SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2019

S’Court: Atiku, PDP Failed to Prove Claims against Buhari INEC server evidence can’t be relied upon Presidency: Ruling represents popular will Alex Enumah and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Supreme Court yesterday disclosed that the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar and his party, against the election of President

Muhammadu Buhari, was dismissed owing to the failure of the appellants to prove any of the allegations made in their appeal.

Giving reasons why the appeal was dismissed, Justice

John Okoro, who read the lead judgment prepared by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, said the apex court, after going through the matter, agreed with the

decision of the tribunal that the appellants were unable to prove the allegations made in the appeal.

Okoro noted that the appeal of Atiku and PDP were centred on two major

issues; qualification and noncompliance with the electoral laws.

The apex court, while noting that the appellants could not substantiate their claims that President Buhari was not

Tributes As Alex Akinyele Passes on at 81‌ Page 6

qualified to have contested the election, held that the purported central server they relied on in their claim of non-compliance, could not be relied on since the source was doubtful having not linked to INEC. Continued on page 5

Saturday 16 November, 2019 Vol 24. No 8986

www.thisdaylive.com TR

TODAY'S WEATHER

ABUJA 25°C-33°C

MAIDUGURI 31°C-31°C

UT H

& RE A S O

ENUGU 25°C-28°C

N250

N

KANO 27°C-33°C

LAGOS 24C-27°C

PORT HARCOURT 20°C-30°C

Decision Day in Bayelsa, Kogi Diri, Lyon in intense contest in Bayelsa Wada tackles Bello in Kogi Lyon gets lifeline from Appeal Court IG Adamu assures voters of maximum security 35,000 policemen deployed in Kogi, 31,041 in Bayelsa Police withdraw officers from VIPs in Bayelsa INEC Chair promises free, fair poll Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Tension remains very high as voters in Bayelsa and Kogi states file out today to decide who takes charge of the administration of their

states in the next four years.

As at press time, toughlooking security agents were seen on the streets of Yenagoa and Lokoja, while residents and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plead with the political parties for peaceful poll.

In Bayelsa State, the governorship election is a straight fight between Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lyon, who had earlier been disqualified by a Federal

High Court in Bayelsa State on Thursday, got a lifeline yesterday from an Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which ordered INEC not to remove him from the ballot. The court gave the order following an ex parte motion filed by his counsel

KOGI STATE

on Thursday.

In Kogi State, incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello of the APC has Musa Wada of the PDP to contend with.

Incidents of violence and intemperate use of language have characterised the campaigns leading to today’s

elections. In some cases, lives were lost.

Nevertheless, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Adamu assured voters in both states of maximum security.

Speaking on Tuesday in Continued on page 5

BAYELSA STATE

Bello

Wada

Diri

Lyon

STRENGTHS Ëž ÙåĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ëž Ă“Ă‘ ĂĄĂ‹Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ăž Ëž Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ&#x;Ă? Ëž Ă˜Ă”Ă™ĂŁĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ëž Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?

WEAKNESSES Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ÚÞ Ëž Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ— Ă•Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ëž Ă?Ă Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă“Ă Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă‹Ă˜Ăž Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂžĂ’ĂŁ Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĘŽĂ?Ă˘Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă?

STRENGTHS Ëž Ă˜Ă”Ă™ĂŁĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă’Ă&#x;Ă—ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ÚÞ Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ëž ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă— ÚÖËãĂ?Ăœ Ëž ĂŒĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ‘Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ?Ăœ WEAKNESSES Ëž Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă“Ă‘Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒã Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă‹Ă• Ă™Ă˜ ÚÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ëž Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ™ĂĄ ÚÙÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ëž Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?

STRENGTHS Ëž Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ăž ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăœ Ëž Ă™Ă?Ăž ĂšĂœĂ?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă™ĂŒ Ëž ĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ? Ëž Ă“Ă?Ă’ ÚÙÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ëž Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽËœ ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹Ă–Ě‹Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? Ëž ĂžĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ÑÙà Þ Ëž Ă“Ă‘ ĂĄĂ‹Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ăž WEAKNESSES Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă?Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă?ÞÙÙÑĂ? Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŒĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ëž Ă?Ă‹Ă• Ă™Ă˜ ÚÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ëž Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă•Ă?ĂŁ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ?

STRENGTHS Ëž Ă˜Ă”Ă™ĂŁĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ăž Ëž Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ÞÒĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– ĂŽĂ?âÞĂ?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ëž Ù×Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂŁĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹ ÚÙÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă? Ëž ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă– ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ WEAKNESSES Ëž Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă? ÚÙÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ÞÙÙÑĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ–Ă Ă‹ Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ëž Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ÚÙÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă“ĂŽĂ?ÙÖÙÑã Ëž Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ÑÙà Þ Ëž Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ě‹ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ? Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜

2

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2019 •T H I S D AY

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2019 • T H I S D AY

3

4

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2019 •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 ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

PAGE FIVE DECISION DAY IN BAYELSA, KOGI Lokoja, Adamu said security operatives on election duties would not hesitate to gun down any unauthorised person attempting to use firearm in any part of Kogi State during the ongoing electioneering process.

Adamu gave the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting/ signing of Peace Accord among political parties and candidates, organised by INEC. The police boss, who spoke after INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had delivered his address, also warned policemen on guard duties with politicians not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetrate illegality on the election day.

He warned that any policeman caught roaming the street without proper authorisation would be arrested.

He assured the general public that the police would be professional and ready to provide a level playing ground for all parties and participants, adding that the police and other security operatives on election duty would protect all INEC and other electoral officials, as well as materials for the exercise, against attacks.

Bayelsa INEC, Police Fully Prepared Institutions directly involved in the electoral process, including INEC, the police, the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said yesterday that they were fully prepared for today’s poll in Bayelsa State.

The Bayelsa State Police Command also ordered withdrawal of policemen attached to high profile politicians.

The police, however, said in a statement that the withdrawal was temporary, stating that all persons who are affected by the instruction must comply accordingly.

Earlier, the police authorities had deployed several top officers and police

commissioners to Bayelsa State, including Garba Baba Umar, Sanusi Buba, Bello Makwashi, Usman Sule Gomina, Mohammed Gimba, Bashir Makama, Habu Sani, Danladi Bitrus Lalas, Omololu Bishi, Joseph Mukan and an Acting Police Commissioner, Odumosu Olusegun, among others.

At the headquarters of the Bayelsa State Command in Yenagoa, the police assured the electorate of adequate safety during the poll, adding that 31,041, had been deployed in various locations for the poll.

Several trucks and bus-loads of police personnel were still being deployed to various local government areas as at yesterday afternoon.

Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed, had also met with political stakeholders in Bayelsa ahead of today’s governorship election.

During the meeting, which held in Yenagoa, the INEC chairman maintained that the police would take over the primary duty of securing humans and materials, noting that any other function engaged upon by the security forces, including the military, will be secondary.

"The police force is the lead agency for election security in Nigeria and the IGP is here. In addition, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) provides the bulk of ad hoc staff for election duty at polling unit level in Nigeria," he said.

He further added: "I want to reassure you that INEC is ready. We have so far successfully implemented two out of our 14-point plan for the election as required by law."

In a related development, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, said that he had deployed 5,000 personnel from the national headquarters to ensure that there was peaceful,

credible and hitch-free election in Bayelsa State.

The Bayelsa Resident Electoral Commissioner, Monday Udoh, yesterday told voters to come out in their numbers, assuring them that INEC had fully collaborated with the security agencies to ensure a smooth process.

"We are moving forward; we came on Wednesday and sighted them, took note and also yesterday they were here. There are enough boats, enough security escorts. We have no challenge at all; we have enough vehicles to escort the materials to the centres.

"We are asking everybody to go and vote; there's enough security protecting every person going out to vote. The DIG just spoke to me now that they have taken control of the whole place nothing, bad will happen in this election.

"We have enough security on ground to protect every voter. So, people of Bayelsa State, go out and exercise your franchise. Do not have any reason not to go out to vote," he said.

Udoh reiterated that no party had been barred from taking part in the election, following the two court injunctions on Thursday from the Federal High Court, Yenagoa and the Appeal Court in Abuja.

He stated that INEC lawyers were studying the rulings in Abuja, but added that no party has been barred from the Saturday poll.

Also, INEC was continuing the movement of sensitive materials as at yesterday. INEC Head of Department in charge of Voter Education, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, told journalists that party agents, INEC officials and other stakeholders, are at the CBN, Yenagoa branch to retrieve the sensitive materials.

He said that the boats being used went through the marine union and had been profiled by the Nigerian Navy to ensure that their boats were water worthy and that the drivers

were trustworthy.

However, it was learnt that the difficulties in retrieving results from the riverine areas may be reduced as the Commission is likely to make use of helicopters so that where they used to have so much problem or running on the sea, materials will be airlifted.

How the Candidates stand in Bayelsa Today’s election is likely going to be a tough fight, apart from the traces of violence that had trailed it. Bayelsa has 1,804 polling units, 105 wards and eight local governments. It has 923, 182 registered voters, with 889, 308 PVCs collected. It has a voter gender distribution of 424, 392 for female and 498, 790 for men.

Bayelsa Central, comprising three local governments Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma/Opokuma. Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw have the largest voting population in the state, with 199,895 and 165, 449 respectively, while Kolokuma/Opokuma has a voting population of 52,765.

With the population of Yenagoa, the state capital, that has a sizeable number of non-indigenes, especially Igbo traders with sentiments for the PDP, the party will likely take the state capital. Diri, the PDP senator is also currently a senator with Yenagoa as one of his constituencies. The council has never been the strong base of the APC. For Southern Ijaw, despite the efforts of Governor Dickson to recently assuage them by supporting the removal of a Kolokuma Opokuma speaker with a replacement from Southern Ijaw, the APC will garner the majority votes since the party’s governorship candidate, Lyon is from there.

Many of their sons and daughters are still in Dickson’s government. Whether that will make a difference, remains to

be seen.

Bayelsa East has Brass, Nembe and Ogbia. The only senatorial seat won by the APC during the national assembly is from there. They also won a Reps seat there. Brass is where Timipre Sylva hails from and it remains a very volatile and contentious area. Brass has a voting population of 67, 804 with 65, 900 collected PVCs. With the Sylva and Israel Sunny-Goli, a Reps member’s factor, the APC will attempt to win Brass.

For Ogbia, the PDP will have an upper hand because of the Goodluck Jonathan factor. It has a voting population of 109, 903. Jonathan has refused to get involved in the electoral process after an aspirant reportedly backed by him failed to win the primaries in September.

The PDP may take Bayelsa West which comprises Sagbama, where Dickson and the running mate to Diri, Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, hail from. While Sagbama has a voting population of 109, 460, the other local government in the Western flank is Ekeremor, which would also likely fall to the PDP with voters topping 125,189.

Whether Senator Heineken Lokpobiri's supporters will agree to vote the APC and boost their tally in the area is also debatable.

Kogi Stakeholders Set Critical stakeholders in the Kogi State election spent most of yesterday putting finishing touches to their preparations.

Despite the persistent assurance from the Police to be on top of security situation before, during and after elections, there are still some danger signs.

Thirty five thousand police personnel have been deployed to Kogi State for this assignment.

The police warned the Kogi political actors who may want

to cause violence during the election or disrupt electoral process that they would be made to full wrath of law if caught in the act.

An Assistant Inspector General of Police, Abdulmajeed Ali, who spoke at a press conference at the Command Headquarters in Lokoja, stated that this mandate was being exercised in close conjunction with INEC leadership and other sister security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

At the forum in Lokoja, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said he expects the political actors in the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi State to be of good behaviour before, during and after elections. “For us in INEC, we are ready to conduct peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in both Bayelsa and Kogi States. We are seeking the partnership of political parties and candidates to ensure that the elections are violence free,�

Yakubu said.

As at press time, Lokoja has been frenzy as many journalists, international and local observers have been trooping in for the election.

Security personnel are visible everywhere in the state capital.

Today's governorship election is no doubt straight fight between incumbent governor Bello of the APC and Wada of the PDP. In the preceding weeks, the campaign had degenerated to ethnic biases as the Ebira vows to return their son, the incumbent governor, while the Igalas are routing for their own son too, Wada.

Bello is expected to rely on the people of Kogi Central, comprising Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi, Adavi,and Ogori/ magongo local government areas.

Continued on page 15

S’COURT: ATIKU, PDP FAILED TO PROVE CLAIMS AGAINST BUHARI Justice Okoro said having gone through the testimonies and documents tendered by the appellants, they (Supreme Court Justices) were convinced that the tribunal was right in arriving at the decision to dismiss the appeal and affirmed the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as lawfully and duly returned as winner of the election.

On the issue of qualification, the apex court held that the tribunal was in order when it held that President Buhari was eminently qualified to contest the February 23 presidential poll.

Okoro said that the issue of qualification was a constitutional one open to conjectures or inferences.

Citing sections 131 and 318 of the constitution, the apex court held that Buhari was able to prove that he possessed the minimum academic qualification, which is education up to secondary school level, adding that mere attendance in a school up to secondary school level qualifies one to contest for the office of President of Nigeria.

According to the judgment exhibits, such as group photographs of Katsina Secondary School, Cambridge University Assessment, West African School Certificate (WASC), commendation letter from the Commandant of US war college for the then Major Muhammadu Buhari as well as his long service in public

service, two years of which he served as military Head of State and four years as President, was suffice for the qualification requirement.

While noting that the appellants failed to prove that these certificates were forged, Justice Okoro held that no law in the country, whether the Constitution or the Electoral Act, requires a candidate to attach his certificate before he can be adjudged qualified to contest an election.

On the issue of given false information to INEC, the apex court said it also agreed with the decision of the tribunal that the allegation being rooted in criminality must be proved beyond reasonable doubt and that the appellants did not do.

On the issue of the differences in the name 'Mohamed' and 'Muhammadu', the apex court held that the fifth witness called by Buhari was able to establish that the two names, 'Mohamed'and'Muhammadu' belong to the same person.

On the issue of server, which the appellants relied on as a prove of irregularities and non-compliance with the electoral laws, the apex court said that the tribunal was right in rejecting the data and analysis from the said server because the said data were not obtained from INEC but rather from a whistle blower and anonymous INEC staff which cannot be relied upon.

According to the Supreme Court, the evidence of the two

ICT experts, obtained from a website "www.fact don't lie.ng Website" cannot be relied upon.

"I am satisfied with the findings of the lower court which did not attach any probative value on the evidences of PW 59 and PW 60. This issue is resolved in favour of the respondent,�

Okoro ruled.

On the issue of alleged rigging and other malpractices, the apex court agreed with the tribunal that the appellants failed to call sufficient and relevant witnesses to prove the allegations.

The court while stating that to prove issues of non-compliance, appellants must call witnesses, polling unit by polling unit and that such witnesses must have witnessed the election at the particular unit from beginning to end, said that the appellants only called 62 witnesses out of the over 250,000 polling units in the country.

The apex court added that the fact that only five out of the 62 witnesses of the appellants were polling unit agents was fatal to their case.

On the issue of documents, the apex court while faulting the appellants for not tendering the voter register used for the election, accused them of dumping voluminous documents on the court without calling the makers of the said documents to speak on the documents.

Accordingly, it agreed with the lower court that

no probative value can be attached to such documents, adding that it was not the duty of the justices to speculate or fish out what the documents were all about.

Justice Okoro said that the apex court having resolved all issues in favour of the respondents, unanimously agreed that the appeal lacked merit and ought to be dismissed and accordingly did so.

Earlier, when the matter was called, neither Atiku and PDP nor their representative was in court.

Also, none of their lawyers was in court to hear the reason for the dismissal of the appeal by the Supreme Court on October 30, prompting counsel to the second respondent, Alex Izinyon SAN, to apologise on behalf of the appellants.

But in a quick response, Justice Okoro, who led two other Justices, held that the court would go ahead to give its reasons notwithstanding the absence of the appellants.

The apex court had on October 30, dismissed the appeal filed by Atiku and PDP on grounds that it was unmeritorious, but said reasons behind the judgment would be made known at a later date, which it did yesterday.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the tribunal, Atiku and PDP had approached the apex court in the land to set it aside on the grounds that the lower court erred in law when it held that their petition

lacked merit as none of their allegations made against the presidential election was proved.

However, the apex court within a few hours of hearing the appeal, unanimously agreed that it lacked merit and dismissed it accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Presidency yesterday accepted the reasons the Supreme Court gave in dismissing the appeals of Atiku and the PDP, which challenged the victory of President Buhari in the February 23 poll.

It said the apex court’s ruling represented the “popular will� of Nigerians since Abubakar and the PDP were unable to establish any case against Buhari’s victory.

The Presidency, in a statement

by Buhari’s media aide, Mr Garba Shehu, called on the PDP to put the election behind it, adding that it was commendable that the party took the legal route to dispute the outcome of the poll up to the apex court.

The Presidency stated further, “However, now it is time for the PDP to take up the service mandated by this election.

The legislative agenda of the Ninth Assembly is ambitious in both size and scope. It is critical that the opposition is there to scrutinise bills and policies, rather than preoccupy themselves with unsustainable court cases. “We appreciate the PDP and their candidate for taking these claims to courts rather than expressing them

in other ways, but now Nigeria needs a robust and rigorous opposition. The nation needs to move on. “While it is correct to give credit to the courts for affirming this electoral victory-and we commend the courage of the bench to arrive at the right conclusion given manifest and subtle pressures to do otherwise-the reality is that courts were convinced by arguments from the lawyers representing the APC and its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari that results reflect the true wishes of a majority of our citizens. “President Buhari won four million more votes than his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar, in the February poll. No serious electoral observers have challenged this result.

And now the Supreme Court has explained why the PDP appeal is unsubstantiated.

We hope this finally puts the matter behind us. We should now grasp this moment to move forward, together.�

Reacting to the reasons given by the Supreme Court, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), in a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, lamented that the nation’s democracy and electoral processes “have been set back to the dark ages.�

The coalition said the apex court has by this action today, “rewritten the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended.�

8

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

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

ENRICHING KNOWLEDGE...

L-R: Mr. Okey Ajaero ; Principal, Government Secondary School, Bashar, Wuse Plateau State, Mr. Hassan Garba Maro ; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Gambo Ahmed; Principal, Government Community Day Secondary School, Akko, Gombe State, Mr. Hadisu Musa; Principal, Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School, Minna Niger State, Mr. Abdul Madaka Aliyu and Deputy Director/Head PR NIMASA, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi during the distribution of Educational Materials to Selected Schools in North Central by NIMASA in Abuja ...recently.

Tributes as Alex Akinyele Passes on at 81 Former Minister of Information, Alex Akinyele, has died at the age of 81. He reportedly died in the early hours of yesterday.

His son, Constantine Akinyele who broke the news, said the former minister died on Thursday night after a brief illness.

Akinyele held several positions including Chairman of the National Sports Commission, first spokesman of the Nigeria Customs Service and Secretary General of and later, President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations among others.

He studied English Language at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).

Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, Mr. Peter Obi described the death of Prince Alex Akinyele as a great loss to the country. Describing him as patriot, he encouraged Nigerians to imitate his sacrifices and embrace only those things that will encourage a just and equitable country.

Reacting to the demise, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commiserated with the family and professional colleagues of Chief Akinyele.

In a condolence message

CertiďŹ cate Forgery: NECO Sacks 70 Staff Laleye Dipo Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has sacked 70 of its staff over alleged certificate forgery.

The action of the organisation followed weeks of staff verification including scrutiny of staff academic papers.

A statement made available to newsmen in Minna the headquarters of the examination body yesterday evening by its Head Information and Public Relations, Alhaji Azeez Sani, said the management had approved the sack of those found wanting. “These dismissals are sequel to a report submitted by a Management Committee constituted to verify certificate of staff. “The certificate Verification Committee carried out its assignment diligently by inviting all staff with questionable credentials to appear before it, during which some staff actually attested that their certificates were fake,� Alhaji

Sani said in the statement.

He added that the Committee also contacted the schools and institutions the affected staff claimed to have attended and the schools and institutions denied having certificated them. “On completion of their assignment, the Committee submitted its findings to NECO Management which also forwarded same to NECO Governing Board,� he added.

According to the spokesman of the organisation, “At its 17th Extra-ordinary meeting, the Governing Board vetted the report and approved dismissal of the affected staff.�

Sani reiterated that: “The Council under the able leadership of the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive, Mr. Abubakar Gana, has zero tolerance for corruption and is poised to sanitise the system as espoused by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.�

He added that the dismissal of the 70 staff was the first phase in the series of the on-going staff certificate verification exercise in the Council.

released yesterday in Abuja by his Media Office, the APC leader said the late minister was as an elder statesman who contributed immensely to Nigeria’s development and would be deeply missed by the country he served to the best of his abilities. “Chief Alex Akinyele was an elder statesman. He served the country to the best of his abilities.

He did his best as Minister of Information and later Chairman of the National Sports Commission. “He was also one leader who was very proud of his Yoruba, indeed Ondo heritage, and demonstrated this often in his appearance and conduct.

“Chief Akinyele radiated warmth and tenderness. To meet him is to like him. He was full of life. He was unmistakable with his sartorial elegance. The country he did his best for will sorely miss him. “My thoughts are with his family, friends and relations at this moment. May they find the strength to live through his passing. I mourn with his professional colleagues, the Public Relations practitioners and members of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations. “My condolences also go to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the government and people

of Ondo State. “May the soul of Chief Akinyele find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord,� Tinibu wrote.

Also, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed deep shock and sadness over the death of Akinyele.

Alhaji Mohammed in a statement described the death of Chief Akinyele as a monumental loss to his family, the people of Ondo State and Nigerians in general.

The minister described the late Chief Akinyele, to whom he was well acquainted in his lifetime especially in the realms of public relations, as an astute administra-

tor and a highly-respected public relations practitioner.

He said Chief Akinyele’s tenure as Minister of Information, and later as the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, was characterised by his uncommon passion for Nigeria as well as his impressive erudition.

Mohammed said the family of the deceased, as well as his friends and associates, should be comforted by his legacy of service to humanity.

He prayed to God for the repose of Chief Akinyele’s soul as well as for strength and comfort for his family.

Appeal Court AfďŹ rms Okowa, Masari as Duly Elected Governors Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Francis Sardauna Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday dismissed the appeal filed by candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Great Ogboru against the election of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as Governor of Delta State just as the Court in Kaduna ruled in favour of Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State.

While a five-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Uzo

Ndukwe-Anyanwu, dismissed Ogboru’s appeal on the grounds that it was “completely devoid of merit�, that in Kaduna ruled that the petition of Senator Yakubu Lado of the PDP also lacked merit.

The court accordingly upheld the decision of the Delta State and Katsina Stater Governorship Election Petition Tribunals which affirmed the declaration of Okowa and Masari as lawful winners of the March 9 governorship elections.

Ogboru and his party, APC had approached the appellate court to

upturn the decision of the tribunal which returned Okowa for a second term in office.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okowa and PDP winner of the March 9 governorship election in Delta State, haven garnered majority of the lawful votes cast in the election.

Ogboru and his party had alleged over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act amongst other irregularities they claimed marred the governorship election in the state.

They called a total of 20 witnesses

and tendered a total of 4,523 documents to prove their petition.

They then prayed the court to nullify Okowa’s election and declare them winner or in the alternative order INEC to conduct a fresh election in Delta State.

However, the three-man panel led by Justice Suleiman Belgore, in its judgment dismissed Ogboru and APC’s petition on grounds that the petitioners failed to prove the cases of irregularities and malpractices claimed in their petition.

PDP, APC Disagree over N11b Benue Airport Project George Okoh Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă•Ă&#x;ĂœĂŽĂ“

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has launched a scathing attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the recent declaration by the state Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, that the state would be constructing a new airport valued at N11 billion.

The Benue State governor had declared during his budget presentation to the Benue House of Assembly that the state would be

embarking on the project expected to be completed in two years.

However, the APC had questioned the rationale behind the project.

APC said in a statement that their party was astounded with yet another declaration by the governor that he would convert the proposed Benue Cargo Airport and build another airport in two years.

They stated that they were “deeply worried at the spon-

taneous nature with which the PDP administration in the state emotionally declares serious policy statements with gusto, yet, fails to execute any without compunction.�

The APC also claimed that Governor Ortom, was the governor with the highest number of unfulfilled promises and cited the non-completion of the Origbo-Imamde-Akpu-Gbajimba Road as evidence.

However, the PDP in a counter

statement acknowledges that the opposition party had a perfect right to hold an opinion about the policies and actions of the administration of Governor Ortom but said the validity or otherwise of such views must still be measured against the majority opinion of the Benue people who were and would always be the ultimate targeted beneficiaries of any policy and action of the administration.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2019 • T H I S D AY

7

8

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍŻÍ´Ëœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

NEWS

Two Dead, 6 Injured, 17 Vehicles In Brief Burnt in Ota Petrol Tanker Fire Adamawa to Vaccinate I.5m Children Bennett Oghifo

Another gory scene of hellish fire played out on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Ota, Ogun State, when a truck transporting premium motor spirit, fell and spilled its content which razed up 16 vehicles on its path.

The Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Command, Route Commander Florence Okpe, said this yesterday in a statement she signed on behalf of the Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Clement Oladele.

According to the Corps Commander, the fiery incident took place five minutes to midnight on “the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Ota on Thursday 14 November 2019.�

Oladele stated in his ‘Report

of Tanker Crash’, that the Crash Time was “2355HRS�, two people were killed, six injured and that 17 vehicles were involved.

He said the two burnt corpses were evacuated to the Ifo General Hospital, Ogun State, the six injured victims were rescued to Ota General Hospital, Ogun State, and that as at yesterday, clearance of obstruction was still in progress.

The Corps Commander said, “The suspected cause of the crash was a mechanically deficient truck conveying PMS (petrol) products that fell and spilled its contents.

The spilled contents then spread from the ShopRite Mall in Ota up to the FRSC Command Office located at the old Toll Gate, Ota, destroying vehicles and other properties affected by the spilled inflammable contents.�

The FRSC Sector Commander

Oladele advised motorists, especially tankers transporting flammable products like petroleum products to adhere strictly to the 1957 United Nations Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods

by Roads (ADR), which Nigeria recently acceded to.

He said the Agreement, among other provisions, require trucks conveying dangerous goods, including petroleum products to be installed with tanker's seal valve, which prevents the liquefied contents from spilling its contents in the event of a road traffic crash He said, “While the FRSC has commenced investigation of the crash, the contents of the crashed tanker would not have spilled if the tanker was installed with a seal valve.�

The Sector Commander com-

miserated with the relations of the victims, adding that they may obtain more information about the crash from the FRSC Command in Ota, Ogun State or visit the General Hospitals in Ota and Ifo, both in Ogun State.

The Corps Commander listed the vehicles involved as: the petrol-bearing Tanker (Burnt); Blue Truck, Lnd19XY; White Bus XQ 828 FST; Toyota Car Mus494cc; Yellow Lt Bus Mus604xu; Blue Tipper App499xw; Toyota Sienna (Burnt); Black Eator Bray Truck (Burnt); Blue-Black Truck (Burnt); M/Benz Truck (Burnt); Pickup Van (Burnt); White Trailer (Burnt); Black Truck (Burnt); Dark Blue Truck (Burnt); Light Blue Truck (Burnt); Blue Truck Filled With Bundles of Millo Sachets (Burnt); and Dangote Cement Truck (Burnt).

Adamawa State Ministry of Health has targeted to vaccinate, 1, 563,780 eligible children for measles and meningitis in the state. The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Mr. Kennedy Bartimaus made the disclosure in a press conference yesterday in Yola, Adamawa State capital.

Bartimaus further explained that the 800,150 eligible children would be vaccinated against measles while 763,630 against meningitis. He said that the state government had received adequate doses of vaccines to this effect from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and have already been distributed in all the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. Bartimaus said on this premise, the government was flagging off the vaccination exercise against meningitis and measles today by the Governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri at the palace of District Head of Girei town in Girei LGA to sensitise parents on the need to take their children for vaccination to the temporarily designated posts provided for the exercise.

Suspected Internet Fraudsters Arraigned Four suspected internet fraudsters were yesterday arraigned before a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin. The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) instituted the case.

The suspects were arraigned on four different charges. Three of the defendants pleaded guilty while one claimed innocence to the criminal charges brought against them by the anti-graft body.The defendants in the matterare,ChilakaDickson, AbdulahiAbubakar,OlayiwolaAzeez,andEnoch Oluyode.The charge against one of the suspects reads, "That you, Abdulahi Abubakar ( Alias Bar David John) sometime between July and October, 2017 , at Ilorin within the Judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, while Acting as one Barrister David John; a Legal Practitioner and notary public in Kwara State with Yahoo mail account barrister.davidjohn@Yahoo.

FG to Move against Open Defecation As part of efforts towards achieving the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2025, the federal government is set to create a legislation to punish those who indiscriminately defecate in the open. The Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu who revealed this during a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said there was also going to be an executive order signed by President Buhari to that effect. According to him, such law was not to coarse people but rather to promote behavioral change in hygiene promotion and curbing the menace of open defecation. He said, "We need the individuals and communities to have this behavioral change.

Anambra, UNIZIK toTrain, Empower Youths AnambraStateGovernmenthasbrokeredapartnershipwiththeNnamdi Azikiwe University Business School in Awka to train and empower 300 youthsinthestate.TheCommissionerforYouthEmpowermentandCreative Economy, Afam Mbanefo, stated this in a joint press briefing with officials of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Business School in Awka yesterday.

He said, "Under the Youth Entrepreneurship Start-Up (YES) programme 300 youths will get the opportunity to be trained by the UNIZIK Business School, while the Anambra State Government will empower them to start up their various businesses." Mbanefo said, "The Anambra State Ministry ofYouth Empowerment and Creative Economy has the mandate to ensure that every Anambra youth has at least one skill or the other.

Bauchi Waste Management

LUCKY WINNER...

Oyo State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola (1st right), congratulates one of the winners of keke tricycle, Timothy Isaac Wale (middle), while from left, Regional Manager, Activations, West 1, Globacom, Mr. Bidemi Emmanuel; Nollywood actor, Yemi Solade and Mrs Dasola Adeyemi, the representative of the Iyalode of Ibadanland, Chief (Mrs.) Theresa Oyekanmi, watch with admiration at the presentation of prizes to winners in Globacom's My Own Don Beta promo in Ibadan...recently

Kano Police Arrest 2 Kidnap Suspects, Rescue 4-yr-old Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Police Command yesterday rescued a four-year-old boy, Abdurrahman Dalha of Zangon Rimi Quarters, Ungogo LGA Kano State, from kidnappers who demanded a ransom of N4 million.

The Command’s AntiKidnapping team of Operation Puff-Adder was immediately mobilised when they received a complaint that unknown people

kidnapped a four years old in the area.

The command directed the anti-kidnap operatives to track down the kidnappers and arrest them within 24 hours.

According to a press statement by the command's spokesman, DSP Abdullahi Haruna and made available to reporters in Kano late yesterday evening, stated that “The Operatives swung into action where community policing tools were utilised and

that led to the arrest of the principal suspect, one Anas Isah, 22 years old of Zangon Dakata Quarters Kano, while planning to collect the ransom.�

The statement revealed that “Suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and led Puff-Adder Operatives to the house of his Aunty at Inusawa Village, Ungogo LGA where the kidnapped victim was rescued. “His accomplice, one Umar Hassan popularly known as

Liman of Zangon Rimi, a relative to the victim was also arrested.

Suspects will be charged to court for prosecution after investigation is completed.�

The Command therefore called on the good citizens of the state to continue cooperating with the Police for timely and prompt rendition of information and intelligence on any form of crime and criminality across the length and breadth of the state for quick and timely response, please.

WAEC Releases 2019 Private Candidates Results, Records 35% in Maths, English Funmi Ogundare

The West African Examination Council, yesterday, announced the release of the results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE), for private candidate's 2019 second series.

Briefing journalists in Lagos, the Head of National Office of the council, Mr. Olu Adenipekun said out of 94,884 candidates that sat for the examination,

33,304 representing 35.10 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects including Mathematics and English language .

Out of this figure, he said 16, 431 were male and 16,873 were female representing 49.34 per cent and 50.66 per cent, respectively.

Adenipekun added that 49, 679 candidates representing 52.36 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects ( with or without English Language

and/or Mathematics, out of which 24, 354 were male and 25,325 were female representing 49.02 per cent and 50.98 per cent, respectively.

Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, the HNO said 91,225 candidates representing 96.14 per cent had their results fully processed and released while 3,659 candidates representing 3.86 per cent, had a few of their subjects still being processed and would be released within the next one week.

"Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination in Nigeria, 47,237 were male while 47, 647 were female, representing 49.78 per cent and 50.22 per cent, respectively", Adenipekun said He noted that 9,457 candidates were also reported to have been involved in one form of examination malpractice or the other. "This number represents 9.74 per cent of the total candidature for the examination.

As part of efforts to facilitate the evacuation of household wastes dumped along major roads within Bauchi metropolis and environs, the sum of N28.7million has been released for the construction of six waste collection centres within Bauchi metropolis. This was disclosed by the BauchiStateGovernor,SenatorBalaAbdulkadirMohammedwhilespeaking during the inauguration of waste collection centres (Phase I) at Bakin Kura within the metropolis yesterday and pledged his administration’s commitmenttoevolvingpoliciesthatwouldenthroneahealthyenvironment for the people.The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Housing, Hon. Mu’azu Hamisu Shira,, also said that he had approved the release of N9.7m for Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) for the repairs of all the agency’s equipment for prompt evacuation of refuse in all major towns in the state.

Young Chess Prodigy Wins Scholarship

AmuwoGames2019 entered into its full gear last weekend as sports enthusiasts gathered at the various centres to witness the various thrilling sporting activities. As expected, games were held across all designated venues within the local government. All other new games including Volley ball,ChessandScrabblewerealsocommencedlastweekendasparticipants were seen engaging in one game or the other. Dignitaries, spectators and fans were present across these venues to cheer up their teams.The event took another shocking dimension at the Chess game section in the under 13Categorywhenoneoftheparticipants,MasterUmarBellowhosefather is an architect came first in the Chess game. To the astonishment of his father and spectators who came around to give him a moral support, he was awarded a one year school tuition scholarship by one of the corporate sponsors of Amuwo Games 2019, OLATOKUNBO Foundation. His proud father who was full of life as he extended his gratitude to the foundation and the organizers of the AmuwoGames for the initiative and kind gestures.

Reduce VAT on Renewable Energy Products

Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) has called on the federal government to reduce the tax burden on renewable energy products by reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5 per cent to 2 per cent. It also called on the National Assembly to make laws for more relaxed fiscal policies for renewable energy products in Nigeria. Its Executive Director, Godwin Ojo, made the call while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, with the theme 'Tax Reduction on Renewable Energy in Nigeria' He noted that 60 per cent to 70 per cent of Nigeria's 200 million population does not have access to electricity, adding that in diversifying energy sources that is sustainable, renewable energy the best option.

9

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 16, 2019

The Overzealous Security Man Called Yusuf Bichi

Y

usuf Bichi, the Director General of Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS), self-styled as the Department of State Services (DSS), clearly needs special training on the principles of democracy, freedom and free press.

Bichi, who still thinks we are in a military era, should not be seen working close to a supposedly democratic President. I am still struggling with the fact that Bichi unleashed operatives of the SSS on inoffensive protesters last Tuesday. Truckloads of operatives, some with masks, used pepper spray to disperse protesters gathered around the SSS headquarters in Abuja to demand for the release of Omoyele Sowore. One of the SSS guys even fired live shots. Many of the protesters were injured in the melee. Some journalists also had their tools seized.

Who the hell is Bichi to have approved this kind of assault on innocuous demonstrators?

He obviously went beyond his brief. If indeed, we are in a democracy, the SSS boss has no business staying a day longer in office. He should be substituted immediately. We must all rise up against this new anti-democracy force. Bichi, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari late last year, has always shown disdain for the rule of law.

I knew something was amiss about the Sowore case when last Friday, Bichi’s SSS issued a bizarre statement saying that the agency had not complied with the federal court order to release the activist from its dungeon because no one had come to look for him. It was a blatant lie from the pit of hell. This was a strategy to keep the activist with the agency while fresh charges are worked out for him. Sowore’s lawyers and associates had been going to the SSS office since his bail conditions were fully approved by a Federal High Court judge.

Besides, it is unparalleled that a security agency will decline to release a grown-up that had met all bail conditions on the basis that no one had come to pick him up. Bichi and his men simply chuckled when the federal judge signed papers for Sowore’s release from custody. They had their dubious plans clearly worked out. I fear that the Sahara Reporters publisher may remain locked by the SSS, pending fresh charges.

The attack on pro-Sowore campaigners on Tuesday was absolutely unnecessary.

To use Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka’s words, it was crude naked power. Firing live bullets was despicable. Soyinka puts it accurately: “Enough of this charade, nothing more than a display of crude, naked power. Release Omoyele Sowore and save us further embarrassment in the regard of the world. An apology to the nation by the DSS and the judiciary would also not be out of place. It would go some distance in redeeming the image of an increasingly fascistic agency and reduce the swelling tide of public disillusionment.

Let the rule of law reign.

“Perhaps it is necessary to remind this government of precedents in other

Bichi

lands where, even years after the event, those who trampled on established human rights that generate homicidal impunity are called to account for abuse of power and crimes against humanity.”

Bichi has obviously decided to bring back a brand of SSS known for suppression as it was under Nigerian Army despotisms of the 1980s and 1990s. The SSS, as we have it today, is an organisation with little regard for established order. The illegal detention of Sowore is only one of several. The SSS has been illicitly holding some Nigerians in its custody in defiance of substantive court orders. Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky readily come to mind.

It’s almost four months since the Court of Appeal in Abuja declared the detention of Dasuki, by the SSS illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and ordered his immediate release on conditional bail. The appellate court held that the SSS and its Director General acted outside their constitutional powers on the detention of a Nigerian citizen and imposed a fine of N5 million on them to be paid to Dasuki as compensation for breach of his fundamental rights.

Recall that the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in a landmark judgement, also declared the detention of Dasuki unlawful, null and void. The court subsequently ordered his immediate release in addition to imposing a fine of N15 million on the government as compensation for the breach of Dasuki’s fundamental rights.

As usual, Bichi’s SSS has refused to allow Dasuki enjoy his freedom. They have been holding him without trial for almost four years.

Dasuki is being unjustly detained. This only happens in failed countries like ours.

For El-Zakzaky, he was incarcerated along with his wife, Zeenatudeen, since 2015. The SSS refused to allow the IMN leader out on bail as instructed by several courts. Justice Gabriel Kolawole had on December 2, 2016, granted bail to the fiery Islamic leader, along with his wife, and imposed a fine of N50 million on the federal government for the incarceration of the duo.

The offences for which Dasuki, ElZakzaky, and Sowore were arraigned are bailable under the Nigerian law. Government must not be seen promoting impunity and disobeying court orders. Functionaries of government must not be seen assaulting the rule of law. Unfortunately, this is what has been happening for over four years in Nigeria. We must all fight for the respect of our constitution, our laws and the rule of law. All forces of good must rise and tackle Bichi in particular and the Buhari government in general.

I often laugh when I hear the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, saying that the judiciary under his watch will not tolerate disobedience of subsisting court orders. I have heard him describe disobedience of court orders as “anarchy.”

Last September, Justice Muhammad declared: “The rule of law must be observed in all our dealings and we must impress it on the governments at all levels to actively toe the path. The right of every citizen against any form of oppression and impunity must be jealously guarded and protected with the legal tools at our disposal. All binding court orders must be obeyed. Nobody, irrespective of his or her position, will be allowed to toy with court judgments.”

Unfortunately, the Judiciary under Justice Muhammad has not been able to deal with Bichi for persistently disobeying court orders.

It is one big mess.

On the flip side, the forces of anarchy in Nigeria are doing everything possible to strangulate the people with all sorts of useless proposals in the National Assembly. The latest is the bill which seeks to establish a Federal Government agency to check hate speech in the country. It also prescribed death by hanging as the maximum punishment for certain categories of offenders.

It is pertinent to remind those behind this obnoxious moves that section 39 (3) of our 1999 Constitution makes it mandatory that no law should abrogate the rights of Nigerians to exercise their right to freedom of speech.

This bill aims to muzzle Nigerians, take away the people’s liberty and constitutional rights.

It is not justifiable in a democracy. There are enough laws in Nigeria to tackle the abuse of freedom of expression.

The jaundiced Social Media Regulation Bill, reintroduced in the Senate last week, must also be thrown into the lagoon. The sponsor says it is aimed at curtailing the spread of fake information. The bill is seeking a three-year jail

Buhari Has to End His Foreign Medicals President Buhari is expected back in the country early next week after 15-day medicals in the United Kingdom. His family also runs abroad for medicals. After almost five years in power, our President is yet to raise any medical facility in the country to the standard capable of meeting his medical needs and that of his family. If our President can raise the standard of the National Hospital, Abuja, to the level of the one he attends in the United Kingdom, then, many ordinary Nigerians will benefit. Unfortunately, this has not been done.

I am always horrified each time Buhari runs to a British hospital. I guess his supporters will argue that there is no law stopping him from doing this. The burden on him is more of a moral one, considering that he had doggedly preached that we should always look inwards for our needs. My foremost issue with our dear president is that he is spending public

money abroad for his medicals. Only God knows how much of public fund is going down for his foreign medicals.

Since Buhari himself had clearly stated that taxpayers’ money would not be used to pay for foreign medicals of public servants, I demand that he should make refunds as soon as he returns to the country. As a reminder, Buhari announced in April 2016 that his administration would no longer provide allowances for medical trips by government officials, unless the case can’t be handled in Nigeria. He stated this at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference Meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association in Sokoto. The President, who was represented by the then Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said: “The government would not encourage medical tourism with the nation’s resources. While this administration will not deny anyone of his

or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard-earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria.”

Back in April, Buhari was curiously lamenting Nigeria’s loss of over N400 billion, yearly to medical tourism. The man, who has a responsibility to address the irregularity, is lamenting. So, who will address the problem? If Buhari (the President) is helpless on access to health care, then, who has the power to help Nigeria?

We have not been told what Buhari’s health challenge is, but with focused investment in equipment and manpower by a forwardlooking government, I doubt if there is any health challenge that can’t be handled in this country.

term for anyone involved in what it calls the abuse of social media or an option of fine of N150, 000 or both. It is also proposing a fine of N10 million for media houses involved in peddling falsehood or misleading the public.

What the bill is seeking is unconstitutional because it aims to infringe on the constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of expression and speech. It contains elements that will affect the right to free expression of internet users in Nigeria. It aims to restrict the ability of Nigerians to use social media tools to communicate, connect and seek independent information. The threat of jail aims to create fear among bloggers and online activists, so that they won’t post critical materials. The National Assembly must avoid repressive laws that will serve Nigerians no good. The social media gives everyone a voice, irrespective of class and position.

Ordeal of Justice Iheme-Nwosu

Ibeme-Nwosu

Last Wednesday, Justice Chioma IhemeNwosu of the Court of Appeal, Benin, regained freedom after spending day 15 days in the dungeon of her abductors. She was kidnapped along Benin-Agbor Road and her police orderly, Inspector A. I. Momoh, killed by the gunmen.

Yes, an Appeal Court judge was snatched in Nigeria and it took our security agents 15 days to smoke out the criminals and secure her freedom. It is even more painful that the kidnappers were communicating with the family of this judge and our security agents still could not track their location.

This is one big shame that continues to show how insecure mother Nigeria is right now.

In fact, the story in town is that Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu’s family paid an undisclosed amount as ransom before she was released. This counters the story by the police that she was rescued.

Well, more facts will emerge on this in days to come. Judges in this part of the world are poorly protected despite the hazardous job they do. A statement by lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), captures this appropriately.

Ozekhome noted that while a minister or senator could afford to travel in convoys of fully armed security operatives, a judge is left with just one policeman who is usually armed with obsolete firearms: “Yet, the judge, especially justices of the Court of Appeal, must traverse the nation, handling never ending sensitive appeals from election petition tribunals, in jurisdictions other than their ordinarily accustomed places of abode or sitting. They are thus compelled by the cause and course of duty to travel by road, the very bad roads that are unmanned by security personnel. They thus fall easy prey to marauders. Justice Iheme-Nwosu has just suffered this fate.”

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY

Fiery Pastor Tunde Bakare at 65 The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, was 65 on Monday.

He marked the day quietly. However, goodwill messages flowed from across the globe for this blazing pastor who is never afraid to speak out against oppression. Yinka Olatunbosun digs into the life and times of the revered Latter Rain minister

L

ove him or hate him, Pastor Tunde Bakare is a man of God with guts. His public persona as a pastor, who cites the scriptures as frequently as a lawyer cites cases in the court, is firmly rooted in his spiritual life - first as a pastor at the Deeper Life Bible Church before joining the Redeemed Christian Church of God. In 1989, he founded The Latter Rain Assembly in 1989 and has since been known as one of Nigeria’s politically influential pastors whose “pulpit activism” has been controversial, poignant and relevant.

Bakare was born a Muslim before he converted to a Christian. His activism may have been inadvertently tapped from his Abeokuta roots. Abeokuta is famed for activists, liberation movements and palpable sense of comradeship. History revealed that most of these activists were staunch members of the church. From

All Saints Primary School to Lisabi Grammar School, Bakare had his heart prepared for what would be the foundation of his political consciousness.

After his secondary school education, he proceeded to the University of Lagos where he studied Law. Called to the bar in 1981, he cut his teeth at Gani Fawehinmi Chambers. Needless to say, Chief Gani Fawehinmi was a foremost human rights lawyer who was very vocal about demanding for good governance, democracy and justice. From there, Bakare proceeded to Rotimi Williams and Co., Burke and Co. Before establishing his own chambers, Tunde Bakare and Co in 1984.

Consumed by the power of spiritual-consciousness, he founded The Latter Rain Assembly in 1989 and remains the serving overseer till date. In addition to this, he presides over Global Apostolic Impact Network (GAIN). Like his contemporaries, Bakare had tried to

have different branches of the church but the idea had been botched a couple of times. However, reports have it that an N18 billion church project in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State is in the offing.

Bakare is widely known as a strong critic of corrupt government, anti-people policies and yes, churchowned institutions that he considered to be elitist. He has reportedly condemned churches that establish schools and hospitals that are completely not affordable to members of the church, some of whom had donated to the project while in the process of execution.

Bakare’s sermons are a hybrid of biblical inferences and political commentaries which sometimes makes them quite controversial. In 1999, he predicted that Obasanjo won’t be sworn-in as President; that he would be killed before D Day. It did not happen. Obasanjo was sworn in, did a second term and was almost doing a third term. Bakare had a controversial reason for the

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

11

SUPERSATURDAY Fiery Pastor Tunde Bakare at 65...

Pastor Bakare and his wife, Olayide failure of this prophecy.

In March 2002, he also did a critical sermon against Obasanjo. In 2011, he was the running mate for Mohammadu Buhari on the platform for Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in a presidential race that was lost to President Goodluck Jonathan. Perhaps, that put him in good stead to take a critical assessment of the Jonathan administration.

In January 2012, Bakare’s Save Nigeria Group (SNG) was part of the civil action against the planned removal of fuel subsidy which immediately shot up the prices of goods and services in its wake. SNG in alliance with the Nigerian Labour Congress and other trade unions mobilised a week-long peaceful protest that attracted notable Nigerian artists such as Bankole Wellington a.k.a Banky W, Ruggedman, Femi Anikulapo Kuti amongst others. Critics of the protest called it a “jamboree” and an attempt by the opposition party to discredit former President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Anyway, the protest led to the reversal of the pump price of petrol. Unfortunately, the petrol that the SNG said was too expensive at N89 per litre is now sold for N145 per litre under Buhari. Sadly, Bakare and the SNG have been silent.

In the light of new developments across the country, Bakare has voiced his concern over a number of issues such as those of Miyetti Allah and some groups that unleash terror on innocent civilians in various parts of the country. He was also critical of Buhari when he was away in the United Kingdom for a protracted period on health grounds.

The fiery pastor has also been trending recently for his prophetic declaration that he would run for President after Buhari’s second term. Bakare made the proclamation during a sermon; as seen in a video that has since gone viral.

“Take it to the mountain top if you have never heard it before. I am saying it to you this morning, in the scheme of things, as far as politics of Nigeria is concerned, President Buhari is number 15 and yours sincerely is number 16. I never said that to you before, I want to let you know it this morning; nothing can change it, in the name of Jesus. He (Buhari) is number 15; I am number 16,” Bakare said, placing his right hand on his chest.

“To this end was I born and for this purpose came I into the world. I have prepared for this for 30 years.

When he (Buhari) chose to run in 2019, he is still number 15, when he steps out, I step in. His assignment is that of Moses, to take Nigeria to River Jordan, but he can’t cross it. It will take a Joshua to go to the other side and begin to distribute the resources to the people of this nation,” Bakare told his congregation.

Recently too, while delivering one of his sermons at the Latter Rain Assembly, Bakare lamented that some people have been praising a particular politician who stole from them, and regarding him as a generous man.

The fiery preacher, who also spoke about the race to 2023, added that a truly generous man is a man who “devises generous things, and by generosity, he shall stand”.

“The eyes of those who see will not be dim. The ears of those who hear will listen. Also, the heart of the rash will understand knowledge and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly,” Bakare said.

“The foolish person would no longer be called generous. You can say ‘so so and so’ has stolen all the money in the state, but he is a very generous man, you are foolish. That’s why potholes are killing you; you can’t drive now anymore because what is meant for road has been stolen since democracy began, they are living larger than life having jets here, having jets there,

having house in Bourdillon, having house in this place, having house in that place, having house in every place at the expense of the public.

“You will not go without vomiting what you have stolen. Wait and see. Because a king will reign in righteousness and princes will rule with justice.

Unfortunately, Nigeria people, you celebrate your villains and crucify your heroes.”

Despite his critical stance against the government on biting socio-economic realities and the knack to exercise his freedom of expression, Bakare was congratulated by President Buhari on his 65th birthday.

The President’s congratulatory message is conveyed through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Sunday November 10.

Adesina quoted the president, in a personally signed letter, addressed to Bakare as saying: “I rejoice with you as you gracefully clock 65 years of age in good health”.

He added: “I am glad that you have remained faithful and true to your callings, particularly as a pastor and preacher, contributing to pointing people to God’s kingdom, teaching them on how to get there, and live acceptable lives before God. “We have shared ideas on how to engender a better country, and formed a tag team for political power.

May the ideas germinate fully, proliferate and give us the country of our dreams.

“As you turn 65, I pray that your indomitable spirit will continue to point Nigeria to all that is noble and just. I wish you longer life in good health and strength.’’

Away from his scathing commentaries, Bakare is known as philanthropist, funding many scholarships at different levels of education.

12

͚͞ Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

FAREWELL, TAM DAVID-WEST

Tony Ademiluyi pays tribute to David-West, social critic, administrator, and Professor of Virology

A

fter the collapse of the Second Republic via a coup d’etat which brought the then Major-General Muhammadu Buhari to power, a panel of inquiry was set up to investigate the activities of corrupt politicians. It was discovered that former Vice-President Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme who was kept under house arrest left the government far poorer compared to when he entered. Some of his critics contended that since he was extremely wealthy as the nation’s pioneer indigenous architect, there was really no need for him to plunder the treasury. But what do you make of relatively wealthy politicians who still looted the public till in their insatiable quest to expand their political and economic empires?

Ekwueme was clearly an exception to the rule. But were there other Ekwuemes in the highly corrupt Nigerian polity? Thankfully, there were still a few others and included on that list was the now late Professor Tamunoemi Sokari David-West, fondly referred to as the poorest Nigerian former minister because of his honesty, forthrightness and commitment to the public service of the nation.

He was a prodigy as he bagged his doctorate degree in virology from the University of McGill in Canada at the young age of 30. Before then he had partly attended the University of Ibadan, the University of Michigan where he earned his first degree and the Ivy League University of Yale in the United States where he obtained his masters degree.

Armed with quality education, he strode the Nigerian academia like a colossus cum a towering public intellectual.

He became a full professor at the nation’s premier University of Ibadan at the tender age of 39 in 1975.

His rich intellect made him an attractive catch to the policymakers who greatly tapped from his wealth of wisdom and he became the Commissioner for Education in his native Rivers State in 1975. As commissioner, he built so many schools and instituted a sturdy educational framework for the educational development of the state as the state suffered a bit of educational backwardness as a result of the Nigerian civil war. He took the welfare of teachers very seriously being one himself and his firm belief that their reward should commence here on earth.

He garnered a lot of goodwill from his patriotic and visionary leadership which made him get elected to the Constitution Drafting Committee that drafted the Nigerian 1979 Constitution, popularly known as the Council of the 50 wise men under the chairmanship of legal luminary, Chief Frederick Alade Rotimi Williams (SAN).

HE WAS AN OUTSPOKEN AND FEARLESS CRITIC OF BAD GOVERNANCE AND SPOKE THE TRUTH TO POWER EVEN AT RISK OF PERSONAL DISCOMFORT

As a member of the committee, he did his best to fashion out a workable constitution that would accommodate the diverse interests of the multi-ethnic nation amidst a shift from the parliamentary system of government to the American-styled presidential which has been the mainstay of the country’s democracy since then.

He returned to the academia after the work was concluded and did his bit to mould young minds that flocked to him to tap from his endless reservoir of wisdom and knowledge.

After the fall of the Second Republic in a coup led by the then Major-General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida which brought Buhari to power on December 31st 1983, he was made the Minister of Petroleum and Energy. In his first media briefing, he confessed that he knew next to nothing about the petroleum industry.

He didn’t allow the knowledge deficit hinder him from making positive contributions to the industry which lays the golden eggs. He created the enabling environment for the international oil companies to profitably operate in and attracted massive investments into the sector. He was a pride to behold at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meetings where he represented the nation very well and held his own among the eggheads and stakeholders in the industry.

When his boss was overthrown on August 27, 1985 in a palace coup by Babangida, he was retained as the minister for mines, power and steel because the military ‘president’ wanted to use him for public relations purposes and to gather goodwill from the members of the public.

Tragically, he didn’t last long in the ministry as he was dumped the following year and worse, slammed with the charge of causing an economic adversity to the nation. He was vindicated five years later when he was discharged and acquitted by the Special Appeal Court on the 8th of August 1991. It was also found out that he didn’t corruptly enrich himself while in office both at the state and federal level despite an avalanche of opportunities to do so.

He was an outspoken and fearless critic of bad governance and spoke the truth to power even at risk of personal discomfort. He was always offering pro bono advice to successive governments on good governance.

As a prolific academic his works were published in many local and international journals. His writings weren’t limited to his discipline as he contributed copiously to national discourse on the pages of many Nigerian newspapers.

Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos

THE DOYEN OF THE AFRICAN IDIOM Uzor Maxim Uzoatu pays tribute to Chinua Achebe, father of African literature

I

t is well-nigh impossible for November 16 to go by without much of the world remembering that the date is the birthday of Chinua Achebe. It needs stressing that Achebe is arguably the most inuential novelist who ever drew breath all over the world.

The argument pitches him in the ranks of Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, James Joyce who wrote Ulysses, Franz Kafka who penned The Trial, Gabriel Garcia Marquez of One Hundred Years of Solitude fame, etc.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a supreme classic. Achebe’s oeuvre is indeed intimidating starting from the legendary Things Fall Apart in 1958 and grandly lapping all the way through No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, A Man of the People, Anthills of the Savannah, Girls at War and Other Stories, Beware Soul Brother, Morning Yet on Creation Day, The Trouble with Nigeria, Chike and the River, Home and Exile, Hopes and Impediments, The Education of a British-Protected Child, There Was A Country, etc.

Born in Ogidi in present-day Anambra State on November 16, 1930, Chinua Achebe who was baptized as Albert was indeed a child prodigy from the very beginning such that his academic feats was known far and wide culminating to his lifelong buddy Christian Chike Momah, alias Papa Ada, confessing that he and his mates were warned early in life that one Albert Achebe from Ogidi would send them to the cleaners in the regional school exams!

It was therefore no wonder that Achebe was early in life given this nickname: Dictionary. He passed his school certificate exams at the top of the class with five distinctions and one credit, and the one credit was paradoxically in literature that would eventually earn him worldwide fame.

In the nationwide examination for entry into the University College, Ibadan which had just been established Achebe came first or second in the entire country and thus won a major scholarship. His alma mater Government College, Umuahia was so proud of his achievement that they put up a big sign that stayed on the wall for many years.

At barely 28 years of age Chinua Achebe published the novel Things Fall Apart in 1958, and it has in its 55 or so years of existence proven to be the single most important piece of literature out of Africa.

The 50th anniversary of the 200-odd page novel was celebrated all over the world with festivals, readings, symposia, concerts, etc.

The novel which has been likened to epic Greek tragedies has been translated to 50 languages and has sold over 10 million copies. It is taught not just in literature classes but in history and anthropology departments in colleges and universities across the globe.

The archetypal theme of the meeting of the white world and the black race makes Things Fall Apart an epochal event in the annals of world literature.

The book works at several levels, and can be read at any age from 10 to 100. As

a child one can enjoy the incidents such as the match with Amalinze the Cat, Unoka’s dismissal of his creditor, Okonkwo’s attempted shooting of one of his wives, the visitation of the masked spirits, etc. Later in life the many ironies in the book come into play such as the joke on the District Commissioner thinking that Okonkwo’s story can only end up as a paragraph in his planned book, The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger, without knowing that one Chinua Achebe had taken the thunder from him by giving Okonkwo an entire book in which the story is narrated from inside!

It is not for nothing that Achebe is celebrated as the father of African literature.

He has changed the perspective of world literature from the gaudy picture of Africa as painted by Europeans such as Joseph Conrad, Joyce Cary and Sir Rider Haggard to the authentic telling of the tale by the Africans. Unlike earlier African writers like Guinea’s Camara Laye, author of The African Child, who painted a romantic picture of the continent, Achebe is relentlessly objective in his narration, telling it as it is, warts and all.

It is because of the remarkable success of Things Fall Apart that the publishers Heinemann UK launched the African Writers Series (AWS) in 1962 with Achebe’s first novel as the first title. For many years Achebe served as a non-remunerated Editorial Adviser of the series in which the majority of African writers got their breakthrough in publishing. Things Fall

Apart reputedly accounted for 80 per cent of the entire revenue of the AWS. Former American President Jimmy Carter numbers Achebe as one of his favourite writers. The rave reviews for Achebe’s most famous novel have somewhat dwarfed his other novels such as No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe won the Man Booker Prize for his lifetime achievement in fiction writing, beating a formidable shortlist that included Philip Roth, Salman Rushdie, V.S. Naipaul, Ian McEwan, etc. He equally won, as the first African, the American National Arts Club Medal of Honour for Literature in November 2007.

Things Fall Apart has earned its uncommon distinction as a modern classic and was in 1992 adopted into the esteemed Everyman’s Library of world classics. The Igbo world of the late 19th and early 20th centuries which Achebe limned in Things Fall Apart has become the global picture of Africa writ large. At the turn of the 20th century the book was voted as Africa’s “novel of the century�. Achebe has in the book given the world a new English language which paradoxically portrays African life without facetiousness or affectation. He lays bare the brute masculinity of the age without bending the knee to latter-day political correctness or gender balance.

The truth happens to be Achebe’s sublime weapon in telling the immortal African story.

13

͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Let their votes count...

Otedola’s Heart of Gold “Let’s create wealth through the diligent, pioneering and innovative spirit of entrepreneurs, and share this wealth through the generous, seless and dedicated spirit of philanthropists. Let’s make philanthropy a value, a faith, a commitment and a lifestyle.â€?

A note from the Giving Pledge

O

n November 7, 2003, I wrote a piece,“Appeal to the richest Nigerians� asking the rich to assist the poor. It was informed by a piece of disturbing news item. It came as a screaming headline on the front page of the Midweek Scoop tabloid of November 4, some three days before, with the long list of rich Nigerians who had allegedly stashed N241.6 trillion in foreign bank accounts! It paraded mostly those who had served our country as one political appointee or the other, including of course, well- known top military brass, some of whom were still in service with others retired.

One had argued back then that while it was no crime to acquire stupendous wealth in a country as richly endowed as Nigeria, it calls to moral questions the way and manner such fortune was acquired. Besides, it gets more worrisome when such wealth acquisition is at the expense of the mass of hapless, hounded and hungry Nigerians, who are wallowing in poverty. That was some 16 years ago.

One can therefore imagine the immense thrill and delight I felt recently at the heart-warming news item of astute business guru, Femi Otedola donating a whopping sum of N5bn to the foundation of one of his daughters, the beautiful, brilliant and talented Miss Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy. The billionaire’s daughter held a gala, as part of her 27th birthday to raise funds for her Cuppy Foundation. The noble aim is to help the less privileged children across the country. In a post on Instagram, DJ Cuppy noted that the gala was a success, and her best birthday present.

Interestingly, the grandiose event which drew the crème de la crème of the society like Africa’s richest man and iconic entrepreneur, Aliko Dangote who donated N100 million. This noble gesture is both instructive and inspiring. Otedola the father has a Foundation that helps entrepreneurs to succeed with their start-ups ventures by giving them the means to focus all of their energies into their new business.

So far, donations have come mainly from fellow Nigerians who have made their wealth through the deployment of their business acumen and creative ingenuity, rather from the national till.

It reminds one too, of a similar initiative, especially in the United States. For instance, the Giving Pledge which started in 2010 by Bill and Melinda Gates, worth $88.5 billion, and Warren Buffett, worth $74.2 billion, is a commitment by wealthy individuals and families to give away more than half of their wealth to povertyalleviating causes. These include refugee aid, disaster relief, global health, education, women and girls’

empowerment. Other aspects are focused on medical research, arts and culture, criminal justice reform and environmental sustainability.

Signatories of the Giving Pledge must be billionaires, if not for the money they are giving away. The goal of making a public pledge is to encourage others to consider philanthropy, too, even if they aren’t billionaires.

As at May, 2017 14 billionaires announced they had signed the Giving Pledge Look who’s joined Buffett-Gates Giving Pledge Christina Cheddar Berk Ten more billionaires have signed on to Buffett and Gates’ Giving Pledge, including Epic CEO Judy Faulkner, who ... formally joining the 154 other billionaires who have promised to give away at least half of their vast wealth to philanthropic causes.

One is therefore, urging other richly endowed Nigerians to key into the vision of giving out to the needy because the poverty situation in the country has reached a truly alarming and disturbing dimension. Nigeria, with its vast natural resources, should have no business with poverty. The scourge has been aptly described as lack of sustainable livelihood and an absence of resources, when the individual has no access to adequate income, nourishment, land and economic facilities.

Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos

Auctioning of Nigeria’s Electoral Democracy

I

n a few hours, citizens of Kogi and Bayelsa States will go to the polls to perform their civic responsibilities as they elect new leaders for their states. Expectations are high. Political parties, candidates and their supporters are set, tensions are approaching a crescendo and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had revealed during the two-day seminar on their preparedness for the November 16, 2019 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States to correct the mistakes in the 2019 elections and set a new standard for future elections.

While the rest of Nigeria and the international community observe the pre-electoral process, some of the questions that dominate our thoughts are: Will the elections be free and fair? Or will it be the case of the highest bidder winning? Will INEC fulfil its promises?

Election is central to democracy, and for it to be considered free and fair, it must express the will of the electorate, devoid of manipulations and electoral malpractices.

Vote buying and money politics which have taken the centre stage in our electoral process threaten the conduct of free and credible elections as well as the quality of leadership in our democracy. It perpetuates bad governance and compromises the well-being of everyone regardless of who sold or did not sell their votes for instant gratification. For every traded vote, they are unintended consequences.

According to YIAGA Africa’s Watching The Vote project, voter inducement was reported in at least one of every three of the 21 LGAs in Kogi State and all LGAs in Bayelsa State. If this is not checked it may trigger electoral violence.

In line with the Electoral Act, 2010, article 130, “A person who – (a) corruptly by himself or by any other person at any time after the date of an election has been announced, directly or indirectly gives or provides or pays money to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election; or (b) being a voter, corruptly accepts or takes money or any other inducement during any of the period stated in paragraph (a) of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment or both.�

The preparedness of INEC as the electoral umpire as well as security agents in ensuring that electoral T H E S AT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE offenders are arrested and prosecuted is very pertinent DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU to the success of the gubernatorial elections. As long MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO as perpetrators are not held to account and brought to DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI justice, they will brazenly continue to take advantage EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN of the people and drive the democratic process into a MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE quagmire. All hands must be on deck to stand against any form of vote trading.

YIAGA Africa’s Watching The Vote project also reported that 54.24 % registered voters in Bayelsa State are between the ages of 18-35. Young voters account for T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D more than half of the voting population, making them a EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA powerful force in the election. This is a great opportunity GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, for these young voters to come out en masse to cast their ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI votes as voter apathy aids election malpractice.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE I urge all citizens of Kogi and Bayelsa States to DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH exercise their civic duties today, November 16, 2019, and ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO collaborate with INEC to ensure the credibility of votes CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI cast. Remember, do NOT sell your votes! Do NOT stir DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO up violence, Be Patriotic Nigerians.

TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com Tracy Keshi, Program OfďŹ cer, YIAGA Africa

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

NEWS

National Assembly Remains One Despite Party Afiations, Says Lawan James Sowole inAkure The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan yesterday reiterated that the National Assembly was one despite different political affiliation of lawmakers.

Lawan stated this yesterday in Akure, Ondo State capital when he led some senators during a stopover at the Government House on their way to the Trauma Centre, Ondo City, where Senator Nicholas Tofowomo was receiving treatment.

Tofowomo, representing Ondo South District in the Upper Chamber had been in hospital for more than two months following an auto accident involving him and some other people one of who later died.

Lawan said it is imperative that senators work together as a team because everybody would be affected if there are problems in the country.

He said: “If there are problems,

AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY...

L-R: Deputy Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Mr. Edward Ajogun; Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele during the governor’s visit to the inferno disaster spot at Sango along Lagos - Abeokuta Road in Ota... Yesterday

Dasuki, El-Zakzaky, Sowore Opted to be in Our Custody, Claims DSS Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja The Department of State Security (DSS) said yesterday that the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, opted to be remanded in DSS custody.

It said contrary to the belief in many quarters that they were held

by DSS against their will, the trio chose the custody of the agency instead of Kuje Prison.

A statement issued by the agency said El-Zakzaky while on a courtordered medical trip to India voiced his preference for DSS custody as against the accommodation in India.

The statement signed by its Spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said Sowore also expressed his preference for the DSS detention facility. “There has been outcry about alleged illegal detention of some notable persons undergoing trials at the courts and disobedience to court orders by the service. “To put the records straight, the service wishes to draw public attention to the circumstances that warranted the custody of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky in its facility,� it said.

DSS said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the duo had appealed to the courts to be left in the custody of the service instead of being taken to the correctional centres. “Well-meaning Nigerians are

equally witnesses to the case of Omoleye Sowore, who, on a similar order of the Court, was to be remanded at the Kuje or Suleja Centre, but preferred to be kept at the DSS.�

The secret police noted that “everyone, also, saw what eventually played out with El-Zakzaky, when he opted to be returned to the custody of the Service even as the court had granted him leave to seek medical care in India. “These were choices these personalities made on their own volition. Since their stay, the service has continued to extend the best courtesies to them.�

Afunanya said the detainees were allowed access to people and use of other facilities like telephones, gymnasium, TV, newspapers and

medical facilities.

He said their families and trusted persons bring them food of their choices on daily basis. “There could not have been better treatments than these. Against the wrong perception that the service held these persons in defiance to court orders, it is obvious, by the above explanations, that they rather chose be looked after by the DSS. “The reason for such choice is not farfetched. It is simply because the service’s holding facilities are good and within acceptable international standards.�

Afunanya said the agency remained committed to the tenets of democratic rule. He said DSS would conduct its operations within the bounds of the law.

‘Suspension of Oshiomhole, Obaseki, Unknown to South-south APC Bassey Inyang in Calabar Peace appears to be in the horizon for the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the South-south zonal chapter of the party has declared that the purported suspension of some members of the party were not binding on them.

National Vice Chairman Southsouth of the APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, who commented on the crisis yesterday while speaking to journalists said as far as the zone was concerned, no member of the APC had been suspended.

According to Eta, the purported

suspension of some big time politician and others by the warring factions were unconstitutional, null, void, and of no effect.

Eta said the suspension of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; the state deputy governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu; the state secretary to the state government, Osarodion Ogie, the state party chairman, Anslem Ojezua; the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and other members of his faction is illegal, and strange to the APC in the zone.

The zonal vice chairman said the actions taken by both factions violates the provisions of the constitution of

the party on imposition of sanctions on alleged airing members.

He said the South-south zone of the party would soon convene an emergency meeting to ensure that the crisis bedeviling the party in Edo State is resolved. “We intend to convene an emergency Zonal executive committee meeting to look into the whole matter. Having said so, I am not in a position to take sides in the matter in Edo state. But, let me say I have read and seen in TV and newspapers as well as in the social media the various sanctions and suspensions starting from the

national chairman, who was said to have been ,suspended, to the governor, his deputy , the secretary to government, the chairman of the and even the state secretary of the party. “My take on this is that none of those processes lived to the expectations of the constitution of the party.

So, as for me as an individual they are all null and void,� he said.

Continuing Eta said, “The truth of the matter is that political parties are made up of human beings. There are constitutional processes, and step that you take before you can sanction people.

PDP Berates APC for Attack on Makinde, Musa Wada Chuks Okocha in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for sending armed thugs to invade the venue of the meeting of its leaders, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the PDP candidate, Engr. Musa Wada, in Lokoja.

The party said in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, the National

Publicity Secretary that several hooded APC thugs, armed with automatic rifles and other dangerous weapons, invaded the venue of the meeting which had Governor Makinde, Wada, his running mate, Hon. Samuel Aro, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, as well as other party chieftains in attendance.

According to PDP, it took the resistance of the security personnel attached to Governor Makinde to save the situation, which would have turned

calamitous, as the people of Kogi who were around the venue were already poised for a stiff confrontation.

The PDP said that the APC ought to have known by now that their reliance on thugs and violence could not thrive, as the people were ready to defend their state in the election.

The party therefore called on the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu to caution the APC as well as put every measure in place to check the activities of APC’s thugs so

as to ensure a hitch free, transparent and credible election on Saturday.

The PDP also called on the people of Kogi State to remain alert and resolute in their determination to assert their will despite the machinations designed to undermine their spirit at the election.

It also states that Nigerians should hold the APC and Governor Yahaya Bello responsible should any harm whatsoever befall any PDP member during the period of the election.

robbery or kidnapping for instance, the perpetrators will not ask which party did one belong, all they are interested is money. “It is therefore necessary for all of us to work together in the interest of the nation. We want to see an economy that works for everyone.

We cannot get enough without the cooperation of everyone.�

While reacting, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu appreciated Lawan for leading other senators personally to visit one of them that was involved in auto accident.

Akeredolu said the action of Lawan demonstrated his leadership quality despite the fact that Tofowomo does not belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor noted that political parties are just platforms they all used to get to position and after that they have become one.

Borders to Remain Shut, Customs Boss Insists James Emejo in Abuja The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) yesterday foreclosed any prospects of reopening the country’s borders which had been shut by the federal government since August, to curb smuggling and dumping by neighbouring countries.

His declaration came against a backdrop of external pressure, most from the Benin Republic for an end to the blockade, noting that the country must first consider its survival.

Speaking as the special guest of honour at the graduation ceremony of Senior Course three of the Nigerian Customs and Staff College, Gwagwalada, he said the country must take strategic steps to sanitise the system and put a stop to dumping of all manner of products before the commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He stressed that the country is blessed with a population of over 200 million that can consume all her products, and may not necessarily feel the immediate impact of lack of external patronage.

Ali stressed that China had managed to close its borders for

over two decades and only emerged a stronger economy afterwards, adding that Nigeria must also lay the foundation for its growth to support industrialists to reason and grow.

Insisting on the continued border closure, he expressed hope that it will continue for a while “so that we cannot only sanitise our process but we can also lay the foundation for our growth and development because that is what we need to get our industrialists think and grow.�

He said:“If we don’t do that we are going to be in deep problem.

By the time we begin to operate the African Continental Free Trade, Nigeria will be a dumping ground for every product from Africa. So, we need to be able to develop our capacity to be able to meet our requirements in terms of goods and services so that we can keep at bay the influx of other goods.� “If we don’t, these goods will come and our industries will continue to die. So we look forward to a situation whereby our industrialists will capitalize on this drill that we are doing so that they can grow and provide those things that we need. The Chinese closed their doors for over 20 years and now they are on top.�

Buni: I Will Continue to Diversify Yobe’s Economy Michael Olugbode, in Damaturu

Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai-Mala Buni has promised to continue to take steps to diversify the economy of the state for sustained growth.

The governor also stated that four new ministries would be created for effective performance and delivery of service to the people of the state.

Buni made the promise during the week, while presenting the 2020 appropriation bill of N108.4 billion. to the State House of Assembly.

The budget, the first by Buni, indicates an increase of N16.7 billion or 15.5 per cent over the budget of N92.2 billion for this fiscal year.

The recurrent expenditure is N58 billion or 53.8%, while capital expenditure is N50.4 billion or 46 5%.

The breakdown showed that

education got the largest share, followed by health and then works, with N22.9 billion, N16.1 billion and N12.7 billion, respectively.

The proposed budget is to be funded with treasury opening balance of N2.5 billion, internally generated revenue, N5.4 billion, statutory allocation, N52 billion, value added tax, N12.5 billion, ecological fund, N1 billion, stabilisation fund, N516.6 million, excess crude oil/exchange rate difference, N2.2 billion, grants, N4.3 billion, internal loans, N21 billion, and miscellaneous fund, N7 billion.

The governor, who tagged the budget: ‘Budget of Continuity and Consolidation’, said: “It is about the lives of our people, our values and about our vision, mission, commitment to work hard, sacrifice and resolute determination to move our State forward, to the path of socio-economic prosperity.�

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

15

NEWS

Flooding: Cameroonians Exert Exploitative Charges to Evacuate Trapped Nigerians Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Cameroonians have continued to make quick money from Nigerians fleeing from flooded town of Rann in Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

Source said N5,000 was charged per individual to have a boat ride over the flooded area into dry land in Nigeria.

The fleeing residents of Rann, are given a boat ride through part of Cameroon into Gamboru, a Nigerian border town before proceeding to Ngala, where a camp accommodates internally displaced persons.

A member of the House of Representatives from the area, Hon. Zainab Gimba had drawn the attention of the public to the flood in Rann, claiming that due to heavy rainfalls and the overflow of River Kaalia in the Republic of Cameroun, Rann town was severely flooded, resulting in the destruction of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Kala Balge.

She also said the flood had submerged more than 4,000 hectares of farmlands and flooded all access roads to Rann, leaving almost 100,000 people including women and children trapped without food, shelter and other basic necessities of life; Gimba had also complained on the floor of the House that due to the floods the IDPs had also been rendered homeless and left with relocation challenges as other IDP camps nearby were either overpopulated

or suffering from flooding issues as well.

She had also lamented that the displaced persons were in dire straits as the situation had left them exposed and vulnerable to attacks and epidemics; Further worried that the people of Kala Balge are unable to get adequate help as the road linking it with other parts of Borno State has been destroyed by the floods, making Rann town inaccessible by road.

A check by THISDAY showed that the population of Rann may not be up to 100,000 as claimed by the lawmaker as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Round 25 October 2018 showed that the town was populated by 67,000.

This figure has further reduced as a result attacks late last year and early this year that have led many people fleeing the town.

A report by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published on 28 February 2019 showed that the town had just over 40,000 persons.

The present floodings have left many without food as the last general food distribution

by Humanitarian agencies to the town was in May, 2019 and nearly all farmlands have been destroyed by the ongoing challenges Sources from Humanitarian sector in Borno showed that many people were still stranded in Rann as only 375 persons, mostly from Rann, were registered at the IDPs camp in Ngala.

The food situation of Rann, may

Con’t from pg 5 Decision Day in Bayelsa, Kogi While Kogi West has remained a beautiful bride, no political party can single handedly lay claim to control of the west. Their achievements and underground work of each party will decide who wins here.

Wada, though a green horn in the Kogi political terrain, is banking on the electorates in Kogi East to get into Lugard House. Kogi East comprises Ankpa, Omala, Olamaboro, Dekina Bassa, Ofu, Idah, Igalamela/Odolu and Ibaji local governments.

With block vote from East and at least 25 per cent in other 12 local governments areas, the PDP will be good to go. This is the calculations and permutations.

INEC: Political Parties’ Names Not Individuals on Ballot Papers As the controversy continue to rage over the eligibility of Lyon and his running mate to contest today’s governorship election in Bayelsa State, INEC yesterday clarified that the names of political parties and not candidates’ names are on the ballot papers.

INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voters Education and Public Information, Festus Okoye said yesterday on a television programme that APC’s name is on the ballot papers as the commission does not include names of candidates on ballot papers.

When asked whether APC’s name is on the ballot in view of

the series of court orders against the governorship candidate and his running mate, the INEC National Commissioner said an emphatic Yes. He therefore went on to clarify why the name of the APC will be on the ballot papers on today’s governorship election in the state.

According to Okoye, “Yes, the name of the APC as a political party is on the ballot papers because one, we have already printed the ballot papers. There is no restraining order against INEC that says that party A,B,C should not participate in the election.�

When asked what the court order said, and the INEC National Commissioner said: “What the court orders said was individuals and not the political parties. And we don’t have individuals on the ballot papers. What we have is the names of political parties and their logos. We have not received any court order stopping INEC from conducting the governorship election “We don’t have individual candidate’s names on the ballot papers. This decision is based on the judgement of the Supreme Court that says that it is political parties that contest elections and not individuals.�

Again, he was asked if this would not cause any trouble, Okoye said, “It is when we get to the returns and declarations that we will unveil the name of the candidate of the political party that is nominated for the election.�

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY ...

Cross-section of students that wrote the NNPC/Joint Venture Scholarship Examination in Port Harcourt, Rivers State ...recently not get better fast as Humanitarian actors found it difficult to get into the town with the road flooded and no passage on land but only

through the air.

A source in the Humanitarian community in Borno, told us that Humanitarian agencies were still

battling with challenges of how to get food into the town.

The source said: “Even if we are to get into Rann, it may have to be

next week for we are handicapped by logistics. “How many food and other items can we airlift into Rann.�

Kogi Group Sues for Peace on Election Day Tobi Soniyi

The Igala Heritage Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has appealed to youth in Kogi State not to allow themselves to be used for violence during today’s governorship and senatorial election.

Founder of the group, Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, in a statement also called on those seeking to be elected as governor and senator to remember that the state was greater than them and to refrain from doing anything that would jeopardise the state’s future.

Onoja also called on all political stakeholders in the state to ensure that they avoid violence and electoral malpractices by all legal and reasonable means.

According to him, the preliminary reports coming out of the state regarding preparations for the elections heighten concerns of every patriotic and peace-loving

Kogite, as well as every believer in democracy in Nigeria. “There are fears and intimidation in the land to the point that dissenting opinions to style of governance are cruelly hounded and silenced. Threats of political assassination are rampant and people cry endlessly of hunger and penury in the midst of abounding but unexplored human and material resources,�

Onoja noted.

While calling on all the people of Kogi State to our their differences aside and vote for candidates that have the capacity to develop of the state, Onoja noted that the biggest need of Kogi State at this period of her democratic history was visionarÂşy and purposeful leadership.

He said: “It takes a visionary leader who sees beyond the mundane and bizarre to creatively envision a beautiful, industrialised,

National Arts Theatre: Consortia Want CBN to Stop Purported Takeover Adedayo Adejobi

Two Nigerian companies, Topwide Apeas and Jadeas Trust, have called on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, the Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE, and the Board of the National Arts Theatre, to prevail on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Bankers’ Committee to cease all plans for the redevelopment of the National Arts Theatre Complex, Iganmu, Lagos The call comes on the heels of recent media reports that the Central Bank and the Bankers’ Committee have been given the go-ahead by the federal government to transform the National Arts Theatre Complex and

the surrounding fallow ground into a creative industry park.

Topwide Apeas and Jadeas Trust, who are a part of a consortium comprising a team of international financial institutions and private sector partners, are claiming the rights to develop the structure via a concession granted by the ICRC. TopwideApeas Limited, through a letter written by its law firm,Associated Attorney, and addressed to the ICRC, copying the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee, stated that they had emerged the preferred bidders to develop the national monument following a series of negotiations that started in 2003 with the Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE, and later the ICRC.

infrastructurally developed, poverty-free and prosperous state and then come up with policies and programmes capable of actualising that vision. “That is why countries are known by the kind of leaders and output of governance structure.�

He warned youths in the state

to remember that no ambition of any political party or individual was worth the destruction of Kogi State.

He also challenged voters in Kogi State, especially the youths not to succumb to the divisive politics by desperate politicians in the state.

16

˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

TRIBUTE

The Triumph of Mamman Daura Mariam Mohammed Maktoub

I

n the affairs of man, there is always the cynic, the traducer, the proponent, the indolent, the diligent, so on it goes. For those who understand this simple principle of life, they become enigmas and a matter of several conjectures by those giving to mischief or plain foolishness.

On the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration of the man some Nigerians cannot understand, therefore, are wont to peddle half-truths, white lies and absolute falsehoods, it calls for some sort of reminder to a cardinal norm of life; be yourself.

On November 9, 2019, Mamman Daura, the famed ‘influential’ nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, clocked 80.

And to celebrate the auspicious occasion, his family and close friends had a birthday dinner for the grand old man in London. Since the event, owing to a calculated video circulated on the Internet, some of our countrymen have gone into overdrive, anyway, they have always been so once it has to do with Mallam Daura, throwing darts and making their illogical premise that because he is related to President Buhari, he is responsible for all of Nigeria’s economic and social struggles since 1960!

It is somewhat disconcerting that a man that has worked and walked all his life in the elite echelon can no longer afford the basic minimum of luxury speaks to a much sinister agenda by those who are persuaded, albeit wrongly, that those who have their relatives in power are not entitled to the good life.

In a matter such as this, a little historical perspective will offer a profound perspective into what happens in the corridor of power.

Just a few years ago, Chief Edwin K. Clark, the Ijaw protagonist and former Minister of Information in the First Republic was about everywhere when his kinsman, former President Goodluck Jonathan was in office.

It was not just a rumour, but a matter of fact, that Chief Clark was ubiquitous in most affairs of government, dishing out patronage, taking barbs, imaginary or otherwise, for his ‘son’ Jonathan. There was never a day that Chief Clark was not attacking and countermanding directives of appointees of the then administration.

Owing to the pervasive nature of Chief Clark in that government, the engaging Reuben Abati, former Special Adviser to Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, was compelled to pen “Clark, The Father, Jonathan, The Son’ when the once overbearing ‘Father’ Clark disowned his son, Jonathan, after he fell from his perch as president in 2015 to President Buhari.

In every successive administration in Nigeria, there are people that have been garbed in mythical political power and influence other than the one with the mandate. So, adorning Malam Daura, who by the way grew up alongside the president, with a larger than life abilities is nothing new.

The difference between Mamman Daura and other powerbrokers in the past is that he cannot really be said to direct or countermand any presidential or ministerial directive other than the fable of being head of a nebulous cabal at the Presidency.

Owing to his fortitude, borne out of deep experience as a editor of Northern Nigeria’s gem in the 1960s’, the New Nigerian, Malam Daura has remained the true companion and gentleman he is, while the bellows of those who ought to by now realize that he runs his course as powerful current that cannot be fazed flail wildly.

It is to his credit that besides the market place rumblings, Mamman Daura has continued to demonstrate that gentlemanliness is an honourable trait which only those groomed in the best traditions can recognize.

In the days before the Buhari Presidency, Nigerians know those who because they were from the presidents’ parts of the country wielded enormous powers that even ministers and governors had to go genuflect before them to get things done.

For a man who had the best of British education, speaks impeccably and has shown fidelity to his nephew and largely stayed out of public engagements save for family related gatherings to often be demonized is to say the least vile and shameful.

As to the birthday matter, I should commend Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode who has called out those who have shown a remarkable disdain for family values and seared only by loathe to query why Mamman Daura’s family and friends should hold something as simple as birthday celebration for him in London.

For all I could see, and those who choose to be objective in the various videos and still photographs, there was nothing out of the ordinary in the celebration. I could not see the most exotic caviar or choice wines and delicacies. It is in this Nigeria that we have witnessed how people who have not worked as hard or

Daura

invoke the kind of influence of Mamman Daura carries celebrate in sheer ostentatious manner.

However, it is not something of a wonder because the Mamman Daura known to people is frugal, Spartan and given to just the basic ‘luxuries’ of life.

One thing I remain persuaded of is that some of those who have taken to speak ill of him do not even know him or why they do so. Some have to be seen amongst the small but vociferous crowd that have to blame someone else, especially one close to the president, for Nigeria’s struggles.

It is a certainty that if Malam Daura were to pass in front of most of the baying crowd, they would not even recognize him save for now that his birthday pictures and videos are about everywhere.

Nigerians have to come to terms with the fact that one single individual is not the reason why electricity is epileptic in our country. We ought to accept the fact that not one single cabal is responsible for the pervasive corruption that has held this country down for over five decades. Rather it is a collective failure of leadership and followership.

To this end, the vilification of the Mamman Dauras of this country will further expose our insincerity and ingratitude to those who have given their time, resources and abiding faith in our collective destiny.

In case this group of Nigerians do not realize it, Mamman Daura has not only suffered his own losses, but has earned his epaulets as a journalist, public administrator, business owner, consummate investor, boardroom titan and philanthropist.

But his enduring legacy remains that he is a loving husband, doting father, delightful grandfather, enduring uncle and cherished benefactor to hundreds.

Here is a toast to your triumph and for living your life. Happy Birthday, Sir! ––Ms Mariam Mohammed Maktoub is an Abujabased Publisher/Political PR Consultant

The dierence between Mamman Daura and other powerbrokers in the past is that he cannot really be said to direct or countermand any presidential or ministerial directive other than the fable of being head of a nebulous cabal at the Presidency.

Owing to his fortitude, borne out of deep experience as a editor of Northern Nigeria’s gem in the 1960s’, the New Nigerian, Malam Daura has remained the true companion and gentleman he is, while the bellows of those who ought to by now realize that he runs his course as powerful current that cannot be fazed ail wildly

Plus

Fresh Air Needed in NDDC PAGE 25

FASHION FILE GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND SHOWBIZFLAIR

pg. 20 pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 43

Olasubomi Aina Every Mistake I Make is an Open Door to Another Opportunity

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

PLUS

Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă?ÞËÕĂ? Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ ĂšĂ?Ă˜ Ă™Ă™Ăœ ÞÙ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ

United Kingdom-based Nigerian charity worker, Olasubomi Iginla Aina, has vehemently worked behind the scenes touching numerous lives across the world, Nigeria inclusive, providing succour, inspiring and empowering the youth to take charge of their lives. The founder/CEO of Lightup Foundation has now gotten a deserving recognition by the British Royal Family. On November 26, Olasubomi will be formally installed as Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty the Queen of England. She has led Lightup eectively and remarkably for the past 19 years. This embodiment of true passion, grace, selessness, generosity, humanity and love shares the story of her life with Tolulope Ibukunoluwa

What becomes of me after the MBE is what matters

Being an MBE is just a title; it’s what you do with it that matters. What becomes of me is what matters at least I know it’s an open door that will empower me to do more in light of the kind of passion that I have with regards to serving humanity, serving the less privileged and working with young people. It is a greater opportunity and I consider it a springboard.

I grew up in Surulere with my Mum and my grandma

I grew up in Surulere, Lagos, with my Mum and my grandma, who stays next door to my mum. I was born in Lagos. I was born into a polygamous family, my father happens to be a business man, very hardworking and he had eight wives and several girlfriends with 31 children, you know what that means. Obviously we all don’t have attention, we just grow up on our own.

So, every mother became a mother and father to their own children and growing up for me was challenging and interesting. It was experimental; there was no one taking care of me like that if you know what I mean like a mother figure, father figure there to monitor me.

I had my sisters who will always go to school. While I am at home, there was a close family relative that was asked to take care of me and this was a result that my mum died while I was still young.

My mum died some days after my 11th birthday in 1989 and ever since then, I have just been on my own. I grew up in the hands of so many adults; initially I spent a year with my grandma because my Mum seems to be so close to my grandma and they lived next door to one another. The death of my mum was like a shock to my grandma and within a year after my mum passed, my grandma passed too even though she was meant to take care of me.

I consider myself privileged because it was just God that was seeing me through. I will go to my friend’s house, I will roam around the street, I needed friends because I wanted people to love me but in turn, I will love people more and show care.

I was interested in caring for others and I had a mother who, while I was growing up, would allow several people

to sleep in our house; we will all wake up without knowing who would sleep in the house the next day because she will always bring in people who have problems. People run to her so she was like a refuge to many. Her house was like a refuge to many. So many people benefited from her benevolent and I must say that I learnt quite a lot from that because I saw service to humanity practicalise right in my sight.

I saw people coming to my house to beg for one thing or another and their needs are met. So, that was a routine that I saw and with my dad, even though he has several wives, he was very rich, he was not a politician but what usually happened was that because he had so much money, there was always a lot of people on the queue from morning to night in my house sitting down waiting for their turn. Some coming in because they need to send their children to school; some coming in because they are sick. That was a practise I saw in my father’s house and in the morning you will see the beggars coming; they sing and my dad will throw new notes from upstairs down to them to share and at night, the area boys will come to the house; they will come and eat and my dad will give them money and talk to them and they go.

So, it was like everybody has their share of his wealth.

While he was doing that, my dad maybe because of his own upbringing, felt that maybe if he gave us what we needed, we will become spoilt children. Because of that, it was difficult to get money from him to do anything. Most of my siblings will just go to school without money. If you can persist, you will get money from him and that was the routine I was always engaged in, just to get money for school.

After a lot of stress, I will eventually get money from him though school must have been on for one month, two months, I will still be home because I want to make sure I get the money and others would have left. When I get to school, I will start distributing the little I was able to get or the much I was able to get because I always make sure that he gave me so much so I can distribute among my half-brothers in school. Then, I was in Ife, I will distribute the money and they are always excited. So my growing up in deed was

Aina

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

19

PLUS I Grew Up Praying and Fasting‌ I Learnt This from My Mother I cried because of the unfulďŹ lled promise, I then made up my mind to excel exceedingly in life so I can go anywhere in the world.

This promise was the best as it threw a positive energy at me to excel. Remember, my nick name is ‘Shubbyexcel’

Aina with husband and children

interesting because it was unrestricted in the sense that I could think in the morning that I want to go to Oshogbo, I will to go and protest with some people and nobody would question me because there was no mum and dad.

Living without my parents

It gave me the privilege of thinking and getting things done without any restriction. I will think deep while I am at home and I will just think I want us to do a project that will create awareness in the whole Ojuelegba because there is no mum nor dad to question it and ask where I will get the money from, nobody was checking me like; so everything was achievable.

That was another advantage that I had even though I wouldn’t say that it’s a good thing to lose your parent especially while you are young. Even when you are old, it’s not something a lot of people can handle. I didn’t find it funny even until today.

I still cry for the loss of my Mum

I still cry for the loss of my Mum especially because I was closer to her. I was growing up that way. I had a best friend who will come to my house and I also go to her house.

Her parents were always supportive, helping me and I could remember I got a scholarship in Lagos State on intelligence and good conduct.

Ten students were selected for the Kofo Abayomi scholarship and I was asked to come to the Institute of International Affairs and I told my aunties but they probably forgot the date; that was what happened. By the time I got there, different students from different schools were also parts of this 10. They called people out to receive their scholarship. Each time a student gets called to receive the scholarship, their parents would stand up too, clap for them, come closer to them after receiving their scholarship, take pictures with them, encourage them. But when it was my own turn to get the scholarship, they called my name but there was nobody standing up for me. By the time I got to the stage, as they were giving me the scholarship, I must tell you that I have seen the efficacy of the power of God in my life, it is such that no one can take Christ away from me because I

have seen him in action on my behalf.

My Principal Mrs. Labode went to a wedding on that same day and she said the wedding was extremely boring; that she was like why is she here, she decided to step out and say let me just go and experience the scholarship that they are giving to students from her school and encourage the students.

As she was stepping into the hall, I was called. I will never consider that a coincidence, it is a grand plan from above. So, as she stepped in, because she had a British upbringing, she is quite knowledgeable and well educated. She knows procedures even when she is not there; she just knows this is the right thing to do in this type of situation. So, immediately she stepped in, she stood at the door even though she didn’t know parents will stand up, hug and encourage and take pictures. She just stood by the door as they gave me the scholarship, she came near to me like she knew the procedure even though she was not there and she whispered in my ears ‘where are your aunties’ and I was like I have not seen anybody and immediately she stood beside me and took pictures with me and she did everything that everybody was doing before she came in and we both sat down together and I was like God you know one out of 10 in Lagos state is something to be celebrated.

We are doing quite a lot of projects in Nigeria

In Nigeria, we are doing quite a lot of projects; for example, we do a programme called ‘Let’s Talk.’ It is a project that I personally fund because we don’t have government funding for it. It has been been running for over 15 years. I go to different primary schools in their various uniforms, have a general talk, motivate them, inspire them to be their best and we use all manner of tools to do that.

We go into smaller groups with these young people and chat them up and we do a form of counselling and it’s from these groups you find the student opening up and coming out to tell you things that happened in their life, That is where the psychology of what I wear plays a role because I have this character that I can start acting like a young person. You get carried away and you just flow with me easily.

In Nigeria, we have a school which caters for children from less privilege

background, the school is in Ikare. In fact, the Oba of Ikare has promised to give us a land so that we can build more structures. For now, missionaries are helping us with buildings.

In the UK, we are doing and we have done a number of projects in the UK. We produced the first youth heritage magazine for Croydon, we produced the first youth heritage magazine for Haringey Borough, we have had project on anti-vandalism in Scotland. All these are funded projects.

We have had street chat which is still on now as we speak. Lightup is still going into the street to chat up with young people addressing the issue of gun and knife crime, trying to help them see how they can plan their future, how they can maximise the potentials that they have and we signpost them to where they can go if they need help. We have loads of project we do in the UK.

My mum inuenced me most

My mum influenced me most, I grew up with her; she taught me how to fast. She will sit on a prayer mat to pray even though she was not a church goer, she was highly gifted, I grew up praying and fasting, I learnt this from her. My mum was always full of humour. Everyone that dashes to my house never wants to leave.

Mum was down to earth and humble.

She had every reason to be proud; her beauty made statement everywhere she goes, and was extra ordinarily fashionable. As a result of her kindness and benevolence, people took her for granted and cheated her. She had great prophetic grace which most of her children displayed in different dimensions. I spent 11 years and four days with her and she was a friend, carer and a mother.

The best gift I received as a child

The best gift I ever received as a child was an unfulfilled promise from my mum. While I was in the primary school, I would either come last or within the range of the last five positions in class. I was quite playful, but my teachers saw the potentials in me and would always write ‘there is room for improvement’ in my report sheet. My mum believed in me and decided to get a Ghanaian teacher for me. Mr. Mensar was full of humour and he taught me everything playfully.

At the next exams, I came 5th. This was a big surprise to my family and my mum called me into her room and told me that if I ever come first, she would take me anywhere I would like to go in the world. Trust mum, she is true to her words. Unfortunately she died shortly after making this promise.

I got to the secondary school and came first in my first year, I went to a science laboratory to cry and the head girl who wanted to know the person with the first position request that everyone should look for me. I was found crying and the head girl asked why I was crying, she was surprised.

I cried because of the unfulfilled promise, I then made up my mind to excel exceedingly in life so I can go anywhere in the world. This promise was the best as it threw a positive energy at me to excel. Remember, my nick name is ‘Shubbyexcel’.

How I tackle challenges

I encounter a lot of difficulties on regular bases. As a result of the regular occurrence of difficulties, I see them all as the same because they all have same result at the end of the day. The result is usually that I overcome them. So, whether red, purple, pink, large, medium, small, square, circle, rectangle which ever shape, colour or sizes it comes, in the result is an expiry date with a success result. The question of how I overcame the problem is the same principle for all my difficulties.

I first align it with the word of God. Immediately I am aware that the problem is one of the many troubles, then I pray about it to reduce anxiety and worries, I look for coping strategies to distract me from focusing on it and wait for the expiry date and final result which is always victory. I mean same result always. Failure is a natural transition to success, Every mistake I make is an open door to another opportunity, Mistakes are building blocks; the bigger it is, the better you become when you eventually overcome it.

My biggest fear is fear itself

My biggest fear in life is ‘fear’ itself as it is a dream killer. You will never arrive with fear. It is a tool that the devil has used to destroy many, Many cannot start today because of fear. I have learnt not to judge any situation in haste because the truth is that we usually lack the full content.

I have learnt patience, not to be quick to point accusing fingers because your enemy today might be a saviour tomorrow. When I get a good result for each humanitarian gesture, I feel like doing more.

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 16, 2019

Fashion File

The Wild & Free Collection

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ËžNOVEMBER 16, 2019

21

FASHION FILE

The Wild & Free Collection

T

he Wild & Free collection in collaboration with Onyinye Azode celebrate the wild and free fashion lovers at heart, bold and independent women with careers who all share one thing in common; their love for fashion. Azode, the fashion forward rising influencer is a medical doctor with strong sense of fashion and style.

The collection is inspired by her freedom and her distinct journey.

She has created a path of her own, becoming a trailblazer heating the fashionable lane.

The campaign stays true to the brand’s style of showcasing fun and stylish outfits in gorgeous duos perfect for the stylish and daring woman. It plays with bold prints, colors and eccentric style.

Credit: Brand: Maju @ShopMaju Collection Inspiration: Onyiibekeh @onyiibekeh Muse: Angel Obasi @ StyleConnaisseur Photography & Creative Direction: Anny Robert @@anny_robert Styling & Art Direction: @fiolakemi Make-up: Wale @beautybyade.

22

˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

EVENTS

F

amily, friends and well wishers from all walks of live gathered at the Harbour point, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday November 2 to celebrate the matriarch of the Shonubi family, Alhaja Falilat Ajibike Shonubi on her 85th birthday. Here are faces of dignitaries at the event.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his wife, Toyin with the celebrant and her husband

The celebrant with her children Former President Olusegun Obasano and the celebrant

Celebrant with friends: Otunba Morenike Ajomale, Olori Module Onadeko and Alhaja Osikoya Tonye Cole (right) and Alhaji Ebiti

L-R: Bisi Shonubi and Mrs Aishah Ahmad, DG FSS, CBN and her husband, Retired Gen. Ahmad

L-R: Alhaji RaďŹ u Ebiti and wife, Alhaja Adebisi with Mr Laide Fowosire and his wife

L-R: Mrs. Bolanle Ashafa, Mrs. Funmi Odutola and Sen. Gbenga Ashafa

Celebrant with her sisters and husband

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍŻÍ´Ëœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

EVENTS

L-R: Wale Ajibade, Commodore Ayo Olubode, Engr Funsho Kupolokun and Kunle Adeniyi

The celebrant with her husband, Folashodun, Senator Ibikunle Amosun with Tope and Bisi Shonubi, Deputy governor, CBN

The celebrant with her husband and Ade Odunsi and others

L-R: Enobong Ezekiel, Aogbe Olotu and Godwin Osakue

Mr and Mrs Sam Etomi

Celebrant with husband surrounded by her daughters-in-law, Titi and Yemi.

L-R: Sam Okojere, Director of Payment System, CBN,  Kofo Salam and Benjamin Fakunle, Director of Finance, CBN

L-R: Mofe Boyo, Paul Harriman (in the background), Tope Shonubi and Wole Oke

L-R: Prof. Ayo Ogunye and wife, Adenike, Prof. Folabi Olubode and wife, Folashade, Engr.

Alfred Oseni and Prof. Gbadamosi

The celebrant with the Thursday prayer group

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

24

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Compass Global,Tokunbo Chiedu; CEO, African Naturalistas, Atilola Morounfolu; Managing Director, B2B Events, Jamie Hill; CEO, Skinologists, Lilian Arigbodi; Director, Design Essential, Femi Niyi; and CEO, NZURI, Denrele Edwards, during a press conference announcing 2019 edition of Beauty West Africa (BWA) exhibition in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Chairman,Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria branch, Mr. Olatunde Busari (SAN); Special Guest of Honour, Oba Otudeko; representative of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; and former Attoney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), at the 2019 annual conference of the institute held at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos... recently

CIArb Urges FG to Consider National Arbitration Policy The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch (CIArb), has appealed to the federal government to draw up a national arbitration policy that will enhance its practice in the country.

The institute also advised FG to consider the policy as strategy to drive national economy into buoyancy, which would save jobs, prevent judgement debts and attract foreign investment.

It made this known at a two day annual conference, themed, ‘Positioning Africa: The Changing Landscape in Alternative Dispute Resolution’ that held in Lagos recently.

Speaking at the programme, Chairman of CIArb , Nigeria Branch, Mr. Olatunde Busari, also pointed out the need to improve capacity of dispute resolvers in the continent.

He acknowledged the importance of filling the capacity gap, which he said, informed the theme of the conference. “As mediation takes center-stage in the new UN treaty on mediation, it has become necessary to undertake an in-depth study of the Singapore Convention and its implication for cross border settlement in Nigeria. “Arbitrability and the enforcement of arbitral awards is at the centre of any arbitration process.

It touches on the capacity and jurisdiction of the arbitrator or the arbitral tribunal to embark on an arbitration with respect to any matter referred to them. “The public policy reason for non-arbitrability of certain disputes are borne out of public desire to

protect the state and public interest. Enforcement and enforceability of arbitral awards gives credence to the process resulting in the expansion and increasing use of arbitration. “For this reason, arbitrability and public policy considerations have become a recurrent issue faced by arbitrators, judges, contract drafters and other stakeholders.�

Also speaking at the event, Chartered Arbitrator, Africa Trustee, Mr. Kariuki Muigua, identified some challenges hindering ADR practice in Africa.

According to him, the challenges include infrastructure deficit, low uptake of arbitration and ADR, unsupportive legal systems, travel restrictions, insufficient use of technology and huge costs associated with arbitration.

Beauty Fair to Address Skills Gap The organisers of Beauty West Africa, (BWA), BtoB Events, said that the 2019 edition of the fair would focus more on education and knowledge sharing as part of efforts to address the wide skills gap in the industry.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the 2nd edition of the exhibition in Lagos, Managing Director of BtoB Event and organisers of the show, Jamie Hill, reiterated the purpose of the conference, which he was to help create a platform for international beauty players to come together, network and share knowledge about new trends in the sector.

He said: “Certainly, this would stir a significant

improvement in the global industry as well as promote and empower businesses to thrive�.

Following the wins of the first edition, Hill said the show had been re-arranged to include new segments while existing programmes like trainings, masterclasses and demonstrations elaborated to offer more values to participants.

Also speaking at the event, the CEO of Compass Consulting and official partner of BWA in Nigeria, Tokunbo Chiedu, explained that the exhibition would yet add up to the over $1 billion that the sector had contributed to the national economy as well as project Nigeria as the beauty hub of the continent.

She said: “Nigeria has a lot to take away being

the host of Africa’s largest international beauty fair. Talk about the huge population and the vast array of agricultural resources amongst others, it is left for businesses to match these assets to the innovations and opportunities avail by the fair to improve self and the economy�.

While Chief Executive Officer of African Naturalistas, Atilola Morounfolu, highlighted power and packaging as threats to the development of local beauty markets, Managing Director of Skinologists, Lilian Arigbodi urged government to urgently address skills gap and formalise beauty education in order for Nigeria to secure its pride of place in the global market.

Indomie Awards Scholarships to 40 Ogun Students Dufil Prima Food, makers of Indomie Noodles, has awarded N4 million scholarships to junior secondary school students in Ogun State.

The award was presented to 40 junior secondary school students from four different schools in Ado-odo local government area of Ogun State.

The beneficiaries included Iganmode Grammar School, Ansar-Ru-Deen Comprehensive College, Iju Ebiye High School and Sango Ota High School, from where 10 outstanding JSS 3 students were selected for the prize.

Each of the students received N100,000, which was meant to cater for their educational needs in the ongoing academic session.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Group Public Relations and Events Manager for Dufil, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, stated that the gesture was necessary to boost quality of education and safeguard the future of the country.

He added that the gesture was part of the firm’s commitments to the development of the community that hosted Indomie’s first factory in 1996, Ashiwaju noted that the company’s interventions mainly in education, health and community development had spread across the country for impacts across the board. “The social responsibility philosophy of the company is such that not only improve lives, but provides a friendly environment that encourages productivity.

CSR is how we colour the lives of people and communities around us.’’

Winners Emerge in Cowbellpedia WOWBii Interactive to Unveil Season Five Contest EdTech Innovation at Expo Winners have finally emerged in season five edition of Cowbell Mathematics competition, sponsored by Promasidor Nigeria Limited (PNL).

The tough contest, which lasted for months saw 56,073 students jostle for the golden prize of N2 million each at both the junior and secondary school categories.

At the final challenge that held in Lagos, Michael Enehizena of The Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State and Oghenero Ologe of Zionfield Pinnacle School, Ikorodu, Lagos State came tops in both the Junior and Senior category respectively.

Both won for themselves N2 million each as well as an allexpense paid education excursion outside the country.

In the Junior category also, Abdul-Quayum Alli, of Ota

Total Academy, Ota, Ogun State, and David Charles of Graceland International Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, came second and third respectively.

In the senior category, Akinyemi Dabira of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State and Hezekiah Olabisi of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State, emerged first and second runner-up respectively. The first and second runners-up in each category received N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, while the teachers of the top prize winners were awarded N500, 000. Those of the first and second runners-up received N400, 000 and N300, 000 respectively.

In his remark after the outing, Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anders Einarsson stressed the importance

of science and technology to nation building.

He expressed confidence that the Cowbellpedia initiative had lived to achieve its objectives judging the outrageous number of contestants that registered in the edition.

He said: “I am convinced that with the arrays of talents displayed by these young Nigerians here today, Nigeria can rule the world.

I advise the youths to continue to sustain their interest in Mathematics because the future is theirs.�

Also in his words, the acting Registrar of the National Examination Council, NECO, Mr. Abubakar Gana, represented by Mr. Stephen Adebunmi, commended the efforts of PNL in providing excellent platform to showcase young Nigerian Mathematicians and future inventors.

WOWBii Interactive, pioneer manufacturer (OEM) of Interactive flat panel displays in Africa, has announced plans to showcase its education focused solutions, ‘EdTech’ at the forthcoming Computer Village Expo 2019 (#CVE2019).

It will also be showing the Wowbudd, its classic interactive touchscreen, alongside other solutions that are helping it to transform the way Africa works and learns.

The CVE is an annual flagship integrated events platform connecting over 10, 000 technology SMEs from Nigeria’s largest technology market, Ikeja Computer Village, and consumer technology buyers across Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Speaking on WOWBi’s participation, Executive Director of CVE2019, Mr. Foluso Busari, stated that it was a major highlight of the show.

She said: “We are excited to have WOWBii Interactive among a growing number of organisations that will showcase solutions across Smart Lifestyles, Mobile Money &

Financial Inclusion, Gaming, Mobile Apps, Mobile Lifestyles, Nigeria Internet Domain Name & Hosting as well e-Commerce, among others. “As a proudly-African brand focused on providing simple yet durable products, WOWBii aims to be the preferred interactive solutions provider on the continent. We are pleased to partner WOWBii to showcase EdTech solutions that can transform classrooms and enhance the learning experience across the continent�.

The expo would also feature extensive panel sessions to be taken by notable and industry experts including the Chief Executive Officer of Wowbii Interactive, Mrs.Terae Onyeje, who would be discussing the theme ‘Unlocking Possibilities’.

According to Onyeje, “the story of a successful Nigeria education reform cannot be told without Ikeja Computer Village technology.

It is imperative we forge strong sustainable alliances with the key drivers of technology change as they support the showcase with EdTech�.

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

POLITY

Fresh Air Needed in NDDC

Ekpedeme Ntia

A

fter suffering many decades of neglect and being confined to the roles of hewers of firewood and fetchers of water for the rest of Nigeria, the people of the Niger Delta got a breather when the administration of then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, created the Ministry of the Niger Delta to handle the responsibility of rebuilding the region from the near ruins of oil exploration and production activities.

Considering the enormous work that needed to be done to compensate for the economic, social, infrastructural and human losses the people of the area had suffered over a long time, the government also set up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as an interventionist agency to help accelerate development of the region, especially in the area of infrastructure.

The ministry and the agency were expected to work independently of each other, but with the common goal of bringing development to a region that had for long suffered untold hardship and neglect by successive administrations from the time oil was struck in Oloibiri in 1959, in present Bayelsa State.

This informed the decision to make NDDC an agency under the Presidency, free from ministerial control.

If NDDC has not performed optimally since its establishment, it is not because it was under the Presidency, nor could it have fared better if it was under the supervision of the Ministry of the Niger Delta. Rather, as revelations have emerged, the agency abandoned its mandate and, under different leaderships, became the minting machine for politicians who saw a convenient means through which to finance their governorship ambitions.

Those who had no governorship ambitions equally saw a goldmine that guaranteed an endless source of stupendous wealth.

We are now hearing that one individual

Akpabio

got paid the huge sum of one billion naira every month just to get oil companies to pay their statutory contributions to NDDC. It makes you wonder if the commission needs a consultant to periodically remind (or is it persuade?) oil companies to remit a certain percentage of their income, as required by law, into its coffers. A senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is also said to be singlehandedly handling 300 contracts awarded (and perhaps fully paid for) by the commission.

Nigerians should be prepared for the stench that would emanate from the forensic audit President Muhammdu Buhari has promised to carry out in the agency since its establishment. It shouldn’t surprise anybody if an independent audit by a reputable firm ends up not leaving out any of the so-called big names in the Niger Delta region as having soiled their hands in the free-for-all that ensued in NDDC in the past 19 years or so.

After crying out against marginalisation for decades, the people of the Niger Delta region were given the opportunity to personally write their scripts and correct the years of

wrongs meted out to them. They have been the ones running both the NDDC and Ministry of the Niger Delta. But what have been the results of their involvement in re-writing their own history? A litany of woes, corruption and mismanagement, with uncompleted projects littering the entire landscape, while a handful of corrupt beneficiaries continues to smile to the bank.

It is against the background of the need for an urgent repositioning of NDDC that the current power play instigated by Senator Godswill Akpabio, minister of the Niger Delta, should be of concern to all right thinking people of the region in particular and Nigeria in general. It should worry everybody that the minister is re-enacting his lust for power which is well known in his home state of Akwa Ibom on an agency that is in dire need of a new sense of direction.

At first, the minister got the Presidency to bring NDDC under his ministry in a scheme that defies explanation, considering that the law that set up the commission has yet to be amended to give him supervisory power over it. He proceeded to set up an interim

management committee that is not known to the NDDC Act. This is to allow him run the commission from his office in Abuja through an illegal proxy.

The Senate should prove wrong now that it is early in the morning the belief by skeptics and political opponents that it is going to be an extension of the Executive arm in the current dispensation. It should put its foot down by insisting on operation of the NDDC Act that removes from any ministry any form of control of the commission. The upper chamber of the National Assembly must ensure the board of the NDDC that it has confirmed is allowed to function in the manner it is expected to do.

There is much work to be done, and the board needs the most conducive atmosphere to be able to carry out its mandate, without the distraction of an illegal management committee. With the level of disappointment that has trailed revelations of large-scale sleaze in NDDC over many years, only a focused and result-oriented board can restore public confidence in the commission as it faces the onerous task of building the Niger Delta region.

There is reason to believe that the incoming board has what it takes to heal the pains of the people of the Niger Delta who have watched helplessly as their living conditions deteriorate every day despite reports of huge sums that are purportedly being spent on their welfare.

Akpabio has a lot on his plate to keep him busy throughout his tenure, chief among which is the East-West Road that has remained a bottomless pit into which each successive government sinks money without result. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world, took five years to complete. But the East-West Road is now under the fourth administration after more than 16 years without any indication of when it would be completed. That should engage Akpabio’s attention, not NDDC. ––Ntia, a public affairs commentator, lives in Abuja.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: The Groom’s father, Mr. Fredrick Agbonifo; Bride’s mother, Mrs. Esther Evbodaghe; the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Agbonifo; mother of the Groom, Mrs. Esther Agbonifo; and the Bride’s father, Mr. John Evbodaghe, at the Registrar/ CEO of ICAN daughter’s marriage held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Groom’s father, Mr. Joseph Agunbiade; Bride’s mother Deaconess Akinyemi; the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Agunbiade; Groom’s mother, Mrs. Omlabake Atinuke; and Bride’s father, Elder Ibukun Akinyemi; at the new couple’s wedding held at RCCG, Messiah’s Praise Sanctuary (MPS), Redemption Camp Lagos...re-

L-R: Senior Brand Manager, Home and Hygiene & Bars, Princess Nnaji; Homecare Category Manager, Bimpe Adio-Abiola; Trustee, WIMBIZ, Mrs. Ifeoma Idigbe, Winner of Sunlight one million grant, Tosin Bamiro; Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business Director, Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, ‘Soromidayo George; Founder Truss Foundation; Mrs. Azukaego Chukwuelue; Homecare Category Director, Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Bunmi Adeniba; and outgoing WIMBIZ chairperson, Mrs. Bunmi Aboderin-Talabi, during the Sunlight moment checque presentation at WIMBIZ Conference 2019 –––––––––

L-R: Group Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Stella Okoli; Winner Lagos Women Run 2019, Cheptoeck Careen; First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; 2nd Runner Up, Lagos Women Run 2019, Elizabeth Nuhu; 1st Runner Up, Deborah Pam; and General Coordinator, Lagos Women Run, Tayo Popoola, during the presentation of prizes to winners of the Lagos Women Run 2019 sponsored by Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Lagos...recently

26

˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

POLITY

Lyon

Diri

Diri Vs Lyon: ProďŹ ling the PDP, APC Gladiators Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

B

arring any unforeseen circumstances, one of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win today’s election and will be sworn in on February 14, 2020. The race to the election has not only been tortuous, but dramatic, with many twists and turns, some self-inflicted, others foisted, along the way.

The two leading candidates, Senator Douye Diri of the PDP and his opponent in the APC, David Lyon, will be going into the polls today, with their hearts literally in their mouths. As it is , nothing is guaranteed, as has been shown by the events of the last few days.

With each of the gladiators struggling to convince voters to trust them enough to vote for them, many people are anxious to know what the antecedents of the two party standard bearers are.

While Diri boasts that he has experiences spanning the private and public sector as well as executive and legislative acumen, having been a cabinet member in Bayelsa and a lawmaker at the federal level, Lyon says that he is bringing fresh air to governance.

Not much was known about the APC candidate in the public sphere until about the last day of the purchase and submission of nomination forms for the party primaries, when he was practically prevailed upon to run against the PDP man, by Chief Timipre Sylva, the party leader in Bayelsa and minister of petroleum.

His mien readily shows his reticence, laid back and shy nature, but Lyon also seems to have evolved in the last few weeks where he has had to face large crowds. Understandably, he has avoided direct interviews with the press, only in his nature, making a few remarks during open campaigns.

Diri, APC candidate, though not wholly extroverted like the typical politician, appears to have learnt a few lessons in his political career. But again, it has been argued that he is not the type that can typically mix with market women in Swali or the kind that would usually eat the popular roasted plaintain( boli) and fish along the road with the artisan.

Douye Diri

Sixty-Year-old Diri’s profile shows that was born in June 1959 in Kalama-Owinari compound of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

A private businessman, politician and lawmaker currently representing Bayelsa Central at the senate, he was also at the federal House of Representatives for Yenagoa/Kolokuma/ Opokuma Constituency.

He began his education at Okoro Primary School Sampou in Kolga, and moved on to State School Kaima (now Rev. Proctor Memorial Primary School Kaima) where he was said to have earned his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1977, then the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) in 1981.

According to his handlers, he thereafter proceeded to the College of Education in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state where he obtained his Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1985 and a Bachelors of Education degree in Political Science in 1990.

Diri says he is proud being called a teacher, having begun his

career in the teaching profession and taught in several Government Schools in the Rural Area in the Old Rivers State, before leaving the education sector for politics.

The senator also boasts of a background in activism, having been appointed the First National Organising Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the foremost organisation of the Ijaw people. He was also appointed Executive Secretary, Centre for Youth Development in Bayelsa State from 2000 to 2002 during the tenure of the late Governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Diri was also appointed Commissioner for Youth and Sports between 2005 and 2006 during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as governor of Bayelsa State.

He was once governing Council Board member university of Maiduguri from 2008-2012. chairman of the PDP Disciplinary Council, Bayelsa State in 2012.

He was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House

by Dickson from August 2012 and a year later was appointed Principal Executive Secretary the current governor, a position he held until he resigned in 2014 to contest for the Federal House of Representatives to represent kolokuma, Opokuma, and Yenagoa Federal Constituency. He won the election in 2015.

While endorsing him, Governor Seriake Dickson said he was looking out for someone who will fight the ‘Ijaw cause’ with vigour, stressing that when confronted burning Niger Delta question; he never shirked his responsibility.

He has moved against the Land Use Act in the constitution and demanded for equity and fairness in allocation of resources across the country.

On his achievements in the lower chamber earlier this year, he told THISDAY “The work of the legislator as you know is not like the work of the executive to bring in infrastructure, works, roads and all that. That’s not the work of a legislator. “The work of a legislator is to be a voice of your people on the floor of the House. I told them I am going to be an effective representative of the constituency in the House. I have been able to achieve that. “In the history of the representation of this constituency, nobody has moved even up to five motions. For those who stayed up to one term, even two terms. Within three years, I have to my credit, 19 motions and three bills. I think that’s the height of my achievement. Others are peripheral. “I represented Bayelsa State because every state has one member in the constitutional amendment committee and it was a joint committee of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It was my belief that the obnoxious Land Use Act which I felt was a short-changing of the people of Niger Delta, needed to be repealed� he said. “Land does not belong to the federal government and that the resources belong to communities, individuals, and at times clans and local governments and the way we have been treated, even after me, people will come and continue to fight for justice� he added.

He added that he had a lot of constituency projects, solar light, solar water, in Azikoro and Tombia and assistance to students where they could not pay school fees especially in Niger Delta University “when they cry to us.�

David Lyon (APC)

Mr David Lyon is expected to slug it out today with Senator

Diri. Lyon is from Olugbobiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of the State. He is the owner of Darlon Securities and Guards Limited with interest in crude oil pipeline security and has employed several youths through his contract with a multinational oil firm , according to his profile.

Not much was known about his political career before the sudden burst into the public sphere less than two months ago.

But recent information indicate that he has low-key been a member of the APC since 2014 and was a councillor before then and has supported the party financially for a while.

Fourty-nine-year-old Lyon was born in Olugbobiri Community in Olodiama clan in December, 1970, while from 1978 , he was said to have attended Saint Gabriel’s State School Olugbobiri and community secondary school, Olugbobiri. before proceeding to Rivers State College of Education, where he obtained the National Certificate of Education (NCE).

Lyon is also into philanthropy, reportedly providing food for the indigent through his foundation and scholarship to many, assisting the elderly and the physically challenged.

His handlers say he started his political sojourn in his community, Olugbobiri, where he emerged as the youth president.

He was also appointed as the caretaker chairman of Apoi/ Olodiama development centre, as well as a former Ward 4 chairman in Southern Ijaw, under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).

He says of himself: “Over the years, I have gained enormous political experience both at the community and partisan levels.

My early political involvement was driven by the need to mount non-violent pressure on Multinational Companies, to live up to their social responsibilities and to protect the degrading Olugbobiri environment. “ Owing to my dynamic, visionary and non-violent approach to resolving conflicts, as well as my unwavering dedication to community interest, I was elected as the youth President in 1996. “During my tenure as Olugbobiri Youth President, I galvanized the boundless energies of our youths towards productive activities, and synergized with stakeholders and corporate entities to radically improve the quality of life in the community. “Furthermore, I ventured into party politics in the Third Republic in order to find a bigger platform for social change and transformation. I joined the defunct National Republican Congress (NRC) and won the Councillorship election of Ward 4, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (SILGA), but it was aborted by the then military government in 1997. “Undeterred by the military incursion, I continued my political journey and became a founding member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in SILGA. My dexterity, astuteness and collaborative skills in politics paid off when I was appointed as the Care-taker Committee Chairman of Apoi Olodiama Local Government Development Center in year 2000. “My brief tenure as Caretaker Committee Chairman witnessed an unprecedented surge in development, peace and stability. I am a card carrying and financial member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who is committed to the governance values and transformation programs of the party. “In fact, my company, Darlong Security Company Nigeria Limited is the highest employer of labour in Bayelsa State, after the state government. It is also the single most contributor to the State’s Internally Generated Revenue by any indigenous firm in Bayelsa�

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍŻÍ´Ëœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Yahaya Bello Vs Musa Wada Ibrahim Oyewale Ă“Ă˜ ÙÕÙÔË ĂšĂœĂ™Ę¨Ă–Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÞåÙ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÙÎËã˪Ă? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ ÙÑÓ Yahaya Bello

G

overnor Yahaya Bello is the incumbent occupant of the Lugard House, Kogi State’s seat of power. Bello, the youngest governor in Nigeria presently, was born on June 18, 1975 in Okene, then Kwara State. The youngest of six children, he attended LGEA Primary School, Agassa in Okene local government area in 1984.

He was the class prefect in class two and the school Head Boy in class six. He attended Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene and Government Secondary School, Suleja, Niger State, where he obtained his JSSCE and SSCE certificates, respectively. After his secondary education in 1994, Bello gained admission to the Kaduna State Polytechnic, Zaria in 1995, before proceeding to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1999, where he obtained a degree in Accounting.

He also obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2002. Bello became a chartered fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in 2004.

Until 2015 when he ventured into murky water of Nigeria politics, the young Bello was the CEO of Fairplus Transport Company. He contested the governorship primaries in August 2015 on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) and came second. Based on his participation in the said governorship primaries, the responsibility fell on him to hoist the flag of APC following the sudden death of Kogi’s Political Icon, Prince Abubakar Audu, who was coasting to victory in the November 21, 2015 gubernatorial election. Following the unfortunate incident, the party hierarchy, at the national level, nominated him (Bello) as successor to late Audu. The development elicited widespread crises that rocked the party in Kogi, and this was resolved only recently.

The Kogi governorship election was declared inconclusive and a rerun was slated for December 6. Yahaya Bello defeated the then incumbent governor, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada and was sworn in on January 27, 2016 as the 4th executive governor of the Kogi State.

Musa Wada

Musa Wada, one of Nigeria’s foremost engineers is the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in today’s governorship contest. He was born into a family deeply attached to Moslem values. Through his parents but, predominantly, by self-effort, he “discovered� the need and purpose for an exemplary life. He is an individual who has continual growth and transformation at the heart of his strategic decisions and actions and, like an athlete, he always looked forward to better his time. His life reflects a

Bello

Wada

relentless drive to keep the flames of self-renewal burning.

Stoic perseverance in the face of adversity, as well as unobtrusiveness in situations where others would capitulate, are among the guiding principles and indeed the staying power of Engr. Musa Wada. From the onset, Wada knew that success was not going to come ease, and was also convinced that for him to succeed, hard-work must be his watch-word. This was a principle he guarded zealously and today, those virtues are speaking loudly for him. Engr. Musa Wada, as he is popularly known and called, is an indigene of Odu in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. Born into the family of Alhaji Wada, his mother Hajia Awawo hails from Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He attended LGEA Primary School, Okura-Olafia and Government Secondary School, Dekina before proceeding to the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He had his first degree B.Sc in Building at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and his second degree, M.Sc in Transport from Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University). He has a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure and a doctorate degree (PhD) in Environmental Science from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping, Wada is a member of several professional bodies. They include the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Institute of Building, amongst others.

He is an Officer of Igala Kingdom (OIK) and has been an

Engineer all through his life. He has been with the Engineering Division of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), where he rose to become the Chief Port Engineer, Tin-Can Island Port between 2004 and 2007. He was in charge of the general monitoring, overseeing and maintenance of the Tin-Can Island Port facilities and equipment.

His overwhelming performance, show of trust and display of true patriotism while at Tin-Can Island Port Complex led to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) management board entrusting him with the responsibility of overseeing the Capital Project of NPA Headquarters with his appointment as a Principal Manager, Capital Project of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Headquarters in Lagos.

Engr. Wada is one of those men who have the tenacity to always do better than their last achievement. This is a very remarkable trait because when one is complacent, true success cannot be achieved. He has the uncommon wisdom to continue growing in the face of challenges and changing circumstances and each victory created the zeal and hunger for further successes. When the news of his appointment as Port Manager, Calabar Port Complex broke out in January 2013, it did not come to many as a surprise, particularly those in the maritime sector of the Nigerian economy, because providence has its way of rewarding hardwork, doggedness, patriotism and commitment to the development of the Nigerian state, which he exhibited during his service at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Another Season of Violence in Bayelsa, Kogi Nseobong Okon-Ekong ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ăž Ă™Ă? à ÓÙÖĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÚÙÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŁĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÑÓ Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ

T

he eyes of the world is on Nigeria, particularly, two states-Bayelsa and Kogi-where governorship elections are scheduled tomorrow, Saturday, November 16. There have been disturbing instances of violence that threatens to disrupt the peaceful processes

in the polity.

Both Bayelsa and Kogi have a dubious history of violence marking political conduct in the two states. These ugly spectacle of carnage become heightened as political activities increase, in preparation for major elections, such as the governorship contest tomorrow. The trait of violence started from the primaries of the political parties and have continued unabated.

The inclination of influential persons to bend the rules in favour of unpopular candidates leads to skirmishes, which often balloons into full scale violence.

Apparently, the failure of major stakeholders in the race for public office to abide by the rules of engagement leaves a sore taste in the mouth.

Though the major political parties and their leading persona have been engaged in different fence mending initiatives aimed at brokering peace and gentlemanly conduct, these agree-

ments are, at best, perfunctory and not worth more than the piece of paper they are signed.

An example of the disregard with which politicians treat these peace signing ceremonies is the incident in which the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti was assaulted at the venue of the such a ceremony, in full view of security agents, who allegedly declined to help her. Akpoti’s party office had been previously burnt.

Midweek, a staff of Bayelsa Radio lost his life at a political rally from gunshots fired by hoodlums.

In total disregard of the Electoral Guidelines which forbid provocative statements, the political parties have concentrated on abusive utterances that heat up the polity, rather than, carrying out a vigorous campaign to inform the citizens of their developmental proposals.

There are 45 parties contesting in Bayelsa and 24 in Kogi, making a total of 69. But hardly has any party recommended itself to prominence on the strength of superior ideas and welfare programmes for the people. The two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) have been trading accusations, putting the blame for the reign of violence at each other’s doorstep. To be sure, neither of them is blameless. Each of these parties and their leaders have, by their conduct, fuelled the condition and atmosphere that encourages breakdown of law and order.

The law enforcement agents, particularly, the police appear to be accomplices in the repeated occurrence of violence in Bayelsa and Kogi. No one has been brought to book yet for any of these ugly incidents. In a situation where there is no apparent punishment to dissuade would-be trouble makers, the field appears open to more dastardly acts.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises that both Kogi and Bayelsa are politically volatile. Addressing a senate session on the commission’s preparedness for the elections, INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu noted, “We have seen the kind of situation that arose during the conduct of primaries by political parties and one or two incidents in Kogi with the commencement of campaigns by political parties.� That was one month ago and the situation had not become as precarious as it is today.

To be sure, the Inspector General of Police has issued a shoot-at-sight order to deter potential trouble makers during the elections, but this is hardly the kind of measure expected to bring the escalating situation of violence under control. The proper strategy is to deploy intelligence gathering in order to prevent these ugly incidents from taking place. With the reported large cache of arms intercepted by the police, it may not be wrong to assume some of these dangerous weapons escaped the eagle eyes of security agents and are in the hands undesirable elements, some of who are ready to battle the security agents for superiority.

The topography of the two states are naturally challenging and this poses a huge obstacle to our security agents who are already overstretched and over tasked. A risk assessment for the two states does not give any comfort that security agents are on top of the situation. Faced with real threat of violence, a good number of voters are likely to remain in the safety and comfort of their homes tomorrow. At the end of the day, the people are short-changed, as they are denied the right to freely choose their representative.

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

POLITY

IOCs Snub Dickson’s Environmental Commission Spurning dialogue with a Commission set up by Governor Seriake Dickson, comprising respected international personalities, signals preference for unchecked environmental impunity by International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Bayelsa State, as a seemingly complicit central government watches. Stanley Nkwazema reports

F

rom sickening facts on the ground, fundamental development logic apparently has no place in the oil sector exploration and exploitation practices in Nigeria’s Niger Delta regions where death and environmental despoliation remain grim facts of life as both the national and regional leaderships watch. But one leader decided that life cannot continue on this bestial path for his people and region. He is the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson.

Governor Dickson certainly picked the right international personality when he chose Dr. John Sentamu, the fiery Ugandan-born British geologist, who retires as the Archbishop of York, in the United Kingdom, in February next year, to chair an International Commission on Oil Spills in Bayelsa State.

The panel comprising erudite academicians, notable leaders from political and religious realms was charged to assess extant environmental damages and determine responsibility, define oil exploration/extraction modalities in sync with global best practice and more.

The Commission, referred to as the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC), established on the 26th of March 2019, by Governor Dickson, who incidentally, like Sentamu, leaves office February, 20, 2020.

Dickson who finds every little opportunity to explain ‘how my people have been suffering’ equally confirming that he had seen it all growing up in the creeks and eventually being at the helm of the oil rich Bayelsa, hence the need to, gather leaders to assess the impact of oil spills and Governor Dickson receiving an interim report from Dr. John Sentamu associated pollution in Bayelsa State and develop recommendations to ensure existing pollution is cleaned up century with what can be deemed as environmental terrorism. and future pollution is prevented.

“I established the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental In a recent UK House of Lords debate, Baroness Sheehen, Commission to hold oil companies to account; to shift the a Liberal Democrat and spokesperson for International mindset of multinationals operating in Bayelsa and to inspire a Development detailed at length the situation in Bayelsa State global sustainable change. Everyone deserves the same rights, and the launch of the Interim report, highlighting the injustices whether you live in Nigeria or in the USA. suffered by the people of the state.

“Since the first oil well was drilled in Nigeria by Shell in The International Oil Companies and their Nigerian Bayelsa in 1956, Bayelsan’s have rarely benefitted from oil. subsidiaries operating in Bayelsa State turned their backs on We have faced the destruction of our environment, rivers the Commission (BSOEC) after invitations were confirmed filled with oil, our farmlands destroyed, and a host of health delivered while newspaper adverts were placed in national problems including the ongoing deaths of our children. dailies by the commission, led by Sentamu.

“I’m grateful to the Archbishop for sharing what he has Despite the invitation, none of the oil companies showed up seen with the world. We, the people of Bayelsa and the world nor sent any document at the Royal Castle Hotel venue of the wait to hear the steps the oil companies will take in Nigeria sitting, to the dismay of the Commissioners who had sent out and around the world to address this kind of environmental the invitation weeks before the November 1, 2019 date. injustice and we eagerly anticipate the recommendations of After waiting for several hours at the venue, Sentamu the Commission in 2020.” moved to the Onopa Lodge in Yenagoa, where he launched a The Commission has undertaken three visits to Bayelsa blistering indictment of oil companies operating in the Niger State, since its launch in March 2019, to witness first-hand the Delta, calling their actions “nothing less than environmental devastation caused by oil spills and oil pollution. The Commisgenocide.” sion hosted meetings in all eight districts in the state and spoke Working alongside industry and environmental experts to to hundreds of Bayelsans about the human and environmental investigate the impact of oil spills and the environmental and impacts of oil spills and oil pollution. social damage done by International Oil Companies operating Alongside these visits the Commission gathered evidence in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta, the Archbishop accused and testimony from Bayelsa State, Nigeria and around the Shell, AGIP and other oil companies of inflicting environmenworld on the impact of the oil industry in the state. According tal devastation upon the people of the state and ignoring their to the interim report, “It is no longer a story that for over 50 pleas for assistance. years the oil companies’ activities and the associated impacts He said: “Roughly 40 million litres of oil wind up in the have caused untold devastation across Bayelsa Niger Delta annually, eight times more than is spilled in “Hundreds of thousands of people in Bayelsa have America, the world’s biggest producer and consumer. Early been forced to live on contaminated land, drink and fish in analysis shows that if Bayelsa’s share of oil spilled is the same contaminated water and breathe contaminated air. Mortality as oil pumped, as much as a barrel of oil may have been spilled and morbidity rates have risen sharply, as has the incidence for every man, woman and child living in Bayelsa today. It is of chronic disease in communities without the resources to estimated that the consequences of oil spills may kill around cope.”

16,000 infants in the Niger Delta annually within their first The report also explains: “Countless lives and livelihood month of life. are being destroyed. Thousands of communities and tens if “Our environment knows no bounds. We are all global not hundreds of thousands of people have seen their land and citizens. It would never be acceptable to cause such environfishing grounds poisoned. Neo-natal death and child malnumental devastation in Europe or America, and accordingly trition has risen, and hundreds of thousands have been forced it should never be acceptable in Africa or South America. into abject poverty.

Oil companies today have a moral obligation to uphold the “The problem has been ignored for too long. And even same high environmental standards, wherever they operate, when the world has paid attention, little has happened. Previanything less is to knowingly continue an environmental ous reports have merely sat on the shelf, gathering dust. Action genocide against the people of places like the Niger Delta.” is needed and needed now. The oil companies are beginning to Governor Dickson, who established the Commission, was divest from onshore projects in favour of offshore deep-water emotional when he received the report and glanced through sites where returns are higher, and risks of environmental the document. According to the governor, “I am grateful to the damage and social unrest are lower. Time is running out to Archbishop, the Commissioners and the global community hold them to account for the legacy of pollution and suffering for highlighting this long-held injustice on the world stage. they are leaving behind. But there is an opportunity for real The Commission has finally provided a voice for every man, change.” woman and child in Bayelsa that have struggled for over half a The Commission will produce its final report in early 2020.

This will set out recommendations for a new legal framework that would ensure accountability and an action plan for cleanup. This will include the remediation of impacted sites and the compensation of impacted communities, ensuring they reap the benefits from the production of oil within their communities. It is expected that the full report will include findings on the scope of oil pollution.

Additionally, the Commission will explore actions to develop a global standard of behaviour for international oil companies conducting their operations in Bayelsa, Nigeria or Africa as they would in Norway, Scotland or the USA. Indeed the interim report also highlights how oil company activity fuels internal divisions within communities and the lack of investment in communities despite the vast profits made from extracting millions of litres of oil from the state.

Other members of the Commission are Baroness Valerie Amos, former Under Secretary General at the United Nations; Dr. Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou a visiting academic Fellow of the department of Politics and International Relations University of Oxford; Dr. Anna Zalik, an Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University Canada; Professor Michael Watts, a Professor Emeritus, University of Berkeley Carlifornia; Professor Engobo Emeseh, Head of the School of Law University of Bradford; John Kufuor, former President of Ghana, as well as a number of high-level experts including pre-eminent expert - Roland Hodler, Professor of Public Economics, University of Gallen, Switzerland.

In all the LGs of Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Kolokuma, Sagbama, and Yenagoa and communities traversed by the leaders and academic elite that make up the commission, the problems followed a similar pattern of environmental degradation, a silent health crisis, economic devastation, communities destabilized and access to justice cumbersome with odds stacked against the communities.

More so, it may not be out of place to stress that only few countries have suffered more from oil pollution than Nigeria.

The report also recalls that over the last half century, as many as ten million barrels of oil have been spilled across the country: “That is equivalent to a spill similar in size to the Exxon Valdez catastrophe - which devastated the coast of Alaska - every single year for the last fifty years” Only few parts of Nigeria have suffered worse pollution that the state of Bayelsa. The area accounts for almost a quarter of its onshore crude oil production and approximately a third of Nigeria’s oil wealth. It is home to one of Africa’s most diverse ecosystems, a rich but fragile tapestry of wetlands and mangrove swamps.

It is no longer news that despite the immense oil reserves, the people of Bayelsa are poor with the state scoring lower on the United Nations Human Development index than any other state in Nigeria, while three quarters of Bayelsa’s two million people rely on fishing or farming to support themselves.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

16.11.2019

Gernot Rohr Uncertainty over Eagles’ Future?

NEWS

GOING FOR BROKE PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

30

GLOBAL SOCCER

Gernot Rohr

Uncertainty over Eagles’ Future? Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÑãÚÞ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă— Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă– ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŒĂŁ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă• Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă’ĂœËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ë› ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂĄĂ‹Ă– ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă—Ă‹Ă”Ă&#x; Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă•Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜ ÞËĂ?ÞÓĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă’Ă“Ă? ËŠ Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ùå˪ Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă?

S

ince his arrival as the technical adviser of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr had solely depended on foreign players for the senior national team which had severally attracted condemnation from many quarters. “A reasonable coach should be able to try as much as possible to infuse the home-based players to encourage them to work harder and

to do more and giving them an opportunity.

I think it’s very important the coach should look inwards too,� former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Joe Erico once charged.

This policy may however soon change if the condition given by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick, for the renewal of the German’s contract which expires next year is anything to go by.

Pinnick has revealed that the contract of Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr would only be renewed if he’s ready to scout for players within the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). “Rohr’s contract is due for renewal in June and we don’t have any issue with him at the moment. Contracts are classified documents. What we are going to do is strengthen the clauses in his contract. We are going to

domesticate Gernot Rohr in Nigeria and domesticate him to our leagues, that’s just it,� Pinnick said. “He needs to move around, watch some of the league games. We are not saying take a player from here and bring him to the Super Eagles immediately.�

The NFF Boss’ recent statement has left a huge amount of uncertainty over the future of the former Gabonese Coach with the Super

31

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

Eagles.

The German’s contract expires in June 2020 and if reports are to be believed, it will not be renewed despite having led the team to the bronze medal at the continental finals this year, and generally improved the quality of the team.

The German tactician defended his decision to ignore players in the Nigerian top-flight for the 2021 AFCON qualifying matches saying they are not fit enough. “Unfortunately, we could not take more players from the local league because they did not play so it was difficult for them to be fit. I know that some people cannot be happy about my choice but I can tell you it is my choice, it is always honest,� he said.

Rohr is indeed planning to hold showdown talks with the NFF regarding his future at the end of the year.

The German has stressed that he is not distracted by his contract situation with the Nigerian Federation despite his current deal set to expire in the next seven months, June 2020.

Speaking on his contract situation at Tuesday’s press conference, Rohr told reporters: ‘’A coach has to work like if he’s still here in 10 years, that’s what I try to do, working for the future. My contract is ending next June, we’ll see at the end of the year if we can sit together and speak about the future

but for the moment it is not a problem for me and my staff. ‘’All the time we give our best, we try to have a good understanding with our officials, our staff, not only the technical staff but also the administrative and medical staff, we have a good team and solidarity. No any distraction because my contract is ending. ‘’It is also the time to have a project for at least two years to end after the next AFCON, I start now the AFCON qualifiers and I don’t know if I will remain at the end because the contract is finishing. ‘’It is not really a problem but our project must be made for two to three years because what we want to do in this big country is to go also to the next World Cup and other countries are preparing and they have now a project. ‘’Project and philosophy of football which cannot stop after two first games of the qualifiers because the qualifiers will continue next June, in March will be friendlies again. ‘’For the moment it is not a problem but for the future we should see what is the project and if we can stay together or not.’’ Meanwhile, former Nigeria international, Victor Ikpeba would rather not want the issue of Rohr’s contract renewal to bring distraction into the team. “I will advise the Nigeria Football Federation to extend Gernot Rohr’s contract because

he has brought stability, progress and winning mentality to the team,� ex-Super Eagles star Victor Ikpeba told SuperSport TV. “I don’t see any reason why the NFF will want to sack a man that must have qualified the team to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in June next year. For me, Rohr deserves a contract renewal and should be allowed to continue with the good job he has been doing. “How do you think it will look hiring a new coach to manage the Super Eagles after the expiration of his contract in June next summer? In my view, let’s allow Rohr to continue his good job on the Super Eagles.�

After the loss to the Desert Foxes of Algeria in the semi-final at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, in a game which the Super Eagles were the second best for the better part of the encounter, it came as no surprise that soccer loving Nigerians called for Rohr’s head.

However, in a swift reaction after the loss, Rohr said there was no hurry for him to make a decision on his future as Nigeria coach in spite of facing unrelenting criticism over tactics and choice of players, but confirmed that he will take time to decide the next step “I’m still under contract for another year, so we will see what is decided together. There are positives for us to look at on this journey, but after this final game we can think and then talk about the future.�

Rohr would rather focus on his side’s progress and the attempts to build a team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. “The team is already on a good level. After the World Cup, we tried to rejuvenate the team,� he added. “When you’re playing in the semi-final of this big tournament you are already at a very good level. I also want to see the players who couldn’t play in this tournament yet, to finally have a team where everybody played.�

In spite of the disdain against Rohr and his style of football, Pinnick denied reports suggesting plans to sack the Super Eagles coach then.

While Pinnick admitted that there were areas of disagreements with Rohr, he told journalists in Cairo why the coach would stay on the job and the plans being made by the NFF to help the manager get better. “He will remain in the job. I have complete confidence in him,� the NFF president assured even though there were renewed calls for Rohr’s sack following the semi-final defeat to Algeria. “Gernot has taken us to the semi-final, the target we set for him. Right now, we have a third-place match to play for and we intend to have our team leave Egypt with honour. “There are some people that have been calling on me and the federation to sack Gernot. But I am not going to do that. In fact, Gernot is going on a refresher training period with Bayern Munich after the Nations Cup. We have a long-term plan with him. ‘We have had rocky and difficult moments in our relationship, but this is normal in any relationship between two people. He is a good coach and we want him to remain with us. That said, we will work together on what needs to be improved upon,� Pinnick had said then.

Rohr who was appointed as Super Eagles boss in August 2016, has a contract with the NFF until 2020. He initially joined the Super Eagles on a two-year contract which was renewed for another two years after he successfully led Nigeria to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Under Rohr, the Super Eagles impressively qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and AFCON 2019 with a game to play in both qualification series, but critics believe he had not made any impact in big moments.

Nigeria lost 2-1, conceding a late goal to Argentina to crash out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was fodder to his critics.

Rohr’s biggest criticism has been that his Super Eagles have lacked a clear identity since he took over although his team did take shape as a defensive and counter-attacking unit during AFCON 2019.

In a telephone chat with former Nigeria international, Mutiu Adepoju soon after the German was employed in 2016, he admitted that Rohr may not be one of the best coaches in the world but thinks he was right for the job considering the little time the federation had to employ a new coach. “If we are thinking of bringing the best coach for Nigeria at this time, we would just be going round and round. I just believe Rohr is the right person we can get now and I think he would do a great job for the team considering the way he has related with them, his intelligence and the working ethics he has brought,� Headmaster as he was fondly called by his admirers had told THISDAY. It however remains to be seen if Rohr would be ready to meet the new condition by the NFF Boss for his contract renewal.

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

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

Ě“

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

AFCON 2021 Qualifier

Eagles Go for Broke against Crocodiles

Captains at war‌ Benin Republic Captain, Stephane Sessegnon in a crunchy aair with his Nigerian counterpart, Troost Ekong when both sides battled at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium

S

uper Eagles of Nigeria will on Sunday take on the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the MaseruSetsoto Stadium in the second Group L match of the 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifier slated for Cameroon.

The three times African champions would be hoping to taking the three points at stake against Lesotho so as to be in absolute command of the group having earlier beaten the Squirrels of Benin Republic in the first group game on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. En-route the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, Nigeria defeated Lesotho in both legs to book its place to the biennial competition.

After a scare from Stephane Sessegnon’s early goal for Benin, the Super Eagles came from behind to get their 2021 AFCON qualifying campaign to a positive start with a 2-1 win at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo. Victor Osimhen converted from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time while Samuel Kalu struck just after the hour mark to complete the comeback for Nigeria, while Sierra Leone and Lesotho’s drew 1-1, which makes

Nigeria top the group.

Rohr indeed said winning the 2021 AFCON for Nigeria would make him the most excited person.

Rohr who spoke at a postmatch conference in Uyo after his team came from behind to defeat the Squirrels of Benin Republic 2-1 said winning AFCON 2021 was a huge desire. “It will be exciting for me to win the 2021 AFCON title with Nigeria. That’s my desire, and I will be the most excited. “So, winning today (Wednesday) is just the beginning. I can’t be excited until we win the title in 2021,� he said.

Rohr, who said Benin Republic had a good team, also noted that the Nigerian side had a good game in the second half. “The Super Eagles had a lot of scoring opportunities, but they failed to convert all of them.�

He however pointed out that the game’s opening goal, scored by the Squirrels’ captain, Sessegnon, in the second minute, was a big shock. “In the second half, we played a very good match, ‘one-touch two-touch’, and we have good wingers. We had a lot of opportunities, and with the changes we made,

Kalu celebrating Nigeria’s winning goal against Benin

we did very well. It is good for us.�

Speaking also, the Super Eagles’ team captain, Ahmed Musa, said the match was “a tough game for our team, even though we won.’’ He added that the Nigerian side gave their best to prevail over the visitors.

On his part, the Head Coach of Benin, Michelle Dussuyer, noted that his team played very well in the first half.

He however pointed out that the 45th minute penalty kick his team conceded gave more confidence to the Super Eagles.

Also, Sessegnon acknowledged that while the game was not a bad one for his team, the Nigerian side played better.

The Super Eagles will now try to build on Wednesday’s result when they visit Lesotho on Sunday while Benin host Sierra Leone.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

33

GLOBAL SOCCER

Victory over City Leaves Reds Looking Unstoppable Liverpool’s confidence and self-belief has been gathering momentum throughout manager Jßrgen

ÖÙÚÚ˪Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă”Ă&#x;Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËŞĂ? Ă Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ùà Ă?Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ÓÞã Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ? ÞÒĂ? ×Ù×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă‘Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂšĂšĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?

W

hen Liverpool last had the opportunity to overcome City, when victory at Etihad Stadium in January could have given them a 10-point lead at the top of the table, they slipped to a defeat which in the final reckoning cost them the title.

This was the day when Liverpool could make the statement loud and clear that they were in no mood to be denied, and that their wait for a title will not stretch beyond 30 years.

And this time, there was no mistake as a 3-1 win put them eight points clear of Leicester City and Chelsea and, perhaps more significantly, nine clear of Pep Guardiola’s side.

It was a game that lived up to its billing, full of quality, controversy and incident, with the champions playing their full part, but Liverpool will know this result may come to be seen at the decisive moment in their pursuit of that elusive crown.

Nothing will be taken for granted - but this is now Liverpool’s title to lose.

If the Reds do not win it this season, given their form, focus and current advantage, they will never forgive themselves. Yes, it is only November, but only one team can deny Liverpool from here: themselves.

Leicester will have a say. Chelsea will have a say. Manchester City will have a say - but everything we have seen from Liverpool this season, accompanied by an astounding sequence of only one loss in 51 league games, screams that Klopp

and his players will have the final word.

City and their enraged manager Guardiola will have pulled out of Anfield nursing a sense of grievance that an early penalty claim against Trent AlexanderArnold was ignored, an emotion exacerbated by Liverpool sweeping to the other end in seconds to score through Fabinho.

The Spaniard clearly felt City were on the wrong end of the key decisions and he was correct to outline how well his team played, but there is a ruthlessness, relentless and a surging energy about Liverpool that makes it difficult to see how it can possibly go wrong for them from here.

Liverpool benefited from their opponents being stripped of injured goalkeeper Ederson and midfield influence David Silva, but if you give Klopp and his team an inch, then a mile is the very least they will take.

For all City’s excellence and threat in possession, Liverpool knew where the soft underbelly lay and were able to probe - with inevitable results.

City, with the benefit of hindsight and without Aymeric Laporte, have been left under-manned in central defence after the failure to replace Vincent Kompany.

The injury to Ederson could not have come at a worse time.

Ederson’s replacement Claudio Bravo was not to blame for Liverpool’s first two goals, although he was indecisive for Sadio ManÊ’s third. The 36-year-old Chilean, however, simply does not possess Ederson’s quality and authority, not just as a goalkeeper but as a key component in City’s playing style with the ball at his feet.

Anfield has also been nothing but a theatre of pain for Guardiola since he arrived in England - and for City themselves over a much longer period - so this was the wrong time and wrong place for them to reignite their faltering title prospects.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their past 17 home Premier League games against City, winning 12, since losing 2-1 in May 2003. Guardiola has lost eight matches in all competitions against Klopp, three more than he has against any other manager.

This was Liverpool’s day and there was a sense - despite all City’s efforts - that this was their victory from the moment Fabinho’s searing sixth-minute drive flew beyond Bravo’s outstretched right hand.

Klopp is perfectly right to warn against getting carried away. It is not, though, getting carried away when announcing it will take an uncharacteristic Liverpool collapse to deny them the title this time, even after only 12 games.

The Reds have won 11 of their first 12 Premier League games, and only Manchester United have had a bigger lead than eight points at this stage of the season, when they won the title in 1993-94.

Klopp’s side have won 24 and drawn two of their past 26 home games, with victories in 18 of their past 25 away from Anfield. They have won 42 and drawn eight of their past 51 league games, slipping up just once on that night at Etihad Stadium in January.

The Americans use the old phrase “The Big Mo� to colourfully describe the sort

of run Liverpool are on - the time when a team or an individual picks up such momentum that nothing can derail them.

Liverpool have that look about them.

They look energised despite their intense, physical style and they have game-changers in all areas.

They look like the complete team. There is no obvious weakness.

Liverpool will of course be pursued by the three teams behind them - but you simply cannot make a convincing case that anyone will catch them.

Premiership Table Liverpool Leicester Chelsea Man City She Utd Arsenal Man Utd Wolves Bournemouth Burnley Brighton Crystal Palace Newcastle Tottenham Everton West Ham Aston Villa Watford Southampton Norwich

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

18 21 10 22 4 -1 4 1 0 -1 -2 -6 -7 1 -5 -6 -3 -15 -18 -17

34 26 26 25 17 17 16 16 16 15 15 15 15 14 14 13 11 8 8 7

34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER Football, Tennis at Nigeria Bankers’ Games Action continues this weekend in the 2019 Nigeria Bankers Games as the football event enters the knockout stage with four cracking quarter final fixtures to anticipate and a whole lot of sporting actions from other events.

The tennis event takes center stage today, where contingents from the various participating banks take to the courts at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Lagos Island to represent their banks.

This weekend will see the conclusion of the table tennis event which got underway last weekend and also the commencement of the debut event – video gaming event which will both be taking place in the YabaTech Indoor Hall.

In the football event, Sterling Bank will be looking to cause an upset as they take on the reigning football champions – UBA, while First Bank will be hoping to continue their brilliant run of form as they take on a Union Bank side that will be looking to make it to the semi-finals as they did last year.

The third match will witness FCMB take on a rejuvenated Wema Bank side who claimed their first victory of the season during their last outing.

The last quarter-final fixture will see Fidelity Bank take on Ecobank. Ecobank will be looking for a change in fortune as they take on an in-form Fidelity Bank side as they look to assert themselves in the football event with a quarter-final win.

May face Argentina, Brazil or Canada

Rilwan Oladosun

Rowe Park Rumbles for Maiden GOtv Boxing Mini

I

n a bid t to provide more frequent opportunities for boxers for them to get the requisite number of fights to make them eligible for sub-regional, continental and international title bouts, Flykite Promotions has birthed GOtv Boxing Mini.

According to the CEO of the promotion company, Jenkins Alumona, “Our boxers have, despite the best efforts of GOtv Boxing Night, inadequate opportunities to fight and build their fight records, which they need to become eligible for international titles. GOtv Boxing Night Mini, which will be staged with more frequency than the main event, will address this challenge.�

Meanwhile, boxers billed to fight at the maiden edition of GOtv Boxing Night Mini have been talking tough ahead of the event billed to hold today at the Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos.

Rilwan “Real One� Oladosu, who is billed to take on Ola Adebakin in a national lightweight challenge, declared himself ready, willing and able to see off his opponent without fuss. “I am unstoppable. Tell Adebakin that he will see hell. I don’t even need to exert myself. I’m sufficiently prepared and he’d feel the full force of my preparation,� he said.

The lesser known Adebakin, however, responded that while he was an underdog, he would show Oladosu that underdogs could bite and dangerously, too.

He bragged that he would inflict on the WABU champion his first defeat as a professional. “Real One might be better known, but that will count for nothing when we step into the ring. He isn’t familiar with me, but I know him well, including his weaknesses. I’m ready to exploit this and put him where he belongs: on the canvas,� he

Pulev in Pole Position to Face Ruiz JoshuaRuiz Jr Winner The winner of Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr could be mandated to fight Kubrat Pulev next, instead of Oleksandr Usyk.

Pulev (IBF) and Usyk (WBO) are the mandatory challengers for the titles that are stake between Joshua and Ruiz Jr on December 7, and are racing to be the next opponent for whoever emerges with the belts. “Kubrat Pulev’s next fight will be for the IBF world heavyweight title,� his promoters Top Rank told Sky Sports. “If the Joshua-Ruiz winner decides not to fight Pulev, his next fight will be for the vacant IBF title.�

Bulgaria’s Pulev, whose only defeat in 29 fights came against Wladimir Klitschko, beat Hughie Fury to earn his position as IBF mandatory challenger and, last weekend, he outpointed Rydell Booker.

The IBF told Sky Sports earlier this year about the race between Pulev and WBO mandatory challenger Usyk: “Ours has to come first. The organisations have agreed that the IBF mandatory would be next.�

Joshua’s promoter Eddie

bragged.

WABU welterweight champion, Rilwan “Baby Face�

Babatunde, is also in war mood, issuing a strong warning to his opponent, Dennis “The Range�

Mba. He said he had seen media reports quoting Mba as threatening him with defeat, something for which he would make him pay. “I’ve seen him boast in media reports, but he’ll be sorry at the end of the fight. He’d be treated like every other opponent who’s been foolish enough to face me,� he raved.

Waheed “Showmax� Shogbamu and Semiu “Jagaban�

Olopade have similarly swapped boasts, with the former vowing to leave his opponent in tears and blood.

Also, Ogunsemilore, who is billed to take on take on Omowunmi “Mummy’s Pet�

Akinsanya in a national super featherweight challenge, said she expects to win the bout and

Hearn first explained in August that the winner of the rematch against Ruiz Jr would have two mandatory challengers to immediately contend with. “We’re going to have a problem where Usyk and Pulev both say: ‘you’ve got to fight me next’,� Hearn told Sky Sports.

That could lead to the possibility of a belt being vacated by the winner of Ruiz Jr versus Joshua. “Some belt could become vacant,� Hearn said. “Because the IBF and the WBO are both going to order their mandatories after Joshua-Ruiz Jr. Unless a deal can be done with someone, you’ve either got to do that, or vacate. “But the Joshua-Ruiz fight is so big, it’s almost bigger than the belts.�

Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, won his heavyweight debut against Chazz Witherspoon last month and immediately said “I am ready� to challenge the champion of his new division.

He had previously made clear that his dream fight would be against Joshua at Wembley Stadium, saying: “If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best.�

Anthony Joshua

improve her fight record. “I am well prepared for this fight and I am primed to ensure Akinsanya continues to remain a “Mummy’s Pet� in the ring. I really need the win in order to show that my nascent boxing career is really progressing,� she said.

Meanwhile, organisers of the maiden edition of GOtv Boxing Night Mini, have assured fans going to the event today of adequate security.

Speaking on the event, Alumona, said necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure the safety of the boxers, officials and the fans at the event venue. “Preparations havebeenputin place regarding top-level security.

This is the inaugural edition of GOtv Boxing Night Mini and it is important that from this very edition we prioritise the security of everyone who will be at the venue,� he said.

IOC President Charges Nigeria to Embrace Fencing

Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Öã×ÚÓĂ? Ù××ÓÞÞĂ?Ă? Ě™ Ěš ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËœ ÒÙ×ËĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ÞÙ Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă– Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă“Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă‘Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžË› Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ÚÖËã Ă‹Ăž ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă Ă“Ă?

Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă™Ă–Ëœ Ă‹ĂŒĂ“ Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?ĂžËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ?åÓÞÒËÖ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžË› Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ÚÖËã ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă–Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ă–ĂŁ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂĄ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ Öã×ÚÓĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙÙÕ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœËœ Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă’ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂŁĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?ÙÓÖ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ăž ÞÙ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Öã×ÚÓĂ? Ù×-

×ÓÞÞĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ Ě™ Ěš Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ›Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ËÚÓÞËÖ˛ ËŤ Ă? Ă?Ù××Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ù××ÓÞ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËŞĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă? Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËœËŹ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ™Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ?ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă•Ă‹ Ă‹Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂŁĂ? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă“Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Öã×ÚÓĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë› ËŤ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂœĂ‹ĂœĂ? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă“Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă? ÞÙ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ?

ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă‹Ă— ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒÓĂ? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă—ĂŁ ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă— Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Öã×ÚÓĂ?Ă?ËœËŹ

Top Dignitaries Set for GCU Relay Races Top Dignitaries, led by the Delta State Commissioner for Basic and secondary education Chief Patrick Ukah will grace the finals of the 2019 GCY Relays scheduled for today at the school modern Tartan Tracks.

Also, expected at the finals are the managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company as well as the GM External Relations Mr Igo Weli.

Representatives of the Niger Delta Development Commission as well as the Delta State Sports Commission are expected to join the chief hosts, President General World Wide Arch. Charles Ovo Majoroh.

Indeed, the local organising committee headed by the home desk administrator Pastor Wilson Egbodje met again last week to ensure that issues bordering on security, Medicals and logistics were well managed, to ensure a hitch-free relays competition.

And from the chairman Technical Committee, Emmanuel Elili has commenced innova-

tions aimed at authenticating the athletes identification. “We have created a database template for all the participating schools and athletes�, he said.

Adding, “Now we require information and confirmation from the school principals about the year of entry, present class, age, sex and other vital bio-data, to forestall possible cheating�. “The Idea behind this relays is to ensure the right athletes, who must be eligible are allowed to participate in the spirit of fairness�.

Fundamental to the GCU Relays is the development of outstanding secondary school athletes for the nation and the promotion of the sprints culture in which Nigeria has a comparative advantage over the marathon and other longdistance races.

GCU Relays 2019 holds at the Schools’ Modern Tartan track built and donated by SPDC. Ex-Olympian Moses Orode Oyiki is the GCU Relays Meet Ambassador.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

35

GLOBAL SOCCER

Moses Simon A New Lease of Life After failing to establish himself in the Levante’s Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ͚͚ Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă—Ă™Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞËÕĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ? ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Íš Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ the move is proving to ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁĚ‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă’Ă‹ĘľĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ à ÙÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă–Ă‹ĂŁĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’

N

igeria international, Moses Simon has been impressive since joining FC Nante on loan from Spanish side, Levante. Only last month, he scored four goals including a hat-trick against FC Paris in the French League Cup and it therefore came as no surprise when he was voted the Player of the Month.

Simon revealed he was thoroughly enjoying a new lease of life in France. “I am more relaxed and settled at Nantes, no pressure. I am also playing to my full potentials because here I am a very offensive winger,� he explained. “At Levante, I had to fall back to help out in the defence. Now, I am a winger in a 4-3-3 formation as against the 3-5-2 we played in Spain. And so the goals and assists are coming now.�

Simon is however optimistic his current scoring form for FC Nantes will continue with the Super Eagles.

The on-loan Levante forward, who made his Eagles return in the Africa Cup of Nation qualifiers against Benin after missing the last friendly with Brazil through injury, told AOIFootball. com from his base in France that he now aimed to take his current form to the National team. “It’s been an amazing season for me so far here in France; the team is doing well and I hope to also take the same form to the National team, especially with the AFCON qualifiers fast approaching,� Simon said.

The 24-year-old, who is expected to earn his 30th cap if selected against Benin Republic, however stated that he hoped to mark the landmark appearance with yet another international goal but posited that the team’s overall success remained the goal for him and not personal glory.

The pacy winger has been a revelation since completing a loan move to France in August as he has scored five goals with two assists in 10 appearances across all competitions, with Nantes sitting second on the French Ligue 1 table with 19 points after 11 games.

Simon moved to Levante UD for about five million Euros, which is a figure far from the 20 million Euros a top official had predicted KAA Gent will eventually sell him.

Gent sports director Michel Louwagie proudly predicted that his club would break transfer records when

they h eventually ll sell ll the h Nigeria Ni i winger i after they bought him from Slovak club AS Trencin for 650,000 Euros in January 2015. “The transfer record in Belgium will have to be shattered when we sell Moses. We will be talking of about 20 million Euros,� Louwagie predicted.

The prediction was prompted by the fact that Moses was an instant sensation in Belgium.

But the player will go on to suffer injuries and lack of consistency for such huge hope not to be fulfilled in the three and a half seasons he was there.

Altogether, he scored 21 goals and provided 18 assists in 136 appearances for ‘The Buffaloes’.

He was handed a five-year deal by Levante to finally live up to his potentials in Spain.

He won the Belgian league with Gent in his first season after his transfer from Slovak club AS Trencin.

KAA Gent paid glowing tributes to Simon after the player secured a move to Spanish club, Levante. “He leaves the club with his head up and will forever belong to the

select l group off players l who h won the h first league title in the history for our club and then became part of a historic Champions League campaign stamped in the collective Belgian football memory. The following season, he was also a member of the group of players that beat Tottenham at Wembley in the Europa League,� the club said in its official website then. “Immediately after his transfer, he was the only player who spoke openly about obtaining the title “with the help of God�. It turned out to be prophetic words. “Moses started as a whirlwind in the Belgian league and played regularly for KAA Gent from January 2015 until the start of the playoffs in the same season in the race for the championship. “During his time at the Buffalo’s, he was feared for his vicious dribbles, his incredible speed and his hard shot and loved because of his cheerful personality and his generous smile. He was often the creator of important goals, like last season when he scored the

only goal in the penultimate match of the playoffs in the 1-0 victory against Anderlecht.

When Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr rolled out his 30man provisional list for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with Simon included, the player believed he was just inches away from achieving his long-time dream of playing in the World Cup. But it was not to be as injury ruined his dream.

Simon sustained a thigh injury in his second training session with the Super Eagles in Uyo and his World Cup dream was shattered. “It is unfortunate Moses Simon will not be travelling with the team to London because he is down with an injury. The nature of his injury is such that he won’t be recovering quickly enough to make the World Cup. We are looking at three to four weeks and thereafter, rehabilitation training will start before getting to match fitness level. You can see that the situation is not good for him and for the team as well,� Rohr had said.

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

FAIRGROUND

Glenfiddich Grand Cru Whisky Debuts in Nigeria

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

he world’s most awarded single malt whisky, Glenfiddich, unveiled a new addition to its robust whisky collection, Glenfiddich Grand Cru with two exclusive launch events in Abuja and Lagos last month.

The new whisky, Glenfiddich Grand Cru is first matured for 23 years in handpicked American and European oak casks and elegantly finished in rare French Cuvee casks.

It is an exclusive blend of the most exquisite flavours from Scotland and France.

Grand Cru is the first expression in Glenfiddich’s new range of high-end whisky, and contains notes of sweet brioche, pear sorbet, white grape and vanilla to create a rich palate and redefined drinking experience.

Glenfiddich hosted influencers and special guests at a grand reception of culinaryexploration, elegant dĂŠcor, and grand celebration at The Vue, Novare Mall, Abuja and Sky Restaurant, Eko Hotel, Lagos where they witnessed the unveiling of this unique expression of celebration.

At the Lagos launch, the Glenfiddich Brand Ambassador to Scotland, Mark Thompson took guests down memory lane with a brief history of Glenfiddich.

Renowned Chef, Chef Fregz, was also part of the celebration in Lagos, treating guests to exquisite food pairings across the Glenfiddich range, and a masterclass where guests were taught how to make unique dishes with Glenfiddich whisky.

Bayo Oke-Lawal

Vimbai Mutinhiri and Adebola Williams

Akin Akinkugbe

Denola Grey

FiďŹ Dilly

Idia Aisien Isaac Emokae

Nateo and Nicole Chikwe

Njay Odili and Adaeze Odili Oreh

Tola Odunsi

Uju Anunobi and Oby Ohakim

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

FAIRGROUND

Ike Onyema, Kim Oprah Sign New Management

F

ormer Big Brother Naija housemates, Ike Onyema and Kim Oprah have signed an endorsement deal under a new management team, Play Management Africa.

The housemates took to their respective Instagram pages to disclose their new management. According to Oprah, her major goal in joining Play Management is to gain international recognition. Both ex house mates were undeniably excited about their new heights and expressed it wholly via their Instagram account.

Play Management Company stemmed

from the recorded successes of the Play Network Africa in various related fields with the management company having been positioned to successfully coordinate, promote, advice and market all its signees equally and successfully.

For the CEO of Play Management, Charles Okpalek, world class PR experts, brand strategists, marketers and certified legal advisers have been engaged 24/7, to ensure that strategies are constantly refreshed, and talents under the Play Management Company, continually provided with the very best representation, not only here in Nigeria, but across the entire continent and beyond.

L-R: Kim Oprah, Charles Okpaleke and Ike Onyema

Amuwo Games Kicks O in Lagos The 2019 edition of Amuwo Games, a mini sports festival for residents of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, was heralded with spectacular and colourful opening ceremony inside the Amuwo Odofin Primary School Playground.

The opening ceremony held on November 2, 2019 had in attendance, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Chairman, Valentine Buraimoh, who delivered a welcome address. “Amuwo Games has ushered in sporting

activities in the nooks and crannies of Amuwo Odofin Local Government.

In the last sports festival, Lagos State performed very well and part of the participants were from Amuwo Odofin Local Government. This has encouraged us to support sporting activities in Amuwo Odofin and also give our youth a sense of belonging and direction�, Buraimoh said.

The founder of Amuwo Games, Seun Ayeni, noted that the sports festival was inspired by the need to

engage the energies and time of talented young residents of Amuwo Odofin.

He said: “We said that if we allow this energy go unused, it may turn to violence. So we decided to maximise their energies.

The concept was birthed in 2017.We decided to create sporting activities for them in order to take their minds off the outcome of the election they were not happy about. The aim is to achieve youth development, for communal unity and curb social vices�.

Guests at the opening ceremony

VIVA Cinemas Set to Debut in Lagos Going to the cinema to watch a movie could be a personal delight, especially if you are looking to wind down after a hectic day, wait out the traffic, or just need to relax and enjoy a viewing experience specifically different than that of your daily home entertainment.

To this end, VIVA Cinemas is offering an unforgettable cinema experience that everyone can enjoy. Operating in five major Nigerian cities and situated within world-class shopping malls at each location, Ilorin, Ibadan, Ota, Enugu and Lagos – VIVA understands the thrill and excitement that a vibrant blend of retail, leisure and entertainment provides.

Having a total of 20 screens and 3,000 seating capacity across its five locations, VIVA currently holds between 17-25per cent market share of screens occupancy across Nigeria. Withgreat expansion plans over the next few years to several cities in Nigeria and across West Africa, it’s betting on itself to achieve even greater success.

VIVA offers an amazing mix of experiences designed to treat viewers to great moments each time and every time, as movie goers can indulge in an immersive cinema experience choosing from a wide variety of Nollywood, Hollywood and Bollywood blockbuster titles.

Since 2015, VIVA Cinemas is the first and only exhibitor in Nigeria to utilise the 4K cinema projectors, which offer the only 4K projection solution that delights audiences to incredible picture and sound clarity in 2D and silky smooth, lifelike 3D images.

4K resolution is an incredible improvement over standard high definition. For a 16:9 ratio, 4K contains almost four times the pixels of HD. This means a clearer more detailed image. The higher pixel count also allows for closer viewing

L-R: Head, Technical Operations VIVA CINEMAS, Mr. Wisdom Idahosa; Cinema Manager VIVA CINEMAS Lagos, Miss Oge Okoye; VIVA CINEMAS CEO, Mr. Heri Ntimizi; Head , Operations VIVA CINEMAS, Mrs. Inuagbor Abass; and Business Development Manager VIVA CINEMAS, Mr. Adewale Azeez, at VIVA CINEMAS launch press conference

by the audience without loss in quality of the content on the screen.

Speaking about the VIVA 4k technology, VIVA CEO Heri Ntimizi said: “On a bigger screen, the 4K image is simply better, so much so that some people who’ve witnessed a longdistance shot rendered in 4K have mistaken it for glasses-free 3D! The larger the screen, the more 4K is required due to the inevitable

pixel enlargement. At VIVA Cinemas, we like to ensure definition is maintained and at a minimal viewing cost."

In addition to blockbuster releases, across all its locations, VIVA Cinemas services include corporate and private group bookings, tailored advertising and experiential events in collaboration with partner brands, alternative content such as theatre, the performing arts, comedy shows

and other live events with Coca Cola as their leading partner.

The VIVA brand’s ethos are innovation in technology, excellent service and an optimal customer experience; the blend of retail and entertainment as the brand is deliberately located within shopping centres in each of its locations; as well as an extensive customer, community and stakeholder engagement.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

38

AUTO

L-R: Managing Director, CFAO Nigeria Plc., Mr. Thomas Pelletier; Superintendent Route Commandant, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos, Odewo Mayowa; Sales Engineer, Middle East & African Aftermarket, Lumileds, Akhoun Khalil; General Manager, Winpart/AutoFast Nigeria, Olivier Buisson; Deputy Managing Director, CFAO Nigeria, Mr Kunle Jaiyesimi, during the automotive professionals networking and technical training in Lagos‌ recently

Winpart, PhilipsTrainTechnicians, Dealers, Motorists on Safety Stories by Bennett Oghifo

W

inpart Nigeria, a division of CFAO Motors has partnered with Philips in training Dealers, Technicians, and Motorists on modern technologies and innovations in the manufacturing of lighting products in the automotive industry.

This is in line with its commitment to ensuring that international best practices on road safety and vehicle maintenance are adhered to in Nigeria, according to a statement by CFAO. The technical training and networking event amongst automotive professionals, themed,

“Knowledge Update on Current Technologies andFutureDevelopmentinVehicleVision�which took place at the Mitsubishi show room inAdeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, harped on genuine concern for safety and driving comfort.

In his opening speech, the Managing Director, CFAO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Thomas Pelletier, notes that “CFAO has been committed to delivering value to Nigerian consumers for the past 117 years.

According to him, “We are a partner of choice for leading automotive brands and we take road safety seriously. In a bid to address safety issues, we have collaborated with leading OEMs to make genuine auto parts available to Nigerians in less than two hours through a quick delivery system. The use of genuine OEM parts is not only cost-effective but is also necessary to save

lives by avoiding mishaps that could result from the use of fake parts.�

On his part, Sales Leader, Middle East &Africa After market, from Philips, a leading bulb manufacturer in the world,Akhoun Khalil, notes that “road safety starts with seeing and being seen. More than 80% of accidents occur during nighttime and under bad weather conditions.

Breaking this down further, 37% accounts for strong injuries while 46% accounts for the deadly road accidents we see.�

Proffering solutions, Khalil recommended that, motorists ensure the alignment of the headlamps is checked by a professional while halogen bulbs should be replaced after 40, 000km or every two years. Also, he stressed the change of headlights by pairs for symmetrical performance.

Jaguar I-PACE Wins Golden Steering Wheel Award for Best SUV

J

aguar’s all-electric Performance SUV has won Germany’s most famous car award, the Golden Steering Wheel. The I-PACE triumphed in the Mid-size SUV category, ahead of the Audi Q3 and Seat Tarraco.

Designed and developed in the UK, the I-PACE was created from a clean sheet of paper with the aim of delivering the world’s best premium electric vehicle – and a true Jaguar driver’s car.

Its combination of sports car performance, zero emissions, exceptional refinement, and all-wheel drive SUV usability and practicality make I-PACE the stand-out choice in its segment, according to a statement by the automaker.

A 90kWh lithium-ion battery enables a range of up to 470km (WLTP) and is capable of charging from 0-80% in around 72 minutes (60kW DC). The two light, compact and efficient Jaguar-designed motors generate a combined output of 294kW and 696Nm of instant torque, delivering 0-100km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

Prof Sir Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, accepted the Golden Steering Wheel for the Jaguar I-PACE at the award ceremony in Berlin, and said: “As part of our ‘Destination Zero’ vision, Jaguar Land Rover is pursuing an ambitious goal: To establish an environmentally friendly closed-loop economy. The Jaguar I-PACE is the clear and creative representation of our vision – an exciting, emissions-free electric vehicle.

As a British manufacturer of premium vehicles we are delighted to win the Golden Steering Wheel in the world’s most demanding and competitive premium car market. “This award is one of many prestigious awards

Jaguar’s all-electric I-PACE

the I-PACE has won.

We will use this validation to intensify our efforts to offer desirable and highly innovative vehicles to our customers. I thank the readers and the experts for rewarding the courage and forward thinking of our designers and engineers with their vote for the I-PACE.�

For the 43rd Golden Steering Wheel Awards, millions of readers of Auto Bild and its sister pub-

lications in over 20 European countries, together with readers of the Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag chose their favourites. After the votes had been counted, the 21 finalists – three in each of the seven categories – were thoroughly tested at the Lausitz-Ring circuit by the jury of racing drivers, leading motoring journalists and other car experts, with a focus on driving dynamics, connectivity, design, and total cost of ownership.

Winpart which is currently operational in several African countries is a world-class OEM spare parts brand distributor to fleets, retail shops, independent repair networks, and customers. It is open for B2B and B2C ordering, either through calls or through its e-ordering platforms which will be up in no distant time.

Toyota Postpones Unveiling of GR YARIS Toyota Australia has expressed its concern and support for communities affected by the devastating fires and praised the tireless and courageous work of emergency services and military support battling the catastrophic conditions.

The company said the inevitable cancellation of Rally Australia due to the fires around Coffs Harbour, NSW, had also forced the postponement of the global reveal of Toyota GR YARIS prototype. Plans for the reveal will be announced later.

Coffs Harbour Dealer Principal Warren Skinner, who said several of his staff had been directly affected by the fires, has urged members of the public to donate money to support affected communities throughout NSW and Queensland. “Toyota Motor Corporation Japan and Toyota Australia have kicked off our fundraising drive with a joint donation pledge of $250,000, to go directly to the Salvation Army,� Mr Skinner said. “All donations will go to the Salvation Army Australia to assist their efforts both during the immediate crisis and over the longer term to help local communities recover,� he said.

Toyota Australia President Matthew Callachor said the company and its dealers have a strong connection to regional and rural communities who have supported, and been supported by Toyota for more than 60 years. “The Toyota team is devastated to see this disaster in our communities and want to ensure we lend a hand to support those who are affected at this time, which is why we and our parent company in Japan are pleased to provide a quarter of a million dollars to the Australian Salvation Army,� Mr. Callachor said.

Toyota encouraged people to get behind the many aid organisations on the ground such as the Salvation Army. “We have the highest admiration and respect for the Salvation Army and the many other organisations and individuals who are rallying to support everyone in need.�

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

39

AUTO

Weststar Takes in more Units of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has become a bestseller in major markets around the world with over 20 years since its first production at the DĂźsseldorf plant in Germany (1995), according to a statement by the automaker.

Building on its success and global appeal, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter continues to dominate the vans segment and it is the choice vehicle for the transportation industry in Nigeria. New units of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are currently available at Weststar Associates Limited.

In response to the growing and diverse needs of the Nigerian transport industry today, and in an attempt to provide value suited for passengers, drivers and fleet owners, Weststar Associates Limited, Authorized General Distributors of Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles in Nigeria is happy to announce the arrival of more units of Mercedes-Benz Sprinters.

Already selling fast, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 324 KA comes with features like fuel efficient petrol engines, high-performance roof air conditioners, electrical sliding doors, reverse camera and 14 – 19 seats depending on customers’ preference.

The exterior of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 324 KA comes with a radiator grille frame in the vehicle body colour, 16-inch steel wheels with 18-hole design, daytime running lamps

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter’s dashboard

which make it possible for other road users to identify the vehicle faster in the daytime and the electric sliding door on the side which enables comfortable boarding and exit for passengers.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter puts great emphasis on comfort in its interior with features like the high-performance roof air conditioner, seating with adjustable backrest,

interior LED illumination, wood flooring, interior design with black Tunja fabric, 14 – 19 seats depending on customers’ preference, Audio 15 multimedia system, instrument cluster with pixel-matrix display, 3-point seat belt and a locking glove compartment with considerable stowage space.

With regards to performance, the MercedesBenz Sprinter 324 KA is equipped with a M272

petrol engine with 190 kW (258hp) power output and 5900 rpm torque; the engine is also coupled with automatic transmission.

This fits perfectly with the requirements of Nigerian roads.

Other key features include Crosswind Assist which detects track offset caused by strong crosswinds on-time and helps the driver to remain in their lane.

The adaptive brake lights with their conspicuous flashing which help significantly prevent the threat of rear-end collisions, ABS – the Anti-locking Brake System which ensures that a vehicle remains steerable even in the event of emergency braking, ESP which stabilizes the speed and movement of the vehicle during bends by selectively braking one or more wheels and reducing engine torque if required, and PARKTRONIC which through a series of ultrasonic sensors strategically placed around the vehicle, accurately measures the distance between the vehicle and other objects during parking to prevent collisions.

Speaking on the new units of the MercedesBenz Sprinter, Mr. Mirko Plath, CEO, Weststar Associates Limited commented; “The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter’s global appeal is one that is recognized by businesses and transporters in the Nigerian market. It is our utmost goal to ensure that our customers get a product that is able to attend to the challenges they face on Nigerian roads and most importantly add significant value to their businesses.�

Kia Reveals Exterior Images of all-new K5 Fastback Sedan

K

ia Motors has today published exterior images of the all-new Kia K5 sedan. Released in Korean market specification, the latest model offers a fresh and innovative new look for the sedan segment and showcases Kia’s bold new design direction.

The new Kia K5 brings with it a sporty, modern and bold character. The front of the car is characterised by Kia’s imposing new ‘Tiger Nose Evolution’, a wide, three-dimensional design which integrates the grille and headlamps more organically than previous iterations of the K5. The texture of the grille is modelled on the texture of shark skin which has powerful and sporty image. The grille is made with a matrix of interlocking details to give the K5 a classy and dynamic look. The K5’s new front headlamps feature a distinctive ‘heartbeat’ daytime running light signature.

Above the grille, the deeply-contoured hood and characteristic lower bumper, emphasising the smooth lines on the front of the car and enhancing the K5’s on-road presence.

The profile of the K5 displays a greater sense of muscularity than its predecessor, with the body

narrowing slightly at the midpoint between wheel arches. A distinctive crease runs the length of the K5’s body, while a dash of chrome above the car’s new frameless windows adds greater drama to its flowing, fastback roofline.

The all-new K5 is longer and wider than its predecessor. The length of the new model has been extended by 50mm to 4,905mm and the width by 25mm to 1,860 mm. The wheelbase is extended to 2,850mm providing a stable driving character. A 20mm drop in height to 1,445mm creates a low-slung sporty profile.

The back of the K5 has a new rear-combination lamp design which provides a sporty silhouette mirrored by the three-dimensional design of the K5’s subtle rear wing.

The unique rear light signature mirrors the slender ‘heartbeat’ motif found at the front of the car, while the flash of chrome from the roofline loops around the base of the rear screen, unifying the side and rear profile.

The K5 will be available with a range of new 19-, 18-, 17- or 16-inch machine-cut aluminum alloy wheel designs with from gloss black to dark gray and light gray.

The all-new Kia K5

A Bottle Too Many Kills As we gradually count down to the end of 2019, we need to ponder on our driving behavior. We also need to ponder on the numerous tragedies and deaths as well as injuries through road traffic crashes which were all avoidable. To guide your thoughts please allow me to share a piece I used at the beginning of 2019.It started thus;last night after having a drink too many steve olufemi sodiya,aka ,OJJ(omuti jati jati)left the party quietly and left his car behind because he knew drunk driving was dangerous .he took a taxi. From the party his friends phoned him and asked, where have you gone’’ he replied that having drank a bit too much, he left his car behind and took home. His friends shouted, but the party is in your house‌which housedidyougo?Whereareyounow?Twofriends of mine forwarded this hilarious but lifesaving message which got my ribs cracked due to too much laughter. I do not know the creative mind behind this message but I bet you it hilariously captures the message of this season and the need for people to drink responsible.

As we race into the end of 2019 with all the deaths and injuries, I cannot find a better topic to discuss and in the lighter mood, with the expensive joke couched. I have tried to imagine who among our comic acts would be behind this; okey bakassi, funny bone, acapella‌‌. It is no doubt the vintage work of a crazy creative mind. But it is kudos to the creator of this. This is why I will urge you to spare time and rethink your driving habits this season.

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 Driving is a serious occupation which demands total concentration. It is said to be the most dangerous of all human activities‌Arecent WHO studies shows that 40 to 60 percent of all injury deaths are attributed to violence. This is particularly so for traffic accident involving alcohol.ALCOHOLmisuse is usually on the high side this season. So too is drugs, whether legal or illegal. But do you know that an estimated 25% of those who drive after drinking get involved in accidents which are alcohol induced and that the chances of you being involved in an accident are multiplied 10times and that such Accident could be fatal depending on the level of alcohol.

Likealcohol,drugsaffectyourdrivingbehaviorand can lead to some of the following individually, or in combination: slower reactions, which can make you react incorrectly, poor concentration and confused thinking.Adriver who drives without concentration is like a mad man with a sharp knife who knows who his next victim will be. A drugged driver is

over confident and has distorted perception of the event and situations around him. He is at risk of taking unnecessary risks which can expose him to unimaginable danger. He also has poor coordination, lacks the composure to put him together in an emergency situation. He is restive and erratic, unable to be in control of his actions as he loses his composure, sometimes feigning ignorance and showing arrogance at the same time. He also has blurred vision, dizziness and severe fatigue. Drugs and alcohol therefore increases the chances of road crashes but also their fatalities.

Drink driving is not the only peculiar risk behavior.

Reflectontheseprevalentbehavioralpatterninprevious years: Excessive speed, driving and phoning, non-use of seat belt, overloading, lapped children, squeezed, some standing, dangerous overtaking, indulgence in night travels, use of worn out tyres, over/under inflated tyres, mechanical deficient vehicles, under aged driving, arrogance/impatience, fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol and impaired driving. Most alcoholic freaks are also speed deviants. That is why I have chosen to also briefly look at excessive speeding and the use of child restraints for children.

Speed-speed is at the core of the traffic injury problem. It is the major determinant of the extent of injury. It influences both crash risk and crash consequences. The physical layout of the road and its surrounding can both encourage and discourage speed. However, crash risk increases as speed in-

creases especially at junctions and while overtaking.

The effect of impact speed on the risk of death for pedestrians is colossal, but for vehicle occupants also, injury severity increases with impact speed.

The higher the speed of a vehicle, the shorter time the driver has to stop and avoid a crash. This is why the possibility of fatal injury increases from close to zero to almost 100% as the change in impact speed increases from 20km/h to 100km/h. A car travelling at 50km/h will typically require 1.3metres to stop while a car travelling at 40km/h will stop in less than 8. 5metres.An average increase speed of 1km/h is associated with a 3% higher risk of a crash involving an injury. Travelling at 5km/h above a road speed limit of 65km/h results in an increase in the relative risk of being involved in a casualtycrashthatiscomparablewithhavingablood alcohol concentration of 0.05g/dl. For car occupants in a crash with an impact speed of 80km/h, the likelihood of deaths is 20 times what it would have been at an impact speed of 30km/h. It is because of the grave risk involved that a maximum speed limit of 100km/h for private cars and 90km/h for taxis and buses is set on the expressway while at built up areas such as commercial and residential areas; 50km/h is the speed limit.

However, drivers are counseled to adhere to common sense speed limit by adjusting speed to suit environment, his mental state and experience.

Seat belt, one of the most effective means of reducing deaths and injury for vehicle occupants is the use of seat-belt by all occupants in the front and rear seats as contained in section 58(3) and (4)of the National Road Traffic Regulations,2004.Seat belt use saves.

40

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER หพ อนอพห อบอธอนฮ

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER หพ อนอพห อบอธอนฮ

41

42

˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

‘Fire Outbreak’ Incorrect

W

E kick off this edition with a front-page blunder by THISDAY of November 9: “Dorsey, who arrived (arrived in) Nigeria on Thursday night‌.â€? â€œâ€Śon this occasion of amazing (an amazing) milestone of 80th birthday anniversaryâ€? Delete the last word from the extract. “Katsina swears-in (swears in) 11 Sharia judgesâ€?

Phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation. “That the suspension placed on some PDP Members (unnecessary capitalization) who connived with others (it must, of course, be with others) to supplant the Party (party’s) decision with regards to‌.â€? (Full-page press release (advertorial) by the Peoples Democratic Party signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, THISDAY, November 9, Page 36) Power to readers: as regards or with regard (not regards) to‌.

DAILY SUN of November 13 circulated the following errors: “The NGE has advised the Federal Government to rescind (rescind the) decision to regulate social media (the social media).â€? “The Guild said such regulation (a regulation) contravenes (contravened) Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)‌. “Proposed anti-social media bill face (faces) oppositionâ€? “Heavy smoke billowing out of a plaza following fire outbreak at Martin Street‌.â€? (DAILY SUN Front Page Caption, November 8) Delete ‘outbreak’ from the excerpt because of its redundancy. This is a typical example of padding. “Wedding ceremonyâ€?; “matriculation ceremonyâ€?; “free-for-all fightâ€?; “log of woodâ€?—it is indeed a very long list.

From the editorial column of Daily Sun of Wednesday, December 13, 2019, comes this error: “After months of‌intra-party litigations‌.â€? ‘Litigation’, being the process of making or defending a claim in court, is non-count. (Contributed by

Dr. Stanley Nduagu/Aba/08062925996) Wrong: last but not the least; right: last but not least NATIONALNEWS of October 25 offered readers a cocktail of improprieties: “LIRS seals-off (seals off) Protea Hotel for tax evasionâ€? “Edo SDP members decamp (defect) to PDPâ€? “1 die (dies), 6 vehicles, houses burnt as fuel tanker explodes in Beninâ€? “When South WestAPC converges in (on) Ibadanâ€? “Maximizing broadcast content security ahead of digital switch over (switch-over)â€? “Media must assists (why?) in fight against terrorism—FGâ€? â€œâ€Śindicated that the FG had concluded plans to drag an additional 700,000 companies to shore-up (shore up) its revenue profile.â€? Phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation. “Kekemeke (Kekemeke’s) loyalists invade OndoAPC secretariatâ€? “Another Delta community threatens to shutdown (shut down) Chevron operationsâ€? ‘Shut down’ is a phrasal verb while ‘shutdown’ is a noun.

Still on National Mirror: “There are some set of laws that governs the universe‌.â€? Critical strokes: either a set of laws or some sets of laws—depending on context or style “Youths should be solution provider (providers) in nation building (nation-building)â€? “Growing up‌had an ‘arrow’ on her forehead, which helped her to remain focus (focused).â€? “NURTW charges members on HIV free (HIV-free) societyâ€? “Singapore jails senior civil servants over (for) corruptionâ€? “ANApostponements (sic) (postpones) November readingâ€? “Peugeot plans to inject $7.26b on (into) research, developmentâ€? “SouthAfricanAirways celebrates 80 years (years’ or 80th year) anniversaryâ€?

“You lived well and you have gone to (preferably for) a well deserved (well-deserved) rest. Rest in perfect peace.� (Full-page obituary) Except for graveyard peace, ‘peace’ is an absolute and does not need inflection, intensification or adumbration.

So, rest in peace (R.I.P—not R.I.P.P)!Also note that ‘obituary announcement’ is wrong—just ‘obituary’.

Finally from the Back Page of THE GUARDIAN under review: “One has witnessed at (on) different occasions dissenting opinions of doctors as regards prescriptions for patient’s (a patient’s or patients’) ailment/ailments.�

Next is DAILY TRUST of October 11: “Alhaji Muhammed Sa’adAbubakar spoke at his palace in Sokoto‌.â€? Does the Sultan of Sokoto have another palace elsewhere? Let us think as we report. “Heritage Bank plans listing in (on) capital marketâ€? “Pact with China conducive for peace, says Taiwan (Taiwan’s or Taiwanese) presidentâ€? “Otherwise, there is no point we engage in importing that much on yearly (a yearly) basis.â€? â€œâ€Śhe said though the institute has (had) developed 62 rice varieties for farmers, five most prominent varieties are (were) in circulation and are (were) doing very good (well).â€? “NEMA, stakeholders meets over displaced personsâ€? You can readily identify the boyish slip-up. “With the LG polls now fixed for next week Tuesday‌.â€? Either next Tuesday or Tuesday, next week Lastly from DAILY TRUST: “Replicate your performance to (in) your constituents (constituencies)â€? “Security at airports: Police deploys (sic) sniffer dogs at (in) NnamdiAzikiwe InternationalAirport, 5 othersâ€?

From DAILY TRUST we move to THISDAY of October 12: “Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Portuguese woman charged for (with) drug trafficking� “Thumb (Thumbs) up for Nigerian refs in Mali�

Tunde Bakare at 65: What a Life!

A

s the man who confounds his admirers and torments his detractors with unusual gusto entered the senior citizen’s corridor few days ago (November 11, 2019), I found it convenient to bring out a pot of stew, and warm it vigorously to serve all...for the stew has not lost taste, vigour nor colour... It is remarkably stable, steady, and flourishing, with a strong hint of maturity.

In 2014, I titled my tribute to mark his 60th birthday: “60 Tablets For Pains In Pursuit Of Truth�. Today, we’ll simply call a spade by its common name: Tunde Bakare at 65: What a Life! What a Journey!

I merely seek to throw a little light on the man many believe deliberately courts controversy and is unduly harsh on his fellow religious leaders. A man some claim draw anomie to himself, and blind loyalty in equal proportion - like ants to sugar - by his choice of words, subjects of his vitriol and characters of his umbrage. In most cases, Bakare may even declare himself guilty, but with well-articulated reasons. If you can control your indignation and hear him out, you are likely to concede him the space necessary for truth and logic to soar.

Ordinarily, I am drawn to people who are not afraid to speak what they believe is the truth - at all times; who do not succumb to the pressure of impressing others so as to gain their adulation; people who are not bothered about the enormity of your anointing, if your obvious actions and conversations give you away as a charlatan... as sure as the sun rises from the East, you will be hung out to dry. Oh, I like such people.

Yes, people who see Bakare as a “noise-makerâ€? or “rabble-rouserâ€? may have a point. He does cause trouble with his statements‌ and more often than not rabbles are roused on account of his diatribes. The point to linger on is not what he does, but why he does those things.

In private discussions, as I sought to probe the spine of his position on this issue‌with a mischievous twist of his lips, he would labour to give words to the cascading thoughts in his heart - his glowing face reveals a man thoroughly at peace with the severity of his commentaries.

Well, 20+ years may not be long enough to write a profound character profile on a person, but I can state categorically that he writes down, dwells over, bounces off people, almost all his so-called controversial statements‌ He does not use the old and tested lacuna: “touch not my anointed‌â€? in escaping troubling issues and scenarios when he is called to account. Bakare would over-prepare for contestation of ideas and understanding of the Word - whether the challenge comes from a peer or neophyte.

Oh, he does have a temper. Is there a man without blemish?

Excuse it the way you want, he can be a bolt of fire against the devil in one instance; and if an associate, his child or acquaintance steps over or pulls down what ought to be carefully arranged or garnished, the tongue of correction comes sharp and long‌touching the recesses of your inadequacy, purging you almost instantly of any dreg of incompetence.

Oh, he detests incompetence in any situation - more avidly, if he suspects incompetence, insensitivity or high corruption at the citadels of political power. He surely must share the same sentiment with the

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Obasanjo:Amaechi’s k-leg (knocked leg) has been straightened�

The following five solecisms are from DAILY INDEPENDENT of October 12: “DHQ assures of continued offensiveâ€? Who did it assure? “Battle for soul of Ecobank intensifiesâ€? So the battle intensifies itself? “Harnessing potentials of local software industry in Nigeriaâ€? ‘Potential’ is uncountable, but we have ‘potentialities’, “Tackling voters apathy in Nigeriaâ€? This way: voter apathy SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of October 9 disseminated all manner of school-boy mistakes right from the front page: “Fear has grip (gripped) notable politicians in Ebonyi State following findings by‌.â€? Most of the ensuing blunders were caused by sheer carelessness and loose thinking as the computer system has an in-built mechanism that detects most of the spelling errors contained herein. “The discovery was made when the DSS arrested some kidnappers in the state alleged to be the brain (brains) behind high profile (high-profile) kidnapping in the state.â€? “The SSS in the state said on Friday that it has (had) arrested‌.â€? â€œâ€Śmotorists were made to watch a bizzare (bizarre) spectacle, (needless comma) as four policemen beat a man gave (who gave) his name as‌to a state of stupour (stupor).â€? “The policemen, who drove to the scene in a patrol van with registration number KJA284AX, threw caution the winds (sic) (threw caution to the winds).â€? “Federal University Lafia, (otiose punctuation) matriculates 380 studentsâ€? Would it have matriculated traders? Just yank off the last word in the extract!

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

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

Bakare 26th American president, Theodore Roosevelt, who said: “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.�

Religious hypocrisy and political charlatanism irk him most. Since “performersâ€? of both “artsâ€? prey on the minds and hopes of people, his most vitriolic condemnations are reserved for them, irrespective of their status, influence, motives or familiarity. When people say “Why wash your dirty linens in public?â€? - “Why doesn’t Bakare call his ‘brothers’ to order in private brotherly love?â€? Let me reassure you, on most occasions, he would bend backwards to reach out privately, and poignantly point out these “infringementsâ€? and “perversionsâ€? especially within the body of Christ. Often, the others chuckled over such “bro-loveâ€? with glib assurance of acceptance‌ yet the issues fester, the complicity deepens‌then Bakare explodes, and most people take off in pursuit of ringworm with leprosy left unchecked.

Like Apostle Paul, Bakare’s teachings are hard: in the pursuit of happiness and prosperity, “live holy, depend completely on God, repay evil with good, and do unto others much better than they to you�. He not only lives what he preaches, he challenges others to call him out on his convictions, and cross notes afterwards. He is bemused when people find it almost impossible to differentiate between principles (issues he vehemently attacks) and relationships (excesses usually committed by his friends and older associates in faith). He is hurt when hare-brained policies and exertions of governmental powers offload more hardship on ordinary folks – and he explodes where most leaders merely grumble and vacillate in soporific acceptance. He is undaunted and scarcely embarrassed when no one believes or even regards what he says God has shown him in visions or dreams – he

simply pivots ahead using same as launch pads to more vigorous declarations. A strange man!

If his person is not violated, if his faith is not compromised; if his loved ones are not in doubt; if his God does not keep silent, then the whole world united in blatant, even punitive, antagonism against him, will not stir the little hair still remaining on his head. An enigma indeed.

Though little of frame, Bakare’s heart is large. Very large. His generosity sometimes bothers on thick-headedness. Somehow, if you investigate the strands of his magnanimity, you will find narratives of his humble beginnings. He obviously suffered growing up‌ well, like most successful Nigerians of his age‌ but his peculiar trajectory has diverse colorations and contours that will make a book on his formative years a compelling best seller.

So, in his generous spirit hides a desire to help people about to fall into extreme poverty. Don’t get it wrong: weepy, needling, obsequious appeal for mercy-cash will not move him. With undisguised compassion and keen intelligence, he would probe, and meditate on the circumstances of your situation and the potency of your peril. And to make sure you are not in any doubt about his position, he will ask that help should be given you, but ‘this and that’ are what you should focus your energies on so you can stand on your feet. But if in his estimation, you actually need more than the token you’re seeking, he will invite others who can effectively intervene in your affairs, so you can stand strong. A generous man!

Bakare lives his life in the open (a rare condition in this climate) - the hunger to share and teach makes him tell it all. He plants his own stories, warts and all, in all his public narratives as he criss-crosses the world teaching and preaching (often, to the grim chagrin of his immediate family members). While most of us will repent of our mis-steps and keep it hush-hush between God and us; that’s not Bakare’s portion. After repenting and restituting, the man will “call� the “whole world�, confessing his mishaps. And somehow drawing out a lesson or two why no one else should have any excuse for falling into same. The curious irony is this: he is quick to do that for his few mistakes; but zips his mouth when he does any of his numerous good and hugely benevolent deeds. A peculiar man!

As Gbolahan Babatunde Bakare steps steadily into his 65th year on earth, in lock-steps with millions of his admirers (and of course, millions of “others demâ€?), the constant swell of goodwill is that he will live long to give of himself to his God and his country, Nigeria - with calm boldness, profound power, flourishing wisdom, contagious prosperity, and ennobling grace‌ to such an extent that when the Lord arrives and asks if there is a trusted and courageous ‘errand-boy’ ready for Him to use, Layide’s husband shall confidently step forward and say: “Here am I, send me...sharp-sharp!â€?

Belated happy birthday, Pastor B!

43

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹;˜ 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Burna Boy Makes U-Turn, Set to Storm S’Africa General Kito’s ‘Boogie’ Party

pg. 51

MEL ROUGE I Appreciated My Life More When I Came to Nigeria pg. 52

44

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Burna Boy Makes U-Turn, Set to Storm S’Africa Afro-fusion artiste, Burna Boy, real name Damini Ogulu, preaches unity as he is set to perform in South Africa two months after he vowed not to step foot in the country.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

Burna boy

A

lready, the Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, real name Damini Ogulu has confirmed his scheduled performance for the Africans Unite Concert in South Africa months after weighing in on the recent xenophobic attacks in the country.

The award-winning Afrobeats star is scheduled to headline the concert in South Africa, just two months after he vowed never to return to the country following a spate of xenophobic attacks there.

Burna Boy, who was among the celebrities that spoke out against September’s violence targeting Nigerians and others

in South Africa, is expected to take to the stage in Capetown on November 23. At the height of the tensions, Burna Boy, who last visited the country some two years ago, condemned the violence and urged the South African government to put an end to the pain and hostility blighting the country. “I have not set foot in SA since 2017 and I will not ever go to South Africa again for any reason until the South African government wakes the f**k up and really performs A miracle because I don’t know how they can even possibly fix this,� he wrote.

The upcoming concert is being organised by Nigeria’s Play Network. It would take place in Cape Town at The Lawns on

November 23, and Tshwane’s Sun Arena on November 24.

Presented by South Africa’s Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, in association with Channel O, Monster Energy and powered by Play Network Africa, Africans Unite Concert is a collaborative project that aims to rebuild trust and respect among African nations by hanging the current narrative to that of unity and solidarity.

Other artistes scheduled to perform at the African Unite concert include Jidenna, Kwesta, Busiswa and others. Jidenna who is currently on tour promoting his “85 to Africa� album, will also be performing. In a recent tweet, Burna Boy noted that the show, which is tagged Africans Unite, will

be the first of many and also hinted that he would be donating part of the proceeds from the show to victims of xenophobic attacks in the country. “I really hope we can all keep contributing in our own ways to make the world a better and safer place for each #Africansunite, it’s bigger than all of us.�

It has been a stellar year for the singer who released his fourth studio album “African Giant� in July. The Nigerian Afro-fusion singer has risen in prominence as the Afrobeats sound has gained global recognition.

So, also his status as an African artiste with sold out shows back to back. He is also scheduled to headline the Afropunk festival in Johannesburg in December.

45

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

RMD

Daddy Showkey

RMD, Iwara, Daddy Showkey Buzz in ‘Seven’ A heir, Kolade (Efe Iwara) would have to taste the bitter side of life before gaining access to his late father’s estate in a new movie, Seven, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Y

ou may just want to check out the trailer for the upcoming movie titled, Seven.

As soon as you do, most likely the feelings you get would make you want to watch the clip over again, just like this writer.

Its action packed and fast paced.

Leaving you with scenes and sceneries that put you pretty much in anticipatory to seeing the full movie.

The official trailer for the movie Seven was released about a fortnight ago and it has got social media users talking, especially with its star cast like veteran Sadiq Daba in a cameo role; Bimbo Manuel, RMD and legendary Ajegunle music icon, Daddy Showkey. Shot in 2018, the movie was set both in the posh and poor areas of Lagos.

An heir from the classy side would have to live in the ghetto area of

Ajegunle and experience hard street life that is replete with threats just so he could acquire his late father’s estate. This he must do within a defined number of days so as to possess his inheritance. “Before you can take over my estate, I want you to spend seven days in Ajegunle�, thus came the title for the movie, Seven.

Hear same voice in the opening of the trailer, “He’s my son‌. He didn’t learn any of the things that we learnt growing up,â€? in Ajegunle where hard life is real. The trailer also shows viewers the arduous encounters Kolade faces while living in Ajegunle, a world supposedly filled with thugs, guns and violence.

Popular web-series ‘The Men’s Club’ & ‘Rumour Has It’ star, Efa Iwara, plays Kolade, the rich and irresponsible son of a businessman, who following his father’s death, is given seven days to survive in

Ajegunle.

There he will go through events that will either make or mar him.

This task is given to him by his late father as a prerequisite for gaining access to his inheritance and his late father’s estate.

The film’s gritty nature is a departure from the fun of Igho’s first foray into Nollywood, The Eve. Coming from the stables of Lavida Studios in collaboration with Remote Pictures & Envivo distributed by Filmone, Seven will open in cinemas nationwide from November 29, 2019.

Other cast ensemble of the action drama includes Uche Nwaefuna, Patrick Diabuah, Uzikwendu, Koffi Tha Guru, hip hop musician Orezi, Evaezi. Since Tosin Igho made his Nollywood debut with his 2018 film The Eve, starring Nollywood stars John Okafor and Beverly Naya, it appeared clear that he was one to watch, and that edge he has main-

tained.

Tosin Igho is an entertainment entrepreneur being a musician, film maker, video director and producer.

He is the son of Peter Igho a former Head of NTA and veteran in the film industry. Multitalented Igho was born in Lagos. He grew up and went through school both in Lagos and the United Kingdom. At the age 17, he founded a group called immaculate which consisted of six members and went on to produce their hit song (roc da party); he also directed the music video for the song.

Three years later, he went on to study at a film school in Southern Africa, there he got a record deal with Sony BMG as a member of the hip hop group� Da Pyramid� where he produced the song “Never be the same� which held the number one spot on South Africa Metro FM for 6 weeks, a record at the time.

46

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Unlimited LA

I Wanted to Become a Soldier Because I Was Surrounded

By Soldiers Buari Olalekan Oluwasegun, popularly known as Unlimited LA, is one of the biggest music video directors of repute in the music industry. Unlimited LA, who is responsible for Olamide’s “Motigbana�, 2face’s “Amaka�, and others, is also a renowned filmmaker and cinematographer. He talks to Tosin Clegg about his business Dreams as a child s a child, I wanted to be a soldier and that’s because I was surrounded by soldiers.

Then later, I switched to aiming to become an engineer because I was also in love with tech stuff. At the end of the day, I’m a film maker but it is still tech stuff. I believe God has given us the grace to be and do whatever we choose. So, when I set my mind to do something, I get it done. For my primary education, I went to Command Children’s School in Mile 2 and for my secondary school I attended a small private school called First Zion International School. From there I ended up in the Lagos State University (LASU) where I studied computer science and

A

Mathematics. I’m from a family of five, one girl and four boys.

How Music video directing started Back then in 2005, my cousin happened to be DJ Tee. I was always going to his place from school. On weekends, I would always go to his place and follow him on set. I used to be the errand boy. I did that for five years while in school. After I was done with school, the situation of the country where you go to serve during your NYSC year and join the labour market wasn’t for me because I hate waking up early in the morning. It was then I realised that it was simple for me to operate the camera and I already had knowledge of most things, when it comes to video production. I just started out being people’s camera operator, D.O.P and gaffer.

The Nigerian music industry I would say the Nigerian music industry is the only thing that Nigerian youths look up to. It’s the only thing that’s being self-financed without government intervention, but I also think we’re not there yet. We have our own space, we’re not saying we want to be the next Chris Brown or anything but we have our own African sound, our Nigerian sound, we’re putting it on the map. We want to rub shoulders with real American music, the Latino music, the country music. I think we’re growing and the speed is really rapid. You can’t really tell how creative you are until you work on a project and you’re as good as your last project and the last project is yet to come because I’m shooting something today and I’m shooting another one

tomorrow. There’s a lot of room to grow for creatives like me.

I’ve seen it all I had about 10 years of work experience before I started working on my own. I would say I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen the ones that would misbehave; the ones that are not very serious, the talented ones, the serious ones, etc. So, working with these guys is just a normal work environment for me, it’s just business you know, I get paid then I deliver the work.

My Best Moments The best moment for me is when I move with an artiste on a project from point A to point B. I wouldn’t call myself a selfish music director in the sense that I’m only concerned with how great I want people

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

47

SHOWBIZFLAIR

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

Gists I Wanted to Become a Soldier Because I WAP Honoured by Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria Was Surrounded By Soldiers to praise my work. I make sure I sell the personality of the artiste when it comes to music video because that’s my primary objective. I want to be able to shoot a music video for an artiste and when he’s walking on the road, people will automatically recognise him. I don’t want to have a great video where you wouldn’t be able to know who the artiste is in the video. So my joy is when I put out a successful project for an artiste.

Worst moment would be working with an unserious artiste that would come on set drunk. We get that a lot but like I said, I worked 10 years before, so I’ve seen it all. There’s always a treatment for them.

That will probably be my worst moment; working with an unserious artiste, artistes that don’t understand what they’re doing.

It’s by the Grace of God and the work we put in Some of the works I did earlier were for Sean Tizzle. I shot his first video and we really sacrificed a lot, same with Lil Kesh, and with Oritshe Femi. When I shot the first video, I shot for him (Double Wahala), I had always wanted to shoot a video for Oritshe Femi for like four years but it didn’t work out. But when I shot “Double Wahala� for him, I made sure I helped channel his brand into another direction which is Afrobeat and it paid off for him and even with Victor YBNL and Olamide. Olamide is my close friend, apart from us being business partners and we always try to maximise the time we have and put out great content.

Working with artistes and managing them I can’t really get angry because they are the paying customers. Once I’m working with an unserious artiste, I just switch to strictly business; I don’t switch to being passionate or being creative. It’s like I get paid to do the job so I just do it because I’m not really a trouble maker. For example, if you come late to your video shoot and it’s supposed to be for eight hours and I gave you a cut time of 12 pm and you’re supposed to finish at 8 pm and you get to set at 4 pm then we have just four hours to shoot your video. I’ll do the best that I can within that small time that I have and deliver the video, and that’s my business aspect kicking in, and not being extra passionate, the money is gone.

I’m a music video director and a cinematographer Being a cinematographer allows me to work on different things like movies, commercials, documentaries and things like that and I’ve done lots of TV content.

I’ve done for HipTV, MTV, I’ve done work for Samsung, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve done for some betting companies. As for movies, I have not directed a movie except for one that I shot for a friend five or six years ago. I’ve shot lots of short films, most of which I can’t really keep track of, but because I’m a cinematographer, I can work on any visual content.

I get inspired by songs when working with an artiste Sometimes, I work with an artiste’s budget but I think I’m strong enough to say, proudly, that I have about 27 people working for me, from my producer to my production manager, location manager, stylist, art director, make-up artist and my other cinematographers and assistant director.

There’s a long chain of production. I would say that we have a standard and we don’t go below the standard but sometimes I break my own rules. I might be expensive but I’m also as affordable as shooting a free video, which I do. If I like an artiste or a song, I might shoot a free video and I have done it before. I have to listen and feel the song because, sadly, most of these songs can start sounding the same but in every song there’s a unique thing that might just spark up a creative process and if that does not work then the budget will, so it’s either the song or the budget. I’ve also got a team of creatives that we run as a group and we share ideas on a song.

Craziest music video I have been on I would say Sean Tizzle’s surely. We were all just starting off with D-Tunes the producer, Sean Tizzle and I. It was a collective effort on that project and I remember that on location the wrong call time was given to the artiste’s friends.

Instead of 7pm they were given 7am, the song was big then so by 10 am the location was already filled up with people that called other people who called even more people! I remember shooting one of the last scenes of the video and the owner of the location called the police and while I was filming I could see from the corner of my eye police picking up people and arresting them behind me but I kept filming and told the artiste to keep singing until the police officer got to us. It was just crazy but I got the shot. They chased us away from the location, but it turned out to be a successful video. That would be the craziest moment on set for me.

I really like to add value to life So, I always try the best to train individuals. I just put out two directors now and they’re doing well for themselves. I really want to add value to people around me and put them in a situation where they can sustain themselves because what we do is very versatile because there’s always something to do. I want to be in a position where I can supply talent into other people’s projects.

Up and coming directors are not passionate about the work A lot of them want to shoot a hit video, be a celebrity, hang out with Davido, Wizkid, and 2face. They are not passionate enough about the work and if you’re not passionate about the work then there’s no headway for you. The advice I have for them is to work hard, it’s a clichÊ but it’s true. I would also say to be passionate about the work first and every other thing will follow. Some of these guys might like the idea of it, but they don’t want to go through the work. Always do something different every time you have the chance to, because that’s the only way you get noticed.

I respect every director in the game I respect AJE films, Clarence, and Mex. I respect these guys and everybody that’s doing it. We always talk, share ideas, and call each other from time to time. I don’t see it as competition. I can’t shoot all the videos and there’s a lot of work to go around. Just like in football, we have a Messi and a Ronaldo. I don’t see it as competition. I understand we all know how to do this thing. We just do it in different ways and for the fact that we understand how to do it is good enough for us because we all know there’s a lot of work to go around.

The Management of Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) received a Special Merit Award at the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN) 2019 Dinner/Fundraiser and Awards Nite, which took place on November 1, 2019, at Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos State. Mrs Rose Mordi, National President of DSFN, had this to say about WAP: “Your love for humanity is evident in your restoration of hope to those with special needs and others. It is in keeping with this belief that the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria honours your organisation with an award in appreciation of your love for humanity.�

According to Mr. Wale Adenuga Jr., Managing Director of WAP, “Through our entertainment content, we do our best to ensure that we provide inclusion to as many groups of Nigerians as possible; cutting across Gender, Age, Socio-economic Class, Religion, Educational Level, and of course those who are differently-abled Physically and/ or Mentally. Most-notably, our award-winning TV Drama titled Godwin: The Beautiful Mind - a season of the popular Superstory Series which had the titular character played

by Solomon Omere, a multitalented young man living with Down Syndrome.�

WaleAdenuga Productions is the Creator and Producer of several award-winning content available on top TV Channels across Nigeria, including Superstory TV Drama, Papa Ajasco Reloaded TV Comedy, The Babington Family TV Drama, Akpan & Oduma and other Hilarious Skits; as well as wapTV - the 24-hour family entertainment channel available on DStv 262, StarTimes 116, GOtv 102, StarSat 189, PlayTV 275, TStv 223, and MyTV. Wale Adenuga

Sinach Releases New Song After hundreds of songs in English, Gospel music superstar, Sinach finally released a thanksgiving song in her native dialect Omemma meaning, ‘Good God’. The Ebonyi-born hit maker definitely has a lot to thank God for with over 1.5 million fans on Facebook and recently celebrated 1 millio subscribers on Youtube and Instagram, a space occupied by no other Gospel singer from Africa. Sinach was in the news recently for selling out concerts of over 12,000 in attendance in faraway India and 20,000 in Ghana.

The 6.37 minute song also featured indigenous Igbo Gospel rapper, Nolly, who is a member of her music team, and a known face at Sinach’s concerts.

Her song, Way Maker, has been covered by some of the international gospel acts such as Michael W. Smith, Bethel Music, etc and has over 130 million views on YouTube.

Omemma was recorded during her annual Sinach Live in Concert this year in Lagos, and has already hinted at a Live in Concert for Eko Hotel March 22, 2020.

Sinach

Tom Ford, Mai Atafo to Headline Zenith Bank Fashion Fair Vanessa Obioha

American fashion designer Tom Ford will be among the top global designers that will showcase their designs on the upcoming Zenith Bank lifestyle fair, ‘Style by Zenith 2.0’. This edition marks the second time the financial institution is hosting the fair and as such is throwing all in the ring to deliver a spectacular show on the red runway. Ford will be joined by Italian luxury fashion house Dolce and Gabbana and other topAfrican brands such as the Ethiopian Fikirte Addis, South African designers Orapeleng Modutle and Chulaap, Ghanian Yartel, Tanzanian Mustafa Hassanali among others.

Leading fashion brands in Nigeria such as Mai Atafo, Tokyo James, Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, House of Kaya, Trish O, Chulaap, Agatha Moreno will also feature in the fair.

Aside showcasing their designs on the runway, the designers will also be participating in the various lifestyle masterclasses, offering expert opinions on recent trends and designs in the global fashion industry. Scheduled for Friday, November 29 to

Sunday, December 1, 2019, at the Eko Energy City, Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos, the three-day fair line up activities also include an exhibition of lifestyle, beauty, health and fitness products, food and drinks, games arcade for both children and adults as well as musical concert featuring Nigeria’s biggest artistes.

Launched in 2018 with the objective of supporting and creating value for customers by focusing on various aspects of their lifestyle, ‘Style by Zenith 2.0’ caps a year of all-encompassing customer lifestyle engagements by Zenith Bank. This year, the bank held its first-ever music concert Aspire Music Festival. The show attracted which was held in Lagos last September attracted a large drove of millennials.

Last month, the bank threw its weight behind Aba SME Fair, organized for SMEs in the Aba Fashion Market, Abia State. The bank will also be keeping up its Christmas tradition with the Light-Up Ceremony of the yuletide decorations on Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island coming up today.

48

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Davido, Chioma Christen Baby Boy Last Saturday, Davido and his fiancÊe, Chioma splashed photos of the christening of their son at a ceremony in the United Kingdom on the social media. The lovebirds named him David Ifeanyi Adedeji Adeleke. They welcomed the boy few weeks back. The naming ceremony was attended by close friends and family of the couple. Here is showbizflair’s pick from the photographs shared

49

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Toke Makinwa Dazzles @35 On Air Personality/actress, Toke Makinwa, turned 35 days back and hosted her celebrity friends to one of the most beautiful birthday parties seen in Lagos of recent. Last Sunday, she released photos from the party with hilarious and interesting quotes attached. Showbizflair picked this one from the pack released.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

50

SHOWBIZFLAIR

The Nigerian Heartened By Jack Dorsey Ferdinand Ekechukwu

“I

wasn’t expecting this. I attended the event with the hopes of figuring out solutions to important questions other attendees might have. I also wanted to have a feel of what it’s like to be around the CEO of Twitter. Things went way better than expected.� That was the Nigerian tech developer, Dara Oladosu, shortly after accepting a job offer from the micro-blogging company.

It underscores the most profound topic arising from the visit of Twitter CEO and co-founder, Jack Dorsey, to Nigeria, away from the mundane deed like the CEO’s attempt at speaking a Nigerian language and also following back a recent reality TV star who perhaps only got to know about the American computer programmer and internet entrepreneur following trends of his visit to Nigeria!

The Twitter boss who was in Nigeria with his team as part of his listening and learning tour across four African countries had met and interacted with media personalities as well as Tech developers in Nigeria regarding Twitter’s plans for Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Oladosu was at one of the meetings with Dorsey and his executives and other local entrepreneurs when he was offered a job at Twitter to help build a native “quoted tweet� feature for the platform. The Lagos based software developer had contributed impressively to humanity with his technological innovation called Quoted Replies which he built in December 2018 when he discovered that tweet’s link could be used to search Twitter for quoted replies.

At the event, the Twitter executives were introduced to Quoted Replies, the viral Twitter-based bot that helps you find quoted replies of tweets without having to go through the hassle of copying, pasting, and searching. All listening to Oladosu sharing the Quoted Replies story of how he built the Quoted Replies bot, revealed that it garnered over 40 million impressions in October alone. Impressed by his work, a member of the Twitter management who is the product lead, Kayvon Beykpour, instantly offered him an opportunity to join them so they can develop this feature which, is not originally on the app.

The software developer had built a Chrome add-on to help twitter users maximise the function of the bot more.

Some of the users of the bot, also mobile app developers, had noted that the bot has been quite helpful. However, with the strict stance twitter has against bots, some of the replies links the bot generated were always banned and users could not access them. Oladosu was able to fix that around July 2019, a report says.

Granted that the Quoted Replies bot has become a very useful Twitter tool used daily by thousands of people all over the world, it was only a matter of time before Twitter built its own native feature.

And no one knows this more than Dara Oladosu who is a software developer at Andela. Andela provides companies with access to the top 1% of global tech talent, identifies high-potential developers on the African continent, shape them into world-class technical leaders, and pair them with companies as full-time, distributed team members.

This allows Andela’s partners, ranging

Jack Dorsey with Dara Oladosu shortly after the latter accepted a job oer from the Twitter CEO

from startups to Fortune 500s, to accelerate their product roadmaps while minimising time spent interviewing, on-boarding, and training new hires.

An avid learner and always ready to add value to others, Oladosu is pretty excited about the idea of integrating Quoted Replies as a native feature on Twitter because according to him, while the bot is quite helpful to users, it has some limitations right now which would be figured out.

While he’s not exactly clear on the exact role he’d be playing at Twitter, Oladosu says he’s looking forward to “contributing towards making sure that Twitter users, and developers who create software using Twitter’s APIs, get easy access to all the useful information that they might need.�

The university of Ilorin graduate’s bot is a big advancement on the ‘retweet with comment’ feature that the social media

platform introduced some years ago which allows user to quote a tweet with their comment. What differentiates that feature from commenting directly under a tweet is that the user’s followers can easily see the person’s comment and what it is directed at, unlike if the comment were under the said tweet. Dara Oladosu has made interaction more fun for users with the creation of the bot. @QuotedReplies currently has users from all over the world, including Nigeria, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the United States. Having only launched in November 2018, the bot’s Twitter page currently boasts nearly 45,000 followers while working quite well too. Although not enough Nigerians are Twitter as revealed by Dorsey, in recent years there has been barely any social media platform contesting with Twitter in hosting Nigerian

conversations whether protests, rants or canvassing social movements.

But that isn’t enough for Dorsey who also the CEO of Square, a mobile payments company when asked how many Nigerians were active on Twitter, Dorsey simply responded, “not enough�. But he did not reveal the actual figures. The listening and learning visit is slated to host Jack and his team in three other African countries, Ghana, Ethiopia and South Africa. On the part of the platform, it has given nods to Nigeria over the past one year, one of which includes the appointment of Nigeria’s former minister of finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to its board. With millions of people visiting the social media platform monthly, Nigeria is arguably the platform’s biggest market in Africa and it’s no surprise it is Dorsey’s first point of call.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

51

SHOWBIZFLAIR

General Kito’s ‘Boogie’ Party Musician/promoter, Christopher Ogosi, popularly known as General Kito recently had an album listening party to announce his EP titled, “Boogie.� The reggae dancehall singer ‘General Kito’, who is passionately into music as part occupation to his professional career as a sailor, was high in the mood entertaining guests. His record label, Kingston Records, on which the work was released, is known for nurturing grassroots talents and putting them on platforms that help showcase and push them to the frontiers of entertainment and beyond. The Jamaican-inspired music devotee spoke to Ferdinand Ekechukwu about the five tracks EP, his forthcoming projects and love for promoting music

I

t appears today is a big celebration for you. How are you feeling?

in a multinational company, music would have been my main stay. But I do it because that is my gift; that is what I was born into, that’s my calling. So even if I get older, I will still do music. Even my children are studying music also. So it’s in me, even if the energy is not there, the rhythm and melody will still come out.

It’s a very big celebration. Yes for two years now I have been trying to come out with an album, finally I came out with the EP with five songs and I really thank God. It wasn’t easy. You know as a sailor, a professional sailor, I’m always busy. Going into the studio and writing songs has never been easy for me. But I thank God I came up this day me and my team we had to come out and say let’s bring out this EP titled, Boogie.

How many of your children are following your footstep?

Yes my last child is really, really taking every step everything I take. She copies.

There are some songs I have done she always mimes the songs and I feel she’s taken after me. She’s five she’s really, really doing well in music.

You said two years trying to put this together. Why?

How long have you been into music . . . take me through your musical journey?

Yes I have other engagements. And I have a job, a professional job I work with a multinational company. So, music is what I have been doing from the onset and it’s not something else, it’s a gift so I cannot let it die off. Always I close every day from work because I no longer go on sea. I close late every day before I get home, writing the songs, going into the studios weekend recording has been tedious for me.

I have been doing music from the 90s but I started showcasing myself from the year 2000. I was with a group. Growing up in Ajegunle, my father was a military man so we never grew up from a particular place.

We moved from barracks to barracks but we started our journey from the barracks in Ajegunle. From there, we moved to other parts of the country. While growing up, I had passion for music. So, I told my father that I really want to study music (he’s late now may his soul rest in peace) and he said ‘no, no, no you must go to school, anything you want to do will be after going to school.’ So I was discouraged while growing up.

That’s why I never really went too deep into the music. I went to school, I went to Maritime Academy and did my first degree and I went to LAUTECH and I did my second degree. That’s how I started working from the same year 2000.

So ďŹ ve tracks in the EP, what’s the plan for the album?

I have 14 songs for the album they are there already but stage after stage, the album is going to come out and the title of the album is Pond Yard.

Any plans for videos?

Yes. I have done two videos for the songs in the EP and the remaining three videos will be done before the album comes out.

Did it turn out to be what you actually envisaged putting this together or otherwise?

Like I told you, I work in a multinational company. So, men you see around are guys from the industry; they came out to support me. Even all of them are not here tonight but they promised me. Even some left because they have other engagements. But whatever I spend here, they have already paid for everything. Everything is done.

So my own is just to let the world know that yes, music is not poor, music is rich and quite doing.

The last time you signed an artiste (UCEE) how is he doing?

The artiste UCEE like I told you the other time his album too is ready; his EP is ready which we are going to bring out in December. We are working on his video, even the songs are being played on the radio. So unlike me, age is not on my side because I’m not going to jump the way they are going to jump. So they are the one taking over me. So I just want to build

You did mention the group you started with. Tell us about that?

General Kito

them for the future.

How do you feel seeing this project come to life?

Yeah, I feel great. The reason I’m doing all these things is because I want my artistes to really learn a lot; let them take dressings from me. I use dressing because I was brought up with the military background.

Let them learn and let them not be too optimistic that they going to achieve everything in one goal; let them labour hard; there is dignity in labour. Let them work hard. If I don’t do it this way, they will not come this way. So, that’s why I’m doing it this way and I want them to follow the

way I’m doing it so that they will grow.

My prayer is that they will grow higher than Kito.

Looking at you perform there’s this passion that goes beyond the fact that you work with a multinational; you performed like it’s what you do on daily basis. One looking at you will see that inner feelings of a true artiste entertainer.Where is that coming from?

You are very correct you know. Every artiste you see today, anyone you see doing music professionally and not doing any other thing, if you look at them, they bring out their zeal. If not for the fact that I work

We were the AJ bombers. We ‘bombed’ them musically (laughs). So it’s General Kito alongside Sparko 90. We started when Ajegunle music was really hit. We did so many songs. Our first album came out; we tried but didn’t go a long way but from that day till now, people still recognised that lyrically I am good in the music. I went for military training, I went for paramilitary training. I don’t know if it’s because of my height. They always push me to the front as if I’m going for a war. So, they call me the general. The name General started from 1995 in military school. That’s where general came from.And the word Kito came from my name Christopher. I always visit Mandeville, Jamaica. My inspiration came from Jamaica. It’s just like my country home.

That’s where the Kingston Record name came from. You know the Patois thing I studied Patois there and I have met so many superstars in Jamaica; the likes of Buju Banton, Bob Marley inspire me.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚͞˜ 2019

52

SHOWBIZFLAIR Chemistry

What’s your favourite song on your EP and why?

Wow that’s a hard one because I love them all. I can’t choose but ‘Madam’ I love because it was the first time I really came out of myself and evolved to another level musically.

What’s your take on the Nigerian music industry right now?

Wow it’s growing like crazy; it’s no longer just known in the black community but worldwide because of artistes like P-Square, D’Banj, Wizkid and Davido.

Who are you looking forward to collaborating with in the nearest future?

Definitely Burna Boy again, Wizkid, Davido and Peruzzi.There are so many of them.

You’ve opened for Wizkid and Davido in their concerts in the past, how would you say that such experiences shaped you as an artiste?

It gave me such confidence when I realised the audience was always very receptive of my performances. It also inspired me to work harder so one day I could headline my own show.

Tell us about your formative years?

I had a great childhood with two brothers and a sister and lots of cousins. We always had a good time. Family is very important to me and I learnt that from a young age due to my fond childhood experiences.

Give us an insight into your educational background and career?

Well, like I mentioned, I’ve always done well at school. I graduated Bsc and Msc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Queen Mary, University of London then I had a brief experience in London. I always say no knowledge is lost and will always come in handy. I am extremely grateful for my childhood and upbringing being born in London to young Nigerian parents my siblings and I have never wanted for anything that was needed, we definitely aren’t Dangote but we have always been comfortable and I appreciate God for that always. My parents worked extremely hard to give us everything we needed and most of what we wanted. I never take anything for granted!

To be honest I would say I appreciated my life more when I came to Nigeria. I think I was rather spoilt before, I didn’t realise how easy I had it. My background made me confident, fearless and warm hearted. The initial adjustment of coming to Nigeria when I would stay longer that just holidays. I had to get used to the culture, traffic and how things worked here Vs London.

Mel Rouge

I Appreciated My Life More When I Came to Nigeria

What was the best gift you remember receiving as a child?

Wow, so many but one of them was an instant camera. I was on cloud nine I think I took a picture of everything that day.

Tolu Oyedele who goes by the stage name “Mel Rouge� is a musician ready to leave her foot prints in the sands of time as far as melody is concerned. Having been singing from as early as age five, Mel Rouge has worked with top Nigerian artistes such as Burna Boy and had opened shows for the likes of LAX and Wizkid among others. With her recently released EP “Madam�, the graduate of Pharmaceutical Chemistry opens up to Azuka Ogujiuba on her journey into music, what inspired her EP, her vision, future collaborations and more

Y

our real name is Tolu Oyedele, why Mel Rouge as a stage name?

I love my Nigerian name but I’m also very creative and I came up with ‘Mel’ short for melody as I write/love music and ‘Rouge’ because of what red represents to me love - passion, fire and all the above.

You came into the Nigerian music scene on a high note and had Burna Boy jump on your single,“Sempe�. How was it like working with the African Giant?

O my gosh, amazing, I was so humbled as he’s so authentic, a musical genius and himself

and I also got to meet his lovely Grand-dad.

How did your music career start?

Well, this may sound clichĂŠ, but I started singing in front of people from the age of five in church and school. I was quite academic, so, I started shortly after graduation. I started learning the graft, then I travelled to Nigeria and my sound changed. I started opening for acts like LAX, Wizkid and Trey Songz all this before I had my music out. From there, I started evolving until I put my toe in the pool with Senpe ft Burna Boy.

You just dropped your very ďŹ rst EP, “Madamâ€?. First, what inspired the title

and then tell us more about the entire EP?

Yes!!! Madam‌as a real Omo Naija, I realised Madam was a very popular phrase used to refer to a female that was respected and I decided to coin it. I’ve always been called ‘Madam’ as I was quite a little cheeky diva growing up.

The seven track EP is heavily influenced by Fela Kuti but also has two dancehall tracks.

The running theme is empowerment but it also highlights that sometimes even a Madam has a vulnerable side.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you have been doing at the moment?

I’ll be in the Pharmaceutical industry as I graduated with Bsc and Msc in Pharmaceutical

What do you consider the biggest mistake you have ever made?

Maybe not releasing some songs that I had recorded in the past because I wasn’t ready, realising there’s no such thing as being ready.

You just have to start and make it happen as you go along.

Are there things you still desire?

Oh, so many, I can’t even list them all. I want to be recognised for my music internationally and be able to affect people positively on so many different levels, and of course have babies one day and a nice rich husband; hahaha.

What are some of the lessons life has taught you?

Don’t rush into things, be patient, your time will definitely come and you are great!

What are your future plans?

More music, more videos, more collaborations and also branching out into other industries that interest me.

Plastic surgery is so associated with your industry, do you also have plans to go under the surgeons knife in the nearest future?

I believe that having high self-esteem is really very important and I’m an advocate for team natural but I also love make up and I believe as long as my health isn’t threatened a few touch ups here and there won’t do me any harm!

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 16, 2019

PERSPECTIVE

PDP and the Myth of Sisyphus Dapo Adebayo

I

n Yoruba cosmology, when a man suffers a chain of misfortunes, he must have offended someone or the gods, who now placed a curse on him.

Therefore, exclamations like “whom did I offend?” is common.

However, we are not alone. In the Greek mythology, Zeus (king of the gods), slammed an infinite punishment on Sisyphus, a Greek god, for his trickery and bad ways. In Homer’s “Odyssey”, Odysseus gives an eyewitness account of Sisyphus’ travails in the Hades: “Then I witnessed the torture of Sisyphus, as he wrestled with a huge rock with both hands. Bracing himself and thrusting with hands and feet he pushed the boulder uphill to the top. But every time, as he was about to send it toppling over the crest… the pitiless rock rolled down. So once more he had to wrestle with the thing and push it up, while the sweat poured from his limbs and the dust rose high above his head”.

Today, there are many reasons to believe that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is under the same fate.

Each time PDP make progress, sometime happens, and they backslide.

At birth in 1998, PDP cut the image of a sure-footed and broad-based political organisation that would deepen democracy in post-military Nigeria. Why not, given the role of PDP’s progenitor, the Dr. Alex Ekwueme-led G34 in sacking the military. But despite Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s good qualities, his military mentality stultified democratic cultures in both PDP and Nigeria.

In the bid to enthrone a rubberstamp parliament, Obasanjo ditched Chuba Okadigbo, the more popular candidate for Senate President and settled for Evan Enwerem, considered more amenable. The presidency moved in with carrot and stick to secure the cooperation of All Peoples Party (APP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), and some PDP elements to defeat Okadigbo seen as independent-minded.

In the fratricidal political war that ensued, Okadigbo’s loyalists rallied and impeached Enwerem a few months after, while the Presidency mobilised its foot soldiers to sack Okadigbo just a day after he feted Obasanjo to huge dose of pounded yam at Senate President’s Mansion in August 2000. Pius Anyim’s romance with the Presidency didn’t also last as he fought for survival till the last day. In the House of Representatives, Obasanjo’s favourite, Salisu Buhari, was impeached and replaced with Umar Ghali N’Abba, who moblised the parliament to resist civilian dictatorship.

With the smooth emergence of the Presidencyanointed Adolphus Wabara after the 2003 elections, PDP faithful heaved a sigh of relief. But the Sisyphean syndrome set in again. Obasanjo sacked Wabara in a national broadcast in 2005 even before the legislature could deal with the bribe-for-budget scandal. It was later alleged that Wabara’s real sin was his closely guarded presidential ambition, who himself allegedly nursed a Third Term ambition. Wabara was forced to resign and face corruption charges of which he was instructively acquitted in April 2019. To cut a long story short, Obasanjo’s Presidency churned out five Senate Presidents and two Speakers. This, coupled with the war of attrition between Obasanjo and his influential Vice, Atiku Abubakar, left PDP seriously polaralised.

Meanwhile, apart from Solomom Lar, it is doubtful that any other National Chairman enjoyed a full tenure.

Although Sunday Awoniyi was more popular, Barnabas Gemade was bulldozed in as Lar’s successor. Gemade, too, was replaced with Audu Ogbe, who was forced to resign for criticising Obasanjo’s handling of Anambra political crisis. Ahmadu Ali was conscripted to prosecute the 2007 election that enthroned Musa Yar’Adua. Vincent Ogbulafor, Yar’Adua’s choice National Chairman, was forced to resign and charged with corruption after Yar’Adua death. It was alleged that his was his closeness to the Yar’Adua cabal and disposition to the North retaining power for another four years after Jonathan must have completed what remained of Yar’Adua’s first tenure.

Ironically, even Okwesilieze Nwodo, handpicked as Ogbulafor’s successor, was sacked willy-nilly at PDP 2011 national convention. Bamangar Tukur, brought in by jonathan after Haliru Bello’s and Kawu Baraje’s stints in acting capacities, set out like the Lord of the Manor.

He picked quarrels with the governors and once locked out some NASS leaders at his residence. But when matters came to a head, Tukur was thrown under the bus. But by then, PDP was already mortally wounded.

Undoubtedly, PDP’s greatest undoing was the willful breach of the zoning principle. Instead of ensuring that power returned to the North in 2015 based on the understanding brokered between Jonathan and Northern leaders ahead of the 2011 elections, PDP allowed itself

Secondus to be led like a lamb to the slaughter of defeat. The impunity was such that the party printed only one presidential nomination form- for Jonathan. They expectedly lost to a combination of its big-headedness and Northern conspiracy.

PDP, nevertheless picked up their pieces after the 2015 defeat. They lit the political firmament with the stunt that threw up Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as presiding officers, and produced Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President. Nigerians watched in admiration as PDP provided a vibrant opposition despite political persecution of opposition leaders.

Sadly, as children of Sisyphus, this curse would not easily go away. Governor Nyesom Wike and one or two of his colleagues, recruited Ali Modu Sherrif as National Chairman against all protests and wise counsels by other party leaders. It took a vehement fight-back by the likes of Ahmed Maikafi, Ekweremadu, David Mark, Ayo Fayose, and even Wike himself, etc. to wrestle the party back from Wike’s friend-turned-foe. Sherriff largely cost PDP the Ondo and Edo gubernatorial seats, no thanks to Jimoh Ibrahim.

PDP bounced back. Many heavy weights, who dumped the party, returned. Everything looked set for the party to reclaim power in 2019, especially with the credible presidential primary that produced Atiku and worsening economy under APC. But, the myth of Sisyphus was at work again. The momentum generated

by Atiku’s emergence as flag bearer was so much that he and his handlers carried on as if they had already won the election. Although Peter Obi’s choice was good, Atiku’s subterfuge in the matter rankled many. Atiku also snubbed senior party men, who held the party from collapsing and rebuilt it into a viable platform, in the constitution of the Presidential Campaign Council. Ironically, the likes of Gbenga Daniel, who became Atiku’s new henchmen, would not even tarry till the hearing of Atiku’s petition before dumping him and the party.

Today, the PDP is obviously still under the Sisyphean influence, very much unlike 2015 when they quickly got their arts together. The party leadership is deliberately instigating a Minority leadership crisis, thereby undermining its most potent force as an opposition.

The attempt to impose Kingsley Chinda and three others as Minority leaders contrary to provisions of the

Constitution and Order 7 Rule 8 of House Standing Rule was opposed by majority of the minority lawmakers, who endorsed Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and three others.

Although PDP BOT set up the Iyorchia Ayu-led Committee comprising Mark, Wabara, Ibrahim Mantu and Austin Opara to look into the matter, some members of the NWC sat on the same case and summarily suspended the Elumelu team for one month. PDP also set up the Tom Ikimi Committee to investigate the matter and turn in report in two weeks. In addition, NWC set up the Wabara Committee to investigate why PDP lawmakers failed to cast a block vote as they did during the inauguration of the 8th NASS in 2015.

None of the three reports have seen daylight more than three months after.

Instead, Nigerians watched in shock as Governor Wike descended on the Ayu-led BOT Committee, describing it as the most corrupt Committee in PDP’s history.

Consequently, Secondus has refused to table the three reports for consideration and settlement of issues in party interest.

Instead of showing leadership, Chinda and his co-travellers have been officially appointed as Caucus Leaders and Caucus Whips, thus creating confusion and introducing terms unknown in NASS parliamentary vocabulary.

The intents of this contraption crystalised in the statement issued by Chinda and his co-travellers badmouthing the Supreme Court and listing justices the CJN must conscript to hear Atiku’s appeal. Advertently or inadvertently, that statement gave the impression the learned Justices are PDP sympathisers. The spirit and letter of that statement cannot be mistaken as Chinda, who represents Wike’s Constituency, is not yet known to muster the courage to oppose the views of his principal, Wike, who ironically was among the first to congratulate Buhari on his victory over Atiku at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal level. And whatever shreds of doubts as to the intents of the Chinda-led group’s statement and Wike’s congratulatory message was laid to rest by Wike’s failure to congratulate Buhari after Supreme Court’s judgment as well as Secondus/PDP’s watery reaction to that travesty of justice. A case of mission accomplished?

As if APC’s misgovernance, impunity, and our dying national economy are not enough for the PDP to fight, the PDP National Chairman and his puppeteers have turned the barrels of gun on their own, creating opposition for the opposition.

The National Publicity Secretary not only affirmed the unparliamentary Caucus Leaders and Whips titles bestowed on Chinda and three others, but also the continued suspension of the democratically elected Minority leaders. This is an overreach that defies the Nigerian Constitution, PDP Constitution, House Rule, and parliamentary conventions. And to think that this is the same party and Chairman that chastised APC for so many breaches of the independence of the legislature in 2015, leaves one perplexed.

Secondus should cast his mind back to the politics of his emergence as National Chairman in 2017. His candidacy was strongly opposed by many party chieftains and faithful because he served in various capacities in successive PDP leaderships that ran the party aground and out of power. Many yearned for fresh hands, a clean break from a better-forgotten past.

They also accused him of being Wike’s stooge. Some founding members like Jerry Gana, Tunde Adeniran, etc. left. Unfortunately, going by the way he has managed the PDP so far; going by the handling of the NASS issues, those naysayers appear justified. The party is literarily dying under his watch today and the culture of impunity and impositions is re-entrenched.

Instructively, Secondus has nothing to lose should the party eventually die. He has been part of PDP leadership since 2008 when he was elected National Organising Secretary and has enjoyed the best of the party, whether it is affluence or influence.

So, elders of the party should wake up to their responsibility of exorcising the PDP of the curse of repeated history if the party hopes to remain relevant or regain power. Otherwise, I see them becoming irreversible children of Sisyphus.

––Adebayo writes from Ado-Ekiti.

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍŻÍ´Ëœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

NEWSXTRA

Bayelsa Guber: Shot Policeman Dies, Two Others in Intensive Care

tBayelsa election prone to violence, says coalition of CSOs EmmanuelAddehinYenagoa The violence that occurred when some suspected hoodlums loyal to one of the parties in Bayelsa attacked a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rally in Nembe, Bayelsa, has claimed a police Inspector posted from the Mobile Police formation in Asaba, Delta State.

Achibugu Odagi, it was learnt, died of gunshot injuries he received from the thugs who unleashed mayhem on PDP

members during the campaign rallywhentheGovernor,Seriake Dickson and the PDPcandidate, Douye Diri had yet to arrive the venue.

This is as a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, (CSO) under the umbrella of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said yesterday that despite several warnings, chances that the Bayelsa election would be marred by violence was still very high.

The shooting was at the King

KokoSquarevenueofanaborted PDP rally In Ogbolomabiri, Nembe,whilethebodyhadsince been deposited at the Nembe General Hospital Another of his colleagues, Mr. Ododomuwassaidtostillbebattlingforhislifeaftersurvivingthe attack with a gunshot wound on his leg. Two other policemen are critically injured and are battling to survive, it was learnt.

A source said that several other people were still missing with growing worries from

Alleged Double Registration: Bello Seeks Court's Permission to Prove Innocence Alex Enumah inAbuja

Kogi State Governor and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in today's governorship election, Yahaya Bello, on Friday, formally applied to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for an opportunity to prove his innocence in the allegation of double registration.

Natasha Akpoti, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Saturday's governorship election in Kogi, is alleging that Bello engaged in double registration as an electorate, an offence punishable under the electoral laws in Nigeria.

She is therefore seeking the disqualification of Bello from the governorship race having allegedly committed some electoral infractions.

In the suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/1221/2019, and dated October 10, Akpoti, prayed the court to determine whether Bello was qualified to participate in today's election having allegedly involved in double registration as a voter.

Defendants in the suit filed

on her behalf by senior lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome are the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.

However, when the suit was called on Friday, a lawyer in the name of Mike Enaboro, informed the court of an application seeking to join Bello as a necessary party in the suit. He argued that since the reliefs sought by Akpoti were against his nomination, qualification and candidacy, it is in the interest of justice that Bello be part of the suit.

He said the application was filed on Friday because he got wind of the suit the previous day.

However, Akpoti's lawyer, Chief Ozekhome SAN, who said he just received the motion this morning, hinted that the motion sought to stop court’s proceeding on the matter. He urged Justice Inyang Ekwo not to grant the request since the election was Saturday.

While counsel to the APC, Abdulwahab Mohammed, said he would need more time

Nigeria U-23 Team Eliminated from AFCON Kunle Adewale

Cup holders, Nigeria have been booted out of the ongoing U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt following a dire 0-0 draw with South Africa yesterday night that was not enough to see them through to the semi-finals. The result meant they finished third in Group B and dropped out of contention for a place in the Men’s Football Tournament of next year’s Olympics in Tokyo.

Failure at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo sustained an unsavoury streak of Nigeria appearing in the Men’s Football Tournament at every other Olympics since the year 2000.

Champions in 1996 in Atlanta, USA where they won Africa’s first-ever football gold medal of the Olympics, the Nigeria U-23 participated in the tournament in Australia in 2000; missed the event in Greece in 2004; took part at the event in China in 2008 and won the silver medal; missed the tournament in

the United Kingdom in 2012; participated in the event in Brazil in 2016 and won the bronze medal and; will now miss Tokyo 2020.

On a day they needed just one goal to topple the South Africans and assure of a place in the last four – irrespective of the result in the other match between Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia – the Olympic Eagles failed to find their sting in the fore, dancing too much on the ball without effective contact or meaningful touches in the opposition critical zone.

Perhaps awed by Nigeria’s array of stars in Kelechi Nwakali, Taiwo Awoniyi, Azubuike Okechukwu, Sincere Seth and Orji Okwonkwo, alongside respected home-based professionals Sunusi Ibrahim and Ndifreke Effiong, the South Africans preferred to absorb the heat for the first half hour. Seeing that the Olympic Eagles lacked the punch when it mattered, the Amaglug-glug came out to attack.

to study the motion, that of INEC, Alhassan Umar SAN, however did not object to the application.

Justice Ekwo, who adjourned the matter till November 21, in the interest of justice and fair hearing, held tha although the election is Saturday, it cannot stop the court from doing its business.

Accordingly, the judge gave the plaintiff two days to amend their processes to accommodate Governor Yahaya Bello as a defendant, while all defendants are to reply within two days upon being served with the plaintiff's process.

Justice Ekwo held that all preliminary objections in the suit would be taken in the adjourned date, adding that any party absent on the day would be deemed to have adopted its motion.

unconfirmed reports that the thugs ripped open the stomach of their victims and threw them into the nearby river However, it was gathered that medical personnel had started dischargingseveral ofthevictims at the Specialists Hospital and FederalMedicalCentre,Yenagoa.

Meanwhile,DeputyInspector General of Police,Anthony Ogbizi,whoregrettedthekilling, has vowed to apprehend suspected hoodlums who killed the police officerandinjuredtwoothercops

at the Nembe rally.

"What happened in Nembe is unfortunate because these are policeofficerswhoplannedtogo for their primary assignment of ensuringthattheelectionprocess is conducted free and fair and they were attacked by militants, butthatisastatementwe'vetaken care of and justice will be done.

"Nembe area is no longer a no-go-area. You are here and you are used to militancy. I will only advise that, that doesn't pay.

Killing their fellow brothers is not the option. Whoever wins is still an Ijaw, is still a Bayelsan so why are they taking up arms

against themselves?

"Andthenwhyareyoutaking up arms against peace officers who are here to did their work?

Butnotwithstanding,youcansee the massive deployment that is going on and is complete.

"Everyareawehavedeployed security agents to ensure that enabling environment is provided. “Every Bayelsan is assured of his security. They should not be afraid, but come out and cast their votes.And I want to advise that after casting their votes, they shouldgobacktotheirrespective homes and wait for the outcome of the election," he said.

Soyinka Warns Legislators against Hate Speech Bill Bennett Oghifo Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has written to the federal lawmakers, warning them on dire consequences of the Hate Speech bill currently before the Senate.

Soyinka’s warning is in a letter to the legislators yesterday, titled, “Is it now cool to kill? –An anguished letter to Nigerian lawmakers.’ He told the lawmakers to, “Remember that example, especially by leadership, is a hundred times more explicit and enduring than the mere propagation of any counterdoctrine. Do not embrace the awful responsibility of impressing homicide as a way of life on the ethical template of coming generations. The chickens have a way of coming home to roost.

I may be wrong of course, but

their droppings already foul the common air we all breathe. Just take a deep breath, look around you, and re-consider.�

He said it would be unfortunate to be caught up in nightmare, stating that “The nightmare consists of the fear of waking up one morning to discover that one’s name has been cited among those helpless victims on behalf of whom a repellent legislation is about to be enacted.� He said fake news was despicable. “However, dear legislators, consider more deeply the path on which you have chosen to embark. I invite you to reflect quite objectively on the company into which you are about to throw yourselves, and the consequences for the very nation you represent –including its social psyche. You are about to corrupt youthful impression, to join the brigade of closet psychopaths for whom the only solution to any social malaise from the trite to the profoundly affective is – Kill! Is this what humanity and society are all about? “You are psyching up your

ranks to pronounce yourselves affiliates of inhuman aberrations such as Boko Haram, Isis (Da’esh), al Shabbab, nomadic cow herders etc. etc. for whom killing is the only response for real or imagined wrongs, perceptions of entitlement and/or deprivation, sense of righteousness and generally- concept of a thoroughly sanitised community of mortals.

You are sending out applications to join the ranks of those inadequate males who believe that the only cure for adultery is to bury a woman up to her neck in earth and reduce her head to a pulp under a rain of stones.�

He said there was no absolute concept in the bill, wondering, “How precise is the definition of ‘hate’ when it becomes a yardstick for the extinction of even one human life? Haunting, hopefully, our collective conscience as a nation, even till today, is recollection of a clique of social army reformers who instituted, and carried out the execution citizens under a retroactive law.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as EZI VICTORIA OLUCHUKWU now wish to be known, called and addressed as UGOCHUKWU VICTORIA OLUCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS LUCY NNEKA OZOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNEKA DANIEL ANTIA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI and the general public should take note.

I, formerly known as OBULOR MARIAN NBANACHI now wish to remove NBANACHI from my name. My name now is OBULOR MIRIAM. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME I, AMATARI-OBOM, ELUAN BLESSING wish to correct my name which was wrongly written as OBOM, ELUAN BLESSING in my WAEC certiďŹ cate instead of AMATARIOBOM, ELUAN BLESSING. My correct name is AMATARI-OBOM, ELUAN BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

55

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͞˜ ͺ͸͚Î

SPORTS XTRA

Uzoho Undergoes Successful Knee Operation Nigeria international goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has undergone successful surgery after sustaining knee ligament damage last month.

Uzoho, 20, suffered the injury after the hour mark during the Super Eagles’s 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil in Singapore and had to be carried off on a stretcher.

His Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia confirmed the

extent of the injury and that the Nigerian was facing an extended lay-off. “And it was a success.

I’m grateful to every prayer and good wishes said. Even the hidden prayers said on my behalf,� Uzoho wrote on social media. “I’m deeply grateful.

Now let the healing begin.�

He is expected to be out for at least six months

and the injury comes as a setback for Uzoho, who had regained his starting place and had been picked for both of Nigeria’s most recent friendly internationals against Ukraine and Brazil.

In search of regular football, Uzoho had returned for a second loan spell in Cyprus by joining Omonia Nicosia in July from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna.

A lack of top-flight football had cost him his place as Nigeria’s number one keeper ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and consequently went into the tournament as third choice behind Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

Capped 16 times by Nigeria, he played all three matches as the Super Eagles were knocked out of the 2018 World Cup in

the group stage.

He made a solitary appearance at this summer’s Nations Cup in the win

over Tunisia as the West African nation sealed a third place finish in Egypt.

GOtv Boxing Night Mini Holds Today All is set for the maiden edition of GOtv Boxing Night Mini, which holds today at the Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos.

The event is a smaller version of the hugely successful GOtv Boxing Night, which has had 19 editions.

Five bouts are scheduled for the event, which will see some household names in action. Among the big names on parade is Rilwan “Real One� Oladosu, West African Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight champion, who will face Ola Adebakin in a national challenge bout. WABU welterweight king, Rilwan “Baby Face� Babatunde, is also in action against South Africa returnee, Dennis “The Range�

Mba, for a challenge fuel in the division.

The cruiserweight category will see a return to action of Kabiru “KB Godson� Towolawi, who faces Tunji “Germani� Olajide. New kids on the block, Waheed “Showmax� Shogbamu and Semiu “Jagaban� Olopade will clash in the welterweight category.

Equally lined up is an all-female clash that will see Cynthia “Omo Bobby� Ogunsemilore take on Omowunmi “Mummy’s Pet� Akinsanya in a national super featherweight challenge.

Speaking on the event, Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director of Flykite Promotions, organisers of the event, said everything has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free and successful event. “We have put measures in place to ensure that there are no hitches. Rowe Park is ready to welcome everybody for this inaugural edition of GOtv Boxing Night Mini. It promises to be an exciting show,� he said.

Alumona called on all boxing fans to come and cheer their idols.

The event is sponsored by GOtv, the country’s leading digital-to-home terrestrial operator.

Mahrez Opts out of Algeria’s AFCON QualiďŹ er Francis Uzoho

Drogba Turned Down Chelsea for Ivory Coast FA Presidency Position Didier Drogba has confirmed that he rejected the opportunity to return to Chelsea this summer as he instead hopes to become president of the Ivory Coast FA. The former Stamford Bridge hitman retired a year ago after a busy end to his career, which saw him spend spells at Shanghai Shenhua, Galatasaray, Chelsea, the Montreal Impact and Phoenix Rising.

Now, though, he wants to return to his homeland and give something back to the game that saw him star in France with Guingamp and Marseille before hitting the

very pinnacle of the game with the Blues, for whom he scored the decisive penalty in their 2011-12 Champions League triumph. “I had an offer to stay at Chelsea where everything would be perfect and conditions are met,� he said, according to the Sun. “But I want to help Ivorian football because I love it! “I am a leader, and my vision is bigger than just the simple role of being a coach.

A coach has an impact on a club – but I want to have an impact on an entire nation. “I want us to re-think football, with a nationwide

vision, so we can develop the game here. The Ivory Coast has a glorious footballing past. “The funds are in place, together with talent and potential, but they are under-exploited. “There are some very competent people in the Ivory Coast who can work with me on this p ro j e c t . �

Despite the wealth of talented players that h a v e e m e rg ed from the African nation in recent years, including the Toure brothers Yaya and Kolo, Gervinho, Wilfried Bony and Drogba himself, they

only have two Africa Cup of Nations titles to their name.

Drogba is his nation’s leading scorer with 65 career international goals, but by the time the Elephants lifted the crown in 2015 he had retired from international duty. The only previous occasion they lifted the continental title was in 1992.

Meanwhile, he made his legend in Europe with Chelsea, where he played in two spells, scoring 104 Premier League goals and playing more than 250 times for the Blues in England’s top flight.

Ronaldo Scores 98th International Goal Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally to 98 international goals as his hat-trick against Lithuania moved Portugal to within one win of a place at Euro 2020.

The 34-year-old Juventus forward could become only the second man to reach 100 international goals if he scores twice against Luxembourg on Sunday.

The Portugal captain scored an early penalty before curling in a second.

Pizzi, Goncalo Paciencia and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva scored before the latter set up Ronaldo for his third.

Ronaldo’s ninth Portugal hat-trick with seven of those coming since his 30th birthday - takes him to within 11 goals of Iran legend Ali Daei’s worldrecord 109. This is his joint most goals in a calendar year for Portugal, with 13 - coming in his past seven caps matching his 2016 total.

Ronaldo had been substituted in his last two Juventus games, with manager Maurizio Sarri saying he had a knee problem.

But Portugal boss Fernando Santos

said: “I never had any doubts about his condition, it was other people who had them. Nothing surprises me about Cristiano.� Defending champions Portugal will qualify for next summer’s European Championship if they beat Luxembourg on Sunday.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice as Serbia beat Luxembourg 3-2 to ensure the race for the second qualifying spot in Group B goes down to the final game.

Ukraine have already reached Euro 2020 as group winners.

Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has pulled out of Algeria’s trip to Botswana due to family reasons.

The Desert Foxes are scheduled to play the Southern Africa nation in their second Group H qualifying game for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Africa Cup of Nations News & Results | Goal.com The latest Africa Cup of Nations news, rumours, table, fixtures, live scores, results & transfer news, powered b...

Following their 5-0 home win over Zambia, Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi gave the reason for Mahrez’s exclusion from their travelling squad to Gaborone. “He’s not travelling with us for family reasons,�

Belmadi was quoted as saying by Reuters.

On Thursday, the Man City winger assisted Baghdad Bounedjah in sealing Algeria’s emphatic win against the Chipolopolo in Blida.

Nadal Beats Tsitsipas to Keep ATP Finals Hopes Alive Rafael Nadal demonstrated his fighting qualities once again to battle back from behind to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and keep his ATP Finals hopes alive.

Nadal, who would have been eliminated with a defeat, won 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-5 in their final group match in London.

However, the Spanish top seed will still not make Saturday’s semi-finals if defending champion Alexander Zverev beats Daniil Medvedev later on Friday.

With Tsitsipas already through, Zverev can join him at Nadal’s expense.

Nadal, 33, is relying on a favour from Russian fourth seed Medvedev, who has been knocked out of the tournament by the 19-time Grand Slam champion’s win.

Against Tsitsipas, Nadal produced another superhuman effort to earn a victory which might ultimately prove fruitless. After doing the same to beat Medvedev in their second round-robin match on Wednesday, a lifeless performance in his opener against Zverev could prove to be his downfall.

Nadal, who has never won the season-ending ATP Tour tournament, showed the grit, determination and neversay-die attitude that have been the hallmarks of his illustrious career to beat Tsitsipas in two hours and 52 minutes at the O2 Arena. He was edged out of a tight first set in the tie-break before starting to hit more winners than unforced errors and tip the balance of the match in his favour.

TR

Saturday, November 16, 2019

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Atiku on Hate Speech Bill “The contemplation of such law is in itself not just hate speech, but an abuse of the legislative process that will violate Nigerians’ constitutionally guaranteed right to Freedom of Speech” – Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, reproaching the Hate Speech Bill before the Senate.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Femi Otedola and His N5 Billion Donation

F

ellow Nigerians, let me say it has been a particularly hectic month for me. I have had to juggle a lot of things including pursuing my Fellowship, dealing with the business affairs of the Ovation Group, private media work, writing columns, charity work and attending a variety of functions and events. This has necessitated my travel between Oxford, Ghana, Rwanda, Germany, Amsterdam and Nigeria. I now totally understand what Chief Moshood Abiola meant by his popular saying “the bigger the head, the bigger the headache...”

To succeed in life, especially if you were accidentally born into a humble family and not a silver-spoon background, you must work like work is going out of fashion. To quote Chief Abiola again, “hard work is prayer in action...” It is difficult, if not impossible, to find a successful man who just sat at home doing nothing! Even winning the pools or lottery requires some effort, albeit a lot of luck.

The story of my life continues to be like a fairytale. I get invited to so many events and places practically every week. I’m hardly able to honor up to 20 percent of requests for my personal attention and presence. For me, it is a great honor and privilege to receive invitations from everyone including certain friends and distinguished personalities, especially those who have also supported my dreams over time. I do not discriminate between my friends. I find each is unique and distinct in his or her own way. I cherish everyone of them irrespective of background, wealth or lifestyle. As they say, to whom much is given, much is also expected, and such was my situation, and dilemma, these past couple of weeks.

Recently, I received a message from my friend’s daughter, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, asking if I would be able to join at the launch of her Cuppy Foundation, on November 10, dovetailing into her birthday at midnight, on November 11, 2019. My God, I thought aloud, how could I ever say NO to a young lady I have come to like so much and admire for certain sterling qualities, and several reasons including her humility, warmth and charm.

I was present when she launched her musical career as well as celebrated her birthday and graduation in a gala of triple festivities, five years ago, at The Mandarin, a premium class luxury hotel, in Knightsbridge, London, a stone throw from her dad Femi Otedola’s historic home, where Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana once bonked before their controversial deaths. But that is another story for another day. Femi has always been a man of great charisma and style. Even when he didn’t command and control the kind of stupendous wealth it has pleased God to bless him with today, he was known generally as a man of impeccable taste and sartorial elegance.

His adorable wife, Nana, has remained a paragon of beauty since those days, when I used to visit them in Ilupeju, Lagos, before the deluge of cash flooded in, like an angry hurricane. So I was not surprised that their children took after them in the area of exotic lifestyles and vocations. It is remarkable, and a sign of the great spirit that Femi has, that he has supported his children as they take on careers in the arts and entertainment.

He is not the typical stereotyped Dad who would frown or smirk at the prospect of his children turning their noses up at formal careers in law, accountancy, medicine or pharmacy. He has not just been financially supportive, he had thrown himself wholeheartedly into the genre they have chosen and assisted and boosted others like them.

On that occasion, five years ago, I saw first hand Ife’s passion for music and entertainment.

DJ Cuppy, as her moniker goes, was all set and ready to explode on the music stage and prove cynics wrong about being a spoilt brat, which was never the case. Her humble spirit totally disarms you on first contact, garnished with her

Otedola and his daughters, Tolani and DJ Cuppy infectious smiles. Cuppy smiles so much that you would forever wonder if she ever frowns.

Thus you can imagine why I instinctively said yes, instantly, without even thinking or checking my diary or itinerary. Beyond family ties, Cuppy has been totally supportive of The Ovation Carol annual event we host, for the past few years. She might say “I’m sorry Uncle Dele, I’m likely to come a bit late but I will certainly make it” and she’s never failed to join us and perform in her inimitable style. And she’s grown very big in her trade over the years maturing into her status not only as a much sought after world class DJ but also a delectable, tuneful and soulful musician with a glittering career ahead of her. How on earth would I ever say NO to Cuppy!

Again, to Femi Otedola, the enigmatic but gregarious gentleman himself whom I have known for close to 30 years, starting from our days of rocking the phenomenal music of Sir Shina Peters with many other friends. From those days at Surulere, Femi has grown in leaps and bounds. His has been a meteoric rise to wealth and stardom. But you must give it to him that he never forgot his old friends. Every now and then, he would check on you and even support you in your days of tribulations and triumphs.

He has been very kind to me. The easiest way to get me hooked is by supporting my hustle and this Femi has done relentlessly by patronising Ovation International magazine loyally. When I launched my books last year, Femi did not stay with us from the beginning to the end, he bought hundreds of copies and he’s been gifting them to many of our mutual friends. Femi has greatly inspired my affable son, Eniafe Momodu, a photojournalist, speaker and wordsmith, even hosting him at home.

About two weeks ago, Femi sent me a WhatsApp message requesting for our full address, to be doubly sure, since he’s visited me at The Penthouse before. I immediately responded and he told me he was sending me Cuppy’s invitation card. That was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. For sure, there was no going back on my promise to Cuppy now that her Dad had also reached out personally and frontally. I crossed the Rubicon.

However, I soon discovered one major obstacle.

I had assumed the event was going to be in Lagos until I suddenly realised it will take place in Abuja. Cuppy’s event clearly clashed with our Editor, Michael Effiong James’ investiture as a Rotary District President which was at Ikeja Sheraton, as well as his 50th birthday on the 11th of November, just like Cuppy’s. Since I do not own a private jet, how would I get to Abuja same evening? I had no ready answer but I knew I would have to perform the miracle of Jesus Christ by turning water into wine and by developing wings and flying like an Angel towards Abuja.

My confusion was so monumental but I was determined to crack the nuts and bend the irons with bare hands, if need be! Our Editor’s event was

billed to start at 2.00pm and Cuppy’s at 7.00pm.

Knowing Nigeria reasonably well, I added one to two additional hours to waiting time, meaning the Ikeja event may start at around 4.00pm. I figured that I must immediately find a flight around 6.00pm-7.00pm to Abuja. I left nothing to chance. Everything was meticulously planned and assiduously executed. Neither Michael nor Femi would ever forgive me, if I failed in this mission.

Fortunately, my office said they found a 7.00pm flight on Arik, meaning I could leave Sheraton at 6.00pm and get to Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport well before my flight departs. That was how God opened his doors of favours and my best friend, Adedamola Aderemi, who as a Director of Ovation would not miss Michael’s event, and who had also been invited to Cuppy’s event, finally boarded the Arik flight and landed in Abuja at some minutes past 8.00pm. We had both booked our dear Transcorp Hilton for our accommodation since the show was taking place there and we are Diamond members (I am a proud lifetime Hilton Diamond member). We just managed to quickly freshen up before rushing down to the venue of the great event.

The whole space at the banquet hall was totally filled up by guests, artistes, government

officials, led by The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, State Governors, Ministers, legislators, top journalists, past leaders at both executive and legislative levels, captains of industry and many others. It was such a magnificent and colorful affair. It was televised live by Ayo Animasahun’s wave-making HIP TV. Above all, most of the top echelon of Save the Children, UK, one of the biggest children charities in the world, which has The Princess Royal, Princess Anne as a Patron.

Leading the team were Kevin Watkins, the Chief Executuve and Dianna Melrose a member of the Board of Trustees. Cuppy herself is a Save the Children Ambassador and a feature film on her harrowing visit to the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camp in Maiduguri was shown. Cuppy has adopted the camp as her main charitable and philanthropic project with the able support and endorsement of Save the Children, UK. The high point of the event was when Tolani, Femi’s first daughter, came on stage and announced a donation of an unprecedented sum of 5 billion Naira to Save the Children UK for use in the Maiduguri IDP. His close friend and ally, Aliko Dangote, had earlier weighed in with a donation of N100 million to the same cause. Needless to say, the top brass were gushing and effusive in their praise for Femi and Cuppy as they acknowledged that the stupendous sum had already been transferred to them.

Social media ignited fire with automatic alacrity.

Most people were touched by this remarkable act of benevolence, graciousness and Femi got a standing ovation for it...

The grand finale of the night was a rave performance by Cuppy, the singer and DJ. Cuppy gave an amazing account of herself and wowed and dazzled the appreciative audience with her mellifluous voice and slinky dance steps.. She performed two of my favorite tracks “Abena” featuring Kwesi Arthur, Shaydee and Ceeza Milli, as well as “Gelato”, featuring Zlatan. She seemed destined and determined to demonstrate her full maturity on the music scene... And we all had great fun, which continued well after the clock tolled at midnight and Cuppy was serenaded with a wonderful rendition of the happy birthday song and the cutting of the birthday cake!

Adieu, Sir Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele The news sneaked in, like a thief in the night. A strident call from my wife jolted me out of sleep, while at Oxford two nights ago. I had slept late two nights in a row upon my return to my base at Oxford, in England, sitting for many hours, studying and doing my work. “What’s it o my dear, at this ungodly hour...?” My wife wasted no time in breaking the sad news. “Someone just called that Chief Alex Akinyele has died...”

“Wow!” I exclaimed.

My mind instantly raced back to our good and bad times together. I was friends with his children, especially Kayode, now addressed as Constantine Akinfolarin Akinyele and his lovely wife Funmi, from his days at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Eerily, it was about this time last year that unfounded rumours about his demise surfaced but were quickly quelled.

Only last week, I posted the Ovation International cover we published some 20 years ago after I travelled to Mumbai, India, to cover the wedding of Sir Alex to his second wife, Lady Maria.

Chief Akinyele loved life and lived well. It was always fun sharing bowls of pounded yam and bush meat in vegetable stew with the High Chief of Ondo town. The death of his South African wife, Lady Yvonne Akinyele, a South African, had left him devastated. They were like Siamese twins. Every other wife became a competition to the attributes of Lady Yvonne, a near impossibility.

We had traveled all the way to India to bring home his next wife, but Lady Maria eventually left Nigeria with their son. He subsequently married a third wife, Lady Ella, a Nigerian, but not much was known of her or their relationship.

Alex Akinyele was flamboyant in all ramifications. He was a thoroughbred administrator and politician who once served as a Minister.

A keen sports enthusiast, he played numerous roles in the development of sports in Nigeria.

Chief Akinyele was passionate about whatever he believed in. He once told me in an interview that the President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida, whom he served as Minister of Information, was so powerful and capable of turning a man into a woman. He was a prominent devotee of the former President.

He was a man of letters and he loved to quote copiously from William Shakespeare, offhandedly.

As he advanced in age, he withdrew from public life and the klieg lights. Age was obviously no respecter of status, an enduring lesson to all of us to live life to the fullest while it lasts.

Chief Akinyele once said in an article: “I won’t be a slave of my conscience. Lady Ella knows I love her, but I love Yvonne more...” Such was the candour of this effervescent soul, this great and noble Nigerian who has ended his sojourn here on earth and begun a permanent one in the great beyond. A worthy testament of the life he led.

May his soul rest in perfect peace...

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