SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2020

Boko Haram Attacks Zulum’s Team, Kills 15 Security Operatives Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Boko Haram yesterday ambushed an advance team of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum between Monguno and Baga, killing eight policemen, three soldiers, and four members of Civilian-

JTF. Sources said the governor, who was in Baga in preparation for the return of thousands of residents displaced by the terrorists in 2014, arrived in the town by helicopter, only to learn of the attack on the rest of his team who travelled by road.

The convoy was passing through a village close to the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force, a military coalition of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, when it was attacked.

In all, 15 security men in the advance team were killed in a

fierce battle with the terrorists.

This is the second attack on the governor in Baga in three months.

The Governor’s convoy was similarly attacked in July along the Baga highway.

A splinter of the Boko Haram sect, the Islamic State of West Africa Province, is

believed to have a stronghold in the area.

Last week, the group killed a Nigerian army commander along with three soldiers in an ambush near the town of Damboa.

The decade-long insurgency has killed 36,000 people and forced over two million from

their homes.

Most of the displaced are housed in squalid camps where they are fed by international charities.

Local authorities have been encouraging the displaced to go back to their homes despite Continued on page 5

UK to Nigeria: We Determine Who Gets Our Visa… Page 5 Saturday 26 September, 2020 Vol 25. No 9301

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N250

N

Buhari: I Ordered IG to Ensure Free Poll in Edo to Protect Democracy Governor douses rumour about returning to APC Wike: Obaseki must never forget that PDP gave him umbrella when he was left in the rain Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Mohammadu Buhari, yesterday, said he instructed the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed

Adamu, to ensure that the September 19 governorship election in Edo State was free and fair.

The president stated this when Governor Godwin

Obaseki, accompanied by his deputy, Philip Shaibu and the governor's wife, Betty, as well as the wife of the deputy governor, Mrs. Shaibu, paid him a thank you visit at the

Presidential Villa.

Obaseki, who dumped the All Progressives Congres (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the party disqualified

him from participating in APC’s governorship primaries in June, was re-elected on September 19.

Buhari told Obaseki: “I thank you for bringing your

deputy and supporters to come and see me after beating my party. I am supposed to preside over all Nigerian Continued on page 5

Labour Adamant, Intensifies Mobilisation for Strike Monday FG obtains fresh restraining order as Ngige warns against lawlessness Strike will worsen economy, governors tell labour HoS directs civil servants to ignore NLC, TUC Festus Akanbi in Lagos, Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja In defiance of all entreaties and subtle threats from the federal government, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are set to commence their planned strike on Monday as they frantically continued with the mobilisation of their members across the country yesterday.

The unions had given the strike notice to reverse the recent increase in petrol price and the hike in electricity tariffs. However, in spite of some desperate moves on the part of the federal government to stave off the industrial action, labour leaders

insisted that the strike would commence on Monday.

The meeting between the federal government and representatives of the organised labour on Thursday was adjourned till Monday following the failure of both parties to agree. The two unions were expected to consult with their various organs at the weekend in order to review a cocktail of palliatives being dangled by the federal government.

However, in an apparent bid to outsmart the leadership of the organised labour, the federal government yesterday obtained a fresh order from the National Industrial Court stopping the NLC and the TUC from embarking on Continued on page 5

APC Nullifies Suspension of Fayemi, Ojudu... Page 6

GOODNIGHT ADOLPHUS KARIBI-WHYTE...

L-R: Gogo, son of late Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte; Gogo’s wife, Ifoki; and daughter of the deceased, Asikiya; during a commendation service in honour of the late Supreme Court Judge at St. Cyprain’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt…yesterday

2

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 •T H I S D AY

SATUDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • T H I S D AY

3

4

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 •T H I S D AY

5

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž Ëœ ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸

PAGE FIVE

UK to Nigeria: We Determine Who Gets Our Visa Expresses surprise about Nigeria’s livid reaction to visa ban on election riggers Bennett Oghifo The United Kingdom has responded to the Nigerian government’s condemnation of its threat to impose a visa ban on perpetrators of electoral violence in the country, saying it respects the sovereignty of Nigeria, but reserves the right to determine who gets British visa.

Ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the British government had threatened to ban anyone guilty of electoral violence and seize their assets in the UK. The warning came a day after the United States placed a visa ban on individuals who compromised recent governorship elections in Nigeria.

The federal government protested the threat and visa restrictions, saying such actions by the US and UK were disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty.

But speaking in Abuja on Thursday at an orientation programme for people with disability seeking Chevening scholarship opportunities in the UK, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, said the issue of visa restriction on perpetrators of electoral violence was the UK’s policy and did not amount to an assault on Nigeria’s sovereignty.

She said: “It is our visa policy, and we can determine who comes to the UK. So, that is a non-sovereign right and all we are saying is that in line with the Nigerian policy, that those who commit violence or who incite violence, there may be an implication for that person when they apply for a visa to the UK. “So, I think it is actually completely consistent with the Nigerian policy. This is our visa policy, but obviously, it is for Nigeria to determine how they deal with these perpetrators in

Nigeria.�

On wether the UK would heed the Nigerian government’s response and drop such plans of imposing a visa ban on electoral offenders, Laing said she was surprised at the reaction.

She said prior to the 2019 general election, the federal government welcomed the UK policy, stating that the UK welcomed the fact that the Nigerian government was following up on electoral malpractice, and commended the peaceful conduct of the September 19 election in Edo. Last week, the British embassy, in its statement threatening election violence perpetrators, said: “The UK takes a strong stand against election-related violence and, just as we did in the general election in 2019, will continue to take action against individuals we identify as being responsible for violence during the elections. “This could include restrictions on their eligibility

to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK based assets or prosecution under international law. “The UK will continue to provide support and engagement as we move towards these elections. We urge INEC, the Police and all other agencies involved to work together to deliver free, fair and credible elections.�

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, had announced his country’s visa ban on Nigerian election riggers, adding that actions have also been taken against some persons in the run-up to the September and October 2020 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo.

The identities of those affected by the ban were not disclosed.

Pompeo’s statement read: “In July 2019, we announced the imposition of visa restrictions on Nigerians who undermined the February and March 2019 elections. Today, the Secretary of State is imposing additional

visa restrictions on individuals for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections. “These individuals have so far operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and have undermined democratic principles. “The Department of State emphasises that the actions announced today are specific to certain individuals and not directed at the Nigerian people. This decision reflects the Department of State’s commitment to working with the Nigerian government to realise its expressed commitment to end corruption and strengthen democracy, accountability, and respect for human rights.�

The US said it remained a steadfast supporter of Nigerian democracy and commended all those Nigerians who participated in elections

throughout 2019 and have worked to strengthen democratic institutions and processes.

However, the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, noted that such punitive measures by foreign countries were unnecessary as the government had shown commitment to ensuring credible elections, adding that there are laws providing necessary sanctions for offenders.

Nwonye said: “It would be considered disrespectful of the sovereignty of Nigeria for any outside authority to sit in judgment over the conduct of our citizens and apply punitive measures such as visa restriction, unilaterally. “While we appreciate the support and encouragement of our international partners, such as the EU, we urge our equally valued partners such as the UK and U.S. to cooperate with our relevant agencies.�

Yemi-Esan, directed all officers on Grade Level 12 and above and those on essential services to be at work to perform their official duties.

She enjoined all Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers of parastatals and agencies to bring the contents of the circular to the attention of all concerned officers and ensure strict compliance.

The order followed an ex parte application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

This followed an ex parte application moved by federal government’s team comprising of the duo of Acting Director of the Department Civil Litigation of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Maimuna Shiru and Mr. Tijjani Gazali.

The court restrained the unions, their officers, affiliates, privies from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing the workers or its affiliates or ordinary Nigerians from “accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties on the 28th September 2020 or any other date�.

LABOUR ADAMANT, INTENSIFIES MOBILISATION FOR STRIKE MONDAY their planned strike.

Speaking with one of our correspondents yesterday, TUC President, Mr. Quadri Olaleye, said the Monday strike would proceed as planned, explaining that the labour unions cannot call off the strike until the agreement is signed.

He said, “Although government proposed some palliatives to cushion the effect of the hardship, we insisted that they should revert to the old price regimes in the oil and power sectors, while we are looking at the palliatives.

Definitely, that is the position as at today (yesterday). We cannot call off the strike till the agreement is signed,� Quadri insisted.

His position was corroborated by the Secretary General of NLC, Comrade Emma Ugbaja, who told our correspondent that there is no going back on Monday strike. Ugbaja told THISDAY that mobilisation for the Monday's strike would go on throughout the weekend.

NUPENG, Civil

Service Union Join Strike Also, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Civil Service Union yesterday directed their members to get ready to participate actively in the nationwide protest slated to commence on Monday.

In a statement directing NUPENG members to mobilise for the industrial action, the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, said: "You are hereby directed to mobilise all our formal and informal sectors members in your Zone to adequately mobilize for the successful execution of this resolution. You are further directed to set up task forces in your Zone to enforce this very important directive".

In the same vein, General Secretary of the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Comrade Yahaya Ndako directed its members to comply with the resolve to shut down the country’s economy

due to failure of the federal government to reverse the hike in fuel price and electricity tariffs.

The NLC President, Aliyu Wabba, had on Thursday dismissed the order of the Industrial court stopping the strike, saying he had not been served, adding that the group that filed the suit was not his employers.

He asked, “How does that (injunction) affect me if I have not been served? Have I been served? Are they our employers?

What relationship do I have with any group?�

Monday.

He disclosed that the ministry had followed the directive of the National Industrial Court, by publishing its proceedings in three national dailies on Friday, saying any excuse that they did not have copies of the court pronouncement would amount to a fraud.

He explained that the federal government would continue to explore ways to stave off the planned industrial dispute throughout the weekend, by reaching out to the leadership of the NLC) and the TUC.

Ngige Warns Against HoS Directs Civil Servants to Ignore Lawlessness Labour Meanwhile, the Labour Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige has appealed to the labour leaders to obey the court order restraining them from embarking on the strike.

Ngige told THISDAY yesterday that it was important for the leadership of the labour unions to respect the court orders restraining them from going ahead with the strike on

Also yesterday, the federal government issued a circular through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, warning civil servants not to heed the call of the labour leaders for the controversial strike.

The circular, signed by the Head of Service, Dr. Folasade

Restraining Order against Strike The restraining order of yesterday was issued by the same judge (Justice Ibrahim Galadima, of the National Industrial Court in Abuja), who gave a similar order on Thursday.

Continued on page 15

BOKO HARAM ATTACKS ZULUM’S TEAM, KILLS 15 SECURITY OPERATIVES concern from aid agencies of the security risks to which the returnees would be exposed.

Last week Zulum said feeding the displaced was

not financially sustainable, insisting the only option was for them to return and rebuild their homes and live a “dignified� life.

"So, this morning, we are here in the Villa to show our profound gratitude and appreciation for this, which on the surface will look normal but the implications are very far reaching," he added The governor said he would build on the foundation his government had laid in the last four years to promote education and build infrastructure.

“If the governor believes that the PDP is no longer a party for him to actualise his vision and his mission, there is nothing wrong but I don’t believe that it is going to happen because the governor has consistently told us that there is no way he will leave the PDP. If he leaves the PDP, people in Edo State will not be happy. “And he is somebody I have that trust in that he will not leave the party. This is a party that clothed him. This is a party that when it was raining, gave him an umbrella.�

Wike said he did not play such a big role in Obaseki’s re-election but only acted as the chairman of the campaign council.

He said he merely supervised the campaign, presented strategies and gave guidance.

The governor said it would be wrong of anyone to give him the glory when others like Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, played their roles.

Wike stated that he did not fund Obaseki’s campaign because the governor already had enough money to execute his campaign. “What resources could I have deployed? He is a sitting governor. What resources can I give him that he does not have?� he asked.

BUHARI: I ORDERED IG TO ENSURE FREE POLL IN EDO TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY interests whether I like it or not, but my single desire is to make sure that innocent people don’t suffer.

"That message I got across to the Inspector General of Police was that elections must be free and fair. “If contestants have too much money and they decide to spray, so be it. But what I insist is, nobody should go and raise a counter force to the government, arm heavily-drugged thugs to go and humiliate people.�

The President said he wanted democracy to thrive on the platform of credible polls, and added jocularly that he was congratulating the Edo governor 'reluctantly' because he defeated the candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress.

Obaseki, who also paid a courtesy call on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday, ruled out the possibility of returning to APC, saying doing so would amount to moral failure.

He dismissed insinuations that he might opt to position himself as a godfather towards the expiration of his second term, saying God forbids that he does so.

Answering questions from State House reporters after the meeting with Buhari, Obaseki affirmed that leaving the PDP,

which offered him the platform for re-election, for APC again, would be antithetical to the spirit of integrity.

Obaseki, who insisted that it would be morally wrong to contest election on the platform of one party and dump it for another, added that such an action would also run contrary to what the president told him and his deputy at the meeting.

He said: "The answer to your question, gleaning from the comments of Mr. President, he said that he wants to leave a democracy that is built on integrity, accountability and hard work.

"Those were his words and I subscribe totally to that. It will not show integrity. It will not demonstrate somebody that has ethical or moral foundation to do what you asked about.

"I couldn’t have contested in one a party, won in that party and then consider moving to another party. “It is not the kind of thing to do. It’s not the right thing to do and I am sure you will not encourage me to do that."

Also responding to a question if he would attempt to be a godfather, a trend he fought and conquered, Obaseki said he should be crushed the way the former godfathers in the

state were crushed.

Giving reasons he would not fall into that temptation, he said godfatherism is unconstitutional, adding that godfathers dare to control those working under constitutional mandates.

According to him, the idea of godfatherism is dangerous to democracy, recalling that when he came to Edo political scene prior to the 2007 elections, their goal was to crush godfatherism in Edo State.

"In the case of godfathers in our politics, I have said in several fora that the whole concept of godfatherism is very dangerous to our democracy. And that is why when we came into the political fray 2006/2007, the mantra then was to get rid of godfathers from our political life. The reason is simple - the godfather has no constitutional responsibility.

"The godfather acts outside the constitution and controls people who are constitutional players. So, if we allow that sort of situation to continue, it will be worse than military rule.

"When people who have nothing at stake, no checks and balance arbitrarily decide that this is the way the constitution should be interpreted, or constitutional players should operate. That’s why problems come in.

"God forbid I become a godfather. I should be dealt with accordingly because it’s dangerous to the concept of democracy," he said.

Asked how he hopes to unite the state which seems to have been divided along party lines, Obaseki said efforts would be made to ensure the land is healed of bitterness.

He was however swift to add that nothing really showed that there is division in the land because majority of the people of Edo State are his supporters.

"We will continue to try and heal the land. Fortunately, it doesn’t show that Edo people are divided. It shows essentially that Edo people have come together under one umbrella.

"That is what the election has shown. We will continue to appeal to those who are outside our umbrella to work with us for the benefit of our people," he added.

On why he was in the State House, he said he and his deputy had opted to pay a thank you visit to the president for allowing free and fair elections to hold in Edo State.

"He insisted that Nigeria should have proper elections, credible elections, free and fair elections and that's what happened.

Wike: Edo gov Must Never Forget that PDP Gave Him Umbrella When He Was Left in the Rain Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says Obaseki is free to return to the APC if he feels the PDP is not working for him.

The Rivers State governor said this on a Television programme yesterday.

Wike, however, said the Edo State governor must never forget that he was given an umbrella when he was left in the rain.

When asked what he would do if Obaseki left the PDP, Wike said, “I don’t want to discuss something that is not going to be possible. However, assuming it happens, so what? That is politics.

6

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 26, 2020

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

Adebanjo, Clarke, Nwodo, Others Fault FG’s Kano-Niger Rail Line Want Nigerians to reject the insensitive project

Deji Elumoye Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has flayed the plan by the

federal government to build a $1.9 billion rail line from Kano to Niger Republic.

The leaders in a statement entitled, ‘Kano-Niger Rail:

Buhari Renews Appointments of PTDF, PEF, NCDMB CEOs Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja announced the renewal of the appointments of the chief executive officers of agencies under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The president also hailed the recognition of the Chairman of the Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee of Rotary International, Dr. Abdulrahman Tunji Funsho, who is one of the four Nigerians listed among 100 most influential men in the world in 2020 by the TIME magazine.

The renewal of appointments of the heads of the Ministry of Petroleum agencies by Buhari was the fallout of recommendations made to the president by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Naming the individuals whose appointments were renewed, the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau got a presidential nod as the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF); Ahmed Bobboi as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), and Simbi Wabote reappointed as Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development

and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The statement added: “Dr. Gusau is credited to have run the PTDF successfully in the past four years, keeping faith with the Seven Strategic Priorities he had introduced in January 2017. These are: domestication, cost cutting, sustainable funding, efficient internal processes, Linkages with the industry, Utilisation of centres of excellence, and Pursuit of home-grown research. “Mr. Ahmed Bobboi gets his reappointment for having run PEF in a way that made it a key and strategic player in the administration’s oil and gas reforms, especially in stabilising the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, among others. “Engineer Wabote won his pips for managing the Nigerian Content Development Fund prudently, completing the headquarters building of NCDMB, and also initiating many landmark projects that are widely commended by industry players.�

It said all the appointments take immediate effect.

In another statement, Adesina said Buhari was delighted to know that Funsho was among four Nigerians listed in 2020 TIME 100.

APC NulliďŹ es Fayemi, Ojudu, Others ‘Suspensions’ Adedayo Akinwale Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the purported “suspensionâ€? of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as well as an earlier reported “indefinite suspensionâ€? of some other party members in the state as nullity.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Yekini Nabena, in a statement issued yesterday advised all members to adhere to the party’s constitution He said: “The attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported and widely-reported “suspension� of the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Kayode Fayemi as well as an earlier reported “indefinite suspension� of some other party members in the state.“The ac-

tions are a nullity as the party’s National Secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported “suspensions�. Governor Kayode Fayemi remains the leader of the party in Ekiti State.�

The party said for the avoidance of doubt, the Architect Paul Omotosho-chaired APC Ekiti State Working Committee is the authentic, valid and duly recognised Executive as no factions or divisions exist in the State Chapter.

Nabena noted that in line with the mandate of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee and the President’s admonition to party members to ensure and support ongoing amicable and rancourfree settlement of internal party disputes, the party called on party members and leaders in Ekiti State to be duly guided.

COVID-19: 213 New Cases Recorded

Nigeria recorded 213 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, taking the number of confirmed cases to 58,062 with 49,606 discharged and 1103 deaths.

Buhari commitment to Nigeria doubtful’, jointly signed by Chief Edwin Clarke (South South) Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South West), Chief John Nwodo (South East) and Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt), described the project as a sheer waste of the nation’s scarce resources and asked Nigerians to reject the insensitive project.

The elder statesmen submitted that “this insensitive project is one more reason different nationalities in Nigeria should ask Buhari

serious questions on his overt submission to those he shares civilisation with outside this country at the expense of those he deceives to be “fellow Nigerians�, we must reject this squandering of our resources on another country.�

The SMBLF leaders in the release stated inter alia: “The announcement of the building of a $1.9 billion rail from Kano to Niger Republic is one more reason that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to Nigeria is no

more than the resources he can take from the country to fund his ethno-religious sensibilities outside the country. “Committing such an amount to another country at a time Nigerians are being punished with atrocious prices of petroleum and electricity prices confirms Mr. President is loyal to a different civilisation which he is abusing his leadership of Nigeria to promote. “This project is being promoted at a time the

Calabar-Lagos rail that is of great economic importance has been abandoned. We wonder what explanation the Minister of Transportation will have to give to the people of Southsouth for abandoning such a project while committing to the wasteful project to Niger. “It is not lost on us the absolute lack of integrity of this government in lying to us that the rail is being constructed to the border when Maradi is over one hour to the border of Niger with Nigeria.�

LAST RESPECTS‌ L-R: Peopls Democratic Party National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Austin Umahi; PDP Deputy National Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Agbo; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; former Governor of Anambra State and PDP Vice Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, during the funeral service for late Sir Ephraim C. Ejeh, held at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Oraukwu, Anambra State, yesterday.

Obasanjo Expresses Optimism about Nigeria Becoming Better James Sowole Ă“Ă˜ Ă•Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?

Former Nigeria’s President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday expressed optimism for a better Nigeria.

Obasanjo spoke in Akure, Ondo State capital at the launch of a book, authored by the leader of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti entitled ‘My Life, My Legacy’.

The remark of Obasanjo, who was the chairman at the launch of the book, was sequel to the worries expressed by

the nonagenarian that this was not the Nigerian of his dream.

At the launch of the book, many people from all walks of life, paid glowing tributes to the elder statesman.

Some of the dignitaries are the Governors of Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Gboyega Oyetola respectively, Chief Olu Falae, Prof.

Banji Akintoye, and a former Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Gbenga Daniel among others.

The former president

described Fasoranti, as a special gift to the Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

Obasanjo said Pa Fasoranti had been expressing fear of how Nigeria would be when he (Fasoranti) passed on but the former President allayed the fear of the Afenifere leader, saying Nigeria would be better before Fasoranti left the world.

He said, “I want to assure you that you will see the Nigeria of your dream before you leave. Your predecessors wished for a united, progres-

sive country, we will attain the Nigeria of your dream.�

Governor Akeredolu, in his remarks, described Fasoranti as an icon of the nation who used most part of his life moulding the young ones. “Many of your students are proud of you because you made impact on their lives. You are our pride in Ondo State. You are not only the pride of Akure town but Ondo in general. Before you go, this country will be good,�

Akeredolu assured.

Olukunle, Adelaja Emerge NRM’s Candidates for Lagos Legislative Bye Elections The former General Manager, Public Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mautin Akin Olukunle, has been picked as the National Rescue Movement’s (NRM) candidate for the Lagos East Senatorial District bye-election slated for October 31, 2020.

The NRM also announced Adetayo Adelaja as its candidate for the vacant Kosofe Constituency II seat in the state house of assembly.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Lagos State chairman of the party, Temilola Akinade, the two

candidates emerged at a direct primary election held on August 29, 2020 and attended by members of the party from Lagos East and Kosofe in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Both candidates were returned unopposed in the exercise.

With over 25 years of Media and Public Relations practice, the Lagos State-born Olukunle is the publisher of Transglob-A, an aviation/transport magazine based in Lagos. He had worked as a journalist for 18 years in The Guardian and The Punch

newspapers at different tmes before joining FAAN in 2007.

Olukunle, who is also a community leader and farmer, is committed to good and credible governance, socio-economic and political emancipation of the people, including the teeming youths in Lagos.

Olukunle is a 1990 graduate of Philosophy/English, from the Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Transport Studies, from the same university in 2002. He has attended many international conferences on

journalism, security, aviation and transport in different parts of the world, including Africa, United States and Europe. He is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, among others.

Adelaja, holds a degree in economics also from the Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye He had worked with some multi-national companies shortly after his national youth service before he joined The Guardian Newspaper as a correspondent in 2000.

SATUDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • T H I S D AY

7

8

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 •T H I S D AY

9

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 26, 2020

08054699539

Death of Colonel Bako and the Memo from Elders

F

ew weeks ago, a senior officer told me the story of Colonel D.C Bako and his bravery on the war front in Borno State. It was how this late Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade, Damboa, often led his officers and men from the front against Boko Haram. According to the informant, Bako was fighting the terrorists with all his might. I was really excited and saw him as another Colonel Abu Ali, who fought the terrorists with his last blood. I also looked forward to talking to Bako as I had requested for his contact details. Unfortunately, during one of his clearance operations at Sabon Gari-Wajiroko axis near Damboa last Sunday, Bako’s team was ambushed by the terrorists.

The courageous warrior called Bako was badly injured. Bako did not recover. He paid the supreme price for beloved Nigeria.

Goodnight Colonel Bako. This happened in Borno State where the terrorists still control territories and over one million IDPs can’t return home.

This late officer was loved by all for his gallantry and patriotism. That was why Governor Babagana Zulum described him as a true soldier who inspired his troops and led them to front lines with exceptional courage that was clearly out of pure patriotism.

Zulum added: “He fought very hard and very well. He defeated many enemies of peace and protected many sons and daughters of Borno State to the extent that he gave his life defending the people of Borno. By the grace of God, the supreme sacrifices made

by Colonel Bako and many other heroes like him in the armed forces shall not be in vain. The death of our heroes, sad as it is, only reinforces our confidence in the strong will exhibited by our gallant troops and volunteers that defending our country comes ahead of everything. The people of Borno will forever be grateful to the late Col. Bako and everyone like him.�

That was the true colour of Bako. Painfully, he has joined the long list of senior officers who lost their lives to Boko Haram.

I will never forget the likes of Lt. Colonel O. Umusu, Lt. Colonel K Yusuf, Lt. Colonel Abu Ali, Lt. Colonel B. U. Umar, Lt. Col. Yusuf Aminu, Captain Victor Ulasi, Lt. Col. A. E Mamudu, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba and Lt. Col. Azubuike. These senior officers were

Bako

killed by Boko Haram. How I wish the murderers were smoked out and slaughtered.

It’s so sad that the terrorists are getting away with a lot of killings. Hundreds of officers and men of the military and thousands of civilians have been killed by Boko Haram in the last 10 years. For how long will the killings persist? The terrorists seem to have better intelligence network. This is why they often ambush our soldiers.

There is a long list of successful waylays by the terrorists. The one I will never forget was the deadliest massacres of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State, in November 2018. Scores of soldiers were killed at 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele. The exact casualty figure is still a closely-guided secret till today. The commander of the battalion, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba was also killed. I thought the military will go after the terrorists with venom.

Nothing happened.

Boko Haram terrorists have been obvi-

ously emboldened by the weary tactics of our ill-equipped and ill-motivated military.

Our soldiers are doing their best but lack the capacity/equipment to end this war.

The strategy for getting result against Boko Haram is largely through intelligence and aerial power. Technology, quality equipment and quality manpower will be needed. Here, we should be talking about quality fighter jets and quality armoured attack helicopters.

The military evidently lacks the competence and equipment for these. Nigeria has been needlessly losing hundreds of its gallant soldiers to Boko Haram because of these failings.

President Buhari assumed power in 2015 with a pledge to exterminate the terrorists.

Almost five years down the line, this country has gone deeper into this mess, with the terrorists gaining more strength. Billions of U.S. Dollars have gone down the drain for purchase of equipment for the military, yet the soldiers are persistently complaining about being poorly equipped.

The likes of Bashir Magashi, Gabriel Olonisakin, Tukur Buratai and, Sadique Abubakar, have no business staying a day longer in office. They must go. These people have done more harm than good to the war against Boko Haram. A forward-looking government would have overhauled this languid leadership. I find it difficult to comprehend why terrorists consistently take the fight to our soldiers.

The statement released this week by some North-east leaders, under the aegis of Coalition of North-east Elders for Peace and Development, on the Boko Haram crisis is instructive. They demanded decisive actions to end Boko Haram terrorism, saying, “The excuses being tendered by the service chiefs are no longer tenable.�

The group told President Buhari: “The worsening security situation in the country is further reinforcing the urgent need to inject new hands with fresh ideas to handle the nation’s security architecture. We have seen that the security situation under the current service chiefs has reached an unbearable state. “There is no denying the fact that at this moment, the entire nation is distressed by the incessant mindless killing of our citizens and pillaging of defenseless communities by

Justice for Miss Bonko and Miss Abugu For those who have not been following the stories, a quick recap. Miss Bonko is an NYSC member serving in Rivers State who fell into the hands of some “pastors from hell� in the state and was raped. On the other hand, Miss Ifeoma Abugu was a 28-year-old graduate, arrested in place of her boyfriend

by Abuja SARS and died in controversial circumstances.

The 27-year-old NYSC member from Plateau State, serving in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, was lured to the house of the pastors, supposedly for healing and deliverance, but was hypnotised and raped. Miss Bonko joined the Pentecostal church few weeks after arriving Rivers State.

The poor lady was invited to the house on August 29, which coincided with her birthday, and had no reason to be suspicious. The pastors asked her to sow her mobile phone as a seed before they started conducting the said deliverance. The last thing she remembered was that the pastors robbed oil on her while praying and she slept off. She said as soon as she woke up the next day, she noticed bruises on the surface and inside her private part.

The poor lady’s parents rushed to Port Harcourt to put pressure on the police to arrest the wayward pastors. The pastors from abyss were eventually detained but the young woman’s father, Timothy Bonko, is worried that they are yet to be arraigned. The investigation seems to be taking too long. The International Federation of Women Lawyers has joined in the search for justice for this young woman.

All forces of good must put pressure on the police in Rivers to do the needful by charging the accused. Justice must prevail. One more thing: We must persistently discourage our children from hugging these Pentecostal churches from hell. There are so many of them around these days.

Now to Ifeoma, arrested in lieu of her boyfriend by Abuja SARS, and later died.

Policemen, on September 10, stormed the residence of her fiancĂŠ, Afam Ugwunwa, at Wumba village in the Lokogoma area of Abuja to arrest him. He was not found and they arrested Ifeoma. Nobody can be arrested in lieu of a suspect. The law is very clear about this. The new Police Act signed by Buhari also makes this very clear. The Abuja police authorities must deal with all those that arrested late Ifeoma. They must face the law. The family of the deceased insists she was sexually assaulted and died in the custody of the SARS personnel of the FCT. Ifeoma’s brother, Alex said: “When my uncles saw the picture of her corpse, they saw signs that she was sexually assaulted.

We’re waiting for the result of an autopsy to ascertain what happened to her.�

The family’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Mamah adds: “The family of the deceased has not seen the corpse. The picture we have is the one the IPO snapped and sent to us from the hospital where her corpse was deposited; from the picture of the deceased, it appeared she was sexually assaulted before her death.�

The FCT police authorities must ensure

Late Ifeoma

that Ifeoma’s case is well investigated.

Reports on the case from the police have not been encouraging. Ifeoma’s lawyer has already petitioned IG Mohammed Adamu, saying, “Our clients are not confident that the division will do justice in the matter‌we appeal that you use your highly esteemed office to ensure that proper investigation is carried out, that the culprits be brought to book and justice done.â€?

Let us all rise and demand for Justice for Miss Bonko and late Miss Ifeoma Abugu.

insurgents, bandits and kidnappers. There is also no denying the fact that these have resulted in indescribable torment of Nigerians.

The group headed by Zana Goni, called on the President to remove the service chiefs and “bring in new hands to effectively confront the security challenges starring us in our face as a nation.�

On the flip side, it is disheartening that nine months after the Nigerian contingent returned from the United Nations PeaceKeeping Mission in Guinea Bissau, some soldiers are yet to be paid their field allowances. Authorities of the Nigerian Army should pay the soldiers affected without further delay. The soldiers are entitled to $9,000 for the 12-month operation. While some were paid part of the allowances, others got nothing.

Gbajabiamila

Insecurity: Gbajabiamila Hits the Nail on the Head One of the factors that have sustained the raging insecurity across our country is the persistent lies by those charged with the responsibility of securing us. This is why blood, tears and pain have persevered with Boko Haram in the North-east, bandits and kidnappers in the North-west, while captors and armed robbers terrorise the South. So, it was heartwarming seeing a key member of the Buhari government, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, telling the truth to the Nigeria authorities. The Speaker, who spoke in Abuja, while declaring open a workshop on promoting effective legislation and oversight of the security sector, admitted that the spate of insecurity had disrupted the life of the people as a nation, as well as threatening the continued existence of the country. He warned against the dire consequences of allowing the security crises to persist.

My take away from Gbajabiamila’s speech are: “We are at this moment experiencing in many parts of our country, significant internal security challenges that have disrupted the lives of many of our citizens and led to loss of lives and property at a scale that cannot easily be quantified. These internal security challenges threaten the very existence of the Nigerian state because they undermine public faith in the government’s ability to fulfill its fundamental obligation to protect the lives and property of citizens. “The realities of the moment require that we should be willing to speak honest truths about the things we haven’t gotten right so that we can then focus our energies on making sure that we do better for the future. I encourage all of you to remember that a lot of the hopes that we have for our country depends on our ability to guarantee the safety of our people and the security of property and investments.

And from this remembrance, I hope we can find the motivation to do all that this moment requires of us.�

This is the truth that must be told. The buck stops on Buhari’s table. He has to shape in or ship out. The pain across our country is excruciating.

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY

Ripples of Linda Ikeji at 40 Linda Ikeji’s j celebratio on of her 40th birthdaay few days y back was breaathtaking. g The superst p tar blogger gg literarilyy set the e blogosphere g p on fire. No doubt, Linda deserves to partyy big, considerinng her landmarks while still just 40 years, write es Ferdinand Ekechukwu u

C

elebrity y blogger, gg Linda Ikeji j is 40! Thank God for her life, success and achievements. . . Super-rich p Linda turned 40 few days y back. To celebrate her big g day, y the media personality p y literally y set the blogosphere g p on fire with her birthday y mood. In a p post she titled “Linda Ikeji j splurges p g on 2020 Range g Rover Auto biography, g p y designer g shoes and bags g as she turns 40”, the internet sensation splashed p pictures of the luxury p y items she g gifted herself to mark her 40th birthday. y Linda @ 40 looks fulfilled. The single mum of one further showed off the designer g shoes and bags g and the new automobile while reflecting g on her life and blessings. g ‘’This is what 40 looks like.

Sexy, y successful, happy, ppy almost fulfilled and super p grateful g for a beautiful life filled with amazing g family y and friends.

God has been incredibly y g good to me and I don’t take my y blessings g for granted. g Happy ppy 40th birthday y to me. I actually y can’t believe I’m 40! What? Lol. Thank you so much in advance for all the beauy tiful birthday y wishes. God bless you and yours!’’ she g gushed.

As p part of her special p day y celebration, the former model got g herself 85 pairs p of shoes. According g to her, she wanted to get jjust 40 shoes but couldn’t stop g p buying y g more of the shoes as she was blown away by y the designs. g Showing g off her 80 p pairs of amazing g designer g shoes, she wrote ‘’OK, let’s do this! Hehe. Surrounded by y my y birthday y p present from myself y to my yself. I was g going g to buy y 40 designer g shoes to celebrate turning g 40 and then I started shopping pp g and couldn’t stop! p Too many y beautiful shoes to select from so I ended up p buying y g 85 p pairs... (80 in the p pic, 5 on da way). y And y yes, I bought g all of them at the same g gaddam time! Who does that? me, that’s who!

“I’m so g grateful, so thankful, so happy! ppy Happy ppy birthday y to me! P.S, These p photos don’t do the shoes jjustice’’ That wasn’t all, as she went on to share more photos p of the designer g bags g she g got to celebrate her special p day. y Linda showed off her amazing g 32 bag g collection. ‘’Ok, here we g go again..lol. g Surrounded by y my y birthday y p present from myself y to myself. y I was g going g to buy y 40 new designer g bags g to celebrate turning g 40. And then I started buying...and y g well, these bags g are badly y expensive p so I stopped pp at 35. (32 in the photo p and 3 on da way). y And yes, y I bought g them all at the same g gaddem time! Dear God, forgive g me! But money y is meant to be spent, p right? g I know I’m one of the lucky y ones and I dont take my y blessings g for g granted. Happy birthday to me!’’, she wrote.

Linda capped pp it all by y splurging p g g on a 2020 Range g Rover Autobiography. g p y ‘’Oh dear, here we go g again! g And last but definitely y not the least of my y birthday presents to myself p y is the 2020 Range g Rover Autobiography. Ordered and on

da way! y Can’t wait to meet my y new baby! y I love my y life, I swear! I definitely y know I’m one of the lucky y ones and I don’t take it for granted. g One of the great things g g about being g financially independent p is that y you can do whatever the heck you y like! It’s your money, y y nobody y can stop p you! But don’t be reckless like y me except p you y truly y can afford to... Remember ladies, there’s nothing g sexier than a woman with her own money. y May y God continue to bless the works of your hands. Happy y pp birthday to me!” Linda wrote.

At 40, what’s next for Linda? popular p lar bl blogger gg r had lo long g The p looked forward to turning g 40.

Remember her infamous love post like a jilted p j lover some two y years ago? g Then 38, the controversial blogger gg had expressed p and declared among g many y other things g her wishes and looked forward to cel ebrating g her 40th birthday y with a man she could call her own in life. But that was not to be; her dream of building g a family y with her baby y daddy y (Sholaye Jeremi), crashed when she “fall pregnant” p g and gave birth to her lovely son, Jayce. y True to the baby y mama, nothing g is more important p to her than family. y “For years y I’d hammered on how much I was looking g forward to getting g g married, having g children and building g my y own family y and I believed God was going g g to come through g for me on that one, but I have come to understand that we have no control over what life throws at us no matter how much we plan, p pray, p y or work,” she reminisced. For years, y most fans of Linda, knew their model as a selfstyled y celibacy y advocate known for her stance against g premarital p sex.

Recall that Linda came under heavy y criticism after she revealed her p pregnancy g y outside wedlock. She even faced heavier criticisms after she revealed that she and her baby daddy y had g gone their separate p ways. y She went on to tell-all how their relationship p started and how the man dumped her after impregnating p g g her.

Linda is one of the most p popu p lar female celebrities not only y in Nigeria, g but in Africa. A couple p of years y ago, g she was a strug ggling g g model. Now, the story y has changed g and bears inspiration. p Nevertheless, she’s loathed as much as she’s loved.

In the course of her journey, j Linda had courted contro -

Linda

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

11

SUPER SATURDAY Ripples of Linda Ikeji at 40

Linda versy y with daring g posts p and publications. p In the line of duty, y Linda fires quite q a few guided missiles and she is also a sitting g g target g to those who take a shot at her. In a celebrated episode p which led many y to question her integrity q g y as a source of news, an aggrieved gg p party y had forced a temporary p y shutdown of her site. That incident is one of the valuable lessons that changed g her work ethic. It taught g her to be more careful. So, when it comes to the feedback of love or hate from the public, p the celebrity blogger knows exactly y where she stands.

Naturally, y this should g give her some cause for concern, but Linda keeps p a clear head by y aligning g g more with love. In one of his well elucidated Glitterati piece p titled, “From Modeling g to Blogging, gg g The Story y of Linda Ikeji,” Nseobong Okon-Ekong lucidly pic -

tured her success story. y Her rise to fame and wealth through g a profession p that was least known and respected p in Nigeria g is like a puzzle to many. p y So difficult to comprehend p that some had resorted to attributing g her success to some dubious means rather than through g hard work. Years back, Linda was jjust a lady y with a dream and few coins in her pocket p like most people p p around.

Yet, she dared to press p forward. Arguably, g Nigeria’s g most influential blogger, gg Linda is as surprised p as everyone y else at her astounding g achievements. Her effort to wear the Miss Nigeria g crown was a flunk. She felt like a failure. However, her life changed dramatically y for g good as she crossed the threshold of her 30th birthday. y When she en tered the public p space p as a model blogging gg g didn’t exist and she most definitely didn’t

expect p that the expedition, p which began g in November 2006 would change g her life so significantly. g y Back then, blogging gg g p provided a place to tinker her creative muse. She never p envisioned the astonishing g success.

Although, g it took four years y to get g her first pay p y cheque, q her endurance was hardly y on trial because there was not much to hope p for.

“I was blogging gg g consistently y and passionate p ly. y It didn’t occur to me that I had built a lot of followership p and brands were watching. g I had thousands of p people p following g me and I was very y happy ppy about it but I didn’t think it will translate to money y or advertisement. The first time they y came to meet me to p pay y me to post p something, g I found it very y strange. g I couldn’t wrap p my y head around it. In January 2011, I had my y own advert rate and people started paying. That was it.”

12

ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

ISMAILA ISA HOUSE: WHY NOT? Abdulhamid Babatunde contends that Isa deserves the honour of the house named after him

T

he death of Malam Ismaila Isa has thrown the spotlight on an old cankerworm in the practice of journalism in Nigeria. The post-humous honour and tributes and the pretentious palaver about the propriety of the Nigerian Press Organisation’s authoritative acknowledgement of his “untiring contributions to the development of journalism and freedom of the Press in Nigeria and around the world� and “the life and times of the late veteran journalist� have, like a double-edged sword, combined to expose the hype and hypocrisy that now plague journalism. I dare say such a blunt uncovering of the unspeakable deformities of an institution that purports to be the “conscience� of modern society was just what Malam Ismaila Isa, the accomplished business-technocrat, strategic politician and internationally-recognized chief patron of Nigerian journalists and publishers alike, was adept at. Bless his soul, O God Almighty!

One needs no further inkling about the state of affairs in the yet-to-be authenticated fourth estate of the realm than the petulant challenge by a conceited cabal of columnists and self-opinionated “writers� of the veritable right and privilege of the exalted members of the NPO to rename the newly rebuilt Nigerian Institute of Journalism House on Victoria Island, Lagos as ISMAILA ISA HOUSE. The critics are all either employees or sub-members of the NPO which comprises executives of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

In fact, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism promptly commiserated with the family, friends and associates of “elder statesman and media personality, Mallam Funtua, OFR, mni,� (note the higher and more distinguished national honours he had already earned) who was not only Chairman of its Governing Council but also “more than a strong pillar of support for our institution.�

A statement on behalf of the Governing Council, staff and students of the Institute, issued by Provost, Gbemiga Ogunleye, read like a citation to vindicate the renaming of its abode, pointing out that he was always quick to rally the media community against any legislation or policy targeted at stiffing the media, adding: “in recognition of his astute leadership qualities and investment in the media industry, he was first elected as VicePresident of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) under the Presidency of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

He was later elected the President of NPAN, a position he held with dignity and honour, promoting and defending media interest in Nigeria, Africa and the world. He was instrumental to Nigeria’s hosting of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress and General Assembly in Abuja, in 2018�.

So what did the nay-saying wailers have against such an impeccably justified post-humous award to Malam Ismaila Isa? If only to show how spurious and subjective they were, I will do a sampling. In NIJ House and Isa Funtua: Trust Betrayed, one Abdu Rafiu, described by Martins Oloja in his own contribution against the honour done to Malam Ismaila Isa, as “an authoritative columnist in The Guardian� states that “Ismaila Isa is sold to the Nigerians and the media, in

ISA’S ROLE IN THE MEDIA ARCHITECTURE IS PROBABLY MORE PRONOUNCED IN HIS EXERTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM

particular, as a fighter for press freedom and board member of IPI around the world�. This is a denunciation of the credibility of the basis and proponents of the well-deserved honour by one who obviously knows not what he writes.

He hinges his jaundiced jottings on an irrelevant reference to a claim that in 1994 Malam Ismaila’s newspaper, The Democrat, spearheaded a campaign for the government clampdown on The Guardian and pressed for the sack of its publisher, Mr. Alex Ibru, from Abacha’s government by stating that The Guardian “propagates a sectional agenda that is a little to the east today and a bit more to the west tomorrow, but decidedly anti-north every dayâ€?. Incredulously though he posits that “the explanation by Mr. Ibru that he was different from The Guardian and, as a rule, did not interfere in the running of the newspaper fell on deaf earsâ€?(!) So what is good for Ibru should not be good for Ismaila Isa? Martins Oloja, who was better known as a veteran journalist now decides “to join some of our younger ones who have been asking the elders not to hold their peace yet. They should not hoist the flag yetâ€?. Though he acknowledges that the deceased was everything his sterling citation declares him to be, Oloja maintains that “he hasn’t been significant enough to get the honour of naming the NIJ Flag House after himâ€?, relying on Abdu Rafiu’s untenable 1994 editorial witch hunt of The Democrat. Oloja played to the gallery even as he had the benefit of the more credible assessment of “veteran soldierâ€? Ray Ekpu who described Malam Ismaila as a “warrior for press freedom.â€? He reports that “Ekpu conveys the picture of Isa as an active(NPAN) president who led the struggle to resist the inclusion of a mass media commission in the Abacha constitution and the subsequent effort under General Abdulsalami Abubakar to get the Press Council Decree amended,â€? even quoting Ekpu declaring emphatically that “for a man who no longer had a newspaper of his own, his activism for press freedom was very, very admirable‌.â€?

On the specifics of Malam Isa’s acclaimed outstanding support for the NIJ which Ekpu remarked is “fittingly renamed after him�, suffice it to again quote Ray Ekpu that “Isa’s role in the media architecture is probably more pronounced in his exertions on behalf of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism,� recalling, among other instances, how the institute was rescued from virtual collapse by Isa’s networking and fundraising skills which got it accredited for the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma by NBTE and the successful remodelling and refurbishing of the NIJ House that was stalled until Isa “got one financial institution to contribute N200 million to the Institute�. Oloja even got additional validation of Malam Isa’s merited honour from THISDAY publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, President of the NPO and NPAN, who was categorical in asserting that “we were not hasty in announcing the rechristening. We consulted the elected leaders of the NPO members. No one objected.�

Malam Isa’s outstanding contributions to journalism in Nigeria will continue to outshine the vendors of vendetta till the end of time.

Babatunde is a former Editor of THE DEMOCRAT

WATER RESOURCES: DOING MORE WITH LESS

A national water resources act will aid eďŹƒcient management of the sector for economic development, argues Abdurrahman Bello

G

oing by the Nigeria’s federal structural arrangement it is not the responsibility of the federal government to provide water in households or for industrial use, but to strategically provide support to various states on needs basis, up to 30% for urban and 50% for rural water supply schemes respectively. Yet even people that should know tend to blame the federal government for inadequate water supply in the states. Thus ministers of water resources have the onerous task of doing their work and also hand-holding the states to do theirs.

The ministry’s agencies and parastatals include the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, National Water Resources Institute and the 12 River Basin Development Agencies (RBDAs), which have constituted the vehicles through which the ministry contributes to the socio-economic activities of the nation. This much is also less acknowledged by some analysts when it comes to assessing the achievements of the ministry. Therefore, the need to highlight some of the works of the ministry is not out of place.

The ministry’s activities under the leadership of Mr. Suleiman Adamu have been guided by the National Water Resources Master plan (2015 – 2030); United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; and the Water Sector Road map (2016 – 2030).

The River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) have now been strategically placed to facilitate National Food Security and support employment opportunities. The RBDAs are being constantly revitalized to deliver on their mandate, to the extent that core and relevant professionals are appointed to the headship of the agencies.

For optimal utilization of River Basin Development Agencies, the ministry is expanding hectares for irrigation farming in

Ejule-Ojebe, Gari, Bakalori, Kano River, Hadeja Valley and Duku-lade basins totalling 55,000 Ha from 2016 to date.

Adamu sees water as one of the key issues of human existence, which makes right of unfettered access to it non-negotiable. The minister’s actions have been guided by his appreciation of the fact that water resources is on the concurrent list in the Constitution, with the ministry’s roles relating to policy, administration and regulation of the water resources development and management.

In this area, he has turned in an excellent performance, with serious attention to legislative efforts, some of which, admittedly, have not been without controversy. However, it is worthy of note to reiterate that the National Water Resources Bill presently at the NASS is not a new law; rather it is an amalgamation of Water Resources Laws that have been in existence, such as Water Resources Act, Hydrological Agency and Water Resource Institute, all of 2004.

These laws are being re-enacted with necessary modifications in the new bill to actualize current global trends and best practices in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The overall objective is geared towards efficient management of the water resources sector for the economic development of Nigeria and the well-being of its citizens.

Suleiman Adamu considers access to water as not only a human issue, but critical to life, pivotal to national development; critical to the quality growth of its population as well as urbanization and increased agricultural and industrial development. He therefore encourages partnering with the state government to achieve these goals.

The ministry fully implemented the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Action Programme in the last 12 months where 34 water supply projects have been completed: 159 rural water supply schemes in the North East, IDP camps and some federal institutions

and establishments were constructed, 895 water supply schemes in 10 states of Imo, Katsina, Jigawa, Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto, Ondo, Osun, Delta and Bauchi are under construction; rehabilitation and upgrade leading to additional 2.4 million Nigerians gaining access to water supply in the last 12 months.

The Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) is another flagship initiative of this administration where the federal government and the states come in partnership to provide water supply in the country. This initiative has led 22 state governments to endorse the PEWASH protocols while 11 more states have recently signed up bringing the total to 33 states.

The ministry inherited 116 on-going and abandon projects. The minister categorized these into high, medium and low priorities in an effort to tackle the litany of abandoned projects. The result is 12 high priority projects have been completed and commissioned across the country.

At his most recent ministerial press briefing in August 2020, the minister asserted that “The water sector is a pillar for food security, job creation, and water supply, sanitation and hydropower generation.� He used the opportunity to espouse his desire for a well repositioned sector borne out of the Next Level Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, focusing on the three cardinal issues of economic diversification, social inclusiveness and security which are succinctly aligned with the vision, mission and mandate of the ministry.

In line with Mr. President’s desire to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years, the ministry has ensured that both direct and indirect jobs are created in the implementation of its projects and programmes. A total of 57,261 direct jobs and 111,588 indirect jobs have been created through the various dam, irrigation and water supply projects completed within the report-

ing period.

The ministry is rehabilitating 185 water supply projects in the 36 states of the federation and FCT; constructing 185 solar-powered water supply projects (five per state and FCT); constructing 370 public sanitation facilities (10 per state and FCT); supporting state water agencies for their operations to ensure uninterrupted water supply; supplying 370 contactless handwashing facilities with soap and sanitizers (10 per state and FCT) and engaging 77,400 youth volunteers for handwashing and open defecation free campaigns.

The ministry also is in the process of commencing a management master plan study for Rivers Niger and Benue. The project is designed to improve navigation, flood control, agriculture for enhanced food production and minimize cost of dredging the river channels.

It will also engender prosperity accruable from fresh water supply and other economic activities. Although this is a long-term project, the ministry has kick-started the process of ensuring its implementation.

In order to aid diversification of the economy, guarantee food security and create employment a National Irrigation Development Programme was initiated in 2016 as part of the water sector road map. It is aimed at establishing additional 100,000Ha of irrigated farmland by 2020 and achieve a total of 500,000Ha by 2030 and an additional 1,000,000Ha of irrigable land to be developed by the private sector and state governments by 2030.

The World Bank is supporting the implementation of Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project (TRIMING) with a credit facility of US$495million. The project involves rehabilitation/expansion of about 42,000Ha of irrigation land under the first phase at Bakalori, Kano River, Hadejia valley, Dadin Kowa,and Middle Rima irrigation projects to be completed by 2022.

Bello wrote from Abuja

13

ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Yet another deadly explosion...

/HWWHUV LQ UHVSRQVH WR VSHFLÂżF SXEOLFDWLRQV LQ 7+,6'$< VKRXOG EH EULHI ZRUGV DQG VWUDLJKW WR WKH SRLQW ,QWHUHVWHG UHDGHUV PD\ VHQG VXFK OHWWHUV DORQJ ZLWK WKHLU FRQWDFW GHWDLOV WR

:H DOVR ZHOFRPH FRPPHQWV DQG RSLQLRQV RQ WRSLFDO ORFDO QDWLRQDO DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO LVVXHV SURYLGHG WKH\ DUH ZHOO ZULWWHQ DQG VKRXOG DOVR QRW EH ORQJHU WKDW ZRUGV 7KH\ VKRXOG EH VHQW WR

DORQJ ZLWK WKH HPDLO DGGUHVV DQG SKRQH QXPEHUV RI WKH ZULWHU

IPOB/Oduduwa Agitatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Alliance

T

he Igbo and the Yoruba share the affinity of interest.

Their political goals are analogous. They both seek jurisdiction over their space and resources, and desire to be master-planners of their own political future.

The two groups long not for territories outside their borders or nurse expansionist ambitions. They just want to live on the turf of their own terms and contrivance.

But why are the Igbo and the Yoruba at strife -- politically?

Why do they not agree essentially on the same things that form the core of their interest?

Well, I think the long history of distrust among the two groups foregrounds this uncanny parallel. My own late father instructed me in a version of how the Igbo-Yoruba relationship deteriorated in the 60s. Really, most men in the south-east, who lived through the Nigeria-Biafra civil war and saw the ravages of hunger and the extirpation of thousands of lives, including children, have the liberty to be cynical about inter-group entente. The devastation was wanton and the pangs of perceived undercutting by other groups deep.

But I believe the actors on both verges of the war and those in the thick of the coup of January 1966 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; preceding the horrendous conflict -- operated in the consciousness of the zeitgeist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the mood of the time. There is none blameless and there is none without guilt. Nothing justifies the barbarous murder of the leaders of the country, particularly of the north and the south-west, just as nothing rational underpins the decimation of about a million people in the south-east.

Again, the phenomenon of the civil war cannot be discounted, but must we remain defined by the incidents of that experience as a country? When are we going to turn the corner? I believe we need not glide through this misfortune of history; we must acknowledge it; talk about it, and most importantly, secure a date in our national calendar when we all will mourn our compatriots lost to violence by the caprices of men. And not just mourn, but re-covenant ourselves to the pursuit of peace, unity and progress of Nigeria. We must never slither into the alleys of our bloody past.

Also, with the understanding that there are no heroes and villains in the unfortunate events of the past, the Igbo and the Yoruba must warm into a congress of mutual support as regards their interest in Nigeria. There is no bar too tall to scale, if both groups agree to work together. I am optimistic that the day the Igbo and the Yoruba hold each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hands, the current trajectory of the country will change for good.

Really, there is a lot the Igbo and the Yoruba have in common â&#x20AC;&#x201C; beyond a past of distrust. I wrote on this previously.

A section is reproduced here.

The Yoruba and the Igbo share a lot more than similar mythic origins. They are the oldest inhabitants of the areas they live in. In other words, the Yoruba and the Igbo are indigenous to the geographical area called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;?. And it has also been argued that both groups are of a singular ancestry.

The two groups have had established trade-links dating to the period before contact with the first Europeans. And

they are known to share passion for industry; are convivial, accommodating and peace loving.

Also, there is no documented history of war between the Igbo and the Yoruba despite occupying the same â&#x20AC;&#x153;southern hemisphereâ&#x20AC;?. In the pre-colonial times, wars among kingdoms and natives were common, but there appears to be no recorded incident of battle between the clans and kingdoms of the two groups.

In language, they are both of the Kwa-group Niger-Congo origin. The similarities between the Yoruba and the Igbo language are remarkable, if not uncanny, which point to an identical fount.

On Wednesday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the proscribed group, announced they were joining Oduduwa Republic agitators, their â&#x20AC;&#x153;brethrenâ&#x20AC;? (IPOBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exact word), to declare a sit-at-home protest for October 1. I was flummoxed by that gesture. Inasmuch as I do not accede to the secessionist agenda - I believe the Igbo can realise their full potential in a devolved entity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is extraordinary coming from a group of which leader in the past hued the Yoruba in a brushstroke of absurdities.

So, if diametrically opposite â&#x20AC;&#x153;belligerentâ&#x20AC;? groups can cast aside their mudsling for an accord to pursue a mutually beneficial goal, why are sanctioned socio-cultural and political groups not working together for a common purpose â&#x20AC;&#x201C; particularly Ohanaeze and Afenifere â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and even Arewa Elders Forum?

Why are the Igbo and the Yoruba, the oldest residents of the area called Nigeria, not concerting politically to realise their interest? I believe the progress of Nigeria rests on both groups agreeing and cross-pollinating individual interest.

There is nothing stopping these two if they put their hands on the ploughshare of brotherhood. They were meant to be.

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

Edo is not Lagos

â&#x20AC;&#x153;E

do is not Lagosâ&#x20AC;? is the mantra the good people of Edo used to resist godfatherism in the September 19, 2020 election in which the estranged godson of the removed national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor Godwin Obaseki was the victor.

The aphorism was directed at the national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who appeared in a viral video to air his support for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in last Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governorship election.

The message was simple and clear. Edo isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Lagos.

They meant the politics of Edo State is different from that of Lagos where one godfather determines who wins and loses. And that in Edo, the electors are the deciders of who loses and wins.

They didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just make the assertion, they came out en masse to prove it. Many of them voted against the APC Ize-Iyamu, whom they believe is a protege of Tinubu and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

As good as their move against godfatherism was, they sullied it by re-electing Governor Obaseki. Aside his previous underperformance, he has a new godfather in Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, the Nigerian version of Idi Amin.

Governor Wike is known for stepping above his constitutional bounds and assailing traditional rulers. We all saw how he demolished the hotels that flouted the COVID-19 guidelines during the lockdown, and how he used caustic words on a traditional ruler in viral video.

Therefore, we need to inform Governor Obaseki since it is believed that a godson lives by the dictates of his godfather, that Edo is not Rivers where a sitting governor hurls insults on a traditional ruler. Edo people are cultured and known for revering their traditional rulers.

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR FESTUS AKANBI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

Aremu Lukman Umor, Lagos

Re: Prostitution as a Social Problem

T

HISDAY Editorial of September 25, 2020 as titled above made interesting reading. Once again, it blamed everyone else but the gullible girls. This is why the problem seems intractable. If you must know, the problem of prostitution is 40% caused by gullibility of the girls involved, 30% by the pressure on daughters from average and poor homes to take responsibility for siblings and parents and 30% sexual pressures on the girls accentuated by drugs, alcohol, and related societal pressures. Why blame men who naturally have pressures to be satisfied for patronizing products available for sale?

Alfred Daudu, adaudu@gmail.com

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 26, 2020

NEWS

Delta Govt Wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Relent on Women, Girl-child Empowerment, Says Okowa Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

CONJUGAL BLISS. . .

L-R: Wife of former Deputy President of the Senate, Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu; groom, Mr. Stanly OďŹ&#x20AC;or; bride, former Miss Portia Madu; and Senator Ekweremadu, during the traditional marriage of Stanly and Portia at Ehime Mbano, Imo State...yesterday.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has restated his administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment in ensuring that the programmes and projects for the empowerment of women and the girl-child were sustained towards enhancing the economic status of families and peace in the state.

Okowa gave the assurance on at the opening of a three-day Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (GEST) programme for 450 girls at the Indoor Sports Hall of Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

The governor, who noted that girl-child empowerment entailed the process of uplifting the economic and social status of under-privileged girls in a maledominated society, said that if the inaugural 450 set was successful, his administration would endure that the figure was increased for the training next year.

However, he charged the beneficiaries to demonstrate willingness to learn and imbibe the virtues of diligence and honesty,

which he said would help them to realise their dreams and thereby contribute meaningfully to the Greater Delta development agenda.

Dr. Okowa said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is with great joy and pleasure that I welcome you all to the commencement of the Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training Programme also known as Project Gest. As many of you here may be aware, entrepreneurship development is at the core of our Stronger Delta agenda. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the onset of our S.M.A.R.T, now Stronger Delta agenda, we set out to unlock and unleash youth entrepreneurship through skills acquisition programmes that will resource our youths with the vocational skills, attitudes and tools to become self-employed and employers of labour. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The design and implementation of the job creation programme is trainee-centred, service-oriented and results-based, hence the strategy is to turn unemployed youths into entrepreneurs, leaders and managers.

Bandits Kill Army OfďŹ cer, 2 Soldiers in Katsina Francis Sardauna in Katsina Pandemonium ensued on Thursday when one army officer and two soldiers were killed by bandits in Unguwar Doka Village of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

THISDAY gathered that the soldiers, who were on routine patrol, ran into an ambush by the marauding bandits, which led to their death.

It was also gathered that the bandits invaded the villages Thursday night and started shooting indiscriminately. In

the process, the soldiers and some civilians were killed.

An eyewitness who craved anonymity told THISDAY in a telephone interview yesterday that the bandits, armed with AK-47 rifles invaded the village on motorcycles where they launched the deadly attack.

The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. General Benard Onyeuko, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to journalists at the Special Army Super Camp IV Faskari, Katsina.

Onyeuko, said troops of Operation Sahel Sanity responded

to a distress call on September 24, 2020 that bandits attacked Unguwar Doka Village and swiftly mobilised to the area where they cleared the bandits.

He explained that during the encounter, troops neutralised 21 bandits while others escaped with gunshot into the forest â&#x20AC;&#x153;as evident by the trails of blood along the criminalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; escape route.â&#x20AC;?

He reiterated that the soldiers rescued three kidnapped victims, including an eightmonth-old baby who had been in captivity for more than 23 days and recovered one AK-47

and three motorcycles from the fleeing hoodlums.

Onyeuko said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Regrettably, resulting from the encounter with the bandits, one gallant officer and two soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice while two other soldiers were wounded in action and are currently receiving medical treatment in a military medical facility and responding positively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fearless troops have continued to pursue the bandits into the forest and dominating the general areas with aggressive fighting patrols to deny them any respite.â&#x20AC;?

Katsina Budgets N4.6bn for Construction, Rehabilitation of Hospitals

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Government has earmarked N4.6 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of eight general hospitals and school of nursing, midwifery and health sciences bring them to functional global standards.

The State Commissioner for Health, Mr. Yakubu Nuhu Danja, revealed this to journalists at the Government House yesterday while unveiling the state governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scorecard under his office.

He enumerated the hospitals to include, General Hospital Katsina, Daura, Funtua, Malumfashi, Kankia,

Musawa, Baure and Dutsin-ma, saying most of them had undergone complete rehabilitation while some had reached 90 per cent completion.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The total amount of money earmarked for the construction, rehabilitation, renovation and upgrading of the eight general hospitals is N4.6 billion. Most of them have been completed and some are undergoing final touching. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Similarly, state owned health training institutions have been renovated and upgraded. These includes School of Nursing, Katsina; School of Midwifery, Malumfashi and Schools of Health Sciences in

Kankia and Daura. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The state government has also recruited 13 nursing tutors, 15 midwife educators and one lecturer. Full sponsorship granted for nurses; 18 post graduate diploma in nursing education, four degree in nursing, 11 masters degree in nursing and three PhD.â&#x20AC;?

Danja, however, said the state government had recruited 993 medical doctors and auxiliary health workers to end the perennial shortage of manpower across its primary healthcare centres and general hospitals.

He affirmed that 30 medical

doctors were sponsored by the state government for different specialisation programmes within and outside the country to enhance efficiency and effective healthcare delivery system in the state.

The commissioner said 200 health workers had been granted approval to undertake full time and part-time studies in Nigeria and abroad to build their capacity.

According to him, the government had adopted the Primary Healthcare Under One Roof law and converted all its local government health workers to the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHDA).

WAEC Exam Leakage: Police Arrest 12 in Bauchi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Others Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigeria Police yesterday paraded 12 suspects arrested over their involvement in examination malpractice in the just concluded West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in some states across the country.

The arrest of the suspects was consequent upon the renewed partnership between the exam body and the police aimed at ensuring and promoting the integrity of examination processes in the country.

Parading the suspects in Abuja, Force PRO and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP),

Frank Mba, said investigation by police operatives revealed that the suspects used their privileged positions as invigilators, supervisors and school functionaries during the 2020 WASSCE to conspire, perpetrate and encourage varying degrees of examination malpractices, including online transmission of examination questions and answers on various social media platforms.

The suspects are Daye West, 52; Shalom Essien, 39; Anyanwu Precious (female) 27; Hanson Beloved, 38; Ali Musa, 46 and Umar Mohammed, 50.

Others include Isa Abdullahi Arikya, 39 years; Hamisu Haus-

saini Abdullahi, 33; Maharazu Sabo, 41; Yusuf .M. Mailafiya, 55; Sule Bukata Garba 40 and Wudana K. Solomon, 30 were arrested in Kano, Rivers, Nasarawa and Bauchi States respectively.

During an interview with newsmen, the suspects admitted their involvement in aiding exam malpractice.

Mba said the IG assured the examination body of his continuous support to discourage examination malpractices and bring perpetrators to book.

He also enjoined parents, guardians, students and all other stakeholders in the examination

processes to cooperate with the police and the exam body towards bringing an end to examination malpractice in the country.

In her remarks during the parade of the suspects, Deputy Registrar and Head of School Examination (WAEC), Mrs. Hassan Omoleme, said there was no leakage of the papers prior to the exam.

She said the suspects started posting the questions and answers online from 9a.m. after the exam started. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We appreciate the collaboration of the police so far. They assisted us in apprehending those who were posting our question papers onlineâ&#x20AC;?,

Lagos Begins Community Projects in 377 Wards Bennett Oghifo Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, said the government would embark on the development of projects specific to each of the 377 Wards in the state.

The governor, who performed the symbolic takeoff of the 377 projects at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Government Secretariat, Alausa, said it was in fulfilment of one of the key promises of his electioneering campaign.

He said over 250 roads would be built and 23 power projects done under the programme tagged â&#x20AC;&#x153;Operation 377â&#x20AC;?, adding that the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat would manage the process.

According to the governor, the projects were arrived at using a bottom-top approach, as the intervention was initiated in response to the series of requests by the various communities across the state to address specific challenges.

He said the execution of the projects would change the narrative about grassroots development and the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibilities.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The state-wide 377 ward projects being launched today (yesterday) are state intervention projects in grassroots development.

The projects are conceived in response to requests by the various communities across the state to address specific challenges. These projects are not universal; they are diverse, reflecting the needs of each ward across the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The implementation of the projects will commence immediately after this official flag-off, as contractors have been fully mobilised to move to the sites. I urge residents who are the ultimate beneficiaries of these projects to take ownership of them by monitoring the implementation process and ensure that the jobs conform to the quality and standards specified in the project designs.â&#x20AC;?

Sanwo-Olu said identifying the needs and the design of

the projects was in line with the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and participatory governance in which the people are considered as important stakeholders.

The governor described the grassroots as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the bedrock of development,â&#x20AC;? stressing that the projects were strategic in promoting the well-being of the people across communities, adding that his administration would continue to give residents a voice on issues that affect them.

Sanwo-Olu said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development agenda is driven by the spirit to build a Greater Lagos that is livable and conducive for the growth and development of enterprise.

The dream of a Greater Lagos is not exclusive; it is predicated on the principle of inclusiveness by which development is not considered as satisfactory until it has addressed the yearnings of the greatest number of the people who contribute to the commonwealth.â&#x20AC;?

Sanwo-Olu urged all public officers to be responsible in dealing with the people, noting that governance would be meaningless without the input of the people from whose mandate public officers derived their powers.

Deputy Governor Hamzat, who is the Chairman of the Projectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Implementation Committee, said the government would build 257 community roads and drainage, rehabilitation of 86 public buildings, two jetties, nine water projects and that 23 power projects would be installed in all the wards.

Deputy Governor said all the projects were distributed across the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three senatorial districts, and that Wards in Lagos Central would have 94 projects, Lagos East, 99 and Lagos West 184 projects.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾SEPTEMBER 26 2020

15

NEWS

Ondo Guber: INEC Chairman Reads Riot Act to Electoral Officers

Aisha Buhari, Runsewe, Others Raise the Alarm over Nigeria’s Cultural Values

Chuks Okocha and James Sowole in Akure

The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has joined Nigerians to raise the alarm over the country’s deteriorating cultural values, calling for urgent need to mount a comprehensive and sustainable value re-orientation programme to return Nigerian society on the path of moral rebirth.

The First Lady disclosed this at a one-day cultural roundtable on Morality, Culture and the Nigerian Youth organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) held at Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers.

Chairman of the occasion, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs and Administration, Office of the First Lady, Dr. Hajo Sani, said that our youths in imitating foreign cultures in the way they talk and dress, are early signs of deviation from our moral values and customs.

She lamented that in our schools, many teachers who are supposed to tutor our children in cultural ethos now take advantage of the same children they are supposed to take care of, adding that the society at large has now become bad examples to our youths by exposing them to other immoral vices like rape and other

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday read the riot acts to the management and staff of the INEC state office in Ondo State, stating that the performance of the commission in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State should be the irreducible minimum standards expected from them in the October 10 election in the state.

Prof. Yakubu gave the charge at a special meeting with the INEC Ondo State office where he met

with all Heads of Departments and the Electoral Officers in the 18 local government areas of the state.

He also charged them to ensure that all ad-hoc staff were not arbitrarily changed and that all ad-hoc staff should be paid their honouriam immediately after the election.

According to the INEC chairman who read out eight rules of engagement for the INEC staff in Ondo State, charged that they must guard against reducing their integrity and ensure at all times that only the person with highest votes score should be declared the winner of the election.

He said, “We just had a good

outing in Edo State, we want to do better than that in Ondo State . Don’t compromise your integrity.

Work consciously and let the best candidate emerge. Ensure that your personal integrity is not bruised or compromised.”

According to the INEC chairman, “We had a good election in Edo. Our determination is that Ondo should be better. Are you committed to ensuring that Ondo is going to be better?

“For us to deliver a successful election that is better than the previous elections that we have conducted, and that is our determination there are a number of issues that we need to take into consideration.

“ If you don’t prepare hard, then you are preparing to fail, we must prepare very hard,” he stated.

He then listed eight issues that would determine the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election, saying, “Top on the list is personal integrity. This is really very, very important. Elections are ultimately conducted by human beings and what we bring is our integrity to the process. Never ever, ever think of compromising for whatever reason.

“We must work contentiously and we must determine to allow the people of Ondo State to determine who their governor, irrespective of what becomes.

Charles Ajunwa

forms of evil activities.

According to her, the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari will be willing to collaborate with NCAC on building a good foundation for our youths right from childhood.

In his welcome address, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, decried the progressive deterioration in the country’s cultural values.

Runsewe stated that while Nigeria had always been known for rich culture, anchored on the virtues of hard work, integrity, high public morality, respect for elders and constituted authority, decency in dressing and in public speeches among others, these virtues are rapidly giving way to various social vices.

He noted that in the past, agents of socialisation like the family, school, religious institutions, took collective responsibility in inculcating high moral values among our youths.

The NCAC boss who noted that the story is different today, lamented that what we now see, “is laziness, get rich quick syndrome and primitive acquisitive tendencies by yahoo-yahoo boys, scammers, internet fraudsters and all forms of social vices.”

Two Fraudsters Jailed 20 Years over $1m Oil Scam Kingsley Nwezehin Abuja

MAKING A POINT ...

L-R: Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi and The NCDD Executive Director, Prince Onu Nweze during non-partisan Ebonyi business summit in Abuja ... recently

US Announces Rule Establishing Fixed Ejigbo Community Lauds Oyetola for Period of Stay for International Students Priortising Security, Roads, Welfare AdedayoAkinwaleinAbuja The United States has announced a proposed rule establishing a fixed period of stay for international students, exchange visitors and foreign information media representatives to encourage programme compliance, reduce fraud and enhance national security The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed this in a statement dated September 24th, posted on its website.

It said the notice of proposed rulemaking, establishing a fixed time period of admission and an extension of stay procedure for non-immigrant academic students, exchange visitors and representatives of foreign information media, proposes to remove the duration of status framework that currently allows aliens in F, J and I visa classifications to remain in the US for as long as they maintain compliance with the terms of admission.

The DHS explained that the

significant growth of the F, J and I visa programmes necessitated the proposed update to ensure the integrity of the U.S. immigration system, but added that this rule does not propose changes to the underlying requirements to qualify for these non-immigrant classifications.

The statement quoted Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary, Ken Cuccinelli, to have said that “this effort would create a fixed time period of admission for certain aliens, consistent with most other temporary visa classifications, while still allowing these aliens an opportunity to legally extend their stay or re-apply for admission where appropriate.

“Amending the relevant regulations is critical in improving program oversight mechanisms; preventing foreign adversaries from exploiting the country’s education environment; and properly enforcing and strengthening U.S. immigration laws.”

Hammed ShittuinIlorin The indigenes of Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government council area of Osun State have lauded the administration of Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola for prioritising their security, roads and welfare since assumption of office.

The indigenes also applauded the state government for being prompt and proactive in its intervention to rescue the people of the ancient town who were confirmed to have contracted the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.

The people stated these during a courtesy visit to the governor by the leadership of Ejigbo Eagles Club led by its President, Mr. Tayo Adebowale, at the Government House, Osogbo recently.

Members of the delegation included the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Ademola Oke; Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof.

Chris Bode; Prof. Solomon Akinboye; Prince Femi Oyewole; Mr. Olayinka Akinwumi; Mr. Olujinmi Tella and Mr. Kunle Ajibade.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the club and the entire indigenes of the town, Mr. Adebowale, praised the efforts of Governor Oyetola in the areas of roads construction and by ensuring the well-being of the citizenry.

Adebowale said the people of Ejigbo will forever be grateful to the government for its determination to develop the town.

He added: “We are here to thank you for the good works that you and your government have been doing to reposition the state and ensure the general welfare and wellbeing of the citizens.

“We have come here today to express our profound gratitude to you for redeeming our image and for rescuing our people who tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after their return from Ivory Coast.

CSOs Demand Sustainable Deregulation of Downstream Petroleum Sector Charles Ajunwa

The Nigeria Natural Resource Charter, (NNRC), a consortium of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has asked the federal government to entrench the deregulation drive of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry by enacting appropriate legislation or embedding it as part of the Petroleum

Industry Bill (PIB) expected to be submitted to the National Assembly soon.

The consortium also demanded that the government commences moves to repeal the laws establishing the Petroleum Equalisation Fund and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to signal its commitment to the full deregulation of the

sub-sector.

The consortium, which took the positions at the end of a one-day webinar held recently, also asked the relevant authorities, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure a level-playing field for all importers of Premium Motor Spirit and not place the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at an advantage over

others. The CSOs also called on the NNPC to “take urgent practical steps to reverse the fortunes of the loss-making refineries as revealed in its published 2018 Audited Reports of its Subsidiaries,” noting that “the refineries remain cost centres that the Nigerian government can ill afford given the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and other fiscal pressures on its economy.

Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, yesterday convicted and sentenced the duo of Mahmud A. Mohammed and Ikechukwu Nkwocha-Philip to 10 years in prison each without option of fine for fraud.

Also convicted was a company, Al-Maqarinaz International Limited, belonging to Mohammed.

The three convicts were arraigned alongside Globtec Resources Limited (third defendant) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to tune of $1,000,000.00.

Count three of the charge reads: “That you Mahmud A. Mohammed being the Chief Executive Officer of Al-Maqarinaz International Limited, Ikechukwu Nkwocha-Philip, Joseph Idoko being the Chief Executive Officer of Globtec Resources Limited (now deceased) and others at large sometime in October 2013 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did with intent to defraud, conspired among

yourselves to obtain the sum of One Million United State Dollars ($1,000,000) from Ismaila Abdulgaffar, the Chief Executive Officer of Emex Oil Ndawta Limited under the false pretence of supplying him with Nigerian Bonny Light Crude Oil via MT AL Albar a claim you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.” They all pleaded not guilty, prompting their trial with the prosecution relying on testimonies and evidence of five witnesses to prove its case.

In her three hours judgment, Justice Goodluck noted that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the first, second and fourth defendants.

She further held that there was overwhelming evidence that a vessel, MT AL Albar was never loaded with Nigerian Bonny Light Crude Oil as the convicts claimed they would do for which they fraudulently collected $1,000,000.00 from their victim, Ismaila Abdugaffar, CEO, Emex Oil Ndawta Limited.

Labour Adamant, Intensifies Mobilisation for Strike Monday Cont’d from Pg. 5 Also granted is an order compelling the inspector-general of police and the director-general, Department of State Services (DSS) to provide protection for workers “engaged in their legitimate duties from any form of harassment, intimidation and bullying by the officers, agents or privies of the unions pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice”.

Also governors of the 36 states of the federation have appealed to the labour unions to exercise caution over the planned nationwide strike. The governors said that any industrial strike at this moment will worsen the economic situation in the country.

The governors said they support the removal of fuel subsidy, saying subsidy promotes corruption and loss of revenue to all tiers of government and job loss.

The governors, in a communique after their virtual meeting chaired by the vice chairman, who is also the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambawul resolved to “intercede with the labour unions, the Federal Government and other stakeholders. They called on the labour to exercise caution, noting that any such action will worsen the already deteriorating economic situation of the workers brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

16

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

Plus Amaka Chika-Mbonu Marriage Not for Babies, But Mature People

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͺ͞, 2020

PLUS

Marriage Not for Babies, But Mature People Amaka Chika-Mbonu is a UK-based Marriage and Relationship Consultant, and a certified Counsellor with a particular interest in coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s counselling.

She is also a motivational speaker, poet, writer, and author of three books- How to Get Your Wife to Swing from the Chandelier in a Red NegligĂŠe, 49 Ways to Get Rid of the Other Woman (without getting caught) and the limited edition of coďŹ&#x20AC;ee table book, Before, When and After. Amaka, who boasts of a 26 year-old practical experience as a wife, in this encounter with Festus Akanbi, speaks on diverse issues including the place of marriage in boardroom eďŹ&#x20AC;ectiveness, oďŹ&#x192;ce romance, coping with children born outside wedlock and relationship tips, among others

Chika-Mbonu

Hiring women for top positions

F

amily pressures can affect anyone-both men and women in the workplace.

In fact, I like to say that what happens in the bedroom affects the boardroom. Granted though that because of the culture we live in, coupled with entrenched gender stereotypes, and the erroneous notion that a man helping his wife or being supportive of her in the home is somehow a sign of weakness, women find that they are particularly pressured when trying to combine the domestic front with the work front.

A woman who has a good marriage relationship that is supportive both emotionally and practically will be better positioned to navigate the pressures that can affect output at work.

I think organisations would increase output and harness the formidable talents that women have to offer in the workplace if they invest in things like crèches, flexible work hours, working remotely, and generous maternity and paternity leave.

A career woman as a good wife If a career woman cannot be a good wife, it then puts women in a box and states that they can only be either this or that and not both. In my estimation that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a fact. Women are multi-faceted, and have the ability to multi-task. A career woman would definitely need to prioritise, delegate, find a balance, be well organised, and it is possible.

Between a settled home and a strong economy I am a firm believer in the fact that the family unit is the bedrock which provides the underpinning for any community, country, or economy to thrive and prosper. It is the smallest unit of society and one of the problems prevalent today is that we have broken families, producing broken children, who go on to perpetuate this â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;brokennessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in their own relationships and the cycle goes on ad infinitum; these small pockets of dysfunction spreading out to the society at large.

You have to be settled of mind and emotions to be creative, innovative, and forward thinking. You need to be

confident in who and what you are, and where you are coming from to craft solutions and build enterprises.

You need to be well-centred and have fully developed core values and beliefs, honesty, integrity, sense of fair- play and empathy to fully embrace your why, your vision and your mission.

The seeds, the birthing, and the nurturing of all this ideally should be the family unit. When this is fractured, it is a problem to the family unit involved and then extends to the country at large. This inevitably reflects in the bottom-line - the economy. I explore this in some depth in my new book, which will be out soon, Where Did You Put Your Organ?

A Housekeeping Book for Men and the Women Who Love Them.

OfďŹ ce romance I believe some HR guidelines prohibit this. I guess because it can make for some awkward situations - professionally and otherwise. But, who knows where â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will find one. Many people have met their life partners in a work environment. Benefits - you get

to see the person in a setting outside of the romance youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in with them.

For instance, in their interaction with other workers, the way they navigate office politics, you see how driven, ambitious or hardworking they really are, and whether theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do anything, and cross any line to get to the top.

The dangers would include, but not be limited to, what if you have an argument, disagreement or you actually break up and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acrimonious - and even if it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Will you be okay still working together? Are you going to be in violation of your Human Resources policies by embarking on this romance? Can you keep it professional and let what happens in the bedroom stay in the bedroom, or are you going to be all hot and both are staring lovingly or lustfully at each other on the office clime? These are critical considerations if you find yourself going down this path.

Marriage lessons from the Church I cannot indict the church without indicting myself, as the body of believers is the church. I am the church - a member of this body, and by the grace

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͺ͞, 2020

19

What Happens in the Bedroom AďŹ&#x20AC;ects the Boardroom of God I am doing my bit in my space as a Marriage Counsellor and so are so many others.

Apart from being a trained certified counsellor, I have had the privilege of serving in the Marriage Counselling Department of my local assembly for 20+ years, and many churches, my local assembly included to run robust pre and post-marital classes.

And those that are already married, I would advise that they continue to learn and acquire skills to be married successfully. Marriage takes work to make it work, and so we must work the work. In no other endeavour in life that we want to excel in, do we stop learning and honing our skills?

This notwithstanding, I truly believe that we - the church - can still do a lot more. I think we should have, for want of a better wordâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;think tanksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that â&#x20AC;&#x153;rightly divide the word of truthâ&#x20AC;? and are able to give young people scripture based, practical guidelines and insight on when, (at what age) and how to date/court. What is a wife? What is a husband? I like him or her, how do I not sleep with them? He beats me, abuses me and you say I should just pray. He/she says he/she loves me but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend time with me, or sleep with me, amongst other things. These seem basic but they are really not. I am trying to get something together that confronts and deals with these things that repeatedly come before me in my line of work.

Fate of children born outside wedlock I believe in the sanctity of monogamous marriage as prescribed by my faith and the nuclear family birthed from that union. But, we live in a fallen world and the behaviour of others can cause situations to arise where innocent children are birthed and drawn into unwholesome situations brought about by the misbehaviour of adults. Infidelity is like a pebble thrown into a still body of water causing a ripple effect.

You can never tell how far the ripple will go and what it may disturb in the process.

Going into relationship Some of the basic questions to ask oneself would be, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who am I really?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What do I want from life?â&#x20AC;? And â&#x20AC;&#x153;What are the steps I need to take to achieve these dreams, needs, wants, and desires?â&#x20AC;? When these questions have been answered, the next thing one needs to ensure is that you enter into a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;romanticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; relationship only with someone who has the ability to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;giveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; you these things. That of course begs the question, how do I know that the person can or cannot give me these things? And the answer to this would be because you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, and indeed shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rush into romance as many of us tend to do. Get to know the person as a person first. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep giving your heart and body to everyone and anyone you meet before you have discovered that they are worth giving that to. As a counsellor, I frequently counsel people who are in relationships where they feel stifled and unfulfilled.

Everything they stand for- their purpose, belief system, and long-term plans are completely at variance with those of the person that they have linked their lives with. This causes major problems.

Rising cases of divorce these days One of the major reasons for the high rate of divorce in this day and age is the fact that people spend more time choosing what shiny new device to buy, what job they want to commit to, what they want to wear to that black tie event and other easily changeable things than they do on the decision of who they commit to spending the rest of their natural life with.

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tall, dark, handsome and broody, makes your body quiver, has

a voice that whispers in your ear like Barry White, has abs like Usher and serenades you like Banky W is not going to cut it when you get married and life needs to be discussed. And she has a body like BeyoncĂŠ is as beautiful as Adesuwa, looks hot in a red negligee or bikini really wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cut it when you need a woman who will stand by you in and through the ups and downs wns of life.

Thesee attributes of course are not bad d in and of themselves, however, er, how about things g like; do you share the same core values? How does the person p handle stress, money, y people? p p Who does oes he or she listen to, who influences fluences them? How do they y make y you feel, really and truthfully? y Are they a p person of integrity, g y is their y yes, yes, y and their no, no? Can you y comcommunicate te with them? Do they have ave the ability y to communicate municate with you? These hese speak p to the core of who a person n really y is and form un-rm an un shakeable, ble, sure foundation tion that a marriage iage g relationship nship p can be built on so that hat even if,, and likely ely when challenges arise, the he marriage ge g may shake hake but is unlikely to break.

Thesee are things I am committed ommitted to creating ting g awareness ess for to help y young people. The ramifications ations of not doing ng g so are dire. Fundaundamental needs must bee met in orderr to divorce-proof -proof a marriage iage g union. I deal with these ese needs - what as a woman, oman, you aree likely y to need d from your man, and as a man an what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d need to give to your woman n in my y book How to Get Your ur Wife to Swing ng g from the Chandelier andelier in a Red d NegligĂŠe. ĂŠe.

Child-bearing bearing g as obstacle tacle to husband, nd, wife bonding ng Marriage iage g is not for babies, it is forr those who aree mature,, always noting that maturity ty y is not necessarily arily ya function n of age. Every very marriage ge is g also unique, nique, as unique que

as the two individuals involved in it, and the combination bi ti they th make k when h

they come together. There is no other marriage on earth that is like the one that you form when you get together with your significant other. This means that happiness, challenges, and their solutions will never be a one size fits all.

The Originator of marriage commands that people should be independent of thought and mind prior become to marriage g then beco interdeto a degree g interde pendent on one p another and thin thinkthings ing/doing g g thin the that are for th good. collective goo g All these to say that whilst we must respect p and acknowledge g our culture, accordthat is, acco ing g to the dictiondictio ary y - our ideas, ideas customs, custo and social socia behavbeha ior-the ior-th couple coupl must know themselves themse individually, y and together togeth g enough g to determine what works work for them.

That said, said it would be nice to have a honeyhoney moon period peri p for the couple cou to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;settle-inâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tle w without o tthe chal-

lenges g of new parentho p parenthood to distract the them.

Dealing g with inďŹ delity y in marriage g y is i Infidelity m one of the most g devastating g that a things p can couple Ninet face. Ninety p cent ce nine per case of the cases I have the p g of privilege helping p g cou couples through g as a counsellor h have to do with y InfiIn infidelity. y speaks spea p delity treache of treachery, and disloyalt y disloyalty.

It reeks o of a betrayal and stro causes strong g of feelings t distrust in the betraye y one betrayed and in the on one who was betrayed.

To deal with, and overcome infidelity and bring the relationship back to normality, it will take two to tango.

There are a number of things that will need to happen and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll mention just a few. The one who has breached trust will have to commit to complete honesty and transparency for likely a long while to come. They will need to apologise for what has happened, in all probability repeatedly. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This apology cannot be some vague unspecified Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sorry, for vague unspecified breaches. But, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sorry for wxyz, can you please forgive me? It will not happen again.â&#x20AC;? They must then do everything in their power to ensure that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen againâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even seek professional help if need be.

The one who has betrayed trust must be prepared to suffer the distrust of their spouse for a time. No matter how good the intentions of the offender, no matter how much they may have changed or repented. The other person cannot believe or know this for sure considering what has happened. Trust is built up over time but crushed in a second. It will take time to rebuild it.

If perchance there are irreversible consequences of these dalliances, for instance children born external to the marriage, it is essential that the way forward is discussed and... negotiated.

Financial obligations, level of interaction etc. These decisions cannot be taken unilaterally if the marriage is to stand a good chance of repairing this breach.

These things look good on paper but are really hard and a lot of times complicated to do. I will however refer to something I have dubbed the i-equationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the things needed to be done to overcome the damage infidelity has caused in a relationship will be easier or harder for the offending party in direct proportion to how much they have invested in making their marriage work and be right again. Committed and consistent behaviour will be key to dealing with infidelity. My book 49 Ways to Get Rid of The Other Woman (without getting caught) is a valuable resource for women dealing with infidelity in their marriage. The book also contains a letter to the men from a Father.

Coping with abusive relationship Nobody should remain in a situation where they are in danger physically or emotionally. Threats to life and limb by either the husband or wife to each other must be taken seriously, family and necessary authorities informed as necessary. There are also a number of support groupsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;WARIF for example.

The behaviour of the person inflicting such trauma is unacceptable and must be dealt with resolutely.

When separation puts asunderâ&#x20AC;Ś I guess in some ways it speaks to the integrity and character of the person who has abandoned the spouse they have a covenant with. Having said that, I will advise couples to discuss upfront and acknowledge the toll and challenges that a separation will take and bring to their union, and then agree remedies. Long distance relationships can make either party vulnerable to entanglements. These however can be avoided or mitigated if a strong connection, sexual and otherwise is maintained. Luckily today, with technology this can be achieved if the couple is committed. Video messaging apps, phone calls, and email come to mind.

Odds against use of domestic assistants My advice is that couples need to learn and be able to do a lot of things for themselves, organise themselves better, make sure that both the husband and the wife are helping out and supportive of each other in every respect in this regard. They will need to leverage on family, pool together with other families for school run and child care. And if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to do any of these (laughing) then, if they can afford it or stretch to it, pay for the specialised help they need.

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͺ͞Ë&#x153; 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

2baba Celebrates with Gorgeous Photos of Kids Ferdinand Ekechukwu

L

egendary singer, Innocent Idibia aka 2baba was 45 few days back, to the joy of his loved ones and fans. 2babaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-time partner and wife, Annie Idibia ensured the day did not go unnoticed. The mother of two girls (Olivia and Isabella) put up a surprise birthday party in conjunction with the singersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; baby mamas - Sunmbo Adeoye and Pero Adeniyi. The music star â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife later showed the revelries on her Instagram, revealing lovely intimate photos of her mother-in-law, kids and step-children. Present at the party were four of the singer â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children.

Annie also shared photos of the superstar, who looked dapper in a black suit and matching beret, while she opted for a sparkling gold dress. A couple of 2Babaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends, including his long time business partner and manager, Efe Omoregbe were there to celebrate him. Others also joined the celebration online.

According to Annie, she had just 24 hours to plan the surprise party and the outfits for her mum, 2faceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mum and their children. Annie further disclosed how Sunmboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event planning company handled and brought the surprise to a perfect reality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A very big mighty shout out to @ esobevents. They hook up â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (he calls 2baba) surprise 45th birthday for me under only 24hrs ahhhhh @sunmboadeoye you are a magician ooooooo! On Wednesday Night At About 8:30pm it, I Called Esob Ceo @sunmboadeoye, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Babe, You know me n all my last min plans, abeg no vex oo..â&#x20AC;&#x2122; She bursted out laughing and she said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Annie u have come again ooooo.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Anyway, long story short , I told her all I really wanted for baba Surprise dinner; told her how baba didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wanna do any celebration, but I wanted something extremely intimate, just him, our moms and all his kids ! Just family!!!! â&#x20AC;&#x153;She said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;beautiful, Annie go and sleep you are sortedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and I was sorted oooo!! I also told her how I wanted all of his friends and family all over the world to be a part of his 45th! She said done!, and Gave me the idea of the surprise zoom dinner. I was over the moon with that thought! So all of his friends n family all over the world can be a part of his 45th, yet very intimate! Chai! Na so we start planning! And it was a huge success. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; thought I was taking him out for dinner alone! na so my makeup no gree finish! â&#x20AC;&#x153;He came up screaming, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;babe, na which kind make up u dey do wey no dey finish.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He got to the rooftop anddddddd.. Surprise!!!!! He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know his boys were around!

Sumbo n I pulled d trick on him and the highlights was into the dinner, a TV screen came up n boom!!! All of his friends, family and his kids in America popped up too! That one shock am oo! He was pleasantly surprised and extremely happy!!

Goal achieved! Thank you again @ esobevents for making all of these

Annie, 2baba, mother-inlaw, and children. . .

happen in 24 hrs. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be calm ooo more images and epistles loading. . .â&#x20AC;?

Annie later shared a romantic video of them together the eve of the birthday, accompanied with a sweet caption: â&#x20AC;&#x153; Oh my world .... happy birtday. No need for epistle anymore! You know my world revolves around you! The world knows... That you are my world.

Lytid. Happy birthday my â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mineâ&#x20AC;? @ official2baba #myBestFriend #mysupportsystem.â&#x20AC;?

In the short clip, the couple was at what appeared to be a club as they sang and danced to one of 2babaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songs. Onlookers were impressed by their display of affection and this was evident in their excited laughter.

Annie and 2baba are no doubt one of the celebrities whose relationship had been under scrutiny for a while but they managed to overcome their challenges and remain a strong force seeing as being in the spotlight is not always kind to marriages.

Isabella, Zion, Olivia, and Nino Idibia

21

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͺ͞Ë&#x153; 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Olamideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Carpe Diemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is Done Olamideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carpe Diemâ&#x20AC;? is ready. The singer/ song writer has dropped a few lyrics of a song from the album, together with what looks like a scene from a video, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Olamide

F

or a fact, YBNL honcho, Olamide Adedeji, who simply goes by Olamide, has got a new album ready for release. The album which he titles â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carpe

Diemâ&#x20AC;? will be made public on Thursday October 8. Olamide dropped mingling hint on his yet to be released project on the 19th of October via Instagram. With this notification, he also dropped a few lyrics of a song, together with what looks

like a scene from a video shoot to suggest that, if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a single, it will be a double package! Words also have it that Olamide has also been working with P Prime, the music producer.

Though, the singer is yet to give full de-

tails of the body of work, the album will be Olamideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut album on Empire, an American distribution company and record label. Recall that in February, 2020, Olamide disclosed a deal he sealed with Empire. The hip-hop act had earlier announced in an interview with a New York based radio, Afroflava radio that his album titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carpe Diemâ&#x20AC;? will be released 8th of October 2020. In the interview, the multiple brand ambassador revealed that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carpe Diemâ&#x20AC;? is strictly a reflection of his current state of mind; also some touching parts of his journey in 2016/17, on why he could have quit music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carpe Diemâ&#x20AC;? features appearances from new wave Afrobeat star, Fireboy DML, Omah Lay, Peruzzi, Phyno, Bad boy Timz and so many other artistes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carpe Diemâ&#x20AC;? should be highly anticipated. Some weeks back, the music star had hinted of a new album that was almost ready. He stated this while responding to his fans that the new project was keeping him busy and off social media for some time now. The album will be a follow-up to his â&#x20AC;&#x153;999â&#x20AC;? EP, released in January 2020. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Carpe Diemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a plea used to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future.

A few weeks back, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Eyan Mayweatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; had teased fans that his new album was 100% done and is set for the release. While posting a picture of himself with fast rising act, Omah Lay, Olamide wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Album 100% readyâ&#x20AC;Śare you?â&#x20AC;?

Ever since the release of his debut album â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rapsodiâ&#x20AC;? in 2011, hardly has a year gone without a full body of work from the famous rapper who has got the pulse of the street. It will be the first time he records such feat with two albums in a year when the album finally drops this year. Over the past nine years, Olamide has endorsed certain acts and at other times, he had signed them.

While a few have since left him in acrimony, most retain respect for him.

Since he burst onto the Nigeria music scene with his monster hit single, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eni Eduro,â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;Ś. Olamide never remained the same.

The song received critical acclaim nationwide and instantly shot Olamide to limelight. At the time, he was signed to ID Cabasaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record label, Coded Tunes alongside Seriki and Kayefi.

Under the label, he released his first album, Rapsodi. The terms of his exit were amicable. Olamide then branched out and founded his own record label, YBNL (an acronym for Yahoo Boy No Laptop, a tribute to how much money he makes without being involved in internet scam) under which he released his subsequent albums, including an album of same title (YBNL) in 2012. His 2014 album Street OT, The Baddest Guy Ever Liveth (2013), Eyan Mayweather (2015), and The Glory (2016) were other albums he released.

Danny Boy Celebrates Womanhood with New Single Chinedu Ibeabuchi

Fast-rising songwriter and singer, Julius Daniel Ogah, better known as Danny boy has released the video of his new single titled International Woman, in celebration of womanhood.

Danny Boy who rose to limelight with earlier this year with his Feel AM track said International woman is a song that eulogizes womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution to the sustenance of human race. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I chose to make this song because

women are the foundation of love and the birthplace of life. They deserve all the praises and good things in life.

International Woman has a classic, jazzy and mix of youthful vibes that everyone can relate to.

The song resonates its sound, creativity and videos with my Blaanation vibes.

My music is sensational and will always turn-up moods to a state of utter elation,â&#x20AC;? Danny Boy said.

Danny Boy, an acolyte of Afro Dance All music genre, made his musical debut

in 2019. With the good impressions so far, Danny Boy says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not slowing down this year.

With his new release already dazzling the airwaves, the 25-year-old singer has the potential of being among top upcoming artistes to make waves in the Nigerian music industry.

Danny boy is a brand ambassador for PADUPAFRICA, an advocacy support program targeted at helping the poorest communities with face masks, palliatives, drugs and COVID-19 sensitisation.

Danny Boy

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͺ͞Ë&#x153; 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Inkblot Partners NetďŹ&#x201A;ix for Nigerian Drama American film streaming platform, Netflix, pens fresh deals with Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inkblot Productions, three others, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

L

eading Nigerian film shop, Inkblot Productions has netted a deal with Netflix to helm a new original drama series for the US streaming platform.

Netflix announced the deal last Monday, alongside agreements for three new classic films from the African continent Ă&#x2019;lòt rĂŠ, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;King of Boys IIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; - from filmmakers Mo Abudu, Kunle Afolayan and Kemi Adetiba. The new series and films, which are at different stages of production, while others are ready to premiere, will join the growing slate of Nigerian content on the streaming platform and debut to 193 million members in 190 countries around the world, the streaming giant stated in a statement.

The new original series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Far From Homeâ&#x20AC;? is a six-part series created by Chinaza Onuzo and Dami Elebe. Produced by Inkblot Productions, it follows the story of Ishaya, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a charismatic teenager and talented artist from a poor family, whose dreams suddenly appear within reach when a prestigious scholarship to the most exclusive school in the country catapults him into the luxurious world of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1% â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all while a huge secret threatens his newfound status and, ultimately, his familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety. Actor-producer Funke Akindele is confirmed for a lead role in the upcoming Inkblot/Netflix series, while Zulumoke Oyibo and Damola Ademola will serve as executive producers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These Netflix original films demonstrate how weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re building a home for the best-

Naz Onuzo, Zulumoke Oyibo, and Damola Ademola

in-class Nigerian content for our members in Nigeria and beyond,â&#x20AC;? said Ben Amadasun, Netflixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of licensing and co-productions in Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing to see how Nigerian films and series resonate with audiences around the world. By making it easy for people to watch films and

shows from other countries, we can help them build empathy and develop a shared understanding of the world.â&#x20AC;?

Dorothy Ghettuba, the lead for African originals at Netflix said in the statement, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Netflix is proud to continue to invest in more original content from Nigeria. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re

also thrilled to grow our existing creative partnerships while forming new ones with Chinaza and the amazing Inkblot team who will now join the growing list of Nigerian partners.â&#x20AC;?

Reacting to the deal, an excited Inkblotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative, Onuzo said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thrilled to be partnering with the Netflix team to tell the story of Nigerian youth on a global scale. We cannot wait to share with the world what it feels like to grow up in one of the most dynamic countries on the planet.â&#x20AC;?

On the three new Nigerian films, the first, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Olotureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, is the story of a young female journalist who goes undercover as a prostitute to expose a human trafficking syndicate. The film is part of Netflixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership with Mo Abudu and her production company, Ebonylife. The movie will launch globally on October 2. Directed by Kenneth Gyang, its cast includes Sharon Ooja, Omowunmi Dada, Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Wofai Fada. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, from director Kunle Afolayan and produced by Golden Effects Pictures, will hit Netflix globally on Nov. 6. It is the coming-of-age story of Moremi, a bright university student who forms a bond with her charismatic and well-connected professor who ends up sexually harassing her. The film follows Moremiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quest for justice and stars Jimmy Jean Louis, Gabriel Afolayan, Ini Edo, Joke Silva, Adjetey Anang, newcomer Temi Otedola a surprise first timer, Ibukun Awosika. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;King of Boys IIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the sequel to director Kemi Adetibaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018 crime thriller, in which a businesswoman and crime boss is drawn into a power struggle that threatens all she holds dear. Set to premiere globally in the first half of 2021, the movie begins with Eniola Salamiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s triumphant return, after a five-year exile, to Lagos City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not content with the prospect of a fresh start,â&#x20AC;? she this time aims even higher than before. The movie features returning stars Sola Sobowale, Remilekun â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reminisceâ&#x20AC;? Safaru, Tobechukwu â&#x20AC;&#x153;iLLBlissâ&#x20AC;?

Ejiofor, and Toni Tones, as well as new lead cast Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, and Efa Iwara.

Ninalowo, Mary Lazarus Now Vento Furniture Ambassadors Tosin Clegg

Two of Nollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest stars, Mary Lazarus and Bolanle Ninalowo have been signed on as brand ambassadors for Vento Furniture at a ceremony in Lagos recently.

At the official signing at the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main showroom, the duo that couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hold back their excitement said they were excited to be brought on board and promised to exceed expectations.

Lazarus praised the brand for finding them worthy, promising that the partnership would be the beginning of better things for everyone involved. She added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited about this partnership. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing great things and helping Nigerians with affordable luxury and classic pieces. One of the main reasons I accepted this deal is because they represent who I am and what I stand for. God willing, this would be the beginning of bigger and better things to come for them and us as well.â&#x20AC;?

Ninalowo who was all smiles at the signing said the brand â&#x20AC;&#x153;is set to provide beautiful luxuryâ&#x20AC;? for every Nigerian at pocket-friendly prices. He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many

L-R: Regional Director, Vento Furniture, Hasan Uyar; Branch Manager, Oreoluwa Maconi; Actors, Bolanle Ninalowo and Mary Lazarus; MD, MBR Signature Ltd, Stanley Ezeani and manager, carpentry unit, Birol Akca at the ceremony in Lagos

Nigerians desire quality, luxury items but cost is usually a deterrent. Vento wants to change this in the furniture space and I am proud to be a part of this journey with them.

We want Nigerians to think of us when they think of quality furniture.â&#x20AC;?

Regional Director, Hasan Uyar, who was present at the signing, thanked the duo and

explained that they were picked because of their individual personality, star appeal and what they stand for, which is a visual representation of their brand.

SATUDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

23

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

POLITY

Beauty of Ebeano and Gburugburu Philosophy Joseph Aneke

L

ast week’s reunion of the Ebeano political family has continued to resonate in the nation’s political space.

For critical observers, the Ebeano concept and the Gburugburu philosophy are one and the same. That was why in Enugu particularly, the euphoria of the reunion of the Ebeano family was remarkable as the nostalgic event brought together serving and former members of the National Assembly, State House of Assembly, former ministers, party leaders and others produced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state since 1999.

Since inception of the Fourth Republic, virtually all the major players in the politics of Enugu State are products of the Ebeano family. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Governor Sullivan Chime, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Senators, House of Representatives members among others who have occupied several other high profile political positions are products of the family which was birthed by former governor Chimaroke Nnamani.

But what is the whole concept of Ebeano about?

It is a political philosophy for good governance, courage, political sagacity, hard work and industry, and of course, humility.

Above all, the philosophy encourages orderliness and peaceful coexistence of the people, hence, it is rooted in power rotation among the three Senatorial zones in the state. The power rotation which started with Enugu East in 1999 and currently being held by Enugu North will have gone round the three zones in 2023 and as it is, an average Enugu person knows that Enugu East will produce Governor Ugwuanyi’s successor. That is why, perhaps, no state in Nigeria has witnessed the smooth transition of power like Enugu because of that political culture of fairness, justice and equity that has been entrenched in the Coal city state.

It was then not surprising that thousands of jubilant members and supporters of the family last week celebrated the reunion of the Ebeano family which paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ugwuanyi.

In the event, the family unanimously endorsed him as their leader in whom they are well pleased.

Led by former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, the family described Ugwuanyi as an unassuming, peace-loving, visionary and worthy leader who has kept the vision and philosophy of the movement alive and pledged their unalloyed loyalty and support to the governor in his choice of a political successor.

The Ebeano family maintained that Gov. Ugwuanyi deserves the same political privileges enjoyed by his predecessors in choosing their successors as well as other positions.

The solidarity of the political family for Governor Ugwuanyi did not come to many as a surprise because Gburugburu has not only consolidated the Ebeano philosophy but has substantially improved it to an enviable height.

Many argue that perhaps, marrying his unique personal leadership attributes with the Ebeano philosophy, is what has made

Ugwuanyi Governor Ugwuanyi to continue to rise politically from strength to strength. And ironically, he is one politician that opponents can easily underrate because he is a man of few words. But those who understand his leadership style would tell you that he is a man of action and always passionate about his convictions.

In 2003 when he was elected to represent Igboeze North/ Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State, nobody gave him a chance to stay beyond one tenure but he was in the House of Representatives for 12 years. At the Green chamber, he was the Chairman of the committee on Marine Transport and in the history of Nigeria the only lawmaker who served two consecutive tenures as Chairman of that critical committee.

And it did not stop at the House of Representatives. Following his party’s primary election of December 8, 2014 in Enugu, Ugwuanyi successfully won PDP’s gubernatorial ticket, which legitimately made him the state’s PDP standard bearer for the 2015 general election. Of course, he predictably won the election.

At that point, he caught the fancy of many who did not understand the secret behind his rise in politics.

But critical watchers would readily tell you that the ‘Gburugburu’ political philosophy is the secret behind the governor’s meteoric rise in power. The argument is that any politician who adopts the philosophy in his relationship with the people is bound to win their hearts.

He is one person whose kindness and generosity radiate “everywhere” and on “everyone”. As an intelligent leader, he is interested in results and his leadership qualities have triggered

socio-economic developments and impacted positively on the people of Enugu State.

But three things are key to the Gburuguru philosophy. One is humility which the governor has in abundance and oftentimes uses it to great advantage. Many would agree that even his worst political opponents find it difficult if not impossible to challenge his government. He is ever ready to meet even his opponents at their own terms for peace to reign provided it is for the good of the people.

Many believe that the governor’s level headedness, transparency and disposition to carry everybody along have made it impossible for the opposition parties to challenge his administration. Even though some prominent indigenes of the state have joined the APC which is the main opposition party in the state, they still maintain a cordial relationship with the governor who believes that the interest of Enugu people should not be limited by party affiliations.

One of the great thinkers of our time, Jonathan Edwards says: “Some persons are always ready to level those above them down to themselves, while they are never willing to level those below them up to their own position. But he that is under the influence of true humility will avoid both these extremes. On the one hand, he will be willing that all should rise just so far as their diligence and worth of character entitle them to; and on the other hand, he will be willing that his superiors should be known and acknowledged in their place, and have rendered to them all the honors that are their due.”

One thing that is also embedded in the Gburugburu philosophy is the spirit of generosity. What it means is that for one to succeed in politics, one must as a rule, be ready to sacrifice to others and think less of self. Leadership in the eyes of the governor is about people. Remember, the people in this context who are in the majority are not fools and the goodwill cultivated by the generous politician comes in handy during elections.

Governor Ugwuanyi’s sense of accommodation is unparalleled. Every leader must have a large heart and be ready to sacrifice anything for the good of all. For instance, the office of the governor is not for a particular zone in the state but for all irrespective of political affiliations. It is not surprising that Governor Ugwuanyi is adored by all in the state because he has given everybody a sense of belonging.

With the entrenchment of peace and good governance in Enugu State, in spite of the country’s daunting economic challenges, Ugwuanyi has sustained his path to vision, integrity, inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and prudent management of resources. And his exploits in the provision of critical infrastructure across the state, rural development, qualitative and affordable education and healthcare delivery, regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, and robust investment drive, peace and security; economic empowerment and agricultural revolution, among others, have been acknowledged and applauded by friends and foes alike.

––Aneke writes from Coal Camp, Enugu.

Jesus Meets Nathaniel: Three Lessons in Diplomacy Austin Tam-George

I

have been teaching communication strategy to university students and business leaders for over two decades. But every day teaches you something new.

And sometimes, the animated chatter between the police and a recalcitrant driver at a traffic stop may produce a glowworm of knowledge that eluded you at Harvard.

Listening to Pastor David Ibiyeomie’s sermon last Sunday, about the dramatic encounter between Jesus and Nathaniel both impressed and startled me.

His teaching gave me a second intuition on the powers of diplomacy, tact, and the judicious use of praise in building human relationships, and winning people over.

As a cleric, I have long admired Pastor Ibiyeomie’s interpretive powers, his ability to analyse the Bible as an ecclessiastical text, and present it simply as a manual for every day life.

I believe that this is an important way of presenting the Bible, because despite the tantalizing promise of heaven, most people want to live a full and meaningful life here on earth.

And they want the Bible to serve as a practical tool kit, a sort of moral lamp to guide them in the darkness of their daily hustles.

The encounter between Jesus and Nathaniel is narrated in John 1: 43-50. As he prepares to leave for Galilee, Jesus calls out to Philip to follow him.

On his way, Phillip meets Nathaniel and immediately offers to introduce him to Jesus, saying: “ We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

But Nathaniel was dismissive and sceptical of

Jesus, ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come out from there? “, he asks. But as Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he greets him enthusiastically, praising Nathaniel: “Here truly is an Isrealite, without deceit.”

Caught off-guard by the unexpected compliment , Nathaniel asks Jesus : “ How do you know me?”

And Jesus said: “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you”.

Then Nathaniel declared : “Rabbi, You are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel “ Although Pastor Ibiyeomie interpreted this encounter in the context of soul winning and evangelism, there seems to be a lot in this single encounter that we can learn from about the dynamics of social intelligence, human psychology, product branding, industrial relations, marketing, leadership, and even the interaction of fundamental forces in physics.

Below are THREE lessons for communication and relationship managers, from the encounter between Jesus and Nathaniel.

1. SEE THE GOOD IN PEOPLE . When we see the good in imperfect people, we set the stage for them to see the best in us.

In business, we can apply this principle in our relationships with customers, partners, communities, coworkers, etc.

Although Nathaniel approached Jesus from a place of prejudice and stereotypical perception, Jesus neutralised that with the force of his own positivity, by praising Nathaniel as a man without guile. In return, Nathaniel acknowledged Jesus as a ‘Rabbi”, “Son of God” and the “King of Israel”.

Sociology teaches us that human interactions are notoriously complex. Yet, positivity could see

you through the door, and probably keep you in the room of opportunities for much longer.

2. PRAISE PEOPLE : In a world full of criticism, negativity and one-upmanship, the judicious use of praise could be a tonic for a good relationship.

There are numerous psychological and brain studies that show that praise makes people feel respected, happy, and keeps them motivated.

In business relationships, praise and appreciation are important elements of social intelligence.

Although praise and recognition are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same. Many organisations set particular days aside for the “Recognition” of selected staff.

But from the way Jesus used it, we see a crucial difference between Praise and Recognition.

While recognition may be based on ‘merit’ and ‘performance’, Praise appreciates the intrinsic and unconditional worth of the human person.

This is why long after the confetti at a recognition ceremony have all been swept away, the organic impact of judicious praise will remain.

Praise is also different from sycophancy in a vital sense. Asycophant uses insincere flaterry to gain personal favours.

In fact, the word “sycophant” has a dubious origin that stretches as far as the manipulative legal system of classical Greece.

3. STAY ON THE MESSAGE: Every communication process has at least 3 components: a sender, a message and a receiver. Of these three, the message is the most crucial component, because it is the purpose of the communication.

When Jesus called Philip, his purpose was evangelism. And after the pleasantries with Nathaniel, Jesus launched straight into evangelical matters.

Marketing and sales managers may apply the

same standards in their business communications.

If the purpose of the interaction with customers is to deliver service or sell a product and make some profit, stay on the message.

Are you a lawyer seeking to make a compelling argument in order to win a case? Then you could follow the example of Jesus, by keeping the focus strictly on the purpose of your argument.

If you are an environmental or climate scientist looking for inspiration in this encounter, the fig tree Jesus referred to in this story has a special subliminal power.Trees hold the key to environmental sustainability in this turbulent age of environmental and climate crisis.

In fact, in his remarks to commemorate the International Day of Forests, on 21 March 2018, Antonio Guterres the UN Secretary General, noted that “ Forests are the lungs of our planet”, and that trees greatly mitigate the impact of climate change.

Clearly, stock brokers, car manufacturers, students, delivery truck drivers, pilots, bank executives, food vendors, and everyone can learn from the encounter between the two men.

I believe that when the Bible is presented in a way that has utilitarian value for people’s daily lives, the way Pastor Ibiyeomie of the Salvation Ministries does, it brings people closer to seek God’s face.

When they hit the road at dawn, they feel that the word of God is their inexorable escort.

They may become kinder and more purpose driven.

And when our days on earth are done, we may look with faith, not trepidation, at the gates of God’s promised Kingdom.

––Dr AustinTam-George is a former Commissioner for Information, Rivers State.

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

POLITY

Showmax Pro: The Rise of Africa’s Premium On-Demand Streaming Platform Tolulope Ibukunoluwa

T

here is a wave of excitement among movie buffs, football enthusiasts and entertainment lovers with the new Video on Demand platform, Showmax Pro, a subscriptionbased streaming service designed to serve on-demand streaming and live TV The reason for the excitement is not far fetched as the new service bundles the existing Showmax entertainment service with music channels, news, and live sport streaming from SuperSport.

The offering includes all the games from the UK’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, Portugal’s La Liga, South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, as well as a wide range of live sports events including athletics, professional boxing, and the world’s biggest marathons. When your live match is over, the platform ensures subscribers enjoy magazine shows, sports documentaries and recent sporting highlights. Also, music channels such as Trace Urban and Trace Gospel, and news channels Africa News, Euronews and Newzroom Afrika are available for subscribers’ enjoyment.

Nigerian subscribers get to experience the extensive local category on Showmax, stream a wide range of Nigerian series and movies, including the Big Brother Naija 5 which is live-streamed on Showmax and catch all the weekly evictions, Head of House challenges, and extra view of unseen footage.

Other local favourites are sensational reality shows, Mercy & Ike, Halita, and Judging Matters, as well as international hits like Insecure, and Billions.

Quite interestingly, new and existing subscribers can access Showmax and Showmax Pro for just N2,900 and N6,300 respectively, while Showmax Mobile and Showmax Pro Mobile can be accessed for N1,450 and N3,200 respectively only!

Interesting too is that subscribers can stream standard Showmax and Showmax Pro concurrently on two devices, while Showmax Mobile and Showmax Pro Mobile can be viewed on only one device at a time. Standard Showmax and Showmax Pro can be viewed in High Definition on

Smart TV, laptop, Android TV, Apple TV apps, while Showmax Mobile and Showmax Pro Mobile can be viewed in Standard Definition on smartphones and tablets apps. Also of interest is the fact that Showmax offers consumers a free 14-day trial! However, Showmax Pro does not have a free trial.

Speaking to Forbes, Showmax says of the platform: “This is the biggest thing we’ve done at Showmax in the five years since we first launched. Africa is an incredibly diverse continent, so offering a single monolithic product may not be the best solution. Our approach is to standardize where we can and tailor where we need to. That’s why you’ll see different local content on Showmax in Nigeria than you will in Kenya, and South Africa’s content is different again.”

Observers of the budding industry said that the launch of Showmax and subsequently, Showmax Pro is in response to opening up the video-on-demand space where Netflix also plays. Recall that two years after Netflix was launched in Africa, in 2016, it gained around 400,000 users, mostly in South Africa, MultiChoice’s country of origin. And to stiffen competition or better to discourage it, Netflix announced a budget of $8 billion for original contents targeting the African region among other places.

This move was a daring challenge, one that MultiChoice accepted with unflinching manliness. In 2015 and 2018, MultiChoice’s majority shareholder, Naspers announced it would divest from the company via an IPO which was completed in February 2019. Without the overarching presence of Naspers, Multichoice started to chart a new path on the streaming front. In June 2019, it started testing live sports content on Showmax, suggesting it wanted to prioritize the service.

This move was stalled by challenges including the use of mobile phone and broadband services which were low in quality compared to the capacity needed to sustain streaming services. At the time, smartphone and internet adoption were witnessing early growth. In 2018, there were 302 million smartphone users on the continent and 239 mobile internet subscribers. However, over 50% of all mobile broadband connections were 2G. This affected the quality of users’ internet experience.

Despite operating streaming services, Multichoice focused on DStv’s decoder-based business. This model has provided much of its revenue for years. But when Netflix launched in Africa in 2016, DStv’s decoder business became vulnerable.

Despite the challenges, the Showmax brand went on to introduce live streaming. It launched Showmax in August of 2015. In May 2016, Showmax expanded to 36 countries in Africa. In July 2016, Showmax had passed the 10 million views milestone.

Also in August 2016, Showmax launched a bandwidthcapping tool that allows users to choose different quality levels. Subscribers can select either a low bandwidth cap of 0.3 GB/hr, a medium cap of 0.7 GB/hr, or leave usage uncapped. In addition, Showmax added a multiple profile feature including the ability to set up childfriendly profiles with different age settings. By October 2016, Showmax launched Showmax Select and Showmax Premium in Kenya. In January 2017, Showmax partnered with SEACOM to put caching servers in Nairobi, Kenya.

Showmax is supported by a wide range of devices, including computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TV and gaming consoles. Currently, Showmax Pro is available in more than 40 African countries.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Cogmiho Communications, Mr. Sam Osunsok; Representative of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola Shodipo;Winner, Emmanuel Umoga; Deputy Director/Coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mrs. Priscilla Onuzulu; and Managing Director, Humber International, Mr. Andrew Humber-Osofisan, at the launch and cheque presentation to the winners ofTylgames in Lagos… yesterday SUNDAYADIGUN

L-R: ICAN Deputy Registrar Technical Services, Dr. Ben Ukaegbu; Council member, Dr. Felix Osuji; Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Ahmed Kumshe; and the President Dame Onome Adewuyi, displaying the new syllabus at the unveiling of new ICAN syllabus in Lagos...recently

L-R: Mr. Christopher Ighodalo; The Jewish Rabbi of Lagos, Rabbi Mendy Sternbach; and Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, during a courtesy call to the Ighodalos by Rabbi Mendy Sternbach in Lagos.. recently

L-R: FCT Director, NOA, Mr. David Manya Dogo (rtd); Media Consultant, Mrs. Eugenia Abu; MD Sheraton Hotel Abuja, Mrs. Rita Ezeani; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs and Administration, Dr. Hajo Sani; DG NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; MD AIT, Mrs. Toyin Dokpesi; President NANTA, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye; Director Counselling, NAPTIP, Ulasi Ebele; President NATOP, Hajiya Bilikisu Abdul; and Justice Olamide Oloyede (rtd), at an event in Abuja…recently

26

Ë&#x153; Ëž SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

FAJ/JOE

THEFRONTLINES

Foreign Loans:In Whose National Interest?

JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T

here is a storm brewing over the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government to build a rail line linking Kano, Dutse, Daura in Nigeria to Maradi in neighbouring Niger Republic.

Although it is no longer news because the project has featured prominently within presii dential circles; I had also written about it in this column few months ago, questioning the desirability of this project and its economic importance to Nigeria.

Last Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meett ing, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. RotimiAmaechi, briefed State House correspondents telling them that the Federal Executive Council had approved $1.96billion for the construction of a rail line to link Kano, Dutse, Katsina and Maradi in Niger Republic.

In less that 24 hours, Senior SpecialAssistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, reacted in his Twitter handle @GarShehu denying that Nigeria was building any rail line to link Niger Republic. He said the plan was to construct the rail line up to the border Nigeria shares with the neighbouring country and not into the country itself.

The presidential aide wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t building rail line into Niger but, only to the designated border point. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An agreement between Nigeria and Niger in 2015, coordinated by the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation has a plan for Kano-Katsina-Maradi Corridor Master Plan, K2M as it is called. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Going by this, the two nations would each build a rail track to meet at the border town of Maradi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigerian delegates to that meeting comprised officials from the Ministry of ForeignAffairs, National Boundaries Commission, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Water Resources as well as those of Kano and Katsina states. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The objective of the rail is the harnessing of raw materials, mineral resources and agricultural produce. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When completed, it will serve domestic industries and play the role of a viable transportation backbone to the WestAfrican sub-region, starting with the neighbouring Niger Republic for their export and import logistic,â&#x20AC;? Shehu clarified.

But his explanation that were short on details like how many kilometers each country was to build to the border, cost component and desirability of the project by Nigerians, has rather than quelling the anger, drawn more angst and vituperations from a cross section of Nigerian Twitter users who berated the administration for literally â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;not imbibing the spirit of charity beginning from home and denying the stomach to feed the backâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Nigerians have every reason to be angry. To be sure, it thus appears the Buhari administration had an ulterior motive and agenda in surreptitiously choosing such a project immediately it was inaugurated in the absence of recommendation on the viability of such a project.

While the hurry in commissioning the Kano, Dutse, Daura and Maradi rail project when the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan had completed designs for a multiplicity of rail projects from Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Makurdi, Benin,Abuja, Kaduna, Maiduguri.

Before Buhari took over, the Federal Government already signed a N67 billion contract for the rehabilitation of the 2,119 kilometres three Eastern rail lines.Abreakdown of these projects showed that the 463 km rail line will link Port Harcourt to Makurdi; 1,016 km rail line from Makurdi to Kuru, including spur line to Jos and Kafanchan; and 640 km rail line from Kuru to Maiduguri.Available records showed that appreciable progress had been made in the completion of the 1,657km Eastern line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

Apart from these, there were also other rail projects including the 322km Lagos-Benin City line, 500km Benin-Abakiliki line, 673km Benin- Obudu Cattle Ranch line, 615km Lagos-Abuja high speed line, 520km Zaria-Birnin- Koni line, 533km Ega nyi-Otukpo and the Ega nyi-Abuja line littered across the country.

So who approved this additional line to Maradi, was there a FEC approval? How was it to be funded, was it captured by the National Assembly in the 2015/2016 appropriation? With all the other rail projects still on-going, what was the compelling reason for a rail project to Niger in the face of dwindling resources?Besides, is a rail line to Niger a priority?

That brings us to the topic of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treatise where we are going to question the veracity of Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claim that he is borrowing in national interest. In whose national interest? Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or Nigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest?

Not too long ago, in apparent reaction to critics of his rising debt profile from $10b when he came in to almost $30b today, the President justified his administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s borrowing, saying the loans were in national interest.

Speaking at a virtual meeting with members of the Presidential EconomicAdvisory Council (PEAC) at the State House, inAbuja, the President said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have so many challenges with infrastrucc ture. We just have to take loans to do roads, rail and power, so that investors will find us attractive and come here to put their money.â&#x20AC;?

As it has now become his stock in trade, he again blamed past administrations for the failure to provide the infrastructure for effective transportation which he said deprived the country of its

Trilogy of Eulogy: Salute to Muse

A

week before the 74th anniversary of the Juju maestro and maverick mesmerizer of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social stratosphere, we started what concludes today as a trilogy of praise and recognition of a living legend, properly so called.

We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just want to underscore the greatness of Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (KSA) as an iconoclast in the temple of musical creation, but to also signpost the necessary ingredient that ought to be sacrosanct in the maturity of the genius: the gradual but certain emergence of a begotten â&#x20AC;&#x153;son-in-museâ&#x20AC;?, directly or indirectly.

We have developed and explored four of five elements that give some semblance of hints that the stardust of authentic super-stardom enveloping the King, may (and this is where the fragilities of humanity can sometimes disappoint) somewhat sprinkle on a presumptive Crown Prince. We have discussed (note for the umpteenth time, not compared) how KSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s virtuosity finds promise in the ascendancy of TuFace (45 on September 18) on the window of Vocalisation, Stagecraft, Innovation and Compositional Skills. This final reflection dwells on the fifth and final element: Lifestyle. With requisite regards, join me in this warm finale.

LIFESTYLE (the way we live): Here is the crux of the whole matter. This is where the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; looks like a chip off the old block - a true â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of his musical â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Without being salacious and unduly infringing on the privacy of the two artistes, we shall have to draw the parallels that show forth the possible â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;reasonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; why the two songsters share commonalities that beggar belief.

KSA: Even if he does not play music, KSA will be a charmer, a ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; man. Lithe of stature and coy in disposition, the Ondo-state born grandfather comes across as one whose weight cannot crush an ant, even if he tries all he can. In the presence of any guest, KSA appears dovish, lavishly respectful and full of graces that hardly can offend. His mien and speech are calm, deliberate without being ponderous. He is self-trained, but has exquisite taste and etiquette. Join all that to his earthy good looks, slender well-toned body frame and dancing eyes... How can such a man escape the grabbing claws of admiring and awe-struck

female fans - old and young, home and abroad, coast to plateau? Nimble-footed and dexterous on the dance floor, with sex-themed gyrations and such other explicit connotations through songs and dance; it is no wonder that KSA led the tabloids of the 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and much of the 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with salacious tales of his alleged escapades, philandering, marital upheavals and all sorts of movie-like manoeuvres in his private relational transactions.

KSA is alleged to have several women who either have fostered children for him, or strongly claim a portion of his heart. It is diffi f cult to give a number to his women or his children. Once in a no-holdsbarred interview with him, I tried to pin him down to a specific number of women in his life; and their corresponding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fruitsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. But like a master pugilist, he danced around the probe, jabbing lightly with humour; feinting left and right with parables, and generally delivering a sucker punch on the strings that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t attempt to conduct a census of a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offspring, in Yorubaland.

KSA is however a kind-hearted generous benefactor of several families indigent by demise of their breadwinners or sudden unemployment. Through his KSA Foundation, several are sponsored up to university level (even when he himself missed the opportunity) and still many more hang around his droplets of benevolence; banking on the goodness of a man who has refused to drift from his humble origins - his homes, offi f ces and other interests are largely in the densely populated mainland of Lagos - marking him out as a man with a heart grounded in simplicity, humility, and unforced goodness. These attributes mark him as a great man of culture and creativity, flawed sparingly by his intrinsic nature and the exuberance of his talents.

TUFACE: Here is the slowly forming â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; side of KSA; an archetype that has almost all the finer textures of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;originalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and still working hard to transform into the magnificent replica of the ageing monument.

A staple of the 21st century scandal-mongering tabloids and newspapers, Tuface has carved a niche in notoriety simply by his private peccadillos - a seemingly insatiable knack for siring children through many willing vessels. Though recently married (as

jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com 08023422660 (sms only)

well-deserved status as WestAfrican hub for air cargo transportaa tion and trans-shipment of goods.

It is shocking if not shameful to hear the President limit his options of infrastructure finance to just borrowing alone describb ing his lame effort as being in national interest whereas there are several less expensive, tested and proven models of infrastructure financing options which Nigeria would have adopted effortlessly without attracting this huge debt overhang.

Shocking and shameful because Nigerians were sold on the promise during the 2015 presidential campaign of change in the way things were done previously to new ways that would usher in prosperity and good life for but today, all they are getting is lame excuses.

On a personal note, I had believed the Buhari change mantra meant that he was fully abreast of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numerous problems and therefore, all the while he was jostling to become the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president, he already had a road map on how to introduce big ideas that would change this country and people overnight. How mistaken we were.

What change has Buhari brought to the table in the last five years that is different from what his predecessors did? Did his predecess sors not borrowed money to build power plants, rail system etc in the country? Did they succeed with the model of financing? What then instructed the Buhari administration to pursue its change agenda doing the same old things the same old ways?

The solution to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure deficits rests solely in the private sector. Past administrations have consistently failed because they refused to let go and drive their respective infrastructure financing through the private sector. It has since been tested and proven through the various outcomes that borrowing to finance infrastructure in this country is a waste of resources, avenue to encourage cronyism and corruption.

For example, had Shiroro, Kainji dams been executed through an alternative Public Private Partnership model, no government after it would been involved in what goes on there and it would have been up to the investor to run it efficiently and profitably to recoup the investment.

The same would have applied in the case of President Olusegun Obasanjoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) which gulp an estimated $16b to build ten gas thermal stations in strategic locations in the country. Unfortunately, such a laudable project ended up in controversy y leading g to privatization. p Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

COUNTERP POINT

FEMI

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

at 2014), the songster is noted to have fathered six children by three beautiful women whose idea of procreation planning baffl f es observers, since they appear to bring forth these little innocents in indiscriminate procession.

Those who know say Tuface is warm, humble, generous and benevolent - guess who that sounds like? That may account for the transparent warmth several upcoming singers in the Afropop and Hip-hop genre talk about the influence and impact of Tuface on their careers.

With his Hypertek Entertainment outfit and other platforms, he has couched and softened the harsh realities of living in many lives, and lifted sagging aspirations.

His decision to stick to one woman echoes a legendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire to stay-off women few decades ago... But if history has a way of repeating itself; if Tuface, the star of the millennial first decade goes on to consolidate his position in decades to come; his resolve will be sorely tested - as history has shown us.

CONCLUSION: In all these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;categorizationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;amplificationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the two twinkling stars of different but intertwining eras are still different individuals with distinct personas.

We are unable to probe further than what we see; or get answers to. Yet, we have enough pointers to indicate that just as profound and relentless as KSA dominates the Nigerian music space for so long, and so trenchant; the strapping young adult, Tuface Idibia has the capacity, skill, opportunity and temperament to grasp and guide the flows and ebbs of Nigerian music for the next couple of decades.

Just check this: In all the â&#x20AC;&#x153;brouhahaâ&#x20AC;?, Tuface has only put out just four albums, in eight years! Fastbackwards - in the eight years between 1967 and 1974, King Sunny Ade had plundered over 45 short playing discs (equivalent to 10 modern LPs)!!!

Oh, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a long, long way to super stardom! Longer still to true legendary status! All hail the King!!

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

NEWS

LEICESTER STAKE STREAK AT THE ETIHAD

26.09.2020

Samson Tijani Still in Dreamland

PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Samson Tijani

Still in Dreamland When he led the Nigeria U17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania and the 2019 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, little did the 18-year old know that his path to higher glory was just around the corner? It was therefore a big surprise to Samson Tijani when his name was included in the 25-man list for the two-headed friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia by Manager Gernot Rohr. Perhaps, not until after the end of the two matches would the Red Bull Salzburg of Austria loanee come out of his dreamland

W

henFranco-GermanNigeriasenior national team Manager, Gernot Rohr rolled out the 25-man Super Eagles list that would procure next month’s double-header friendlies against the Desert Foxes of Algeria and the Cartage Eagles of Tunisia, billed for October 9 and 13 respectively in Austria, little did he know someone in the list was in for a shock treatment.

Red Bull Salzburg loanee, Samson Tijani, has confessed that his maiden invitation to the Super Eagles for their upcoming friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia came as a surprise, and has claimed that he did not have any contact with manager Rohr and his assistants in the days leading up to the squad q announcement.

However, the former Golden Eaglets g skipper pp r has revealed that the Franco-German football lll tactician assured him and other Nigeria g U17 7 last y year there was was aa pathway into stars pathw y in o stars last ear that that there the Super p Eagles g if they y keep p doing g well.

Tijani j has therefore jjumped p two age g g groups ps - Flying y g Eagles g and Olympic y p Eagles g following g his first call-up p to the Super p Eagles g and d after only y four matches as a professional p and 322 minutes under his belt.

“I feel g good about being g invited but I didn’t expect p the call-up p because I jjust moved d to Europe,” p Tijani j told allnigeriasoccer.com. g “It was amazing g when I came to Europe, p I didn’t even play p y in the academy, went directly to the first team. straight “When I was sent on loan, I went straigh gh ht to the starting g lineup, p I have played p y alll the games. g It is amazing g starting g all the four matches, than thank nk God for everything”. y g The former TSV V Hartberg g defensivee midfielder added:: “Everything y g is step p by step, when n I get g to camp p things g will bee good, I did not g no n ot even know the w th he coach was waas go-ing to in-- v i t e me.

“Rohr came to the camp when we were preparing for the Africa U17 Cup of Nations, he watched me and the other players, said I’m doing good but I’m still a kid and he’ll be monitoring the good players.”

Tijani immediately called his mother as soon as his invitation to the Super Eagles was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation.

“I called my mother first to inform her of the good news about my call-up but she didn’t understand the meaning so I had to break it down for her. She was happy and thanked God for everything,” concluded Tijani.

The 18-year-old Tijani is battling more experienced players such as Oghenekaro Etebo, Mikel Agu for one of the A Ag gu and Frank Onyeka y in central midfield sstarting st arting g spots p i the friendlies with Algeria in aand an d Tunisia next month.

Meanwhile, Former Nigeria g assistant a ssistant coach Kennedy Bob ass sta ta t coac e edy Bobobo oye o ye has backed the ex-Golden Eaglets E ag glets to fill Leicester city y midfielder Wilfred Ndidi’s void v oid in Rohr’s team for the two iinternational nternational friendly y matches sscheduled cheduled for October.

Ndidi has withdrawn from next n ext month’s two friendly y games after suffering g g a groin g vic-iinjury njury j y in Leicester City’s y 4-2 vic ttory ory against Burnley y on Sunday. y Aware of the crucial role Ndidi N Nd idi p plays, y Boboye oy o ye - who is cur-

rently the head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League outfit Awka United - suggested new invitee Tijani as a potential candidate to play in his absence amid experience concerns.

“Ndidi should be the only player actually playing that position in the national team. If he is injured, I think we should have a better replacement. The coaches working with them know,” Boboye told Goal .

“That position is where Oghenekaro Etebo has been played in more than three games for Nigeria so he can fill the void as usual.

“We have Samson Tijani, the Golden Eaglets captain who is playing regularly for his club in Europe and he is a better replacement if Ndidi is not there, tho though he might lack the experience.

The advanta advantage is that he’s playing at his club and they y can give him a guideline.” captained Nigeria to the U17 Fifa World Tijani j capta p Cup p in Brazil Braz last year, and he is currently on aa season-long season-lon season ason lo lon loan at Austrian top-flight club Hartberg g from fro RB Salzburg.

18-year-old midfielder has played four The 18-yea y matches across all competitions this season, acr which include includ two Austrian Bundesliga games.

Unfortunately, Tijani was sent off on Sunday Unfortuna after receiving receivin two yellow cards in Hartberg’s 2-0 defeat to Wolfsberger AC. face Nigeria g fa Algeria on October 9 before tackling four days later in Austria, g Tunisia Tun however, Boboye feels the games are there to Bo help p the team bond after almost a year without international internationa outings. are friendly games, just to see how “These ar we can combine the teams and get good percomb formances in the two matches.

“They y are not n must-win games, we don’t have anything in those games but to see other y g at stake s players and see how they can blend into the p y Super Boboye said. p Eagles,” Eagles g In the same vien, former U17 World Cup winning coach, c ach, Manu co Man Garba has described the inclusion of Samson into the squad of the Super o Tijani j S Eagles is a good omen for the younger g generation of Nigerian footballers. g ner ge Garba, who discovered Tijani and Ga tutored him at the Junior African Nattu u to tions t i o Championship in Tanzania and ti also a l s the World Cup in Brazil said the al players’ inclusion is another benefit pl of o f hard work and dedication. ”For Tijani, his inclusion into the team is a good omen for younger te players coming up”. Garba told pla p brila.net. bri “I believe he can show what he has on tthe ball when he gets the chance to kic kick the ball for the senior national team,” team, he said.

The Nigerian teenager began his EuN ropean campaign at the Red Bull Arena p after signing a long-term deal with Jesse sign g Marsch’s sside on a five-year contract.

Tijani joins j jjoin Die Mozartstadter from Lagosbased outfit Collins Edwin Sports Club. grateful to sign for Red Bull Salzburg.

“I am so g gr I hope p the fans fan will support us and be with us in this journey, which wil l n o t b e e a s y,” Tijani j had said.

How well Tijani can cash-in on this rear opportunity p y if fielded in any of the two games remain to be seen.

29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 26 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

High-riding Leicester Stakes Form at the Etihad After surviving their bogey team-Wolves in their first game, injury hit Manchester City will face another tough test in their bid to wrestle the Premier League title from Liverpool as they welcome high scoring Leicester City to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow. Both managers-Pep Guardiola and Brendan Rodgers- have not hidden their intentions of going for the three points at stake after fielding their fringe players in the Carabao Cup during the week Two emphatic wins for Leicester saw them top the table after their win over Burnley last weekend but this is a major test for them as they go to the Etihad. Manchester City looked sharp on Monday night against Wolves and they will be desperate to make a fast start and put a marker down. The Foxes are not helped by an injury to Ndidi and he will be a major loss in a game like this. While Leicester are flying offensively and can certainly score against this City defence, the hosts will create plenty of opportunities themselves. Expected both teams to score and a home win here.

Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claims to have just 13 fit senior players available for tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clash with Leicester.

City are less than a week into their new season but already have a lengthy list of absentees.

Guardiola turned to youth for Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth and expects to have to call upon the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Academy resources again.

One youngster who caught the eye was 17-year-old striker Liam Delap â&#x20AC;&#x201C; son of former Stoke midfielder Rory â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who opened the scoring with a fine strike from just inside the area.

With Sergio Aguero possibly out for another two months as he recovers from knee surgery, the teenager

could see more action in the coming weeks.

Guardiola said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, the situation we have right now, we have just 13 players available in the first team. We need the Academy, not just for the training sessions. They can be selected during the games.

On his Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opponent, he said; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leicester have exceptional players up front and in the middle.

We know it. We know how tough it will be. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are leading the Premier League right now. It will be incredibly tough, we know that. It is always difficult and it will be no exception. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We play at home. I see the team really well in terms of happiness. The young players help us a lot and we move forward.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, Manchester united will look to get off the mark in the premier league at the second time of asking today when they take on Brighton & hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. both sides beat championship opposition away from home in the EFL Cup in midweek, but they suffered contrasting fortunes in their last league games with Brighton beating Newcastle united and man united losing at home to crystal palace. after a summer of frustration in the transfer market and off-field headlines for the wrong reasons surround-

ing a couple of their key players, Manchester United would have been desperate to get off to a positive start when their premier league campaign belatedly got underway last weekend.

Safe to say, that did not prove to be the case; a 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace only increased the scrutiny on Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer dealings and undermined their hopes of closing the gap on the top two after a thirdplaced finish last time out.

It was only the third time that united had lost their opening home premier league game, and it was also the first time palace had scored more than twice in their past 40 league games, shining a light on the red devilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defensive options.

The result only serves to heap more pressure on bouncing back this weekend, particularly with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal to come in three of their next four league games after this one.

United did at least pick up their first win of the season away at Luton Town in midweek, running out 3-0 winners in a scoreline somewhat embellished by late goals from Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.

That victory was Ole Gunnar Solskjaerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th as Manchester United boss across all competitions - a milestone he has reached quicker than Sir Alex Ferguson or Sir Matt Busby managed.

Indeed, his tally of 92 games in

which to chalk up 50 wins is behind only Ernest Mangnall (78) and Jose Mourinho (81) in the United history books, yet anything other than a 51st win at the helm this weekend may just prompt more whispers regarding his suitability for the role.

The win over Luton set united on course for another potential clash with todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opponents, and Brightonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s triumph over Preston North End one day later confirmed that these two will face off twice in the space of just a few days, both games coming at the Amex.

Brighton will go into what would ordinarily be a daunting doubleheader full of confidence, not least as they have won two of their three Premier League home games against United The corresponding fixture last season was the exception to that as United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, but that was their first league triumph away to Brighton since 1982 and the Seagulls go into this weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clash in good form.

Like Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opponents, Brighton began their campaign with a 3-1 home loss, but they still managed to impress in that match against Chelsea and since then have chalked up three wins in a row by an aggregate scoreline of 9-0.

EFL Cup victories over Portsmouth and Preston sandwich last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-0 triumph at Newcastle, which saw Neal Maupay score twice in the opening seven minutes before Aaron Connolly completed the job late on.

It is home form in the league which will be the biggest concern for Graham Potter at this stage, with the opening-day defeat to Chelsea leaving them with only one point from the last 15 available at the Amex and only one win in 10 top-flight home outings this calendar year.

By contrast, United are unbeaten on the road since January - a seven-game run which includes clean sheets in each of their last four such outings.

The corresponding fixture last season was the exception to that as United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, but that was their first league triumph away to Brighton since 1982 and the Seagulls go into this weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clash in good form.

Like Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opponents, Brighton began their campaign with a 3-1 home loss, but they still managed to impress in that match against Chelsea and since then have chalked up three wins in a row by an aggregate scoreline of 9-0.

EFL Cup victories over Portsmouth and Preston sandwich last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-0 triumph at Newcastle, which saw Neal Maupay score twice in the opening seven minutes before Aaron Connolly completed the job late on.

It is home form in the league which will be the biggest concern for Graham Potter at this stage, with the opening-day defeat to Chelsea leaving them with only one point from the last 15 available at the Amex and only one win in 10 top-flight home outings this calendar year.

By contrast, United are unbeaten on the road since January - a seven-game run which includes clean sheets in each of their last four such outings.

PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY

Brighton v Crystal Palace v West Brom v Burnley v

Man Utd 12:30 Everton 15:00 Chelsea 17:30 Southampton 20:00

SUNDAY

Sheffield Utd v Leeds Utd Tottenham v Newcastle Man City v Leicester City West Ham v Wolves

12:00 14:00 16:30 19:00

MONDAY

Fulham17:45Aston Villa Liverpool v Arsenal

17:45 20:00

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 26 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Oluseyi Oyebode, ( fourth from left) poses with the four players discovered from the 2019 FCV gladiators football camp on scholarship to the academy in the UK with one of the coordinator coach, Koleola Benson

Ndidi

Ndidi to Undergo Surgery on Abductor Injury Today He has been a regular for Brendan Rodgersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; men this season, but now faces a spell on the sidelines through injury Leicester City Manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi will undergo surgery today.

Ndidi suffered an abductor injury as the Foxes thumped Burnley in a Premier League outing on Sunday.

He was in action from start to finish as the Clarets bowed 4-2 at the King Power Stadium but a scan by clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical team disclosed that the midfielderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s injury would require surgery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That (surgery) will take probably place tomorrow morning,â&#x20AC;?

Rodgers said ahead of Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fixture with Manchester City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just unfortunate, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come right off the bone, so heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be up to 12 weeks we think.

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge player for us. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that showed his mentality against Burnley because he felt it. Towards the end of last season, he felt some pain there and he felt it late on in the Burnley game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make a really good recovery and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll welcome him back when he comes back, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no doubt heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a miss.â&#x20AC;?

Although the Foxes will be missing the qualities of the ex-Genk man, the Northern Irishman has backed others to step in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have players capable of stepping in. Papy Mendy signed a new contract in the summer and has started the season very well,â&#x20AC;? he continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hamza Choudhury was excellent against Arsenal, he really covered the ground and was defensively very good, so we have enough cover in that

position.â&#x20AC;?

Before his injury, Ndidi had been drafted to the central defence so far in the 2020-21 campaign following the unavailability of Wes Morgan, Jonny Evans and Filip Benkovic.

However, Rodgers claims Evansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; thigh injury has been cleared in time and could feature against Pep Guardiolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team at the Etihad Stadium. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trained this last numbers of days, so heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had a good couple of weeks and I think, for most players, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to be 100 per cent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d still have Jonny Evans at 80 per cent because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such a quality player.â&#x20AC;?

With this, the Super Eagles star could be ruled out of action between six to 12 weeks.

Danjuma, Bosso, Olowookere Head National Teams The Nigeria Football Federation has composed new technical crews for a number of National Teams.

The composition sees the return of one-time U20 Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Head Coach, Isah Ladan Bosso, with Christopher Danjuma retaining the U20 Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lead role, and Bankole Olowookere emerging as Head Coach of the U17 girls, Flamingos.

Former international defender Oladuni Oyekale will serve as first assistant to Bosso at the U20, with JolomiAtuneAlli (second assistant), Samaila Marwa Keshi (assistant coach/scout) and Suleiman Shuaibu Akanmu (goalkeeper coach) completing the Flying Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bench.

Fatai Amoo will head the U17 boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; squad, to be assisted by Ahmed Lawal Dankoli (first assistant), Nnamdi Onuigbo (second assistant), Hassan Abdallah (assistant coach/scout) and Danlami Kwasau (goalkeeper coach) in his crew.

Danjuma returns to the U20 girls, Falconets, to be assisted by Moses Aduku(firstassistant),BilkisuTijani (second assistant), Charity Nwere Nnedinma (assistant coach/scout) and Audu Yahaya (goalkeeper coach).

TheU17girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;crewwillbeheaded byBankoleOlowookere,withQueen Okpa(firstassistantcoach),Adanna Nwaneri (second assistant), Moroof

Nojimu(assistantcoach/scout)and Mohammed Abubakar Ndanusa (goalkeeper coach) in his tow.

The U15 boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; crew will be led by Omoniyi Haruna Ilerika Usman to be assisted by Bassey Patrick (first assistant), Olubunmi Haruna (second assistant), Mohammed Kalli Kachalla (assistant coach/scout) and Baruwa Olatunji (goalkeeper coach).

AbdullahiTyaboUmarheadsthe crewfortheU13,withSalisuIbrahim (first assistant), Bamai Bukar (second assistant coach), Mohammed Kwairanga (third assistant), Ifeanyi Uba (assistant coach/scout) and Abubakar Abdullahi (goalkeeper coach) also on the crew.

StarTimes Brings Best of World Combat Sports to Africa Audience Affordable digital TV operator, StarTimes has acquired rights to a vast array of combat sports, as part of its promises to add fresh and highly sought-after content.

Among the long list of premium combat sports on StarTimes are Bob Arumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Rank boxing events, top boxing bouts held by WBO, WBA, and WBC and IBF as well as several mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions.

All these events are broadcast on the ST Sports Arena channel as well as on the other sports channels exclusive to StarTimes. ST Sports Arena channel is on Basic

Bouquet at N1700 monthly and Smart Bouquet at N2200 monthly.

Recently, StarTimes acquired the exclusive broadcast rights for Bob Arumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Rank boxing events. Top Rank stands as one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere boxing promotions. For nearly half a century, Top Rank has produced some of boxing most exciting bout and Top Rankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current stable of champions represents the best the sport has to offer: Vasiliy Lomachenko, Terence Crawford, Oscar Valdez, Gilberto Ramirez, Jose Ramirez and Tyson Fury.

Cage Warriors is Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading

and longest-running mixed martial arts promotion. It is the sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest-growing organisation and has been home to some of the biggest stars of MMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past and present, including Conor McGregor.

One Championship is the leading Asian MMAevent,quicklybecoming aglobalpowerhouse.Today,thevery best fighting talents and prospects in AsiaplytheirtradeinthefabledONE cage,including10WorldChampions thatrepresenttheverypinnacleofthe game. This includes global superstar athletes such asAngela Lee, Bibiano Fernandes, Eduard Folayang, Ben Askren, and Brandon Vera.

Oluseyi Oyebodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Passion for Schools/Grassroots Sports He is a highly enthusiastic and professional school sports developer who has contributed to many schools both locally and internationally. Oluseyi Oyebode talks to Kunle Adewale about his passion, challenges and many more as far as schools sports and grassroots sports are concerned Oluseyi Oyebodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s background in sports was inspired by the level of sporting activities and awareness in the eighties. He recounts his early experiences and how he started thus: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I vividly recollect many football and athletics programme at the grassroots level which encouraged me into sports developments. I was in class three in 1983 when I started my coaching career as a coach player. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I usually gather my classmates and junior students then for coaching before joining clubs for mentoring programmes and hence my decision to further seek more knowledge from the Department of Physical and Health Education, University of Lagos in 1994 and later became the University of Lagos student Union head of sports, which emerged as overall winner in the UNILAG NUGA 98.

Oyebode also lead as the director of sports Greensprings School with lots of achievements and participated in the 2003 All African Games as assistant manager in Gymnastics. He was also an alumnus International Olympic Committee, IOC advance sports management course before finally becoming grassroots sports development enthusiast.

On why he decided to embrace sports in school, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I decided to embrace sports in school because of my passion for genuine sports development. Many years ago, I discovered that the bedrock of sports development lies in school sports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I discovered love for sports due to the structured events and activities with proper coaching put in place even from primary schools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was fortunate to represent my Primary School then in the 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s before playing for local clubs in the community. FIFA junior tournaments started in mid-80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and late 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s further propagate the interest in school sports because many of the talent discovered then came from the school sports programmes.â&#x20AC;?

Recounting his experience as a sports director in school, the Unilag graduate reacted thus: â&#x20AC;&#x153;My experience as a school sports director was overwhelming. My involvement as exposes me to the global perspective of sports development, it enables me to interact with counterparts across the globe. It also gives me the opportunity to develop grassroots sports concept that is now beneficial to many federations and associations today.

One of the major challenge in his experience as a sports director in school was the difficulty at trying to encourage schools to use sports as a tool to develop studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; growth which later encourages parents to subscribe to his philosophy of sports and education.

Consequently, many students in public and private schools have benefited through scholarships and professional sports participation.

Oyebode also laments the fact that sports has not been given enough attention in schools in Nigeria, which he said was due to lack of focus in school sports administration, death of various association and bodies responsible for school sports growths, lack of good trained sports masters and coaches, schools focus on funds generations without actualising the purpose, lack of good structure to supports school sports developments, lack adequate facilities and play ground to engender development in schools and the overall economic situation that has affected every area of our daily lives.

Asked what ignited his interest in school cum grassroots sports, Oyebode said he was able to discover this challenge at the tender stage in his career, which really helped his focus. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sports development has many challenges due to long time feedback on investments, which is the major reasons why many administrators decided to avoid school sports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be involved in school sports, you need to be rugged and dogged and also be resilient.

You should be prepared to fail before success. All the above qualities eventually serve as my strength, hence my interest in school sports.â&#x20AC;?

Oyebode however admitted that in spite of his passion, there were many challenges confronting school sports in Nigeria, saying the challenges were enormous. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any nation that fails to invest in her youths will definitely have issues and will kill the morals and passion, not only in sports but in every sphere of life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lack of school sports funding and corruption has become the major bane to school sports development in Nigeria. In addition, the problem with uncoordinated sports growth plans and maladministration. â&#x20AC;&#x153; He however believes a good structure that encompasses coaching, teaching and administration with a well sorted policy can still change the situation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;School sports can easily be revived through adequate coordinated plans and genuine efforts from the federal government that will trickle down to the lowest level of school sports organisation in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There should be DNA of sports development that will engender all areas including teaching, coaching and administration which will lead to a sorted grassroots sports curriculum plans for the purpose. I have discovered over the years that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t develop from the root but pick any available grass to use â&#x20AC;&#x153;The greatest enemy of tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success is todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successâ&#x20AC;? hence the need to refocus our sports plans as a nation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to stop recycling our sports administrator, hence we remain static, and our sports education programme curriculum in our tertiary institutions is not addressing todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs. There is a need for sports policy development that will meet global requirements. A good sports structure that can accommodate 18 months to 18 years will survive.â&#x20AC;?

For the Physical and Health education graduate, sports in Nigeria still remain below average.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 26, 2020

31

GLOBAL SOCCER

Zaidu Sanusi Celebrates Super Eegles Call Up For Zaidu Sanusi his recent invitation for the Super Eagles October 9 and 13 friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia was not only a dream come true for the Porto new star, but also for his long time agent

P

ortoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer signing Zaidu Sanusi has revealed his delight in receiving his first ever call-up to the Nigerian national team, saying it was a dream come true for him.

Two years ago, the left-back would have laughed off suggestions of being invited to the Super Eagles as he was playing in the third-tier of Portuguese football but his profile changed with a move to Santa Clara, for whom he played well, putting him on the radar of the Super Eagles coaches.

Sanusi has admitted that he knew beforehand that he was in contention to be named to the Super Eagles squad for their upcoming games against Algeria and Tunisia because he was contacted by one of Gernot Rohr â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistants based in England. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before, I never thought about receiving a call-up because I played in the third division in Portugal. I was not thinking of getting called up until I move to the Primeira Liga,â&#x20AC;? said Sanusi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One day my agent called and told me about my transfer to Santa Clara, I was very happy and he told me that if I played well, Nigeria national team could call me but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t didn t think it was possible. p â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was playing p y g in Santa Clara, people p p were saying y gI should be called up p but I told them I was unaware of an invitation to the

squad but I continued to pray, maybe my dream can come true. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of Rohrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistants residing in England (chief scout Tunde Adelakun) called me and told me I should be expecting a call-up to the national team, but he told me to keep it a secret as he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure 100 per cent so I continued to pray. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now I have not spoken to the head coach Rohr.â&#x20AC;?

The powerful and pacy leftback has cited Bayern Munich star of Nigerian descent David Alaba as the fullback he looks up to and admitted that Super Eagles legend Taye Taiwo had also influenced his style of play. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The left-back I look up to in the world is David Alaba of Bayern Munich, many, many people say that I play like Alaba but I want to be myself, I like him so much. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alaba can defend and attack and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m like him. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very difficult for a left-back to attack and defend but Alaba does that very well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many years ago I used to watch Taye Taiwo, sometimes I search for him on YouTube to see how he plays,â&#x20AC;? Sanusi added.

Sanusi, 23, made his competitive debut for Porto on the opening day of the season against Sporting Braga last weekend and is in contention to feature in this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Champions League.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese scout who discovered g Sanusi and took him to Gil Vincente has said he

would be a fulfilled man when the defender is called up to the Super Eagles.

And Portuguese scout Alberto Silva said that call-up would make him completely fulfilled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very happy for him for signing for Porto, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a kid with an easy smile,â&#x20AC;? Silva told A Bola. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now I just want to see him get to the national team.â&#x20AC;?

The scout recalled his impressions of Zaidu when he first spotted him at a scouting tournament in Kaduna. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was a true diamond, technically gifted and physically very strong,â&#x20AC;? he remarked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He loved to join the attack. It was a dream, and we decided to bring him to Portugal because he has incredible ability.â&#x20AC;?

However, the plan to take the boy from rural Jega in Kebbi State to the top of football in Portugal almost derailed when he suffered an injury at his first club Gil Vicente and he was out for nine months. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was injured and went through a lot,â&#x20AC;? he recounted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember hanging out with him a lot in the first few days, driving him in my car and he was always sad about the injury. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He ended up at Mirandela (division 4) and today he is at Porto. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His ambition always was to play for a big club and he always talked a lot about FC Porto. He ing kept sayi g he was in going g g to b like be Marcelo of Real Madrid.â&#x20AC;?

The

23-year-old Nigerian defender become the latest addition to the Blue and Whites after successful medicals.

Portuguese champions FC Porto announced the signing of Sanusi from rivals Santa Clara.

The defender signed a fiveyear deal with the Blue and Whites which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2025.

The Nigerian full-back is FC Portoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third signing this summer after also acquiring the services of Claudio Ramos and Carraca.

Sanusi is looking forward to helping the Estadio do Dragao outfit win many titles in the 202021 campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am extremely happy to play for FC Porto. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t explain it, but I am thrilled to wear this shirt,â&#x20AC;?

Sanusi had told the club website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope to do a good job and help the team. We are going to win everything this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The club and the fans can expect me to give everything. I received a lot of messages from FC Porto fans, and that made me happy.â&#x20AC;?

Sanusi is no stranger to Portuguese football, having spent most of his career playing in the European country.

The left-back started his exploits in the country in 2016 when he teamed up with Gil Vicente, but did not make a single appearance for the club before he was sent on loan to Mirandela.

Sanusi impressed on loan to earn a permanent deal with Mirandela in 2018 and featured 74 times for the club during his two-year stay.

The defender then teamed up with Santa Clara in 2019 and made 24 league appearances for the Estadio de Sao Miguel outfit before his departure.

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

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 26, 020

SEPTEMBER 26 , 2020 ˾ THISDAY,THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

33

34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͺ͞Ë&#x153; 2020

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Maintaining Your Car Air Conditioning System Staying on top of domestic auto service is important to maintaining a vehicle. When it comes to the dry season, most people rely on their air conditioning system to keep them cool on their long, hot commutes home. Maintaining the air conditioner is important to keeping it running properly. In order to do so, here are four tips that we recommend.

Mitsubishi Pajero

Massilia Motors Promises After-Sales Support as Mitsubishi Pajeroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Production Ends

T

he production of the legendary Mitsubishi Pajero will be stopped by next year, gradually leaving the stage for the now popular Pajero

Sport.

This is after a successful 39 years run, and more than 3.3 million global sales of Mitsubishi Pajero.

Regardless of the planned stop in production of Mitsubishi Pajero, Massilia Motors, the sole distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Nigeria, has

assured that it would still back up the model with quality after-sales support in terms of service and genuine parts.

General Manager of Massilia Motors, Mr. Olatunji Itiola stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;though Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced the end of production of the model next year, the Pajero will still be available for purchase till end of 2021 due to popular demand.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;We assure all our Pajero customers that Massilia Motors, known for its pedigree in after-sales backup, will

continue to support the legendary Pajero with quality service and genuine spare parts.â&#x20AC;?

Also, the Group Managing Director/Country Delegate of CFAO in Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Pelletier was recently recognised by the BusinessDay newspaper and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with the Next Bulls Award.

The Next Bulls Awards celebrates private companies for their impressive growth, market reputation, regulatory compliance, and worldclass corporate values.

GR Yaris Frenzy: 560 Orders Taken on First Day

T

oyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new GR Yaris performance car has raced to sales success ahead of its November launch with 560 cars ordered when pre-sales began this week.

According to the automaker, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Extraordinary demand - fuelled by the launch offer for the first 1,000 cars - led to a flood of online orders across the country with a remarkable 250 sold online in the first 30 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Orders have been taken by more than 100 dealers across the country, led by NSW with 226 cars and Queensland with 124.

Of the colours available, approximately two-thirds of customers chose white while the remainder split almost evenly between red and black.â&#x20AC;?

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Haney said the order frenzy was understandable because GR Yaris is a high-performance thoroughbred and the first all-Toyota sports car developed in more than 20 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We set out to ignite the pure performance sports-car market - and GR Yaris has done exactly that,â&#x20AC;? Mr Hanley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has the heart and soul of a rally car with motorsport-inspired credentials that will deliver exhilarating performance, on or off the track,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Born from motorsport success, GR Yaris is Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first homologation model for WRC competition since the end of

Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new GR Yaris

production of the Celica GT-FOUR in 1999.

One of the first to place a $1,000 deposit was Australian rally champion Harry Bates, who has teamed with his father and four-time national rally champion Neal and rallying teammate and brother Lewis to buy a white GR Yaris. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was lucky enough to be one of the first Australians to experience the GR Yaris

when pre-production prototype models were tested in Portugal last year,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The second I drove it, I wanted one.

I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to pick mine up, drive it around - and get it on the track. Dad won three of his four Australian championships driving a Celica GT-FOUR. I missed out on that era, so this is my chance to have a rally car for the road brand new!â&#x20AC;?

Regularly Run It Even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too cold to run the air conditioner, try turning it on once a week for 10 minutes. Turn it to the highest fan with the coldest settings.

Doing this helps maintain the gas pressure and keep the compressor working properly. Make sure to do it throughout the year, even during the winter, to keep the air conditioner working.

Running the defrost is also important to prevent mildew and other unpleasant odors and clear away any excess moisture in the system. Run it for 5 to 10 minutes every week.

Schedule Professional Service The system needs to be recharged every 2 years. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to take a professional to help with the process and provide a tune-up for the air conditioning system. We can help car owners refresh the gas and lubricate all of the moving parts to ensure that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re working properly.

Clean the Air Filter In most vehicles, the air filter is located behind the glove box. The glove box easily comes out of place.

Then, find the encasement for the filter. Remove it and shake out the dirt and debris. The filter may need to be cleaned with water or replaced.

Make sure that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completely dry before replacing it. There are several options for air filters, including upgrades that are more efficient at cleaning the air circulating through the vehicle.

Clear Away Debris Check the exterior grills under the windshield. Look for any leaves and other debris. Taking the time to clear these things away will prevent them from getting sucked into the air conditioning system and clogging it.

Also, open the hood and check the condenser. Use a hose to clean out debris that could clog the condenser and make it less effective.

Completing these steps helps maintain the air conditioning system as a part of the rest of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s domestic auto service. Make sure to take the necessary steps to ensure that the air conditioning is working when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed most this summer and throughout the year. For any issues with the air conditioning system, give us a call. We can diagnose the problem and make sure that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up and running once again. (Source: Gulf) Did you know?

It takes your brain up to 13 seconds to refocus after looking at your cell phone â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even if you â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;only glanced at it.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; As your brain refocuses, your driving skills are not at their best (Source: MasterTorque)

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͺ͞Ë&#x153; 2020

35

AUTO WORLD

Coscharis Motors Debuts New Land Rover Defender

L

andRoverDefender,themostcapable Land Rover ever made, is now available in Nigeria.

The Land Rover Defender now completes the luxurious and versatile LandRoverfamilylineupinthestable of Coscharis Motors, the sole franchise for Jaguar Land Rover brands in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the Marketing Manager for Coscharis Jaguar Land Rover, Cletus Aregbeshola,â&#x20AC;&#x153;Notonlyisthenewversiondrivenby a passion and respect for the original, it also inherits thepreviousmodelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;snamingconventionâ&#x20AC;?.Available now in 110 guise, which gives a historic nod to the 110-inch wheelbase of the previous generation, the Defender 110 body style offers customers a choice of five, six or 5+2 seating configurations and a load space ranging from 1,075 litres behind the second row, to 2,380 litres with seats folded.

While the Defender 110 body style is currently available in Coscharis showroom for customer viewing, the short-wheelbase Defender 90, with seating for up to six, is scheduled for introduction early next year.

Though at the Global and SouthAfrica launches, the 110 line-up includes a flagship 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder P400 featuring efficient Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology with outputs of 294kW and 550Nm and a D240 twin turbocharged diesel producing 177kW and 430Nm. Coscharis Motors is offering customers the options of two 2.0-litre variants, with a P300 turbocharged petrol offering

221kW and 400Nm. Acomprehensive model range is available, with four specification packs including base Defender, S, SE and HSE models. Standard features in all versions include permanent all-wheel drive with a high- and low-range transfer box, air suspension, Terrain Response, LED headlights, Connected Navigation, 3D Surround Cameras, 10-inch Pivi Pro infotainment and a Driver Condition Monitor to name a few.

ADefender 110 First Edition, available throughout the first year of production, is based on the SE model but adds standout features such as unique First Edition badging, illuminated tread plates, a Black Pack, 20-inch wheels, and a black contrast roof with sliding panoramic glass. The First Edition also benefits from grained leather upholstery, a refrigerated centre console, domestic plug sockets and Configurable Terrain Response 2. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available in three exterior colours - Indus Silver, Gondwana Stone or Pangea Green.

Customers can also personalise their vehicle in more ways than any previous Land Rover with four Accessory Packs. The Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban Packs each give Defender a distinct character with a specially selected range of enhancements.

Permanent all-wheel drive and a twin-speed automatic gearbox, centre differential and optional ActiveLockingRearDifferentialensuretheDefender has the hardware required to tackle the harshest conditions in Africa.

The new Land Rover Defender in Coscharisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; showroom in Lagos

Rugged Stallion Bajaj Keke Rally Covers 5500kms on Nigerian Roads

F

or the first time ever, Nigeria experienced its own keke rally that kicked off on 7th August from the Stallion Auto Keke - Ijesha Showroom for Bajaj Kekes. The Stallion Bajaj Keke Rally has now completed a tough terrain of 5594 kms through 27 cities and 18 states in the West, East and North Central in less than 41 days. It consisted of a team of 5 experienced riders and the Stallion Bajaj officials and security agents. Collectively the convoy covered more than 26000 Kms without any product issues.

Managing Director for the business, Mr. Manish Rohtagi stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Keke Rally really boasts on how the New Baba Bajaj is tough, strong, reliable, and well equipped for the Nigerian roads. Having covered almost more than 5000 kms the Kekes did not face any performance or maintenance challenges. It kept its brand promise of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Runs Faster, Lasts Longerâ&#x20AC;? through every rider who was a part of this rally.â&#x20AC;?

The rally was flagged off from Lagos and covered states like Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, to prove the durability of Bajaj Keke. It even spread the message of urging people of Nigeria to be responsible in maintaining hygiene

to curb the spread of Corona Virus.

The Stallion Bajaj Keke Rally visited celebrated cultural and historic sites in each state highlighting and sharing the Nigerian culture of host communities. The journey to these sites brought forth the stories around it to encourage connecting the youth to their rich heritage.

The vision from this rally was not only to take up the challenge of proving how credible the product is but also engaging in the stories of these riders that will go on to make the brand what it is. The alliance of Stallion and Bajaj will continue to improve lives by going an extra mile providing rider-training facilities, scholarship programmes, mechanic empowerment programmes, ease in financing, ease of spare part availability and differentiated customer service through its existing footprints within the auto industry.

Bajaj Auto Ltd. is a world leader in the intra city vehicle space. Loved in 70 countries the brand stands for integrity, dedication, resourcefulness, and determination to succeed and empower. It is a well-known brand for its durability, speed and manuverability and is the pioneer brand of tricycles in Nigeria loved by millions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a keke for the people engineered for a smooth journey and better livelihood.

Bajaj Keke rally on River Niger Bridge

How Black will These Ember Months Be?

I

do not know if this heading is the right brush to paint events of the last one week on various roads across the country. I also do not know how black the remaining weeks of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ember months will look like.

Will there be more avoidable road traffic crashes and deaths? Will the crashes be fewer compared to previous years? Will the crashes be without deaths but minor injuries which has formed the core of the Federal Road Safety Corpsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; end of year campaign focus?

These are posers begging for answers. But if the events of the last few weeks are taken or considered as possible precursors, then I must confess that I shudder at how we might end up in 2020. I know that the leadership of the Federal Road Safety Corps under the watch of the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi is worried about this trend. The Corps Marshalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fears and worries were expressed last week when reviewing road traffic crashes that have occurred in the last week.

I have therefore chosen to examine these road traffic crashes this week as we enter the last three months of the 2020 Ember months. Since home is home even when pained, as I am right now, I will begin with the crash that occurred at the Akaeze bridge in Akaeze in Ivo Development Area of Ebonyi State. Incidentally, Akaeze is a stone throw away from my lovely villa, Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. As a Nigerian and an Ebonyi son, I am in a mourning mood over the deaths that occurred

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps.

close to my home town and other deaths.

The Akaeze crash according to reports, involved a 608 bus hired by Christ Peculiar Church of Nigeria, Enugu State branch to convey about 30, 32 or 36 members to a burial ceremony in Afikpo in Ebonyi State. The trip to the ceremony was smooth and safe. The return journey was however tragic. According to the reports, the crash occurred when the Mercedes Benz 608 Bus conveying the mourners while attempting to overtake a MAN Diesel truck, lost control and plunged into the Akaeze river bridge. As at the time of this piece, the exact numbers could not be ascertained although about six survivors and twenty-four corpses were recovered after days of rescue efforts.

One of the rescued victims in an interview with BBCâ&#x20AC;? stated in pidgin English that,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Our bus bin dey overtake anoda car wen trailer hit am and e tumble two times fall inside river. My seat fall off from di bus before di bus fall inside river, I just dey tell God

inside di river say I dey your hand. One voice tell me to raise my hand up, I raise my hand up come find mysef ontop one tree inside di riverâ&#x20AC;?. An affected family member told the BBC that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;her family dey affected, say her husband younger brother, uncle and im pikin follow for pipo wey dey inside di bus and till now dem still dey find dia body. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My husband brother wey dey involved get pregnant wife for house wey go soon born plus two kids at home.â&#x20AC;?

The Akaeze crash was complex because it required special intervention by local divers whose efforts were complimented by professional divers from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Another complication was the absence of a crane which as at the time of the crash was not available to the Command in Ebonyi State. I am however relieved that the leadership of the FRSC in liaison with the World bank has procured one although more will be needed to improve prompt rescue nationwide in keeping with the mandate of the Corps.

The Akaeze crash equally raises a number of fundamental concern because of the Corpsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; daily engagement with religious organizations and other stakeholders on the need to drive by the rules and patronize only safety conscious operators as stated in the National Road Traffic Regulations. The testimony of the survivor who spoke with BBC is that the driver was trying to overtake when it happened because of wrongful overtaking close to a bend. What this means is that this crash could have been avoided if certain steps were taken first by the church which could have

hired a vehicle from a safety conscious transporter such as ABC transport.

The second is that the driver could have restrained himself from wrongfully overtaking at a bend while the occupants could have voiced their displeasure on the drivers irresponsible driving which I believe must have been displayed in the course of the journey from Enugu. The third concern is on the issue of the passenger manifest. Did the vehicle operate with a passenger manifest as contained in the National Road Traffic Regulations? If it did, the hazy picture on the number of occupants would not be a matter for conjecture as both the occupants and the officials of the church are not sure of the number of people who travelled with the vehicle.

It is however heartwarming to know that the driver whose blunder has thrown the Akaeze community, the church and Nigerians into mourning and anguish survived the crash. I also read that my workaholic Governor has condoled the families that are grieving but I will plead with the Governor in his drive to improve infrastructure in the State to support the FRSC in the State with necessary or more tools to aid rescue and enforcement.

If the Akaeze crash was tragic, the Lokoja crash was equally tragic in terms of the magnitude. I was privileged to have driven in the same vehicle with my colleague,Asistant Corps Marshal Victor Nwokolo who is the Zonal Commanding officer in charge of Kogi State when the news filtered in. I am still in shock at the damage and the casualty figures which according to the FRSC stands at twenty three deaths from the crash which occurred at Felele, along the Lokoja-Koton Karfe route in Kogi State.

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

TRIBUTE

As My Angel Turns 60 Rauf Aregbesola

M

y sojourn in Kaduna in the 1980s, fi first for my youth service and later for a paid employment, will remain ever memorable.

This is because it was there that I found the love of my life, Iyaafi afin Sherifat

Abidemi Aregbesola.

I was a dashing young man with long hair and ideological fire burning in my soul. I had been caught in the throes of the ideological fervour of the time. I left The Polytechnic Ibadan fired with idealism and was prepared to change the world.

People of my generation actually were fiercely nationalistic. They wanted the best for the country and at the same time were globalist.

Our vision was not just for Nigeria; we wanted a world devoid of injustice, inequality, poverty, diseases and other affl f ictions of humanity.

Zaria-Kaduna too was a hotbed of activism and provided a natural habitat for me. I was therefore too serious to have any social life. All that would soon change.

It started 39 years ago when I daily secretly admired a damsel in front of her residence on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, in Tundun-Wada, Kaduna. Strangely, it appeared this fi fine young lady was always there whenever I passed by on my way to my own residence in Dustima Road, Tundun-Wada, in the same Kaduna, each day at the close of work in the now defunct National Freight Company, Ltd. Kaduna.

Then, the courage to get down from the commuter bus failed me most of the time to engage her. Towards the end of the service year I eventually mustered the will to so do.

However, I left the state soon after.

Providence smiled on me when the defunct Nigeria External Telecommunications (NET) Ltd, offered me employment same year and

deployed me to Kaduna, to join in the construction, commissioning and operation of the second satellite telecommunication gateway, in Kujama, Kaduna.

On my return to Kaduna, I did not waste any time in re-engaging with the young beautiful lady that had greatly attracted my admiration and interest. The rest they say is history.

We married in 1983, and the union is marvellously blessed with good children and a paradise of a home. I cannot have a better life partner. My wife is my companion, adviser, guide, protector, teacher, lover and manager.

She is a resourceful mother to the children and a worthy matriarch of the family. sOver the years I can say without equivocation that it was an angel that came my way in 1981, who I tied the nuptials with in 1983. Her love for me is total and unquenchable. She was tailor-made for me. I believe the feeling is mutual. By the grace of God, she has been a worthy companion and assistant in my journey of life. She has filled me with laughter and joy and she is worth more than the entire world to me.

I am grateful to Allah SWT for His mercy on the union and my darling wife for her huge sacrifice to manage me over the years. My heart is filled with praise to the Most High for the blessing of an angel He brought my way.

As she celebrates her diamond jubilee with our country, Nigeria, I wish her more grace, good health, long and fulfilled life as I equally wish Nigeria peace, progress and success in the process of nation building.

Sixty is a remarkable landmark. She has matured in every way and mastered the art of being a good wife and mother. But she is still as beautiful and appealing to me as she was 39 years ago.

Darling, happy birthday and many happy returns.

–––Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun State, is the current Minister of Interior.

Sherifat

Adieu William, the Baptist

Oladapo Ojo

S

unday, October 13, 2019, was to me, just another regular day, that began with my family and I going to church to worship. As I made the usual preparations, my phone rang and it was a call from my sister, Kemi, in the UK. There was nothing strange about the call because it was something she did regularly. I did not, therefore, sense anything unusual about it when I picked the call, so I was not prepared for her request. She wanted me to pray with her for Baba, our father. She said he wasn’t responding to his morning routine so she had called for an ambulance to convey him to the hospital. We prayed, after which I shared the same prayer request with my wife, Funmilayo, and son, Iyanuu oluwa who also prayed. I went to church but throughout the service, my mind was with Baba and my sister in London. I kept checking my phone, hoping for a call from her for an update on the situation. Immediately after the service, I called her and was quite relieved when she told me that the doctors were attending to him already but we should continue to pray for Baba.

Although Baba was 96 years old, I was not contemplating him leaving us when he did. I was really trying to be strong and in my mind I thought; yes, this man is quite old but there was a nagging question: “Is this his time to go and be with the lord?” I was still brooding over these thoughts when my phone began to ring, call after call, coming in quick succession. I recognized some of the numbers and I said to myself that these are not people who would call me if there wasn’t something absolutely important to discuss. I did not need a prophet to tell me, I knew immediately that I had been orphaned. My mother, Mama GMO, had gone ahead just nine months before, on January 31, 2019. Now another saint had just exited the earth. WRO had gone to meet his GMO, the waiting was over, fi finally. I believe fi firmly that WRO had already bade this earth farewell when his GMO left. He was only being a gentleman, awaiting his turn for the Master’s call!

Most times, when you ask a man who his role model is, or who has made the greatest impact in his life, the answer would be: ‘my father’. It is no different with me. Baba was not just another father or father-fi -figure, he was the man God gifted me with. This was Reverend (Dr.) William Rufus Ola-Ojo; husband of Grace Modupe Ola-Ojo, father of Jaiye, Oluwakemi, Oluwaremilekun, Oladapo, and Olasupo, grandfather to many children, brother to Sarah Ogbede, Modupe Soleye, and many others.

Ojo My faithful friend, mentor, pastor, role model; my father was gone physically but the memories he left me with will remain forever fresh in my mind and I will make sure to pass them on to my children. As I sat down with my head bowed, trying very hard to be strong, the reality of Baba’s departure began to sink in and there was just so much to remember about this great but extremely humble soul. Truly the memory of the righteous is blessed because as I began to recollect all Baba had told me about himself, all I could do was to break out in songs of praise, giving thanks to God for the privilege of being WRO’s son.

Yes, indeed, I consider myself privileged to have been sired by the man, William Rufus Ola-Ojo, popularly known as WRO, because he lived and walked his faith without any apology or fear. WRO ran his race with all diligence in the lane of the Baptist Convention, earning him the sobriquet ‘William, the Baptist.’

From his humble beginnings in Igbara-Oke, Ondo State, until he took his fi final breath in London, England, WRO held on to the old rugged cross. The second but only surviving son of Gabriel Famadesan Ojo and Leah Adun Ojo, My father was born on June 1, 1923, in Igbara-Oke, Ondo State of Nigeria. He said his parents named him Olatunji in memory of their fi first son who

passed on before he was born, and being devout Anglicans, they had him baptized in the Anglican Church where he was given the baptismal names William Rufus.

According to Baba, much of his growing years were dominated by his relationship with his father and his beloved older sister Sarah, because his mother did not live long enough to witness the greatness of her son, as prophesied by the Anglican priest who named him William Rufus, after a powerful English king. He said his father was very fond and protective of him so much so that he wouldn’t let him out of his sight. Thus, while he sent Sarah to school, he did not allow WRO to go to school but personally taught him shoemaking and farming. Though he longed to go to school like other children, he obeyed his father and concentrated on all that his father taught him, equally becoming a skilled shoemaker, a trade he would engage in later in life, to earn some money to support himself when his father had fi financial challenges. Baba said he also picked up other skills such as barbing, hunting, especially for birds with his catapult, palm wine tapping and basket weaving.

Western education eventually came for him through the promptt ing of Archdeacon Akinluyi who was then the headmaster of St. Paul’s Primary School, Igbara-Oke. It was the archdeacon who convinced his father to enrol him in primary school.

WRO began his formal education at St. Paul’s Primary School, Igbara-Oke on the 10th of April, 1934 when he was 11 years old. He spent 6 years there and obtained his fi first school leaving certiificate which he passed in fl flying colours, after which he got a teaching job in St. Barth’s Ogotun, where he taught as a pupil teacher for two years before going back to his alma mater, St. Paul’s Primary School, Igbara-Oke for another year. Thereafter, he decided to go to secondary school. Worthy of note here, is the fact that WRO went back to Ogotun many years later on my account, as I took a wife from the family of His lordship, late Justice Timothy Ajibola Oluwole, a native of Ogotun Ekiti.

WRO’s attempt to secure admission into secondary school was rejected by St. Andrews College Oyo, not because he failed the entrance requirements, but because his father, who had been prevailed upon to take another wife after the death of WRO and Sarah’s mother, had married 7 different women but could not seem to make a success of his union with any of them.

–––Oladapo – p Ojo j is Founder/CEO, DM Holdings, g a fforemost Creative Media Group p with vast interests in Education, Enterrtainment, Production & Equipment studios across Africaz Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͺ͞Ë&#x153; 2020

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

COVID-19: 9ijakids, SafetyChic Launch Safety Game for Kids

L-R: Executive Producer, Hymnodia, Kufre Ekanem with the Winner of Hymnodia Season 2, Ediomo Akpan and Producer Hymnodia/Chief Executive OďŹ&#x192;cer, Rosemaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s - The Soft Furnishing Company, Ezinne-Kufre Ekanem; at the grand ďŹ nale (Hymncert) of Hymnodia Season 2 in Lagos, ... recently

CITN Tasks Members on Professionalism

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), has charged its members to be more professional and disciplined in the daily discharge of their duties.

President of the Institute, Dame Olajumoke Simplice stated this at a virtual capacity building workshop organised for members of the tax body on Thursday.

The workshop themed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Understanding Requisite Skills for Tax Practitionersâ&#x20AC;? was put together to bridge skills gap among tax practitioners.

According to her, professionalism in tax practice requires constant skills update that should not stop at taxation building.

Simplice stated that tax practitioners have not been well appreciated in this clime, despite their role in businesses and the economy at large.

She said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Council had observed over time, based on feedback garnered from the various regulatory authorities, some level of skills gap in terms of how well practitioners hold themselves out in their conduct and activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This has to a large extent impacted negatively on the level of respect and marketability of the practice of members amongst stakeholders, particularly at the various tax authorities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is on this premise that the council approved the organisation of this programme by the Taxation Standards and

Tax Practice Monitoring Committee.â&#x20AC;?

The session was facilitated by seasoned professionals who took participants on different topics relevant to taxation practice.

Some of the areas explored were Presentation Skill; Negotiation Skill and Client Service Management.

Earlier, the Chairman of Taxation Standard and Tax Practice Monitoring Committee of Council, Dr. Justina Okoro, said topics treated were carefully chosen

to empower practitioners based on the gaps identified.

She said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;For instance, tax practitioners usually prepare proposal for clients which they have to defend. This is why we have decided to treat presentation skill to teach them how to make their proposal sellable. Practitioners must also be verse in negotiation skills, as well as how to manage different kinds of clients. All these skills will be required in the course of practice.â&#x20AC;?

Nigerian educational technology company, 9ijakids in partnership with SafetyChic, has designed a game, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Safety CheckUpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to equip children with knowledge of safety as they return to school.

This is an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as government has approved the resumption of schools after months of lock-down .

A recent social media survey on school resumption revealed that over 60% of parents will not allow their children resume at a physical school.

The reason given being that parents are not sure of adequate safety of their children in school.

Speaking on the solution, Vice President of Global Business Development and Co-founder of 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi said that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Safety CheckUpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; provides children with safety tips that would complement government and schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; safety guidelines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With this game, both schools and parents can ascertain their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety readiness and take action to equip them with practical tips to ensure they comply with safety guidelines for staying safe in a pandemic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Children can actually learn the safety requirements such as: hand washing, social distancing, mask use and others in a fun and most entertaining way. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Students will also be able to earn points and move up a leaderboard which makes the game very engaging and interactive.â&#x20AC;?

Safety Checkup is designed for children between ages five and 13 and can be accessed on 9jakidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; website.

FIN, Project Capital+ Hold Discussion on Funding Agric Sector Global consulting firm, Foreign Investment Network (FIN), is set to hold a strategic session targeting growth and investment in the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural sector.

FIN is charged with a mandate to facilitate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and intra-African collaborations across sectors.

The conversation followed the distraction in the agricultural industry, occasioned by COVID-19 outbreak, thus triggering market contractions.

The discussion, which will be held

virtually in collaboration with Project Capital+, sought to explore alternative ways to fund the sector and make it attractive to local and foreign investors.

Organisers of the programme noted that a discussion of this kind was apt at this period to be able to drive the diversification plans of the federal government as oil prices continued to plunge.

The discussion which is centred on the theme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Attracting Finance to Agricultural Sector Projects in times of Crisisâ&#x20AC;?, will also examine the sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

prospects, including export opportunities, as activities are expected to take shape post COVID-19.

Notable and grounded speakers have been lined up to simplify the topic of the discussion which is scheduled for September 25.

Some of the identified speakers included: Chairman and Founder of Project Capital +, Victor Politis, Founder and Partner, Dem - Inter, Mark Lewis and Head of Energy and Natural Resources - Aelex, Soji Awogbade, amongst others.

Chidi Okoro Joins HealthPlus as Amber Takes Empowerment Chief Transformation OďŹ&#x192;cer Campaign to Radio Stations Chidi Okoro has joined leading West African pharmaceutical chain HealthPlus Limited on secondment as incoming Chief Transformation Officer (CTO).

Okoroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to optimise daily management and elevate the business to novel scale and profitability.

The founder of the company, Mrs. Bukky George continues to be a director and a shareholder.

Leading healthcare and consumer private equity firm, Alta Semper Capital, which controls the majority shareholder of HealthPlus, has simultaneously announced its continued commitment to the company.

There are also plans to inject fresh capital to accelerate growth and utilise emerging opportunities in global healthcare.

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, HealthPlusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; strong brand, diverse

product mix and wide footprint uniquely position the business to be on the forefront of supply chain innovation and strategic expansion.

Okoro said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would like to recognise HealthPlusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; role in spearheading the evolution of modern pharmacies across Nigeria and scaling retail capabilities in the industry overall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am incredibly excited to now have the opportunity and the resources to take the platform to the next level, at a time of unrivalled opportunity for the sector. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve even greater things in the future.â&#x20AC;?

Okoro is a licensed pharmacist and management executive with over 30 years of multinational and multi-sector experience, spanning leadership roles in pharmaceuticals, personal care, food, and telecommunications.

Amber Energy Drinks Limited, maker of premium energy drink, Amber, has taken his empowerment campaign to radio stations in Lagos. Recently, the company launched a scheme tagged â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amber Empowerment Schemeâ&#x20AC;? (AES), to improve the standard of living of Nigerians, especially at this critical period of COVID-19.

The Amber team was at Nigeria Info, Wazobia FM, Cool FM (members of the AIM group), Traffic Radio, City FM to sensitise Nigerians on the empowerment programme.

The General Manager, Amber Energy Drinks limited, Ms. Titiola Adedeji said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the current economic situation, Amber Drinks found it necessary to alleviate the pain of the average Nigerian, providing Nigerians the opportunity to own and grow their businesses through soft loans and business support initiatives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We decided to give trade loans in the form of N100,000 worth of products to start-up ben-

eficiaries and watch them grow. Every quarter, we want to empower 400 applicants in the start-up loan programme and 200 applicants in the Business Support loan programmeâ&#x20AC;? she continued.

With a below-market interest rate of 5% flat, the Start-up Loan offers the beneficiaries N100,000 and a 4-month repayment plan with the first 30 days interest-free. The Business Support features rent-to-own recharge spots which will cater to individuals small-time beverage retailers that need support to grow. Applicants will be given branded recharge spots on payment by installments. Moreso, the company would open an account for beneficiaries and each person will be credited with one-hundred thousand naira only.â&#x20AC;?

This will then be debited automatically with 20 cartons of Amber Energy Drink which would be traded in for repayment by the beneficiaries.

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í°Í´Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

NEWSXTRA

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not in NNPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interest to Remain Sole Importer of Petrol, Says Mele Kyari Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja TheNigerianNationalPetroleum Corporation (NNPC), has said that it was not in the national oil company's interest to remain the only importer of petroleum products into the country.

The corporation noted that when the current scarcity of foreign exchange which had

negatively affected the downstream petroleum industry was resolved by the federal government, private corporate players would have the opportunity of bringing in the product.

As it is, Nigeria ships in 100 per cent of petroleum consumed in the country, since the three crude oil refineries situated in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna are presently

non-functional due mainly to prolonged lack of maintenance and old age.

The NNPC currently applies the Direct Sale-Direct Purchase arrangement (DSDP), a type of swap whereby a certain amount of crude is exchanged in return for the equivalent amount of refined petroleum products.

Although the federal govern-

ment insists that the downstream sector was now fully liberalised and major marketers can import petroleum products, however, only the NNPC through its subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) still brings in petrol and associated products.

Private businesses, mostly major oil marketers still do not have access to dollars needed for

Don't Allow Ethnic, Religious Sentiments Tear You Apart, Ganduje Tells NBA Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday cautioned the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) not to allow ethnic and religious bigotry to tear it apart.

He said the internal wrangling in the NBA was one of the most unfortunate problem to befall the association which blows no good to neither the body, nor the Nigerian people that were supposed to be the ultimate beneficiary of the rule of law, which the lawyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; body

is expected to champion.

Receiving the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, on a courtesy call in his office in Kano yesterday, Governor Ganduje noted that while there were bound to be differences, it was better to be united than to be divided, saying that as a conventionally persuasive opinion moulder and group that helps shape public policy, it is never going to fulfil that role if it is divided.

The governor pointed out that while no one expected the NBA to be invulnerable to bickering associated with any

group of people coming together, but as a body of lawyers with outstanding records of achievement in shaping the country for good, it should not allow ethnic or religious sentiments to riven it.

He said lawyers needed to come together to resolve their differences, not by breaking into splinter groups, but by ironing out their views through consensus.

While stressing the need to sensitise as many members of the association and seek to accommodate their views on

matters of serious concern, Ganduje further called on them to mend their fences and work toward the good of the association and the country at large.

In his remark, Akpata said he was in Kano in continuation of tour of the country and expressed satisfaction with the level of achievement by the Ganduje administration in terms of infrastructure development for the judiciary, particularly the construction of the Court of Appeal edifice, the Ceremonial Court building as well as enhanced welfare for the staff.

Stakeholders Commence Community Endorsement for Dickson Olaoluwakitan Babatunde Somestakeholdersoftheopposition All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State have embarked on community by community endorsementforformergovernor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party, for the Bayelsa West Senatorial seat.

The stakeholders of the APC in Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Area converged at Isampou yesterday and decided that efforts must be made to prevent the political ambition of any politician from damaging the existing cordial relationship between Ekeremor and Sagbama, the two local government areas in the Senatorial district.

The stakeholders and community leaders of Isampou community, Aleibiri community, Amanaigbene, Peretorugbebe, and others were unanimous in

their position that they would not support any political party and candidate that would scuttle the existing agreement on power sharing between Sagbama and Ekeremor local government areas which make up the Senatorial district.

Leader of the stakeholders and Chairman APC Grassroots mobilisation Sagbama/Ekeremor, Ebide Brown, said while addressing APC leaders that the party stakeholders had to take the bold decision to wrest the people of the area from needless bitterness and division.

He said that the stakeholders decided to embark on a comprehensive programme of endorsements for Dickson because it was improper and unfair for the two National Assembly positions in the district to go to Ekeremor.

He stressed that any arrangement that promotes an Ekeremor

TRANSITION Late Deaconess Mrs.Elizabeth Ohiwerei Late Deaconess Mrs. Elizabeth Ohiwerei of Arokho in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State dies at 77 Years of age.

She was a retired teacher one-time a woman coordinator FSP in 1991.

Aformer Executive Member PDP from 2000 to 2003 in Edo State. A former board member at Edo State Development Property Authority (EDPA) from 2000 to 2003. She also served as a member governing board College of Education Ekiadolor, Edo State from 2005 to 2007. She was a bridge builder.

In her community and a rally point in Owan East Local Government Area in Edo State, a devoted christian, a deaconess at Church of God Mission Arokho. She was survived by seven children amongst whom Mr. Joseph Ohiwerei, a former staff of THISDAY newspaper, Mr.

Mrs. Ohiwerei Clifford Ohis Ohiwerei of the Nigerian Custom Abuja and Barr. Charles Ohiwerei Esq. with four others. She will be buried on Friday 2nd Oct, 2020 at her home town Arokho in Edo State. May her gentle soul rest in peace amen.

candidacy for the Senate when the position of the House of Representatives is being occupied by an Ekeremor son is both indefensible and unacceptable.

Brown insisted that the two positions of Senator and Member House of Reps are shared between Ekeremor and Sagbama and the two had not gone to any single council since the commencement of democratic governance in 1999, Brown added that the performance of Dickson as governor was also a major reason the people have resolved to back him for the Senatorial job.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sagbama/ Ekeremor people are grateful to the former governor for the construction of the Sagbama/ Ekeremor Road, a university, a

polytechnic, general hospitals and several projects in the Sagbama/ Ekeremor Senatorial District.

According to him, there is no better and suitable person to go to the Senate than Dickson who has the courage, the experience and the network to speak for the district, Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation.

Stakeholders at the meeting include Hon, Peres Adakuru, Financial Secretary, APC Grassroots mobilization Sagbama/ Ekeremor; Stanley Beralade, leader Amanaigbene community; Tabu Pudiya, Coordinator Foutorugbene Community; Kesta Femone Kesta, Coordinator, Aleibiri community and Hitler Moses, Spokesperson APC grassroots mobilization sagbama/ Ekeremor.

Ejigbo Community Lauds Oyetola for Priortising Security, Roads, Welfare Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The indigenes of Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government council area of Osun State have lauded the administration of Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola for prioritising their security, roads and welfare since assumption of office.

The indigenes also applauded the state government for being prompt and proactive in its intervention to rescue the people of the ancient town who were confirmed to have contracted the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.

The people stated these during a courtesy visit to the governor by the leadership of Ejigbo Eagles Club led by its President, Mr. TayoAdebowale, at the Government House, Osogbo recently.

Members of the delegation included the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof.Ademola Oke; Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,

Prof. Chris Bode; Prof. Solomon Akinboye; Prince Femi Oyewole; Mr Olayinka Akinwumi; Mr Olujinmi Tella and Mr. Kunle Ajibade.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the club and the entire indigenes of the town, Mr. Adebowale, praised the efforts of Governor Oyetola in the areas of roads construction and by ensuring the well-being of the citizenry.

Adebowale said the people of Ejigbo will forever be grateful to the government for its determination to develop the town.

He added: "We are here to thank you for the good works that you and your government have been doing to reposition the state and ensure the general welfare and wellbeing of the citizens.

"We have come here today to express our profound gratitude to you for redeeming our image and for rescuing our people who tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after their return from Ivory Coast.

such transactions.

But speaking during a downstream stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting which held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, argued that it was not in the best interest of the national oil company to be the sole importer of fuel. A press release by the corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spokesman, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted Kyari as saying that concrete steps were being taken by the federal government to address the main concerns of marketers, especially the issue of availability

of forex.

He stressed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had already taken the first step of merging all forex windows to have a unified exchange rate, as part of the solutions to the problem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is really not in our interest to be the sole importer of PMS (petrol) in the country. We have taken definite steps to exit the situation. This is a definite step taken and the details would be communicated to stakeholders like MOMAN, DAPMAN, IPMAN and others outside this forum,â&#x20AC;? Kyari stated.

Body Extols Umahiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Developmental Stride in Ebonyi The National Council for Democratic Development ( NCDD) has commended Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi for the developmental strides in the state and the wisdom to carry all stakeholders in the state along.

According to a statement by NCDD signed by its Executive Director, Prince Onu Nweze, the wisdom to hold a banquet with Ebonyi People resident in Abuja had afforded them the opportunity to have first-hand information by interacting directly and interfacing with him on his programmes and stewardship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;NCDD notes that the performance score card made by Governor Umahi at the event was a conscious demonstration that clearly outlined his administration goals and huge achievements

for the last six years and half. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an advocate of Democratic values where citizens are partakers of governance, NCDD appreciates Governor Umahi for bringing to the Ebonyi People, opportunity to know and be partakers of his administration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;NCDD identifies with Umahi call for Peace and unity among Ebonyi Political stakeholders, irrespective of Party affiliation as Umahi had used the platform too, to talk about Peace and unity, NCDD appreciates such call. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every state thrives well, where there is Investment.

NCDD is happy with the investment climate and ecosystem Umahi has developed for the state and urged Ebonyi People and Nigerians to partake by investing in Ebonyi economic opportunities,â&#x20AC;? the statement said.

Tanker Explosions: Obi Mourns Victims, Commiserates with Kogi, Lagos State Governments Charles Ajunwa Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in2019elections,Mr.Peter Obi, has described as sad and heartbreaking the explosions of the tanker that claimed the lives ofpeopleatLokoja-AbujaRoad, Kogi State and the Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos.

In a statement from his Media Office, Obi lamented that barely a few hours after a tanker explosion claimed no fewer than 28 lives in Kogi State, another gas tanker explosion occurred in Lagos, leaving behind destruction and deaths. He said the news of such tragedies were very worrisome and called for serious concern from all quarters.

Obi, who noted that most of the victims of Kogi tanker

CHANGE OF NAME

explosion were reportedly school children and students of Kogi State Polytechnic, said that it was heartbreaking to imagine the pain of losing such future leaders to the cold hands of death.

Decrying the alarming rate of road accidents in the country, Obi said â&#x20AC;&#x153;We must not turn a blind eye to the frequent occurrence of road accidents in the country. We all must play our part in ensuring that these ugly disasters are eradicated or minimally reduced. Let governments at all levels ensure that the road networks under their care are well maintained. Road users own the duty of ensuring that their vehicles are roadworthy and they obey all road traffic regulations.

Let us all join hands to end this ugly menace.â&#x20AC;?

CHANGE OF NAME

" %#$! # "& # " " $ ! # "& #

CORRECTION OF NAME

39

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 26, 2020

SPORTS XTRA

Super Eagles Now to Play Algeria on October 9 after Desert Foxes Replace Elephants NFF hails Austrian embassy as Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ofďŹ cials secure visas for the games

R

eigning African champions Algeria have replaced Cote dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire as the opponents of the

Super Eagles in the first of two international friendly matches arranged by the Nigeria Football Federation to be played in Austria next month. The matches fall within the FIFA window

for international matches and have been approved by world football â&#x20AC;&#x201C;governing body, FIFA and CAF. The Federation Ivorienne de Football, on September 22 sent to the NFF a letter

regretting their inability to send a team to Austria for the game as earlier agreed, citing â&#x20AC;&#x153;internal problems.â&#x20AC;?

However, what at first seemed a disappointment turned into delight as stron-

Luis Suarez joined Atletico Madrid on a two-year deal yesterday

No Successive Appearance for Akinlabi, Dropped from Madrid Squad Versus Betis Despite training with the first team today and having put up a decent performance when he was introduced as a second half substitute against Real Sociedad, Nigeriaeligible winger Marvin Akinlabi will still not make his second appearance for Real Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first team when they take on Real Betis at the Estadio Benito VillamarĂ­n today.

Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane has announced his matchday squad for the visit

to the Andalusia province and Akinlabi is not part of the 22-man group.

The Spanish-Nigerianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s omission will come as a surprise as he was spotted training with the first teamers in their final workout o n F r i d a y.

Despite Eden Hazard not making the squad, it is believed that A k i n l a b i w a s left out because of the

return of Lucas Vazquez and Isco who can also be deployed as a winger.

The former Tranmere Rovers starlet wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be involved in any competitive match this weekend as Real Madrid Castilla, the team he represents, are still undergoing pre-season training.

He was handed a 20-minute runout on his competitive debut for Real Madrid in last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s draw at Real Sociedad.

Everton Nigeria MidďŹ elder, Adeniran Completes Loan Switch to Wycombe Wanderers

In a quest for first-team action, Nigeria prospect DennisAdeniran has completed a loanmovetoChampionshipsideWycombe Wanderers from Everton and the AngloNigerian will spend the 2020-21 campaign at the English Championship outfit Since joining the Goodison Park outfit in 2017 from Fulham, the midfielder has featured mainly for the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U23 side â&#x20AC;&#x201C; scoring eight goals in 46 Premier League games.

However, in his bid to taste first-team ac-

tion, he has been shipped to the Chairboys, who were promoted to the English second tier at the end of the last term.

Due to his qualities, manager Gareth Ainsworth brought him to South Bucks where he could feature in Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Championship fixture with Swansea City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dennis is an exciting young talent who has all the attributes to become a really important player for us this season,â&#x20AC;?

Ainsworth told the club website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a really energetic, box-to-box

Embattled Messiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barcelona Begin Title Chase Live on StarTimes StarTimes will air Spanish giants Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s match as they finally begin their La Liga title chase tomorrow.

Barcelona will play against Villarreal at 8 pm.

Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous gameday fixture was postponed as a result of their participation in the quarter-final of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, defending La Liga champions Real Madrid look to rub off the draw against Real Sociedad in the opening

day, as they come up against Real Betis today at 8 pm.

Barcelona will come up against Villarreal at Camp Nou, having slipped in the La Liga title race to arch-rivals The matches will air on ST Sports Premium, a channel dedicated to La Liga matches in French commentary.

Basic and Smart bouquet subscribers will have access to Elche vs Real Sociedad match on Sports Life channel today at 5:30 pm.

midfielder, and comes here eager to learn and develop his game, which we believe he can do just like many other young loanees whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve joined us early in their careers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a few injury and suspension problems in the middle of the park so Dennis arrives at a key time and adds extra competition for places.â&#x20AC;?

At Adams Park, he will join Uche Ikpeazu, Fred Onyedima and Adebayo Akinfenwa while wearing the No. 24 jersey.

Nigeria-Eligible Striker Eppiah Signs New Three-Year Deal with Leicester Nigeria-eligible striker Josh Eppiah has committed his future to Leicester City by signing a new three-year deal, the former Premier League champions have informed through their official website.

Eppiah, who represents the Foxes development squad, will be spending the remainder of the 2020-2021 season on loan at Jupiler Pro League side OH Leuven, subject to international clearance.

The 21-year-old has been called up to Belgiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U21

national team in the past and also qualifies to represent England and Nigeria.

Injuries have slowed down the progress of Eppiah but he has returned to fu l l fitness and trained with the first team during t h e p re - s e a s o n .

He scored four goals in 16 appearances combined in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy over the course of the 2019-2020 season and had four assists to his name.

ger Algeria immediately accepted to tango with three-time African champions Nigeria on October 9 at the Jacques Lemans Arena.

This followed a phone call from President of the NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick to his Algerian opposite number, Mr. Kheireddine Zetchi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have permission from our government to travel from Algeria to Austria and our country has reopened international flights. We also would like to confirm that FIFA match agent Me Jairo Pachon is authorised to carry on all the required work and planning in Austria in order to stage this event,â&#x20AC;? wrote Mohamed Saad, General Secretary of the Federation Algerienne de Football.

The clash in Austria next month would be the fourth between the Super Eagles and the Fennecs in three years. Both teams were in the same qualifying pool for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the Eagles trouncing the Fennecs 3-1 in Uyo before a 1-1 draw in Constantine that mattered little

as Nigeria already booked a ticket to Russia before that final-day encounter.

The two teams were again at each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jugular in the semi final of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s African Cup of Nations in Egypt, the Fennecs edging it 2-1 from a free-kick just outside the box at the death, and then going on to defeat Senegal in the final to clinch their second continental title.

Yesterday, the NFF commended the Embassy of Austria in Nigeria for the dispatch with which the embassy attended to technical and backroom staff of the Super Eagles who are heading to Austria for the two games. All the officials have been issued their visas to travel.

Midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo, who has only recently arrived in Turkey from Spain to join top club Galatasaray, has already been issued his visa to enter Austria.

Tunisia, rated number two in Africa and 26th in the world, will be the Super Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; second opponents at the Jacques Lemans Arena on October 13.

Joshua Vows to Knockout Fury Anthony Joshua still â&#x20AC;&#x153;loves knocking people outâ&#x20AC;? and plans a â&#x20AC;&#x153;demolition jobâ&#x20AC;? of Tyson Fury, says Eddie Hearn.

The IBF, WBAand WBO heavyweight champion is expected to defend his belts against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev on December 12 in the UK, and has already agreed financial terms to two fights with WBC titleholder Fury next year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I actually messaged him and I said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to steamroll through these guysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,â&#x20AC;? Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promoter Hearn told Sky Sports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He just replied in capitals and said: STEAMROLL!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

Asked if Joshua is plotting to emphatically become the divisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undisputed ruler by stopping Fury, Hearn said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to. Yeah. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He knows that Fury is an outstanding fighter and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be very difficult. But you can ask him for yourself, I believe he has bad intentions in those fights and I believe he expects to. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe he will knock out Kubrat Pulev and Tyson Fury.â&#x20AC;?

Joshua will fight this year with fans in attendance or without, according to Hearn.

Only 1,000 Spectators Per Day Allowed at French Open Organisers have been forced to reduce spectator numbers again for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s French Open which starts tomorrow due to Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increasing rate of COVID-19 infections.

The French Open has confirmed only 1,000 spectators will be allowed to attend the tournament each day.

Having reduced the daily capacity from a planned-for 11,500 fans to 5,000 a week ago, tournament organisers have now had to reduce further to comply with new rules introduced to try to curb Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soaring rate of coronavirus infections.

Tournament director Guy Forget told a press conference on Thursday that organisers were still hopeful of keeping to their 5,000 tally despite restrictions announced by the minister of health that specifically targeted sporting events.

Forget said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are playing the tournament on the size of 15 football fields on an outside stadium and we have all the health procedures with the masks, with the gel to clean your hands.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pretty confident.â&#x20AC;?

Around 35,000 spectators usually attend the tournament every day during the first week, and a statement announcing the new level stated the organisersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; position.

Followingtheannouncementsmadebygovernmentauthorities, 1,000 spectators will be permitted to enter the Roland-Garros grounds per day.

Saturday, September 26, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Gbajabiamila on Insecurity “We are at this moment experiencing in many parts of our country, significant internal security challenges that have disrupted the lives of many of our citizens and led to a loss of lives and property at a scale that cannot easily be quantified.”

– The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila lamenting the insecurity across Nigeria.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Kiddwaya, Erica and the Other Big Brother Naija Housemates

F

ellow Nigerians, please, let me warn that I’m not writing the usual political epistle today. I’m dedicating my column to my original love and business, lifestyle and entertainment.

We talk so much politics in Nigeria that we often forget that one of the sectors that can help our economic diversification is Tourism, Entertainment and Lifestyle. Just imagine how much this humongous industry has exploded since the coming of Ovation International magazine, nearly 25 years ago. I’m thrilled that one smart financial institution, Sterling Bank, has keyed into Tourism and is working feverishly to dominate it. We recall that in 2007, Tony Elumelu signed an Entertainment deal with The Ovation Media Group as sponsors of The Ovation Red Carol, before other banks woke up to promoting Music and Fashion.

The sponsorship of this aspect of the economy, I can assure the Federal Government, that with appropriate incentives and conducive environment, we can get a lot of our youths off the streets by creating employment for them, and thereby, increasing our GDP. But let’s leave that for another day. We are here to report back on Big Brother Naija, Lockdown edition. Contrary to the widespread generalisation that it is a useless TV game show, I believe it is very entertaining, educative, informative and promotes creativity while testing the brains and emotions and tenacity.

It toughens the mind and brings out the best and the beast in every human at some point.

I was not going to watch this year’s. I had had my preference for the continental edition, Big Brother Africa, which has since become a Nigerian affair. If anyone ever doubted the clout of Nigeria in other spheres of human endeavours, this game has stamped our authority on the continental Entertainment industry. In fact, it has reintroduced and repositioned us to the rest of Africa that we are the California of Africa, the home of showbiz. Let no one underrate the public relations and economic impact of this. One example will suffice. A very good friend and partner of ours saw the product, Waw, a detergent which is hailed and advertised on the show as preventing clothes from running and decided to try this product. Incidentally, she had always previously seen it on the shelves in supermarkets and other stores but never really paid any attention to it. She went looking for the Waw detergent, a couple of weeks ago and it was practically sold out all over Lagos Island. She was told by the various store managers, when she spoke with them, that they sold out almost as soon as they re-stocked since the programme, Big Brother Naija Lockdown commenced. She and the store Managers could only attribute this to the impact of the game show. It is now up to Nigerian government to reach out to the hardworking and imaginative organisers to work out how Nigeria can maximise the limitless potentials attached to the programme.

My dear friend, Terry Waya, the irrepressible networker and socialite got me interested this year because of his very smart son, Terseer Waya, aka Kiddwaya, whom I had known since he was under 10 years old, and who has now grown into a handsomely built and well-behaved young Man. Of course, it is not in my character to snub or ignore my friends when they need my attention. I was quite delighted to support with what I have, the

Erica

media, especially my platforms on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

No sooner than the game of wits started than some supporters of rival housemates started campaigning that Kiddwaya, as a rich kid did not need the winning prize. I felt so concerned about this attitude towards a young man who was determined to carve a niche for himself instead of scavenging for his Dad’s handouts, like others may have done. A particular group got so angry and this started a blistering campaign against

anyone supporting Kiddwaya, even if you did not badmouth their chosen contestant.

Anyway, Kiddwaya soon got entangled in a relationship, situationship or whirlwind romance (call it what you will) with a housemate, Ngozi Nlewedim, also known as Erica or Baby G. She turned out to be a beautiful, glamorous one-woman riot squad who was nevertheless also naturally sweet, demure and true to herself. Before long, she became the spellbinder who mesmerized her teeming fans and even detractors across Africa.

Unfortunately, at some point, she went over the limit and had to be expelled. As typical of many of us, the pontification process began.

She was called unprintable names. While her irrational action may have been condemnable, for terrorizing a fellow housemate, I did not think she deserved extermination or a death sentence as some wished for. Her enemies went after her like bullets. This was what further attracted sympathy, empathy and support for her from many of us. Then the bullies came after her supporters, of which I was one. They clearly picked on the wrong customer. The more they attacked, the stronger my resolve to stand solidly with her, like the rock of Gibraltar. Erica herself was resolute, firm and very disciplined and took the flak and rolled with it.

Haba! Was it more than a game, I wondered?

Why come on my page to fight when I have not come on yours? I wept for the manner many people waste the awesome opportunities afforded them by the advent of new media.

They prefer to spend their income on fighting invisible enemies. So tragic!

Back to Big Brother Naija Lockdown. I

was honoured and privileged to receive Kiddwaya first, in my apartment, last Sunday. Erica followed later in the evening.

The two visitors attracted so much attention on our various social media handles and we all had so much fun. I saw uncommon solidarity for them from across Africa and was humbled and touched. The last time I felt this way was when I wrote an article titled ‘The Karenplification of Africa’ on July 30, 2011, about the rambunctious Karen Ugoh who went on to win that year’s Big Brother Africa. She got so drunk on one occasion that I thought she was going to pass out.

But Africa loved her, warts and all.

One of the last five housemates this year, out of the original 20, will emerge winner during the grand finale tomorrow. They are Neo (Neo) Akpofure, Ms Victoria (Vee) Adeyele, Ms Dorathy (Dorathy) Bachor, Ms Rebecca (Nengi) Hampton and Olamilekan Agbeleshe, aka Laycon, who’s been tipped my many pundits to win. Any upset will be an anti-climax because Laycon’s supporters are real diehards. I will be here to congratulate the ultimate winner. But, I believe, they are all winners. Their lives have changed positively, and it is now about how they make use of the privilege and visibility that participating in the game has afforded them.

This week alone, Kiddwaya released a very classy advert for the EKO HOTELS & SUITES and yesterday afternoon, Erica got a bumper package when she signed a management deal with the UPGMC and OneAfricaGlobal Management family, owned by Mr Paul Okoye.

I wish all the housemates best of luck in their future endeavours...

A Timely Book From Lanre Alfred

O

ne of Nigeria’s most famous Lifestyle journalists, Lanre Alfred, has published a new book Nigeria @ 60: Foremost Nigerians in the Last 60 Years. It is a compendium that most of us should buy because it is loaded. The book is dedicated to The Spirit of Africa, Dr Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Isola Adenuga.

Why did you dedicate the book to the chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga?

I asked Lanre. He replied “The story behind my decision is quite interesting. I have always followed his giant strides in the business world. After examining him carefully, the impact of his business on the lives of Nigerians and Africans, in general, it was hard to pick anyone ahead of him. So, the book is especially dedicated to the man popularly called ‘The Bull’ as a homage to his humanity and relentless strides at rewriting the African business narrative; for standing tall and wading through odds with the courage of a knight and confidence of a champion. In a land dogged by human and infrastructural lapses, Dr. Adenuga’s humanity and entrepreneurial ingenuity nourishes the glands of kith and kin even as his genius oils the wheels of industry. What you would also find intriguing is that, unlike the proverbial warrior who lives to chant the poetry of his own deeds and derring-do, Dr. Adenuga remains impressively humble and immune to conceit, treading a rare path

to acclaim. He attracts honour in torrents, at home and abroad. And I am happy to dedicate the book to him because his exploits continually resonate as an undying tribute to mankind’s better nature. Dr. Adenuga emerged as a worthy recipient of such honour because his deeds and recurring success establish him as a man who challenged resolve with steely grit, and exploited the arduous planes of ambition and toil, till he encountered grandeur at the crossroads, where wild contemplation and hard work morph into triumph. And interestingly, amid the ravages of the coronavirus, the widespread gloom and apprehensions of citizenry and industries caught on the receiving end of the pandemic, Adenuga has raised hopes and planted joy in the bosoms of Nigerians. His huge donations to the Federal Government and several state governments have been instrumental to the partial containment of the virus. These are no doubt the hallmarks of a selfless man and patriot, and are thus, worthy of being celebrated.”

What inspired the book, Nigeria @ 60: Foremost Nigerians of the Last 60 Years?

“If you examine my career over the past two decades, you will discover that I have specialised and excelled, to God be the glory, in chronicling people and events. Being a widely travelled journalist has also opened my eyes to the fact that our job as reporters does not start and end on the pages of our medium. So, a few years ago, I wrote

my first book; a coffee table book called, Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous. It was very well-accepted, and it spurred me on to other book-writing ventures. In 2017, I published, The Titans (The Amazing Exploits of Nigeria’s Greatest Achievers), and I was also widely applauded for it. But this latest effort attempts to fill a gap in our national history - the lack of books on some of our past and present heroes. Whether we want to believe it or not, Nigeria is a nation that is guilty of not keeping data, which has, over the years, led to the distortion of her history. Many of those who came before us, despite all their monumental talents and achievements, refused to pass on to us lessons that can guide us as we navigate through the labyrinth of life. Our generation is the poorer for it because many do not have a sense of where they are coming from or where they are headed. So, what this book has done is to spotlight and profile extensively those who have contributed to the development of this nation in their different fields of endeavour.”

I strongly commend this latest book by Lanre Alfred to all followers of Nigerian history and development and indeed to avid readers of fine prose and literature. It is a book that takes you on a scintillating voyage into the lives and times of Nigeria’s greatest figures and the shaping of the country’s destiny before things unravelled afterwards. The book is a compelling read!

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