SATURDAY 6TH JUNE 2020

Breather for Adesina as AfDB Board Bars Fresh Probe Says Ethics Committee performed role in accordance with applicable rules

Bennett Oghifo with agency report The Bureau of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has foreclosed the possibility

of reopening the probe of the bank’s President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

At a meeting on Thursday in Cote D’Ivoire, the body snubbed the independent investigation demanded by

the United States of America and upheld the decision of the bank’s Ethics Committee in favour of Adesina.

In a communique signed by the Chairperson of the Bureau of the Board of Governors, Ms

Niale Kaba, the Board further decided that an independent reviewer should take a look at the process by which the Ethics Committee reached its decision on Adesina.

It stated that the Board of

Governors had fully fulfilled its obligations in accepting the findings of the Ethics Committee in accordance with the said resolution.

The communique reads: “The Bureau reiterates that

it agrees that the Ethics Committee of the Board of Directors performed its role on this matter in accordance with the applicable rules under Resolution B/BG/2008/11 of Continued on page 5

IG Orders Manhunt for Killers of 8 Policemen in Kogi… Page 15 Saturday 6 June, 2020 Vol 25. No 9189

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‘End Rape Now’ Protests Rock Lagos, Abuja Gbajabiamila: Lawmakers will engage state legislatures on sexual violence law Lagos and Abuja yesterday in response to the rising spate of rape, sexual assault and mindless murder of women Mass protest erupted in in Nigeria.

Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos, Olawale Ajimotokan and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The protesters were unequivocal as they demanded justice for 22year old University of Benin undergraduate, Miss Vera

Uwaila Omozuwa, who was raped and brutally murdered by four men; a pregnant postgraduate student of the University of Ibadan, Azeezat

Shomuyiwa, who was killed in her home in Ibadan and Miss Bello Barakat, a 18-year-old undergraduate, who was also raped and murdered

in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Also on the list is a 12-year old, who identified 11 men Continued on page 5

With 1,286 Cases in 7 days, Lagos Running Out of Bed Spaces We’re finding more COVID-19 cases than we can manage, laments state’s government Moves to start managing asymptomatic patients at home 328 new cases take nationwide tally to 11,844, with 3,696 discharged and 333 deaths Bennett Oghifo in Lagos and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has raised the alarm that the state would soon run out of bed spaces at its isolation centres if it keeps recording high number of COVID-19 cases.

The Lagos health commissioner, who spoke at a press briefing yesterday, said the state confirmed a total of 1,165 new cases between May 30 and June 4. With the 121 new cases recorded yesterday, the tally for Lagos in the last seven days is now 1,286 On the same day, 328 new

cases of Coronavirus were recorded nationwide, taking the tally to 11,844, with 3,696 discharged and 333 deaths.

Professor Abayomi stated that tests revealed more cases than Lagos State could handle and that they had consequently resolved to treat COVID-19 patients without symptoms at home.

Lagos, which is the epicentre of the disease in Nigeria, now has a total of 5,663 cases.

Abayomi attributed the recent spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases to increased testing capacity.

He said: “Between May 30 Continued on page 5

CBN Debits Banks $1.2bn for Missing Regulatory Targets... Page 8

GRATITUDE TO ALLAH...

President Muhammadu Buhari (center) flanked by his aides during the first Juma’at service at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown …yesterday godwin omoigui

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

PAGE FIVE BREATHER FOR ADESINA AS AFDB BOARD BARS FRESH PROBE the Board of Governors. “The Bureau also reiterates that the Chairperson of the Bureau of the Board of Governors performed her role in accepting the findings of the Ethics Committee in accordance with the said Resolution. “However, based on the views of some Governors on the matter and the need to carry every Governor along in

resolving it, the Bureau agrees to authorise an Independent Review of the Report of the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors relative to the allegations considered by the Ethics Committee and the submissions made by the President of the Bank Group thereto in the interest of due process. “The Independent Review shall be conducted by a

neutral high caliber individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity within a short time period of not more than two to four weeks maximum, taking the Bank Group’s electoral calendar into account. “The Bureau agrees that, within a three to six month period and following the independent review of the

Ethics Committee Report, an independent comprehensive review of the implementation of the Bank Group’s WhistleBlowing and Complaints Handling Policy should be conducted with a view to ensuring that the Policy is properly implemented, and revising it where necessary, to avoid situations of this nature in the future.�

Adesina had been in the eye

of the storm over allegations of impropriety leveled against him by some whistle blowers in the bank.

Despite being given a clean bill of health by the bank’s Ethics’ Committee, some AfDB stakeholders, notably the United States Treasury Department, had rejected the decision and called for a fresh probe.

In a letter signed by Steven

Mnuchin, its treasury secretary, the US government said it had “deep reservations about the integrity of the committee’s process�.

However, several stakeholders, including 15 expresidents of African countries, have voiced their support for Adesina.

President Muhammadu Buhari has also assured Adesina of his support.

demonstration, they demanded for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and Child Rights Act in all states of the federation in addition to the establishment of Sexual Assault Referal Centres (SARC) in all states.

Security, Sunday Odukoya, also visited Akinyele where 18-year-old Barakat was reportedly killed by unknown persons on Monday.

They urged residents of the two communities to be securityconscious and to report any suspicious movement to the police for safety of lives and property.

As part of efforts towards taming the rape scourge, Gbajabiamila disclosed that he and other members of the House would engage the 36 states Houses of Assemblies on the need for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act. The Speaker disclosed this while hosting some members of sexual and gender-based Civil Society Organisations in his office yesterday, saying that the House would consider working on sexual violencerelated laws to make them conform to current realities.

Some of the CSOs at the meeting were Women Advocacy Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Education as a Vaccine (EVA), Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption Programme, Action Aid, Malala Fund, among others.

Gbajabiamila said the engagement would be conducted technologically due to the urgency and critical nature of the escalating issue of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in the country, and in consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Speaker also said the issue of women and the sanctity of their dignity and constitutional rights, fall in line with the 9th Assembly’s agenda.

He hinted that the definition of rape needs to be loosened up in the legislation, but to the extent that a man will know that no is no.

He said, “Fortunately, we had a motion on the issue

on the floor of the House on Thursday, robustly debated with enough time. Because it (this issue) is beyond the dignity to person; it is a fundamental human right that has been abused. We reached far-reaching resolutions on the issue, and we even resolved to wear black on our next sitting to show solidarity and the seriousness with which we have taken the issue.' “On Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Child Rights Acts and the domestication of both, I’m aware that about 27 states are yet to domesticate them. But we, as a Federal House, will take that initiative to the states. I intend to write and communicate to all the Speakers of the 36 states for them to be proactive about this piece of legislation. Hopefully, we will set that up sometime next week to have a zoom conference with all the Speakers on the issue. “I’m sure, by the time we are through, I think all 36 States would, unless there is a reason which I cannot even think of, why any State would oppose such. I assure you, every single member of this House is on the same page with you on this matter. “Perhaps, as a House, we need to look at the legislation to tighten the noose, tighten the definition and even rape because, universally, rape is considered by criminal definition, sexual intercourse and penetration without consent. Now, it is the most difficult crime to prove because of how to establish consent.

Sometimes it’s obvious there was no consent, but sometimes, it’s a slippery slope and it’s a grey area as to what exactly is a consent. “Sometimes, we have situations where women gave the consent and thereafter withdraw the consent, but I believe the mantra has to be sustained that no is no and it doesn’t matter at what stage. “Part one of the resolution we reached on Thursday was that every police station establishes a unit for sexual offences, separate from everything else. These are the kinds of things we are looking at to give teeth and to give bite to the offence of rape.

So, we will need your input since women are most affected.�

necessary for a sick person or a contact to leave the house, they should wear a medical mask.

WHO advised that people caring for an infected person at home should wear a medical mask while they are in the same room as the sick person.

It said that health workers must use medical masks and other protective equipment when dealing with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Brazil overtakes Italy as country with third-highest deaths Brazil has overtaken Italy as the country with the thirdhighest Coronavirus death toll after a daily record of 1,473 fatalities took its total tally to more than 34,000.

The figure published by Brazil’s health ministry on Thursday night showed that

only the United States and the United Kingdom have registered more deaths from the disease.

The official number of infections rose to nearly 615,000, the second-largest caseload in the world, behind the US. Shortly before the numbers were released, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said in an online broadcast: “We can’t go on like this. Nobody can take it anymore,� Bolsonaro said of the stay-at-home measures, being implemented by state governors and mayors across Brazil even as the number of infections and deaths continues to increase. “The collateral impact will be far greater than those people who unfortunately lost their lives because of these last three months here,� Bolsonaro said.

‘END RAPE NOW’ PROTESTS ROCK LAGOS, ABUJA who raped her at different times, and an 18-year old lady identified as Jennifer, who was attacked and raped by a gang of five men in Kaduna.

The Oyo State government and the state’s police command have vowed to fish out the killers of the students, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila promised that lawmakers would engage state legislatures on domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act. Meanwhile, Omozuwa's case attracted global attention when she died two days after she was raped in a branch of the Redeem Christian Church in Benin City on Wednesday, May 27 and died on Saturday May 29, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, of complications from the brutality.

In Lagos, the protesters, drawn from different non-governmental organisations, went round the city and eventually stormed the Lagos State Police Command, to challenge security agencies to rise to the occasion by ensuring justice for rape victims.

Carrying placards with inscriptions, such as “Stop killing and raping women�, “Say no to rape�, “No means no�, “We have the right to our bodies�, “Consent is key�, the protesters were all kitted in black to reflect the somberness of the occasion.

The police allowed yesterday’s non-violent protest to proceed, following the flak the Lagos Police Command received on Thursday after it turned back a similar protest organised

by Feetprint Afrika Cultural and Creative Arts Academy, Oworonshoki Youth Forum and Oworonshoki Art Forum and by other community organisations.

At the Lagos Police headquarters, the protesters drawn from Stand To End Rape (STER), Yiaga Africa, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, TechHerNG, Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, SilverChipFox, Education as a Vaccine, Girl Child Africa and Connected Development called for a systemic action against Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV).

With one voice, they stated that on the issue of SGBV, it was high time the government

declared a state-of-emergency on the crude act.

The protesters said while they used Omozuwa and Barakat as the example of the systemic violence against girls and women, they were also out on the street to fight for other victims in the country.

They called on the police and other security agencies to figure out effective measures to checkmate the rising cases of sexual violence in Nigeria.

They further stated that a memo would be forwarded to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Federal Executive Council calling for an effective and sustained institutional response to SGBV in Nigeria.

Some of their key demands listed in the statement were: “Domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and Child Rights Act in all states of the federation; “Establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARC) in every state, backed with a coordinated, sustainably-funded support system; “Criminalisation and prompt state-led prosecution of SGBV cases within, regardless of requests or interference by the victim’s family or interested parties; “Implementation of functional Family Support Units and Force Gender Units at the state level that are well equipped to address SGBV cases; the imposition of public disciplinary measures against officials of the NPF and state prosecutors that mishandle cases of SGBV.�

Dorothy Njemanze, one of the protest organisers said: “Children are dying, women are dying, enough is enough.

We are watching every step of everything the politicians say and do on sexual based violence.�

Media personality, Bolanle Olukanni, who was present at the Lagos Command said the response they got from the police was not encouraging.

She wrote afterwards on her page: “Requesting for change with @standtoendrape. Protesting against the indifference of the @nigeriapoliceforce. We need you to do better for us. Help us, Protect us! Honestly very disappointed with the response we got at the Command

Headquarters.�

THISDAY had reported on Wednesday on the move by the police to strengthen its gender based units by deploying specialised investigators and additional investigation assets to all the Gender Desks Offices and the Juvenile Welfare Centres (JWC) across the country.

According to the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the move by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu was to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the units to respond to increasing challenges of sexual assaults and domestic/genderbased violence linked with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and other social ills within the country.

Protest in Abuja Several human rights groups, yesterday marched on Abuja streets, demanding an end to rape and other violent crimes against women.

The uncontrollable spate of sexual violence inflicted on women and girls sparked outrage across the country.

The demonstrators comprising mainly women and numbering more than 200 marched to the Nigeria Police Headquarters on Shehu Shagari Road, where they submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police.

The organisers said the protest was to draw attention to the widespread sexual violence in the country. They referenced the recent violence on three women who were defiled and killed by their assaulters.

The demonstrators held many banners and demanded that those responsible for the attack and murder of the victims should be prosecuted and brought to justice in line with the laws of the country.

Some of the banners they carried read, "Justice for all Nigerian girls and women" "No means no", ''Rapists and Rapist Apologists are Cancelled'' and ''To be a Woman is not a Crime''.

The rights activists asked the police and security agencies to curb the rising incidents of sexual assaults in the country.

In a statement issued after the

Oyo Government, Police Vow to Fish Out Killers of Raped Student Also yesterday, the Oyo State Government and the state’s police command vowed to fish out the killers of a pregnant woman, Azeezat Shomuyiwa and Barakat Bello.

According to a statement

by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, the Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni, a retired Commissioner of Police and the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Enwonwu Nwachukwu made the vow while paying condolence visit to the families of the two victims yesterday.

The duo was unanimous in condemning the incidents, noting that the security agencies would soon fish out the perpetrators.

Barely three days after young Barakat Bello was reportedly killed at Kara Area of Akinyele Local Government, another incident occurred in Ijefun near L. Adisa Quarry off MoniyaOyo road, where Shomuyiwa, a postgraduate student of the University of Ibadan was killed by yet-to-be-identified persons.

Owoseni and and the Commissioner of Police were told by members of the community that the late Shomuyiwa was hit with a big stone while inside her room.

Residents also stated that the woman only returned from Kano in February, where her husband had just secured employment after completing his NYSC programme.

The commissioner of police, Nwachukwu and Owoseni assured families of the deceased that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

The trio of CP Nwachukwu, retired COMPOL Owoseni, as well as the Executive Assistant to Governor Makinde on

Gbajabiamila: Lawmakers to Engage State Legislatures on Domestication of Sexual Violence Laws

WITH 1,286 CASES IN 7 DAYS, LAGOS RUNNING OUT OF BED SPACES when the state recorded its highest daily toll with 378 new COVID-19 cases and June 4, Lagos has confirmed a total of 1,165 new cases. “We’ve been testing more.

We’ve been escalating our capacity to test for COVID-19 and what we’ve found is that the more we test, the more we find, which is a reflection of the fact that COVID-19 is spreading within the community and we’re finding more cases than we can manage. “If we carry on with the rate of positive testing that we are obtaining, we’re going to run out of isolation beds in our established isolation facilities. “Therefore, we are projecting.

If we keep getting 150,200 positives everyday, in another two or three weeks, even

though we’re opening new isolation centres all the time, in time, we’re going to run out of beds. “And this has happened all over the world; it’s not just in Lagos or Nigeria. Every other country has reached the same tipping point where you now have to transit from managing patients in an isolation centre to managing patients who are not that unwell at home, and reserving the isolation centres for people who are feeling unwell and need to be monitored more closely by medical personnel.�

He added that the state was currently developing strategies for managing asymptomatic patients at home to address the projected rise in number of cases.

WHO Issues Additional Guideline on Use of Face Mask World Health Organisation (WHO) has unveiled a new guideline on the use of masks for control of COVID-19.

The world body, in a statement yesterday, said the new guidance was based on evolving evidence on who should wear a mask, when it should be worn and what it should be made of.

It said that it was still critical that people who use masks continue to take a comprehensive approach to protecting their health, including physical distancing and hand hygiene.

The statement said: "WHO has developed this guidance

through a careful review of all available evidence, and extensive consultation with international experts and civil society groups.

"I wish to be very clear that the guidance we are publishing today is an update of what we have been saying for months: that masks should only ever be used as part of a comprehensive strategy in the fight against COVID-19. Masks, on their own, will not protect you from COVID-19.�

WHO’s new guideline also gave advice on who should wear face mask.

According to WHO, all persons that tested positive for COVID-19 are expected to stay in isolation while their contacts should also be quarantined.

It, however, explained that where it was absolutely

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾JUNE 6, 2020

NEWS

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

INEC Wants Review of Security Architecture for Elections Chuks Okocha in Abuja Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahood Yakubu, has called for a review of the nation’s security architecture to enable it enhance confidence within this period of Coronavirus pandemic, adding that there was need for good security plans following indications that the contest would be acrimonious.

He also called on the security chiefs to design code of conduct for its personnel that would be participating in the Edo and Ondo States governorship

elections and other by-elections within the period.

This is coming as the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno charged all security personnel that would be deployed for election security to ensure they operate rancor-free.

Also, Prof. Yakubu warned that there were warning signals that the elections would be acrimonious and advised the security agencies to be proactive The INEC chairman spoke yesterday at the first virtual meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) with

Okowa Signs Judicial Autonomy Bill into Law Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has signed the Judiciary Autonomy Bill into law as the State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, commended both the governor and legislature for the speedy process culminating in the signing of the bill.

Titled, ‘The Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Law, 2019’, the law provides for the management of funds accruing to the state judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of Delta State.

Section 6 of the Law provides that the Delta State Judiciary shall have the power to manage its Capital and Recurrent Expenditure in accordance with the provisions of the Law. However, the law comes into force on 23rd day of January, 2020.

Reacting to the development, the State Chief Judge, described the action of the Governor Okowa as a bold and laudable step

Sir Remi Omotoso, a boardroom guru and former Chairman of the Board of Standard Chartered Bank, died yesterday at 75 years after a brief illness.

Omotosho, who hailed from Ayedun-Ekiti, was a seasoned administrator and industry leader in Nigeria’s financial sector, holding sensitive positions in DN Meyer Paints and Greenwhich Trust Limited; as well as Group Managing Director of Odua Investment Company Limited and Director General/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at different times.

Omotoso was also chairman, PPP Committee of Ekiti State during Governor Kayode Fayemi’s first term and served actively in the State COVID-19 Response Resource Mobilisation Committee, where he served as Chairman of the Funds Management and Evaluation Committee and the Federal Government Relations Committee.

In a statement, yesterday, mourning the death of the boardroom guru, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi described the late Omotoso as an illustrious son of the Land of Honour, a dynamic leader in the financial sector and a patriot who served his fatherland diligently and made Ekiti proud through numerous achievements.

He described the late

architecture in the light of the global pandemic and come up with clear guidelines as well as supplementary code of conduct for security personnel on election duty.”

Yakubu said that as the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic would impact on the planning and deployment strategy for the conduct of elections generally, that, it was necessary for ICCES to evolve effective ways of securing and protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

Fortunately, he stated in the aftermath of recent Governorship elections, ICCES set up an ad hoc committee to advise it on security arrangements for future elections.

He said, “We should, as a

matter of urgency, come up with a policy and code of conduct for security personnel in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He announced that party primaries for the nomination of candidates for the Edo Governorship election had commenced, stating that as at Thursday 15 out of the 18 registered political parties had invited the Commission to monitor their primaries.

Also, he said that the process for Ondo State was scheduled for 2nd to 25th July 2020, while lamenting, the conduct of primaries by political parties tends to be very acrimonious.

He said that the acrimony was carried forward into the

electioneering campaigns and Election Day activities, stating that there are warning signals.

According to the INEC chairman, “The security agencies need to act proactively.

An early engagement with political parties and aspirants is necessary in order to create the atmosphere for peaceful primaries and consequently peaceful elections.”

He explained that in the next few months, the Commission would hold two major elections that were the end of tenure Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States scheduled for 19th September 2020 and 10th October 2020 respectively.

towards granting the judiciary the much-desired autonomy despite the challenges that attended the legislative process.

While lauding the Delta State House of Assembly for ensuring the speedy passage of the Bill, he said that autonomy would enhance speedy dispensation of justice in the state, improve work conditions and facilitate development of infrastructure.

Justice Umukoro gave assurance that “the judiciary would live up to its constitutional responsibility and ensure prudent management of funds accruing to it,” saying that with the assent to the bill, Governor Okowa had restated his unalloyed commitment to the growth and development of the Judiciary.

He assured of the fostering of the existing level of cordiality and harmonious relationship between the Executive and Legislature and the Judiciary in Delta State.

Sir Remi Omotoso Passes on at 75 Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

heads of security chiefs in the country.

According to him, “INEC’s policy on conducting elections under the current global pandemic was anchored on the guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) based on the advisory by health authorities. The guidelines provide for measures to protect the electoral process and the people involved, ranging from the election officials, observers, the media and, above all, the voters.

“Doing so will also increase public confidence and consequently enhance the credibility of the electoral process.

“To do so effectively, there is need to review the security

Omotoso as a frontline investor, thoroughbred professional, seasoned administrator and impactful community leader who lived a life of service to God and humanity.

Fayemi, who hailed the contributions of the late Omotoso to national development, noted that the deceased served meritoriously in several top management positions in the last four decades.

Governor Fayemi said: “Despite Sir Omotoso’s busy schedule, he invested, his time and resources and energy on many laudable initiatives that impacted positively on the lives of the people and was always ready to support successive administration in the state with his wealth of experience and extensive national and global contacts.

“For us in Ekiti, this is a huge loss. Sir Remi Omotoso was an exemplar. He represented our very best in Ekiti and made great impact in almost every aspect of life. He remained a source of pride and inspiration to generations after him.

“Though we shall miss his wise counsel and positive disposition to developmental issues, but we are comforted by the fact he lived a good life and left behind legacies of service and honour. He remains our pride in Ekiti.

“Our prayer is that God will grant him eternal rest and comfort the family.”

IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN… L-R: Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; during the signing of Sexual Violence Against Children (Compulsory Treatment and Care) Law 2020, in Ado Ekiti...yesterday.

‘Dominica Diplomatic Passport Sheilds Diezani from Arrest’ Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja A diplomatic passport obtained by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, from a Caribbean nation, Commonwealth of Dominica, has shielded her from arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the International Police (Interpol).

THISDAY gathered that the office of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica had issued her a diplomatic passport following her appointment as Trade and investment Commissioner with effect from June 1, 2015.

“A diplomatic passport issued on May 21, 2015 , with an expiry date of May 20, 2020 came with the offer of the appointment,” a source close to an anti-graft investigation, told THISDAY.

With the diplomatic passport, she is immune to arrest by any law enforcement agency including the Interpol.

A source said the passport contained 32 pages and in one of the pages, a restraining statement against arrest was affirmed.

“The President of the Commonwealth of Dominica requests and requires in the Name of the Government of Dominica all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary,” the source said.

The number of the diplomatic passport is DP0000445.

In the appointment letter issued by Prime Minister Kerry, Diezani was assigned the task to “direct promotion and marketing of Dominica as a

trade and investment domicile, as well as an emerging and unique tourist destination in the Caribbean.”

Continuing, Kerry said, “I envisage you playing an active role in the coordination of road shows and trade and investment expositions as well as providing facilitator services to businessmen interested in investing or doing business with the Caribbean region.

Dominica is ideally placed and equipped to serve as the perfect hub for such commercial activities in this region.”

The source close to EFCC investigation alleged that “Diezani is believed to be busy working for the Commonwealth of Dominica, strengthened by a diplomatic shield which no law enforcement agency around the world can ignore.

“Besides, her British citizen-

ship is another protective hedge she has been using against repatriation to Nigeria to answer overwhelming charges of corruption against her.”

Diezani is awaiting trial for sundry allegations of corruption, including fraudulent ownership of 76 properties in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, valued at about N23 billion.

Besides, she has 14-count charge case against her bordering on stealing and concealment of $153million already preferred against her by the EFCC. When contacted, a top official of the EFCC, who sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, confirmed the development.

He added that the commission would operate within the ambit of the law and ensure that Diezani is brought to justice.

Lagos Commissioner Emerges Oniru-elect The Lagos State Executive Council under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the nomination and appointment of Prince Gbolahan Lawal as the new Oba-Elect of Iruland.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile, on Friday confirmed the development.

Akosile stated that the appointment of Prince Lawal as the Oniru-Elect, which takes immediate effect was made on Friday afternoon during the State’s Executive Council meeting, where

final ratification was made on his nomination.

Lawal succeeds late Oba Idowu Abiodun, former Oniru of Iruland, who passed on in year 2019 at the age of 82.

Lawal was born on July 24, 1970 to late Chief T. A. Lawal-Akapo, the Ojora of Lagos (1977-1993) and Olori M. A. Lawal-Akapo.

Gbolahan is a Lagos Prince from the Ojora, Aromire, Shokun and Abisogun branch of Oniru Royal families of Lagos State.

He is a seasoned administrator with over 25 years postgraduate experience with an in-depth

knowledge of the workings of the Public Sector. He is driven, focused, steadfast and passionate.

Prince Lawal’s excellent leadership, communication, collaborative and organizational skills have over the years sharpened his ability to identify, analyse and proffer strategic transformational change.

Lawal holds an Executive MSc in CITIES (LSE, Cities) from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

“He also obtained an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS], University

of London in 2008; a BSc Hons. in Botany from the University of PortHarcourt in 1992 and a product of the famous St. Gregory’s College, Lagos.

In addition, he has completed several courses and programmes amongst which are the International Housing Finance Program (IHFP) in 2018 and Advanced Management Programme (AMP) from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA in 2015. He is also a product of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the World Bank Institute, Washington D.C.

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NEWS

CBN Debits Banks $1.2 bn for Missing Regulatory Targets Obinna Chima with agency report

were debited by the regulator on Thursday and Friday, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is confidential. It follows a similar move in April, when the regulator took 1.47 trillion naira from almost 30 lenders for falling short of cash-reserve and loan-to-deposit ratios, people familiar with the matter said at the time.

Isaac Okorafor, spokesman for the CBN didn’t answer calls to his mobile phone or reply to messages seeking comment.

The central bank in January increased the cash-reserve requirement to 27.5% from 22.5% to curtail excess liquidity in the banking sector, which it said could stoke inflation.

Last year it boosted the loanto-deposit ratio 65% in a bid

Egypt Opposes Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination for WTO’s Top Job Ahamefula Ogbuwithagency reports

to accelerate lending. Some analysts have said these are contradictory policies that are almost impossible to meet.

Governor Godwin Emefiele last month kept the cash-reserve ratio at 27.5%, which is more than 10 times that of South African banks, while unexpectedly reducing the benchmark interest rate to try and help avert a recession.

The nomination of former Minister of Finance under the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the World Trade Organisation top job seem to have run into troubled waters as Egypt has requested that her nomination to contest for the office of the director-general should not be recognised.

In a letter to States of the African Union, Egypt contended that her nomination was out of time and therefore flew in the face of the rules of nomination which import they said, was that Nigeria no longer had a candidate for the position.

It said member states of the African Union (AU) had been required to nominate candidates for the directorgeneral position by November 30, 2019 over five months ago while the request to substitute Yonok Frederick Agah was made on June 4, 2020.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination to contest for the position and withdrew the candidacy of Agah, Nigeria’s permanent representative to WTO. In a letter kicking against the fresh nomination to the candidature committee, the permanent mission of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the AU said the Office of Legal Consent gave the opinion that Nigeria’s nomination of a new candidate “is not in conformity with the executive council decision�.

The Egyptian mission urged the ministerial committee on candidatures to officially inform the African Group in Geneva that L-R: Anchorman of CNN Quest Means Business, Mr. Richard Quest and Managing Director and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer of Sujimoto Construction Limited, Mr. Abdulhameed Mamdouh of Egypt and Eloi Laourou of the Republic Sijibomi Ogundele, during a chat on property development in Nigeria...recently of Benin are currently the “only

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) took N460 billion ($1.2 billion) from lenders as additional cash reserves for missing regulatory thresholds, according to people familiar with the matter.

The accounts of about 25 commercial lenders held with the Central Bank of Nigeria

TALKING PROPERTY ...

two endorsed African candidates�, according to the communication dated June 5, 2020. “During the ambassadorial level ministerial committee on candidatures meeting which was held on June 4, 2020, the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) gave its legal opinion regarding Nigeria’s nomination of a new candidate to the post of WTO-DG, in which the OLC clearly highlighted that – from a legal point of view- such a nomination is not in conformity with the executive council decision EX.CL/Dec. I 090(XXXVI), since the council’s decision, had specifically endorsed the three names of candidates as submitted by the ministerial committee’s report after thoroughly examining the qualifications and professional experience of each of the three above mentioned candidates. “The conformity of Nigeria’s new nomination as presented in its note verbal with the rules of procedure of the ministerial committee, specifically rule 11, para (1), (2), (3), (4); “If the new nomination – in the event it is submitted officially to the WTO in Geneva- could constitute a failure to comply with the decision of the executive council and be subject to sanction for non-compliance as mentioned in Rule I 6 of the rules of procedure of the ministerial committee.�

Flowing from the above, the mission urged the legal counsel office to provide its opinion on “the conformity of Nigeria’s new nomination with executive council decision no. EX1072 of July 2019, which requested member states to nominate candidates to the position of director-general of the World Trade Organisation

by November 30, 2019.

USAID Provides Nigeria 42% of Nigerians Lost Jobs Estate Mogul Assures of 200% with $234m for Health to COVID-19, Says NBS Returns on Properties Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced additional $234.5 million in development assistance for Nigeria as outlined in the 2015 bilateral Development Objectives Assistance Agreement (DOAG) between the US and Nigerian government.

The US Mission in a statement issued yesterday said that the additional development assistance brings the total assistance to the Nigerian people to $1.8 billion under the five-year DOAG agreement.

The statement quoted USAID Mission Director, Stephen Haykin, to have said that with this notification, the United States has deepened its commitment to Nigeria in meeting its development challenges.

He stressed that as the most populous country in Africa and with its largest economy, Nigeria has tremendous potential and holds immense influence over the future

of the continent.

Haykin stated: “Most of the new funding, more than $160 million, will finance new and existing activities to improve public health in Nigeria.

Another $34 million will help improve agriculture and water systems, while $21 million will enhance education, and $19.5 million will be dedicated to strengthen good governance. “In the health arena, $57.5 million of new funding will bolster malaria control under the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), $48 million will focus on enhancing maternal and child health, $35 million will support family planning efforts, $13.5 million will boost tuberculosis control, and $9 million towards better nutrition. “In agriculture, $24.2 million will support USAID’s Feed the Future portfolio, and $9.8 million for improved Water and Sanitation systems in areas of the greatest need. Another $21 million will expand USAID s support to improving early grade education where indicators are lowest.�

James Emejo in Abuja No fewer than 42 per cent of hitherto employed Nigerians lost their means of livelihood to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

It stated that the impact on employment and income had been widespread as “respondents who were working before the outbreak reported that they were not currently working due to COVID-19.�

According to the maiden COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey (COVID-19 NLPS) report, which was published yesterday by the statistical agency, 79 per cent of Nigerians also reported that their households total income had decreased since mid-March while some households struggled to purchase staple foods namely yam, rice and beans during the seven days prior to the interview with 35-59 per cent of households who needed to

purchase these staple, reporting that they were not able to buy them.

The report which monitors the impact of the pandemic, using May 2020 as baseline, essentially highlighted the cost of the pandemic on employment, education, economy and households within the review period and is expected to be published on monthly basis going forward.

It stated that the impact of the pandemic was most severe in the commerce, services and agricultural sectors of the economy.

The NBS added that the economic shocks experienced by Nigerians in the few months after the outbreak of Coronavirus far exceeded shocks experienced between 2017 and 2019.

The survey stated that an increase in prices of major food items represented the most widely reported shock experience by 85 per cent of the households since the outbreak compared to only 19 per cent between January 2017 and January 2019.

Rapists Would Face Full Wrath of the Law, Buni Promises Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Rapists would be made to face the full wrath of the law, Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai-Mala Buni has said.

The governor said the law of the state, which stipulates life imprisonment for rape against minor and 25 years for rape committed against adult, would

be strictly enforced.

The governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Mamman Mohammed on Friday tasked community leaders in the state to be extra vigilant and report any case of rape in their domains to the appropriate authorities.

He equally charged the police and judiciary to conduct adequate investigations and expedite ac-

tion on the judicial process and procedures to ensure that rapists are brought to book.

He warned that government will not tolerate any abuse deliberately caused by reckless persons who have no control over themselves.

He said: “The full wrath of the law will be applied on anyone who is proven to have committed rape in the state.�

The state law against rape, kidnapping and unnatural offences which was signed in 2018 provides life imprisonment for rape against minors and up to 25 years imprisonment for raping adults.

The law also stated that whoever commits the offence of kidnapping shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment of not less than fourteen (14) years.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Construction Limited, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele, has assured investors in his real estate of over 200 per cent Return on Investment (ROI) over three years in his Lecrezia apartments.

Ogundele who spoke in Lagos said COVID-19 had indeed been a blessing in disguise for him as “I have come up with more ideas than ever and even had time to study my past and also re-assess the opportunities in real estate. “Many have said that the real estate industry is one of the worst-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have been here before during the last recession and we didn’t sink!

Just like other times, we shall learn from it, rise and re-strategise. “We have three major projects in the pipeline that will bring a minimum of 200 per cent ROI to Sujimoto. Most projects will last a minimum of one year, so while other organisations are in limbo, folding their hands and waiting for the pandemic to be over before they take any meaningful action, we have already started. By the time the world is ready to restart, we will be done.�

According to him, at the core of his business idea was enthroning a principle he described as “Opportunity Per Cost (OPC) strategy� to ensure he spent nly on the very necessary.

The real estate mogul said he thought out the strategies having in mind that many people would have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that his company had developed a viable and profitable

strategy and found an opportunity for investors to invest N5 billion into Sujimoto and get N10 billion back in three years which he assured was guaranteed.

He explained that treasury bills and other money market instruments would give between five and 10 per cent ROI but his offers guaranteed 200 per cent, pointing out that it was not an idea that would be appealing to all and therefore would benefit only the discerning. “It’s simple, we are looking for the Warren Buffets who can discern opportunities and grab them! We will not quickly forget Ronald Wayne who sold his Apple shares in 1976 for $800.

Today, that share is worth $90 billion.�

On the insinuation that there were many unoccupied properties in choice areas of Lagos, he replied, “For us at Sujimoto, we do not know what ‘empty apartment’ means because, in the heat of the 2016/17 recession, we sold out projects in Ikoyi. “Our just concluded Giuliano project in Banana Island was sold-out six months before completion. Not only did we sell out, but we have also witnessed about three other resales, where a lady bought at N350 million and she sold for N480 million, making N130 million in 11 months. “At Sujimoto, we have only two things going for us, Quality and Integrity. I have no sponsors; no rich Father or powerful Aunt, all I have is my Word and addiction to Quality�, he added. Ogundele further said that many businesses will witness a change post-COVID-19 because change is the only permanent thing.

9

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Íž 2020

08054699539

Unending Abuse of Federal Character Law

I

n spite of protests by patriots, the Senate on Tuesday still went ahead to confirm Muheeba Dankaka from Kwara State, as the Board Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC). With that approval, the two top positions in the FCC – Chairman and Secretary – are now occupied by a section of the country.

The current Secretary of the FCC Board is Mohammed Bello Tukur from Taraba State.

For years, the two principal positions in the commission had always been occupied on the basis of North and South. President Muhammadu Buhari has painfully changed this. So, an agency that is supposed to enforce our federal character law in ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government, now lacks that basic quality i.e. equity, which it is supposed to enforce.

How then will the FCC be able to do its job dispassionately?

Well, some of the senators, led by Eyinnaya Abaribe, pointed out these holes and protested against the nomination of Dankaka, but as usual, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, ensured that the will of Buhari was done. Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege was even more foolish, saying Buhari’s power to nominate whoever he wants should not be challenged. Omo-Agege, with his law education, is unaware that this power must be used in conformity with the constitution of our country.

He has also forgotten that it is the business of the Senate to check the President in this regard and ensure national balancing in all appointments. That is why the President has to subject his appointments to the scrutiny of the Senate. This power of the Senate must be persistently used in the interest of the whole country, to promote unity, and not in the interest of the President.

Unfortunately, Lawan and his cohorts care less about the lopsidedness of the appointments of the Buhari government. They care less if the other parts of the country are unhappy about the selections. Under Buhari, almost all key departments and agencies of the federal government are headed by people from a section of the country. His appointments are evidently skewed. I am talking about appointments into key departments and agencies; not those jaundiced appointments to southerners contained in fraudulent statistics released by pro-Buhari activists to promote the fantasy

Buhari

equity in the President’s appointments.

By key appointments, I am talking about heads of mega-agencies like Nigeria Ports Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Petroleum Equalisation Fund, Energy Commission of Nigeria, National Broadcasting Commission, Pension Commission, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Federal Inland Revenue, Department of Petroleum Resources, Petroleum Pricing and Regulation Agency, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Tertiary Education Fund, Customs and Excise, Bank of Industry, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, the Universal Basic Education Commission and some other ones. There is predominance of persons from a few states/few ethnic groups at the top of all these agencies. This is the truth that must be told in the interest of our national unity.

I often quiver whenever I look at the list of those heading our military and paramilitary agencies. The imbalance here is frightening. Let’s quickly run through the list: Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Chief of Army Staff; Tukur Burutai; Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas; Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali. How does this

list represent Nigeria, in key military and para-military agencies like these? This list cannot and will not promote a sense of national unity in this beautiful country of ours called Nigeria.

Almost all the agencies under the Ministry of Internal Affairs are headed by people from a section of the country.

This has never happened in all our years as a country. Let’s look at the list here: Comptroller General, Nigeria Correction Services, Jaafar Ahmed; Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede; Controller General, Federal Fire Service, Liman Ibrahim and Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Abdullahi Muhammadu.

Let’s flip back to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria. Aside from the Chairman and the Managing Director being from a section of the country, membership of the board itself is dominated by a section of the country. The board members are Edward Adamu (Chairman) from North-east; Ahmed Kuru (managing Director), Northeast; Aminu Ismail, North-west; Umaru Ibrahim, North-west; Dr. Eberechukwu Uneze, South-east; Ahmed Abdullahi, North-west and Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, North-west. The new Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission, Lamido Yuguda, nominated last month by Buhari, will also statutorily join the AMCON board once cleared by the Senate. He will thus expand the dominance of the board by a section of the country.

At the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the new Chairman, Muhammad Nami, obviously emboldened by the lack of respect for federal character by the President, has gone further, promoting nepotism unhindered.

Nami has been doing this with so much impunity. On assumption of office, the FIRS boss fired all the eight Directors in the agency and replaced them with largely Nupes, the same ethnic group with the Niger State-born Nami. The appointed Nupe directors are: Director, Finance and Accounts, Ahmed Musa; Special Assistant Technical to the Executive Chairman, Mustapha Ndajumo; Director, Internal Affairs and Efficiency, Ahmed Ndannusa; Director, Communication and Liaison, Abdulahi Ismaila; and Director, Executive Chairman’s Office, Aisha Mohammed. What a country!

I will continue to insist that Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution must be respected. It states clearly: “The composition of the Government of the

Godswill Akpabio is in a Deep Shit I am still waiting for the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to respond to allegations that he was one of the politicians that got contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), without executing them.

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta blew the whistle on Akpabio, alleging that the minister got a N500 million contract from the agency in 2017 when he was a member of the Senate Committee on NDDC and collected the money in full without doing the jobs.

Nwaoboshi alleged that the Minister was given a fencing contract at the Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom, (N200 million), and at the Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene (N100 million).

He allegedly also got N150 million for training on the use of modern farming implements for youths and women of Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial District and N50 million for the renovation of a hostel at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.

Akpabio

Nwaoboshi contends: “The contracts were fully paid for but there was nothing to show for it. Findings show that

while there was no physical evidence of implementation of these projects, checks show contracts were awarded and fully paid for. Such practices have turned the region to sites of abandoned projects.�

I sincerely hope this is not true.

This is the same Akpabio that vowed few weeks back that he would not allow the NDDC to be raped under his watch. He said the NDDC had too many abandoned projects and that the agency had been turned to an “ATM� by politicians, “where you just walk in, pluck money and go away�. So, Akpabio was all along among the politicians that wrecked the NDDC? If Nwaoboshi’s claims turn out to be true, then, Akpabio has fully messed up. I spoke to a top shot at the NDDC yesterday and he told me that this minister is in a big shit. Yes, big shit.That was his words. Well, let’s wait and see how Akpabio will wiggle out of this mess. Anything can happen under this government.

Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.�

The words of wisdom of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio are also pertinent here: “One of the swiftest ways of destroying a Kingdom is to give preference to one particular tribe over another or show favour to one group of people rather than another. And to draw near those who should be kept away and keep away those who should be drawn near.� Buhari should read this over and over again. He was elected President of the entire country, not a section of this country.

He should start behaving like father to all.

Today, I will leave with these wise words of retired Colonel Abubakar Umar to President Buhari: “Mr. President, I regret that there is no kind or gentle words to tell you that your skewed appointments into the offices of the federal government, favoring some and frustrating others, shall bring ruin and destruction to this nation.�

Matawalle

N2.9 billion for Ramadan Feeding in Zamfara N2.9 billion! That was what Governor Bello Matawalle spent feeding some people in Zamfara State during the 2020 30-day Ramadan concluded recently. The excited governor confirmed the figure last Saturday and added that cows worth N55.2 million (280 cows) were further distributed to civil servants, groups and communities during the Sallah that followed the Ramadan. Textiles were also bought for 40, 000 orphans by Matawalle across the 17 emirates in the 14 local government areas of the state, to enable them have new dresses for Sallah.

While the fasting lasted, it means Governor Matawalle was spending an average of N100 million everyday feeding his people.

How is this possible? This is a Nigerian record. The way the governor sounded, you would probably think he was feeding everybody in the entire state for those 30 days. I doubt if the food got to one per cent of the people of this state, yet an average of N100 million was spent daily.

The figures are not adding up. Matawalle has a lot of questions to answer. Precisely how many people were fed? Who got what, when, where and how? Let’s keep our fingers crossed, hoping that Matawalle will offer clarifications.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY Wole Olanipekun

A Lawyer and His Community

Within and outside Nigeria, the name Wole Olanipekun is massive, especially when the issue at hand is law and constitutional development. Of course, it doesn’t take anybody who encounters this Senior Advocate of Nigeria a long time to know that law and his family are dear to his heart. But as Raheem Akingbolu found out in Ekiti recently, there is unbridled bond between this law icon and his Ikere community

S

Wole Olanipekun

t. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ikere Ekiti, is an ancient place of worship but today it has suddenly become ‘the bride’ of the community, thanks to an illustrious son of the town, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who recently built an ultramodern Church Auditorium, with world class facilities that can accommodate at least 1,500 worshipers, to complement the existing structure in the church. As this reporter found out after joining the congregation in a service this particular Sunday – weeks after it was inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, members of the church and leaders, including traditional chiefs are still serenading what the church and Ikere town have become after Olanipekun’s recent benevolent gesture.

Chief Michael Ajayi Owoeye, the Oisa of Okekere, and six other traditional chiefs, including; Ezekiel Olowobola, Eminiwa; Chief John Abiodun, the Ejemua; Samuel Osolo and Baale of Ilupeju were excited to discuss how they felt about the church as they offered our correspondent a seat opposite a row of specially made and well-furnished chairs, reserved for chiefs.

“Though this is not the first time Olanipekun would graciously donate to Ikere community but this particular one is special because it has never happened in any community in Ekiti State for an individual to single handedly build a church and hand it over to his community,” Oisa stated.

While Chief Olowobola, the Eminiwa emphasised the need for other well-meaning Christians to emulate Olanipekun, the Baale of Ilupeju and the Ejemua were keen about maintenance of the edifice, which they said would involve commitment of all members of the church. To these traditional leaders, the eminent lawyer has contributed his quota and must be encouraged by members of the church for the auditorium to sustain its standard.

Perhaps the man who captured the mood better, was the vicar of the church, Michael Olusola who linked what Olanipekun did to the efforts of a few men of God in the bible, who were willing and had the grace of building for God. “It takes a man who understands how God works to do what Olanipekun has done. There are many people in this part of the world who have the means but they don’t have the grace. As far as my memory can take me, this is the first time an individual would embark on a project like this single handedly, completed it and handed it over to the church. Yes, few years ago, the late Bishop Abiodun Adetiloye inaugurated a church in Odo Owa but his approach was quite different from this. Adetiloye in his own case mobilised people and resources but in this case, Olanipekun and members of his immediate family solely did this and handed it over. It is indeed marvelous in our hearts. That our people are in the state of ecstasy as you rightly observed is understandable because the legal practitioner has shown to them how to appreciate God. “I congratulate Chief Olanipekun

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

11

SUPER SATURDAY A Lawyer and His Community

L-R: Wole Olanipekun; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN) and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi at the dedication of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ikere Ekiti and his wife, neither because of the beauty nor the magnificence of this edifice, but because God counted them worthy and acceptable to build a place of worship for Him. David, the prominent King of Israel, was denied this great privilege, even though he pleaded passionately for the opportunity to build a house for God, God said no; rather, he was allowed to make provisions for the project. We can now all see that Olanipekun is blessed. Some started and died along the way, while some became physically incapacitated; others, for financial reasons, abandoned the project, but none of these became Chief’s lot,” the vicar said.

Despite his commitment to the Church, especially Ikere Anglican family, where he built and donated a vicarage, which was named after his late father, Pa Isaac Olanipekun, a few years ago, Olanipekun has in the last 12 years, intervened and contributed to Ikere Ekiti development, through various legacy projects.

They include New Cruse 92.7 FM, which recently began transmission and an ICT Centre within the premises of Amoye Grammar School, Olanipekun’s alma mater to mark the school’s 50th anniversary in 2009. There is also a modern Amenity Ward donated to State Specialist Hospital, Ikere and named after Madam Lydia Bosede Olanipekun, the lawyer’s

It takes a man who understands how God works to do what Olanipekun has done.

There are many people in this part of the world who have the means but they don’t have the grace. As far as my memory can take me, this is the first time an individual would embark on a project like this single handedly, completed it and handed it over to the church

mother. Apart from building a brand new ward equipped with modern facilities, Olanipekun also purchased a brand new ambulance to attend to emergencies and complement the new facility he had put in place.

While doing all these, Olanipekun never forgot his love for law and its growth in his place of birth.

To demonstrate this, the Asiwaju of Ikere Ekiti has literally assumed the position of a father-figure for the Ikere Ekiti Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Few years ago, the former NBA National President had donated a Bar Centre to the branch along College of Education, Ikere road.

Speaking on the relationship between the senior lawyer and the local chapter of the professional body, the branch Chair, Oludayo Olorunfemi, said it would be difficult for even the generation of lawyers yet unborn to write the history of the centre without a special chapter dedicated to Olanipekun.

“Yes, Chief is known all over the world as a legal colossus but like the Yoruba would say, “Ile laati nko eso rode”. In many ways and through different efforts, he has demonstrated his love for Ikere Ekiti Branch of the NBA. Personally, I look at his contribution beyond the physical projects he donated. He is simply a go-to-patron anytime for moral and financial support.

It will interest Nigerians to know that just last year, Olanipekun donated an 18-seater bus to NBA, Ikere Branch, to aid mobility of members to official and ceremonial functions within and outside the state. Two years ago, at the sideline of national conference of the NBA held in Lagos, Olanipekun set aside time to host lawyers from Ekiti and Ondo. Indeed, in him, we have found a super mentor.”

After given so much to Church, law, education and health care, Olanipekun’s set tongues wagging recently when his radio station in the town, New Cruse 92.7 FM, Ikere Ekiti, commenced full transmission to listeners within and outside the state.

According to Clement Akinwumi, a staff of Ekiti State Ministry of Agric and an indigene of Ikere Ekiti, with the F.M Station, Olanipekun has simply changed the entertainment landscape in Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Kogi and Osun axis.

“Chief Olanipekun is our hero and we see this new station as another way to raise the bar for the community. Beyond Ikere, this will boost the entertainment landscape of the South West and part of the North Central,” Akinwumi said.

While taking this reporter on a tour of the station, the trio of Johnson Makoji, Jesuloluwa Olanipekun and Omotayo Fakolade, all staffers of the broadcasting station, emphasised that the station boasts of modern digital equipment in line with the broadcasting trends of the 21st Century. They also stated that the manage-

ment has carefully assembled tested and experienced hands, including the station’s General Manager, Jide Ogunluyi, to drive the operation of the station. Ogunluyi has over 27 years’ experience in broadcasting and station management.

The radio station, which is located along Kajola, Ado Road, Ikere was recently dedicated by the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye.

The bishop described establishment of the new station as a positive development. Ajakaye urged the station to uphold the ethics of the media profession and be fair in its reportage of activities.

A former lawmaker who represented Ikere 1 at the State House of Assembly, Wale Ayeni, described the Olanipekun as the architect of modern Ikere. “To me, Asiwaju Olanipekun has changed the face of Ikere and raised the stake of the community, I can only call on aspiring youths of our land to emulate his good ways,” he said.

Olanipekun said the New Cruse 92.7 FM was established to break new grounds in broadcasting and journalism. He disclosed that the signals of the radio station were being received in states like Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Ondo, Kogi, Edo and Delta.

The legal icon said the station was not established to project the ideology of any political party but to inform, entertain and educate its listeners.

Earlier in an interview with THISDAY on what informed his decision to build a church for his community, Olanipekun stated that it was primarily to fulfill God’s purpose in his life. As an accomplished lawyer and philanthropist, he pointed out that there had always been God’s grace in whatever he lays hands upon and he must appreciate Him. “I was introduced to Christianity within the precincts of this very church; brought here by my paternal grandmother, Evangelist/Prophetess Deborah Ajigbeda, who gave me the name Oluwole, prophesying greatness to my life. I thank God that the prophecy of my paternal grandmother has come to pass.

“The Great commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ as encapsulated in Matthew 28:19 is “Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”.

“To me, this is a mandate to every Christian, irrespective of his position in the church, whether as a Bishop, Pastor, Priest, Vicar, Evangelist, Lawyer, Doctor, Engineer, Deacon, Deaconess and others. Within the church of God, it’s my conviction that everyone has got a ministry to serve, and through grace, this church structure is part of the ministry God has put in my care to discharge,” he said.

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SATURDAY JUNE 6, 2020 •T H I S D AY

13

͞˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Black lives Matter...

Nigeria and the Rape Epidemic

O

n Sunday, May 31st, the attention of Nigerians drifted away from the raging effects of the Coronavirus pandemic to the shocking news of how a 22-year-old Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, died after she was gang-raped by a group of boys.

Uwaila, who till her untimely passing, was a firstyear student of Microbiology at the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Edo State was reportedly hit with a fire extinguisher by her assailants after they raped her on May 13. Sadly she died on May 31, 18 days after, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

The incident took place inside the Ikpoba Hill branch of Redeemed Christian Church of God, in Benin City, Edo State where the late Uwaila had gone to study. The only crime she committed was seeking a quiet place to study her books. Now, her hopes of a bright future have been dashed. Now her parents are left to mourn her death.

Outraged by the death of Uwaila, Nigerians, since Sunday have taken to Twitter with the hashtag #JusticeForUwa. From movie stars to music stars, to students, to public servants, to NGOs, all have been calling on the Nigerian police not to allow the latest case to slip into the long list of unresolved rape cases in the country. For instance, popular Nigerian musician, Folarin Falana, known as Falz, called for a nationwide protest against the wanton cases of rape in the country, saying that it is so exhausting to see injustice continue to thrive time and again.

The music star whose social commentary, This is Nigeria, cast a spotlight on how years of corruption, insecurity, insurgency, unemployment has affected the country said, “Every time we say NOT AGAIN, and then there is a new story. Enough is enough. It’s too disheartening. “Justice must be served for the innocent souls we keep on losing. #JusticeForTina #JusticeForUwa� Nigerian actress, Genevieve Nnaji, equally expressed her dissatisfaction with the rape cases. She said, “they either abuse their power, or have the power to abuse. In or out of uniform, we live in constant fear of men. Tina Ezekwe, Vera Omozuwa. Rest In Peace my darlings. We will get justice�. Weeks earlier, there were several reports of how an 18-year-old girl, identified as Jennifer was allegedly gang-raped by five boys who were said to be her friends in Kaduna State, after giving her a liquid content. The hashtag #JusticeforJennifer had also begun trending online.

On Monday, protesters, including students of the UNIBEN, activists and concerned individuals marched to the headquarters of the State police command in Edo State demanding justice for late Omozuwa. Bearing placards decrying rape with such inscriptions as “protect women,� “don’t rape them,�

NEMA and the New DG

“stop the stigma,� the protesters wore black attires.

Sadly, just as the social media went agog with a series of demands for justice following the death of Uwaila, another news filtered in about how an 18-year-old girl, identified as Barakat Bello was reportedly raped and murdered at her father’s home in Ibadan, Oyo State. The latest incidences are just three out of thousands of cases of rape and sexual harassment that have occurred in the country.

Many have been unheard of because the victims are often afraid to speak up. At home, in market places, on public transports, in schools and now in churches, there appears to be no hiding place for the female folk. The Country Director for Amnesty International in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho said the sad incident “resonates because even in the spaces that women and girls should be safest from gender-based violence, including the home, the schools and now places of worship, it is getting there�.

She explained that authorities in Nigeria have not done enough to combat sexual violence. “The method the state has been using over the years clearly has not moved with the intensity required to deter rapists and potential rapists and to protect women and girls�.

Gideon Arinze, Lagos

T

he recent appointment of Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd.) as the new Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by the President Muhammadu Buhari remains one of the best decisions of the current administration in effort to restore conďŹ dence and credibility to the agency. In summary, these were the major losses by the agency under the immediate past Director- General, Mr Mustapha Y. Maihaja.

Maihaja’s four-year tenure would have elapsed

by April 2021, but under his watch the agency was dogged with series of controversies and allegations of corrupt practices. The sacked NEMA DG was also embroiled in crisis with his local chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State where he was expelled over anti-party activities. The House of Representatives during investigations into NEMA activities in 2018 accused him of mismanagement and inefficiency.

The new DG of NEMA has recognized the importance of media as a veritable tool in public sensitization on disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response in line with NEMA’s mandate on disaster awareness. He has expressed

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

the need for transparency in the management of the agency’s resources and assured that media would be actively involved to keep the public abreast of its activities.

In the inaugural media briefing on 21 May, 2020, the new DG sought to mobilize available resources on the fight against disasters. In his words, “In practical terms, disaster management will seek to mobilize resources of all relevant bodies and organizations, national or international, towards preparedness, prevention, mitigation, emergency response and recovery.�

Muhammed assured of his commitment to uphold public trust and confidence as he steers the wheel of disaster management especially at these times. He promised to effectively respond to disasters as they occur and even before they occur. He said, “While the world is grappling with the management of all the already existing disasters, the current COVID-19 Pandemic has made the situation even worse. This is the scenario we are truly confronted with. Despite steps and actions taken by people or states; little can be done to avert the occurrences of these disasters.

What is important therefore is to effectively respond and mitigate the effect of disasters once they occur�.

The new DG stated that an organization is the fulcrum of its success; as such staff would be equipped with the requisite knowledge through trainings to ensure they give the best whenever called upon. This appears to be a rainbow in the clouds for the agency as it was plagued with challenges.

AVM Muhammed has taken to NEMA a vast wealth of experience and achievements to benefit the nation and disaster management. He was a former Chief of Policy and Plans at the Nigerian Airforce before his retirement. A holder of prestigious national and international flying licenses and recipient of several distinguished military service honours, he had also held other operational and strategic positions in the Nigerian Airforce that include the Air Secretary, Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command and Managing Director of Nigerian Airforce Investment.

AVM Muhammed has flown several aircraft types which include: Air Force One (B737 BBJ), Alpha Jet, Gulf Stream 550, Dassault Falcon 900, Citation Jet, L39 ZA and Bulldog 123. His decorations include General Service Star (GSS), Pass Staff College(PSC) and Fellow Defence College, among others.

NEMA, in the hands of Muhammadu Muhammed, is undergoing a positive turn around.

Disaster management in Nigeria is once again a priority under the new leadership.

Adetola Idemudia, Abuja

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͞˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸

NEWS

Delta Index Case Named ‘COVID-19 Ambassador’

Ondo Threatens another Lockdown if Cases Increase

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Ondo State Government yesterday said it might be forced to lock down the state again if the number of COVID-19 cases kept increasing.

The state has recorded four deaths and discharged 21 patients while eight patients are currently receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Akure.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Special Duties and Strategies, Dr. Doyin Odebowale, gave the hint of another lockdown during monitoring of Jumat services in mosques.

Over 160 persons who might have come in contact with three new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state are currently being traced.

Odebowale said at the several

COVID-19 index case in Delta State, Chief Austin Eruotor, has been decorated as the state’s maiden ambassador in Delta’s fight against the dreaded Coronavirus.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, who unveiled the new anti-Coronavirus ambassador before newsmen at the Government House, Asaba yesterday, expressed the state government’s concern about the level of cynicism among citizens in the state regarding the global pandemic.

Eruotor, a holder of three traditional titles who hails from Ethiope East Local Area, tested positive for the disease as announced by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on February 7, 2020.

Also with the international businessman who arrived Nigeria from Canada three days earlier, said he dedicated himself to the campaign

to enlighten people that the COVID-19 was real but not a death sentence as he survived it because he was taken for treatment early enough.

The index case from Asaba area of the state who is among the 31 discharged persons in the state, Mr. Jerry Azinge, also stressed that stigmatisation of victims of the disease was baseless and advised people to go for testing early to enhance their chances of get well quickly.

On the observation by the two survivors of COVID-19 in the state that there must be a cure somehow since they were treated at the state’s management centres at Oghara and Asaba, respectively; the commissioner maintained that no known cure or vaccine had yet been found or approved by the relevant global authorities for the disease.

Ononye said, “It is treatable but no known drug that kills the Coronavirus has been found or endorsed by the

World Health Organisation (WHO).

The drug had not killed the virus but prevents the virus from multiplying and damaging body.�

He said that there was no basis for stigmatisation of persons on account of their COVID-19, adding that the state medical team had subjected a total of 850 suspects to clinical investigation based on some 7, 708 telephone calls received.

He further disclosed that 13 health workers had been infected in the line of duty across the state. “No one should doubt that COVID-19 is real. There are confirmed cases in 13 local government areas of the state and 66 per cent of those affected are males while 34 per cent are females, with bed occupancy rate of 48 per cent.�

The Health Commissioner also disclosed that the apparently youngest case in the state, a two-month-old baby girl, who tested positive for

the disease along with her mother, was at the Specialist Hospital Asaba.

He said that the girl was among the 116 cases so far recorded in Delta but was responding well to treatment, adding that although the baby was initially on medical ventilators, she would be well and ready for discharge in no distant future. “A two months old baby girl has been with us for about one week; she’s doing well and she is being treated by paedriatricians at the Specialist Hospital Asaba, and the mother is with her,� Ononye said.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, who decorated the special health ambassador and presented him with a letter of credence at a brief ceremony, stressed that “COVID-19 is real� and urged the people to accept that fact and stop the carefree attitude that undermine the health and social protocols to contain the disease.

George Floyd: Pan-African Group Calls for Renewed Relationship Bennett Oghifo A pan-African group has called on Africans around the world to unite and forge renewed and increased relationship to stem a rising trend of brutality they suffer.

The group, comprising African singers, artistes, academics, journalists, civil society and business leaders, made the call yesterday in a solidarity statement that condemned police brutality that led to the tragic killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African American in the United States, recently.

According to the group, “In these strange moments of uncertainty and fear, the news from America has broken our hearts. We cannot remain silent! We cannot remain deaf and blind to the plight of our AfricanAmerican brothers and sisters. We are shocked by the brutal murder of George Floyd by police officers. “The unbearable sight of George Floyd suffocating under the knee of a police officer in uniform looks

like a return to the dark ages.

George Floyd’s agony and death crowns a long litany of screams and supplications, adding one more atrocity to a chain of brutalities and racist killings. — It has revived in us the old wounds of our souls and summoned painful, shared memories.�

The group said it was impossible to remain silent in the face of tyranny against Africans. “We cannot remain silent because we know how much we have in common with our brothers and sisters in our global black community - our African Diaspora.� The group related to the agony of the forebears of African Americans as they were forced into slavery. “We know how your ancestors continued the resistance and the struggle for emancipation and dignity during the solitary traumas lived in the hulls of slave boats and the humiliation of plantations, and on the islands of freedom they built through the ages.

“That is the determined struggle for civil rights that you continue to wage fearlessly. Africans on the continent and around the world are grateful to African Americans and black leaders, writers, and thinkers for sharing with our elders the emancipatory idea of Pan-Africanism and for being connected with our struggles against colonialism and, of course, apartheid. “No, we cannot remain silent with the cruel killing of George Floyd and the cries of citizens, black and brown and white, in the streets of cities in America and in other continents, declaring to the world that Black Lives Matter. “How can we be silent when we know that your long walk to real freedom echoes the struggles of yesterday and resonates with the struggles we are waging here in Africa, your mother continent?

We are waging these struggles to advance our common causes: democratic freedoms, dignity, equality, social justice, the rights

and well-being of women and all minorities, the integrity of leaders and institutions, economic independence, and finally the control of our cultural and historic destiny. “We cannot remain unmoved when we also have good news to share with our African American brothers and sisters; news that goes beyond the clichĂŠs, rebukes all forms of racial profiling, and updates old beliefs into fresh reality: a new Africa is truly emerging before our eyes.

A resilient Africa carried by our communities and a dynamic and enterprising civil society, animated by a generation of young people and women determined to lift the continent from the fatality of despair, and create a future of unity in freedom, dignity and abundance. “Together, we are the soldiers of hope engaged in the building of a new African nation, deeply rooted in our strongest cultural heritage, with the ideological and intellectual contributions of African-American achievements.

James Sowole in Akure

mosques visited, physical distancing was not thoroughly observed but worshippers without nose masks were not allowed entry.

He said the COVID-19 Committee would meet with Muslim leaders in the state to enlighten them more on the need to observe protocols. “We have been engaging the leadership and we hoped there will be an engagement.

We expect them to improve on.

There was not much so distancing and we are not satisfied. “We will get in touch with the leadership. We are getting more cases and we are not happy. We don’t want a situation where the government lock down the state again. If it continues, the government will lock down the state,�

Odebowale said.

Nasarawa Economic Team Donates N5.4m, Face Masks to Government Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Nasarawa State Economic Advisory Council yesterday donated N5.4 million and 5,000 locally produced face masks as its contributions to the fight against COVID-19 in the state.

The economic team’s donation was coming on the heels of the confirmation by Governor Abdullahi Sule of four deaths in the state due to the pandemic.

The Chief Executive Officer of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, who is also a member of the State Economic Advisory Council, Dr. Faisal Shu’aib, presented the donations to Governor Sule in the Government House, Lafia.

According to Shu’aib, “the donations are the contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as the governor’s fight against the scourge is holistic and worthy of applause as stated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.�

“We are also mindful of how you have taken rapid steps to make sure that this outbreak is contained and we are happy that Nasarawa is not one of those states that have widespread transmission of the disease.�

Meanwhile, Governor Sule yesterday confirmed that four persons had so far been killed by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

Sule disclosed this in Lafia during the state Task Force Committee on COVID-19 meeting in the Government House, Lafia.

The governor said that the current situation of COVID-19 in the state, the state had so far collected a total number of 705 samples.

According to the governor, “out of this number, we have 90 confirmed cases, and have since received 658 results while we await other results.

Unfortunately, we have four recorded deaths in the state.�

Religious Leaders Parley on ESHDC Hails Ugwuanyi on 13km Abapka-Harmony Estate-Emene Road Fayemi, Reopening of Worship Centres

The General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC), Mr. Chukwuemelie Lambert Agu, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the construction of the 13-kilometre Nike Lake Junction-Harmony Estate-Amorji Nike- Adoration Pilgrimage Centre –Orie Emene

Road.

The massive virgin road cuts across the thick forest of Umuchigbo community in Enugu East Local Government Area, where one of the corporation’s biggest low cost housing estates is located.

Reacting to the project, which was recently inaugurated by Gov-

ernor Ugwuanyi amid jubilation, the ESHDC’s Chief Executive Officer disclosed that the road has opened up the Harmony Estate for rapid development.

Agu added that the socioeconomic value of the estate has appreciated, stressing that “this is a welcome development towards our vision to provide and encourage

proliferation of affordable housing for the people of Enugu State.�

He, therefore, called on the public, especially allottees in the Harmony Estate, to take advantage of the recent massive road project in the area, by the Enugu State government, to develop their property, to encourage the governor’s sound vision for the state.

Lifts Lockdown on Kabba/Bunu Sokoto Discharges Last 5 Patients Bello LGA, Insists Kogi Virus-free OnuminyaInnocent

Sokoto State taskforce on COVID-19 has discharged the five remaining Coronavirus disease patients in the state.

The chairman of the taskforce who is also the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Muhammad Ali Inname disclosed this while briefing journalists at Sultan Maccido Qur’anic Institute Sokoto yesterday. “I’m happy to inform you that in the last nine days, the state has not recorded any confirmed case of the disease,� he said.

According to Inamme, the initial guideline was that when a patient tested negative another test had to

be conducted before he or she could be discharged, stressing that the new guideline was that after the patient spends 10 days in isolation centre and tests negative, he could be allowed to go.

He further added that since the state first recorded the confirmed case of the disease in April 19, 2020, the highest number was recorded in the 19th week where some days there were 11 cases.

The commissioner averred that out of the 115 confirmed cases in the state, 102 were successfully treated and discharged.

He hinted that 778 samples were tested in the state and 704 contacts of 115 patients were traced.

Ibrahim Oyewale , in Lokoja Kogi State Government has lifted the imposition of total lockdown on Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of state with immediate effect, following the purported confirmation index case by NCDC in Kabba on Monday.

The state Governor, Yahaya Bello who made this known yesterday while addressing journalists at Government House, Lokoja, said that the state COVID -19 management team led by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Saka Haruna Audu and other members had certified there should be no extension of lockdown

in the local government.

Bello explained that the state government had to take proactive steps to stop the spread after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control purported index cases, stressing that as responsible government, action must be quickly taken to avert the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic in Kabba/Bunu local government.

The governor explained the COVID-19 management team in the state had gone round to Kabba/ Bunu Local government to carry out tests and all returned negative, stressing that there was no need to extend the lockdown and thereby lifted it with immediate effect.

Victor Ogunje Ă“Ă˜ ĂŽĂ™ ÕÓÞÓ Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday met with religious leaders as part of steps to reopen worship centres shut to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The governor at the meeting inaugurated a committee to fashion out modalities and come out with workable protocol that won’t compromise lives of worshippers after the religious centres might have been reopened.

The committee is made up of representatives of the state government, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor gave the committee one week to submit its report to the state government.

Fayemi who stressed that the lives of the people of the state were very precious to him noted that the meeting was in fulfillment of the promise he made in the statewide broadcast he made on May 31.

The governor emphasised that attention will be paid to working

out modalities that would not jeopardise the lives and health of worshippers.

He explained that his administration had always pursued harmony among Ekiti citizens and residents irrespective of their religious beliefs.

The governor urged the committee to take cognisance of full compliance to the COVID-19 protocols in coming out with its recommendations.

Members of the committee from the government side are the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Foluso Daramola; Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu; the Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi and Director General, Office of Transformation, Strategy and Delivery, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko.

Christian leaders on the committee include the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Fr. Peter Olowolafe; Bishop Clement Abifarin and Rev. Joshua Orikogbe.

Muslim leaders in the committee include the state President of NSCIA, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni; Alhaji M.A. Abdulsalami and Prof. M.A. Abdul Raheem.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͞˜ ͺ͎Ͱ͎

15

NEWS

Six APC Aspirants for Edo Governorship Screening t Aspirant credentials to be displayed for claims and objections Seriki Adinoyi Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă?

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced six governorship aspirants to be screened for the party's June 22, 2020 Primary Election to decide the party's Edo State governorship candidate.

The six aspirants who have bought, completed and submitted the party's expression of interest and nomination forms are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, H.E. Godwin Obaseki, Rt. Hon. Dr. Pius Odubu, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Hon. Osaro Obazee and Hon. Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen. “In our bid to ensure due

diligence and transparency in the screening exercise and learning from our recent shocking experiences, we are determined to avoid any lapses in the process. Therefore, we are making the submitted information and documents of the governorship aspirants available to our party members and the public for verification of claims and to support the screening panel with information or any objection to the claims contained in the submission by the aspirants. “Consequently, the various submissions will be displayed at the party's National Secretariat in Abuja and in Benin City, the Edo State capital from Monday 8th to Tuesday 9th June, 2020 for

claims and objections. “We are inviting party members and indeed members of the public to assist the screening committee by scrutinising the information, credentials and documents provided by the governorship aspirants and availing the Screening Committee of counter and correct information, if applicable,� a statement by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa Onilu said.

In line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, APC had earlier released its time table

and schedule of activities for the conduct of the 2020 Governorship Primary Elections in Edo States.

Sales of nomination and

station which exploded, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and TheInspector-GeneralofPolice,Mr. seven other policemen.

The gang of robbers later proMohammedAdamu,yesterday ordered a full-scale manhunt for ceeded to the branch of the old thekillersofeightpolicemenanda generation bank where they opened womaninIsanlu,YagbaEastLocal fire on the bank premises, killing GovernmentArea of Kogi State a woman, who came to transact duringabankrobberyoperation. business.

A Police Force Headquarters The IG has also deployed a team of crack detectives from statement issued in Abuja said the the Intelligence Response Team IGP had also directed the Assistant (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad Inspector-General (AIG) of Police (STS) and Federal-SARS to Kogi in charge of the Zone 8 Police State to ensure that the criminals Headquarters, Lokoja, AIG Yunana are apprehended and brought to Babas, to immediately assess and book. The robbers had before review the security arrangement in embarking on the robbery operation Kogi State in order to prevent any lobbed a dynamite into the police future occurrence of such untoward

incident. "The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators of the attack on Isanlu Police station and a commercial bank in Yagba East LGA of Kogi State on 4th June, 2020.

"The IGP while condemning the incident, has deployed a team of crack detectives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Federal-SARS to Kogi State to ensure that the criminals are apprehended and brought to book," it said. It said the AIG was to personally oversee the ongoing investigations into the attack and coordinate intelligence

ing documents was according to the party, was Wednesday 3rd June, 2020 while publication of claims and objections would be from Monday 8th to Tuesday 9th June, 2020.

Imo Govt Arraigns Online Journalist before Magistrate Court for Alleged Defamation

Amby Uneze Ă“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂœĂ“

ImoStategovernmentyesterday arraigned the Director of Online mediaofthePeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP), Mr.AmbroseNwogwugwubeforeaMagistratecourt sitting in Owerri, the state capital on a seven court charges.

In the charge sheet with reference no: OW/217c/2020, the Attorney

KogiBank Robbery: IGOrders ManhuntforKillersofEightPolicemen,Others Kingsley Nwezeh Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

expression of interest forms began at the APC National Secretariat from Wednesday 20th May to Tuesday 2nd June, 2020.

The last day for submission of completed forms and accompany-

that will lead to unearthing the whereabouts of the hoodlums and the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.

"The IGP condoles the families of the police officers and other persons who lost their lives in the course of duty during the encounter with the hoodlums.

"He calls on the Isanlu Community and the entire people of Kogi State to remain calm and to avail the police with credible information that will help in the speedy arrest of the criminal elements", the statement signed

by Force PRO and Deputy Commisioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, said.

General of the Imo State vsAmbrose Nwogwugwu, it alleged that the defendant on various dates, published in his Facebook account that Governor Hope Uzodimma planned to defraud the state of N5.2 billion being funds meant for ex-governors, deputies, speakers and deputy speakers of the state house of Assembly.

Also it was alleged that the defendant published in his Facebook account that the governor, Hope Uzodimma planned to establish 15 Almajiri schools in the state as well as planning to rename Imo State University after Abba Kyari State

University, Owerri.

It was observed that Ambrose Nwaogwugwu was surreptitiously moved to the Owerri Magistrate Court to be tried by B. U Adikibe, Chief Magistrate Court without any notice or access to his lawyers.

Upon noticing that information ton the case was missing as government intended to hurriedly arraign and remand him in prison without legal representation but concerned people gathered lawyers who entered appearance for Ambrose Nwaogwugwu even on pro-bono basis,.before the arrival of his legal representation.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IBEGBUNAM CHIDUBEM KENNETH, now wish to be known and addressed as IBEGBUNAM CHINEDU KENNETH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS COMFORT AUGUSTINE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS COMFORT AUGUSTINE IMEH JUMBO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AYENI AYOMIKUN JOY, now wish to be known and addressed as ORIYOMI AYOMIKUN JOY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

16

˜ ˞ JUNE 6, 2020

JOE/FAJ

THEFRONTLINES

Can Siemens Solve the Power Jinx?

JOSEPH USHIGIALE

S

ince the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, one of its biggest moves so far is the current audacious plan to provide the country with uninterrupted power supply that had eluded it for so long.

To achieve that, we are told that the Buhari government last July, entered into a bilateral or country to country agreement where Siemens, a German company is to begin the process of rehabilitating the dilapidated power infrastructure across the country after which it would move to expand power capacity from the current 13000 megawatts to 25000 over a period of six years.

Nigeria’s quest for uninterrupted power supply is now legendary. Yet, despite the huge investment by government in the power sector, very little results are achieved in the end. The corollary of this is that the country gradually slipped from being a productive country that it was in the 80s to a consumptive country with capacity utilization dropping from optimum to below 30%.

Given the importance of power to production, the lack of it has ushered in an era of high rates of unemployment and crime, high cost of running businesses because of energy cost, high prices etc.

Which is the reason every succeeding administration including Buhari has made power supply a cardinal point in its development agenda.

Already, the administration has activated the process to make this a reality. A presidency tweet from @NGRPresident handle announced last month that “President @MBuhari has directed the Ministries of @PowerMinNigeria and @FinMinNigeria, and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) to conclude the engagement with Siemens AG to commence the pre-engineering & concessionary financing aspects of the Presidential Power Initiative.�

Signifying his intention to end the country’s power challenges, “Our goal is simply to deliver electricity to Nigerian businesses and homes. Our intention is to ensure that our cooperation is structured under a government-to-government framework. No middlemen will be involved so that we can achieve value for money for Nigerians,� Buhari said at the time.

It was learnt according to Bloomberg, that the project will be financed by concessionary loans covered by Euler Hermes Group SAS, a large provider of credit insurance, the statement said. The government will “on-lend� the funding to the shareholders of Nigeria’s power distribution companies and Siemens will have sole responsibility for selecting its contractors.

It was gathered that to ensure fairness and transparency of the intervention, Buhari has also directed that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) should be engaged to assist in developing the commercial structure of the intervention, as well as in undertaking an independent company valuation of the discos.

It has been hi fives and backslapping ever since this deal was sealed with many hailing it as heralding a new era in the power sector.

Without a doubt it is but I am not in full agreement with the administration’s approach and model adopted in striving to solve the power problems bedeviling this country and I have my reasons. Apart from sealing a country to country agreement, whatever that means, the administration has not demonstrated that it is effectively doing anything different from what previous administrations have done and ended failing to achieve any meaningful results in the long run.

What do we mean by country to country agreement? Is Germany a power company? What is the benefit of this country to country agreement when other countries like the United Kingdom, USA, Japan, Canada, etc were not involved? Why Siemens and why Germany? Did Nigeria invite other countries to participate in this power bid? If no, why? How did Siemens emerged as the preferred bidder. Who conducted the bid, where and when and who are the other bidders?

Per adventure, it unravels that Siemens emerged under the past Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, why did the succeeding Buhari accepted a company prequalified by an administration it terms fantastically corrupt? Could it not have been more transparent if the exercise was voided and another more transparent bid called?

To ensure the much vaunted transparency, I had expected the administration to call for an international open bid inviting local and international companies to bid for the power projects which

Rape as The Next Epidemic

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hy do men rape? And some women too? We are told of the recent rapacious pastime amongst the indolent folks have blurred the gender divide. The tragic double-headed madness being unleashed across the country this year by sex-starved sociopaths has gone beyond paperback bit-part novels or magazine features of distant deviants pillaging the Western world.

In the past few months, we have seen and read sick but true stories of painfully extraordinary crimes against women, and even more dastardly, against the girl-child. Incidence of sexual violence against women has been with us for a very long time; however, in the past decade it has assumed a wider and more vicious dimension bordering on a devastating epidemic. A 2015 UN’s Children’s Fund report exclaimed that one in four boys, and one in ten girls have experienced some forms of sexual violence before age 18! Global estimation is even more frightening: one in three women experience sexual harassment in a lifetime. Another report claimed over 20% of Nigerian women have suffered or survived this crime - that is a staggering 40m people!

The recent alleged rape and murder of 22-year old University of Benin student, Uwa Omozuwa; the 12-year old reportedly violated by 11 men in Jigawa in May; and the April gang-rape of 18-year old Jennifer by five men in Kaduna (among several others) have shot up the nerves of the populace who now demand for swift and severe justice for perpetrators of this nauseating epidemic.

As it stands, the victims of rape are hopelessly disadvantaged by systemic and cultural amplification of the Nigerian nonchalance. Though the law has widened the hitherto shallow definition of rape, and conducts unbecoming; and the penalties have ballooned to life imprisonment for rape and 14 years for confirmed attempt; the protocols leading to the achievement of justice, clinical and psychological support, personal and family closure, and compensation for the victims of rape, are grossly inadequate, or criminally non-existent.

How do you know a troubling matter has reached epidemic proportion? The prevalence of the ‘disease’ up to a point that many people now shrug their shoulders when they hear of incredibly heinous acts, like full-grown adults having carnal knowledge of innocent children under the age of five! You know it is an epidemic when we begin to normalise brutal violations of the private dignity of our children and women by men and boys whose hearts have been calloused by some unnameable depravities. Then, this culture of normalising rape, and even more despairing, of raking up excuses to exonerate rapists, and demonize their victims - Oh, why did she wear mini at that ungodly hour? Why did she wear such sheer dress that showed too much? Why was she in his room at such late hour? What was she looking for in that neighbourhood? Why should she come into the house of God dressed like that? Why did she get drunk or high without friends or an escort? And more seemingly idiotic excuses and mindless blames.

Our insensitivity and callousness have greatly endangered our

children and women; and emboldened would-be perpetrators and unrepentant violators to strut and swagger across the landscape wreaking emotional, physical and economic devastation.

The unfortunate consequences of pampering rapists after all these decades have led to what is now in epidemic proportion.

Estimates now put at 90% the number of violators who are well known to the victims prior to the crime. Irrespective of age, status or lineage, violators fired by sundry demons and deranged fantasies smoother filial and familial ties, and have their way. More often than not, they get away with it - due to all sorts of societal pressures and governmental negligence. From the seven-month infant raped by her “uncle�...to the 11-year girl serially raped and threatened by “maiguard�...to the beautiful teenager despoiled by a gang of her classmates...to the plucky entrepreneur raped and strangled in her hotel room...to the landlady raped multiple times by her young assailants, and stabbed mortally...to the 80-year old grandmother sexually violated by her drug-inspired evil grandchild... the list is morbidly long, and widespread. Yet, our government, perhaps, like majority of their people, appear indulgent, or at the very least, apathetic to the issues that surround this epidemic. One wonders, if the government had responded half as much as they have done to the Coronavirus pandemic, the broiling anguish in the land would have been severely minimized.

The situation today, in response to the epidemic of rape, is distressing. The police accuse parents of rape victims of “killing the evidence� by their acts, or inaction, in protecting their children from stigmatization, a future without responsible suitors, and plethora of other reasons. But can you honestly blame them?

Cases are reported at the police stations, for those who are too disturbed to sweep it under the bed. At the station, especially if she is fairly full grown, the initial reaction is a knowing countenance (much like - “na today?�). While the victim’s parents are expected to mobilize the police so as to invite and interrogate the suspect; find a hospital to conduct baseline examination to ascertain the assault, and treat any injury... yet that is not the end of their pain: there is hardly any public hospital with the vitally significant Rape Test Kit; perhaps a few sophisticated private hospitals may possess the kit, but at exorbitant cost.

And what about institutional support from government and non-governmental organisations, NGOs? There is hardly any victim-sensitive response protocols established by the government anywhere in Nigeria (akin to the NCDC’s protocols for combating the spread of Covid-19). Nigerians are also dying - gruesomely from the attacks of serial and undercover rapists and murderers.

There are reportedly two forensic facilities - one in Lagos and the other in Abuja. Moderate cost of forensic investigation of rape evidence is a princely N150,000... guess who is expected to pick that bill? The victim or her parents, of course. They also have to look for funds to file court papers and execute the prosecution of the vexatious matter, if there is no institutional support from government agencies or NGOs. Yet, the vast majority of people fated by these horrible acts are largely poor and economically displaced in the society. They are forced to “kill� the evidence, and give their children the chance for a good future bereft of stigma

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they would eventually rehabilitate and expand then operate for the agreed number of years.

There is no sense in dragging Germany into a power deal in such a straight forward matter. Germany itself as a country does not get involved in such banal issues like generating, transmitting and distributing electricity. The job of government which the Germans have done is to set up an effective regulatory structure on which the power investor could easily key in and not the other way round. Government has no business in running businesses as it is being touted here.

Who told the federal government that Siemens is the biggest power player in Germany? If this government was serious and actually wanted to achieve anything meaningful, it would have asked the German government to introduce its leading power or energy company for this project and I bet you no one would mention Siemens.

My expectations were that the administration would have liaised with the International Finance Corporation, World Bank and other multilateral finance corporations to assist in getting reputable power companies to come and invest in our power sector which would have been concessioned to them in the them.

I still do not know why government insists on playing actively in the power sector when it is very clear that its several interventions have failed completely. I had expected the Buhari administration to chart an entirely different course like concessioning and hands off so it can achieve different results.

One of the ways I had thought that should go is to adopt the current geopolitical zonal positions and concession the blocks to the power investors. After that a reputable local or international consulting firm could be engaged to evaluate the power investment potential in each of the geopolitical zones and then produce term sheet and commercial structure of investment advising government on the way forward.

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COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

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

and notoriety.

There are no special holding centres (similar to isolation centres for suspected victims of Coronavirus) where victims of rape or survivors of rape attempt can be safely “quarantined�; can receive qualitative psychological evaluation and treatment; can be nursed and prepared for rehabilitation... despite the protestations of the relevant government agencies, some NGOs, which deal closely with these victims, have reportedly discountenanced government’s poor attempt at damage control.

The great and tortuous burden on victims and their parents by unprovoked acts and proclivities of deranged men (and women) must now be urgently arrested by governments at state and federal levels, in addition to the valiant effort of principled NGOs who have for years been derided and harassed by security officials (of all people) as meddlesome burden-carriers.

Interestingly, the circumstance, location and vileness of the recent victim, Uwa Omozuwa have opened the gates of public umbrage. More exposed individuals are coming out in support of victims of rape... Major religious leaders, celebrities, socialites, popular music and filmic stars are not just showing off, but telling off adamant procrastinators in government and power. Much talk and plenty knocks have led to countless stories flooding the media - social and traditional - with spiralling anger and outrage.

This has led to revelations of acts of rape by famous dunderheads who are rightly (or wrongly) tarred with rape accusations.

The good thing about all of this is that, gradually, the cloak of stigmatization, which had kept the crime in flourishing mode, is receding. More victims are speaking, and revealing the villainous identities of their assaulters. Old victims are coming out of self-imposed closets to call out and shame their hitherto unseen “demons�. Of course, prosecution should follow, posthaste.

However, one should sound a note: irresponsible joy-riders who seek fame by fingering innocent persons of raping them, if untrue, should be vigorously challenged by the “accused�, and the full weight of the law should visit such “image-wreakers�. This is critical to sustaining the momentum that hopefully will awaken the government to rise close to the Covid-19 level of emergency response, and stem the soaring curve of this epidemic.

It is clear in our mind that if the current agitations continue to move upward in the positive lane, we look forward to the tightening up of enforcement of available laws, sharp improvement in police and medical investigations, tracing, arrests and “isolation�. It may lead to a shift of burden from the parents of victims, including underage boys defiled by mad men, to the broad and deep shoulders of reformed govermental agencies and re-energised NGOs. Hopefully, next time, we shall find answer to my initial question: Why do men rape?

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

17

PERSPECTIVE Five Years on, Ugwuanyi Shapes New Enugu State Beyond the economic recession that shadowed his assumption of office in May 29, 2015, substantial infrastructure and human development deficits on the ground and sundry political cracks, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has deployed notable vision, inclusive and empathetic governance footings to shape a new state, five years on. Patrick Uzo examines the key milestones

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t the level of small talk, you could hardly get the better of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the governor of Enugu State. But for an ex-national parliamentarian more at home with analysis and action, this trend of dialogue could pall easily with the big, top-draw business administration guru.

His earthiness and folksy charm disarm and readily sucks you into his growing army of admirers. But these hide inner steel that has unerringly guided the trajectory to his current elevated position. Perhaps, not surprisingly, this focused mindset informed his serving a notice at the outset of his first tenure that the lukewarm narratives of past administrations associated with core infrastructure and human development drivers are gone for good.Armed with a grassroots insight and intimate knowledge of his home state, governor Ugwuanyi simply hit the ground sprinting.

The pivot of his administration’s policy trajectory was on peace, grassroots development drive and knowledge-driven economy through innovations to “harness those potentials which free oil money has blinded Nigeria from exploiting”. His clear vision was to lead the state out of the economic crunch and reignite the confidence of the people, especially the rural populace, in a viable, participatory democracy.

He had clearly promised to pay special attention to rural development, a stance anchored on the fact that majority of the people of Enugu State reside in the rural areas and deserve a sense of belonging, peace and reward of good governance. But there were immediate impediments.

As the Ugwuanyi’s administration notched its fifth anniversary, it is worth recalling that he assumed power when the country was in recession as a result of a substantial dip in the crude oil prices in the international market.As a result, the state was challenged with paucity of funds coupled with inherited debts and other huge wage bills to be serviced.

It was indisputable that the nation’s economic challenges adversely impacted the state’s allocations from the federation account. There were consequently limited funds to attend to development issues and other sundry needs of the public. Enugu’s purse grew leaner as federal allocations dwindled to an all-time low.

It is also worth recalling that 27 states (Enugu State excluded), could not pay workers’ salaries nor embark on capital projects. The governors resorted to bailout funds unlike their predecessors who had access to the excess crude oil funds which enabled them to execute sundry capital projects.

Notwithstanding all these challenges, Ugwuanyi maintained an unswerving focus in his vision to build a new Enugu State in sync with the founding fathers’ dream, where all enjoy equal rights to dividends of democracy, in a peaceful and secure environment.

More, the neglect hitherto suffered by the majority of the state’s population was overbearing and created a hydra-headed imbalance in the distribution of democracy dividends between urban and rural inhabitants. Strangely, the concentration of development projects in Enugu metropolis became the only barometer to assess performance of a government in the state.

In Ugwuanyi’s words, my administration will “deploy government services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen to make a living and create wealth, educate our children, and enjoy life in a peaceful and secure environment”.

Five years down the line, his administration has vigorously and religiously pursued this lofty vision, closing the urban-rural imbalance in the distribution of basic amenities. His administration has ensured an enduring peace in the state, a cherished exploit that has made it possible for the state’s political leaders to unite and forge a common front for progress and rapid development.

As the long-neglected communities in Enugu State are appreciating the governor for accommodating them with one development projects, the state workers regularly express their appreciation on the streets of Enugu, the governor’s commitment to their welfare and for the existing cordial government-labour relationship.

Early in his tenure Ugwuanyi convened the maiden Enugu State Investment Summit, appropriately tagged Oganiru which captured the new thinking in Lion Building, Enugu.

He said: “Oganiru…is a bold initiative towards realizing our collective dream of repositioning Enugu State to meet the economic challenges of the 21st Century.” Responding to the vision, Enugu became a huge magnet that attracted Nigeria’s best brains and international personalities, who were in sync with the possibilities of the new, bold vision enunciated by the plucky governor.

Despite the economic challenges, Ugwuanyi ensured that workers’ salaries and pensions are paid regularly on the 23rd of every month with or without receipt of statutory allocations from the federation account - even at the time 27 states could not pay because of nation’s economic meltdown.Again, the state government has remained consistent with the payment of the “13th month” salary to workers as Christmas bonus.

Clearly, Ugwuanyi’s novel rural development policy coupled with his uncommon leadership style vastly scaled up his popularity. It was hardly surprising that a grateful populace overwhelmingly reelected

the-art 12-km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with a spur to the UNN gate; the Ebonyi River Bridge, Ikem; the 31-km Udenu Ring road with two high-tech bridges; Iva Valley road, Enugu; the 8.8km Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road in Isi-Uzo LGA, neglected for over 35 years; the 26.66 km Ukpabi-Nimbo-UgbeneAjima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGAand the 22.443km Neke-Mbu-OgboduAba-Obollo Etiti inter-community road linking Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGAs being constructed by the state government in conjunction with the RuralAccess and Mobility Project (RAMP-2).

Just last week, the governor amid jubilation, inaugurated the 13-kilometre Nike Lake Junction-Harmony Estate-Amorji NikeAdoration Pilgrimage Centre –Orie Emene road, newly constructed across the thick forest of Umuchigbo community in Enugu East Local GovernmentArea of the state. The virgin road constructed with lined drains and five river crossings, including culverts and bridges, now links the ever-busy and thickly populatedAbakpa Nike with Emene satellite town.

Expressing joy during the inauguration of the project, the Spiritual Director ofAdoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, described the road as unprecedented and a miracle, stating “this ultra-modern road built by the Governor of Enugu State, our beloved Gburugburu, before now was a thick forest.”

Others include the 8.2-kilometer Inyi-Akpugoeze road in Oji River LGA, the Ituku Road inAwgu LGAand theAmurri road in Nkanu West Local GovernmentArea constructed for a hitherto neglected community that has not experienced any form of government development on its land in the past 100 years, etc.

It would be recalled that Ugwuanyi’s administration, three months Ugwuanyi in office, spearheaded the massive development of urban and rural roads across the three senatorial districts of the state, in Emene, him with an unprecedented 95.54 percent of the votes cast, the highest Abakpa-Nike, 9th Mile Corner and the University town of Nsukka. in the history of the country.

Shortly after, 35 grassroots development projects across the 17 Local In the course of his governance positives and to fully actualize his administration’s promises after reviewing the public sector for optimal GovernmentAreas of Enugu State, were simultaneously awarded and service delivery, the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic executed, ensuring that every council benefited at least one project from the programme. hit the globe. This brought the socio-economic life of the people and The N10 million “one community, one project” scheme, also governments to a standstill, forcing government structures across the recorded a huge success in expanding development to the frontiers of globe to review their policies and development agenda and focus on the rural areas – an initiative that gives every community in the state health. the opportunity to decide their priority projects. This also ensures Not one given to foot-dragging, the administration of Ugwuanyi responded swiftly and expediently to contain the spread of the virus in that communities that that have never experienced any government presence benefit, accordingly. the state and ensure that the effect of the pandemic does not adversely The first phase of the Enugu State Secretariat annex in Nsukka satelaffect the state’s development programmes. It also ensured that the lite town is nearing completion while the construction of the Nsukka effect does not negatively affect the people.

Township Stadium and more internal roads are ongoing, in keeping Palliatives were massively distributed, an exercise still ongoing, with the governor’s promise to equip and modernize the University targeted especially at the most vulnerable of society. In spite of the pandemic and its obvious adverse economic effects, state workers have town of Nsukka, as the second largest town in Enugu State.

In achieving all these landmarks, the Enugu urban is not left out as continued to receive their full salaries while various degrees of welfare packages were approved for the health workers as incentives for them numerous roads and other infrastructure were rehabilitated in line with the state’s urban renewal drive. to battle the virus.As Isolation and Treatment Centres for COVID-19 The first Enugu State Customary Court ofAppeal Headquarters were established and fully equipped in the University town of Nsukka complex and other infrastructural development projects in the State Juand the ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu, the ultramodern diciary are standing tall as among the legacy projects of the Ugwuanyi Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre in Enugu was also equipped administration.Adjacent to the popular Michael Okpara Square, and designated as isolation and treatment centre to enhance the state’s Enugu is the Unity Park formerly known as Forest Reserve, wearing preparedness and capacity to fully tackle the pandemic should the a new look to serve as a tourist attraction and a place for relaxation and virus disease escalate.

The Ugwuanyi’s administration is presently carrying out a massive recreation when completed.

On education and empowerment, over 5000 primary and secondreconstruction and construction of new structures at the Colliery ary school teachers have been recruited in the last five years while 897 Hospital Enugu, which has been designated as an Infectious Disease classroom blocks and other school projects have been constructed, Isolation and Treatment Centre. Importantly, Gov. Ugwuanyi has renovated and/or equipped with learning tools to improve the continued to keep wake at night and also visit state’s land boundaries to monitor and enforce Presidential directive on 8pm-6am nationwide standard of learning in the state.Above all, a review of primary and secondary classroom blocks across the state is ongoing for a comprecurfew and inter-state movement restriction order, respectively.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the state government hensive intervention by the state government.

While landmark interventions were witnessed in the state-owned had made a mark in the health sector such as the construction and renotertiary institutions, the Institute of Management and Technology vation of district hospitals and health centres in the state, especially in the rural areas under the primary healthcare programme; the upgrade (IMT), Enugu, had its first Convocation after 11 years.

The first phase of the traders empowerment scheme assisted 3,600 of Udi District Hospitals and Polly Clinic,Asata, to General Hospitals; genuine traders with the sum of N50,000 each to grow their various the launch of the Universal Health Coverage to provide comprehenbusinesses. 750 youths under the Sustainable Development Goals sive health care delivery to residents of the state, among others.

(SDGs) programme were also empowered. 680 indigent engineering On security, besides various interventions in enhancing the security students of Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Ezeagu L.G.Aand the architecture to sustain the state’s status as one of the most peaceful Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, were awarded and safest in the country, the administration recently procured and scholarship for four years of academic studies as well as the recent donated 100 units of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) patrol scholarship offered to 22 indigent post-secondary school students to vans equipped with communication gadgets to the security agencies to aid their operations in the state. The state government engaged 1,700 study at Mewar University, India.

Importantly, the state government, two years ago, launched the Forest Guards (first to do so in the South East zone), repositioned the Enugu Clean Team Project which has engaged 2000 youths in cleaning Vigilante/Neighborhood Watch groups and purchased 260 security up the state to enhance and sustain its rating as one of the healthiest and vehicles for their Community Policing operations. cleanest cities in the country, among others.

Five newly procured IVM fire-fighting trucks were handed over The economic indices of Enugu State have remained favorable in the to the state fire service, for the five newly constructed fire service eyes of observers as the state’s ratings have been outstanding in the last stations across the three senatorial districts of the state, to enhance their five years, such as: the second most advanced state in Nigeria towards efficiency and effective response to emergencies. the frontier of global good practices with regards to Ease of Doing On infrastructure, the Ugwuanyi administration has constructed/ Business, by the World Bank Group, among others. rehabilitated over 600 kilometers of road across the state, mostly in the Ugwuanyi has simply demonstrated that a genuine, viable rural areas. Some of the signature road projects include the remodeled democracy can only thrive in an environment of political inclusion and ancient, historic and undulating 11-km Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile justice. road - a tourist attraction and state’s natural roller coaster; the state-of-

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

POLITY Daboh-Fiase

I’mReadytoProveEfficacyofMyCOVID-19HerbalRemedy AformerMemberoftheHouseofRepresentatives,AondonaDaboh-Fiase,hasgiveninsightintohernewlydeveloped COVID-19 herbal cure. Daboh-Fiase who represented Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constutuency of Benue State, talks to Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, about her COVID-19 herbal treatment and says she is ready to meet NAFDAC for clinical trial. Daboh-Fiase says herbs are not only curative, but also serves as preventive therapy. Excerpts...

H

am asking to treat the health workers? It is because if I treat a 150 health workers free, it will translate to treating millions of people or hundreds of thousands or whatever number of thousands that we have because one healthcare worker will take care of others.

Herbs have been in existence before man. When God created the Garden of Eden, He put herbs there. And in our Bible, God is clear about herbs. He says I have given you herbs for food and medicine. Talking about testing to know if it is injurious, certain things are already in existence and have proven to be safe. The cure could be tested, but shouldn’t take a long time because people are contracting COVID-19 everyday. Look at the numbers in Nigeria, they are rising every day. My herbal tea for COVID-19 is also an immune booster and for general wellbeing.

It is three in one. So, apart from preventing or curing COVID-19, it will also take care of arthritis pain, it will reset the body and it will boost the immunity of the body. I wouldn’t say much about other cures because I don’t know what is in them apart from the Madagascar cure which I know is just the artemisia leaf.

ow did you come about your herbal cure for COVID-19?

My herbal therapy business has been a simple home remedy for family and friends.

That is why I haven’t been serious about going commercial. I have been into herbal therapy for over a decade. In fact, I started herbal therapy while I was still a member of the National Assembly. When I fell in the bathroom in 2006 and I was taken to England for over six months, I accidentally bumped into a Greek woman that took me into herbal medicine.

And all the pains I had for months, disappeared in just two weeks with herbal medicine. Since then, I have been into herbal medicine. And of course, when COVID-19 came up, I just smiled because for us herbal therapists, the truth is that the ailments that are so difficult for orthodox medicine are somewhat easier for us; for instance, kidney, liver and even cancer issues. To an herbal therapist, it is a very easy stuff. So, I thought about it and somehow, COVID-19 is one of the easiest things to cure, even though it is very scary to the orthodox medicine practitioners.

Are you ready to submit to NAFDAC for test?

My herbs for COVID-19 is not only a cure, it is also preventive.

And apart from prevention, it resets the whole body, the whole system; it takes your body back to a minimum of 10 to 15 years.

That is, your wellbeing, the internal wellbeing. My cure for COVID-19 is an awesome one because one of the main ingredients is the Neem leaf which is called Dongoyaro locally. The Neem leaf has more healing properties than even what Madagascar is using it for. My own herbal remedy has a combination of herbs.

So, it is not only going to prevent or take care of COVID-19, it is also going to deliver a whole lot of other goodness into the body.

I have just decided to come out because I have just perfected it. I have just tried it on a few people that came forward when they heard that I have the cure. I am now certain of its effectiveness.

The next step now is my submission to NAFDAC for trials, the

Daboh-Fiase Ministry of Health, all relevant authorities and of course, I also ask anybody that has people with COVID-19 to get in touch with me and I will for sure, for now for free, take care of them.

At my level in the society, having been a National Assembly member, it is expected that I will follow due process. I have just begun like I said.

I am now calling on the federal government to give me those 150 or so healthcare workers that had tested positive to COVID-19 and other people. I am calling on the governors of Lagos, Kano, Adamawa, and other states that are epicentres.

Let them each bring 30 COVID-19 patients. Do you know why I

What is your take on the recent COVID-19 death recorded in Madagascar despite their herbal cure?

That is expected. There is no medication that is a 100 percent proof. I mean, even with orthodox medicine, don’t people die?

People die. There are certain people that when you say something is effective, or something cures something, it doesn’t mean you will not have a few exceptions here and there that might not respond to the treatment or might not respond very well.

The body is very funny. Even twins that came out the same day, they had different anatomies. The fact that someone has died in Madagascar doesn’t mean that their herbal therapy is not effective. I am a very confident person, so I don’t put other people or other things down. I will not condemn their products simply because somebody died. But I am assuring of my product that I am a minimum of 90 per cent sure of the efficacy of my herbal tea for prevention and cure of COVID-19.

Post COVID-19 Nigeria and the Ekweremadu Compass Mazi Bismarck Oji

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n February 2020, the dreaded Corona virus (COVID-19) Pandemic landed in Nigeria through an anonymous Italian who flew in from Milan, Italy. Today, that gusty wind of COVID-19 has blown and the proverbial fowl’s rump has been exposed. Evidently, Nigeria will never be the same again. Hurricane COVID-19 has laid bare the evident contradictions and misnomers that, over the years have become normal in Nigeria. The Nigerian federation has not worked and cannot work as presently configured.

Unfortunately, those in charge of the nation’s power levers have become so used to the aberrant that they are afraid of accepting the reality: that restructuring cannot be wished away. However, there was a man, the Nigerian Nostradamus, who saw tomorrow and shouted like a lone voice on the theme of restructuring for a more efficient federal state. His colleagues in the corridors of power paid him no heed. To them, he was just on an academic exercise. After all, he is a professor and professors are known for big grammar and grandiose ideologies.

In Africa, political leaders don’t talk while eating. Yet, this man did the unthinkable: he advocated for restructuring and devolution of powers from the Centre to the federating units while he was the Deputy Senate President, the nation’s Number six citizen!

That man is Senator Ike Ekweremadu. In lecture after lecture delivered both locally and internationally, in various bills he sponsored at the senate floor, in various interviews and media engagements, as a three-time Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, this man fondly called Ikeoha Ndigbo, espoused far reaching changes that would recreate the Nigerian federation into a viable enterprise.

Most outstanding among the efforts were the amendments in the 7th Senate that dealt substantially with devolution of powers by transferring aviation, power, railway, etc. from Exclusive List to Concurrent List. But that batch of critical amendments was lost in the politics of whether President Jonathan signed or didn’t sign it. The bottom line is that today, these critical sectors are still in the hands of the federal government, which has shown both lack of capacity and vision.

Today, those changes he advocated have become the compass that will direct Nigeria out of the COVID-19 induced bankruptcy staring her in the face into a stable and more prosperous nation that can boldly take its place in the comity of nations as a true

“Giant of Africa”.

Like the American philosopher, Henry David Thoreau said, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him march to the music which he hears, however measured or faraway” Yet again, Abraham Lincoln, a former American President said, “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm” Indeed, Ekweremadu, like a visionary leader has been marching ahead of his companions and has stood firm, being convinced that he put his feet in the right place.

The changes Ekweremadu advocated include: abrogation of the present feeding bottle federalism to revive real fiscal federalism that will enable every federating unit to harness it’s resources both human and material to chart it’s own pathway to.growth at it’s own pace without being burden to others, creation of state police to deal with the escalating security challenges because the unitary police has proved both improper and unworkable for a federal system, preservation of the Middle Class, the Nigeria Beyond Oil mantra, single term, but rotational presidency, among others.

His idea of restructuring is a Win-Win situation, a phased (gradual) restructuring to allay the fears of those opposed to wholesale restructuring at a go. For instance, he proposed an Equalisation Fund to ensure that every state, regardless of it’s income, thrives above a reasonable threshold. This is obtainable in other federations such as Canada where the Equalization Fund was introduced in 1957 as a federal transfer payment programme designed to reduce the differences in revenue-generating capacity across Canada’s 10 provinces. And it is financed entirely from Government of Canada general revenues.

Ahead of the 2023 Election, it is time to look at his proposal for a Single Term Presidency that would rotate among the 6 geographical zones is the surest way of averting the 2015 Presidential Election scenario, where Jonathan’s phone call saved Nigeria from perdition.

“The truth is that it is difficult to tame corruption where the federating units virtually run on free federal allocations that some people see as national cake, not as their own sweat. Conversely, the people will be more vigilant and ready to hold their leaders accountable when the federating units begin to live largely on internally generated revenues and their sweat”, Ekweremadu once said during a public lecture on “Federalism and the Legal Framework for Combating Corruption in Nigeria” at the

Ekweremadu University of Ibadan some years back.

This quote exactly mirrors the Nigerian situation, today. It probably only in Nigeria that if you go to Abuja and bring back some loot, your people will celebrate you as a champion, but if you mismanage one kobo from just their Town Union funds, the same people will ask for your head! They will fight you with everything at their disposal, including juju, because it’s their sweat.

In Post Covid-19 Nigeria, security vote for State Governments cannot be sustained. Rather, security expenditures should be appropriated by the state legislatures just as the National Assembly appropriates defence budgets at the Federal level.

Again, his bill on State Policing seeking to establish the Federal Police, State Police, National Police Service Commission, National Police Council, as well as State Police Service Commissions for states is both apt and audacious.

––Mazi Oji, MNSE, former National Chairman of OhanezeYouth Wing lives in Enugu Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

POLITY

Dapo Abiodun: One Year of Purposeful Leadership Tunde Otegbeye

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everal pitfalls were well-laid for Governor Dapo Abiodun by his predecessor to unsettle him and scuttle his tenure. The pitfalls were well-orchestrated, documented and were so debilitating that it would have taken only a man of uncommon strength, such as the Iperu Remo-born Prince, to soldier on, through those early days as he did admirably and successfully.

His vision was clear and unmistakable: “To give Ogun State focused and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a Public Private Partnership (PPP), which is fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of the state”.

Indeed, as he settled down to business quickly, probity, transparency and accountability immediately became his cardinal principles and these have stood him out in no time. Abiodun signified that a new dawn had berthed in the 44-year-old state. Despite pressure from his adversaries, who had formed quite a formidable opposition, he was determined to look into the activities of the immediate past administration, especially in the self-proclaimed, “legacy contracts” awarded and the state of some infrastructure that were hurriedly constructed and commissioned in the twilight of his predecessor’s reign.

The initial days were characterized by series of distractions from the opposition camp, despite Abiodun’s call on all stakeholders to eschew political differences and join hands in building the state, but, he never wavered.

“The most important thing, as I have always said, is for us to remain focused. We would run an inclusive government which translates that we shall give everybody that has positive things to contribute to feel free to do so,” he said.

The governor has lived up to these expectations. As a marked departure from the immediate past, he demonstrated great love for team work, thus, making it abundantly clear that he would work closely with his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, a development that earned him accolades from far and near. With a penchant for a quality working team, he appointed Mr. Tokunbo Talabi as Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He also appointed a former deputy chief of staff to his predecessor, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu, as his Chief of Staff (CoS). Not a few believed he had spotted Salisu before appointing him as his CoS, but then he is vastly reputed as a versatile politician who understands the Ogun State political terrain deeply. Others on the team include, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, ex-partner with an Accountancy firm, KPMG Professional Services; a wizkid, Mr Olalekan Olude (an award-winning entrepreneur, co-founder Jobberman Ltd, a leading job site in Sub-Saharan Africa and also a founding partner, African Talents in South Africa); Engr Ade

Abiodun Akinsanya (former Commissioner for Works in Lagos State); Mr Oladimeji Oresanya (erstwhile Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), who served two former Governors, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Mr Raji Babatunde Fashola, (SAN), respectively between 2005 and 2015. These were among others that hit the ground running at the inception of the administration on May 29, 2019.

Abiodun entered the Government House, Oke Mosan, on the strength of being a big player in the business world with vast connections in corporate Nigeria. He immediately leveraged on his network in the upscale sector to achieve stability in governance, having inherited a huge debt that ensured he had to source loans to offset outstanding bills. His strong relationship with the business community in Nigeria also ensured his comprehensive assessment of the state’s books with the aim of finding enduring routes to generating revenues internally. This particularly rare feat has helped tremendously in putting his administration on a sound footing in the past one year.

He focused on education which he considered the bedrock of the state. He immediately set off to renovate existing structures: one primary school in each of the 236 electoral wards in the 20 local government areas. Of particular interest was that the crisis that engulfed the Tai Solarin College of Education for upward of six years, prior to his assumption of office, also attracted special attention as he tasked the Visitation Panel he constituted, at the inception, to assess the school’s

crisis and expedite action at ensuring that the students resumed for full and normal academic activities. He also resolved the crisis that had rocked the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, thus, restoring hope and instilling confidence in the institution. It is worthy of note that the governor’s effort on this particular subject received commendation from stakeholders in the country’s education sector.

In an effort to encourage teaching and non-teaching staff in the state, the governor approved the release of the 2016/2017 promotion exercise in both secondary and primary schools across the state. In addition, he directed the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to commence issuing letters of promotion to affected officers without delay. Furthermore, he ordered the commencement of the monthly average payment of N791 million as pensions to retired local government council workers and SUBEB retirees, a development that attracted accolades for his administration. Over N5 billion counterpart fund and matching grant was also approved for the state to access 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) intervention projects. The administration also took over 28 community schools spread across the state and absorbed 577 teachers in the affected schools into the state’s civil service system.

The acute shortage of portable water that had persisted for several months attracted the governor’s attention, as the Ogun State Water Corporation, which has a pumping capacity of 103.68 million litres per day, was in a comatose state. He was determined to ensure that hundreds of thousands of households that had endured water scarcity got relief. Besides, he ordered restoration of the corporation through his personal supervision and the water scarcity has since become a thing of the past to the people in the area. The water feat is one of the most impactful records of Abiodun in the past one year.

As the popular saying goes “Health is wealth”. The governor has thus prioritised the state’s health sector with a pledge to build a wellequipped health centre or renovate others in all the wards. On his maiden visit to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, in company of his wife, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, tears welled in his eyes as he lamented the deplorable state of the tertiary health facility. He immediately constituted an Administrative Panel to look into the situation with a clear direction to the panel to draw a sustainable plan to return the hospital to its glorious past. In response to the novel dreaded Coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, the OOUTH has been equipped with a molecular laboratory, essentially meant to check certain genes, blood proteins or, other molecules in a sample of tissue or, other body fluid, instead of travelling as far as Lagos, Abuja and Ede (Osun state) where such facility is available.

––Otegbeye writes from Ilaro, Ogun State.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

How Has Culture Fared Under Buhari?

Frank Meke

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o the Nigerian tourism community, President Muhammadu Buhari certainly did not factor Culture and Tourism in his game plan to revive the Nigerian economy. The octane voices of aggressive lobbyists for the new economy under the Buhari government, had no time and space to lubricate the biggest driver new jobs and rural development and it caused some of us the palpitations of the heart.

And with the merger of Culture, Information and National Orientation as a ministry, industry stakeholders, particularly the very vocal travel press, folded up in despair.

We had invested prayers and faith in Buhari, after the Jonathan boys, even though with a focal tourism-driven ministry and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), was not impressive.

Edem Duke as Minister of Tourism and Sally Mbanefo as Director-General of NTDC didn’t live up to the expectations of the industry players. Therefore, we have nothing to convince President Buhari and his economic team that we in Culture and Tourism have a story to tell.

It was a divided house, with stakeholders bitterly disappointed with the missed opportunities and lack of focus.

This development and the merger of Information with Culture, did foreclose any springboard for the industry, so we thought.

I recalled begging the president in my several interventions through my column to give the industry a chance and suggesting names that can do the job.

It appeared President Buhari shut his ears from our plea and concentrated on revamping Agriculture and certain infrastructure decay and to which needed careful interpretation as drivers of tourism.

Something, however, told me not to lose hope even though the frustrations of the industry been left out of the major pillars of Buhari administration, was uncontrollable and unbelievable.

I must confess to had taken this frustrations on weekly x-ray of the roles of officials in the ministry and NTDC who failed us to no end.

It was as if President Buhari was reading my mind as he graciously appointed Otunba Segun Runsewe as Director General National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).

A week before President Buhari intervention, we had through

Runsewe the very visible and powerful presence of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), under the leadership of Bankole Bernard, recognised Otunba Segun Runsewe as one of the industry’s eminent persons.

Either by Providence or prophecy, we also zeroed on Folarin Coker, then a former Commissioner of Tourism in Lagos, a clear dark horse in the business and to which Bankole and I believed he does not deserve the rod of unfavourable political decision that beclouded his rising. His story for another day.

NANTA intervention which was not driven by any pecuniary and mundane glorifications, was all that we needed to prove to President Buhari administration that we have the will and power to change the narrative.

Indeed, Otunba Segun Runsewe appointment has proved beyond measure that president Buhari has listening ears. It is therefore not surprising and effectual that Nigerian Culture today is at the forefront of telling Buhari’s five years developmental story.

From rural empowerment, homegrown skills acquisition and feverish revival of the lost glory of Cultural tourism endowment,

Segun Runsewe as Buhari’s Culture driver has repositioned our people and our pride in the very best of the intrinsic values inherent of what is innately ours.

That Nigerians are eating and dressing “Nigeria” is because the President made the right choice to correct the very depressing Cultural pictures of the past. To the President’s credit under our ongoing Cultural transformation, social and Cultural deviant characters were shown the red card.

To signpost the arrival of the Cultural economy, the national festival of arts and culture was given a new vista, creatively taken out of pedestrian suasion and lifted beyond local appreciation and uniting Nigerians more than ever before.

While some elements are busy tagging this administration as tribal tiger, NCAC under Runsewe was busy uniting Nigerians, interpreting President Buhari’s message to Nigerians to see our diversity in Culture as a blessing and driver of national development.

Do we forget the new Culture market of Africa, made-inNigeria, our own International Arts and Crafts festival (INAC)?

From Europe, Asia, America and all over Africa, they came to the Abuja in the past three years to see and hear about Buhari Cultural story.

Bigger and better every year, the culture entrepreneurs and nations attended the Nigerian Culture world market and told the story in Oman, India, Bangaladesh, Denmark, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Ghana, Togo, China, Russia and to a world looking for Culture as root of man’s peaceful resolution to remain united.

And to the various sectors of the economy, the culture bank of Nigeria has never been so highlighted and to which President Buhari’s messages to the people find expressive and impressive understanding.

And even with COVID-19, it was the systematic and analytical skills of Runsewe to turn the tide against the national fear and anxiety of the pandemic to the restoration of the confidence of the industry and Nigerians at large, domesticating the scarce protocol expectations on facemasks and hand sanitisers which became strings of additional financial and job openings to many unemployed Nigerians.

As we look forward to the next three years of exciting end of President Buhari administration, we look up to God to help Runsewe finish well in the service of the nation and people. The Buhari Cultural story is going to be bigger and better.

–––Meke, writes from Lagos

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

POLITY

Kashim Imam: Prometheus Unbound Taiwo Olujimi

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he story of the Greek culture hero, Prometheus, is not new. He defied the gods by stealing and giving the fire of civilisation to humanity, thereby availing mankind that which the gods never wanted it to have. For his nonconformity; for his commitment to mankind and its betterment; and for his exceptional intellect, Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods, condemned him to a life of eternal agony. Prometheus was chained to a rock and an eagle was sent to eat off his liver, daily, as the eaten parts grew back overnight. The torment was endless until Heracles, another hero in Greek mythology, freed him.

Kashim Imam is not a strange name in the Nigerian political space. Born into the political family of the late Kashim Ibrahim, former Secretary of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), Member of the erstwhile Northern House of Assembly, and later, the impetus behind the defunct Borno Youth Movement, a progressive and revolutionary force at the time, Imam has himself evolved into a big political masquerade in his own rights.

Passing through the prestigious Kings College, Lagos, when men were men, he bagged a degree in Political Science from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another degree in International Economic Relations from the University of Maiduguri before venturing into the banking industry where he carved a niche for himself. Abusinessman, he has his hands in various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Imam emerged the Chairman of the Borno State chapter of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) during General Ibarahim Babangida’s inconclusive transition programme. He was a staunch member of the Abiola campaign movement, Hope ’93, as it was popularly called.

At the eventual birth of democracy in 1999, Imam was appointed the Presidential Liaison Officer to the Senate under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presidency.

However, like all progressives and revolutionaries, Imam has also had to deal with many political challenges. Be it the design of fate, be it the fear of allowing a no-nonsense progressive like him to assume power, and be it a combination of both, one thing is sure: if intellect, competence, and popularity alone were all that matter in life and politics, the man Kashim Imam would have since completed his two-year tenure as Governor of Borno State.

He could also have become the National Secretary of the ruling

Imam All Progressives Congress. But life is not a straight journey.

The Kanuri-born politician had his first political baptism of fire when Governor Maina Ma’aji Lawan unceremoniously removed him as the Chairman of the SDP in the Third Republic.

Having served as Presidential Liaison Officer in Obasanjo’s first term, Imam won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to square up with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who had snatched the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) ticket from the then incumbent Governor Mala Kachalla, who now fell back on Alliance for Democracy (AD) ticket. He eventually lost to Sheriff in an election he described as “anything but free and fair”, and “characterised by an unprecedented and massive level of thuggery, rigging, fraud and other irregularities”.

Even more surprising to political pundits was his loss to Modu Sheriff in 2007. Unlike in 2003 when the Borno PDP family was divided, PDP had come together and strengthen by forces from ANPP and AD. Big names like Ex-Governor Kachala, Abba Gana, Seidu Pindar, Ashek Jerma, Babagana Kingibe, Shettima Mustapha, Ibrahim Bunu, Ina Ciroma etc. as well as Sheriff’s brothers, Mohammed and Dalara Sheriff were all queued behind

him. But he lost.

The Borno PDP was already very divided in the run up to the 2011 general elections, with Second Republic governor of old Borno State, Alhaji Muhammed Goni, emerging PDP flag bearer in a highly divisive process. Kashim joined forces with Borno ANPP to produce the Kashim Shettima-led administration. Imam’s running mate in 2007 emerged the deputy governor.

Fast-forward to the epic mergers that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 general elections. Imam joined forces with the progressives and gave his all. He was just whiskers away from emerging the National Secretary of the party before the twist, which now confirmed the reasons for his failed governorship bids.

Speaking ahead of the 2019, he recalled: “It is for the fear of the fundamental difference that people know we can make, that I was not allowed to become the APC National Secretary. Yes. “On the final day to the convention, I was in my house and was counting – and I counted 11 APC governors coming to my house and the last three that visited, came around midnight. And what was their message? ‘Kashim we know you are the most competent of all the contestants, everybody will testify to that, but…’

“And I asked them, if I was so competent and the right man for the job, they said ‘We came to appeal to you to withdraw’. And it was like that. They said I was the most competent person and they came to appeal to me that I should withdraw. So all this while, it has been the fear of Kashim Imam becoming the governor, even my opponents will attest to that”.

“I could remember, during the run up to the APC convention, my friend, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, called me on the phone and told me that he was in front of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia and that he had asked for God’s forgiveness, and he went further to say that he knows God will not forgive him until he asked me to forgive him as well. He said he felt guilty because of the role he also played in the issue of selecting the APC National Secretary.

He said it was because of the fear that if Kashim Imam becomes the APC National Secretary; they don’t know what may happen”.

Although Imam had decided not to run for governorship again after the last experience, political heavy weights and supporters pressured him to run again in 2019. Asked why he changed his mind, he said: ‘I personally thought that I was done with this. (But) I have yielded to the voice of the people, which they say is the voice of God Almighty’.

Read full interview online - www.thisdaylive.com

I’m Passionate About Making Change Happen Across the World AbdulaleemAnjolaoluwaAdemola-Osinugaisa18-yearoldwriter,entrepreneurwhoseyouthleadershiprolehasearned himthetitleoftheMostPowerfulLeaderinAfricabytheWorldHumanitarianNetworkandtheSecondCuboftheWest.

Hespeaks with Bennett Oghifo abouthiszealinlifeandhowhisupbringingpropelledhim

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ell us about your background?

My name is Abdulaleem Anjolaoluwa Ademola-Osinuga. I am 18 years old. I was born on Thursday the 25th of April 2002 into the family of Engr Kola and Mrs. Iyabo AdemolaOsinuga. I am the firstborn among two girls. I am from Ode Remo in the Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State. I am a Writer, Entrepreneur, Marketer, Art & ICT Consultant, a Public Speaker and exploring so many other fields. I am the Founder/CEO of Inspired Leadership Group and the Executive Director of Future Nigeria. I am also the Most Powerful Leader in Africa by The World Humanitarian Network and the Second Cub of the West.

I have also been invited many times to the United Nations Summits, which I gracefully honoured with my physical presence in New York, United States of America.

At your tender age, you play different roles of leadership in many organisations, how are you coping?

As a leader who is passionate about making change happen and leaving a good legacy across the world, Africa most especially, it has been a moment of experience where you have to deal with people from different cultures in the areas of understanding who they are and what exactly their missions and visions are, especially when it comes to the aspect of having a future for themselves. In general, I will say it has been tough, challenging, exciting, questionable with a lot of answers unprovoked and funny, especially when you realise you have to work with people from different diverse culture. That notwithstanding, with my mobile device around me all the time I can make all the necessary communications I need to, across the world.

You seem to be a jack of all trades, what is your area of specialty or strong point?

Yes, I will agree with this part of me being a jack of all trades as I have a lot of soft skills I have learned, as well with the ones that I am still planning to learn and build on as a person which I have been able to exhibit at various organisations that I have been able to work for. But my strongest point and area of specialty is Information Communication Technology & Research which I am using to build on across the relevant sectors that I work in.

Tell us about your organisation?

My organisation, Inspired Leadership Group, is committed to transforming the lives of 30 million people across the global community but it’s focused more on Africa in 5,000 days’ time, across different economic sectors. Our main aim is to address the largest problem that is being faced by the global economy, by working to see how we can provide solutions to them using the main organisation name with the leadership eco-systems that have been built around the organisation’s brand.

What’s your company’s goal?

As this stage, we have been able to take a bold steps through the support of the World Humanitarian Network which has named my organisation, The Most Powerful Organisation in Africa, earlier in February 2020. But as the journey continues for my organisation, my plan is to be known as the best organisation in the world in the area of entrepreneurship and also the fastest organisation in Africa in particular and expand this spirit to the world development in general using our services. I also want to take this as an opportunity to ensure that the main drive is for my organisation to create an Africa that will be known for the hub of opportunities, growth, and development all over the world.

What are your responsibilities as a business owner?

As someone who is a business owner, there are a lot of tasks to accomplish ahead and my responsibilities for now are managing the welfare of the company, effectively, with all my employees.

Understanding their demands and how to meet the solutions that are required by particular customers are very key. Lead a team towards developing and creating innovative ideas that will help develop the capital market of the economy.

What motivates you and how do you generate new ideas?

I am motivated by the kind of quality people I approach and the thought leaders/directors and mentors that I have, people like Valerie Fab Uche, Oguntunde Philip Tosin and most especially John Fatanmi (who holds a very strong and convincing belief that the Africa and Nigeria of our dream is possible and achievable), to build the ideas that are running in my head every single second of the day, based on the conversations that we usually make and I generate new ideas through the research

Osinuga exploration, activities, and situations that are happening around me every single second of the day.

To what do you attribute your success?

I attribute my success to the Almighty Allah and believe providence played a huge role. My parents Engr Kola and Mrs. Iyabo Ademola-Osinuga have also been a great support as they are the most impacting force in my life as their sacrifices are unquantifiable.

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

The youths of this generation are my greatest fear at the moment, the kind of things that they do to people and characters that they exhibit for example, defrauding and scamming people, especially those who are working very hard to make sure that they can create a change in the society.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

21

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ; 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Kizz Daniel Unmasks ‘King of Love’ Katung Aduwak’s Short Film is Ready pg. 23

I’m a Spiritual Person… I Don’t Believe in Mistakes pg. 24

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Íž 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Kizz Daniel Unmasks ‘King of Love’ Afro-pop singer, Kizz Daniel unveils the “King of Love�, his third studio album.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

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ly Boy Inc. honcho, Kizz Daniel has announced that his third studio album ‘King of Love’ would be released on June 25, 2020. The new body of work comes two years after his last album, No Bad Songz and four years after his debut, New Era. With the upcoming album, the ‘Woju’ crooner is expected to take fans on a unique romantic journey that would leave everyone asking for more.

The 16– track project promises to answer questions as to why Kizz Daniel has chosen to assume the title, King of Love.

The King of Love album will be released in volumes and available only on digital stores. A glimpse of the artwork and track list unveiled via his Instagram includes song titles such as jaho, boys are bad, need somebody, tempted to steal, one day and find a bae. And it has four songs produced by Young John, Selebobo, KrizBeatz and Philkeyz. This body of work is quite special to Kizz Daniel as he got a tattoo with the album title on his arm to tell fans King of Love would remain evergreen.

From his breakout hit, Woju, to songs like Mama, Poko, One Ticket, 4dayz, and outstanding collaborations like True, Jore and Loyal goes to show that when it comes to singing about love, Kizz Daniel has made a point as he acclaims self the “King of Love�.

Vaddo as Kizz Daniel is also known hasn’t had much work out there this year, although, he featured on Adekunle Gold’s hit song titled ‘Jore’ which is still doing very well out there despite being released months ago in January 2020. Kizz Daniel, whose real name is Anidugbe Daniel, had strategically released, on the success of his 2019 outing last December, an inspirational song ‘Jaho’ off his forthcoming record just to gain traction in the current year. And it did quite well getting massive airplays and downloads.

Interestingly, Vado paints his lyrics most times with his experience of being in love, how he was treated in a relationship as well as aspirational romance. Kizz Daniel, who changed from Kiss Daniel after leaving his former label, G-Worldwide Entertainment to float his own ‘Fly Boy Inc.’ has given music lovers hits on hits over the years.

He rose to prominence with the song ‘Woju’ and hasn’t slowed down since then. From his charttopping single ‘Woju’ at inception and his critically acclaimed song, ‘Yeba’ to a third follow up single, ‘Laye’, the afro-pop afro-beat singer sure won the hearts of music lovers.

His debut entry song was yet to live up to its potential when he stormed the scene with the smash hit ‘Woju’ produced by DJ Coublon in September, 2014. The video, shot in Lagos and directed by Adasa Cookey, was a success. The track held siege of the MTV Base Naija Music chart for over two months, occupying the top spot for six weeks. While fans were still basking in the euphoria of the new hit, he did collaboration with two music superstars Davido and Tiwa Savage and brought out the remix, thrilling the target audience once more.

This development set a record.

The remix of ‘Woju’ peaked at Number 1 and Number 2 respectively on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10, the first time that an original song and its remix would peak at the first and second positions on the chart. Kizz Daniel released his first studio album titled New Era on May 14, 2016. Then in 2018, he released ‘No Bad Songz’ a 20 track album as his debut under his imprint Fly Boy Inc. With the New Era, he got a Headies Awards to prove he had the best album of 2016 which showed that his work did not go unnoticed. The album went viral and it got universal recognition which also made him happy. He initially had doubts about the album. “I am glad I made the album because initially, I had doubts about its success. I thought it wouldn’t be a hit because I did not feature major players in the music industry. Thankfully, it came out well and the fans loved it.�

Kizz Daniel

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Íž 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Katung Aduwak’s Short Film is Ready “Not Supposed to Be Here�, the short film by Katung Aduwak explores a contentious exchange between an African and an African-American. Ferdinand Ekechukwu writes

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he idea of short films was previously generally dismissed and seen as a waste of time and money in Nollywood.

But now, it has become a staple and have found better acceptance and a way for directors to get their feet wet, cut their teeth and test their storytelling skills.

Although there are still some who seem to think that even a well-executed short film does not prove that the filmmaker is capable of directing a feature or even a TV series. For this, filmmaker and music video director, Katung Aduwak, would be excused having produced and directed the movies Unwanted Guest and Heaven’s Hell. Both feature films.

The reality TV star turned filmmaker is set to drop a new visual offering, a short film titled “Not Supposed to Be Here�. Co-written by Jojo Sillia and Aduwak, the former Big Brother Naija winner had announced that he was working on the project set to be released soon.

He recently unveiled the poster for his upcoming short.

Katung’s “Not Supposed To Be Here’ makes for one of the great thingsaboutfilmmakersdoingshort films; they have creative autonomy to, as one noted, tell the story they want; cast who they want; and play in whatever genre they want; so you often find more interesting, original and sometimes more daring storytelling in short films.

Such is expected of Katungs ‘Not Supposed To Be Here’. Whatever impression audiences and critics have had of the Nollywood aesthetic from a decade ago, is slowly being stripped away by these new directors pushing boundaries and making statements with their short films work; some of whom have gone on to make feature films, as well as direct television and webseries like Katung did.

The short themed project explores a contentious exchange between an African and an African-American.

The movie features ‘Tinsel’ star, Gbenro Ajibade and Jeremy Smith.

They play the role of the African andAfricanAmerican respectively.

The socially conscious two-character short will deal with social problems which the duo will trash in a duel that will finally lead to an eyeopening end.

Katung Aduwak, the very first Big Brother Naija housemate winner was 26 years old when he won the inaugural edition of the reality show and went home with the $100,000 prize money. H is win was surprising since he came into the house after the second eviction and won about 80 per cent of the tasks.

He and his co-housemate, Sandy, were kept in isolation with no external contact and zero access to TV or news for three weeks before being introduced to the show. Katung proceeded to New York to get a directorial degree from the Digital Film Academy, after which he returned to Nigeria and worked on several projects.

He also directed a number of music videos for Chocolate City, Styl Plus, and starred in EbonyLife TV’s Desperate Housewives of Africa show. Heaven’s Hell, his first theatrical release was well received.

Cover art

Piriye Isokrari We’re Working with UMG to Discover Exciting New African Talents Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Aristokrat Group, Piriye Isokrari is one of the key players in the entertainment business in Africa. Isokrari’s deep understanding of the industry, especially the business of music marketing in general is easily discernible listening to him talk. In a chat with select journalists in Lagos, Isokrari talks about the joint venture deal recently signed by his company and Universal Music Group, the economic impact of the deal, relationship between artistes and management, and the fate of record companies and artistes in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. Ferdinand Ekechukwu presents the excerpts

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over their revenue?

With this deal with Universal, our artistes will be able to achieve both. This deal will ensure a reach and popularity to international marketing, which in turn will follow with revenue not only from these international markets, but also increase popularity and revenue in our local markets.

our label is best known for discovering and developing one of the biggest acts in African music today, Burna Boy. Can you tell us more aboutThe Aristokrat Group?

The Aristokrat Group is an African Media and Entertainment Company headquartered in Lagos. Founded in 2009, The Aristokrat Group has expanded at a steady rate and is now present throughout the entire media and entertainment value chain. We currently house a record label, touring and event production company, film and television production company, music publishing company, and digital media company. The Aristokrat Group also offers a wide range of multimedia and entertainment services to artistes, labels and corporate brands.

Your company and Universal Music Group recently signed a joint venture deal. Can you shed more light on this?

This strategic partnership consists of both a label deal, as well as a publishing deal through Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). The Aristokrat Group and Universal Music Group will work closely together to discover and develop exciting new African talent, giving artistes and songwriters the opportunity to reach global audiences with support from Universal Music Group companies around the world.

What is the economic impact of this joint venture to the music industry and the Nigerian economy as a whole?

This joint venture will give opportunities

The relationship between record labels and artistes is pretty broken. What is your take on this?

I wouldn’t say it’s broken. That a very general term. There are so many artistes that thrive under record labels and there are artistes who don’t.

The Nigerian industry is a very young industry that’s growing rapidly, so there are bound to be mistakes. The good thing about these errors is that we can all learn from them.

Piriye Isokrari

not only to new artistes we intend to sign to the label, but also provide more job opportunities in the country through foreign direct investments through the projects we’ll be working on. We intend on having more community outreach and giving jobs to local artisans to create merchandise and much more.

It is the understanding that many Nigerian artistes prioritize reach/popularity over revenue which is why they are always on the lookout for international distribution companies like Universal. Is this deal supposed to guarantee their popularity/reach

Music has put Nigeria on the world map.

The world can no longer deny that Nigeria is a place of talented artistes and quality music. How can the industry leverage this and what do you think the government can do to help?

So far, the Nigerian music industry has been doing a great job in leveraging artistes and talent, but a way we can further put our music to the world is continuing to collaborate with artistes from different parts of the world, even in lesser known artistes in smaller genres. This way, we can show the versatility of Nigerian artistes and make our presence even more widespread. As for what the government can do to help, there is no denying our music is one of Nigerian biggest exports.

The government can aid in our success by

establishing piracy laws for the music industry to ensure that the music industry can become an economic success that will benefit the entire country.

Covid-19 has taken the world by surprise and one of the most affected sectors is the entertainment industry, which has witnessed massive cancellation of shows worldwide.

How is the record company coping with the no tour, no concert situation?

It’s important to remain innovative, especially during this time. While touring and live shows have been canceled, we have the beauty of the internet to keep us connected. Our artistes have done Instagram Live concerts and music battles for their fans to help get the spirits alive during this time. We personally just want the fans of our artistes to know how dedicated the artistes are to interact with them during this time.

It appears you have more female artistes than male artistes. Can you give us an overview on the gender distribution of artistes on your labels?

At Aristokrat Records, we currently have T’neeya signed as a recording artiste, Saszy signed as a producer and Seyi Shay under our management at Aristokrat 360. We our staff is also made up of 70% women, including our executives that consist of 50% women. In short, we understand that essential creativity and power women bring to any business.

With this new deal, we are looking to signing more talented women to the label and continue to be a champion for women in the music industry.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Íž 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR Amara Maduka

I’m a Spiritual Person‌ I Don’t Believe in Mistakes Nollywood Actress, Amara Maduka shares her life story, career, growing up, and more with Tosin Clegg Growing up was fun and interesting

I

was always artistic as a child. I would draw and paint cartoons all over my room and my father encouraged me keep finding my art. I was born in Aba. Had my primary school there and afterwards, I went to Port Harcourt for secondary and tertiary education. Growing up in Aba, in my opinion, was fun and scary at the same time. I was a fat kid and I got bullied a lot both in school and in the streets. It wasn’t a good feeling then but now I remember them and just laugh.

I was born with a silver spoon I come from the type of family where you lacked nothing as a child. But I wouldn’t say my background shaped my life. I was barely with my family as a kid or growing up as a teenager. After primary school, I left for secondary in Port Harcourt, which was a boarding school. My secondary school shaped my life; more or less.

As a boarder, you spend more time in school than at home and you learn to be your own person and be independent because your Mom or Dad isn’t there to baby-sit you. I pretty much shaped myself and am still shaping myself.

Memorable gift as a child That would be my first phone. I was in SS1 then and even though phones were contrabands, my dad got me a Samsung flip. It was the best gift any child, as of then, would dream of.

I don’t believe in mistakes or

coincidences I really don’t have any experience I’d describe as very difficult.

I have a strong gut feeling, I’ve learned to trust and listen to it and it has always guided me. I’m a spiritual person.

I don’t believe in mistakes or coincidences. Everything happens for a reason, even things people classify as mistakes were put there by the universe for a reason. I just find what the universe is trying to tell me in every situation.

For me, Fear is a limitation The good thing about being spiritual is you lose fear, mostly about the future, which you have no control over. When you realise that you are nothing and you are in charge of nothing but at the same time, you are everything.

You surrender to the divine power; God. And with that comes gratitude and humility, not fear.

I desire a lot of things I really want to touch and change lives. That has been one reason that keeps me pushing to get to the point where I can look at someone and literally make their dreams come true. It would be amazing to get to that point.

Life has taught me quite a lot The world will adjust. Believe in yourself even when no one believes in you, because nobody can see what you see even when they see it too.

Tomorrow isn’t promised. Live your truth today. Love those around you and let them know how much you love them.

Your life is your story to tell, you must choose how you tell it and not let other people’s opinion of you define who you are.

Amara Maduka

StarTimes, MTN Collaborate on Movies, Sports Leading digital Pay-TV Company, StarTimes Nigeria has entered into a strategic digital content sharing partnership that provides MTN subscribers access to a wide range of interesting movies, series and sports via the StarTimes ON Application platform.

By this partnership, StarTimes will provide over 100 channels and video-ondemand content to MTN subscribers using airtime to subscribe. Subscribers will also have access to discounted data bundles.

Speaking on this initiative, the Chief Operating Officer, StarTimes Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Aina noted: “With the video Streaming bundles on the StarTimes App, MTN subscribers will enjoy unlimited entertainment and video on demand (VOD) services at a cheaper data price than any other network in Nigeria. “We have My Sport VIP and MAX VIP streaming packages which can be sub-

scribed to weekly, monthly or quarterly. My Sport VIP subscriptions cost N400 weekly, N1000 monthly and N2400 quarterly. The package comes with 7 sports channels including UEFA Europa League, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, MMA and many more. “The VIP MAX subscriptions cost just N800 weekly, N2000 monthly and N4800 quarterly. The package comes with 26 live streaming channels which include all 7 sports channels showing UEFA Europa League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Coppa Italia and more; blockbuster movies, cartoon, news and documentary. “To enjoy discounted MTN data bundles to stream content, MTN is offering its mobile internet subscribers a special data bundle - StarTimes Streaming Only and StarTimes Binge. StarTimes Streaming Only provides data allocation to stream on StarTimes only while StarTimes Binge provides data allocation to access the

internet and also an allocation to stream on StarTimes. “StarTimes ON currently boasts of 5.5 million users in Nigeria and over 15 million across Africa, making its partnership with MTN the latest in an industry where it has become a common trend for Telcos and video operators to partner towards effective delivery in a market where VOD and live streaming are on the rise.�

Corroborating Aina’s statement, the Chief Digital Officer, Digital Services at MTN Nigeria, Scrinivas Rao said: “We have always been deliberate about giving our customers the very best in digital content. “This partnership is a reinforcement of that commitment. This platform will provide enormous quality content and keep subscribers entertained.

MTN customers can access StarTimes content via both the StarTimes ON App and MyMTN App.�

Chief Operating OďŹƒcer, StarTimes Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Aina

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Íž 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

The Rain Maker Goes Down Ferdinand Ekechukwu

“I

m still going through tribulations my brother, tribulations never end.

Even a millionaire is goingthroughtribulations.

If you give your life to Christ, then the tribulations can be less, as long as you are on earth, there will be tribulations.� For legendary Nigerian reggae musician Majek Fashek, whose foregoing words resonates following his death on Monday night, there would be no more tribulations. Death has ended his tribulations.

Those words of the ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ in aninterviewhegrantedsometimeinJanuary2017, come into reckoning considering that he spent 25 of the better part of his last years as a junkie and an alcoholic, shortly after hitting superstardom, his onetime manager and bosom friend, Azuka Jebose, once wrote in an article in 2016. Jebose added: “Majek stopped being musician years ago. He traded music for addiction. I wait for his obituary, some day. Those around him today had abused and used him.�

To many, Majek Fashek’s last days on earth could better be imagined than described. Yet, Majek will continue to live on in the minds of many, especially his friends and fans.

Former PMAN President, now Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigerian, Tony Okoroji echoes it better thus: “Everyone knows that Majek Fashek was not just my colleague. He was my friend. He stood by my side and supported me from head to toe over many years. We have shared many memorable moments together. His passing on has put tears in my heart but I am consoled by the fact that there is no need to immortalize Majek Fashek. He has immortalised himself through his unforgettable songs and lyrics.�

Real name Majekodunmi Fasheke, the singer was acknowledged as an extraordinary talent who blessed the world with a unique version of reggae music birthed by the infusion of special African rhythms and sounds that he named “kpangolo�.

With his creative genius, remarkable stage presence, deep spirituality and commercial appeal, Majek Fashek redefined what it meant to be a globally-recognized African music star.

He broke all barriers and penetrated hearts and homes beyond the shores of the continent. Majek’s success in the late 80s and early 90s helped breathe new life into the local Nigerian music scene, and his works continue to inspire today’s generation of artistes and performers.

The singer, songwriter, guitarist and once actor, like many other Nigerian musicians, had his root in church as a choirboy.Alot has been published, written and republished about the acclaimed Rain Maker since he succumbed to death at a New York hospital at 57. Heart rending are these narratives on the iconic reggae musician, especially people who encountered the superstar one on one. From his meteoric rise to fame, to his battle with spiritism and addiction to drugs and alcohol, and subsequent fall to insignificance, as massively reported, his exit to the great beyond has brought relieve to his soul.

Fashek’s drug addiction came into public focus in 2015 when it was revealed that the star was bankrupt. Pictures of an emaciated Majek surfaced online and shocked many Nigerians who expressed deep concern about the state of health of the reggae star. He sought help and was checked into a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja. Upon recovery, he made a return to the music scene in 2017. That was the final time he attempted a comeback.

While the perceived causes of his predicament were rife, the Benin born star gave a different perspective: “Let me put the record straight. I never used drugs. I was actually experiencing

Majek Fashek

some spiritual attack at that time. My problem was spiritual and not drugs. I went through some spiritual problems and I paid the price for them.

That was what happened to me, it wasn’t about drugs. It wasn’t every story that was published about me that was true. Some people are full of scandals; most people don’t want me to bounce back.�

True to Majek, the widely believed notion that the hit maker had hit rock bottom due to heavy druguse,hiscousinandformerbandmateMcRoy had attributed the late music icon’s predicaments to ‘spiritism’.As noted in an article in 2013, only a few people knew the late music icon better than his cousin and former band mate Amos McRoy, last name Osifo, now a clergy man.

As cousins, McRoy and Majek started their music careers together and were part of the group called Jastix along with Black Rice who was the lead singer. One of the main gigs of the band was to play at music show ‘Music Panorama’ which aired on NTA Benin. Jastix also toured with The Mandators during this period. When the Jastix disbanded, McRoy and Majek focused on their solo careers but also remained very close.

In the 2013 interview in the defunct Entertainment Express newspaper, McRoy gave a detailed revelation of the mysterious fall of Majek who at that time had already hit rock bottom. “Prisoner of Conscience was released to instant success.

Success doesn’t change a person. It brings out the real you. Till tomorrow, Majek is still the same person in terms of humility, in terms of carriage

and the rest of it. His problem: he listened to wrong advices. That is the root of his current predicament. “Many people think Majek’s problem is drugrelated.TruthisMajek’sproblemisspiritual.Majek strayed into spiritism. Once, while on stage, Majek said,‘Oh,Felaismyboy.BobMarleyismyboy’.He made that statement during a Rothmans Show at Tafawa Balewa Square and Dede Mabiaku, Fela’s protĂŠgĂŠ, went berserk. It took the intervention of Eddie Lawani to calm him. Dede didn’t quite understand what Majek was talking about. He was taking it from the physical sense, whereas Majek was talking spiritual. “Majek went into spiritism at a lightning speed – like jumping from kindergarten straight to the university without a linking bridge. He was not properly schooled. So he couldn’t keep the rules. Majek totally ‘crossed the line’ after the release of ‘Prisoner of Conscience’. Those days, we were sharing the same duplex at Anthony Village. I would see the Guru Maharaji people come to visit him. The same Guru Maharaji we all know, just starting out at the time. The Hare Krishna people also came. I thought ‘oh, this guy is popular, that’s why they are coming to him for one favour or another’. I didn’t know that it was deeper than that. “Majek released his album in April 1988. I released mine a year after. We were under the same management. We rehearsed at the same place, using the same band as back up. One day, we were coming from rehearsal; he was driving his Peugeot 505 car. One of our backup singers,

Monica Omorodion (who now lives in the US), said ‘Bros Amos, why is your record not making waveslikeMajek’s,orTheMandators,orKimono?’ Majek looked at me in the rear mirror and said, ‘Don’t mind Amos. He doesn’t want to ask me the road I passed to become a star. He thinks it is good record that makes someone a star’. “When he made that statement, I gave him a knock from behind. ‘My friend shut up there!

What are you doing that I am not doing?’ I said. He switched to Benin language. ‘This is not the Majek you grew up with’, he said.

Still I did not understand. It took me 10 years to connect the dots. Not until we went to Cote d’Ivoire in 1998 that Majek told me certain things, that I became aware, in hindsight that ‘okay that is what my brother was talking about back then’. . .�

At the crowning moment of his career in 1988 when he released his first album ‘Prisoner of Conscience’, which included the multiple award-winning single ‘Send Down The Rain’, to when he released Little Patience, his eight studio album in 2004, Majek hugged limelight with hit songs such as Majek Fashek Ina New York, Holy Spirit, Free Africa Free Mandela, Mother, and I Come From The Ghetto. His 1991 release So Long, Too Long, which carried a strong political and pan-African message pushed Majek Fashek’s popularity beyond Africa. As a sign of his international reach in 1992, he appeared on the high-profile David Letterman chat show on US television, where he sang “So Long Too Long.�

26

SATURDAY JUNE 6, 2020 •T H I S D AY

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

6.06.2020

NEWS

OPEN TO PLAYING FOR NIGERIA

Odion Ighalo

Living His Dream

PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Odion Ighalo

Living His Dream Ighalo

Signing for Manchester United on the last day of January transfer window was a dream come true, but extending his loan deal till next year was the beginning of another dream for Odion Ighalo, which is taking the OldTrafford side to a higher level. How well the Nigerian can light up the Theater of Dreams in his second phase remains to be seen

A

fter weeks of uncertainty on whether he can achieve his dream of extending his loan deal at Old Trafford until January 31, 2021, former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has vowed to do whatever he can to take Manchester United “higher and higher” after his loan from Shanghai Shenhua was extended.

Ighalo initially joined United in a deadline day move in January and scored four times in eight appearances in all competitions prior to the suspension of the Premier League.

“I’m really happy,” Ighalo said. “It’s a dream for me to be here. I’m buzzing and ready to go.

Since the first day I arrived, I made it clear that I wanted whatever it takes to continue that work.

“Like I’ve said, since I was young, I’ve been supporting this club and playing for it is a dream.

Now I’ve extended my loan, it makes it more even clear and I’m committed as I know, in my head, I’m here until January ending.

“I just want to work hard and enjoy it, support the team and do whatever I can to make us go higher and higher.”

Shenhua’s original stance was that they would only agree to extend Ighalo’s loan if an obligation to buy was incorporated into the deal, with the former Watford striker likely to cost upwards of £20m.

However, with border restrictions potentially preventing Ighalo from returning to China in time for the new season, the club softened their stance and allowed him to extend his stay in the Premier League.

Ighalo revealed that the United squad were getting closer to match fitness ahead of the June 17 restart, and also admitted that training during the lockdown had been “strange” for the players.

“I’m getting better and better every day,” he told the club’s website. “We have been training together the past two weeks now, so it’s getting close to the game. The sharpness is coming, the fitness is coming and everything is going well.

“It’s been strange, you know, because you have to stay two metres apart to talk to your team-mates. Sometimes, you need to get close to give them some signs but now it’s two metres and it’s kind of strange.

“But this is what we have to do for us to be safe and for the game to go on. We are ready to do it and we’re happy to do it. Everybody is looking good. Running, working hard and playing football. Little two-a-sides and doing some ball work.

“Like everyone, everywhere, Manchester United are getting accustomed to dealing with uncertainty but there’s been a delight in the corridors of Old Trafford that one of those doubts has been crossed off the list.”

The deal to keep Ighalo at the club has been one of United’s recruitment priorities since football was put on hold and, with the prospect of a lot of games in a compressed period, retaining a player of his pedigree was considered crucial.

That doesn’t mean to say it was an easy negotiation, however. The initial loan deal secured in the few remaining hours of the January window hadn’t been an easy one to conclude, and going into talks to extend his stay further wasn’t something those involved were particularly relishing either.

If there was brinkmanship involved in those discussions at the start of 2020, then it was a case of deja vu this time around, with United making it clear they wanted to get something sorted one way or the other before Ighalo’s initial spell at Old Trafford was scheduled to end at midnight on May 31.

Once again the deal got done, but it wasn’t plain sailing and it was hung in the balance last weekend. While the negotiations were ultimately successful, the reaction to phase two of the Ighalo project was somewhat different; for all those who scoffed and laughed in January, far more were nodding their heads in approval this time around because the player’s stats and impact speak

for themselves.

It was obviously a considerable help to the wrangling that Ighalo is living out his dream of playing for the team he supports, while loving his time in Manchester, but his four goals from three starts make it a far more compelling decision than just a romantic one.

Ighalo’s goals equate to one every 77 minutes that he’s played in a United shirt, and they’ve been important goals too, especially the two he managed in the FA Cup, which illustrated his particular talents and one of the reasons Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen to keep him.

Yes, the opening goal in the slightly bizarre victory inAustria last time out was a beauty, but the 30-year-old showed his predatory instincts with his pair at Pride Park, scored with the sort of desire and determination Solskjaer wants to see from the likes of Marcus Rashford,Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood. He wants them to add the ‘meat and drink’ goals to their games, and Ighalo can help with that process, particularly with Greenwood.

It’s true United were more relaxed going into the second phase of talks with Shanghai Shenhua because Rashford is fully fit again and raring to go for when the Premier League returns, boasting 12 goals in his last 16 games before the back injury that made Ighalo’s signing a necessity.

But the fact the deal they’ve negotiated, costing them in the region of £6m for the loan fee and wages, extends to the end of January next year gives the recruitment team more time to consider other potential striking options and not necessarily prioritise a new front-man in the next window. Added to that, Ighalo is not an unknown anymore.

He’s fitted in well and there’s an argument he’ll only thrive more now he’s got to grips with his new environment.

What however remains to be seen is whether Ighalo would live up to expectation in the second phase of his campaign at Old Trafford.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Joshua Oluwayemi

Open to Playing for Nigeria

If there is one area in Super Eagles team that was always giving Manager Gernot Rohr cause for concern, it is the goalkeeping department.That is why he would be wishing more than ever thatTottenham Hotspur whiz kid, Joshua Oluwayemi commits his international future to Nigeria over England in spite of having represented the English at the age-grade level

B

orn in Waltham Forest 19 years ago, Oluwayemi comes from a family of goalkeepers as his father, Abiodun Ogunyemi, was a goalkeeper for Ogun State University and attended Federal Government College Odogbolu, while his sibling, Tobi is also a goalkeeper at Glasgow Celtic.

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

Speaking after Tottenham Hotspur U-18s beat Southampton 3-1 in the first game hosted at New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on last year, Oluwayemi told mafisportsmedia.com: ‘’If Nigeria comes for me, then I’ll go but at the moment I am focusing on England youth, and then Nigeria first.’’

Oluwayemi has played non-binding games for England at U-15 and U-16 levels, meaning he can play for Nigeria’s youth teams straightaway without applying for a one-time change of association.

The promising goalkeeper hinted recently that informal talks had taken place regarding pledging his allegiance to Nigeria, following a chance meeting between Super Eagles legend Nwankwo Kanu and his dad.

In an Instagram conversation with Team Nigeria UK on Monday evening, Oluwayemi said: “I have never actually travelled to Nigeria but the thing with London, the community, is like I have been to Nigeria.

“I am surrounded by some Nigerian uncles coming around but I’ve never actually been to Nigeria. Definitely, there are plans to visit Nigeria with my parents.”

When quizzed on whether he had been approached by the Nigerian Federation to play for their youth teams, he responded: “I have had couple of Nigerian people after games. I saw Kanu one time, he was at one of our games, he was talking to my dad, but not really like that.

“Definitely I’ll be looking at Nigeria but my options are open.”

On playing the first game at the new Spurs Stadium last year, the third-year scholar said: ‘’It’s a very good experience,

I am happy to see a lot of fans and the crowd coming over to support us. It was a good result.’’

Oulwayemi is learning to be a top goalkeeper under the tutelage of Tottenham Hotspur andArsenal legend Pat Jennings.

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

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

Since the controversial retirement of former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama, the goalkeeping department had been one problematic area for senior national team until the arrival of Carl Ikeme, who steadied the ship.

He did not however, last long as the Wolverhampton Wanderers FC safe hands was diagnosed with acute leukemia in July

2017, culminating in his early retirement from football.

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

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

If Oluwayemi can commit his international future to his fatherland one can only hope that the problem in the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles won’t last longer.

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Super Eagles trio of Uche Okechukwu, Emanuel Amunike and Daniel Amokachi celebrating one of the two goals against Greece at the 1994 World Cup in US

hope

Akpan: Debut for Super Eagles was My Proudest Moment Liverpool-born midfielder Hope Akpan has talked about committing his international future to Nigeria over his country of birth, England.

The former Everton star became cap-tied to the Super Eagles when he started their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan in Uyo and has played three more games for the national team.

“For me it was one of the proudest moments of my career, it’s not often that you get to play for your country - the country of your parents, the country of your heritage,” Akpan said to

Team Nigeria UK on Instagram Live.

“It was massive for me and I really, really, really enjoyed playing for the national team although it wasn’t as many games as I wanted to play.

“Just the experience alone, I’ll be able to hold that as the amazing part of my career and I am really thankful that I got the opportunity to go to Nigeria and play in some beautiful games.”

The 28-year-old has picked his debut against Sudan as the standout moment of his career, both at international and club level.

“My best moment in football obviously my debut for Nigeria, it was a home game, it was in the state where my father is from, in Uyo. “It was massive being called Akpan and playing in Uyo. I got a lot of love from family members and people around the local government. It was really, really an inspiring moment,” Akpan added.

Akpan has been in the international wilderness for more than five years, with his last Super Eagles appearance coming against Uganda in March 2015.

Finidi, Amuneke, Okocha Recall Super Eagles Best Moments Live on SuperSport SuperSport viewers on DStv can now begin counting down the days until the football season restarts with La Liga on 12 June, but until then you can ReLiveAfrica’s best football memories with Nigeria.

Nigeria burst onto the global football scene in style in the nineties with an impressive performance at the 1994 World Cup in the USA which saw them finish top of their group in their first ever official football tournament.

There have been two undeniable peaks in the history of Nigerian football, two moments which have garnished the reputation of fear when you face the Super Eagles.

Those moments are undoubtedly the 1994 World Cup and the 1996 Summer Olympics.

DStv and GOtv viewers can relive those

moments on SuperSport today with Joseph Dosu, Jay-Jay Okocha and Victor Ikpeda commenting live on the 1996 Olympics from 5:30pm on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 9 and SuperSport Select 1 . The Pioneers of Nigerian football will then be coming to you live as Peter Rufai, Finidi George and Emmanuel Amunike relive the 1994 World Cup from 6:30pm on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 9 and SuperSport Select 1.

Speaking after the tournament, Amokachi explained why the team was so successful. “It all started from 1989 when we failed to reach Italia 90 and the coach made it clear that he will make us the first to play at the World Cup. We had a blend of experience and fearless

Bayern, Leverkusen Clash Live on StarTimes Today Bayern Munich and Leverkusen will today battle in what is expected to be a fascinating moment for football fans.

The match would be broadcast live today at 2:30p.m. on StarTimes’ ST World Football Channels 244 and 254 and, ST Sport Premium Channel 246.

The Bundesliga league no longer seems to be a one-horse race and Bayern can therefore not afford to drop points, and would need their best players to get the better of a tough customer like Bayer Leverkusen.

AfterwinninginDortmund and following that up with a comfortable 5-0 victory against struggling Düssel-

dorf last weekend, Bayern München are marching towards an eighth successive title.

Bayer Leverkusen Coach, Peter Bosz’s side have been blowing hot and cold since the restart of the season, winning their first match 4-1 at Werder Bremen and 3-1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach, but then crashing spectacularly at home against Wolfsburg before finding back to their winning ways at Freiburg last Saturday.

Leverkusen have one of the most exciting young players in the world amongst whom is 20-year-old German international, Kai Havertz.

young players as well as a manager who had the power of motivation and the ability to bring the best out of his players,” said Amokachi.

The final of the 1996 Olympics was a humdinger with Babayaro, Amokachi and Amunike finding the back of the net, Amunike’s goal coming in the 90th minute to see the Super Eagles beat Argentina 3-2 to win a gold medal as they made all Africans proud.

Speaking after the Olympics, Sunday Oliseh, who was a key player in the Nigerian team, said: “I guarantee you that as I talk to you now, everyone in Africa is celebrating. There is no sleeping tonight. Everyone will be happy. This is for all the African countries.”

Benjamin Odeje: At Last, Honour Before Dusk It took nearly a life time against Northern Ireland. for recognition and honour to come the way of Benjamin Odeje, the Delta-born British footballer. No thanks to the evil of racism which had plagued (and still plagues) the western world.

We must however take solace in the fact that it is better late than never. And that is why 39 years after, Odeje heaves a long sigh of relief as he rightly gets recognised as the first black man to play international soccer in/for England.

It was quite historical that afternoon of March 6,1971 when 22 young boys filed out at the Wembley Stadium in England to play a match

One of the boys was Benjamin Odeje, a black boy who had made a lot of impact in high school soccer championships in South East London. Odeje had indeed scored 400 goals in three soccer seasons and he became the toast of soccer fans in S/East London.

So good he was that the Charlton Athletic manager, Theo Foley had declared that, “Odeje had every chance of reaching the top”.

And he was indeed headed to the top of his soccer career when he got enlisted into the English soccer team by his coach, Roy Hodgson, who considered him an invaluable player.

Adron Homes, Delloite Leading the Way in Corporate Sports The emergence of sporting activities in corporate organisations in the country was initially recreational and a way of keeping the workforce fit for the challenges in the work place. However, this event evolved over the years with company competing for laurels at corporate games all over the country.

Over the years, the Nigeria Bankers Games has brought together sporting talents in the sector, while the Oil and Gas game, a biennial sporting event, has continue to encourage healthy rivalry among big players in the industry. Apart from pursuing sporting excellence, these competitions have also become a source of camaraderie among participants.

However, with more companies realising the potential inherent in sports, it is now usual to see companies organising competition among different departments in their organisations to energise their work force and free them from stress associated with daily running of business in the office.

With this, two notable companies – Andron Homes and Delloite Law Firm – have taken a giant step in encouraging their staff to keep fit by taking to sports. These two companies have over the years organised competition among their members of staff, which has become a major attraction for the workers.

Adron Homes, a leading real estate company, has organised the Adron Games among their staffs for six years while also inviting relay teams of universities and polytechnic to be part of the event.

The competition gives the members of staff who are based in different parts of the country the opportunity to come together and compete for honours under a convivial atmosphere.

Adron has also gotten the support of Nigeria sporting heroes who have become regular faces at finals of the events, a development, which gladdens the heart of Adron boss, Oba Adetola Emmanuel King who is a major financier of the games. These athletes and sports stars have also become the Games ambassadors. They are Mary Onyali, Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Peter Rufai, Ajibade Babalade and Mutiu Adepoju.

For Delloite, which held the seventh of its game before the pandemic, the five-a-side football tournament amid other activities have become a huge favourite among members of staffs while former Eagles’ stars like Friday Ekpo , Waidi Akanni, Yisa sofoluwe, Ifeanyi Udeze and Wasiu Ipaye have given their backing to the game.

With the sports world hoping to restart events once, the COVID-19 pandemic is over, these two firms are confident that the next edition of their games would be held amid pomp.

DStv Viewers Set for First Eight Races of Formula 1

SuperSport viewers on DStv can now begin counting down the days until the start of the 2020 Formula 1 season, with the opening race scheduled to take place at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on Sunday.

This means that SuperSport viewers, as of today, have just 28 days until they can start their engines, settle in on the couch and enjoy the best drivers battling wheel to wheel in the world’s fastest cars.

The 2020 Formula 1 season – which almost began in Australia in March but was canceled late in the day due to world events, and has remained suspended ever since – will start with two races behind closed doors in Austria on July 5 and July 12 followed by six other Grand Prix in Europe.

There will then be a two-week break before two consecutive races in Britain and events in Spain, Belgium and Italy. The British Grands Prix at Silverstone will be held 2 and 9 August, followed immediately by the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona on 16 August. The Belgian and Italian Grands Prix will complete the European part of the season on their original dates of 30 August and 6 September.

Formula 1 said it hoped to have between 15 and 18 races in total, with the season being completed in December. Details of the remaining races will be confirmed in due course.

Last week, the Austrian government sanctioned the season-opening double-header at the Spielberg circuit after Formula 1 organisers “presented a complete and professional plan”.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 6, 2020

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Philip Billing

Using Nigeria as Bait for Denmark Call-up?

After initially rumoured to have agreed to star for the Super Eagles, Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing , said he never had Nigeria on his mind. Nigeria senior national team manager, Gernot Rohr had however accused Billing and his agent of using the threetimes African champion as a bait to get Denmark national team call-up

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he Franco-German has explained what transpired between him and 23-year-old Phillip Billing, who recently quashed a report linking him to Nigeria.

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has stated he would never beg any player to play for the national team, and suggested Bournemouth midfielder used him to get the attention of the Danish national team manager.

Billing was born to a Nigerian father and Danish mother and has represented the European country’s youth team, but is still eligible to feature for the Super Eagles having not played for Denmark at senior level.

Last month, the forward quashed a report making rounds that he had agreed to pledge his allegiance to Nigeria, stating he felt more like a Dane and revealed he has told Rohr of his intention to play for the Danish team.

The Franco-German tactician, however, explained how Billing’s agent called him to explain his client was interested in playing for Nigeria and he did a follow-up by calling the player.

“Billing’s agent called me and he said that he is interested to come to Nigeria because he is not playing so much in Denmark,” Rohr told ESPN. “So he wanted me to call Billing. I said I don’t have his number, so he gave me his number. When I called Billing he asked me some questions about the Nigerian team.

“And he said, ‘I am very, very interested

to come with you, but give me some time. I think the agent is using this interest to give him more importance or more chances to play in Denmark.

“We never beg anybody. But if they want to come, if they are good players, yes. Some players sometimes want to come but we have already better players in these positions.”

Billing has rejected the chance to represent Nigeria in favour of the country of his birth, Denmark, after a second approach from Rohr.

Billing, 23, was snapped up by the Cherries in a £15-million transfer after he suffered relegation with Huddersfield at the end of the 2018/19 season.

However, in his third season in the English top-flight, the technically gifted central midfielder has developed into an established performer under manager Eddie Howe.

As a result, Rohr has come knocking for the Super Eagles for a second occasion, with Billing yet to make his senior national team debut despite earning a maiden call-up in March last year.

But the powerful midfielder claims it would be awkward for him to turn his back on Kasper Hjulmand’s side to represent the country of his fathers’ birth.

“I saw the last time people started to speculate that I didn’t mind playing for Denmark and blah, blah, blah,” he told Danish news outlet BT. “It would be strange to stand up for

Nigeria when I feel 100 per cent Danish.

Of course, I have Nigerian roots and am half Nigerian, but I was raised and born in Denmark.

“I have a Danish mother, Danish little brother and Danish little sister and a Nigerian father. But this is Denmark I want to stand for. That’s my big dream.

“I’ve talked to the coach, but I know where I want to play. I want to play for Denmark, so it is no longer than that.

“He (Rohr) just said he really wanted me to play for Nigeria because the upcoming World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations would be played soon.

I made it pretty clear to him that I wanted to play for Denmark. That’s my big dream.”

Billing has featured 29 times for the South Coast outfit this season, scoring three goals and registering a solitary assist.

Besides Ola Aina, Leon Balogun and Alex Iwobi, who have switched allegiances to play for the Super Eagles in the past, Heracles Almelo striker Cyriel Dessers and Koln defender Kingsley Ehizibue are two other players who have shown their interest in featuring for the West Africans.

The pair were part of the Nigeria squad scheduled to take on Sierra Leone in March in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier before the game was suspended due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Rohr is also hoping Queens Park Rang-

ers midfielder Eberechi Eze, who has been in top form in the Championship this season, will make a decision to play for the Super Eagles soon.

“We hope Eze will come but you know there is a process to follow. If they play already for the youth team in England or other countries, there is a process, write a letter, go to the FIFA commission, and so on,” Rohr added.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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MISSILE

Adesina on His Accusers “In all the 16 allegations against me, there were no facts, no evidence, no document. The Ethics Committee investigated for three months.

They asked for evidence. The accusers could not bring any” –The embattled President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, saying his detractors have no proof to back allegations against him.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

“I’ve Seen Dictators Rise and Fall. Beware, America”

F

ellow citizens of the world, the above title is not original to me. It is the headline of a very profound and inspired article written on June 3, 2020, by one of the greatest novelists of the last century, Salman Rushdie, in the Washington Post.

I know many of today’s readers may not know who Salman Rushdie is, so let me a give brief description of this prodigiously gifted writer and how significant he’s been in the past three decades. I first encountered the novels of Salman Rushdie around 1989 as a reporter at the Weekend Concord. Rushdie had just released his controversial book, Satanic Verses, which many Muslims found gravely uncomplimentary and deeply offensive to their religion and faith.

The book was banned by the Islamic faithful leaders. Riots took place all over the world as the heretical book was burnt and shops stocking it were attacked. On Valentine’s day, 14 February 1989, a death fatwa was proclaimed and issued on Rushdie’s head by the then spiritual leader of Iran, the much revered and feared Ayatollah Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini. For those who may not know the meaning of fatwa, let me quickly explain. It is a ruling under Islamic Sharia law which leads to a culprit who has committed heresy against Islam or the holy Prophet Muhammad, being declared a persona non grata who deserves to be killed wherever and whenever he is found. This sentence may be enforced by any Muslim faithful and such a Muslim immediately becomes a Martyr. This was certainly dangerous and perilous times for Rushdie. He knew the faith, calibre and fanaticism of those whose faith he had abused and promptly went into hiding under the protection of the British Government. The situation was so charged and inflamed that the British Government and Iran broke off diplomatic relations over the fatwa. Rushdie himself was not to surface for many years, eventually doing so and appearing, at a U2 music concert in London in August 1993.

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie was born in Mumbai, India, on June 19, 1947. By the time his second novel, Midnight’s Children, won the prestigious Booker Prize in 1981, he was already recognised and acknowledged as a distinguished writer.

The book was subsequently rated “the best novel of all winners” of the Booker Prize on two occasions, the 25th and the 40th anniversary of the prize. But in September 1988, he bit more than he could chew when he wrote The Satanic Verses. The book as I have said attracted widespread criticism and protests across Muslim countries and other nations including the UK where Rushdie was then living, when some people realised what they claim to be the irreverent depiction of the holy Prophet Mohammed.

He received death threats and ultimately a bounty and the fatwa were placed on his head. Incidentally, ironically, and by a quirk of fate, Ayatollah Khomeini died on 3 June 1989 after having five heart attacks in ten days, barely only four months into the fatwa that he had proclaimed against Salman Rushdie. It is also significant that the Rushdie comment that I am reproducing here was written on the 41st anniversary

Trump

of Ayatollah Khomeini’s demise.

I first got hold of the highly controversial book in March 1989, through my boss at the Weekend Concord newspaper, Mr Mike Awoyinfa. It was sacrilegious to be seen with the book at the time, although the hullaballoo was not that prevalent or ferocious in Nigeria. We are both greedy about books.

Since the Satanic Verses debacle, I’ve been a keen follower of Rushdie and purchased most of his works. He moved from England to the United States in 2000 and has permanently lived there, acquiring American citizenship about four years ago.

I was excited to stumble on his essay yesterday as I was getting ready to write my weekly column. The article was lucid and logical and I decided to make it available to my African readers for the benefit of the strange acolytes of President Donald Trump in Africa who seemed to have been conned and scammed by the antics of a man who has never hidden his pathological hatred for people of colour. Some of the ugliest descriptions of colour were coined and “patented” by Trump. But for those who think Trump can do no wrong and that he is infallible, the unfortunate and unnecessary wasted blood and life of George Floyd seems to have united the world against the white supremacists of which Trump is the undisputed champion. Let me allow you to read and savour the words of Salman Rushdie...

“In my life, I have seen several dictators rise and fall. Today, I’m remembering those earlier incarnations of this unlovely breed.

In India in 1975, Indira Gandhi, found guilty of electoral malpractice, declared a state of emergency that granted her despotic powers.

The “emergency,” as it became known, ended only when she called an election, believing she would win, and was annihilated at the polls. Her arrogance was her downfall. This cautionary tale formed a part of my novel “Midnight’s Children.”

In Pakistan in 1977, Gen. Mohammed Zia ul-Haq staged a coup against Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and executed him in 1979. This dark story was the inspiration for my novel “Shame.” The circumstances of my life have given me some understanding of the dictatorial cast of mind.

Extreme narcissism, detachment from reality, a fondness for sycophants and a distrust of truth-tellers, an obsession with how one is publicly portrayed, a hatred of journalists and the temperament of an out-of-control bulldozer: These are some of the characteristics.

President Trump is, temperamentally, a tinpot despot of this type. But he finds himself in charge of a country that has historically thought of itself — by no means always correctly — as being on the side of liberty. So far, with the collusion of the Republican Party, he has ruled more or less unchecked. Now an election looms, and he is unpopular, and flails about looking for a winning strategy.

And if that means trampling over American freedoms, then so be it.

I have lived in the United States for 20 years and been a citizen for the past four. One of the most important reasons for becoming a citizen was my admiration for the ideas of freedom embodied in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Trump, whose regard for the Second Amendment is well known, needs reminding of the First, which, if I may help, states in part that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

And yet, the man whose incompetence allowed the pandemic to tighten its deadly grip around our necks, and whose inflammatory language full of racist dog whistles has played a significant role in unleashing white-supremacist bigotry upon us all, stands in the Rose Garden of the White House and announces without an iota of shame that he wants to protect peaceful protesters. At that very time, just down the street, his security forces, some of them on horseback, are attacking a peaceful protest with tear gas and rubber bullets. A moment later, he characterizes the demonstrators as terrorists and characterizes their protests as crimes against God. He has the pictures to prove it: the fleeing young people, the clouds of tear gas, the line of horses advancing in the name of the Law. If there’s one thing Trump knows, it’s how to construct an image the cameras will like.

This man who, before he got his present job, was almost never seen inside a house of worship, then holds up a Bible outside a church to demonstrate his piety, and if the bishop of the diocese denounces him soon after, accusing him of misusing the church in the service of “a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus,” what of it? Once again, he has the pictures, and they speak louder.

We are so inured to the behavior of this man, so used to his lies, his inexhaustible self-regard, his stupidity, that maybe we are tempted to think of this as just another day in Trumpistan. But this time, something different is happening. The uprising that began with the killing of George Floyd is not fizzling but growing. The man in the White House is scared, and even, for a time, takes refuge in the basement and turns out the lights. What is such a person to do at such a time?

If he is allowed to use the actions of a tiny

minority of criminals and white extremist infiltrators to invalidate the honorable protest of the vast majority against the murder of Floyd, the violence of the police toward the black community and the entrenched power of American racism, he will be on his way to despotism. He has threatened to use the Army against American citizens, a threat one might have expected from a leader of the former Soviet Union, but not of the United States.

In my most recent novel, “Quichotte,” I characterized the present moment as the “Age of Anything-Can-Happen.” Today I say, beware, America. Don’t believe that it can’t happen here.”

Thank you, Sir. Nothing more to add with respect to the reckless and dangerous bully that Trump is. For me, his day or reckoning is imminent, and he will get his comeuppance very soon at the conclusion of the November 3 election in America. Maybe then, the scales will fall from over the eyes of those black people, particularly Christians, who see Trump as some sort of Messiah who has come to provide them salvation from the heathens that other Americans represents to them. On the contrary, for me Trump is the archetypal Anti-Christ doing exactly as the Bible predicts and deceiving the shallow and the unwise.

However, it is important to draw lessons from the above piece by Rushdie for African leaders who think they can rule in perpetuity by using ethnicity and religion to divide their people. It may work for them for some time, even a long time in some countries, but that time will finally end and the people will suddenly realise how much they have been brainwashed, hypnotised and hoodwinked by these selfish and unpatriotic leaders. The day is therefore coming, and very soon too, when the people of Africa will wake up from their deep slumber and reject the primordial sentiments, packaged as parochial bigotry and prejudice founded on the insular and divisive tenets and platforms of sectarianism, ethnicity and religious intolerance. Unfortunately, these divisive policies have kept most of us in Africa in bondage almost forever.

Those who have ears to hear and eyes to see should watch out, listen, and see how the death of one man can ignite the fire of togetherness and unity across the world.

There have been too many deaths before now. But this is obviously one death too many. The frenzy for equity and justice for George Floyd in particular, and people of colour in general, is reaching fever pitch all around the world. The fire will consume all in its wake who do not see the conflagration reaching out to tear the barriers, shackles, manacles, blinkers and blindfolds that have prevented Blacks from achieving real freedom, egalitarianism and emancipation for themselves. What is becoming clear is that Black people will not wait for these to be handed to them anymore, they will grab it themselves by fire, by force. George Floyd’s blood was not a sweet blood for vampires and, so, it has turned into poison coursing through their infernal veins and internally and eternally worrying and exterminating his killers and their ilk.

May George Floyd’s soul rest in peace...

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