telecommunication EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE stations when he was the Minister of ComDEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU munications. My hometown, Kafin-Hausa MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE in Jigawa State was one of the beneficiaries.

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI Rimi also established Science Secondary EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN School in my home town when he was the MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE governor which is today one of the best science schools in the north.

Many of his legacies cannot be mentioned. He was a very close associate of the Jagoran Talakawa, Dr. Sule Lamido, T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D the former Jigawa State governor - the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA only remaining courageous, committed GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, and fearless disciple of Malam Aminu ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI Kano who is still in the corridor of politics.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI He established Jigawa College of Art and SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH Science and later Jigawa State University ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO which is named after him. We are indebted CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI highly to these two NEPU/PRP men.

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Adamu Muhd Usman, Kafin-Hausa Jigawa State

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͞˜ ͸͚Î

NEWS

In Brief Buhari Critical to Amnesty’s Achievements

The Presidential Amnesty Programme has attributed its achievements to the unwavering support of President Muhammadu Buhari. Coordinator of the programme, Professor Charles Dokubo who turned one year in office March 13, stated this yesterday during an interactive session with journalists in Warri, Delta State. According to the coordinator, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Murphy Ganagana, with the President’s commitment to ensuring peace and development in the Niger Delta, the amnesty programme focuses on training and employment of beneficiaries. “Let me place on record that we are able to achieve all these because of the staunch and unalloyed support President Muhammadu Buhari has been giving the Amnesty programme and the Niger Delta as a whole. On his fatherly watch, we have since re-worked the programme to focus on not just training but also job creation and empowerment of already trained beneficiaries. I can confirm to all stakeholders gathered here today that President Buhari loves the Niger Delta and its people,� Dokubo said. Some achievements made in the past year, according to him, included meetings with critical stakeholders of the oil-rich region, as well as leaders of ex-agitators to foster peace.

Others, he said, were completion of two vocational training centres in Agadagba, Ondo State and Kaiama, in Bayelsa State, reintegration of thousands for varying trainings and formal education and also, provision of job opportunities for trained beneficiaries.

CLO Tasks INEC on Essien Udim Result

PROMOTED...

L-R: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to Enugu State Governor, DSP Peter Nnadozie being decorated with his new rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sulieman Balarabe at Government House, Enugu...yesterday

Terrorism: ‘ISWAP Claim it Killed 13 Nigerian Soldiers, 5 Multinational Troops’

Čą ÂŽÂ—Â’ÂŽÂœÇ°ČąÂœÂŠÂ˘ÂœČąĹ˜Ĺ–Ĺ–ČąÂ?Ž››˜›’œÂ?ÂœČąÂ”Â’Â•Â•ÂŽÂ?ČąÂœÂ’Â—ÂŒÂŽČąÂ˜Â™ÂŽÂ›ÂŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Čą ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂ’Â—Čą ŠĤ’ȹ Kingsley Nwezeh Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?

Terrorist group, Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP), claimed it killed 13 Nigerian soldiers and five troops from the Multi-national Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in attacks carried out in the past few days.

But in a swift reaction, the MNJTF denied the killing of its soldiers. It said the story was a face-saving measure and a propaganda material by the terrorists in view of the massive onslaught against them which had resulted in the death of over 200 terrorists that triggered defections since the grand military offensive launched by Chad Basin Commission member-countries tagged ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’

started.

ISWAP which split from Boko Haram in 2016, has executed series of attacks in the last few months.

In its newspaper Al-Nabaa, the group said its fighters killed the Nigerians in attacks on a military barracks on Friday, a military post on Sunday, and a town on Monday, all in northeastern Borno State.

Fighters also detonated explosives on Wednesday on a vehicle in the Lake Chad region, killing five more soldiers but did not specify the country.

The militants said the vehicle was carrying troops from a multinational task force comprising troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon set up to fight them.

A Nigerian military spokesman

Bayelsa Killings: Police Intensify Patrol of Corpers’ Lodges Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă‹

The Police in Bayelsa will henceforth engage in intensive patrol of areas occupied by youth corps members in state, the Commissioner of Police, Sholla David, said yesterday.

David, who spoke when Maj.Gen Suleiman Kazaure, DirectorGeneral of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), visited him in his office, noted that the police were doing everything to apprehend the hoodlums who shot three members of the corps a few days ago.

David assured the NYSC DG of Police commitment to improving safety of corps members, noting that he had already moved to get a list of the corps members lodges, so that they can provide patrol team and ensure their safety. “I assure you that cult attacking corps members will come to an end. In this state, cultism and drug-related crimes are a problem, but we will get to the end of them,� he stated.

In his comments, Kazaure said that the essence of the visit was

to solicit more cooperation from critical stakeholders in the state in order to ensure adequate safety of corps members, who were on national assignment.

A gang of hoodlums had on March 20 invaded a corps members’ residence along School Road, Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, shooting three members of the NYSC and leaving several injured.

Of the three corps members, who were shot, two have been confirmed dead, while one who was critically injured, is still in the hospital in Yenagoa.

The DG urged the military, police and other critical stakeholders for more support for safety of the corps members in the state. “We want your cooperation to ensure the safety of these corps members and their corps lodges.

Why I am saying this is because you are critical stakeholders when it comes to security. “Please, look after our children, they are our national assets; we discovered that Bayelsa State is volatile when it comes to security,� the DG said.

declined comment, and a spokesman for the task force could not immediately be reached.

Boko Haram has waged a decade-long insurgency in North-east Nigeria which has killed around 30,000 people and forced about two million to leave their homes.

A statement issued yesterday

by Spokesman of MNJTF, Col. Timothy Antiga, said no such attack or loss of service personnel had taken place. “The attention of the Multinational Joint Task Force has been drawn to a story published online, claiming that the breakaway faction of Boko Haram terrorists, otherwise known as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has killed 18 soldiers in a recent attack within the Area of Opera-

tion. The MNJTF wishes to state categorically that no such attack and loss of service personnel has taken place within its area of responsibility. “The MNJTF wishes to note that the falsehood being orchestrated by the media arm of ISWAP is nothing but a desperate attempt to revamp the parlous and deplorable image of ISWAP following several weeks of devastating operational losses in the Lake Chad Area,� it said.

The statement further noted that “it has been widely reported and it is now common knowledge that sustained offensive actions by MNJTF troops and national forces have resulted in over 200 ISWAP personnel casualties and defections as well as numerous equipment seizures and destruction.

NDLEA Arrest 65 in Ebonyi, Burn 18,083,787kg Cannabis in Kogi Benjamin Nworie Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ‹Ă•Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă“ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Yekini Jimoh Ă“Ă˜ ÙÕÙÔË The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ebonyi State Command has arrested 65 persons for their alleged involvement in drug peddling and racketeering between January to April 2019.

This is as the agency (NDLEA) in Kogi State has destroyed 18,083,787 kilograms of cannabis sativa and other psychotropic substances seized over the last four years in the state. The drugs worth millions of Naira, from decided cases between 2014 and 2017 were set ablaze in the presence of security chiefs on Thursday in Lokoja.

Also in Ebonyi, no fewer than five suspects were arrested at the weekend and three bags of suspected cannabis weighing 3.8 kg impounded when officials of the agency raided a community town hall located at Amaike Ezzangbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

The state Deputy Commander in-charge of Intelligence and

Operations Mr. Ibrahim Bashir, made the disclosure in Abakaliki, the state capital when officials from the agency sealed off a community town hall that served as warehouse for cannabis and other related drugs.

He disclosed that 15 of the suspects were prosecuted within the last three months.

According to him, officials of the agency raided the community hall in Amaike Ezzamgbo and recovered three bags of cannabis and other exhibits while five suspects were arrested and interrogated.

Bashir said that the key suspect whose name named Mr. Amadi Chukwuma ( male, 35 years) was held in the custody of the agency in addition to the exhibits. “The town hall we raided is a community hall named Amadi Palace-Amaike Ezzangbo, the community allowed the hall to be used for drug activities. “Two days ago, we raided the place, and in the process 3.8 kg of cannabis was recovered from one of the rooms inside the hall.�

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Akwa Ibom State chapter has expressed concern over the delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make public the winner of the Essien Udim State Constituency after the March 9th, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state. Former Senate Minority Leader and the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for the just concluded National Assembly election in the Akwa Ibom North-west (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District, Senator Godwill Akpabio is from the Essien Udim State Constituency. The INEC recently presented Certificate of Returns to the Governor-elect in the state, Mr. Udom Emmanul, his deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo and 25 members of the State House of Assembly elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, Certificate of Return was not presented to any candidate or political party representing Essien Udim State Constituency during the ceremony held at the INEC State Office along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo. The Chairman of the State Branch of the CLO, Comrade Franklyn Isong at a press briefing in Uyo tasked the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the INEC, Mr. Mike Igini to make a declaration on the result and the return of the election into the Essien Udim State Constituency as conducted.

HCDC to Improve Youth Productivity

As part of its desire to improve productivity in the workplace, the Human Capacity Development Consultant (HCDC) has organised a productivity plus with a focus on helping youths achieve productivity, success and financial freedom. Speaking at the Productivity Plus Summit’ (PPS) in Lagos weekend, the Chief Executive Officer, HCDC, Abisiola Longe, noted that HCDC had decided to start productivity plus because the group realised that the nation was in crisis. She also noted that people were not productive and they did not understand what it took to achieve success, adding that productivity plus began in 2012, “and we have grown inch and by inch. We decided to start productivity plus because we found that our nation was in crisis, people were not productive and they did not understand what it took to achieve success, people didn’t understand or had a work ethic, people didn’t understand the process to success and productivity. So it was really to help people understand what it takes to achieve success and give them the tool and help them achieve their dream life. Many people make excuses and give their power away,� she noted.

Bill to Create New Districts

In an effort to increase the involvement of the traditional institution in governance, especially in the area of security, Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, has said that his administration would soon initiate a bill to the Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) for the creation of new districts and village areas. According to a statement issued by Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Al-Sadique, Governor Abubakar stated this while receiving reports of the committee instituted to review the creation of districts and village areas by the preceding administration.

Governor Abubakar who maintained that the committee was given a free hand to carry out the assignment recalled that government had to constitute the committee to review the exercise following abuse and infractions that led the State House of Assembly to dissolve the new districts early in 2015. The governor who commended the committee for a job well done assured the traditional institution of continued respect and involvement in bringing government close the common man.

Navy to Curb Attacks on Facilities

The Nigerian Navy has again vowed to curb all forms of criminalities and attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta. Speaking at the Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, during the inauguration of a newly built chapel for military officers, the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, urged officers and men to guard against any misconduct capable of denting their careers. Garba, who was represented

by Commodore Joseph Akpan, Chief Staff Officer, explained that the Nigerian Navy was ready to fight all forms of illegal activities in the Niger Delta region, especially pipeline vandalism, sea piracy and crude oil theft. He described the place of worship as very important to mental and spiritual life if its personnel and commended the Chief of Naval Staff, for keeping to his promise on the welfare of officers and men. He urged them to take advantage of worship centre to enhance their spiritual life to enable them render quality service. Garba said: “In my view, places of worship are important and vital and integral part of our operations. In discharging our mandate effectively, there are three components which are the mental, physical and the spiritual, which is critical because man is made up of the body, soul and spirit�

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

15

16

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

Plus Nicole Chikwe Motherhood Pushed Me to My Emotional, Physical Limits

Yemi Ogunfeitimi My Son’s Autism Taught Me to See the World Differently

FASHION FILE GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND SHOWBIZFLAIR

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

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

PLUS

Motherhood Pushed Me to My Emotional, Physical Limits Nicole Chikwe is a model, social media influencer, beauty enthusiast, Stanford certified nutrition expert and founder of TrimKitchen- a healthy lunch delivery service. She is married to rapper, Naeto C. Nicole and has worked with several leading brands such as Hairfinity, Nike, Lancôme, Blue Band, Bath Kandy, Jumia, Guerlain, Inglot, Sweet Kiwi, M.A.C and contributed beauty and wellness content to many leading online platforms such as BellaNaija and Kamdora. Nicole says her sole mission is to properly shape women by providing workouts, recipes, and fitness tips. She created the TK Method specifically for this. It is a weight loss and wellness service

by Nicole to educate and support millions of women in their health and fitness journeys. Nicole shares her story with Azuka Ogujiuba My goal is to help as many women as possible to achieve health and fitness

Nicole

I

have a personal goal to help as many women as possible to achieve their ideal level of health and fitness, and to feel more confident, beautiful and happy, starting with new weight loss and wellness plans. One is specifically for new mums. The programmes are designed to be

flexible and guide on how to change eating patterns, eat nutrient dense and delicious food, adopt healthy practices to make your skin radiant, and train to increase fitness and strength through regular workouts. More women are joining the #TKMethod Community every day.

This is a fantastic source of extra support and encouragement for women around the country. We are trying to make permanent and sustainable changes to both

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

19

PLUS Writing and completing my Masters dissertation when I was five months pregnant and getting married to Naeto and having my three precious children are indelible high points in my life. My biggest fears are not making it to Heaven, and failing to raise my children properly In life, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate their mindset and lifestyle.

The TK Method is designed to make your fitness goal a reality I became more interested in fitness when I was modelling, but it became a priority after I gained a considerable amount of weight (30kg) after having two children back to back. I think it takes an incredible amount of discipline, dedication, and most of all, having a plan, to get back to shape after child birth.

Thankfully I had the formulated the #TKMama programme based on my weight loss experience with my previous pregnancies for some of my friends who were new mums, so I was able to use it on myself and clearly it worked.

Healthy food isn’t just salads; Nigerian food can be incredibly healthy I think we can make a healthy lifestyle by changing our mindset about food. Healthy food isn’t just salads. Nigerian food can be incredibly healthy just by switching a few ingredients and preparation styles.

Most people struggle with healthy eating because they feel deprived of the favourite comfort foods. I think if we realise we can eat our rice and native soups as well, it will make adopting a healthier lifestyle much less daunting.

Exercise is for everyone A lot of people think exercise is for ‘fat’ people. No. Exercise is for everyone- big, thin, young, old, male and female. Exercise isn’t just important for weight loss, but it helps your organs function at their best, decreases blood pressure, and increases your overall health.

Mothers find it hard to hit the gym shortly after childbirth It is very hard to hit the gym shortly after childbirth. My baby is four months old now and I still haven’t been to a gym properly. My advice is workout at home! Once you’ve been cleared by your doctor to work out, The TKMethod has quick but effective workout plans that you can do from the comfort of your home when the baby is sleeping.

Take the opportunities whenever you can get them- morning, evening, whenever. You can also break up your workouts into smaller chunks to fit around your schedule. All that matters is that you stay active.

Yes, I am a feminist I am a feminist because I believe that men and women should be afforded the same socioeconomic and political opportunities.

The biggest thing motherhood has taught me Motherhood has taught me that I am much stronger than I could have imagined. Motherhood has pushed me to my emotional and physical limits, but it has helped me grow in confidence in myself, and grow in faith and trust in God. My educational background I went to secondary school at Atlantic Hall in Lagos, followed by A Levels at St Leonards Mayfield School in East Sussex, UK. Following that, I obtained a B.Sc (Hons) from the University of Birmingham, an MSc in Finance from the European School of Economics and most recently, I’ve completed a course in Food and Nutrition with Stanford University.

Best gift received as a child My dad surprised my sister Megan and I with bicycles when I was seven years old. We used to ride around our neighborhood every single day on them. It was amazing.

Biggest mistake ever made in life This is not taking my Catholic faith as seriously as I ought to when I was younger. A strong relationship with God would have helped me make smarter decisions when I was younger.

Naeto C and my three kids Writing and completing my Masters dissertation when I was five months pregnant and getting married to Naeto and having my three precious children are indelible high points in my life. My biggest fears are not making it to Heaven, and failing to raise my children properly.

I’d love to grow Trim Kitchen into an International Brand Yes, there are many things I still desire. I’d love to grow Trim Kitchen into an International Brand, I’d love to go on pilgrimage and I’d love to run a marathon.

My life lessons Some of the lessons life has taught me are that you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate; your network is truly your net worth.

Naeto and Nicole

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

PLUS

Yemi Ogunfeitimi My Son’s Autism Taught Me to See the World Differently Yemi Ogunfeitimi is a motivational speaker, advocate for children with special needs and business woman in healthcare services. She is always eager to share the story of her son’s autism spectrum disorder, in order to motivate parents facing similar challenges. Ogunfeitimi’s son was diagnosed with the disorder at age two. She was initially baffled, depressed and overwhelmed. With help coming from pediatricians, family, friends and support groups, her confusion and profound struggles in knowing how to best address her son’s needs are allayed. Ogunfeitimi overcame her fears and her son rose measurably above the perceived stigma. In this chat with Adedayo Adejobi, she shares her son’s watershed moment, how she joyfully dedicated herself to caring for and protecting him like a lioness, its impact on her family, the joys and challenges of raising a son with autistic spectrum disorder

21

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

PLUS My Goal is to Encourage Other Parents Raising Children with Special Needs

A

t 37, you said you were done with child bearing. How did you welcome the surprise and coming of another child at a time you thought you were shooting blank?

care on what some parents and their kids think of my son. I will remain forever grateful to those parents who were nice enough to invite him to their children’s parties. It has been a hard, long road. I held on to God, praying and believing. My source of strength was God. I am grateful to my strong support system: my friends and family who have been and continue to be so supportive, calling and praying with me daily. Above all is my heavenly father who remains my strength in my times of human weakness. By the Grace of God and diligent use of therapy, my son improved! He communicates, he is fairly independent-he can bath, eat, and cloth himself. He now has friends, he is improving daily, and although his social skills may not be the best, God is working on him. Although it looked like there was no hope for him back then, I can confidently say that he has come a really long way.

At that age, many adults are shooting blank and getting done with child-bearing. In my case, nature happened.

Imagine the surprise on knowing that a child is on the way at 37. I was so certain I was done with child bearing, and then, I found out I was pregnant! I already had three beautiful children and I was ready to focus on raising my three children. So, imagine my surprise when I found out I was pregnant with a fourth child! Although at first, I was not too excited about the news, my husband and I decided to count this as a blessing as we proceeded with the pregnancy. I went to my entire doctor’s appointments, took all my prenatal vitamins, and kept a healthy diet and exercise. Although I was considered a high risk because of my age, I did not believe them because, after all, I am an African woman and my mother had her last child at 45!

So, what point in the child’s life, marked a watershed and how did you handle the transition?

Welcoming my handsome and healthy son in April 2006, I fell in love with him at first sight and without a doubt that was the happiest moment of my life! He was healthy at birth, met all his milestones on time: at age one, he was walking and talking. Everything was great until he turned two years old.

I started noticing a regression in my son.

All the milestones and developmental skills he had developed were disappearing. He stopped making eye contact, stopped talking, he stopped responding when you spoke to him, stopped interacting with his siblings, he became antisocial, and he began playing only with himself. These behaviours prompted me to visit his pediatrician to seek help.

We visited his pediatrician and discussed these new changes. We were reassured that everything was good and that our son will grow out of this. We visited the doctor on numerous occasions. We were unrelenting in our quest to get a proper evaluation of our son. The nurse at the doctor’s office never believed my story until I demanded to speak to the doctor alone. Finally, the doctor paid attention to my child and then referred us to a developmental pediatrician. My persistence and intuition enabled us to get the help our son needed in a timely manner.

Finally, we scheduled an appointment and met with the developmental pediatrician. Our deepest fear was confirmed when he told us, ‘your son has autism’. I was overwhelmed with a flood of emotions. It felt as though time stopped and my whole world turned upside down. I was devastated, sad, mad at myself, with a billion questions: what went wrong with my child? What did I do wrong?

Is this like a form of punishment? The pediatrician was patient, compassionate, and understanding. He explained everything and answered our questions.

How did your husband and children react to the news?

There is no gainsaying in the fact that the road to understanding autism is unfinished, zig-zagging and punctuated by speed bumps, the first of which is the question that transformed my life as a mother in 2006.

The pediatrician informed us of community resources, gave us a lot of information that I could not possibly absorb everything at that time, and refereed us to some support groups.

At the end of our visit, she told us that her only child was diagnosed with Autism, and that she put in all her effort to make her son successful. That was my only take away from the doctor’s visit. I cried all the way home.

My husband, on the other hand, was so calm!

He simply said, ‘she just told us the problem, few solutions but not all solutions, we need to go home and look for all solutions that will help our child succeed.’ I thought to myself, ‘why are men so strong.’ So, we got home and told the rest of our children the news.

To my greatest surprise, they handled the news much better than me; they went to their rooms and did not ask any question.

What did it feel like as a mother when you couldn’t fully understand your child’s needs and how to help him? And how did the journey to his healing begin?

What has the journey and your son’s Autism taught you?

My son’s autism has thought me a lot of lessons in this life, made me see the world in a different way, made me a nicer and more compassionate person to people. Most importantly, my son’s diagnosis has made us a much stronger family. Furthermore, this journey has also given me the opportunity to learn and perfect different skills such as patience, to be caring, to love; my son is giving me so much love, always around me and checking to make sure I’m doing okay.

Having a child with Autism is an opportunity for continuous learning. It has changed my perspective entirely from regrets and feeling sorry about his diagnosis to helping my son achieve all the milestones. I honestly believe that it is time for us as a society to change our perspective of autistic children. It is time for us to collectively join our forces together to ensure that all of our children are successful regardless of whatever medical diagnosis they have.

Yemi

We began our journey in autism treatment to ensure that our son is as successful as possible. He began occupational therapy and speech therapy right away. We went to the school district for an assessment to ensure he could start school right away. Luckily my son was accepted to begin school at age three.

We hired a private teacher at home, I went to a lot of trainings to help my child, bought so many books and read them, and spent several hours daily on google. Google became my best friend at that time. I was hungry for as much information as I possibly could get on autism. At age three, he started the school district programme called PPCD. He was provided with Speech and Occupational therapy at school. At age four, we hired an applied behavioural therapist that was at our home, he had therapy two times a week. We worked with our child with all our strength, teaching him how to maintain eye contact, how to read and how to communicate with us. With all the resources together, he started talking again, he began speaking a few words but not enough to communicate with people.

For example, he could not communicate when he wanted something, when he was hungry, or when he wanted to use the bathroom, so he would soil his underwear.

Many times, I got called from school to pick him up because of his soiled underwear/ clothing. We continued with all the therapies both at school and at home. The Occupational therapy helped him develop skills for handwriting, play skills and daily living skills; speech therapy addressed challenges with languages and communication; and applied behavioural therapy focuses problematic behaviours related to Autism. At age five, we hired a special education advocate to be with him at school and help him navigate through the school systems. She has been a great help with our son up to this point, she fought for my child too, and helped with available resources that could help him.

Early diagnosis of autism is extremely important in ensuring that the child gets the

necessary treatment as early as possible. Early intervention and treatment through behaviour and communication techniques can boost an autistic child’s development.

As a mother battling with inner struggles of your child’s diagnosis, where did you draw strength from this long, especially in this challenging and sometimes tortuous road?

I struggled to accept my son’s diagnosis.

My entire life revolved around him. All of a sudden, my life was put on hold. These feelings were worse when I saw other children about my child’s age communicating and having good social skills. It hurts and I always wished my son could do the same thing. However, I made sure that neither my internal feelings nor my son’s diagnosis stopped my family from leading normal lives. We took my son everywhere, we never left him at home out of fear that he may “misbehave” like running around, jumping and yelling at times. Although some people may have been embarrassed by this, we were not. Furthermore, I became more involved in everything I did. I became very popular at my church, at his school, and in my community because my son and I are always together, going places, and doing things together.

How did the community treat you and your child?

I was always amazed at how people treated us differently. My son was not invited to most birthday parties because some see him as different; and when I invited kids to his birthday, most of the typical kids did not show up. I could remember one day that I broke down crying during the night, I was inconsolable, overwhelmed with the stress of raising my son and my three other kids, my husband thought I was depressed, so he called my big sister, Grace Komolafe, in Nigeria to talk to me. She counselled me and prayed with me. From then on, I never did

At what point did you come to the realisation that you needed to speak out?

Although I have over the years, been giving presentations on Autism to groups and teaching caregivers how to cope with their special needs children, until now, I have kept it very quiet because I wasn’t ready to share my story on a global stage. I was forced to face my fears of exposing my problem to the world when I was asked to give a presentation that was recorded and posted on YouTube and Facebook last year.

On that day, when my friend and a mother of a child with Autism requested if I could be recorded, I asked myself if I was truly ready to make my story public. Upon speaking to my husband and my older kids, I was encouraged and finally ready to share my Autism story with the world. That was how I began this journey of spreading awareness about autism. My goal is to encourage other parents who are raising children with special needs. I hold a firm belief that special children are not raised by strong men or women but by ordinary, normal people like me and you.

Raising that Autistic child is what makes each of us and our families special. It might be a strain on one’s resources, but never give up.

Raising children with autism comes with no manual, but rather just years of trial and error by people who never give up.

What advice would you give to mothers and fathers who have a child that is on the autism spectrum?

I stand with parents of kids with autism.

Your story may or may not even be similar to mine, but I encourage you to continue to look for new ways to address whatever challenges we face and making our problems work out for us, getting answers, looking for ways to solve the problem. If we do not make any effort to resolve problems, nothing will change. Taking care of a child with Autism may be very challenging, energy draining, and requires a lot of help. Put in all your best effort to help your child succeed, take them out, and do not be ashamed of them. Please do not let fear of what other people will say prevent you from leading your life like any other family. Please do not keep your child locked up in the house, they need to see the world, dress them well and show your special need child much love. After all God created all of us. Taking them out helps them to develop social skills that they need to function properly in the community. Be involved in your child’s education, be your child’s

22

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

Fashion File

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

The Wise Woman Collection from Hair by Ugo

23

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

FASHION FILE

The Wise Woman Collection from Hair by Ugo

W

isdom is attributed to building.

When you go to build anything you have two options, it’s either you build on the Rock or you build on the sand.

The Wise Woman digs deep beneath the surface.

She never builds until

she finds the Rock!

She keeps digging and never settles until she finds the Rock!

We have made 30 from the best hairs sourced world wigs to celebrate the wisdom women exhibit daily.

This collection is made to celebrate our versatility, strength and diversity of the Hair by Ugo woman.

24

˜ ˞ APRIL 6, 2019

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Conspectus of Errors

T

HIS particular conspectus of errors is just to whet your appetite ahead of syntactic surgeries (a la Prof. Adidi Uyo of Unilag) next month! Most of the mistakes in the print and electronic media are the manifestations of carelessness, loose thinking and ignorance. We must be consistent in the use of either British or American English—mixing up both variants in any lexical environment shows slipshoddiness.

Also note that most media audiences are sticklers for purism. For those in this finicky and fastidious class, any egregious slip counts. Unfortunately, most people who commit these facile and schoolboy blunders are persons who should know but because incorrigibility has affected them they have become ignoramuses! Why, for instance, should some journalists describe themselves as ‘media practitioners’ instead of ‘media professionals’? Doctors and lawyers practise medicine and law, respectively, clearly unlike the fourth estate.

I am not a linguistic diagnostician, but I can perform lexical and structural surgeries and make efficacious pharmacological/therapeutic recommendations based on knowledgeable familiarity with infelicities (and some of their typologies) that border on grammar, logic and rhetoric, which I had referred to elsewhere in this column as the pillars of the English language—get them right and you are on course.

Finally, I am more concerned here with the practical aspect of the English language than its critical theoretical underpinnings which are available in all standard textbooks and easily accessible. This work is a stop-gap exercise for quick resolutions of daily grammatical challenges. From my own personal ex-

periences and encounters with people, most exonormative language users prefer easy-to-read-and-follow summaries to usually massive, boring and complex theoretical prescriptions! This is hoping that I am not inadvertently encouraging intellectual slothfulness by this remedial quick-fix intervention!

Let me reiterate that the focus of this column is formal (modern) British Standard English usage—not traditional or regionalized English, which is usually dialectical with a dozen of applicative circumscription! “Invitee� is a piece of Americanism that has invaded Nigeria by way of language imperialism. Persistent abuse of a word or phrase does not confer acceptability or correctness on it. Sticklers must cleanse themselves of the juvenile indoctrination that everything in the dictionary is correct. This columnist, without being immodest, has developed the capacity and competency to justifiably question literary status quo and conventions.

This columnist is not interested in colloquial and informal (non-standard) entries, which may exist in ‘Abrahamic’ (ancient) registers, dictionaries and thesauruses! Personally, language currency is the sustainable path to toe—not faddishness, lexical conservatism, conventional wisdom and normative reliance. I have dictionaries, thesauri, English language textbooks and other general interest books which contain grammatical and factual blunders!

For me, these publications are guides which are not inviolable. Even the Bible, thesaurus and Shakespearean materials, as authoritative as they are, still contain lexical, structural and informational contradictions, if not fallacies. The edition of references is also critical because what is right today may be wrong tomorrow, depending on human strides, dynamism and univer-

sal language development.

Our familiarization with dated words or expressions in vogue in our locales should not mislead us into believing that they are sacrosanct and immutable.

I welcome more constructive reactions to this and other issues raised here.

My position on “invitee� still stands.

According to D. W. Williams, past experience (sic) should be a guide post, not a hitching post.

Back to our usual business: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is currently in a dilemma over the inability of five of the eight banks that failed the stress test in the industry in.....â€? (NIGERIAN Tribune, March 2) By every shred, “isâ€? indicates currency. So, I do not understand this ubiquity in Nigerian newspapers: “is currentlyâ€?. A rewrite: The CBN is in a dilemma‌. “My most embarrasing dayâ€? (SUNDAY PUNCH Beauty Corner Headline, March 31) Spell-check: embarrassing, but harassing “Exploitation of the underagedâ€?

(Sunday Tribune, March 31) Get it right: underage. “First Bank Nigeria PLC’s result for the period is an attestation of the trend�

(Source: as above) Money: attestation to (not of) the trend. â€œâ€Śthere is no doubt that she will be able to steer the ship of the bank without any doubt....â€? (THISDAY SUNDAY BUSINESS PEOPLE, March 3) Why the overkill of ‘doubt’? “Let sleeping dog lie!â€? (Vanguard Headline, April 2) Sweet and Sour: Let sleeping dogs lie. “More grease to your elbow.â€? (DAILY SUN, April 2) This way: More power (not grease) to your elbow. What future for the English language? “I believe that our politicians ought to have become more mature, and that the maturity would manifest in their conducts (conduct).â€?

Leadership: Deaf, Dumb or in Denial?

T

hink about this: in countries where people are well-ruled, the prevailing criticisms surround the issues of vaulting ambitions of leadership, warmongering, tendencies towards global domination, immigrants exodus, etc. However, amongst the misruled, the anger is fuelled by suspicions that the leaders are deaf, dumb, in denial of both ailments, and thus are impervious to issues, ideas and situations that may lift and promote the well-being of their citizens - even if these ideas are condensed in perfumed cream and stuffed into their nostrils.

If you think this is all exaggeration, especially concerning Nigeria, then you must be from Mars, or some other planetary habitations.

This month, four years ago, while still under the euphoria of witnessing an incumbent civilian administration allowing itself to be bloodied in the nose by a swaddling opposition party chanting “Change� deliriously, we caused to be written series of ideas that could ultimately change the face of Nigerian creative industries, and thunder our prodigiously talented tribe into global prosperity and stardom. An area the government-in-waiting obviously had no articulated plan or recognisable blueprint.

We believed they meant it when politicians were chanting change! The reality afterwards is bleak and disappointing - but the nature of optimism suggests that we continue to call our rulers to the lane filled with ideas, visions and dreams; perhaps the wax will melt from their ears.

Four years after, as the euphoria of another transitional moment swells around us, when former change-agents now drum the “Next Level� of actions, perhaps a rehash will sit well this time. Maybe, our rulers are not really deaf, or dumb... they merely need constant reminders... Like this.... “From the head-scratching of members of the 19-man Transition Committee set up by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, rtd (as he was then known) we know they are looking desperately for projects, policies and actions that will translate to immediate, resounding and impressive vibrations in the hearts of changehungry Nigerians. So, the incoming government must device jobs, jobs and more jobs.... Well, with sober reasoning, we present one of the idyllic public spaces where a common-sense-driven administration can intervene effectively while keeping jobs from disappearing and creating new and numerous jobs.

During the closing phase of his electioneering campaign, when GMB was asked his would-be government’s approach to Nollywood, he promptly threw the napkin to Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos (current power/works/housing minister whose forte was law!) That act represents his shocking lack of understanding (I take that back, no shock at all) or sensitivity to a critical section of a vital mass within Nigeria’s geopolitical super-structure. I very much

doubt if Fashola had ever written one full page of legal opinion on entertainment law in his illustrious career - nor has his administration (Lagos), generally regarded as one of the best, if not the best, in Nigeria, done more for entertainment than tokenism of rehabilitating some ill-fated entertainers and a handful of carnivals and seasonal countdowns!

For the benefit of the doubt, it is quite possible that a swashbuckling young army infantry hot-head in his early 40’s (1984, HoS) would not have heard of the terror and devastation that Pa Moses Adejumo’s “Orun Moru� suffered in the hands of profiteers barely two years earlier. It took another ten years after Buhari’s forced retirement before some semblance of what we now call Nollywood emerged. So, we should not take it for granted that GMB ought to know ‘something’ about Nigerian entertainment. If we insist, we overstretch our sense of importance.

This is why thoroughbred practitioners snigger when govt plays the ostrich in its engagement with the creative enterprise... for a single mid-level Nigerian production with a capital outlay of N5-10m, the long line of operatives work out like this: behind the cameras/gadgets are at least 15 people; the major sets will accommodate from 20 to 500 role players, big and small. Further down the chain of production, are scores of tens of people working in the editing studios, sound studios, photography and graphic designs, printing press, publicity and liaisons, etc. Ancillary outlets also queue up for post production activities that may help the producer recoup some investment before the almighty pirates swoop: Hall rentals for premiere, contacts and mobilization, DVD discs for mass-dubs, cinema house and its complex of leisure shops, transportation for promotion or road shows, voice-overs for jingles, TV commercials, comedians, DJs and MCs for serial launchings, marketers, video sellers, etc... On this single work, we have partially identified more than (700-1000) people directly or indirectly eking a living. Multiply that work by the proverbial 700-1000 movie products we proverbially drop into the unwieldy markets every year. The opportunity is begging to create a minimum of two million jobs within three years in the creative industry alone, if hedged with a strong governmental support, legitimate structures and, ultimately, international financing and exchange of expertise.

To bring the cattle home to rest, we merely need to study the growth and growing stature of India’s Bollywood (derived from film-makers’ activities in Bombay City, now Mumbai). You see, Nigeria and India find important indices of commonalities beyond the different shades of colour that distinguish us. Our history as a nation, as British colonized people, with relatively similar huge population of diverse tongues, religions and cultures meshed in a melting pot of blurring political and economic turbulence... among many other surprising relatedness. So, what can our men of power learn from Bollywood and its billion dollar climb to global prominence?

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“My mission was to present a review of the book at the occasion.� (THE GUARDIAN, March 4) Return to the source: on the occasion.

The next three blunders are from the Nigerian Tribune of March 4: “They are taken through a two-week orientation seminar on American culture and press at the onset (outset) of the fellowship programme in June.� “It is sad, very sad that the Nigerian police has never been known to use rubber bullets.� Checking the excesses of security operatives: Nigerian police have (not has). “The assistance of government is urgently needed in this matter as lack of co-operation by many residents is hampering the activities of vigilante (vigilance) bodies.� “Similarly, at the advent of any coup in Nigeria, we discover that power in all ramification (ramifications) is taken over by the military.� “An average number of the Southerners are readily willing even at short notice (a comma) to stab their own brother on (in) the back, if only to have a piece of the national cake.� “Furthermore, the South seem (seems) to have taken the north for granted for too long.�

THE GUARDIAN of March 3 powered two mistakes: “We must entrench into (in) the statute books provisions for the recovery of stolen loot from outgoing governors, ministers and their proximate beneficiaries‌.â€? Is there any loot that is not stolen?

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

Bollywood is basically a regional hyper Hindi exercise (one expert says 20%) of the huge Indian film activity. Bollywood’s global brand image dwarves the other Indian language film sectors and simply equates it as the national jewel, especially in jaundiced international media. As an aside, it is even debatable that Bollywood comes behind Nollywood, even without the additions of Kannywood, Yoruwoods, and such other ‘woods. Their story reads like ours: There is low cost of production; millions of Nigerians work and live all over the world; very high demand for quality Nigerian entertainment; expanding demographics. However, that is as far as similarities go. Bollywood’s key revenue outlets as at 2012 were: Domestic Theatre (74%), Cable/Satellite Rights (11%), Overseas Theatre (7%), Ancillary revenues like endorsements, brand ambassadors, etc (5%)...with Home Video trickling in at 3%! That statistics emanate from its 2012 total annual revenue of a handsome $3.5b!

Just as the new deal dawned on the Central government of India (in 2007) when it granted “Industry Status� to Bollywood - the dalliance of Nigerian government with the movie business since the coming of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan six years ago should now be concretized (“gazetted�) and serious attention given to institutionalizing key sectors of the burgeoning industry.

We have similar population dynamics (though our middle class is almost wiped out in contrast to India’s 300m); we have the passion to sustain flourishing markets of quality works; we have the landmass to build giant multiplex theatres and other viewing centres in both rural and urban centres. Lagos alone, with private interest partnership arrangements, can start with two multiplex theatres in each of her 57 LG/LCDAs...and other states can pitch in at least one or more multiplex in all LGs, thus delivering over 1,500 centers of exhibition/distribution/commerce and information - triggering high income from product placements, high returns on investments, increased and widespread ‘follow-follow’ erections (private interventions) of theatres and viewing centres, thus igniting an explosion in job creation; promoting the flow of communication between the government and its people.... Instead of wasting billions on a gigantic stadium that is used once or twice in two years, overshadowing a landscape of poverty and economic erosion. If the flailing ‘king’ of Akwa-Ibom (of course, that was Godswill Akpabio) had built ten attractive multiplex of entertainment/leisure outlets across the state, there would still have been some sort of thriving legacy of commerce and roll-over employment for young Ibomites... but I digress....� Until next week.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

25

MUSINGS

SARS: The Outfit that Threatens Us All

T

wenty-three years after the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was birthed as a response to combat robbery in Nigeria, it seems the formation of the outfit has come full circle and it is about time to find why it has metamorphosed into an octopus that threatens us all.

For too long, we have been regaled with tales that bother on the gory and ghoulish of the operations of SARS. It is common for us to get angry, recoil at the horror of the brutality that is recounted and then become lethargic; do nothing. In short, we are rich in platitudes, but terribly dumpy on what we ought to do as a country in addressing the Medusa that stares us intently and has caused many a family pain, anguish and destroyed lives.

This past week, Citizen Kolade Johnson, 36, has woken the angst in us by his senseless murder by a SARS team in the Onipetesi, Mangoro bus stop area of Lagos state.

Various reports have it that Citizen Johnson was killed at a viewing centre where he had gone to watch a sports he loves –football- by a stray bullet fired by one of three police officers who have been arrested.

Those in detention waiting orderly room trial before their eventual arraignment in court are Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan, Sergeant Godwin Orji and Corporal Ojiawuna Samuel. This seems to have become a ritual – kill, arrest, public anxiety, fatigued until the next preventable death.

One can only imagine the pain of Citizen Johnson’s death. There is reason why he should become the metaphor that brings about the radical overhauling of an outfit that was established as a special ops to deal with heinous crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and their likes. Kolade was a not just a human that loved sports, but he was a wife’s husband, a son’s father, a father and mother’s only son. Olalekan et al killed

not just his dreams, but that of three generations. Now a wife has to come to terms with the fact that her support and bread winner is gone. A son that will grow up to wonder how his life would have turned out were his father alive. It is simply one death too many by those paid and empowered to protect us.

A little over seven months ago, precisely on August 14, 2018, then acting president, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ordered the then Inspector General of Police IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to shut down the unit “with immediate effect”.

A statement by the Office of the Vice President noted: “Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.

“The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Humanitarian Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification any time they are on duty.

“In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Committee that will conduct nation-wide investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.”

Following the directive, the police high

command as it had a press statement waiting for such a directive, released a press statement signed by its then grammatically doddering spokesman, Jimoh Moshood.

The statement outlined broad reforms which were designed to make the outfit more accountable, respect human rights, exemplify decency and respect for life as well as restore the badly bruised image of the police and the SARS in particular.

According to what was unfolded, the police unit will be addressed as Federal SARS (FSARS) and “will be intelligence driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.”

The issue of SARS has never been about its nomenclature, rather their larger-than-life belief that they are law unto themselves without accountability and cannot be sanctioned. What the police hierarchy simply did was to sell us a lie that the cassock makes the priest. If it were so, Citizen Johnson will not be dead. Citizen Yinka Badmus that was arrested sometime last year over his “hairstyle” will not have been arrested and charged to court on some other charges that were far from why he was arrested and slammed in the abattoir-like cells of the squad.

For all I know, the talk of a new Standard Operational Guidelines and Procedures, and code of conduct for all FSARS personnel, which the police headquarters promised so as “to ensure that the operations of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad is in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regards to international human rights law and constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects will be enforced in totality by the Commissioner of Police, FSARS. Other measures to be implemented by the Force in observance of full compliance with the presidential directives are as follows,” is yet to come to fruition. It was more or less a matter of flatter to deceive.

Ditto for the promise to set up human

rights desk officers for FSARS in every state.

To their credit, there is one headed by AC Abayomi Shogunle at the force headquarters, which cannot handle all the issues of abuses and outright brutality by SARS operatives. Even Shogunle plays the Ostrich and chooses those he should have on the official Twitter handle of his unit. If it were to the contrary, he won’t block Ruggedman, however, ‘insolent’ he thinks the artist is.

Most fundamentally, the promise of the force headquarters for medical/psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel is long overdue. For people who believe that suspects do not have rights and young people with dreadlocks, expensive phones, saggy pants and risqué culture are outright criminals not to be psychologically evaluated is a great disservice to this country.

Before some people think this putting the outfit on the cross, far from it. While there are a few positives about the squad, its underbelly is far from glittering. Rather than personnel of the special outfit be chasing Yahoo-Yahoo boys, real or imagined, all over the place and fleecing them, there is a greater challenge for them along the AbujaKaduna Expressway as the Abuja-Minna Highway. On Monday, the enormous challenge of kidnappers and robbers on those roads was laid bare as dozens of vehicles were stopped, robbed and commuters kidnapped by the sons of perdition.

Nigerians want SARS on those roads and other nightmare spots that make Nigerians dread the thought of travelling.

The police can ill-afford to constantly be at the receiving end of the peoples’ anger. One will imagine that with the traction of the #ENDSARS movement, the police will have implemented the reforms it mooted and offer itself some sort of redemption.

Like in all things human, it is not too late for the force to seek penance and find some dignity. It can start with ensuring that those responsible for the senseless killing of Citizen Johnson are brought to trial, speedily too.

Key Takes from Asiwaju’s 67th Birthday Colloquium Tunde Rahman

Q

uite like previous editions, the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium marking the 67th birthday of that political giant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was organised to another resounding success last week. The Bola Tinubu Colloquium has become a veritable platform for robust discussions and frank exchange of ideas. And this year, it again lived to its billing.

The colloquium examined some of the problems confronting the country and made practical suggestions on how to confront them and on the way forward for the country, on the path to the Next Level if you like.

With the theme “Next Level: Work for the People,” the event was attended by no fewer than 11 governors, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, top government functionaries, top traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps and captains of industries. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the colloquium, chaired the event held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Most of the discussions were people-centred and as such resonated well with the audience.

For instance, the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria, U. G. Mohammed, spoke on propelling industrial growth through the power sector. According to him, the power sector privatisation in Nigeria was an ambitious venture embarked upon by the country but that the mistakes recorded thus far must be identified and corrected in order to properly move the sector forward.

It was the celebrator himself, Asiwaju Tinubu, who enlivened the audience more when he mounted the rostrum for his remarks. Initially speaking extempore, he advised the Federal Government against increasing the Value Added Tax, saying such would only increase the burden of the people, reducing their purchasing

power. He urged the government to widen the tax net and bring in more people to pay taxes even if they are his relatives. He also advised the government to revisit the privatisation of the power sector for accelerated development and job creation, and prevail on the distribution companies to drop estimated billings.

Harping on the need to industrialise the country generally, Tinubu said: “We require serious and bold reforms to achieve this. What is happening to our gas pipelines? Whatever we have to invest now for our future is a task that must be done boldly. The PDP administration shared out generation, distribution and transmission to their friends and cronies without very deep and thoughtful research and evaluation.

“It has now become pork chops. This privatisation must be revisited. Put experts together for a more constructive reform to improve generation, transmission and distribution by any means necessary. We cannot afford to be too legalistic about this. We should push to end the practice of billing people for electricity they never received.

This practice is a vestige of the past that should not accompany us into the future. Aperson should be charged accurately and only for the power that they use”.

On a wholistic national infrastructural plan, he urged the government to continue to aggressively implement this, saying “we must commit ourselves to a national highway system linking our major cities and towns, our centres of commerce, with each other. This will save lives, spur commerce, cut costs and bring Nigerians closer together.”

President Muhammadu Buhari administration, according to Tinubu, will, in its second term, dedicate itself to changing the very structure of our economy for the better. The single most important sector for the government’s focus is infrastructure, the most important of which is power, according to the former governor.

Now, some have praised Asiwaju for his courage in giving a candid advice to the government produced by his party and whose emergence he played a leading role. What he did by offering

Tinubu

truthful suggestion, however, is to complement the government in its determination to succeed and impact the lives of Nigerians positively. This attitude has characterised his politics over time.

President Buhari was not physically present at the event but Vice President Osinbajo spoke his mind, describing Asiwaju as a visionary and talents-identifier. He said Asiwaju as Lagos Governor put together a pan-Nigeria cabinet that is yet to be rivalled in the country. President Buhari himself had been effusive in showering praises on Asiwaju a day before the colloquium.

In his congratulatory message to the APC National Leader on his birthday, the president spoke about Asiwaju’s contributions to Nigeria and Lagos in the most profound manner. Buhari described Tinubu a strong pillar of Nigeria’s democracy and the father of modern Lagos.

Thanking the Jagaban for his selflessness in serving his country and making life better for many, the President recalled some of Asiwaju’s

sacrifices to include standing up against injustice in 1993 when the June 12 elections were annulled, which led to his going on political exile for many years, and a protracted legal battle with the Federal Government when funds for Lagos were withheld.

Speaking in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media & Publicity Femi Adesina, “President Buhari affirms that Asiwaju’s uncompromising posture in the face of injustice and refusal to follow the path of least resistance for personal gains stand him out today as a rare breed and one of the cornerstones of Nigeria’s democracy, especially with his track record of persistence, consistency and effective leadership.

“As the father of modern Lagos State, the President commends the visionary and inclusive leadership style that the Asiwaju provided for the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria for eight years, laying the foundation for a modern and technologically driven city, and ensuring that every successive leader in the state sticks with the master plan of a greater Lagos.”

Osinbajo, in his remarks, commended Asiwaju for the role he played in reclaiming states lost by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the 2007 elections and for working towards the success of the All Progressives Congress in the just ended elections. He attributed this to the former Lagos governor’s political dexterity.

“We celebrate a man who has spent the last 30 years of his life in creative and catalytic public service. He is not a lawyer as many of us know, but there are few Nigerians who have provoked so many legal controversies and constitutional challenges resulting in several landmark judicial pronouncements, especially in the area of federalism and what today is loosely described as restructuring.

––Rahman, former Editor,Thisday on Sunday, is Media Adviser to Asiwaju Tinubu Readers can continued online www.thisdaylive.com

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

POLITY Ademola Adeleke: A Man at Peace with Himself Olumide Lawal

A

demola Adeleke is a man who has a date with destiny. A destiny, that has so far put him in good stead to serve at the highest level of law making in Nigeria dispassionately, despite unjust human machinations. He has carried out the onerous task of effective and efficient legislation and over-sight functions for the advancement of our great country- Nigeria. He is a conqueror of “Mount Everest”, and sitting comfortably atop of it, dancing merrily and glorifying God. He is a man at peace with himself. For when God turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

And a new dawn will soon break in Osun State. A dawn of fresh air, which shall blow across the length and breadth of the state of the living spring. And the great people of Osun State, shall by the grace of God and judicial process, have Senator Ademola Adeleke as a servant-leader in the true sense of it.

The journey to the exalted seat of the Governor of Osun State at Bola Ige House shall be smoothened by the grace of God and the instrumentality of the judiciary, which has so far proven, to be truly the last hope of the common man. The waiting shall not be long, and the good people of Osun State will have cause to smile, that the voice of the people, is indeed the voice of God. Ademola Adeleke in the course of his political career so far, has passed through the crucible and fire and came out untainted; unscratched. A proverbial cat with nine lives, furthering the principle of politics without bitterness as put in place by late Senator Isiaka Adeleke of blessed memory. The ways of God Almighty are not the ways of his traducers, who maliciously did not give him a chance that he could go this far. But they are not God! The traducers of Ademola Adeleke are ordinary mortals, testing the supreme will of God. Failed, they are. They will continue to meet their waterloo, as far as Ademola Adeleke’s bid to continue to serve the people of Osun State is concerned, through the judicial process and intervention of God Almightythe Author and finisher of our faiths.

Senator Ademola Adeleke is imbued with the resolve to use his God- given wisdom, a good heart and caring soul to move Osun State and her people many miles ahead of its peers as so far demonstrated in his sterling services at the red chamber of the National Assembly. An Osun State, where her youth will be creators of wealth, through induced direct foreign investment and entrepreneurship skills in the real sense of it. This will in effect, make Osun State, be like the Asian Tigers, rather than wait for the peanut from the federal allocation from Abuja.

For Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, Osun State

Adeleke

should be well illuminated with far-reaching socio-economic projects, as the state is racing against time, craving to be in league of states, like Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom etc. This is achievable with pragmatic and workaholic leader like Senator Ademola Adeleke, who will not shy away from availing Osun people his wealth of experience. There would be a government, which will come with a development blueprint that will send jitters around Nigeria when by God’s grace and judicial pronouncement, he arrives at the seat of power in a most determined way, that will make his detractors green with envy and crave to join his team for the overall development of Osun State.

Nothing can stop an idea which time has come, once patriotic people, like Ademola Adeleke and his focused team set their minds to achieve such a goal. Good thinking. Good products.

Osun shall get it so right, to the extent that our young school

leavers will be happy to partake of the envisaged agro-industrial revolution in the offing by engaging themselves meaningfully in the rural areas with cottage industries, where basic social infrastructures will be taken for granted The good people of Osun State are resilient and focused people, only waiting for a leader, who will turn their dream into reality, from the present state of inertness, that they unwarrantedly found themselves, owing to no fault of theirs. Again, the waiting shall not be long. They will have the last laugh, which is the best laugh. Let them continue to remain steadfast, resolute and painstaking in their prayers for the grace of God and positive judicial pronouncement for Ademola Adeleke, who has also counseled the entire people of the State to be law-abiding and peaceful in their conducts and utterances. The Almighty God that started this project, shall see it to a favourable conclusion. All “hands of Esau and voices of Jacob against his fortune shall be subdued.

When by God’s grace and the judicial process, Ademola Adeleke becomes the governor of Osun State, it shall be a bond between him and the electorate to make them, the centre-piece of his government. He will give them an open administration, devoid of monopoly of wisdom as was witnessed in the past, where it was a one man show, with orders ‘oozing’ out from the masters, who also came to Osun, to insult our collective intelligence, that they are richer than us all in Osun State. We now wonder why they failed to avail Osun, their bottomless resources to put Osun on fast track of development.

Afterall, we have a magnificent and a world-class University put in place at Ede by the peace-loving and philanthropic Adeleke Family, of which Ademola is a part. What can the ‘Lords of the Manons’, point to as their individual private investments in Osun State- their roots? Let us give it to the Adelekes, they have shown so much love for Osun State and her people, irrespective of religion, tribe, race, creed or colour. Theirs over the years, is to put smile on the faces of the less-privileged without any string attached. And they don’t make noise about their achievements, preferring instead others to do it for them.

The silent philanthropist, that Dr. ’Deji Adeleke is, would rather, like the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, prefer to remain at his post, working asdiously for the improvement of mankind in all ramifications, as only the deep, can call to the deep. This is the family of repute, from which Senator Ademola Adeleke has carved a niche for himself, since his incursion into the political terrain. He is a leader who thinks not only of today but tomorrow, with resolve for a public service built on values and not self-centeredness.

––Lawal Was Special Adviser, Medial and Publicity to late Senator Isiaka Adeleke

Dennis Agbo

l’m Fulfilled Giving my People Quality Representation Dennis Agbo has every cause to celebrate and give thanks to God. A member representing Udenu/Igboeze North Federal Constituency (Enugu State) in the House of Representatives, he clocked 55 years in March and rolled out the drums in celebration. In this encounter with Ndubuisi Francis, the lawmaker says his 55th birthday was an appropriate time to celebrate and give thanks to God for His goodness and mercy towards him

M

ost people prefer to mark their 50th birthdays, but you chose to celebrate at 55th.

Why? Ordinarily, l don’t mark my birthdays but there comes a moment in one’s life that one has to reflect on one’s life experiences. So, when I reckon with the various accomplishments which God has graciously performed in me, I feel like having lived three times over. I started as a high flying upwardly looking vibrant young man some years back as a banker. In 1989, I took employment with the defunct Afribank where l began a career in banking. l spent only a year there before joining Zenith Bank and within the seven years l spent in Zenith Bank l rose to senior manager and pioneered the setting up of five branches before moving on again to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and later African Express Bank in 2001.

From your narration, you seem to have climbed the ladder so rapidly, what was the magic?

Yes, l did and that l believe has to do with my upbringing. Like l said earlier, l lost my father very early in life and that toughened me as we had to struggle all the way to support my mum who alone fought to see all of us through university education. In essence, what I am trying to say is that through the dint of hard work coupled with God’s grace, l was always excelling.

You also seem to have exited the banking industry so early; what was the reason for that early exit?

I am an adventurous person and l like challenging opportunities. So, when l felt l had done my bit in the banking sector, l had to move on into other things and that was how l ventured into entrepreneurship in 2004. I set up multiple enterprises ranging from manufacturing of security and leather outfits to electricity distribution, telecommunications and food processing among others and l made success stories of all of them.

After all these you decided to launch into politics; can you share your experiences so far?

Yes, I joined politics and in 2008, l was appointed Special Adviser (SA) to the then Governor of Enugu State, Barrister Sullivan Iheanacho Chime on Intergovernmental and Multilateral Partnerships and l was happy l used my consulting experiences in this area, to give the state access to independent, non-statutory revenue and development opportunities through federal government projects, investments and employments, as well as development assistance from various donor agencies and development partners. In 2015, l contested and won the House of Representative position to represent my good people of Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.

At the House of Representatives, l feel fulfilled because l was able to give my constituents quality representation and also attracted several

Agbo

impactful projects to the various communities that make up the constituency in the last three and half years.

Those projects include: 4.2 kilometres of rural electrification with one transformer linking Ezzodo and Ugbaike communities.

Others are a fully furnished three classroom block at Aji, Igbo-Eze North LGA, a five classroom block at Udah Community Secondary School, Igbo-Eze North LGA, 500 students capacity examination hall at Aguibeje, motorized borehole project at Aji, Enugu – Ezike and employment for up to 85 eligible constituents.

I also empowered constituents with tools for entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood, development of complete value chain in poultry and cassava for wealth creation and employment generation.

Ten beneficiaries have also graduated from the university on my scholarship under GoddyBriggs Foundation. 14 more are currently studying in various institutions of higher learning with our scholarships, including six medical students. I deliberately use the scholarships to support indigent students, and also encourage the study of medicine among his constituents.

I equally sponsored several motions prominent among which was the motion on the need to transform and modernize the animal husbandry system in Nigeria, to terminate the mobility of herdsmen and solve the crises between herdsmen and farmers. This was at the peak of the bloodletting occasioned by the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country.

You have told your success story but has there been any sad moment in your life or has it been all rosy all through?

This is another important question. No, in between l have had ugly experiences in life. There were life threatening experiences in between.

Twice l was attacked by armed robbers on the highway; twice robbers invaded my house in the night while I was asleep with my wife and children. I was once ambushed by robbers and driven away with my wife but later abandoned with my car when the robbers realized the car did not have enough fuel.

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

POLITY

Salutations Continue for Dapo Abiodun, APM H eads to Tr i buna l As more people continue to storm the Iperu residence of Prince Dapo Abiodun to felicitate with him on his emergence as Ogun State governor, Femi Ogbonnikan examines the petition filed before the Election Petition Tribunal against his victory,inanelectionthatwaswidelyadjudgedfair,peacefulandcredible,bybothlocalandforeignobservers

T

he March 9 governorship election in Ogun State was a clear testimony that the people of the state yearned for a total change of baton. They were certainly against subtle moves to perfect a third term agenda through proxy. Thus, Ogun people willingly gave their mandate to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dapo Abiodun, as governor-elect.

Like a vision foretold, the Iperu residence of the governor-elect has turned to a holy land of sort. The Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Buruji Kashamu, led the pack of other major co-contestants, who have conceded defeat and congratulated the Governor-elect.

Soon after came the candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prince Gboyega Isiaka; Action Democratic Party (ADP), Dimeji Bankole; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Otunba Rotimi Paseda; Alliance for Democracy (AD), Engr Olusesi Olufade-Olowookere; Accord Party (AP), Pastor Tope Tokoya.

Not left out are political heavy weights, even from other political leanings; local hunters; ASUP, MAPOLY branch; league of Alfas and Imams; various ethnic nationalities and captains of industries.

Other big wigs that registered their presence were former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Kwara State Governor-Elect, Alhaji Abdulraman Abdulrazaq; Senator Lanre Tejuosho; former chairman, SUBEB, Ogun State, Chief Mufutau Ajibola; Ogun West Senator-elect, Chief Tolu Odebiyi; Senator Adegbenga Kaka, Lagos West Senator, Olamilekan Adeola (aka Yayi); former Speaker of the state, Rt Hon Titi Oseni-Gomez; Chief Kayode Amusan; Dr Femi Majekodunmi; Chief Bode Mustapha; Dr. Fred Omojole; Otunba Adewale Osinubi (aka Wesco); former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in the state, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Senator Gbenga Obadara; Senator Gbolahan Dada; Hon Kayode Oladele; Senator Biyi Durojaiye; Senator Dipo Odujinrin; Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), and a host of others. The list is endless.

In his congratulatory message to the Governor-elect, Bankole enjoined the people of the state to join hands with Abiodun in his quest to serve the state.

He said: “No one can be King, except God crowns him King. As human beings, we can aspire and make moves towards the actualisation of our dreams. However, as a Muslim, I know that in the end, the final decision is entirely that of God. In this case, it pleased the Almighty Allah to make my dear Egbon, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, MFR, the 5th elected Governor of Ogun State.

“As I wish him a successful tenure of office, may I remind all and sundry that Ogun State belongs to all of us, irrespective of who is at the helms.

“In accordance with the campaign mantra of the governor-elect, ‘Igbega Ipinle Ogun, Ajose gbogbo wa ni’ (The progress of Ogun State is the collective responsibility of all and sundry), I wish to appeal to all well-meaning individuals and groups to join hands with him in his quest to serve because in my view, in this instance, the success of one, will ultimately be for the good of all.”

In reciprocation of the magnanimity of the people of the state culminating in his electoral victory, Abiodun undertook ‘a thank you’ visit to monarchs, religious fathers, prominent Nigerians who had contributed in one way or another to make possible his electoral victory.

Clearly, the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, didn’t conceal his disdain for the political godson of the outgoing governor whom he refused to welcome when the godson paid him a courtesy call during his consultation/campaign tour of the

Prince Dapo Abiodun, and APC national leader, Bola Tinubu state. Instead, the monarch openly stretched his warm hands to welcome Abiodun whom he anointed, when he was led to the palace by a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, and a host of other Ijebuland indigenes.

Prominent among other monarchs, spiritual and community leaders, who have saluted Abiodun are the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, the Osile of Oke-Ona, Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, founder and chairman, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Otunba Subomi Balogun, General Overseer (GO), The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Founder and General Overseer (GO), Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM), Pastor Kolawole Olukoya, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, national leader of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, outgoing Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, national leader of the APC and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), former Osun state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Enugu State Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, an industrialist, Prince Arthur Eze, Lagos State Governor-Elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also lately, an industrial mogul, Sir Kesington Adebutu (aka Baba Ijebu), reconciled his son, Ladi, a factional PDP governorship candidate, who had earlier teamed up, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and worked for, the APM candidate, Akinlade, in the election, with the governor-elect, who is his Iperu-Remo kinsman.

However, the APM governorship candidate

and his party have headed to the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, but some believed this move is an exercise in futility. The APM, through its Campaign DirectorGeneral (DG), Chief Sarafa Isola, kicked against the results announced by INEC. Their press statement said that the APM agents who had copies of the collated results complained of infractions. But an APC Chieftain likened the concerns raised by the petitioners (Akinlade and his party, APM) to a situation of a pot calling a kettle black.

The politician who craved anonymity said the APM leaders, who were the real culprits, soiled their fingers when they were deeply involved in rigging spree, but that situation was saved by the timely intervention of armed security operatives who defied all alleged inducements to rig the election.

He cited an instance where a serving commissioner was apprehended by the security agents in Ota because he was allegedly carrying a card reader machine and scores of thumb-printed ballot papers. Likewise, there we tales alleging several attempts by other senior serving government officials to rig in Ifo, Ewekoro, Abeokuta South Local Governments and others.

“The APM, which is the adopted party of the outgoing governor, wields the political power in the state, because it has the funds and other resources at its disposal. Why hasn’t it come out to mention or point at any of the APC chieftains or members found on the Saturday, March 9 elections? They are liars and they don’t have any evidence, except their attempts to raise an unnecessary dust in order to befuddle the horizon of the gullible ones. Whereas the good people of Ogun State know the truth and they aren’t being taken in by their antics. They have said they have had enough of deceits, pretense and lies through the mandate given to Dapo Abiodun, as the governor-elect, on March 9”, said the APC leader.

Regardless of whose ox is gored, the APM Governorship Candidate, who once pledged to accept the election result in good faith if he lost, noted that he didn’t lose, but was rigged out.

Akinlade and his party have filed a petition and hired three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), led by Dr. Onyechi Ikeazu, and 12 others as counsel.

To the APM candidate and his party, it is obvious that the governorship poll met all the criteria for an inconclusive election, but the INEC acted otherwise.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has resolved to set up an adhoc committee to amend the Electoral Act. The members of the House of Representatives have also debated on the legality and otherwise of re-run elections in Nigeria, following a Motion brought to that effect by Hon. Sunday Karimi (PDP) Kogi State.

Speaking on this issue, Hon. Kayode Oladele, an APC member representing Yewa North/ Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency in Ogun state, who is also a lawyer and the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, stated that while there was no doubt that INEC has the power within the context of its enabling Act to order a re-rerun, politicians should not see that power as giving them another “opportunity to have a second bite at the cake or second chance to run afresh in an election in which they have already been defeated and a clear winner has emerged.” According to him, once politicians lose elections, they run to the Tribunals, create an atmosphere of mucky water, paint a picture of inconclusiveness of elections and urge the Tribunals to order a rerun in the hope that they can wipe the slate and start over. Unfortunately, that is not the position of the law,” he said.

Explaining the circumstances that can compel INEC to order a rerun election, Hon. Oladele stated that “the issue of rerun elections and circumstances that can warrant INEC to order a rerun have been settled by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of Hon. James Faleke, a member of House of Representatives and the running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu, who won the 2015 Kogi governorship election and died before INEC announced the results. In that case, the Supreme Court held that the INEC guidelines provide for a rerun where voting did not take place and the margin was more than the margin of victory; that there should be a rerun in those places so as to enable disenfranchised voters there to participate in the process.”

According to Oladele, the Supreme court’s decision is very clear and anything to the contrary will violate Section 179 of the Constitution which states that “A candidate for an election to the office of governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates – (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state.”

In his own reaction, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, APC, Lagos State and majority Leader, House of Representatives stated that inconclusiveness of elections should be something of the past but how do we get there? In his words, “the Supreme Court already ruled on this and held that INEC has such powers, so the only way to change the Supreme Court’s ruling is to amend our law.”

Therefore, the law is that INEC has the power to order a rerun in the instances enumerated and upheld by the Supreme Court in Faleke’s case,” said Oladele.

But the question on the lips of many political pundits is what becomes of the outgoing governor, if at the end of the day, he loses out in his legal redress? Would he still remain in APC and count himself relevant before his estranged benefactors and chieftains?

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

POLITY

Emmanuel TV’s YouTube Award: Ojukwu Lauds TB Joshua Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

M

r. Jonas Maduabuchukwu Ojukwu, a Peace Ambassador and a director at Innoson Group, indigenous manufacturers of motor vehicles and spares, has lauded Prophet TB Joshua for the Gold Creator Award given to Emmanuel TV by YouTube.

Globally, YouTube has grown to become one of the most recognized websites with over a billion users. It said it was giving Prophet TB Joshua’s Emmanuel TV the award for recording more than one million subscribers.

Emmanuel TV, which is YouTube’s most watched Christian channel, has also attained over 400 million views.

Ojukwu, one of the faithful followers of TB Joshua, who is also a partner of Emmanuel TV, is particularly excited that this honour is a confirmation of his optimism expressed one and a half years ago about trhe channel. He had said in September 2017 that more recognition would come the way of the prophet for his selfless and relentless pursuit of happiness for humanity.

Obviously surprised by the attainment of this feat of one million subscribers rather fast, YouTube’s CEO, Susan Wajcicki, told Emmanuel TV in the letter announcing the recognition: “You’ve amazed us. Keep daring; keep dreaming big… and keep creating! You’re the inspiration for everything we do.”

She gushed: “One million subscribers. Maybe you’ve imagined that day for a long time, or maybe you never thought you’d grow so big.

Either way, not much can match the satisfaction of finding out that your creativity that your ideas, that your voice speaks to one million people across the globe.

“We know that being able to touch the lives of so many people is reward enough. But we’re incredibly proud of all you’ve done; so we hope you’ll accept this Gold Creator Award as a token of our esteem.

“With your track record, we suspect you’re only going to keep growing. And we can’t wait to see you reach the next milestone: 10 million subscribers.”

Synagogue auditorium

She explained that though it may seem far away, Emmanuel TV and Prophet TB Joshua and partners should remember the days when they were hoping to have a thousand subscribers.

True to that, Ojukwu recalled that Prophet T.B Joshua always said every big thing starts small.

Emmanuel TV started operation in 2006.

Overwhelmed with joy, Ojukwu prayed for Prophet TB Joshua, founder Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), owners of Emmanuel TV : “May your God continue to strengthen and protect you so you can continue to do His will and save more souls for Him in Jesus Name. Amen.”

When YouTube honoured Emmanuel TV for attaining 100,000 subscribers some two years ago, it had said: “You have just done something very few YouTube creators accomplish. You have an astonishing 100,000 people subscribed to your channel. We know the numbers on YouTube can get really big but we know you don’t lose sight of the reality behind that six-digit milestone.

Each and every person who subscribed to your channel was touched by what you do. They were challenged or inspired or entertained.

You made this milestone with hard work, perseverance and chances are, a healthy sense of humour.”

In that earlier award, YouTube said: “What you’ve accomplished can’t be taken away from you and we like to recognize you and all your hard work with this silver play button, a small token of our esteem and respect. We know you don’t do this for a reward; you do it because you have a drive to create and share and because you found an audience that cares.

“Believe us when we say that we can’t wait to see what you do next.

I know your subscribers may seem a long way off now but you are closer than you think, and we’re waiting for you.”

Ojukwu said: “I have no doubt that with the increasing popularity of Emmanuel TV, it would be able to attain the next milestone of 10 million subscribers set for them by YouTube within the shortest time possible.”

PHOTO NEWS

L-R : Senior Pastor, Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Gust Speaker, Pastor Mensa Otabil; and wife of Pastor Ighodalo, Mrs. Ibiwumi Ighodalo, at the 2019 Trinity House Word and Power Conference ‘Theme The Set Time’ held at the Church Auditorium in Lagos...recently

L-R: Director Water Supply, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA Kebbi), Lawal Gwandu; Executive Chairman, Danko Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State, Suleiman Shindi; Territory Manager Sokoto/Kebbi Guinness Nigeria, Demmo Ibrahim; Assistant Director , Ministry ofWater Resources and Rural Development Kebbi, Adamu Shehu; and Principal Tech. Offficer, Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Ibrahim Aliyu Bilo, during the inauguration of the solar powered water facility in D’Ka Community, donated by Guinness Nigeria in partnership with WaterAid as part of its ‘Water of Life’ project

L-R: School Administration Officer, Ahmed Hussani; officials of SunTrust Bank (Business Services), Ugochi Obijum; Ms. Gloria Enwerem; and General Manager, Sun Trust Bank,Mr.Babayo Saidu, during the 2019 Financial Literacy Day Global MoneyWeek celebration held at Government Secondary School Kuje, Abuja...recently

L-R: Permanent Secretary,Cross River State Ministry of Education, Dr. Perpetua Aji; Head Legal and Corporate Communications, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Andrew Enahoro; and Director of Schools Services,Cross River State Ministry of Education Charity Ottoho, during the fifth edition of Promasidor Harness Your Dream initiative,a career guidance workshop for Junior Secondary School students held at the West African People’s Institute (WAPI), Calabar...recently

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

06.04.2019

NEWS

Top- Four Quest

PAGE. 32

Samuel Chukwueze Living His Dream

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

30

GLOBAL SOCCER

Samuel Chukwueze outpaces Barcelona duo of Clement Lenglet and Jordi Alba

Samuel Chukwueze Living His Dream After beating compatriots- Victor Osimhen and Henry Onyekuru to the Nigeria Football Federation’s 2018 Young Player of the Year award on Monday, Samuel Chukwueze said his attention was now focused on how to keep helping his club and keeping his AFCON and Olympics dreams alive. He actually put his money where his mouth is by putting up a five-star performance in Villarreal’s eight goals thriller against Barcelona in the La Liga a day after he won the award

T

he Nigerian whizkid, Samuel Chukwueze, said after he was deservedly voted the Young Player of the Year that the award would serve as a motivation to him.

“It serves as a motivation to keep working hard for more success. I’m very motivated and inspired by this, because it is unbelievable. Everything happening still seems like a dream. I have dreams of playing for my country in big tournaments and this shows that if I put more effort into my career, personal and team rewards will follow,” Chukwueze told BBC Sport.

“This award is going to impact me positively to grow in the right pace so that I can keep having good performances.

My focus is to keep helping my

club, continue to work hard to represent my country hopefully at the Nations Cup in Egypt and the Olympics,” Chukwueze added.

Indeed, the following day, the 19-year-old kept his dream alive as he almost helped his team to a famous victory against Barcelona after Villarreal had gone two goals down, but for a brilliant free-kick from Lionel Messi and last gaps strike from Luis Suarez, which rescued a point for the league leaders.

Since being promoted to the Villarreal senior tram in July last year, the 19-year-old has been a surprise star player for the yellow submarines this season. He has been impressive for Villarreal this season in all competitions he has featured.

Following his sparkling performance, former Arsenal star, Lauren

Etame Meyer said he was amazed at the youngster’s performance.

Etame who now works as a television pundit, said he had been thrilled by Chukwueze’s form with Villarreal this season, rating the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup revelation and gold medalist as his team’s best player in the game.

The Cameroonian legend added that Chukwueze, who has four goals this season, provides much more for Villarreal than just scoring.

Etame added: “He is a very good footballer. Can score and also create plus he is very good with the ball at his feet. He is the best and probably most complete 19- year old I’ve seen in a while in the La Liga.

“Most teams need players who can offer them balance and something different in attack especially

for a team like Villarreal who are used to having the ball. He compliments their style very well.”

He, however, said much of what he achieved had been down to “hard work, discipline and determination. Especially determination, this had made the difference.

It has been amazing and I want to keep improving so that I continue with the rise.”

Little wonder, Atletico Madrid toyed with the idea of splashing €40m on the Nigerian prodigy in the January transfer window.

The Villarreal teen sensation was the prime target of Atletico Madrid as the club was ready to splash €40m on Chukwueze.

The 19-year-old who is enjoying his breakthrough season at the club has impressed Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone who is searching for firepower up

31

APRIL 6, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Samuel Chukwueze celebrating his goal against Barcelona

front.

Chukwueze current contract carries a buy-out clause of €40m, a fee that Atletico Madrid can match with ease as one of their forward Vitolo who has failed to live up to expectations since his signing.

He has scored in all competitions for Villarreal this season-the La Liga, Europa League and Copa Del Rey. Villarreal manager Javi Calleja has indeed charged Chukwueze to continue working hard for a regular berth in the La Liga club’s squad.

Signed from Diamond Academy in the summer of 2017, Chukwueze played in Villarreal’s junior ranks last term but was promoted to the reserve team ahead of this season.

“We’re using nearly all of our players and I think that’s a good thing. We need the whole squad,” Calleja told Villarreal’s official website following their Europa League clash with Rangers.

Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr was clearly impressed with what he’s seen from the immensely talented left winger.

“Chukwueze has a good left foot, is quick, has a low centre of gravity - which gives him a very good

balance - and can deliver and score,” the German coach said.

Chukwueze has had to fight back from a near career mishap to get to this stage.

Days after winning the Bronze Ball - on the strength of three goals and three assists - and helping Nigeria win a fifth U-17 world title, football agency Stellar Group signed Chukwueze and three other players from the Nigerian squad.

The deal ought to have seen the highly sought-after star, who models his game on Arjen Robben, sign for a top European club, like those before him had done, but age was the only snag that hindered a potential move abroad, as the attacker 16, and would have to wait for two years before he could sign professional terms.

The teenager returned home while awaiting news from his agents about a potential career move, and kept busy by shuttling between training and playing for Diamond Academy and the Nigeria U-20s, who were involved in the qualification for the ill-fated 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

After celebrating his 17th birthday, he seemed poised to join

Arsenal, alongside Nwakali, who signed a five-year contract with the Gunners.

However, Diamond Academy pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute, and Chukwueze began to slip out of the limelight, a situation made more challenging by his Golden Eaglets teammates of lesser profiles securing moves to Europe.

Undeterred by those series of disappointments, Chukwueze eventually packed his bags and journeyed to Spain, first joining Villarreal’s U-18 team, before being promoted to the B team.

His superb performances with the Villarreal juniors have seen him regularly grab the headlines with his stunning pace, strength, skillset, goals and assists, and he’s edging closer to Calleja’s firstteam.

Chukwueze’s emergence had come as positive news to Nigerian fans, with the national side lacking a naturally left-footed winger since the untimely retirement of Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached the wonder kid in the Eagles’ U-17 and U-20 teams.

Despite his relative inexperience, Rohr identified the starlet’s raw

talent and has handed him an audition in a team which, for all its outstanding attacking players, lacks a natural left winger to create panic and havoc on opposition defences with direct running, effective crossing and superb technique.

However, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Egypt this summer could present him with a valuable opportunity to assert himself in the national team.

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

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

32

GLOBAL SOCCER

Arsenal Top-Four Quest Faces Everton Test Arsenal will look to take another step towards securing a top-four spot when they face Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. The Gunners have picked up 16 of the last 18 points available in the Premier League to move into fourth place, a point behind North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. A Champions League finish is now firmly in their hands, especially with Manchester United losing to Wolves in midweek action

W

With the FA Cup semifinals taking centre stage this weekend there are only a handful of Premier League games on the fixture list for today and Sunday and the pick of them comes on Sunday when Champions League-chasing Arsenal head north to face a rejuvenated Everton, who are hoping to build on back-to-back victories over Chelsea and West Ham respectively.

With the four-way battle for the final two Champions League berths hotting up, it is Arsenal who have moved into pole position with seven wins from their last nine. They begin the weekend in fourth place, but Sunday’s match against Everton is their game in hand on third-placed

Tottenham, who are only one point above. However, in order to capitalise Arsenal must show they are over their inconsistency away from the Emirates, having won just five of 14 of their matches on the road.

Everton have the opportunity to finish the season in a respectable position. It has been an unsatisfactory campaign for Marco Silva’s side despite plenty of promise preseason. Varying performances and up and down results have been a regular occurrence and it’s often difficult to predict how the Blues will perform on match days.

They come into the fixture off the back of an impressive win away at West Ham, their second in succession, and looked very good when attacking, particularly in the first half, but it is worth bettors noting

that as good as Everton performed, West Ham were extremely poor all-round.

The Merseyside club are certainly playing better football under Marco Silva, and their underlying process has improved, but in terms of results, their expected position hasn’t altered much, and given the money Silva has spent, more improvements are needed if they want to close the gap on between themselves and the top six sides.

Their defence is still vulnerable both home and away and one would expect it to be exposed at some point again against an Arsenal side that have averaged 2.10 goals per game this season.

Arsenal head into this fixture off the back of a dominant performance against Newcastle at Emirates

Stadium and are in outstanding form in the Premier League. The Gunners will be looking to claim all three points at Goodison on Sunday to maintain their current edge in the race for a top four finish.

The North London club have won five of their last six Premier League matches, only dropping points at Tottenham in a 1-1 draw in a game they deserved to win. Despite their resurgence and fine form, Arsenal’s defensive troubles are still apparent on the road, and until they can fix this issue there is always the feeling that they can be vulnerable defensively when they do not have home advantage.

Consistency has been Everton’s Achilles heel all season. A 2-0 win at West Ham last week gave them back-to-back victories for only

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

33

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

P 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 31 32 32 33 32

GD 62 53 26 26 21 18 1 0 -1 3 -7 -15 -5 -11 -14 -15 -22 -33 -46 -41

Pts 80 79 64 63 63 61 47 46 44 43 42 38 36 35 33 33 33 28 17 14

TABLE AS AT THURSDAY

ÜÏ×ÓÏÜÝÒÓÚ TODAY

Bournemouth v Huddersfield v Newcastle v Sunday Everton v Monday Chelsea v

Burnley Leicester Palace

15:00 15:00 15:00

Arsenal

14:05

West Ham

20:00

ÙÞ ÒÙÞ NAME

CLUB

Sergio Agüero Mohamed Salah Aubameyang Harry Kane Sadio Mané Raheem Sterling Eden Hazard Alexandre Lacazette Jamie Vardy Raúl Jiménez Son Heung-Min Roberto Firmino Gylfi Sigurdsson Richarlison Romelu Lukaku Paul Pogba Callum Wilson Joshua King Glenn Murray Marcus Rashford Anthony Martial Aleksandar Mitrovic Luka Milivojevic Leroy Sané Salomon Randon Ashley Barnes

Man City 19 Liverpool 17 Arsenal 17 Tottenham 17 Liverpool 17 Man City 15 Chelsea 14 Arsenal 13 Leicester 13 Wolves 12 Tottenham 12 Liverpool 12 Everton 12 Everton 12 Man Utd 12 Man Utd 11 Bournemouth 11 Bournemouth 11 Brighton 11 Man Utd 10 Man Utd 10 Fulham 10 Palace 10 Man City 9 Newcastle 9 Burnley 9

GOALS

ÚËØÓÝÒ Ë ÓÑË ÓâÞßÜÏÝ TODAY

Girona Madrid Vallecano Barcelona

v v v v

Espanyol Eibar Valencia Atlético

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

v v v v v v

Leganés Bilbao Sevilla Sociedad Huesca Villarreal

11:00 13:00 15:15 17:30 17:30 19:45

v v v

Torino AC Milan Roma

14:00 17:00 19:30

v v v v v v

Frosinone SPAL Empoli Atalanta Sassuolo Genoa

11:30 14:00 14:00 17:00 17:00 19:30

SUNDAY

the second time this season in the Premier League. The last time they did it, all the way back in September, they actually won three on the bounce. Beating Arsenal to do so again might be the minimum requirement if Marco Silva’s side are to continue their push to finish ‘best of the rest’ by snatching seventh place. Still four points adrift of Wolves, and also trailing Watford and Leicester in the congested top half of the table, anything else will surely leave them with too much to do.

Eddie Howe and Sean Dyche will go head to head today when Bournemouth host Buenley. Howe, of course, was Dyche’s predecessor at Turf Moor and Burnley defender Ben Mee, who played for both men, believes they are the best two

managers in England. A case can certainly be made, with both sides on course to avoid the drop despite their limited resources. Burnley still have some work to do, but they hold most of the cards as they sit five points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff, who must travel to Turf Moor next weekend. Any points they can pick up at the Vitality Stadium would only strengthen their position.

With Newcastle’s safety in the Premier League all but assured, the club is starting to look to next season with discussions expected this weekend on transfer targets for the summer. But they key question remains – who will be in charge?

Rafael Benitez is still being linked with a move away from St James’ Park, with Ligue 1 the latest mooted

destination. Given the continuing uncertainty over whether the club will be sold, few could blame the Spaniard if he chooses to move on. The issue is sure to hang over Saturday’s meeting with Crystal Palace, in which Newcastle will seek a sixth straight Premier League home win.

Relegation was confirmed with six games to spare, and looked inevitable for much longer, so Huddersfield at least have plenty of time to prepare for their return to the Championship. Ahead of today’s clash with Leicester, captain Christopher Schindler has told his colleagues they are all playing for their futures at the John Smith’s Stadium, with manager Jan Siewart no doubt needing to make budget cuts once they drop down a division.

Alavés Getafe Valladolid Celta Levante Real Betis

ÏÜÓÏ TODAY

Parma Juventus Sampdoria Sunday Fiorentina Cagliari Udinese Inter Lazio Napoli

34

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

GLOBAL SOCCER

Members of the Nigerian Football Team at the Special Olympics m Summer Games 2019 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.Tosin Ogundare, Lanre Babalola and Tosin Umaru, pose with their medals. (Credit: Adedotun Soyebi)

L-R: Chidozie Bede-Nwokoye, Senior Marketing Manager GOtv; Jenkins Alumona, CEO Flykite Production; Jennifer Ukoh, Public Relations Manager, GOtv; Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, President NBBofC and Remi Aboderin, Secretary General of NBBofC during the GOtv Boxing Night 18 Press Conference held at The Regent Hotel, Ikeja GRA.

Nigerians Set for Football Greatness with Puyol Former Eagles captain Joseph Yobo has revealed that with the crop of talented youngsters in the current squad, Nigeria has all it takes to go on and win the Nations Cup in Egypt later this year.

Nigeria wil Very few footballers are as loved and revered as the former Spanish entre back, Carlos Puyol. A Magician and a “Wall” on the pitch, Puyol had the world at his feet for most of his illustrious career.

For a player of such

immense talents, it is no surprise that his footballing career was blessed with numerous accolades, including the greatest accolade in club football - The UEFA Champions League.

On March 27, the news broke that internationally acclaimed beer brand, Heineken will be bringing Puyol to Nigeria as part of its UEFA Champion League Tour between the 16th-18th of April.

The tour will be a three-

day experience that will feature exclusive encounters in Lagos and Uyo and a match to be played by select consumers and the Spanish superstar, Puyol.

Football fans were more than excited at the news, with many taking to social media to express their excitement. The announcement, which was made at an exclusive event hosted by Heineken, featured some of Nigeria celebrities who were equally thrilled to hear the news.

Puyol is set to visit Lagos and Uyo in the UEFA Champions League Tour as presented by Heineken.

The details of his activities in Nigeria are still under wraps.

With this year’s Champions League in the second round phase, Heineken also announced that it will be partnering with over 100 experience centres to bring the games to fans and consumers across Nigeria.

NB Hails NFF for Honouring 1994 Super Eagles The high point of the second edition of the Nigeria Football Federation Award Night was the honour and tribute to the class of 1994 of the Nigeria football team, the Super Eagles.

Almost half of the living members of the squad were on hand to receive the honour , 25 years after the team brail the trail to become Nigeria’s first ever squad at the FIFA World Cup. In doing so, the 1994 Super Eagles also became the first Anglophone African team at the World Cup. Before the World Cup in June 1994, the team also won the Africa Cup of Nations, the first by any Nigerian squad outside the shores of the country.

The squad also became the first Nigerian side to feature in the ‘sacred’ turf of the old Wembley Stadium in November 1994.

Partners of the NFF and the official brewer of the beer of the Super Eagles, Nigeria Breweries (NB) were thrilled by the honour bestowed on the trail-brailing squad.

According to the Marketing Director of the NB, Emmanuel Oriakhi, the recognition of the 1994 Super Eagles was a masterstroke employed by the NFF. Oriakhi recalled that the team not only brought honour to the country, it also attained the highest ranking of fifth position in the monthly rating

of national teams which FIFA had been doing since 1993.

“Recognising the exploits of that squad is a prerequisite for the advancement of subsequent squads Nigeria has been putting forward,” remarked Oriakhi.

He recalled that no fewer than six members of the squad constituted the record-making Nigerian team of 1996 that became the first team outside Europe to win the Olympic Games’

football event in 68 years.

Before that exploit, all the previous Olympic Games football gold medals had been won by European countries since the 1928 Olympics which was won

by Uruguay.

“Significantly, no European team has won since the Nigerian team broke their reign 23 years ago,” remarked the NB Marketing Director who sees this as a further tribute to the

heroic performance of the Nigerian team to which his company is a pillar.

He is of the opinion that the recognition of the 1994 squad will be an impetus to the current squad that will be featuring in the largest ever edition of the Africa Cup of Nations who could also put their names in gold. “The squad enmeshed in the middle of the FIFA ranking table will be spurred to rise.

Knockout Matches Begin in Trophy 5-a-side Tourney The draws for a slot in the final 16 has been concluded as the Trophy 5-a-side Field of Hounour tournament enters the knock-out stage. Over 1,000 teams were selected to vie for the tournament, which comes with a cash prize of N3 million as well as bragging rights of the best 5-a-side team in the country. In addition, the winning team will proceed to the Pan African regional finals taking place in Tanzania to compete for the African title. They will also have the opportunity of meeting with Samuel Eto’o, the African ambassador for the tournament.

Also starting in earnest is the super fans recruitment where five lucky winners

will be selected to travel on an all-expense paid trip with the victorious team to Tanzania to watch regional matches and cheer the team to victory. While four of the super fans will be selected via in-bar recruitments across the four states, one lucky winner will be selected online.

In Lagos, the draws and knock-out matches will take place at the practice pitch, National Stadium Surulere, Trade Fair Complex Mini Stadium, Ojo and Gbagada Mini Stadium.

In Oyo State, the draws and matches will take place at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Adamasigba Stadium, Ibadan and Ogbomoso Stadium, in Osun,

actions will take place at OAU Football Field, Arubidi Football Field, Ile-Ife and Osun State University Football Field, Oshogbo and in Ogun State, the draws and matches will happen live at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, practice pitch Dipa Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode and Honda Football Field, Sango.

All participating teams at the knock-out stages will go home with memorabilia and other merchandise in appreciation of their participation.

Fans also stand the chance of winning super prizes from the TV show where they have the opportunity of calling in and answering questions on the matches.

GOTV BOXING NIGHT 18

Ibadan Warms up for Easter Boxing Cracker The 18th edition of GOtv Boxing Night (GOtv Boxing Night 18) will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo (formerly Liberty) Stadium, Ibadan on Sunday, 21 April. This was announced by the event organisers, FlyKite Promotions, at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.

This is the third time the event is being hosted in the Oyo State capital, where it held in March 2017 and July 2018.

GOtv Boxing Night 18 will be headlined by the African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight title defence bout between reigning champion, Oto “Joeboy” Joseph of Nigeria and Success “Brave Warrior” Tetteh of Ghana. It will also feature another international bout, a light middleweight challenge duel between Nigeria’s Akeem “Dodo” Sadiku and the Republic of Benin’s Ekpresso Djamihou.

Also on the bout card are six domestic bouts. They include the national super featherweight title bout between Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola and Taofeek “Taozon” Bisuga. West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight champion, Rilwan “Babyface” Babatunde returns to action when he takes on Ganiyu “Energy” Kolawole in a challenge bout. The hard-punching Tawio “Esepo” Agbaje will battle it out against Michael “Holy Mike” Jacob in a national lightweight contest, while Adeyemi “Sense” Opeyemi and Sadiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke will slug it out in a national bantamweight challenge.

Three graduates of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 3 will also be in action. Morufu “Oloke” Owolabi will take on Jamiyu “Sunshine” Akande in a national lightweight challenge, while Issac “I Star” Chukwudi will be up against Ibadan-based Jubril “Terrible” Olalekan.

The best boxer at the event will go home with a cash prize of N1million alongside the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

GOtv Boxing Night 18 will be beamed live by SuperSport, in 47 African countries.

‘I’ll Sting Taozon To Submission,’ Boasts Scorpion Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola, challenger for the national super featherweight title, has vowed unseat incumbent champion, Taofeek “Taozon” Bisuga by stinging him with blows when they clash at GOtv Boxing Night 18 on April 21.

The bout is one of the eight scheduled for the event, which holds at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo (formerly Liberty) Stadium, Ibadan.

Oyekola, winner of the best boxer award at GOtv Boxing Night 15, spoke by telephone from his Ibadan base on Friday. He bragged that Taozon will not last the distance, as he would be stung into throwing in the towel.

“There is a reason I’m called Scorpion. It is because my punches are as lethal as the scorpion’s sting. It does not matter that he is the champion. At the last edition, I stung a former champion into submission in the fourth round. I will repeat the same thing.

I won the best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night 15, knocking out my opponent. Taozon has had his time. This is my own time,” boasted the young boxer.

L-R; Coach, Olaleye Ademola; Initiative Manager, Special Olympics Nigeria, Ibiyemi Ayeni, Ademola Ayodabo; Silver medalist, Godstime Dickson Arek; Niyi Abiola; and gold medalist Uyeh James, at a welcome reception for SON contingents to the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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

35

GLOBAL SOCCER

Akande in training with Nigeria U17 team

Adrian Akande

Dumps England for Nigeria With the Nigeria Professional Football League not seen as good enough to produce players for the Super Eagles, the football federation largely depends on players of Nigerian descent to star for the senior national team in what the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick described as VIP Scouting. Very soon Nigeria’s U-17 team would be flooded with ‘foreigners’ after the NFF boss convinced Chelsea prodigy Adrian Akande to commit his international future to Nigeria over England and is expected to be named for the upcoming Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania

C

helsea prodigy Adrian Akande has committed his international future to Nigeria despite being courted by the English Football Association.

Golden Eaglets coach, Manu Garba closely monitored the highly-rated winger in Abuja for about one week, with a view to naming him on the roster for the upcoming Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania.

Akande arrived the Nigeria U-17s camp with a huge reputation, having scored an impressive 30 goals in 42 games for Chelsea’s youth teams this season while providing 22 assists. ‘’Adrian has been called for five England camps and has rejected all of them in hope of playing for Nigeria,’’ Adrian’s agent, Tobi Alabi who used to play for Millwall, told an online publication.

Akande has certainly shown signs that he could cut it as a professional footballer as he has drawn comparisons to Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembélé. ‘’He plays like Hazard and Barcelona’s Dembele. He is two-footed, very quick and strong on the ball. He can score the same, with both right foot and left foot and he is a hard worker. ‘’He has no weaknesses. I saw a mention that defensively he isn’t strong but he’s not

a defender, he’s an attacker so his defensive capabilities aren’t important, of course, he will work hard for his team but he’s not a defender, ‘’ added Alabi.

Akande played for the youth team of Crystal Palace before transferring to Chelsea at the age of 12.

Akande who flew back to Nigeria on Wednesday night is expected to undergo an MRI test this week.

Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, played a key role in convincing the precocious talent to commit his international future to Nigeria over England after holding talks with the player’s camp.

Since assuming office as the President of the NFF, Pinnick had never hidden his intention to woo players with Nigerian background who have featured only in age-group competitions for foreign countries. So far, he has not done badly with his moves.

“The initial plan was to take our players in the various clubs, but now, what we are trying to do is what we call VIP scouting – talking to these young players that are playing abroad to play for their fatherland.

“I am yet to see a Nigerian that is regretting being a Nigerian. No Nigerian, even if they have four or five passports, they are always excited being Nigerians. I can as-

sure you that we shall get them to play for us at the appropriate time,” Pinnick said.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth goalkeeper Joseph Oluwabusola is set to miss out on the Golden Eaglets roster to the upcoming Africa U-17 Cup of Nations which begins in Tanzania on April 14.

Although the Golden Eaglets coaches have refused to categorically rule him out from the squad set to be announced in the coming days, his chances are slim because he has not trained with the team since the start of their training camp.

Bournemouth had earlier assured the Nigeria Football Federation that Oluwabusola would be permitted to link up with the Nigeria U-17s 14 days before the start of the tournament but this has not happened.

He was a member of the Golden Eaglets squad at the 2018 WAFU-UFOA Zone B qualifiers for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations but did not come off the bench in all their four matches in Niger.

Akande, Go Ahead Eagles’ Lateef Omidiji and Barcelona Escola whizkid Kelechukwu Ebenezer Ibe-Torti are among the foreign-based teenagers observed by Garba ahead of their trip to Tanzania for the U-17 AFCON. The five-time world champions will do battle with the hosts, Angola and Uganda in the group stage.

Akande

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

FAIRGROUND 1st Annual Fitness Day Draws Experts Across Spectrums

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

he Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge was lit on the 23rd of March, 2019 with bright colours of white, pink and lemon green as fitness instructors and enthusiasts came out in strong support of the pioneering edition of March Fitness Day put together by Sweetkiwi Yogurt and Media Room Hub. The morning kicked off with light warm-ups and stretches before hitting the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge for the five kilometer run. Many of the participants found the run quite challenging as it was a new feat to overcome but the instructors motivated everyone to push themselves in other to reach the finish line. In a statement by OAP, Arthur Nwugbe, said,“Fitness is a journey that can only be achieved with constant motivation and staying dedicated. It may not be an easy journey, but you will forever be thankful to yourself.”

This edition of the March Fitness Day highlighted fitting fitness into women’s lives as part of the discussion surrounding International Women’s Month. The fitness coaches present at the event – Kemen Fitness, Bunmi George of Shredder Gang, Obinna Udora of Fit Nigeria, Tonye Garrick, Akins Akinkugbe, Jane Michael Ekanem, Titi Olatunji, Edache Obe amongst many others gave educational information on various issues relating to fitness and in particular, addressing the need for women to take charge of their health.

They spoke on the prioritisation of self-care, constructing effective strategies to overcoming barriers to being physically active, and gaining tools for feeling comfortable with claiming time for their self-care.

Following the really inspirational and motivational talks by the coaches, participants were put to the test as they were challenged to complete sets of fast-paced jumping jacks and high knees. Now, this was a sight to see! The last six people standing were given Sweetkiwi gift cards, sportswear and gear from Joagh Athletics, and two lucky winners would be receiving the Lose It Nigerian (LIN) recipe cookbook from 9jafoodie.

The morning ended with everyone eating some delicious, healthy yogurt (have you tried the Sweetkiwi popsicles?! YUMMY!) taking some awesome pictures and forming new bonds. As the saying goes, “a healthy body owns a healthy mind.”

ABOUT SWEET KIWI Sweetkiwi is a premier refreshingly light, low-fat and genuinely healthy yogurt brand founded in 2011. Our yogurt is made fresh daily with natural strained yogurt and carefully whipped for your pleasure while creating clean, healthy desserts that people enjoy without feeling guilty.

We are a self-serve frozen yogurt bar, which sells premium-frozen yogurt in over 100 flavors. Sweetkiwi frozen yogurt was created with the intent of introducing a healthier alternative to the calorie filled Icecream. Every cup at Sweetkiwi is an “extraordinary experience”.

Our mission is to create the finest quality all natural frozen yogurt with a commitment to infusing the freshest, richest, and creamiest ingredients into a world-class product. Our slogan “Healthy Never Tasted Better!” incorporates all that we stand for!

Bunmi George, Tutu and Onobello

Akins Akinkugbe

Kemen Fitness and Tonye Garrick

Nicole Chikwe and Obinna Udora

Obinna Udora and Kemen Fitness

Titi Olatunji

Obinna Udora

Edache Obe and Jane Micheal Ekanem

Cross-section of participants at the fitness programme.. recently

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

FAIRGROUND

Cambridge Weight Plan Advocates Weight Loss

W

eight loss expert and Managing Director, Cambridge Weight Plan West Africa, Mrs. Eniola Karunwi has advised individuals who suffer from certain health conditions to consider weight loss and better weight management.

Studies show that being overweight leads to imbalances in an individual’s hormones, which can affect overall health ranging from issues like infertility, to improper insulin levels, low metabolism, reduced sexual drive, irregular body temperature, abnormal sleep cycles, reduced appetites and other health related issues. Studies show that hormones are the most powerful chemical messengers in the body and balanced hormones is important for good health.

Speaking on the importance of losing weight to ensure better health, Chief Executive Officer, Cambridge Weight Plan West Africa, Mrs. Eniola Karunwi said, “It is often said that health is wealth and that is because without good health it is difficult to function in almost every area of life. It is therefore important that we pursue activities that will enhance good health. Sadly, many people do not recognise that excess weight affects the way body organs function and instead blame it on stress and other factors. Without good health, an individual will be unhappy, spend huge amounts on treatments, and can even become depressed. An effective weight loss and management plan is needed to achieve balanced hormones and consequently, overall good health”.

“Cambridge weight plan is an

L-R: Andy Jones, Head of Export, Cambridge Weight Plan; Eniola Karunwi, CEO, Cambridge Weight Plan, West Africa and Nabila Mohammed, Consultant (Kano), Cambridge Weight Plan

effective solution to losing weight and maintaining it. Not only would it improve hormonal balance, it will also aid the proper functioning of other vital organs in the body.

Following a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis and engaging

in other healthy activities can go a long way towards improving an individual’s health”, Mrs. Karunwi added.

The Cambridge Weight Plan is a safe, low calorie diet plan, and an effective weight management

and lifestyle plan that fosters a healthy living. The plan consists of meal replacement shakes, soups, porridges and snack bars, which contain the daily nutritional requirement, whilst rapidly helping you burn fat.

Okechukwu Nwafor Opens Security Outfit

C

oncerned about the state of insecurity in the country, top businessman Okechukwu Nwafor has taken the challenge of contributing his quota in dealing with the menace.

The U.S. based high –wired gentleman has opened an ultra - modern security outfit; Lion Watch Security in the heart of Surulere, Lagos.

Asked why he decided to go into the security line of business, he said: “There are many reasons why I set up this company. First, my family is based in the United States of America. Occasionally when I talk to my friends or my mother’s friends and ask them why they are not going home, you get the same response that it is not safe back home. Some of them are also scared of investing in Nigeria because they are not sure of their safety.

The main reason why I decided to open this company is what I experienced myself with my mother’s family.

I came from a medical family and my mother’s family members have mansions in Nigeria. Last time we went back home, they had to put my grandmother in a hotel. I was surprised and wondered what the essence of owning mansions all over the place in Enugu, Awka, in the village and wherever else is if one cannot enjoy them.

It boils down to the same thing safety. The fear is that if one could

get access to their mother, she could be kidnapped and the demand for ransom would follow among other unimaginable trauma to the victim.

We do not need that in this country.

However, I still encourage Nigerians to come home and stay in places like Lagos or Abuja. Nobody knows them in those places. For someone to kidnap you it has to be from the inside. Kidnapping occurs most times within your circle.

I opened this company to bring back trust so that people can come to Nigeria without fear of their safety. Nigeria is a good country but we need to work on some areas like safety.”

Nwafor who boasts about his well-trained personnel aside his hitech gadgets and equipment hinted about the importance of the use of technology in modern security business. He says: “Based on my experience in the U.S, I have learnt that we need technology.

We need software that enables us know what is going on at any given point or at any situation.

We also need to work with local enforcement agencies to make our work easier. We just cannot do it alone. We need their co-operation.

The need of technology cannot be over emphasised. For instance, the pipelines need modern technology for effective surveillance among other sensitive infrastructure.

In all, it is team work. If government should assist us, the country will be safe for everyone.”

Okechukwu Nwafor

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t"13*- , 2019

AUTO

All new Changan CS75 SUV

Changan Motors Affirms Brand Success, Unveils Premium CS75 SUVLine-up Stories by Bennett Oghifo

C

hangan Motors Nigeria, last week, unveiled one of its most celebrated sport utility vehicles, the CS75, reaffirming the accomplishment of the brand, which was officially introduced three

years ago.

Riding on the heels of the CS35, the Changan brand may have finally come to stay, having won the confidence of SUV enthusiasts in Nigeria.

Changan Motors Nigeria Head, Sales and Marketing Vijay Sengar who gave this hint at a media preview of the vehicle in Lagos said the company is delighted that the brand has validated the quality, aesthetics and sturdiness of Changan line of automobiles, barely three years after it was introduced in Nigeria.

Also adding that the vehicle is assembled in Nigeria by Nigerians, Mr. Sengar said the CS75

is competitively priced to dare segment leaders including B-segment SUVs - Hyundai Tucson, GS4, Nissan Qashqai and the likes.

Nicely and aggressively designed, the Changan CS75 crossover demonstrates the aura of an imposing SUV with the trappings of opulence, set apart by ample room, comfort, smooth ride, useful kits and striking ambience.

Manufactured by Changan Automobile, one of China’s leading automobile manufacturers, with extensive investment in advanced research and innovative technologies, the Changan CS75 brings to bare the company’s 157-year experience in manufacturing.

The urban-styled and functionally imbued CS75, no doubt, stands head-to-shoulder with renowned marquees, wielding a characteristically front-end and chunky single-slat grille that assertively profiles the company’s name to effortlessly grab the attention of vehicle enthusiasts.

The rear end of this SUV similarly gets a dis-

tinguishing tailgate spoiler and a diffuser that exhibits a sporty character; incorporating Light Emitting Diodes (LED) taillights with brushed aluminum trim on the front and rear bumpers as well as agreeable chrome-plated elements and electroplated exterior trim pieces.

There is though a hint of the Range Rover, its Chinese makers are quick to say: “It is our aspiration to become a global top-10 manufacturer within five years,” and they don’t seem to be leaving any stone unturned to accomplish this objective.

Exhaustive profile Hop into this 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine SUV and you will be amazed how Changan had mated the 58 litres fuel-tank capacity aspirated turbocharged Blue Core powertrain to an AISIN 6-speed automatic transmission, which churns out 130 horsepower and 230Nm of torque @ 220rpm in an estimated fuel-efficiency of 8.1 litres per 100km.

Lagos Motor Fair Organisers Check on Mobil Preparedness

T

he organisers of the annual Lagos InternationalMotorFairandAutoparts Expo Nigeria have paid courtesy call on officials of Mobil Nigeria to gauge their preparedness for the upcoming fair,holdingfromMay7-12,2018atthe Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The organisers said the fair would rev activities in the nation’s auto sector and that the objective was to showcasethecapacitiesandpotentialsofthisimportant sector of the economy.

AccordingtotheManagingDirectorBKGExhibitions Limited, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, who is also the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the event, the seemingly intractable lull in the sector is taking a lot of shine out of the industry making it difficult for stakeholderstoshowcasetheabundantopportunities and offers in the sector.

The days of the fair are loaded with activities and events that would make this edition remarkably rewarding to the exhibitors, visitors and other stakeholders, said Agwu.

“It is no longer news that the automotive sector in Nigeria is passing through rough and tough times what should be on every stakeholders’ mind is how do we unite to combat the killing challenges one of which is using the platform of this key event to bring the sector into the front burner of economic discuss in the country,” he said.

Re-emphasising the importance of the event Agwu said that using the campaign of “One Expo; Continental Spread” the event aims at showcasing the importance of the Nigerian market as the hub of automotive business in Sub-Sahara Africa; and one that is highly rewarding for investments. We are going to add more pep to promoting the spare parts sub-sector.Thisisinformedbythedeterminationofthe Organizerstochampionthedevelopmentandthriving

L-R: FES Manager, Mobil Nigeria, Mr. Steve Ezendiokwere; Head Marketing, BKG Exhibitions, Miss Franca Igwe; Organising Committee Chairman of the 14th Lagos Motor fair/MD BKG Exhibitions, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu; Managing Director, Mobil Nigeria, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji; Distributor Business Manager, Mobil Nigeria, Mr Seun Oke; and Field Marketing Advisor, Mobil Nigeria, Mr. Abiodun Fagbuaro, during Lagos Motor Fair team’s courtesy call on Mobil in Lagos… recently of autoparts sub-sector as leeway to fast-tracking the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry. “In this edition as we have been doing for sometimes now we will champion the autoparts section to seeing to making Nigeria become the hub of the business in Africa. We want to make it a strong point of real taking off of a realizable auto policy.”

TheChairmanoftheOrganisingCommitteeadvised the Federal Government to focus more on spare parts manufacturing in place of assembling. Spare parts is theplacewheretherealtechnologytransfertakesplace.

It involves precision and proper planning more than

the coupling that takes place in assembling. This will give rise to establishing of more Original Equipment Manufacturers and increase employment”. He said that there should be a review of the ongoing auto policy to make it achieve the desired ends.

Thesectorisveryimportantasitshowsphysicallythe state of the economy and it generates much revenue and creates enormous employment. No serious government toys with it. Auto sector was one of the key sectors that received bailout from theAmerican governmentduringthelastglobaleconomicmeltdown and it helped to revamp the economy.

‘Why We Named Ambode Transport Governor of the Year’ The organisers of the annual Nigeria Transport Awards, Lecture and Exhibition, have given reasons why the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was chosen as the Transport Governor of the Year 2018.

According to a statement made available to Transport Day newspaper, organisers of the event, say the Governor was selected based on his achievements in the transport sector.

Editor of Transport Day newspaper, Mr. Frank Kintum stated that the governor was nominated “based on his outstanding achievements in transport infrastructure development, especially in Computerised Vehicle Inspection Services, LASTMA reforms, modern bus terminals, Improved Water Transport System and Modern Road Network Development in Lagos state in the last four years”.

The event holds on April 18, 2019.

Aside the Governor, the Group Managing Director of NAHCO Aviance Plc, Mrs. Olatokunbo Adenike Fagbemi; Global Convener/chairperson of Women in Logistics and Transport of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Nigeria, Hajia Aisha Ali Ibrahim; General Manager of Mandilas Motors, Kemi Koyejo, Director Engineer, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Engr. Salisu Daura, as well as the Managing Director of LAMATA, Engr. Abiodun Dabiri are some of the others to be honoured.

Others are the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria; Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Jelani Aliu; among others.

Aside, the awards, the President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uche Messiah Olowu, is to lead other participants in the discussion which brings together industry stakeholders and players in the finance sector.

According to the Chairman of the organizing committee, Mr. Frank Kintum, the theme of this year’s event is is-“Financing the Transport/Allied Industry: Stock Taking and Paving the Way Forward.”

Kintum, stated that the need to review the level of financing the transport industry gets and to discuss a better way forward, made the topic very important.

He said “the transport industry is very important in the scheme of things in the country and we need to be concerned about how it is financed, as well as proffer solutions for a better approach”.

The organisers added that the event has been divided into two sessions, with the morning session hosting the talk shop and discussions, while the night session will be an awards and review night.

It would be recalled that contemporary issues had also been discussed in the past editions by prominent personalities like the Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), then Managing Directors of Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t"13*- , 2019

39

AUTO

Mercedes-Benz Reports March Sales of 27,004 Units Stories by Bennett Oghifo ercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported March sales of 27,004 Mercedes- Benz models. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported March sales of 3,533 units and smart reported 90 units, bringing MBUSA to a grand total of 30,627 vehicles for the month.

A statement by the automaker said on a yearto-date basis, MBUSA recorded sales of 71,171, adding 7,476 units for Vans and 231 vehicles for smart, bringing the year-to-date sales volume to 78,878.

Mercedes-Benz volume leaders in March included the GLC, C-Class and E-Class model lines. The GLC took the lead at 6,282, followed

by C-Class sales of 5,514. The E-Class rounded out the top three with 3,712 units sold.

March sales of Mercedes-AMG high-performance models totaled 3,435 units (+27.4%) with 9,684 vehicles sold year-to-date (+27.1%).

Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified PreOwned (MBCPO) models recorded sales of 10,560 vehicles in March, an increase of 0.1% when compared to the same month last year (10,554). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 30,365 vehicles, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year (29,741).

“While demand for our SUV lineup and new A-Class remains strong, we’re still in the rampup phase of our launch,” said Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of MBUSA. “We expect to further fuel momentum with the upcoming launches of our highly anticipated new models 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe in the months ahead.”

M

Meet new Public Relations Team of JLR SA, SSA

J

aguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa is pleased to announce new additions to its PR team with Baxolile Msomi becoming the new Communications and PR Manager, and Tina Pienaar-Smit announced as the new PR and Sponsorship Specialist. The changes became effective from April 1.

Tina Pienaar-Smit has been a proud Jaguar Land Rover employee as Sponsorship Manager for nearly 11 years, and in that time has been instrumental in leading numerous projects including sponsorships for the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb, Springbok and Stormers Rugby, two Rugby World Cup campaigns in 2011 and 2015, the Absa Cape Epic and the award-winning Two Icons Tour.

Tina will take over the day-to-day Public Relations operations from Izak Louw, who will return to his other passion, Product and Pricing after making a tremendous contribution to the PR team in the last year.

Izak has put his extensive product

T

knowledge to use with swift responses to technical queries, regular media liaisons and successful media launches of the Jaguar E-PACE and I-PACE. Izak has been a key component of the communications team as Jaguar Land Rover embarks on an exciting new era of electrification, with his efforts helping to pave the way for the roll out of current and future technologies for both brands.

Tina is looking forward to continuing the relationships Izak has built.

Any regular media queries, proposals or big ideas previously fieldeold by Izak can now be directed toward Tina.

Baxolile Msomi has worked in the motor industry for six years and has been with Jaguar Land Rover as Communications Manager since 2015. Baxolile will now be responsible for the strategic direction of brand communication as well as Public Relations for Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa, reporting to Lisa Mallett, Marketing Director.

Land Rover line-up

What to Know About Convoy 2

oday, I wish to focus on two of the most important roles in a convoyLEAD and car2 –The leads job in a convoy is the hardest while car 2 is referred to as the aggressor. I told you the lead is the most important because the Lead maintains the convoy speed and integrity navigate to the destination, look far enough ahead to anticipate how the group will proceed, watch/listen for the group sequencing and spacing, assess changing conditions, and make decisions for the entire group. Lead sets the tone of the group: will the convoy be smooth sailing or a roller coaster, will it be slow and steady will depend on the Lead. Car 2 is what I call the aggressor. He’s the one to brake check the left lane hog, clears the way for the convoy, annoys the highway pedestrians to get out of our way and blocks traffic at a stop sign so we can proceed as a group. Depending on the size of the group and the route thru town, two or more aggressors may be needed. BEWARE and never ASSUME. Team work. You either drive like Arsenal against Man United football club or Arsenal against Rennes’.

Your guess is as good as mine the success of a convoy depends on two things-the driver of the lead vehicle knowing where he is going and the driver of each car staying without fail, with the car behind; not the car in front. Before I dwell deeply on the focus for today, Let me equally state here that even where this two vital conditions prevail, a third and determining variable within the context of the present discourse in our clime depends

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 solely on the principal or what can be referred to as the VIP. The examples of the VIPs cited last week shows that the decency or otherwise of a convoy is directly related to the attitude of the Principal, meaning that no matter the anxiety of the convoy drivers to disregard laid down rules, the disposition of the Principal finally counts. Permit me to share this material I sourced on convoy driving. Since success of a convoy depend on the driver of the lead car knowing where he is going and the driver of each car staying, WITHOUT FAIL, with the car BEHIND; NOT the car in front, we need to dwell further on this.

What this means is that each driver, starting with the lead car, drives in such a way that they never lose visual contact, for any significant period, with the car following.

The driver should not attempt to stay with the car in front under any circumstance. His responsibility and allegiance is with the car BEHIND. Keep the car behind you in sight, if it is not, then STOP in

a safe place as soon as possible. The speed of the convoy is important. If all the cars went real slow, this stretching and shrinking might not be too bad.

If they went real fast, things might get out of hand.

And, there are always road conditions, traffic lights, stop signs, and other traffic to worry about. So, the first car should adjust speed according to what’s going on. On a 4-lane, speed up. On a dusty road with no wind blowing, slow way down. After a stop sign, or after a traffic light or after a turn, slow way down until “tail-end Charlie” reports being by the point of change.

You should drive at a speed and in such a way that the car behind you stays in contact. This is the Fundamental Rule of Convoy driving.

You must Drive at a speed that you can comfortably maintain. If all goes to plan, the actual speed of the convoy should be set by the slowest car. If you find you are pulling away from the car behind, slow down slightly to allow them maintain visual contact. Conversely, if the car behind you closes the gap, and you are able and willing to raise the speed slightly, do so until you have re-established a reasonable gap between the cars.

You must not close up on the car in front unless the car behind has closed up on you! Try and maintain a constant speed, try not to keep speeding up and slowing down. The effect is accentuated as you pass down the convoy. There is no set distance between cars in a convoy; it will depend on speed, road conditions and line of sight. On main roads, the distance can be quite large allowing other vehicles to overtake easily; on country routes the gap should

be reduced to aid visual contact but still allow space for other traffic to overtake. In town, the gap should be as small as possible. This aids visual contact and maximizes the number of cars that can pass through traffic lights during each sequence. If you’re driving in the convoy, there are some things to pay attention to, also--such as the plate number and color of the car you are behind.

Your distance behind the car in front should be as constant as you can make it. For safety reasons, you should observe the “2-second” rule--never be closer than 2 seconds behind (count “one thousand one, one thousand two”). If you see a car behind that isn’t in the convoy and wants to pass, open up your spacing so they won’t feel that they have to pass several cars at once. That way, they probably won’t tailgate you. Do you remember the old saying “Monkey see, monkey do”? That should be you in a convoy. If the car leading you shows brake lights, step on your brakes. If it shows a turn signal, turn on your signal. If it changes lanes, you change lanes. If it speeds up or slows down, you do the same.

If it pulls to the shoulder, you do too. Every car in a convoy should travel with headlights on.

That we you know who’s part of the convoy, and everyone else knows you’re part of it too.

You can also flash your lights to alert the driver in front of you if you need to slow down, pull over, or stop. When in convoy, all cars must adhere to road rules & regulations. Stop when the light is red. Overtaking is not allowed! Stick to your position from start to the end. Always remember the car in front and at the back of you. Convoy driving is the collective responsibility of all actors (drivers) on the fleet.

40

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 6, 2019

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

41

42

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

43

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State and chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs Bolanle Ambode (m); supported by wife of the Governor-elect, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu (2ndright); COWLSO project team and MD. Lagos Island Maternity, Dr. Ademuyiwa Eniayewun (r), to cut the tape of handing-over, during the inspection and handing-over of 32 neo-natal Incubators and six birthing suites, to General Hospitals in the state, by COWLSO as part of it’s annual health intervention project for 2019, at Lagos Island Maternity, on Tuesday... recently

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Warp Nigeria Limited, Umar Bagudu Kaoje, receiving an award of recognition from President, Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria, CAPDAN, Ahmed Ojikutu; Assistant Manager,Sales Division, Brother, Mohammed Noor and Managing Director of Skysat,Izzat Debs, during Brother’s forum with dealers and products launch in Lagos ... yesterday

‘Naturally Tribal Launches N500bn Beauty Sector’ Amid expectations and huge economic gains, a Skincare brand, ‘Naturally Tribal’, has established its footprint in the Nigerian beauty industry.

The brand unveiled a range of specific skin care products made for different skin types.

At the launch, which held at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lagos, stakeholders in the beauty sector including Spa owners, beauty therapists, make- up artistes as well as retail operators, Nollywood artistes, captains of industry and diplomats, all gathered to grace the event and shared their

experience with the products that had earlier been on a test run before the launch.

Speaking of the products, founder of the brand , Shallom Lloyd, revealed that all products from the stable of Naturally Tribal, were simply natural as the name of the brand implies.

The pharmacist and scientist also hinted that products from the platform boast local ingredients such as Shea butter, coconut oil, bitter kola, kolanut and millet amongst others, and were sourced locally in Esan kingdom and in Niger State.

“The skin is the largest organ of

the body, hence, it’s important we watch what we apply on our skin just like the food we eat.This is why it is advisable to use natural, chemical free skin care products, which is what we are bringing on board. In this clime, we associate beauty with lighter skin, hence, the popularity of bleaching cream that damages the skin, which sometimes, the effects are irreversible.

But you can equally brighten your skin with nature,”she explained.

Lloyd stated that the idea to venture into skin care arose from her personal experience when her son was down with severe eczema that eventually cleared away with

Group Marks 25th Anniversary, Seeks Improved Health Service The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Mushin Zone, has asked the federal government to improve on healthcare delivery by creating an enabling environment for the masses to access medical service.

The association made this call at an award and dinner ceremony to commemorate its 25th anniversary in Lagos.

Speaking during the programme, retired Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health , Dr. Adetoun Davies implored doctors to engage more on community service to enhance health education.

She equally tasked doctors to take good

care of themselves, even as they take care of their patients.

Speaking further, State Chairman of AGPMPN, Dr. Tunji Akintade, advised doctors to think outside the box.

He said: “You need to move beyond the practice and engage in the business of medicine.

Apart from your professional practice, you need business knowledge to excel in the business of medicine”, he said.

Part of the activities lined up to mark the association’s silver jubilee was a medical outreach extended to Mushin community.

The essence of this according to the President of the association, Mr Popoola Fatai, was

Total Restates Committment to Youth Development Total Nigeria Plc has graduated beneficiaries of its Skills Acquisition Program,SAP, in Koko, Delta State.

SAP is a sustainable youth development scheme , initiated by Total Nigeria,to ensure less privileged youths of its host communities are trained in vocations of their choice.

The vocations range from welding & fabrication, furniture making, hair dressing & makeup artistry, fashion & designing, fish farming and computer studies,amongst others.

The program has since inception saw to the empowerment of 149 people throughout different districts, 59 of which came from Koko community.

According to the Managing Director of Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Imrane Barry, the program was introduced in Koko community in 2006.

He stated that the initiative was part of the company’s committment to improve lives and alleviate poverty in the country.

He said, “This form of economic empowerment enables our beneficiaries to not only provide for themselves, but also employ others as their businesses grow, leading to a positive economic effect on their community.

“I encourage you to continue to believe in your abilities and strength to become achievers in your different vocations. As a responsible corporate company, we acknowledge the critical role that youth empowerment and community development play in the life of a nation,” he said.

The 2018 batch of beneficiaries, who recently concluded their one-year training, received their starter packs in a grand ceremony in their honor, hosted by the company, at its lubricant blending plant in Koko.

They also got a robust collection of professionbased items that would enable them start a viable small and medium scale business immediately, including a shop with a two-year prepaid rent.

to raise awareness on the need for regular medical checkup.

The outreach, which took place at Area D Police Command in Mushin, recorded huge participation from residents in the area including, traders and police officers.

Speaking during the outreach, Fatai stated that initiative like this was important once in a while, especially as many people get too busy for medical check-up.

He said: “The outreach covered health screening, consultation, counselling as well as free drugs for ailment. We believe this would help in catering for those who can’t access medical service due to financial limitations.

Shea butter treatment.

“So, I decided we can improve on the substance without tampering with its contents. Our Range is for men,women and children.

Women’s range is called Iya, which means women in Yoruba; men’s own is called Agu, men in ibo and the children’s range ,Yara, which means children in Hausa.We took the Wazobia approach to pay homage to Nigeria, the source.”

Representative of Naturally Tribal in Nigeria added that the entrant of the company into the Nigerian beauty space gives the country an edge in the beauty market globally.

She said: “what we do is take natural products from Nigeria, refine them, add value and sell them to the world. This showcases Nigeria as a country where you can get all kinds of products.

Since Independence, what we have been doing is to sell primary and agriculture products, now we are taking the primary, processing it and also adding value, therefore, encouraging farmers and creating employment.”

Country partner of the brand and Chief Executive Officer of Compass Global, Tokunbo Chiedu, said the multiple award winning company is exceptional, healthy and scientific.

She added that the products range have been widely tested and received with positive feedback.

Guinness Extends CSR Gesture to Kebbi Community Guinness Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo, has partnered WaterAid Commission, to provide solar powered water facility to the people of D’ka community in Wasagu Local Government of Kebbi State.

The gesture, which is part of the company’s Water of Life’ project, was aimed at ensuring that over 2500 residents of the community enjoyed sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

Guinness Nigeria and WaterAid Nigeria were able to deliver the project in a partnership deal with the Kebbi State Government, through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA .

Speaking on the project, Territory Manager Sokoto/Kebbi, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Demmo Ibrahim, stated that the exercise would also quicken the realisation of United Nations Sustainable development Goal ,SDG, 6 to provide clean water and sanitation.

“As part of the company’s commitment to the communities in which we source, make or sell, we have established several water schemes under the Diageo Africa Water of Life programme, a project that provides access to clean, drinking water and socio-economic development.

“We believe that water is a basic human right and our commitment remains unwavering in ensuring that people in underserved communities continue to have access to clean water,” he assured.

Co-ordinator Strategic Partnership and Grant Management of WaterAid,Gerald Ogoko, reiterated the firm’s committment to proper sanitation.

“Equity and inclusion is a fundamental guiding principle in our efforts to deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. We are therefore excited at the opportunity to be part of the commissioning of this water facility, provided to the people of D’Ka community, with support from Diageo Plc,” he said.

44

˜ ˞ APRIL 6, 2019

PERSPECTIVE Deepening Electoral Culture in Nigeria via Healthy Political Processes and Systems Richard Emmanuel analytically posits that the 2019 elections draw similarity with that of 1999 due to voter participation

“A

n election is not by itself sufficient to institutionalise democracy. A strong civil society, ongoing peace building initiatives, protection of human rights, and trans-parent and effective governance are essential�. This was the advice given by President Jimmy Carter and his observation team after the conduct of the 1999 election in Nigeria. Since that 1999 election, there are many questions begging for answers. For instance, to what extent has the political class ensured that elections in Nigeria are peaceful or the rights of the citizens are protected and ultimately, how transparent and effective have governments at all levels been to positively engender the quality of lives in the country following electoral processes? Subsequent elections were supposedly expected to provide the answers.

Given to that, events in the country have shown that the Nigerian state and its po-litical class are only satisfied with conducting elections only. To the political class, once elections are conducted, no matter how flawed, with rigging and violence, seem less concerned in as much as it favours their whims and caprices.

It does not matter to this class of people the cost of conducting such elections (in human and financial terms) and the performance of the elected governments at state and federal levels and to some extent the local government level which appears non-existence.

The results of the 2019 elections – federal and state – as observed have shown that people are getting fed up with our democracy system. There is gradual but steady reduction in people’s interest in our elections. In a country where governments’ performance is abysmal at all levels, things can only get worse. Even members of the political class could be heard complaining about voter apathy in this year’s elections. As the results have shown, the election has produced the lowest turnout since 1999. Let us use what we consider the most important election in Nigeria - the presidential election - for this analysis.

In the 1999 presidential election, 1 in 2 registered voters voted. That is 51.5% of the 57,938,945 registered.

In 2003, 2 in 3 registered voters voted. That is 64.9%.

This election is still the highest we have attained in all our elections in Nigeria. In 2007, it came down to about 6 in 10 registered voters. That is 57.5%. The turnout success achieved in 2003 started its downward slope in 2007 and went further back in 2011 by 5.5%. In the 2011 election, 52% turnout was attained.

This figure reduced again by about 10% in the next election conducted in 2015 to 4 in 10 registered voters (41.5%). However, our election witnessed its lowest turnout in 2019 when 1 in 3 registered voters voted validly. That is about a third of registered voters. Not even the 1979 election had such a low turnout. In 1979, 35.3% of 47,700,000 registered voters voted. The 1983 witnessed an even higher turnout of 52.3%. Therefore, this year’s elections have been disappointing in terms of voter turnout.

Although there are lots of political movements within the polity, there is low inter-est in voting now among Nigerians. Below is the graphical representation of Nige-ria’s presidential election results since 1999. The chart below shows our election results trends.

Yakubu...INEC Chairman

Fig. 1: Presidential election trends 1999-2019

The graph shows the presidential election trends since 1999, using the valid votes only. In 1999, 29,848,441 voted validly. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was declared winner having polled 62.78% of the total votes cast. In 2003, number of voters rose to 39,480,489 and remained the highest votes cast in Nigeria’s democracy. Again, Chief Obasanjo won by recording 61.9% of these votes. But there was a slight blip in the 2007 election outcomes with about four million less. In 2007, 35, 397,517 valid votes were recorded with late president Umar Yar’Adua getting 69.6% of the votes.

The 2011 election won by former president Goodluck Jonathan was the closest, in term of voter turnout, to 2003 election. The election recorded three million more votes than the previous one with 38,209,978. Since then, our election outcomes have been moving on a downward slope. In 2015 when General Muhammadu Buhari won for the first time, 28,587,564 people validly voted. This is about four million less and in 2019, the votes dipped further by about a million.

The 2019 election followed a similar pattern since 1999 where two big political parties always slug it out for the top position in the land. This year, there are 91 registered political parties and 73 of them participated in the election. Although some presidential candidates and their parties adopted some of their competitors, and Dr. Obi Ezekwesili particularly announced her withdrawal from the race shortly before the election day, it was a decision too little too late for such undecided candidates and their parties INEC still included them in the ballot paper. This number exceeded that of 2015 where only 14 parties fielded candidates.

More than in any other election in Nigeria, INEC registered 82, 344, 107 eligible voters for the 2019 election.

It previously registered 68,833,476. That is 13,510,631 new eligible voters. This is an increase of 16.5%. Rather than translat-ing to higher voter turnout, it produced a reduction to the degree that those who voted in this year’s election were not even up to those who voted in 1999, when the nation returned to civil rule after many years of military interregna. Let us examine voter registration trends since 1999.

Fig. 2: Registered voter trends 1999-2019

As the second graph shows, as more and more people registered to vote, the less and less the number of those who will be willing to vote.

Since 1999, the number of eligible voters that were registered has witnessed upward trends, except in 2015 when the voting system was changed to full biometric registration. That reduced the number of registered voters to 68,833,476 from 73,528,040. It then increased to 82,344,107 in 2019.

This is an established case of dwindling voter’s interest. It has been called voter apathy. Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Lagos in the just concluded election even attributed his loss to it. Nigerian voters are enthusiasm for our elections. A number of reasons could be adduced to it. Violence, poor performance of governments at all levels, shrinking political space, sequence of election, complex electoral process, monetisation of election, attitude of politicians, personalities of the contestants, etc. are some of the reasons for the voter apathy.

However, the apathy was more pronounced in some areas than others. It also af-fected one party than the other. Further breakdown of the 2019 results shows that the apathy was only in the South. The South did not win new voter in 2019. Rather, the region lost 2,532,557 (Two million, five hundred and thirty two thousand, five hundred and fifty seven) old voters who voted in 2015 but chose to stay away from the polling booths. On the other hand, the North was able to win 1,152,430 new voters. The people who did not vote in 2019 in the South voted in 2015 but due to a combination of factors, some of which were highlighted above, chose to stay away. Among those who stayed away, most of them were in the South South region (1,813,249), followed

by South East (498,898) and South West (220,410). In the North, only North West region lost 82, 188 old voters.

North East and North Central gained 909,724 and 324,894 news voters respectively. The contest between APC and PDP was even more interesting. PDP lost more voters than the ruling party due to the fact that the South South which lost most of its old voters was the region where it was most popular. The region had been largely loyal to PDP. As a result, PDP lost 2,481,493 old voters in 2019.

APC won 632,806 out of this number while 35,438 went to other parties. PDP also lost 771,421 old voters in South East and lost 44,746 in South West. For the regions that produced the President (North West) and his Vice (South West), APC lost more old voters than the opposition party.

For instance, APC lost 1,119,548 old voters in North West to PDP (940,756) and other parties (96,604). The remaining 82,188 did not come out to vote. In Katsina State where the President hails from, APC lost 113,308 old voters to PDP and the opposition party was able to win some of them. In South West, APC lost 396,743 people who voted for it in 2015. In Ogun State, the Vice President’s state, APC lost 26,528 old voters to other parties.

In Lagos, the home of the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC lost 211,635 old voters. PDP gained new voters in all the states of North East region where the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar hails from more than what APC gained.

PDP won many new voters in Adamawa State. The same cannot be said of Peter Obi as PDP lost old voters in all the South East states.

In conclusion, there is need for all stakeholders, particularly the ruling class, to build confidence into our elections by addressing some major inhibitors. After all, democracy is defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. –––Richard Adeyinka Emmanuel is CEO, DataHome Research and Communications Ltd.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

45

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Blessing Uzzi Everything Around Me Inspires Me, Everything I Hear is Film RIO Doing Music Professionally Has Always Been My Passion pg. 47

Jim Iyke, Beverly Naya, Develop Steamy ‘Cold Feet’

pg. 48

46

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Everything Around Me Inspires Me, Everything I Hear is Film Blessing is a film maker, producer and director. Her works are of excellent quality, good repute, distinguished style and a lot more. This makes her exceptional from the lot. She talks to Tosin Clegg about Nollywood, how she started, the works she has done, upcoming projects and more I grew up in Abuja mainly, then, moved from Aba ’m the last born in a family of eight. My parents are business people. I grew up in Abuja mainly. I got admission to study International Relations in Eastern Mediterranean University Cyprus, and graduated with a first class.

people wouldn’t regularly talk about.

I

My ultimate goal as a producer I want to see that I tell a story in my mind and that I told it well. That I directed it well. Nothing makes me happy like when my work comes out the way I visualised it or planned it. I like excellent work, I want to make films that will make people cry, laugh, think etc, all sorts of emotions and I want to change life and the society with my films.

I never thought I would be a film maker I have long grown past some Childhood dreams and some I still have. I have always loved media, especially film making and always wondered how films are made, but didn’t think I will be a film maker. I had interest in politics and I still do, funny enough, but more towards maybe using my film to tell political stories or running for office one day. This is also why I studied international relations. The other dream I had was to be a scientist, because as a child, I loved the idea of Mars, Pluto, the earth etc and how they came about. So, I thought I was going to be a scientist and discover things.

Deficiency in the production industry People are really struggling in this industry. Film makers are doing their best, most films are self-sponsored.

There is little or no support and for me Nollywood has grown, we are not there yet but we are on our way. Incredible works are in Nollywood this year. I must say I’m proud of what Nollywood has achieved and little by little, we will get better and better. You all need to be patient and support Nollywood.

Having the right team to deliver A great team is so important. Also Finance is a major problem for most film makers here. The struggle is so much for a lot of people. More support is definitely needed. I still struggle with some of these things. Lol, like now I need money to make this musical.

Production started in school First with organising music shows, and I realised I was particular about my visuals from every show I did and then I learnt photography and even took a course in it in school. I later became a part time photographer with a Kenyan photographer Fredrick Leica, who was my friend and also taught me a lot. I was convinced because I knew I wanted to tell stories, I loved great visuals and I wanted to tell stories differently, from Africa to the world.

Eccentric Media makes films I registered ‘Eccentric Media’ fully last year. Just as the name implies, its eccentric, it is different. It’s just a company that makes film, we tell stories differently, both in quality, in story telling capacity and in talking about things that affect humanity. The vision of Eccentric Media is to use storytelling or film to change the world. Hence, we highlight the problems via visuals and provide solutions using films too as a tool. So, it’s a media company with a difference, telling amazing stories and changing the world one at a time.

I faced a bit of challenge with registration, the back and forth was too much and so was the challenge of getting the right team to work with.

My first film was Island of Happiness Island of Happiness, a movie directed

by Onyeka Nwelue was the first film I produced. He offered me an opportunity to produce it and I jumped at it.

The film speaks on the travails of the Oguta people, the frustration faced by the youths and crime etc. Afterwards, I made a short film on Lagos traffic called Flux, then a documentary on Ozuitem, my hometown, focused on their water challenge and lack of access road. I

I have worked with Cobhams Asuquo, Ty Bello and more They are really amazing people to work with. They gave me a chance and you don’t get such an opportunity every day. I’m grateful to them. I’m also looking forward to attending or winning awards at the Tiff, Oscars, Cannes, Sundace, Amaa, AMVCA etc. When it comes, I will keep doing my best to achieve bigger and better things. We’ll keep pushing and growing.

went on to make another documentary called the Beggars Plight, centered on beggars in Lagos; a very touching documentary. I have also directed music videos such as Starlight by Cobhams Asuquo, and Mo Benjamin’s Sink or Swim. The experience was beautiful and I enjoy shooting.

My series on domestic abuse on men I have heard so many stories of abuse from people and it seems very rampant now and experienced by many women and men. So, I thought, why not do a story about it, this is something people are going through,

so let’s talk about it, let’s learn from each other. It may be a documentary series or a short film series.

I’m working on a feature film and it’s a musical It may be the very first musical in Nigeria. You have never seen anything like that before. We are already working on the music for the film. They are all original songs. Everything around me inspires me, also my beliefs, and people’s stories. Everything I hear is a film to me, I think of how I can adapt it to TV. I’m passionate about meaningful things about life, topics that affect people and sometimes too sensitive topics that

What makes my works exceptional from others?

It is my work ethics, my quality and interest in details. I consider every aspect of film important, from sound to so many other things. Everything matters.

I’m able to tell great stories and to use little to achieve much. I’m interested in telling stories on Politics, musical drama, family, love etc. I’m passionate about them, and for some, I have experience with musicals.

I see us going global, taking Nollywood to the world I’m more of a director than a producer. I do both sometimes, so if I’m to answer the questions on what can be done for the industry I would say just support them to make more films, enabling environment, laws to protect their film, build cinemas, access to funds etc., and so much more. And I see my company making lots of great films, me directing really great movies and us changing the narrative in Nigeria, taking African stories to the world.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

47

SHOWBIZFLAIR

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

MY STORY

Gists UCHE ODOH REVEALS RECENT PROJECT Ace filmaker, Uche Odoh has revealed her latest project, a web series titled ‘Life as It Is’. ‘Life as It Is’ focuses on the life of a Naïve young lady ‘Nara’ who moves out of the house of her over-bearing mother, Mrs. Nkechi to spend time with her Aunty, Jumoke.

The web series takes us through Nara’s ordeal with work, relationship and basically life as it is.

The web series stars casts such as Shalewa Ashafa, Linda Osifo, Chike Osebuka, Shawn Faqua, Lateef Adedimeji, Adebukola Oladipupo, Bassey Ekpenyong, Uche Nwaefuna, Uche Mac-Auley, Christian Paul and many more.

Uche Odoh, popularly known as Visuals by Uche, while speaking on the new project said: “It basically tells many of our real life struggles as individuals who are trying to navigate through the hurdles of life. It’s totally relatable.

I’m pretty sure many people have experienced one or more of what we have projected here.

I am so proud of the work we have done here and I am thankful to all the cast, crew members and everyone who contributed one way or another to the success of this series. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we did creating it.”

RIO

Doing Music Professionally Has Always Been My Passion Rapheal Oshionebo, popularly known as RIO is a musician who has undoubtedly built a name for himself and the industry, standing on excellence and great vibes. He talks to Tosin Clegg about his journey, career so far, new music and more

SINACH HOSTS ‘EFFULGENCE’ FEATURING RENOWNED GOSPEL MUSIC MINISTERS Celebrated gospel music power, Sinach, under her GosGEM initiative, held a music symposium for selected people who desire to go into gospel music. The three hours long session had speakers who discussed with hopefuls about their experience and knowledge of the music ministry, music production and music business/branding.

GosGEM is an initiative started by Sinach to harness the gifts of talented Christian artistes around the world, by providing a platform where they can be mentored by very successful Christian singers and also taught by professionals in the music industry.

She had a house packed full of musical geniuses who took seats to be speakers during the three-part symposium from Grammy Award winning producer, Danny Duncan to Panam Percy Paul, who is regarded as the father of gospel music in Nigeria, to Eben, Chioma Jesus, Joe Praize, Ty Bello, Frank Edwards, Nathaniel Bassey, Peeyuu, Obiwon, Sammie Okposo, Music Magnate and a few more.

Undoubtedly, several Christian music hopefuls went home packed, filled with insights, and knowledge of what to expect in the industry, how to have God lead their works and doing more to ensure they come out as successful as the forerunners who have done so much ahead of them.

BUDDING RETAIL PERFUMER, CHIKA AJOMIWE TALKS ABOUT HER ROAD TO SUCCESS Chika is a Business Administration graduate who has taken her knowledge into the craft she has found appealing and worthy of service for her. On how it started, she said, “So one day I was on Instagram and I came across this page where they sell perfume oils. I found out the woman engaged in wholesale and I bought and started re-selling and my price was really affordable. That’s how I started.”

The Chikadibia is the name of her brand and she is doing so well pushing her business online and making a daily growth of the success she is working towards.

Her work ethics and style has earned her a good reputation, making her sought after and in demand for her excellence in customer services and quality products.

She regards her products as top-notch and wishes she was even a customer too. She said: “A lot of people in this business dilute their oils with different things but I don’t do that. My oils are undiluted, raw and last long. You can ask my customers to confirm.

I advise my customers on fragrances that suit them, when they get confused I recommend for them, not because I want to sell, but to make sure they are satisfied.

I give my wholesalers tips and tricks on how to make sales and I also pray for them that they excel always. I mean there is space for everyone!”

H

ow did the journey start?

I started my musical journey as a young kid growing up in Edo State. I had always known I would do this and even while in the university, I had always known I was going to do music professionally. Little wonder I got signed on by a record label immediately after I graduated from

the University.

What kind of music do you do?

I focus on the genres of music that inspire me and bring out the best of my musical abilities which are Afro beat, Hip Hop, R&B and Reggae. I acknowledge the likes of Fela, Wizkid and Tuface as those that have largely influenced me musically over the years.

Tell us about gaining more grounds in the industry?

I started out my music career signing a three year contract with the record label, SS Sounds. This was where I developed my vocal prowess and further harnessed my musical artistry. After leaving the record label, I delved a bit into real estate business, which was quite short-lived, as I soon went back to doing music professionally which had always been my passion and forte.

What should we be expecting from your stable soon?

I’m coming out with a bang and plans are in place to drop my new single. It’s been so much work putting this together and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.

48

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Movie director Moses Inwang, Beverly Naya, Enyinna Nwigwe, and Joselyn Dumas on set of the movie

Jim Iyke, Beverly Naya, Develop Steamy ‘Cold Feet’ All the elements of the upcoming movie ‘Cold Feet’, as seen in the teaser suggest topnotch, with some steamy sex scenes to it. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

I

ts first official teaser got one thinking if the movie had already been released, seeing the beautiful Beverly Naya in tears as she walks out on her lover Enyinna Nwigwe who seems to have cheated on her with Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas, wife to Jim Iyke in the movie Cold Feet. Nwigwe’s acting career remarkably appears to be on the rise. And for the BritishNigerian actress Beverly Naya’s delivery is always a take home.

All the elements portrayed in the teaser suggest a topnotch movie. The dialogue, location, characters, picture (HD 4K/2K format) quality and yes, the soundtrack by Smith Oludare and theme songs from Mr. P of PSquare, Ice Prince and Morien-

tez.

The Cold Feet story goes thus: a combined celebration of her birthday and their wedding anniversary leads the beautiful and enchanting Omoye (Joselyn Dumas) and her loving husband Mayowa (Jim Iyke), an ex-army colonel, to a weekend getaway at a beautiful resort in Uyo, Nigeria.

All seems great until Omoye runs into a familiar face, the charming young man Tare, (Enyinna Nwigwe) who is at the resort with his girlfriend Teni (Beverly Naya), with the intention to propose to her there. Sparks from an encounter five years ago between the two begins to fly, old feelings begin to get rekindled, Tare is once again swept away by Omoye’s sexual charm and the connec-

tion they shared when they met.

His intended proposal to his girlfriend suffers cold feet as he begins to play with fire by openly chasing the ex-colonel’s wife Omoye.

Omoye was sure she could easily shrug off Tare’s advances and her desires towards her.

She was wrong. Other stars in the thrilling romantic drama include Caroline Danjuma, Segun Arinze, Padita Agu, Femi Adebayo Salami. Adebayo won in the category of Best Yoruba Movie in 2018 AMVCAs, and has continued to cement himself as an actor versatile enough to act in English and Yoruba movies. Cold Feet is being touted the “most anticipated movie of 2019”. Co-produced by Darlington Anyiam-Osigwe, Cold Feet was shot in Uyo and Lagos.

Written by Diche Enunwan and Temitope Akinbode, the 100 minutes feature is coming to the cinemas on the wheels of FilmOne distribution.

According to the movie director Moses Inwang, the trailer drops on Wednesday April 10. While the movie is scheduled for release on May 17. “Expect an explosive action packed drama movie,” Inwang revealed. Speaking about the upcoming movie in a telephone chat with this writer, the award winning director said, “Expect the best performances from the actors, especially Jim Iyke.

Remember we shaved his hair to make him bald in the movie.”

It’s on record Jim Iyke has played every role out there – lover boy, Casanova, criminal, fraudster, cheating husband.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

49

SHOWBIZFLAIR Jim Iyke, Beverly Naya, Develop Steamy ‘Cold Feet’

Expect the best performances from the actors, especially Jim Iyke.

Remember we shaved his hair to make him bald in the movie

Caroline Danjuma

Jjim iyke and Joselyn Dumas

Beverly Naya

Critically, his Nollywood footprint is largely type casted but in ‘Cold Feet’ a totally different character.

Inwang’s 2017 award-winning movie, Alter Ego, which starred Omotola Jalade and Wale Ojo won the director the Best Screenplay Award at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA), aside being the most talked about movie that year.

He has got ‘Crazy People’, which was his last movie shot in 2018. Alter Ego also clinched the award for The Most Outstanding Film at the Africa International Film Festival AFRIFF. It also won Moses Inwang the Best Director award at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival. It was given the best international film award at The Peoples Film Festival NY. The prolific film director, editor, screenwriter and producer, with a career spanning over a decade and half, got his first movie credit in 1998 when he co-produced Two Good Men. In 2004, he started his production company Sneeze Films and kicked off with the movie Save My Soul. In 2008, he directed the movie, Lost Maiden, a film which brought the issue of female circumcision to the fore of social discussion.

He also made Save Our Souls, an educative movie about cancer. He also directed and co-produced Damage in 2011, a film which addressed the issue of domestic violence, receiving multiple awards and award nominations.

The psychological thriller Torn, which he produced in 2012 and which was released in cinemas nationwide in 2013, earned him and most of the actors who

starred in it a lot of award nominations and recognition. In 2012, his film Damage earned Inwang the nomination for best director at the African Oscars held in Florida USA, while the film won the award for Best Film at the African Oscars Awards. In 2013, he won the City People Award for Best Director. His 2013 film Torn received nine nominations at the GIAMA awards in Houston, Texas and six nominations at the Best Of Nollywood Awards.

In 2014 he went on record as the first Director in Nollywood to receive two nominations as best director at the Nollywood Movies Awards. His movie, The Last 3 Digits was nominated for best comedy at the African Movie Academy Awards AMAA in 2015 and was also chosen amongst the few selected Nollywood films that were screened to thousands of people at the Nollywood Week Paris. His movie Stalker, a romantic drama which premiered in Nigeria on 26 February 2016, received 10 nominations and won 3 awards at the 2015 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards in the United States.

In 2015 Stalker, another film written, produced and directed

by Moses Inwang, raked in a 12 nominations at the GIAMA awards Houston and won awards for Best Actor, Best actress and Best Film categories.

Still in 2015, Stalker won the award for “Best International Film at the New York film Festival.

In 2016, his film, American Driver, from his production company Sneeze Films received a best international film award at The Peoples Film Festival, Harlem New York.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

50

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Timi Dakolo, Busola, Radiant Singer Timi Dakolo and wife, Busola, are still basking in the euphoria of their 7th wedding anniversary. In a post shared on his Instagram page, Timi cherished the mother of his three children for agreeing to marry him seven years ago. Timi and Busola also released an official family photograph last Sunday.

Dakolo wrote: “Thank you for agreeing to marry me o, today made it 7years. I

know it is not easy. I know somethings I dey do dey tire you but abeg manage me like that, na ya I grow..now you see why when you were shouting for better for worse I was just smiling (cos I know who I be). Anyway, we just start work, we have couple of forevers to go. I love you so tey I dey tell myself Timi Dakolo calm down..e too much but I no dey. FIT.#happyanniver sary#weddinganniversary #yardpeople�.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019

52

9ice’s ‘Wahala Dey’ Rocking Airwaves Ferdinand Ekechukwu

9

ice’s video to his new song ‘Wahala Dey’ is gathering momentum. The video directed

by Unlimited L.A. is enjoying good airtime on music television stations across the country. It is a follow up to his recent song ‘Mercy’ as the singer/entertainer (real name, Abolore Akande) never relents in giving out good vibes. The Alapomeji Ancestral Records head honcho, 9ice, won the award for Best Hip Hop Artiste at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2008.

After recording his first demo, 9ice joined the group Mysterious Boys, with whom he did a couple of tracks before going on to form his own, now defunct, group, Abinibi. Having recorded his first demo, titled Risi De Alagbaja, in 1996, and his first solo song, ‘Little Money’ in 2000, 9ice had to wait until 2005 before gaining recognition in the Nigerian music market.

The first major break for 9ice came from his first single, “Little Money”. Soon after this, he did collaborations with different Nigerian artistes that prompted the release of another hit single, ‘Ganja Man’. ID Cabasa produced this single, which was released with other songs in March 2006.

The reggae tone and playful style of the song made it an instant hit.

9ice’s first album did well, and included the songs Little Money, Ganja Man, Make Dem Talk and Music Daddy. ‘Gongo Aso’, his second album released 2008, included songs covering success, originality, partying and women, as well as themes on the institution of marriage and gratitude.

He has eight studio albums to his name which includes; Certificate (2007), Tradition (2009), Versus (2011) Bashorun Gaan (2011), Deluxe Version Versus & Bashorun Gaa (2011), CNN/GRA (2014), ID Cabasa (2016) and G.O.A.T (2018). 9ice is known for his use of the Yoruba language in his music, and he sometimes mixes Yoruba proverbs with English, Pidgin English, Hausa and Igbo.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

53

NEWS

Don Seeks All-inclusive EfďŹ cient, Sustainable Financial Reporting System Chika Amanze-Nwachuku A professor of Accounting at Babcock University, Prof. Ishola Akintoye has said that the current financial reporting system was inadequate to address the strategic earning of corporate and individual entities. This according to him is because sustainability accounting was yet to be incorporated in the current financial reporting.

Delivering the university’s 28th inaugural lecture, with the theme, ‘Accounting: A Mismanaged Concept Requiring Urgent Re-Definition’, Akintoye noted that the efficiency of sustainable accounting report would impact greatly on sustainable financial report.

The university don stated that the past conceptual framework for the definition of Accounting “cannot be adequate in driving accounting in the contemporary times and in the future.�

According to him, “If efforts are not made for an urgent redefinition of Accounting, the entire accounting building which is currently cracking will sink beyond redemption.�

Akintoye disclosed that he and a team of Accounting experts were developing a new Accounting Model named ‘Sustainability Accounting’ which goes beyond the current assumption of stability and growth, to bring in economic, environmental and social factors.

Furthermore, he said that the team of experts were leveraging on the Global Sustainability Index which had been developed for countries of the world to provide direction for government, private sectors and individuals as targets for all activities to be achieved in 2030.

According to Akintoye, the sustainable development targets were 17 and they include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequality, sustainable cities and communities. Others include responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace and justice, and strong institutions partnership all of which are required to achieve this goal.

He asserted that an efficient sustainable financial report would enhance decision-making of the total stakeholders and guarantee the going concern of the business as well as the society in general.

The university don therefore recommended that the federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission must include in the Accounting Curriculum at every level of education, the subject of strategic accounting and sustainability

TRADING IDEAS...

L-R:Vice President ,Yemi Osinbajo and former British Prime Minister ,Tony Blair at a private audience at the Aso Rock PresidentialVilla...yesterday

accounting; that the practice of Accounting must demonstrate and emphasise driving the future rather than short or medium term in the private and public

sector of any economy if long term sustainability would be actualised; the need to include human and environmental assets in the venture capital in business

commencement and in evaluation of the strength and weakness of a company; government in all countries should insist through their local regulatory agencies

that environmental cost and human capital be revealed in the statement of financial position of all corporate entities for public consumption.

Another North-east Group Backs Goje’s Senate Presidency Bid

Presidential Poll: Tribunal Orders Substituted Service of PDM’s Petition on Buhari

Onyebuchi Ezigbo iĂ˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Alex Enunah iĂ˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

As jostle for the leadership positions in ninth edition of the National Assembly gets more intriguing, a North-east political interest group, the North-east Progressive Youth Forum (NPYF) has rallied support for Senator Danjuma Goje to emerge as Senate President.

It said that the former Gombe State governor was best suited to pilot the affairs of the incoming 9th Senate as Senate President.

The leader of NPYF, Rimam Tsokwa who addressed a press conference in Abuja, said the position of the Senate President required a good, incontrovertible democrat with passion and vision to serve for the benefit of the general public.

“It is not in doubt that, such office should be occupied by someone whose track records speak volume of experience to influence reconcile and create synergy between the legislature and the executive arms of government,� he said.

He said NPYF was supporting Senator Goje because of his wealth of experience which was second to none among the contenders of the Senate President in the 9th Senate.

According to the leader of the group, “Goje is humble, fearless, pragmatic, passionate and a true democrat to the core. “We the members of the North-east Progressive Youth Forum and also stakeholders in the affairs of our zone are throwing our weight of support

Court Orders INEC to Release Lagos Reps Election Result Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Justice Bello Kawu of an Abuja High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to immediately declare the result of the February 23, 2019 National Assembly election for the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos.

Justice Kawu gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1252/19 brought before him by one Hon. Rita Orji and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The judge in addition barred INEC from conducting a re-run poll for the constituency until the results already announced at the various polling units and collated alongside

the result of the Presidential poll are declared in accordance with the extant provision of section 69 and 71 of the Electoral Act 2010.

Justice Kawu held that any attempt by the electoral umpire to go ahead with the planned re-run election in the constituency without first declaring the already collated election results will over-reach the two applicants and other contestants for the House of Representatives seat for the constituency.

Respondents in the suit are, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, Mr. Adeshola Adelaja and Mr. Ulocha Nnabugwu Oscar.

to Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje to be the Senate President of the 9th Senate having considered the credentials of all the contestants. “He is a leader with PanNigerian outlook, having served as a Minister under the Obasanjo’s 1999 regime, a period when our infant democracy needs people who could help lay a solid foundation, he was nominated and confirmed to serve because of his intellectual capacity to deliver.�

Tsokwa further said that Goje had proven by his style of leadership as a two term governor of Gombe State, who was able to transform the state from a rural state to the most amiable urban state in the North-east.

A political party, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) yesterday got the nod of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to serve its petition challenging the outcome of the presidential election on President Muhammadu Buhari through his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal Abuja, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, gave the permission to the PDM in a ruling on an exparte application brought before the Tribunal by the petitioners.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on February 27 declared Buhari as winner of the February 23 presidential election having won majority of the lawful votes

cast at the poll.

However, four presidential candidates and their parties, including the PDM have filed separate petitions citing widespread rigging, violence, suppression of voters among other electoral malpractices as grounds for the nullification of the election of Buhari and the APC. The PDM and its presidential candidate, Aminchi Have, however having filed their petition dated March 19, 2019, on Friday in an exparte application prayed the Court of Appeal in Abuja, for an order of the court to serve their petition on President Buhari and the APC through substituted service.

The exparte application, according to the counsel to the petitioners, Aliyu Lemu,

followed the inability to effect personal service of the petition and other processes on the President because of security and protocols surrounding his office.

Justice Aboki, in his ruling, said, “We have carefully considered the exparte application, the affidavit in support as well as the accompanying written address and we have resolved that it will be in the interest of justice if the application is granted.�

He consequently, ordered that the petition and other processes of the Tribunal should be served on President Buhari through the office of the National Legal Adviser of the APC National Headquarters, 40 Blantyre Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wise II, Abuja.

Lawyers Condemn Kogi House I Cannot Give Contracts Beyond Resolution to Remove Chief Judge May 29, Shettima Assures Bennett Oghifo

A civil society and prodemocracy group, Federation of Lawyers in Active Democracy (FLAD), has decried a resolution passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly on Monday demanding the removal of the state’s Chief Judge, Hon Justice Nasir Ajana from office.

The group accused the state Governor, Yahaya Bello of being behind the travails of the Chief Judge, and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to immediately call him to order.

The group, in a statement released yesterday by its

President, Arome Husseini in Abuja, condemned the resolution which they dismissed as “null and void and of no effect whatsoever�.

They said it was another instance of the governor’s intolerance of democratic institutions, the separation of power and the checks and balances guaranteed by the constitution.

The statement said the I999 Constitution, as amended, Section 271(1) 292(1) (ii) (a) and the third Schedule paragraph 21 part 1 of the same constitution, which provided for the removal of a Chief Judge of a state was totally ignored by the House of Assembly.

Michael Olugbode Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has told Indian firms that he cannot give them contracts beyond his tenure which terminate on May 29, 2019.

The governor, speaking on Thursday in New Delhi, India, to representatives of firms who wanted contract that may take them up to six months to execute, said he would not award new contracts for any long term supplies that would extend beyond his tenure of office.

He said going into any long term agreement would amount to trapping and assuming

the powers of the incoming Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.

He told the business community that he came to India mainly for the purpose of meeting medical equipment manufacturers to negotiate discounts and take immediate delivery of hundreds of light weight diagnostic equipment needed as daily components of high tech medical equipment that had already been imported and being installed in 18 General Hospitals, which have been overhauled, expanded and upgraded and seven newly built General Hospitals in different parts of Borno State.

54

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

NEWSXTRA

DPR Raises the Alarm over Depot Owners Sourcing Products from Illegal Refineries Sylvester Idowu ÓØ ËÜÜÓ

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has raised the alarm over alleged connivance of some depot owners in sourcing petroleum products from illegal oil refineries scattered across the Niger Delta region.

Warri Zonal Controller of DPR, Mr. Antai Asuquo, who raised the alarm yesterday said there was an ongoing investigation by his department on alleged connivance of some depot owners with persons to purchase illegally refined products from the creeks.

He warned that anyone caught with a confirmed evidence would

have his or her operating license revoked in line with the government policy, adding, “We should be careful of the “3rd parties” that may want to influence us to accept adulterated products into our facilities. It is very tempting.

It can ruin our huge investment.

Mr. Asuquo, who spoke during the 2019 Annual General Meeting between DPR and the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association (DAPPMA) in Warri, said “Investigation going on right now says clearly that some depot owners are into sharp practices, they are conniving with people that burn products in the creeks.

“Any depot caught with

APIN to Launch Book on Success of its HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiatives To underscore its success in the fight against HIV/AIDS and contributions to public health in Nigeria, the APIN Public Health Initiatives, a non-governmental organisation which began as a project of Harvard School of Public Health, committed to fighting the HIV/AIDS scourge in Nigeria, will hold a public presentation of its new book, Turning the Tide: AIDS in Nigeria.

The book documents its success in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria in the last 13 years.

The event which would have the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as Special Guest, would hold on Thursday April 11, 2018 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, the federal capital.

Speaking to newsmen at a pre-event media briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Dr. Prosper Okonkwo, said the book presentation was not just a major milestone in the history of the organisation but a demonstration of its success in its mandate to stem the tide of HIV/ AIDS scourge in the country.

He explained that the book presentation was coming after the release of the National AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey, NAIIS, by President Muhammadu Buhari last month. The report showed that the AIDS prevalence index had dropped from 3.1 in 100 to 1.4 in 100. Okonkwo said the HIV/AIDS scourge had evolved from state of denial to quality and comprehensive treatment and prevention.

“The HIV/AIDS response in Nigeria has evolved from a stage of denial and complacency, through the establishment and implementation of multi-sectoral response, to the current state of scale-up of quality comprehensive prevention, care and treatment programs for infected and affected persons in Nigeria,” Okonkwo said.

He added that the gains of this enhanced and focused HIV/AIDS programing were evidenced in the recently released reports of the last National AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS), which showed marked reduction in both prevalence and burden of HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria.

FG, States to Commit More Funds in Universal Health Coverage Kingsley Nwezeh ÓØ ÌßÔË

Federal government yesterday expressed its determination to work with state governments with a view to committing more funds to the health sector in order to provide quality healthcare services aimed at achieving universal health coverage.

The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, spoke in Abuja while delivering the inaugural lecture to the participants of Senior Executive Course No. 41 (2019), National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

The minister said that the greatest challenge of the Nigerian health system was out of pocket expenditure which government was exploring other sources of revenue to address.

“For us to accelerate progress on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) federal and state governments would need to invest more significantly in health because of limited government and pooled health financing, health spending was dominated by out-of-pocket expenditure.

“As a result, this spending accounts for about 75 per cent of total health expenditure,

among the highest in the world and 25 per cent of households spend more than 10 per cent of their household consumption on health a sign that more people were prone to poverty traps if they fall ill,” he said.

Speaking on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as an avenue for healthcare service at minimal cost, the minister said the NHIS coverage was predominantly limited to workers in the formal sector.

He said it was not optimally designed to provide adequate financial risk protection to the poorest and sickest households.

The minister further explained that another source of concern in health expenditure was that most health spending was at the federal level even though state and local governments were in charge of Primary Health Care (PHC) services.

“According to the latest national health statistics, 67%, 26%, and 7% of government health spending took place at the federal, state, and local levels respectively in 2016, as a result, PHCs frequently lack basic amenities, equipment, and drugs which severely undermining service delivery and efforts to improve health outcomes”.

confirmed evidence that they indulge in that practice, their licenses will be withdrawn, I am not suggesting, this is government policy,” he said.

Asuquo said the aim of the meeting was to reappraise the performance of the operators in the last one year and how to sustain the success.

The meeting, according to him, was also to brainstorm on how to strengthen the existing mutual relationship and understanding between the regulatory agency and the operators which had led to value addition in the petroleum business, storage and transportation over the years.

The controller urged the people to leverage on the modern technology to optimise their operations and maximise the economy of scale inherrent in the petroleum business.

“Technology is revolving fast and it is those on top of their game in terms of working with the most recent advancement that will have an edge in the business.

We need to get the knowledge and spirit on our personnel to sustain our business so that we can remain relevant, we need to continuously expose ourselves to the new technology that will take us to the next decades, “ he said.

Asuquo advised them to always carry out periodic calibration of the measuring instruments for accuracy under the direct supervision of the officials of DPR and also advised them to have their floating rule safety device intact noting that they were dealing with highly inflammable products.

“Tanks that are older than 10 years should be calibrated every five years while those below 10 years should be calibrated every two years because they are exposed to all manner of weather,” he said.

Asuquo urged the people

David Malpass Emerges New World Bank President Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Executive Directors of the World Bank yesterday unanimously selected David Malpass as the new President of the World Bank Group for a five-year term, beginning on Tuesday, April 9.

In a press release published on its website yesterday, the World Bank said Malpass appointment followed a transparent nomination process where any national of the Bank’s membership could be proposed by any Executive Director or Governor.

The World Bank President is Chair of the Boards of Directors of the

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The President is also ex-officio Chair of the Boards of Directors of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Malpass previously served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for the U.S. As Under Secretary, Malpass represented the United States in international settings, including the G-7 and

G-20 Deputy Finance Ministerial, World Bank-IMF Spring and Annual Meetings of the World Bank.

He also played a role in several major World Bank Group reforms and initiatives. He was also instrumental in advancing the Debt Transparency Initiative, adopted by the World Bank and IMF, to increase public disclosure of debt and thereby reducing the frequency and severity of debt crises.

Prior to becoming Under Secretary, Malpass was an international economist and founder of a macroeconomics research firm based in New York City.

to be safety cautious at all time and manage traffic in their areas of operations in the interest of their business and the host communities.

He warned the depot owners against selling petroleum product above the government approved ex-depot price of N133.28k per litre and also lifting products to unregistered companies for easy monitoring.

Also speaking, Mr. Victor Ojiakor, Team Leader, Operations, DPR, Warri, said that plan was underway to introduce the use of automated machines to clean tanks as against the present method being used by the operators.

Ojiakor also said the regulators had seasoned engineers that monitored the petroleum products in the depot.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADENIRAN MODINAT ADENIKE , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS HAMMED MODINAT ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as RIDWAN FUHAD ABOLAJI, now wish to be known and addressed as BUHARI FUHAD ABOLAJI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as RACHEAL

TEMILADE

OGUTUGA,

now wish to be known and addressed RACHEAL HACHINKARU as TEMILADE SOLOMON ABEL EKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. IWUCHUKWU GLORIA U. now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NWANGELE GLORIA UCHECHI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SAIDI OLASUNKANMI OYEJUWO. now wish to be known and addressed as OYEDIRAN SAHEED OLASUNKANMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as TEDEJIRI MATHIAS OKPARUME. now wish to be known and addressed as MATHIAS IGHO OKPARUMEA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OGAZI OBANIHE PRINCESS. now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PRINCESS COLIN OGAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ERHAZE ANASTASIA HANNA. now wish to be known and addressed as TEPIKOR ANASTASIA HANNAH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as TAIWO OSAGUONA ELAHO, now wish to be known and addressed as AWOLUYI OSAGUONA TAIWO. My correct date of birth is 17, March 1950 instead of 17, March 1948. All former documents remain valid.The general public should take note.

55

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

NEWSXTRA

Cybercrime: NCC to Introduce Internet Industry Code of Practice Bassey Inyang ÓØ ËÖËÌËÜ

Apparently worried over the increase in cybercrime, and the abuse of the internet space in the country, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has started a process to introduce what it describes as Internet Industry Code of Practice.

The NCC which is the regulatory authority in the nation’s telecommunications industry said that the successful operation of the policy would curb the increasing spate of cybercrime and would also protect the rights of the child, individual privacy

in the cyber space and a host of others.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made the disclosure during the NCC 103rd edition of the Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) held in Calabar, Cross River State.

Danbatta who was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, said: “Realising that liberalisation of the telecoms industry has led to an unprecedented increase in the usage and dependence on internet-based solutions and

services, the Nigerian Communication Commission has initiated a process to establish an Internet Industry Code of Practice for Internet Service providers in the country.

“The Internet Code is a regulatory intervention that will not only help to secure the country’s cyberspace against imminent threats from cyber attackers but also address such issues as online protection, privacy and data protection, objectionable content, among others.”

Danbatta said as much as the NCC was doing a lot to protect, secure, and sanitise the cyberspace, every subscriber to

internet space should contribute their quota for the attainment of the set goals.

“Let me emphasise at this juncture that while the regulatory intervention and other initiatives are ongoing to sanitise Internet space, telecoms consumers, must play their role.”

He said that the theme of the consumer outreach programme, ‘Mitigating Effects of Cybercrimes: The Roles of Telecom Consumers’, was as a measure carefully selected to educate and inform consumers of telecommunications service first; on the increasing tide of cybercrime in its various forms,

and the dangers posed by cybercrime; and the roles individual consumers are expected to play in curbing the activities of cyber criminals.

Presenting the lead paper on the roles of consumers in mitigating the effects of cybercrime, the Head, Consumer Protection/Advocacy, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ayanbanji Ojo, advised that it was important for consumers to seek useful information on aspects that have to do with cybercrime, such as “types of crimes, mode of operation and how to report internet criminals to appropriate authorities.”

Ojo said it was also necessary for telecommunications services consumers to be proactive, by reporting suspected cyber criminals and their activities to the police, and other members of the nation’s security community.

“Consumers should protect their devices from loss as they can become tools in the hands of cyber criminals who often steal them,” adding that “because such theft are inevitable, consumers should always report loss of device to service providers, NCC or the Police so that the lost device can be deactivated,”Ojo said.

GOtv Expands Local Content Offering to Subscribers in Jos, Kaduna

FOR INCLUSIVE ACCOUNTING...

A professor of Accounting at Babcock University, Prof. Ishola Rufus Akintoye being congratulated by immediate past President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Prof. James Kayode Makinde, and current President/ Vice Chancellor, Professor Adeola Stephen Tayo, at the university’s 28th inaugural lecture…recently

UNICEF Partners Delta to Tackle High Maternal, Newborn Deaths

Omon-Julius Onabu ÓØ ÝËÌË

The Delta State Government has expressed determination to halt the high incidence of maternal and newborn deaths in the state with the launch of the Delta State Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance And Response (MPDSR) Report 2017-2018, a policy document aimed at addressing the situation.

Delivering a keynote address at a ceremony organised by the state government in collaboration with UNICEF and support of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, charged healthcare givers at all levels to give vent to the initiative by placing emphasis on saving lives above all other considerations.

Dr. Ononye noted that the inaugurated policy document was really work in progress as the state through the Health Ministry was already working towards the attainment of stated objective as the policy was actually shaped by information and data gathered from the field, including tertiary, secondary and primary healthcare facilities across the state.

The Health Commissioner said, ‘’What we need to do is to strengthen the process. Deaths and

births are being recorded, and even deaths are now being reviewed to track the cause. ‘’We must all arise to the responsibility of saving lives. This is a call to action, so everyone of us must do the needful. Government is improving funding to the health sector, and the government will hold us accountable for our actions and inaction in the discharge of our responsibilities as healthcare providers.’’

Nevertheless, Dr. Ononye assured that an executive bill which would make confidential report of all maternal and newborn mortality mandatory was underway, adding that it would go a long way in addressing the challenge when passed into law. ‘’The draft MPDSR Bill, which provides the legal framework for MPDSR Process and makes mandatory the reporting of All Maternal and Perinatal Death in Delta State will soon be sent as an Executive Bill to the state House of Assembly,’’ he said.

The UNICEF Health Specialist, UNICEF Rivers Field Office, Dr. Abe Eghe, in a goodwill message, stressed that the disturbing indices of maternal and newborn deaths due medical challenges were unacceptable to the extent that they undermine the fundamental

human right of the child to life.

He said that launch of the state’s annual MPDSR report underscored ‘’the grave situation of mothers and newborns dying during child birth or immediately after birth.’’

The UNICEF health specialist noted that ‘’every year an estimated 2.5 million newborns die globally with another 2.6 million stillborn.

In Delta State three (03) out of 10 (28%) newborn babies due yearly after delivery (according to MICS 2016/2017 survey) and 449 pregnant women would die during pregnancy or childbirth, according to Delta Health Development Performance Report 2013.’’

Dr. Eghe asserted, ‘’The foregoing negates the fundamental human right of the child to survival and health as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by the Nigerian Government in 1991. ‘’The only panacea to this scourge is, therefore, to find out how many deaths are occurring, why the deaths are occurring and the extenuating circumstances militating against proper and adequate response, which constitute the major objective of the MPDSR programme.’’

While commending the Delta State Government ‘’for some strides that have been made in improving

outcomes for mothers and their newborns. This report would, therefore, afford us an opportunity to have a story behind every death that occurs so as to fashion out adequate interventions and guide policy directions for implementation of identified interventions. ‘’It is clear that hemorrhage is very high in the cause of deaths.

And our recommendation is that they should improve their blood transfusion policy. The next one is the MPDSR Bill, there is a draft bill right now before the Ministry of Justice because it is an executive bill. And, we are talking about fast tracking that bill, and I am happy that the government has agreed because if that bill is passed into law, it makes it mandatory and compulsory for death to be reported. It also makes the work of the MPDSR committee easier because when deaths are reported, you are able to review the deaths. ‘’When it is reviewed, you are able to know why the mothers and babies are dying, and when you know why, it helps in bringing out interventions that will reduce those deaths, which is what UNICEF and other bodies are after. It is part of the ‘Every Child Alive Global Programme’, and what we aim to achieve is to reduce preventable deaths.”

Digital Terrestrial Television service provider, GOtv, has announced the addition of nine new local channels to its subscribers in Jos and Kaduna from Sunday, 7 April and Thursday, 11 April respectively.

The channels will be available to subscribers on GOtv Max and Plus packages. The channels to be added are Spice TV, MiTV, WAP TV, ITV Benin, BISCON, Liberty TV, Tiwan Tiwan, R2TV and Rave.

Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, said the additional local channels to subscribers in northern Nigeria is in line with the company’s commitment to promoting Nigeria’s heritage, through making diverse cultural content available across its platforms.

“One of our value propositions is to ensure that we have a varied range of local channels that cut across different genres for a more wholesome viewing experience for our customers. These channels offer originally produced programmes that cater to the different tastes and preferences of our customers.

We are also excited to offer these channels as part of our efforts in enabling Nigeria achieve a speedy

digital switch over,” he said.

Ugbe also stated that no digital terrestrial television operator in Nigeria has shown more commitment and support for local content made in Africa for Africans than GOtv. GOtv currently has over 20 local channels across different genres, including news, movies and general entertainment on its Max package. With over 100 hours of new programming monthly, showcasing the latest trends, major international fashion shows, designer events and professional highlights of the fashion industry, Spice TV (channel 10) offers the most comprehensive and fastest review of fashion and lifestyle shows.

MiTV (channel 94) broadcasts an array of entertainment programmes, news, family, business, music, sports, education, health and development issues from across the country, while WAP TV (channel 102) is a top-quality family entertainment from the stable of Wale Adenuga Productions of the SuperStory fame and other esteemed TV content producers across Nigeria.

Group Tasks Anambra Assembly on Passage of Sickle Cell Bill David-Chyddy Eleke ÓØ áÕË

Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD) has tasked the Anambra State House of Assembly, over the passage of the sickle cell bill in the state.

The group’s coordinator, Mrs. Aisha Edwards who spoke to THISDAY in an exclusive interview said that the discrimination meted out to people living with sickle cell disorder had reached an alarming stage, hence the need to pass the bill.

Edwards called for the passage of the sickle cell bill, which she said was still lying in the Anambra State House of Assembly despite having gone through the first, and second reading, and also being subjected to public hearing.

She said, “We are calling on Governor Obiano to assist us in giving a voice for the passage of that bill. Our people are being subjected to too much torturous treatments by members of the society, hospitals and even our parents who bequeathed us this condition.

“You do not know the exploitation our members go through in the hands of care givers in the hospital. They use us to make

money, and it is almost as if they are happy that we are in this condition.”

She said the passage of the sickle cell bill would help its members not to be discriminated against, and to also find jobs like other able bodied people, instead of depending perpetually on others, just because they had sickle cell, despite having gone to school like others.

Edwards said, “The bill will also criminalise wedding people without making sure that they are compatible, genotype-wise, and also make it compulsory for traditional rulers to ensure that they demand for test results from credible hospitals before wedding people traditionally.

“This will reduce the risk of people getting married when they are not compatible, and bringing forth children to the world to suffer. That is why we are fighting for it.”

She urged members of the Anambra State House of Assembly to consider passing the bill, while also assuring that it was getting prepared to use some lawmakers from Anambra State to launch the bill in the National Assembly.

Saturday, April 6, 2019

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Marafa to Yari “Yari has offended God for insisting that the APC conducted party primaries in the state. He should ask God to forgive him for misleading the people of the state on the issue.”

– Senator Kabiru Marafa, chastising Governor Abdul’azeez Yari for insisting that the APC conducted primaries in Zamfara State.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

And My Idol Died (By Popular Demand) (I wrote this article the very night MICHAEL JACKSON died and wept throughout the typing... My wife looked on in wonderment... I rate it as one of my top three articles in 40 years... Now that Michael Jackson is back in the news, more for bad reasons than good, many people have requested me to intervene on behalf of one of my known heroes of all time. I have nothing more to add or subtract from what I scripted on Thursday, June 25, 2009, which was published on this very page on June 27, 2009... Please, enjoy, or just read, and form your opinion...)

G

od, please forgive me, for claiming publicly that I worshipped an idol. Truth is I did. I worshipped Michael Jackson. I hated anyone who ever passed snide remarks about this greatest showman on earth. Strangely, I never met my idol. He was a god I accepted in good faith. A god I would have loved to meet.

But I kept faith with his music, and was privileged to have met some of his siblings.

There was nothing I did not try to meet him. I always knew it was only a matter of time before the relentless vicissitudes of life would take its final toll on this extremely frail but prodigiously talented artiste.

Michael was supposed to be the peak of success but he was the limit of sadness.

His fame eclipsed that of all his siblings combined. He was the very epitome of achievement. No artiste in history had generated as much controversy in one lifetime. Like the quintessential dancer that he was, Michael waltzed from one crisis to the other. He was the true example that the world may pretend to love success, but the world actually hates success. Every imaginary story was conjured, or concocted, around this stupendously famous man.

He packed more than the activities of a thousand years into the 50 years he lived on earth. The world is allowed a glimpse of such demigods once in a blue moon.

Michael was a deviant in all ways. He defied the laws of gravity and motion. He was a spirit child, and he acted the part perfectly.

He was bound to go the way he came, with a bang. It was impossible for him to go with a mere whimper.

In his time, most things he touched turned into gold. He became as popular as the Coca-Cola bottle. He was known everywhere and was more popular than most world presidents. In our school, every music group mimicked Michael Jackson.

At the then University of Ife, one young man became famous on campus for his dexterous performance of Michael Jackson in “Beat it”. He is the same Femi Elufowoju who’s currently doing Nigeria proud as an actor in the elite theater of London’s West End. Michael was every child’s ultimate idol. Even for those of us who grew up in rural settings, and had no television sets at home, we knew this boy who danced better

Jackson

than James Brown. His name resonated like Iraqi bombs, exploding beyond boundaries.

This was the main cause of his problems.

Success breeds more sorrow than joy. There is the intrusion of privacy. The financial demands of trying to put up an appearance. The envy of peers, and the subject of sibling rivalries.

It was impossible to ignore Michael, whether you hated or loved him. To describe him as an icon was an understatement. Everything around him was big news. He was never going to live a normal life, like you and I. He was sentenced to his own prison, and would never be able to break free.

Michael lived in a society where the policy was everyone for himself and God for us all. He was a lonely child. He started life too early. And fame and fortune beyond imagination chased him. He was haunted by both. They became his albatross. He had to wear a mask to go out. He was said to have experimented with all manner of weird disguises. He earned the acronym, Wacko Jacko. He was easy prey for both genuine and counterfeit extortionists. They found all manner of excuses to take his money, and practically took him to the cleaners.

Michael lived and was sustained on maximum hype. He regularly reinvented both his person and his career. From being an innocent Black kid, he transfigured into a white ghost, who became whiter than snow. It was speculated that the record labels that made incredible fortunes off him had encouraged him to engage in bleaching away his blackness, a terrible habit that would later become an incurable obsession. It probably worked initially. But it soon became a tragic flaw in his persona.

Those who wanted any reason to detest him found perfect grounds for merciless assaults.

He was insulted and abused. His unusual love for children was another sore point. He was called a child molester. Who knows?

Neither you nor I were eye-witnesses. Such stories abound about newsmakers everywhere.

As a devotee, we accepted him warts and all. He was human after-all. I learnt a lot from his life. That success would never guarantee happiness. That money would never buy peace. That your friends would rather watch you die when you get into trouble than offer a helping hand.

All those shedding crocodile tears now obviously saw Michael in his various stages of dilapidation – that those who can never match your talents would always attack your efforts. That at the end of it all, all is vanity indeed. Human beings are always quick to judge others. They leave the log in their eyes and chase the speck in that of others. Michael this, Michael that, was all we heard. Now that he’s dead, may be they’ll leave him alone, and allow the dead to bury their dead.

The problems were just too many for Michael. And the burden must have been too heavy to bear. It is difficult to imagine how he even lived for this long. He had marital problems. He had acute financial problems. From being one of the richest men in showbiz history, he became a pauper, as poor as a church rat. His grace to grass story was one of the most frightening examples of the fall of man. It could not have been easy. It was as if he had no family, and no friend.

The man had helped to raise money for the world, but the world failed to raise money for him, in his time of dire need. They watched his life collapse while everyone minded his own business. This is usually the tragedy of great people. They are often seen as the supermen who can solve all problems alone. But my illiterate mum knew better, and used to warn that there is a thin chord holding the heart to the human body. It is just too fragile.

Die-hard fans like me were hoping for a miracle that would teleport Michael back to his original state, when he was that adorable kid, and everyone thought he was older than Michael. Michael had that childlike innocence that made him vulnerable. But he was awesome. The world was not big enough for his stage. Music was his life and we had all foolishly believed that he could live, sing and dance forever. We followed his every move, shared in his triumphs, and suffered in his pains. He was human, very human. He had his foibles, like all mortals do. He tried to keep to himself a lot, and came out of his shrine only when necessary. He was called the weird one. He had to be. His life was too extraordinary and too sensational.

I was always hoping to meet him, one on one. And even dreamt of bringing him to Nigeria to live under our protection, when his troubles became too suffocating to watch.

We toyed with asking the Ooni of Ife or the Alaafin of Oyo to make him an African Chief and get our government to turn him into our national treasure. That would have been feasible in a land that understood the power of entertainment and tourism. But one

Arab tycoon stole him to Bahrain, where I believe life must have been very miserable for him. He was just too broke, and was facing certain humiliation of unimaginable proportions.

The bailiffs were after him like bullets.

Before his very eyes, his prized possessions were auctioned. His Neverland Ranch, which was his recreation of paradise on earth, became a dead place and he had to give up the ownership of this private sanctuary.

By the time the relationship between him and his Arab friend broke down, and he had to return Los Angeles, the damage had been done. He was forced to move into a rented apartment. Just imagine, from living in paradise to living in the pit of hell. It is better imagined than experienced.

What I admired most about him was how he kept readjusting to his excruciating conditions. He accepted his fate with uncommon equanimity. He was determined to prove that he wasn’t finished. He travelled to London recently to promote his forthcoming world tour. He needed to disappoint the cynics who thought he was down and flat-out. His plans were going fine. He had sold a record 750,000 tickets for his concerts. For him, the shows were meant to be the grand finale to an incredible career, the sort we are not likely to see again in our generation.

Also, he was working hard to leave a worthy legacy, and a formidable empire for his family, especially his children. He was said to have written hundreds of songs which he never performed, but were meant to be released only after his death. He was a workaholic. He probably died working. He didn’t want his fans to be disappointed in him. They were the reason for his existence.

We meant everything to him, just as he meant everything to us.

You don’t have to be a doctor to know he must have died of exhaustion. The London concert was meant to be his final farewell to the world. He had gone as far as getting a personal trainer to beef him up for the tour. His existence depended on proving this ultimate point. It was a dangerous fixation that would prove fatal. He had been off-stage for too long. Unknown to him, age was no longer on his side. Everything that has a beginning must have an end. He did not accept the verdict of God. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh. It was time to go and the time to be set free.

The elephant collapsed two nights ago.

I cried like a baby. My wife had always found my love for Michael Jackson very strange. If she did not know me well, she may have suspected me of unprintable inclinations. I had wished Fela truly kept death in his pouch. We would have begged him to keep Michael for us forever. But Fela himself was killed by death. It is one debt we all owe. Sooner or later, the king of all bailiffs must come, and take possession of all. This is the reason we must do our best and leave the world better than we met it.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com