SATURDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2021

Only Fully Vaccinated People Can Board Plane to US, Effective November 8 Michael Olugbode in Abuja Beginning on November 8, all foreign air travellers to the United States will be required, with only limited exceptions, to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status before boarding a plane

to the United States.

This new global travel system replaces the existing country-by-country restrictions, putting in place a consistent approach worldwide, the US has said.

With the implementation of these new vaccine

requirements, the US government explained that foreign national travellers, who had been in one of the 33 countries with restrictions, do not need to obtain national interest exceptions to travel to the US. According to a statement

yesterday, titled, “New vaccine requirements for travel to the United States starting November 8, 2021,” the US Centre for Disease Control said it had determined that for the purposes of entry, vaccines accepted will include those approved or

authorised by the Food and Drugs Administration, as well as vaccines with an emergency use listing from the World Health Organisation.

It noted, “When it comes to testing, fully vaccinated air travellers will continue to be required to show

documentation of a predeparture negative viral test taken within three calendar days of travel to the United States before boarding.

“That includes all travellers – US citizens, lawful permanent Continued on page 5

Security Agents Search Justice Odili's House in Abuja… Page 8 Saturday 30 October, 2021 Vol 26. No 9700

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Game on as A’Court Clears PDP for National Convention New NWC won’t assume office until December 9 when Secondus’ term ends

Charles Ajunwa in Lagos, Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt An Appeal Court sitting in

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday dismissed the appeal of the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus seeking to restrain

the party from conducting its National Convention, thus paving the way for the congress to commence today in Abuja.

The three-man panel

dismissed the appeal which was filed on October 14, 2021, “for lacking in merit.”

With the scare that the convention might be stopped by a court over, 3,600 delegates

from all over the country will today converge on the Eagles Square, Abuja, to elect a new National Working Committee for the party.

Secondus had approached

the court of appeal to challenge his removal as chairman.

He also sought an order of injunction restraining the PDP Continued on page 5

Buhari Warns against Tenure Extension Campaign, Says He’ll Leave Office in 2023 'I swore by the Holy Qur’an that I will serve in accordance with the constitution and leave when my time is up' Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he would leave office when his tenure ends on May 29, 2023, and warned against campaigns for tenure extension, saying he swore to serve in accordance with the constitution.

The President was speaking at a meeting in Makkah with a select group of Nigerians resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he just ended a visit.

According to a statement titled, “President Buhari Says I Will Leave On 29

May 2023, Warns Tenure Extension Campaigners To Desist,” signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari told the Nigerians: “I swore by the Holy Qur’an that I will serve in accordance with the constitution and leave when my time is up. No “Tazarce’’ (tenure extension).”

Buhari adds: “I don’t want anybody to start talking about and campaigning for unconstitutional extension. I will not accept that.”

Continued on page 5

University of Aberdeen Hands over Another Benin Bronze to Nigeria... Page 6

EYE ON 2023…

L-R: The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at a meeting at Tinubu's Abuja residence…yesterday

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Kwankwaso: Ganduje Taking Loans for Unnecessary Projects Bennett Oghifo Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso says his successor, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has been borrowing to execute unnecessary projects, causing the state to owe about N185 billion.

Kwankwaso, a former ally of Ganduje, stated this on Arise News yesterday, expressing displeasure at the present debt profile of Kano State, which he

said was without debt before he left as governor, adding that this mismanagement was the reason for the disagreement he is having with Ganduje and nothing personal.

He said, “On personal ground, there is just no issue but on the issue of governance, certainly, we are not satisfied with what the government is doing. Probably, it was even the genesis of the negative relationship that started

immediately he was elected.”

“There are certain things that they are doing which do not conform with our beliefs and don’t conform with our ideology.

“Take for example the issue of debt. In Kwankwasiyya, we don’t believe in borrowing except when it is extremely necessary.

“I’m happy to say that when I was governor from 1999 to 2003, I did not borrow one

single Kobo or Naira from anybody both local and international.

“On the contrary, we paid every Naira that was borrowed by my predecessor at that particular time.

“Also when I went back in 2011, we met a lot of debt, especially the ones that were borrowed just before we went in, at least $200 million for issues like malaria, mosquito and so on.

“We asked our commissioners to go and follow due process with the World Bank and other organisations.

“Before we left, we settled every Naira. We paid 100 per cent and, of course, all for what we did in Kano, in terms of projects, programmes and so forth, especially in the educational sector.

“We don’t believe in borrowing anything from

BUHARI WARNS AGAINST TENURE EXTENSION CAMPAIGN, SAYS HE'LL LEAVE OFFICE IN 2023 Shehu said the President also promised to provide support to increase the role of technology in the nation’s elections, arguing that the introduction of the card reader and electronic register was God’s answer to his prayers, having been cheated of his victory in three previous elections.

“After the third so-called defeat, I said, ‘God Dey’.

My opponents laughed at me but God answered my prayers by bringing in technology. At that point, nobody can steal their votes or buy them,” Buhari was quoted as saying.

The President also said he would continue to abide by the constitution in all its ramifications, adding that he will at all times supervise and deal with his ministers on the same basis.

He also assured that he would improve the welfare of Nigerians: “In the balance of 18 months or so left of my time, whatever I can do to improve the life of Nigerians, I will do it for the country.”

The President commended Diaspora Nigerians in the Kingdom for representing the country well and projecting its good image.

Shehu said Bhari used the opportunity to urge citizens at home to be fair to his administration at all times, asking the critics to compare the security situations in the North-east and South-south in 2015 and how things have improved as of now.

He quoted Buhari as saying, “My problem is the North-west where people are killing and stealing from one another. I had to be very hard on them and I will continue to be very hard until we put them in line and bring back order.”

He said President Buhari urged Nigerians living in

Saudi Arabia to remain law-abiding and do nothing to derogate from the many years of friendly and mutually beneficial relationships between the two countries.

A leader of the community, Dr. Abdulkadir Maikudi, who spoke on behalf of the group, requested the President to assist the privately-run Nigerian International School in the Kingdom by equipping it to provide science and technical education.

At the meeting, the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal, and the Consul-General in Jeddah,

Ambassador Abdulkarim Mansur attested to the good conduct of the nearly 1.5 million Nigerians there.

According to them, “Nigerian professionals are doing well and projecting a good image of our country.”

anybody. For the two times, 2003 and 2015, that I left government, there was no one single debt for Kano State - zero.

“I can tell you earlier this year, our investigation shows that Kano State is indebted to about N185 billion and that is not acceptable in our own arrangement. Some of the projects they claim are being done were projects in our opinion that were not necessary.

“You don’t borrow money to go and start building things that are not necessary now.”

Kwankwaso was elected to the Senate in 2015, serving one term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the heat of his disagreement with Governor Ganduje.

ONLY FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN BOARD PLANE TO US, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 8 residents and foreign nationals.

For example, if a vaccinated traveller is travelling to the United States on Saturday, they can test from Wednesday on.

“To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travellers – whether US

citizens, LPRs or the small number of exempted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to show proof of a negative test within one calendar day of travel to the United States,” the government further said.

convention starting today would be one of the best that has ever been conducted.

He asserted that Nigerians were expecting PDP to come out of the convention more united.

Wike said the party members, particularly the PDP governors, were more united because they had realised that Nigeria was in difficulty and that only a united PDP could wrest power from the APC. "Nigeria is in problem and we cannot do it alone.

We require everybody to work with us, collectively and see how this country can be rescued.

"Nigerians are not happy with the ruling party, the way Nigerians are being treated. Like I've told everybody; there is nothing better than making sacrifice for the interest of the country. PDP is the only platform, and it is today the only opposition party that can rescue Nigeria."

Wike noted that Tambuwal had recently led a team of his colleague to Ondo State to woo the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusengu Mimiko to PDP. He said the leadership of PDP “is happy that they are going to the convention with nothing less than 95 per cent consensus achieved,” which he said “is first of its kind.”

The governor added that PDP “is ready and prepared to achieve the change that will end the problem of governance in Nigeria.”

position of the Appeal Court, he would appeal the ruling.

Secondus said: "Even as the substantive case is still pending at the Court of Appeal, I have instructed my lawyers to study the ruling with a view to appealing it immediately as no abuse of the constitution of our dear party should be allowed to stand.

"The issue is not about Prince Uche Secondus but about the sanctity of our party’s constitution and core democratic principles of justice and rule of law, not only in PDP, but also in our democracy. No impunity must be condoned.

"I will therefore wish to emphasise the fact that I did not take the party to court and would not have done that. As a foundation member of this party, who has served at various levels, I am very much abreast with the workings of the party. I have been a witness to how much harm litigations have done to our party in the past and as a result I have been a strong advocate against settling issues in courts.

"This was why I resisted and rejected entreaties of those who wanted me to go to court to halt these forces when it was obvious that they were determined to disrupt my leadership and truncate my tenure in office with the sole objective of hijacking the party for their selfish ulterior motives.

"To allow this travesty to stand is to reduce our beloved party to a level where anybody can wake up overnight and remove officers against the constitutional process and the National Chairman for that matter.”

GAME ON AS A’COURT CLEARS PDP FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION from holding its National Convention.

The judgement read by Justice Gabriel Kolawale, was unanimously endorsed by the other two members of the panel, who said the suit by Secondus was an afterthought and an abuse of court process.

Kolawole held that the attempt by the applicant to suspend the planned convention “is an act of self-induced urgency to disrupt an ongoing lawful process of the party.”

He wondered why the applicant waited for too long to seek the stoppage of the process which had been communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The judge noted that Secondus did not oppose the notice of the convention written by the acting chairman of the party to INEC, “neither did he oppose INEC’s response to the party.”

The court thus granted the PDP the right to hold its National Convention as scheduled.

The counsel to Secondus, Tayo Oyetibo said the outcome of the main appeal, which is challenging the removal of his client as chairman of the PDP, would determine whether or not they will appeal.

Multiple court orders were issued against Secondus resulting in his removal from office, and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwonmi, appointed in his stead.

PDP Holds National Convention at Eagle Square

Meanwhile, 3600 delegates will converge on the Eagles Square, Abuja, to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC).

The PDP flag has been hoisted at the Eagle Square, while banners and decorations adorned the area. A podium had also been assembled at the centre of the square.

The party said there would be affirmative vote cast for 21 of the 24 offices of the NWC today.

The party also said the new NWC to be elected would assume office on December 9, 2021.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the convention, the Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said 21 of the 24 offices were returned on consensus basis.

According to Governor Fintiri, the offices that would be contested are that of the Deputy National Chairman (South), National Auditor and National Youth Leader.

The former national secretary of the party, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja will be contesting for the office of the Deputy National Chairman (South).

Speaking on the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Fintiri said the new NWC would assume office when that of the old one ends.

He said: “There will be no vacuum because we’re not truncating anybody’s tenure.

We only called for an early convention, but that does not mean because we are having early convention, we are also terminating the

tenure of the present NWC. They will still be asked to serve their time until December 9. If anything, it will give them a better chance to interface and have a smooth transition."

Governor Fintiri said the affirmative votes would be through open secret, explaining that in line with INEC’s guidelines, votes will be cast, adding that the convention had achieved 80 per cent consensus.

Fintiri said 3,600 delegates were expected to cast their votes for the incoming NWC members.

He said, "At the moment, we're making efforts to reconcile most of our contestants so that we can streamline them and have a better Convention. This will improve our elective chances in 2023.

Tambuwual: NWC to Emerge Through Consensus The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwual, has said he and his colleagues were working towards ensuring that all members of the new NWC of the party emerged via consensus.

He said this after a meeting of the PDP-GF in Abuja, late on Thursday.

Tambuwual said, “We have held the meeting of the PDP governors' forum.

As you can see again, 13/13, all of us attended and the chairman of the convention committee brought us up to speed on how prepared they are for us to hold our convention.

“We are also happy to say that part of what we discussed was the process

of getting consensus during the convention.

“So far, we can say with certainty that we have achieved not less than 80 per cent of that process and it is still ongoing “We are hoping that at the end of the day, we are going to have a hitch-free convention and possibly have all the candidates emerge via consensus.

“Consensus is part of democratic process and we are imbibing that in the interest of our party so that we can continue to have stability that will reposition the party, as we have always said, for the future.”

Wike Hails Ruling Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lauded the court ruling that restored PDP’s National Convention.

Wike said Secondus’ attempt to scuttle the convention “makes him an enemy of the party.”

He said no individual could derail the party's mission to rescue Nigeria.

Wike said: "What Secondus is doing is to sabotage the efforts of Nigerians, the efforts of PDP from rescuing this country from the hand of the party that has failed the country.

And it is not fair.

"This is a party that has given you everything and there's nothing wrong in making sacrifice. Even if, assuming though not conceding, that anything was wrong, we expected that having achieved what you have achieved in your life from this party, there is nothing wrong in making sacrifice.”

According to Wike, PDP’s

Secondus to Challenge Ruling The suspended National Chairman of the PDP, Secondus yesterday said though, he respects the

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

NEWS

News Editor Charles Ajunwa 09157401421 (sms only) Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

University of Aberdeen Hands over Another Benin Bronze to Nigeria The University of Aberdeen, Scotland, has handed over another Benin Bronze to Nigeria.

This comes days after Cambridge University’s Jesus College handed over the first of the artefacts looted by the British in 1897.

In his reaction, His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Ewuare II thanked the university for returning the artefact while urging other institutions

around the world who have the bronzes as part of their collection to reconsider their position by returning the stolen pieces to their rightful owner.

He said, “Much has been said about the significance of heritage art and, in spite of the occasional attempts in some quarters to downplay their cultural and religious relevance, these works are often imbued with the spirit of the people from whom they

Osinbajo Urges Developed Countries to Favour Africa in Energy Transition Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged developed countries to change the direction of the conversation around energy transition in favour of Africa at the COP26 summit.

The summit, scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12, is aimed at accelerating action toward the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the Vice President spoke at a virtual panel discussion organised by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change ahead of the summit.

The Vice President, while insisting that conversations at the conference must be tilted in favour of Africa, explained that Nigeria already had a plan for the transition.

He said, “The conference will be an opportunity to engage and

change the direction of the current conversation, especially as it affects Africa. It is an opportunity to talk, to engage and I think that we really need to engage. I think we need to just change the direction of the conversation, especially as it affects Africa and then talk in concrete terms about what the implications of net-zero emissions by 2050 or whenever, will mean for Africa and the world.

“We drew up an energy transition plan and we are probably one of the few developing countries to have drawn up a plan and try to cost the plan; this is why we have the figure of 400 billion dollars. If you look at what can work, we are looking at Nigerian Climate Change Finance Facility. There’s one which we are working on at the moment with the African Finance Corporation (AFC), and ARM Harith; we are trying to create that facility. We think that we could mobilise up to 10 billion dollars to finance local green projects.”

COVID-19: SSASCGOC Warns FG against Mandatory Vaccination Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has expressed objection to plans by the federal government to implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and rigid regulations for all federal workers beginning from 1st December this year.

This was one of the resolutions contained in a communique at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association held in Asaba, the Delta State capital, presided over by its President-General, Muhammad A. Yunusa.

“The federal government had recently announced December 1st, 2021 as the deadline for Nigerian federal workers to be vaccinated or produce a negative test result every three days,” the SSASCGOC observed but noted that “those who took (the COVID-19 jabs) are still susceptible to the Coranavirus (COVID-19).

“NEC-in-session opined that it should not be made compulsory but to increase sensitisation for Nigerian workers to continue to observe most religiously preventive measures.”

In the 17-paragraph resolutions,

the association expressed worry over the state of insecurity, generally deplorable condition of roads and the number of unemployed youths in the country, appealing to the federal government, states and all stakeholders to put aside their differences around certain national issues in order to forge a harmonious force towards addressing these challenges.

In the communique, signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi, the association expressed deep concern about the un-abating levels of insecurity and divisive agitations across the country as well as the astronomically high cost of living in the land.

The communique further said, “NEC-in-session frowns at the incessant threat to national unity by secessionist agitators, particularly the existing sit-at-home order of the IPOB (Indigenous Peoples of Biafra) members in the South-east, of the bandits in the North-west and Central and the Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-east. We wish to call on federal government and aggrieved Nigerians to imbibe the rule of law, tolerance and show respect to issues that affect the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation.

were taken.

“Regardless of the resistance in some quarters, the return of stolen art is the right thing to do. Some say that they acquired their own collections. This is like saying, ‘well, I know this item was originally stolen but because I bought it somewhere, then I’m okay’. That notion is completely wrong and unfortunate.

“In any event, we thank the University of Aberdeen for this noble act of returning our bronze work. We hope that other institutions worldwide will see the injustice when they insist on holding on to items which in fact should be a reminder to them of

the great injustice that was inflicted on a people so far away and so long ago.”

The ceremony, which was held on Thursday in Scotland, had the Oba of Benin represented by his younger brother, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa; the Obasuyi of Benin, Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan; Director of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Professor Abba Isa Tijani; the Legal Adviser of the NCMM, Babatunde Adebiyi, and the Director, Museums, NCMM, Abdul Mohammed Gimba, present to take possession of the artefact.

The sculpture, which depicts the head of an Oba, is one of

the thousands scattered across the globe and only the second to make a return to Nigeria in over 100 years.

The University of Aberdeen had purchased the bronze piece at an auction in 1957.

Principal and ViceChancellor of the University of Aberdeen, Professor George Boyne, noted the symbolism the artefact portrayed stating that returning the bronze work was only the right and just thing to do.

He said, “Over the last 40 years the Benin Bronzes have become important symbols of injustice.

“It would not have been right to have retained an item of

such great cultural significance that was acquired in such reprehensible circumstances.

“The University took a proactive approach to identify the appropriate people to discuss what to do and we are extremely grateful for the collective approach taken by the partners in Nigeria, which has facilitated this return.”

Also present at the handing over ceremony were a Prince of the Kano Emirates, Prince Isa Bayero; Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria in the UK, His Excellency, Suleiman Sani; and a retired Director of the National Museum, Lagos Mrs. Edith Ekunke.

STILL WITH PDP . . .

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; his Adamawa counterpart and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party National Convention Planning Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri; former President Goodluck Jonathan; and Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, during the visit of PDP governors to Jonathan at his Abuja residence ...yesterday

FBN Holdings to Submit Audited Q3 2021 by November Darasimi Adebisi The management of FBN Holdings Plc has disclosed that its audited financial statement for third (Q3) ended September 30, 2021 results would be submitted on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) by November 29,

2021.

The Company Secretary, FBN Holdings, Seye Kosoko in a statement on the NGX yesterday noted the group was currently undertaking the interim audit of its financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2021.

According to him: “In

view of the on-going interim audit, the company is not able to submit the results of its operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, on October 29, 2021, until the conclusion of the audit.

“Premised on the foregoing, the trading window for dealing

in the company’s shares remains closed to all insiders and their connected persons until 24 hours after the release of the audited financial statements.”

The stock price of FBN Holdings, thus, depreciated by 5.15 per cent or N0.60 to close at N11.05 from N11.65 it opened for trading.

Ayade Presents N276bn Budget of ‘Conjugated Agglutination’ for 2022 Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has presented an Appropriation Bill of N276 billion for the 2022 fiscal year before the state House of Assembly.

While presenting the bill yesterday which he christened ‘Budget of Conjugated Agglutination’, before the state lawmakers, Ayade said the budget proposal was among other things, designed mainly to attend to existing projects across the state.

Ayade told the lawmakers that

from the entire budget size N106 billion is earmarked for recurrent expenditure, and N170 billion is earmarked for capital expenditure.

The governor said the budget was named Conjugated Agglutination because “it is a cascade of so many projects back-to-back to ensure their completion; putting all together to form a new envelope, that when it explodes you will see a new prosperity agenda.”

The governor said the budget estimate which is the lowest fashioned by his administration since 2020 has as its focus the

completion of projects such as the Obudu Cargo and Passengers International Airport, British/ Canadian International School, Obudu; and Odukpani Junction Flyover.

The governor said aspects of expenditure such as regular payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions were adequately catered for in the appropriation bill.

Ayade who said the state was going through financial difficulties disclosed that his administration intends to set aside between N30 million-N50 million monthly for payment of gratuities.

Ayade said he wished every retiree would get their gratuity and pension because aging is a reality of life.

The governor, therefore, appealed to the lawmakers to cooperate with the executive arm of government and grant the appropriation bill speedy and seamless passage.

During the budget presentation, it was observed that no Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, only 25 All Progressives Congress (APC) members attended the budget presentation by the governor.

Italian Varsity Confers Honorary Degree on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala The Liuss University in Rome, Italy has conferred an honorary doctorate degree on the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The former Nigerian Minister of Finance shared the goodness via her verified Twitter page yesterday.

She shared pictures of the ceremony, noting she was

awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Politics.

Okonjo-Iweala said, “So honoured to have been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree today in Politics by Luiss Univer-

sity @UniLUISS, Rome, Italy. A wonderful graduate institution with a global reach, educating students to solve problems of today and be prepared for those of tomorrow.”

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Security Agents Search Justice Odili’s House in Abuja Bawa: EFCC not responsible for raid Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Security operatives yesterday laid siege for more than four hours to the Maitama, Abuja, residence of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili.

The operatives had conducted a search allegedly in connection with unspecified illegal activities at Odili’s 9

Imo Street, Maitama residence.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State visited the Odilis after the security agents left the residence late last night after the search episode.

The Supreme Court justice is the wife of Dr. Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers, who is presently on the watch list of the Economic

Osinbajo Meets Tinubu in Abuja Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday visited the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at his residence in Abuja.

Tinubu had earlier this month returned to Nigeria after spending over three months in London on medical vacation.

However, the details of their meeting yesterday have not been made known, but photos released by the Office of the Vice President showed the two men embracing and later discussing while seated.

Recent media reports had indicated frosty relations between Tinubu and Osinbajo over the 2023 presidential race.

Both are believed to be aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, whose second term ends on May 29, 2023.

Though the duo have not formally declared their aspirations to succeed Buhari, groups canvassing for them are emerging across the country.

However, a member of the Tinubu Support Group, and the Acting Director, Media and Publicity of the group, Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, said Osinbajo’s visit was an indication that Tinubu’s political family is united.

According to him, “Today’s visit by the Vice President shows there is no problem and people should not listen to rumours.”

Wike visits residence

and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC, had, last night, denied conducting any operation in the home of Justice Odili following reports that raid was an EFCC operation.

A statement issued by the Spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, denied the involvement of the commission in the execution any search warrant at the residence of Justice Odili.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to claims in a section of the media that operatives of the Commission today, October 29, 2021 stormed the Maitama, Abuja home of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, purportedly to execute a search.

“The commission by this statement wishes to inform the public that the report is false as it did not carry out any operation at the home of Justice Odili. If there was any such operation as claimed by

the media, it was not carried out by the EFCC. “The commission enjoins the public to discountenance the report”, Uwujaren said.

The Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa was also on Arise News last night to deny insinuations that his men carried out the raid.

Bawa said: None of our operatives was there. We did not carry out any raid anywhere in Abuja. It is difficult for anybody to do that without us knowing before, during or after.

“It is not from EFCC. I think it’s just mischief makers trying to link these things to us against the good working relationship we have with the judiciary. We have a very good working relationship with the judiciary”, he said.

“In fact, I am happy to let Nigerians know that between January and May, we have recorded 1,343 convictions which is a record. They are our biggest partners”, he said.

He said Justice Odili was expected to make a formal

complaint to clear the air on the matter.

“I believe that Hon Justice Mary Odili will make a formal complaint to the appropriate authorities, who will look at it and find out what actually happened at her residence”, he said.

THISDAY, however, gathered that the raid was part of the investigation of Odili by the Joint Panel on Recovery in the Federal Ministry of Justice headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The panel comprises representatives of the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Ministry of Justice.

It was further gathered that the probe was targeted at her Justice Odili’s husband, who was Governor of oil-rich Rivers State from 1999 to 2007.

The security operatives, who came with a search warrant, said they received information on “illegal activities” going on in the house.

A witness, Aliyu Umar, said in an affidavit dated October

13, 2021, that he had given the information to the EFCC. “I have observed some illegal activities going on in those houses within Abuja are illegal and hereby report the said matter to the law enforcement agency.

“I hereby state that all information provided by me to the EFCC is true and correct to the best of my knowledge,” he said.

In a second affidavit deposed to by a senior police officer, CSP Lawrence Ajodo, the panel applied to a chief magistrate in Abuja seeking a search warrant for the house.

The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, subsequently approved the search warrant on October 29, 2021.

Wike had arrived the residence with Abiye Sekibo, former minister of transportation; Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications; Austin Okpara, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives; Okon Aniete and Lee Maeba, a former senator, among others.

UN Joint Mission in Nigeria to Evaluate Humanitarian Crises in Lake Chad Basin Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja A United Nations joint mission has arrived in Nigeria to assess efforts towards addressing the peace and security issues in the affected Lake Chad Basin as well as humanitarian measures being put in place.

The mission that visited the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, was led by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and Sahel Mr. Mahamat Saleh

Annadif.

Mr. Annadif said that the purpose of the mission was to evaluate the crisis situation facing the Lake Chad Basin area.

“We are a joint mission mandated by the UN Security Council to conduct a joint mission in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Last week, we were in Cameroon and Chad and now we are in Nigeria. We are here to underscore the United Nations’ support and solidarity with these four countries. We are interested in looking at the situation of displaced persons and the refugees in these four countries,” Annadif said.

TALKING PROJECTS… L-R: Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Senator representing Benue East Senatorial District, Gabriel Suswam; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini, shortly after a session of the Year 2022 Budget Defence hosted by the Senate Committee on Works in Abuja …yesterday.

N621bn Road Intervention: NNPC Seeks to Douse Defection: I Won’t Resign, Anambra Deputy Gov, Okeke Insists Tension, Gives Breakdown of Project Costs Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa Obviously reacting to grumblings in Nigeria’s oil-producing areas about the imbalance in the allocation of the N621 billion road intervention fund approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday gave a breakdown of what each region will get during the projects’ implementation.

Some Niger Delta groups, especially the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) had earlier in the day, raised questions over the matter, stressing that the projects were unfairly distributed, especially since the resources come from the region.

Of the 1804.6 kilometres of roads to be fixed, the entire South got about 455 kilometres, while the Northern region was allocated 1,347 kilometres.

On Wednesday, FEC ap-

proved the N621.2 billion for the NNPC to take over the reconstruction of the 21 federal roads across the six geopolitical zones of the country during a meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The approval was in response to the threat of a strike action by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which decried the loss of its members and properties to dilapidated roads.

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who spoke after the FEC meeting, said that the approval was in line with Executive Order No. 007 of 2019 cited as the companies income tax (Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme) In all, he explained that the selected roads were 1804.6 kilometres, stressing that it was a strategic intervention.

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke who recently dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said he would not resign from his position.

Okeke, who spoke to journalists in his office at the Anambra State Government House said he left because he was unjustly treated by his principal and that he was totally sidelined from the party.

He said he had heard some

members of his former party asking him to resign to avoid impeachment, but he stated that he was holding a joint ticket with the governor, and will never contemplate resignation.

“I have heard people asking me to resign, but I will never resign. The decision I made to join the APC is in my interest, the interest of my family and also in the best interest of members of my constituency, Njikoka, who I represent.

“I have people who have advised me that the position

I hold is not for me alone, but for the people of my constituency, so I represent them.

“I was elected on the same ticket with the governor of Anambra State, and I did not beg him to choose me as his running mate for a second time, it was he who came to me and said I will run with him for a second term and we won.”

Speaking on allegations that he was lured with huge sums of money to join the APC, Okeke said the allegation was false, but stated that he gave three

conditions to leaders of the party, and that two had been met.

“I was already thinking of joining the APC after my tenure as deputy governor, but when APC people came to me and I told them so, they said it was better for me to join now, as I could add to their victory. I gave them three conditions and they accepted.”

He listed the three conditions as; defecting before President Muhammadu Buhari, a bullet proof vehicle and a federal appointment after his tenure as deputy governor, which he said was the only pending condition.

Boko Haram Attacks Damboa, Kills 2 Policemen Two policemen attached to the mobile unit were killed when the Boko Haram insurgents attacked Damboa town in Borno State, yesterday.

According to reliable sources,

“The insurgents drove into Damboa from Biu Road around 5.30p.m. on Thursday in eight gun trucks and operated for over one hour.

“When they got into the town,

they headed straight to the MOPOL barracks and started shooting indiscriminately. They killed two MOPOL and razed down the whole building. They also burnt down two MOPOL

vehicles.

“Afterwards, they headed to the CJTF Outpost and set it on fire.

They also burnt one vehicle of the CJTF. Troops of the Nigerian Army later repelled the terrorists.”

SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

NEWS

Magashi: FG to Follow Procedure Before Declaring Bandits Terrorists The federal government has said it intends to follow certain procedures before declaring bandits killing and maiming people in the Northern part of the country as terrorists.

Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, stated this while addressing journalists in Mai-

duguri yesterday, eventually responding to strident calls from well-meaning people across the country, including the National Assembly, for the federal government to classify their mode of operation as terrorism.

However, Magashi said, “We are not declaring them

terrorists because there is a procedure for doing that.

“When the procedure is followed, they will be classiÀed as terrorists. We are waiting for the procedure to be completed.”

The minister said he was in Maiduguri with the service chiefs to assess

the ongoing Àght against insurgency in the Northeast, stating that he was satisÀed with the successes recorded so far, and that his team met with the theatre commander and other component commanders to deliberate on the next phase of operations.

Notore Records N17.47bn Revenue for Q4 2021 Nigeria’s leading fertiliser and agro-allied company, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, has recorded revenues of N17.47 billion representing 85 per cent growth over the last three quarters because of the post-TAM stabilisation and optimisation for the fourth quarter ended 30th September 2021.

In a statement, Notore’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Ohis Ohiwerei, said the company was focused on achieving its nameplate capacity post-TAM and optimising its sales distribution to cushion the rising cost of input raw materials occasioned by the devaluation of the naira.

According to him, “The relentless eͿort and focus of our team on attaining plant reliability has enabled the business to maintain daily production volume output at 1,000MT. The emphasis going forward is to maintain the current daily production volumes and ramp up over the next few months

to name plant capacity.”

He added that the company’s strategy was expected to return to proÀtability in the last quarter of the current Ànancial year, as it continues to diversify its market outreach in both Urea and NPK fertilisers.

He noted: “We expect to see an increase in the demand for NPK fertilisers in Q5 as we approach the dry season farming period. We also expect to harvest, mill and package the Notore Premium Rice Brand from the phase two pilot scheme this quarter.”

On the outlook for the year, Ohiwerei said the company expects revenue growth of between 25 per cent and 30 per cent in the last quarter of the Ànancial year, reÁecting stability and reliability in the plant.

“Beyond 2021, our outlook remains to attain the nameplate production capacity, while expanding the distribution of Urea and NPK fertilisers,” he added.

Declare Bandits Terrorists, PFN Tells FG Mary Nnah

HONOUR FROM ALL CORNERS… Former Minister of Finance and Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (middle) being conferred with honorary doctorate degree in politics by the Liuss University, Rome, Italy… yesterday.

Sultan Urges Scholars to Preserve Manuscripts on African Heritage Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, has urged the preservation of manuscripts on African history and heritage to correct the European perspective of the continent, appreciate its contribution and worth to humanity.

He made the appeal yesterday during the symposium on the Islamic African Heritage: ‘Memory and History’ held in Abuja by the King Mohammed VI Foundation of African of Ulamas.

The Sultan, who is the President-General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic AͿairs, said the symposium

was particularly important as it would broaden and sharpen the search for more manuscripts in Africa and present a milestone towards the quest to chart a course that is beÀtting its legacy.

“Indeed, history gives every society its worth. It tells us our routes, documents and the achievements of our forefathers and sets the standard for us to maintain and improve and give us the direction of our future. This symposium will help to inform intellectual and political discourse in Africa and clarify the cloud of ignorance that appears to becloud most discussions,” Sultan said.

He noted not many people recognised that Islam brought

literacy to Africa 1,000 years before Europeans colonised the continent, while before the advent of the Europeans and missionaries, there was a level of literacy not any lower than Europe.

He stressed there existed a trove of manuscripts in private collections, universities, public libraries, and research centres in the country, adding in all, three leading Sokoto scholars had produced an astonishing total number of over 300 works, excluding nearly diͿerent works of Nana Asmau, the daughter of Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate.

In his address on behalf

of the General Secretariat of Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulamas, Dr. Si Mohammed Rifki, described the seminar as a concrete step towards the fulÀlment of one of the Foundation’s objectives to implement the proposals and recommendations adopted by the members of the committee for the revival of the African Islamic heritage, with all its chapters.

He said King Mohammed VI of Morocco wanted to make the Foundation of African Oulema a prominent platform for the preservation of the faith and its provisions, including the speciÀcities of the heritage of African peoples.

FG Inaugurates Vulnerability Abiodun: My Administration Will Complete Ijoko-Alagbole-Akute Road Audit of all Custodial Centres James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, yesterday declared that respite was on the way for the residents of Ijoko, Alagbole and Akute communities as his administration would complete the road that passed through the three communities.

Governor Abiodun, who expressed serious concern over the deplorable condition of the road in Ifo Local Government Area, said his government would complete the road started but abandoned by the immediate past administration in the state.

He, however, said that the 32km road will be tolled after

its completion.

Abiodun stated this at a virtual town hall meeting on the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2022 Budget for Ogun Central Senatorial District, held at the Governor’s O΀ce, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to Abiodun, the road is crucial to the socioeconomic well-being of people in the axis, declaring that a sinking fund was needed for its upkeep.

“We will reconstruct the road and put a toll gate. We have to have a kind of sinking fund for the upkeep and maintenance.

We will invest in the construction that is meaningful.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The federal government has inaugurated a vulnerability audit of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) custodial centres across the country to stem the incessant attacks on correctional facilities.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, whilst inaugurating the audit on Thursday said its report would identify the fault lines in the security setup and penetration levels of the custodial centres.

Aregbesola said: “The vulnerability audit we have inaugurated today will identify the weakness in our security setup and will help to put in

place an eͿective structure to assist us in better securing our facilities against future external aggression.

“In the past, the challenges to the facilities were usually internal insurrections which our system had been primed to deal with.

But this new challenge, starting with the #EndSARS riots of last year, is an armed invasion by gunmen, in large numbers, bearing sophisticated weapons and military grade ordinances. They overrun the place, blow up huge holes on the perimeter fence and overpower our security system.

We are determined to eliminate the threat from these attackers and ensure that our facilities are no longer vulnerable.”

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), South West Zone, has asked the federal government to declare bandits as terrorists without any exception to rule.

Addressing journalists after the maiden convocation and inauguration of its zonal executives at the Vineyard Christian Church, Osolo Way, Isolo Lagos, the PFN National Vice President, South West Zone, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, insisted that nobody was above the law. “So if one group of persons are terrorising the country, they should be put in their place,” he said.

He however said it would be unfair for Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to be declared terrorists as the group has not done much havoc and injustice as Boko Haram has done over the years in the country.

“No region is superior to another in Nigeria. We are all the same. We are all Nigerians

irrespective of the religion we claim.

The presidency should be able to do something about this as everything lies in the leadership of this country,” Osa-Oni said.

While the South West PFN commended the president and the military for haven prevented the slide of Nigeria into complete state of anarchy, as recently witnessed in some North-east and North-west states, it observed that the eͿorts by government at the various levels of responsibilities have not yet fully addressed the national chaotic situation to the point where Nigerians could sleep with their two eyes closed.

The group therefore insisted that the government must Àsh out those who are bent on making the South-west unstable, unsafe and uninhabitable, adding, “It will be a whirlwind that does nobody good if the government waits until people begin to defend themselves.”

WARIF Tackles Gender-based Violence The Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF) has successfully trained another group of stakeholders to tackle the menace of rape and sexual violence under its Gatekeepers Project.

Seven hundred Gatekeepers were trained in this cycle of the project with 500 traditional birth attendants, 100 police law enforcement o΀cers and 100 religious leaders engaged.

In its commitment to address the issue of gender-based violence in Nigeria, WARIF launched the Gatekeepers Project to train community gatekeepers who serve as Àrst responders to cases of rape and sexual violence in their various environs. The strategy to reach a larger group of people by these trained stakeholders is encouraged with cascading the knowledge in their circle of inÁuence.

The project’s impact was further enhanced with the addition of religious leaders as tertiary Gatekeepers in the programme; recognising the importance of their role in the community

and the increased awareness and prevention of cases of GBV that is achieved through their engagement.

WARIF’s Founder, Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, said “Following the successful cycle of the WARIF Gatekeeper’s Project sponsored

by Ford Foundation, community leaders such as traditional birth attendants, law enforcement o΀cers and religious leaders have now been successfully sensitised and trained as Àrst responders in cases of gender-based violence. This has led to an increase in the awareness of this menace in their respective communities and a documented increase in the number of cases reported to the WARIF Rape Crisis Centre. The addition of Religious Leaders who are respected community mediators in this cycle as our tertiary Gatekeepers, will lead to a further increase in awareness, a change in the prevailing mind set of the community and a subsequent reduction in the number of cases of violence against women and girls reported.”

SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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OCTOBER 30, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

THE GLASGOW CLIMATE TEST António Guterres argues the urgent need to address the climate crisis

T

he climate crisis is a code red for humanity. World leaders will soon be put to the test at the UN Climate Conference — known as COP26 — in Glasgow.

Their actions — or inactions — will show their seriousness about addressing this planetary emergency.

The warning signs are hard to miss: temperatures everywhere are reaching new highs; biodiversity is reaching new lows; oceans are warming, acidifying and choking with plastic waste. Increasing temperatures will make vast stretches of our planet dead zones for humanity by century’s end.

And the respected medical journal The Lancet just described climate change as the “defining narrative of human health” in the years to come — a crisis defined by widespread hunger, respiratory illness, deadly disasters and infectious disease outbreaks that could be even worse than COVID-19.

Despite these alarm bells ringing at fever pitch, we see new evidence in the latest UN reports that governments’ actions so far simply do not add up to what is so desperately needed.

Recent new announcements for climate action are welcome and critical — but even so, our world is on track for calamitous global temperature rises well above 2 degrees Celsius.

This is a far cry from the 1.5 degree Celsius target to which the world agreed under the Paris Agreement – a target that science tells us is the only sustainable pathway for our world.

This target is entirely achievable.

If we can reduce global emissions by 45 per cent compared to 2010 levels this decade.

If we can achieve global net-zero by 2050.

And if world leaders arrive in Glasgow with bold, ambitious and verifiable 2030 targets, and new, concrete policies to reverse this disaster.

G20 leaders — in particular — need to deliver.

The time has passed for diplomatic niceties.

If governments — especially G20 governments — do not stand up and lead this effort, we are headed for terrible human suffering.

But all countries need to realize that the old, carbon-burning model of development is a death sentence for their economies and our planet.

We need decarbonization now, across every sector in every country.

We need to shift subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy,and tax

THE WARNING SIGNS ARE HARD TO MISS: TEMPERATURES EVERYWHERE ARE REACHING NEW HIGHS; BIODIVERSITY IS REACHING NEW LOWS; OCEANS ARE WARMING, ACIDIFYING AND CHOKING WITH PLASTIC WASTE. INCREASING TEMPERATURES WILL MAKE VAST STRETCHES OF OUR PLANET DEAD ZONES FOR HUMANITY BY CENTURY’S END

pollution, not people. We need to put a price on carbon, and channel that back towards resilient infrastructures and jobs.

And we need to phase-out coal — by 2030 in OECD countries and 2040 in all others. Increasing numbers of governments have pledged to stop financing coal — and private finance needs to do the same, urgently.

People rightly expect their governments to lead. But we all have a responsibility to safeguard our collective future.

Businesses need to reduce their climate impact, and fully and credibly align their operations and financial flows to a net-zero future.

No more excuses; no more greenwashing.

Investors — public and private alike — must do the same. They should join front runners like the net-zero asset owners alliance, and the UN’s own pension fund, which met its 2021 carbon reduction investment objectives ahead of time and above its target, with a 32 per cent reduction this year.

Individuals in every society need to make better, more responsible choices in what they eat, how they travel, and what they buy.

And young people — and climate activists —need to keep doing what they’re doing: demanding action from their leaders and keeping them accountable.

Throughout, we need global solidarity to help all countries make this shift. Developing countries are grappling with debt and liquidity crises. They need support.

Public and multilateral development banks must significantly increase their climate portfolios and intensify their efforts to help countries transition to net-zero, resilient economies. The developed world must urgently meet its commitment of at least $100 billion in annual climate finance for developing countries.

Donors and multilateral development banks to allocate at least half their climate finance towards adaptation and resilience.

The United Nations was founded 76 years ago to build consensus for action against the greatest threats facing humanity. But rarely have we faced a crisis like this one – a truly existential crisis that — if not addressed — threatens not only us, but future generations.

There is one path forward. A 1.5 degree future is the only viable future for humanity.

Leaders must get on with the job in Glasgow, before it’s too late.

Guterres is Secretary-General of the United Nations

NSUKKA AND UDOM EMMANUEL’S VISION You are the product of your exposure, writes Udeme Nana

E

arlier this month, precisely on Thursday, 7th October, this writer joined the entourage of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State to the University of Nigeria, where the Governor delivered the 2021 Founder’s Day Lecture.

The other great ‘Lion’ in the delegation was Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam who had also served Akwa Ibom State as the Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice. The Founder’s Day was to mark the spectacular contributions of the great statesman, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe to the establishment of the University of Nigeria. The legendary University exists as a counterpoise against the current agitation by some Igbo youths to cut ties with a country for which the great Zik of Africa, their iconic son, who set it up, lived and died.

One does not know why the Governor of Akwa Ibom State was picked as this year’s visiting guest speaker on such an auspicious occasion. As one journeyed through the meandering road towards Nsukka and into the lush greens of that citadel of learning, one wondered if the Vice Chancellor and his team had known that the celebrated Zik of Africa was, in the 1920’s, a mentee of the late Chief Nyong Essien, a respected Akwa Ibom titan, who was the pioneer Chairman of the Eastern Nigeria Council of Chiefs and the Nsom of Uruan in the Ibibio heartland of Akwa Ibom State. There is a possibility that the Governor was properly briefed because he was accompanied by his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong on the trip. One imagined the organizers had remembered that the first Head of Government, then known as Leader of Government Business, in the Eastern region was another distinguished Akwa Ibom indigene and a leading intellectual of that era, the late Professor Eyo Ita from Ibeno. Yes, there are memories of Ibanga Udo Akpabio who had served as Secretary – General of the defunct Ibibio state Union and a Minister in the Eastern regional Government who moved the motion for the establishment of the University.

Even the symbol of the Institution, the Lion which stands in a menacing poise at the erstwhile main entrance into the University reflects the contribution of another AkwaIbomite as it was chiseled professionally by an Akwa Ibom sculptor, Dr. Uko Akpaide who, incidentally, taught my father when today’s old men were struggling boys in elementary school. Akwa Ibom is also one of the catchment areas of the University, a circumstance which gives advantage to applicants for admission into the

school from the state. It would be nice, in addition, to have indigenes of the state enjoy such favourable consideration in employment opportunities. After all, Akwa Ibom was part of the oil – palm belt, the golden goose at that time, which exploitation generated resources to fund the building of the University.

So much for some of the vital links between Akwa Ibom and the first indigenous University in Nigeria.

Governor Udom Emmanuel seized the moment to present a case study on how he has changed the narrative of development through infrastructure and Industrialisation in Akwa Ibom, ‘that was once a civil service state’.

According to the Governor, who held the audience spell bound in his characteristic oratory: “ shortly after I was sworn in, fully conscious of where we were going, I set up a Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investment and charged them to go all out and sell our state, our areas of comparative advantage and ensure that through Industrialisation, we would expand the opportunities of growth for our people. “ The Governor, having been properly robed in the requisite academic gown temporarily turned professorial and taught his captive students that ‘the key drivers of industrialisation were the quality of infrastructure on ground and of course, peace and security since investors will not go to a place that is unsafe and insecure.” This explains his ‘Maintain Peace Movement’. It was telling that the Secretary – General of the Group, Prince Enobong Uwah was in the flight. Does anyone out there still have issues with Governor Emmanuel’s deep concern for a peaceful environment? No doubt, there is a correlation between a peaceful and more secure environment and influx of investors into any location. Any wonder then that Uyo, the state capital, once a sleepy city, is no longer a dull place as it welcomes and hosts business people who fly in to stay, cut deals and savour the hospitable location and its array of delicious cuisines.

Another sector which the present government in Uyo has changed the narrative is Aviation through Ibom Air even though critics continue to ask questions about the ownership structure of the Airline.

Nevertheless, in the words of Mr. Udom Emmanuel “Ibom Air, has become a national sensation, flying the colours of Akwa Ibom within the Nigerian Aviation space and dominating it, a mere two years after its maiden commercial flight’

Indeed, Ibom Air, one of the flagship success stories of Governor Emmanuel operates from the only airport in Nigeria, arguably, with specifications where two aeroplanes can take off at the same time. It is important to underscore that the airline is just one aspect of the business operations plan of the Airport. The Airport in Uyo is a potentially Maintain, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub with prospects for job creation, more investments and ancillary businesses. Ultimately, the entire environment around the Airport would become a city with profitable services around it. The Governor used the podium at Nsukka to repeat his grand vision which a lot of politicians in his state do not seem to see. He noted “as I always say, it is good for a 21st century leader, to have a broad vision and the requisite exposure to international best practices.

What do I mean by that?

He stated ‘your vision is a product of your exposure, what you have seen elsewhere, how those things work and how they can be applied in your local environment to the benefit of the people is a lived experience and not a learned one.”

Have those throwing mud at ‘Fathers of Faith’ and blackmailing the Governor’s immediate family and other religious leaders concerning the Governor’s succession plan heard that? Which leader would accomplish so much and not want such accomplishments and legacies sustained through a deliberate succession agenda?

Since most Akwa Ibom politicians were not at Nsukka to hear the Governor twice on his mindset about his succession, it would suffice to re – echo Governor Udom Emmanuel’s loud and clear pronouncement on the occasion of the 6th Anniversary of his administration on the issue, ‘let me now ask you my dear AkwaIbomites : Do you want a successor who will cancel out all the great strides in industrialization we have started? The peace we currently enjoy and return us to the years when violence and kidnapping reigned and sowed fear in the hearts and minds of the people? Do you want a successor who will come with anger towards all we have done, as opposed to continuing with the great works we have started? Do you want a leader whose approach to testing his popularity would be to drive in a long convoy to “Ibom Plaza” and throw money at the hapless people, watching them scramble for the money and the people would say that’s “Ano owo Mkpo”! Is that the kind of a successor you want? Is that the kind of empowerment our people deserve? Someone who will bring out

the worst in our youths rather than challenge them to seize the future and unleash their potentials? Do you want a successor who will relegate God to the background and assume an all-knowing power?

Or do you desire a successor with a known e-mail address that the International business community recognises? Do you want a leader who will fritter away our commonwealth in search of cheap popularity or one who would utilize the resources and continue investing in projects with enduring value? Do you want a successor who would see Government as a cabal where our commonwealth would be shared among a privileged few or do you desire a leader who would continue to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of our people, a successor who understands the economic dynamics that shape our globalized space and would utilize those skills to advance our well-being? These are questions you have to provide answers, and the answers you provide would determine the type of a successor you deserve.

‘Mark my words, we will not return to the type of leadership that is big on noise and small in the execution of the big picture items. We will never go backward on the peace in our land, the steady and focused developments we have started. The line in our State anthem has made this faith manifestly clear: Forward ever and backward never!’

On that occasion, he had also declared : ‘My dear Akwa Ibomites, if what you are desiring is a successor who will not have the capacity and the discipline to build a State where you and your children will live in peace and strive to excel, if you are desiring a successor who will turn back the clock of our developmental strides, if you are desiring a successor who will bring out the worst in our youths as opposed to galvanizing their energies and challenging them to be the best they can be, if you are desiring a leader who would not efficiently utilize the resources of this State on projects that have redeeming value then I am sorry to disappoint you, God will not give us such a successor.’ He had laid emphasis on the point when he further noted: ‘We have gone too far ahead to retreat backward.

So as you are engaging in prognostications, creating camps of loyalty and getting consumed by who you think my successor would be, always bear these thoughts in your mind’ That sums up Governor Udom Emmanuel’s splendid vision ; well written and laid out, stated clearly in unmistakable terms and spoken boldly within and outside the state. QED!

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OCTOBER 30, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

The Rage of nature...

Enhancing Waste Management in the FCT

D

riving around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) city centre recently, it is not hard to observe the very clean and sanitized environment that not only adds to the beauty of the city but also makes life more comfortable in the nation’s capital.

It is partly for this and other reasons of advancement in infrastructural provisions that the FCT has been adjudged as one of the most beautiful cities in Africa, making the nation’s capital a place of pride for all Nigerians.

However, a very unfortunate situation was observed in the FCT a couple of weeks ago which threatened to destroy the sanitation and hygiene for which the FCT city centre is very famous.

As it happened, some of the refuse collection points in parts of the city had been left unattended to, making these places very unsightly with piles of refuse, in addition to the very foul smell that emanated from them.

This ugly development had spread panic among residents who were not only very worried about the putrid stench, but also the impact that some of the wastes that had spilled onto the driveways was having on vehicular movements.

There were also very serious concerns that the situation could lead to another outbreak of cholera in the FCT which had recently suffered an outbreak of the disease.

However, the situation is different today as sanitation has once again been restored in the FCT with all the heaps of garbage evacuated, returning the very beautiful and hygienic environment that the FCT city centre is often identified with.

One must really commend the FCT Administration for the swift manner it had intervened, through the instrument of the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency (AEPB) to evacuate the backlog of wastes in some parts of the city centre which had become serious eyesore.

Prior to the intervention, residents had inundated the FCT Administrations with complaints about the discomfort that the situation was causing for lives and livelihoods in the FCT. During the interphase between residents and the FCT Administration, it was discovered that some of the waste cleaning contractors in the FCT had been unable to mobilize to site to clear the wastes due to issues of bureaucracy that led to delays in the renewal of their contracts.

The activities of these waste contractors were also said to have been slowed down by the delays in the payment of their contractual sums, forcing some of them to temporarily withdraw their services.

These unfortunate developments no doubt exposed how very quickly a beautiful city like the FCT could take a turn for the worse when the relevant agencies of government and other stakeholders fail to perform their duties.

While the FCT Administration must be commended for the recent intervention in addition to other city sanitation programmes that have ensured that the FCT environment remains among the best in the continent, must however address the issues of documentation

that affected the performance of the waste cleaning contractors which led to their recent no show.

In the same vein, FCT residents also have very important roles to play in ensuring that waste management system in the FCT is not jeopardized by their actions and inactions. From available information, FCT residents are said to be in the habit of not paying their refuse collection bills which is also hampering waste evacuation activities in the nation’s capital.

It is worthy of mention that waste management the world over, including the FCT, is a highly capital-intensive project and as such could not be left to the government alone.

Consequently, residents must endeavour to fulfil their side of the obligation by ensuring that refuse collection bills are paid as at when due, to enable the FCT Administration also offset its contractual obligations to the waste cleaning contractors.

Additionally, FCT residents must also ensure that waste collection bins or receptacles are provided at the various waste collection points so that the wastes that are generated would be adequately packaged in the bins to prevent them from spilling into the drains or the driveways. This is of very particular importance because if wastes are not properly packaged, the microbes within could escape into the environment to contaminate the air and waters posing dangers to the air and aquatic life.

Residents must also realize that the FCT being the nation’s capital is like a window through which the rest of the world views the country because not only is the city home to the diplomatic community, it is also a major international conference destination.

As such, whatever action that is done to deface the environment, has a wider implication on the image of the country.

Danladi Akilu, Gudu District, FCT, Abuja

Arrest and Prosecute Killers of Okechukwu Nweke

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he Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges the Inspector General of Police and Ebonyi State government to arrest and prosecute those who allegedly tortured and eventually murdered Chief Okechukwu Nweke of Ohaechara village of Inyere Community in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi State. Chief Nweke was killed following allegations of witchcraft and harmful magic. Recently, the attention of AfAW was drawn to a post that was circulating on social media. The post states: “On August 28, 2021, they branded a 31-year-old wealthy man, Chief Okechukwu Nweke a witch. They accused him of being responsible for the strange misfortunes that befell the village. He went to the bank of the Akadoro river to observe prayers as a member of the Sabbath church. He was wearing a red garment. · He was tied and dragged to the village square where he was beaten to death. He told them that he was a patent medicine dealer at Ogbo Owu market, Onitsha Anambra state but all his plea fell on deaf ears. They threw him into the Akadoro river. His lifeless body has yet to be recovered.

They went through his phone and transferred five million naira...”

The post contains the photo of Chief Nweke while he was being tortured.

The photo shows Nweke sitting on the ground and tied with a rope and some palm fronds. Someone from the community told AfAW that they tortured him for some time. And when the torturers realized that he was about to die, they tied up his hands and legs, went and threw him into a nearby river.

AfAW contacted relatives of the victim and they confirmed this tragic incident. The father told a local human rights group: “They have killed my son for envy. Okechukwu was a Sabbath worshiper and he never killed anyone and he is not a thief. He was doing good business in Onitsha and has been helping me and his younger ones. On that fateful day, our Ezeogo asked them to take my son to the police over the allegations. They agreed with the Ezeogo. But immediately they left the palace, they tied T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R ropes on my son’s waist and neck, dragged him along EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE the road like a goat, and began to beat and torture DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU him mercilessly. I cried to them; I begged them but MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO they continued to kill my son. If you know the story DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI of Jesus Christ, that’s how Okechukwu was tortured EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN until they reached Ohaechara playground. After some MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI time, our councilor came and told them that Ezeogo THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE said they should take my son to the police. Upon hearing that, they had a brief meeting before they now tied my son’s hands backward, carried him in a motorcycle, and told us they were going to the police.

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D I made to follow them but they asked me to go back.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA Very shortly, they came back to tell us that my son GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI slipped off their hands and fell into the Akadoro river.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE Up until now, we have not seen my son neither has DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI his corpse been found”.

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH The traditional ruler has also narrated what ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI happened: “On Saturday 28 August 2021, a group of CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI persons brought one boy to my palace with allegaDIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO tions of witchcraft and voodooism.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com Leo Igwe directs Advocacy for Alleged Witches

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

08054699539

Absurd Interruption of Telecoms Services in North-west

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ast Sunday, terrorists invaded Unguwar Samanja village, in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing and maiming.

In an operation that lasted several hours, scores were also abducted, with houses and shops burnt. As usual, security agents were nowhere to be found.

This is just one in a long list of unabated attacks by terrorists despite the interruption of telecoms services in the troubled parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Kaduna states. Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State first requested for the pause in telecoms services on September 2; security agents concurred, arguing that it would enable them tame terrorists and tackle the lingering insecurity in the affected states. For me, it is preposterous and a senseless decision. Residents of the affected communities are hindered from calling for help when under attack, while the terrorists continue to enjoy a free rein.

In fact, terrorists in Zamfara State were able to evade the telecoms blackout and still reached out to families of the two graduates abducted last week on their way to the National Youth Service orientation camp in Kebbi State. They called the families of the victims - Jennifer Iorliam and Joseph Aondona, and two other commuters kidnapped along with them – to demand N2 million ransom for each of them.

The terrorists simply moved the victims to Gusau where the mobile network ban had been lifted and returned them to the forest after talking to their families. A sibling of the 29-year-old Iorliam said she and her widowed mum were curious when they could not get Iorliam on the phone, adding that the mother had been in distress since the kidnappers called them on the phone.

The sibling adds: “The bandits have contacted us. They called my mother’s line and allowed my sister to talk to us. The first time they called us, they demanded N3 million. After we begged them, they reduced it to N2 million. They said they

Matawalle

would collect N2 million for each of them.

They told us they would wait somewhere in Gusau where there is network and if they didn’t hear from us, they would take them back to the bush. They said they wanted cash and that one person should bring the ransom to Gusau.

The victims abducted in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, regained freedom last Tuesday after the payment of undisclosed amount as ransom. This is the level Nigeria has deteriorated to.

The terrorists were even moving up and down in Zamfara State with the abductees,

undetected. They eventually collected ransom in Gusau and discharged the abductees.

It’s so sad that Nigerians are being fed with false achievements of the telecoms blockage while innocent people in the affected communities wallow in pain.

The interruption of telecoms services has not worked and will never work. If this country has a good security team, unhindered telecoms services ought to be effectively used. Our languid security agencies should be intercepting and utilising communications of the terrorists to checkmate them. This is the global standard.

Unfortunately, it is not so here. It simply means that Nigeria’s security agencies must be overhauled because they have lost touch with contemporary tactics for taming terrorists. The leadership must give way and new ones with capabilities for modern warfare brought in.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has realised the folly of the telecoms blockage and subsequently told the federal government to lift the obstructions in 14 local government areas of the state, “in view of concerns expressed by security outfits in the state that the outage was affecting the smooth conduct of their works.”

Tambuwal knows what he is talking about because his people are feeling the heat amid the blockade. Terrorists are still pummeling innocent people in Sokoto State.

The massacre of 40 people in Goronyo is the most recent. The terrorists walked into Goronyo market and slaughtered scores of people unhindered. So, did the blockage of telecoms in Goronyo hinder the guerrillas?

The answer is an emphatic No! Aside from not yielding the desired result, interruption of telecoms services has imposed further economic hardship on the people in the affected areas. Many have lost their means of income. Those whose businesses revolve around telecoms are gasping for breath. The Socio-Economic

Life Has Become More Difficult in Nigeria My take away from the October 23 editorial of The Economist that pummeled the Buhari government was where it pointed to the soaring cost of food in Nigeria. Not that the magazine is saying anything new; but perhaps, because it is coming from foreigners, President Buhari might be jolted to perform. The Economist was emphatic that due to Buhari’s mismanagement of the economy, food prices had soared while life had become more difficult for Nigerians.

It said: “Economic troubles are compounded by a government that is inept and heavy-handed. Mr. Buhari, who was elected in 2015, turned an oil shock into a recession by propping up the Naira and barring many imports in the hope this would spur domestic production. Instead, it sent annual food inflation soaring above 20 per cent.

“He (Buhari) has failed to curb corruption, which breeds resentment.

Many Nigerians are furious that they see so little benefit from the country’s billions of petrodollars, much of which their rulers have squandered or stolen.”

The Economist said even before COVID-19, Nigeria was already witnessing unprecedented poverty and hardship, thus “fuelling the current insecurity in the country.”

It adds: “Two factors help explain Nigeria’s increasing instability: a sick economy and a bumbling government.”

I have decided to narrow down to the issue of rising prices of food because a large number of Nigerians are facing food crisis. Feeding the family has become very difficult in most homes. Many go to bed without meals and wake up not sure of where breakfast will come from.

The masses of the people are gasping for breath. When I checked yesterday, a bag of Beans was going for N100,000 in Lagos markets. A bag of local Rice was around

N32,000. Price of Bread had doubled. A fairly big tuber of Yam is about N1500. A six-year old child will end up weeping after eating N200 loaf of Bread. Prices of eggs, noodles, sugar and milk are skyrocketing. Garri, the staple food of the common man is now beyond the reach of that common man. Even fuel for cooking the food is big problem.

A 12.5kg cylinder of gas now sells for N8000. Kerosene, the poor man’s fuel, is now N300 per litre. How did we get here? How will we get out of this mess?

The Buhari government has not shown any seriousness about providing relief for Nigerians. The mismanagement of this country’s economy by the Buhari government is indeed largely responsible for soaring prices of food. But just as he told Nigerians 37 years ago, Buhari is again saying middlemen are responsible for rising food prices. Nigerians are obviously in a one chance bus.

The Folly in Akwa Ibom’s APC

Akpabio

The badly divided ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is still struggling to put its house in order. The topical congresses of the party at the ward, local government and state levels provided the combatants an opportunity to flex their muscles. There were parallel congresses in 14 states, with multiple executives elected. The APC chapter in Akwa Ibom State stood out in this notoriety by having four different executives elected at four rival parallel congresses at the ward, local government and state levels. This is a despicable record.

The four factions of the APC in Akwa

Ibom held the congresses with their different allegiances. The leaders of the factions are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Presidential aide, Ita Enang; Secretary of the interim management committee of the party, James Udoedehe; and Bishop Samuel Akpan.

In this part of the world, bread and butter politics dominates. It is about what these four men above can grab; not the interest of the people. This is what is playing out in Akwa Ibom APC politics. The parallel congresses were for selfish reasons.

Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), was apt when it said the blockade is punishment for residents of Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Kaduna states.

SERAP states: “The suspension of the internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara and Katsina states, without any legal justification, is inconsistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality.

It is a form of collective punishment of Nigerians resident in these states… The authorities have so far failed to show how shutdown is necessary to achieve the stated purposes…Shutdowns should never become an entrenched practice in this country.”

Another civil rights group, the Media Rights Agenda, while describing the blockade as “unwarranted,” said “there is no evidence anywhere in the world that shutting down communication services, including access to the internet and telephone communication, helps improve security, prevent terrorist attacks, or stop them.”

The point has been made. The federal government must end the undesirable telecoms blockade in all parts of the North-west. This useless policy is inflicting pain than gain on the people. The military must learn how to degrade terrorists with unhindered communications serving as an advantage.

Yahaya

Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s Binge Borrowing The story in town is that Governor Inuwa Yahaya has committed Gombe State to loans totaling N53 billion in 29 months. A group of Gombe citizens concerned about this huge borrowing has been campaigning vigorously against further loans by Yahaya.

The group, Gombe Good Leadership Association (GGLA), contends that Yahaya may destroy the state with the accumulated debts and that he must be stopped from taking another N35 billion loan from the capital market.

A Trustee of the Association, Mohammed Abdullahi remarks: “We are worried that despite the borrowing of humongous sums and of course the earnings of the state from FAAC and IGR, the state is getting poorer by the day and its infrastructures are deteriorating…The rising profiles of the education and health sectors of the state under the previous governments are dimming, and no aspect of the state has been positively impacted by this borrowing.

We call on the Governor of Gombe State to, within seven days of this publication, publish in at least one national daily newspaper and one other circulating within the state details of all the debts he had procured.”

These are weighty allegations. I am shocked that Governor Yahaya is yet to respond several days after the claims were made. I sincerely hope this governor is not hiding something. I challenge him today to come clean on all the loans taken and the impact on the disturbed people of Gombe State.

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TRIBUTE

Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha: 1953 to 2021 Acho Orabuchi

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eath has once again dealt a jeering, but devastating blow to the Nigerian community in the United States, particularly the Igbo community in the Houston area. Thus, leaving us despairingly wondering how could it be that Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha left us untimely to be with the Lord? Undeniably, people are still sedated with the shock of the shattering news about Okey’s death which they, including myself, received with a great sorrow and disbelief. Okey just left us!

Indeed, Nigerian community has lost a philanthropist with impeccable leadership, who had a knack for helping people both here and in Nigeria. The untimely death of Okey Mbadugha, a devout Christian, an unassuming and punctilious Okechukwu Mbadugha family man, has once again robbed Nigeria of a great moral leader, whose unpretentious nature, as well as his munificent characteristic had tamed details before executing any project. Because of his those who came to know him. His towering penchant for details and careful planning resulting personality, emblematic of his antecedents, always in successful ventures, many people were drawn exuded the spirit of peace. to him.

I seldom write tributes when people pass Okey, as devout Christian, touched many lives in away, but failure to eulogize Okey Mbadugha of positive ways not only by personal examples, but Umuezeala, Ogberuru in Orlu L.G.A., Imo State, also through his active participation in numerous Nigeria, whose maternal home was my kindred, civic activities. While alive, Okey worked assiduwould be a dereliction of responsibility and an ously behind the scene to find unity in Ogberuru. abject disservice to the Ogberuru community in He thought of disintegration of Ogberuru as a the United States, particularly the Igbo community noxious phenomenon. Thus, many people came in the Houston metropolitan area. Therefore, it is to admire late Mbadugha for his unwavering my onus to share with my readers the pedigree of honest character and his unremitting committhe Okey I knew. Perhaps, I’m more compelled to ment to fairness was unparalleled and sometimes write this tribute out of admiration for Okey’s rare appeared threatening to some in our community character as evinced by his magnanimity. Still, it who seemed to be burdened and chained by the was with a heavy heart that I lifted my heart and vagaries of the present. fingers to begin to organize my thoughts and Okey Mbadugha was an affluent individual, compose this piece on the man and his life. especially in spirit, who never allowed earthly Okey died on September 16, 2021 of natural riches to swell his head. He was one of the very causes. Elder Humphrey Maduagha, who was at few Nigerians who never wore their worth on the hospital when Okey took his last breath, broke their sleeves. Okey felt that he was blessed, and the news to me as I was in the classroom. I paid a God was using him as a veritable instrument for condolence visit to the bereaved immediate family uplifting others—a privilege he relished until his in Houston shortly after. In an emotionally laden death. Okey was enterprising and generous to voice with red eyes indicating the effects of many the Nigerian community here and at home. He days of weeping, Dr. (Mrs.) Loretta Mbadugha gave with humility and never expected anything began to narrate the character and persona of in return, unlike those individuals who gave for her husband, as well as the vacuum his death has aggrandizement as they resided in a deep valley created in the family. She extolled her husband’s of absurdity. Regardless of people’s idiosyncrasies, commitment to God, love for his family and his Chris, as some people called him, was receptive generosity toward mankind. to all individuals. He used his resources to uplift With a trembling voice, and choking with humanity and never thought of using them to words, Loretta managed to utter these words undermine anyone. before she was overwhelmed with emotions: One could rightfully attest, without fear of “Okechukwu lived a good life; he was very funny contradiction, that Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha and cracked jokes a lot. He was loving and took was humble, affable, and amiable. Most imporcare of the family. My husband was a man of the tantly, he was an honest man, who had a knack people, who was endowed with peace, wisdom, for helping others. He never wasted his time on and knowledge. My husband stated that he had a unimportant things. Okey was a simple man, who good life and had no regrets.” never obfuscated his feelings or positions. He was Loretta jokingly said: “Okey said that he would inspiring, caring, compassionate, and peace-loving marry me all over again. I don’t think I’ll marry you individual. Even in death, Okey continued to again in our next life.” preach peace. Okey appeared in my dream on “My husband made sure his kids were okay; Tuesday, September 28, 2021 primarily calling for he focused on ensuring that each of his children peace. gets an adequate education,” Loretta shared.

During his brief 68 years of life, Okey served Again, with a vacillating voice and reflecting on humanity. Okey’s soothing and refulgent mien their marriage, Dr. (Mrs.) Mbadugha proudly said, diminishes his intimidating and towering personal“Marrying Okey was the best thing ever that ity. People could relate to him more easily despite happened in my life and we were blessed with his exuberant demeanor. I could attest to that three children.” because I lived in his flat in Ikeja, Lagos when I was Okey was involved in a lot of humanitarian working with UBA Ikeja Branch shortly before I left activities and he gave generously to charity and the country. Okey was very generous and could supported many families in Nigeria. He encourrelate with people from various backgrounds. aged his wife to put some widows in Nigeria Though the quiet lion is gone, but his legacies on a salary. “We were planning to increase the which he etched so deeply on the commitment number of widows to put on a salary,” Loretta said to community service anchored with strings disappointedly. In collaboration with his senior of honesty and unabashed genuineness will brother, Elder Humphrey Mbadugha, Late Okey forever echo loudly in various communities in Mbadugha built houses for the widows in his Nigerian. More importantly, the greatest tribute community. Before he could see those houses, we can pay to Okey will be for us to ensure that I videoed them and sent to him while I was in the life Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha epitomized, Nigeria. They also built a road that stretched for the ideals he profusely professed, lives on in about two miles.

Nigeria. As we join his wife, Loretta and children, Although Okey was never scurried to do things, Kristine Ogechi, Kyle Kelechi, and Dutchess Kelsey he was definitely a stickler for minuscule details.

Mbadugha to mourn his untimely departure and A characteristic I could confirm by the way he celebrate his good life, may we never forget to meticulously carried his building project in the reflect on our own lives for a better self-eulogy. village. We were talking often about our plans. He Adieu, dear Okey. Adieu! was organized and he planned things to minute

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

Aisha Gambo Life as a Soldier’s Wife is Most Difficult

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾OCTOBER 30, 2021

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PLUS Life as a Soldier’s Wife is Most Difficult She is suave, vibrant, and forthright. That’s Hajiya Aisha, wife of the Chief of the Naval Staff,Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo. Aisha is automatically President of the Naval Officer’s Wives Association. She is an industrious woman who has been able to build a number of businesses. Aisha took over the NOWA Presidency last January and contributes immensely to several skills acquisition programmes for Naval officers wives.

She also supports different communities and impacts thousands of lives through her philanthropic ventures. Aisha talks to Tosin Clegg about growing up, family, life as wife of the Navy Chief and a lot more still be helping my mum, grinding stuff, when my dad is ready to take everyone to school. In most cases my mum would tell me to take a taxi to school. I would collect the money and still trek to school. That is to tell you how shrewd I can be and have been with money. Also, it’s noteworthy that even though my mum had a grinding machine, it wasn’t because my dad was poor. In fact, my dad was a very comfortable man. He was so comfortable that after he died, all his 32 children had properties willed to them. I still collect rent from two of the properties willed to me, but I usually use the money for charity. And what this means also is that no matter how comfortable your partner is, you as a wife should also find a way to also do something no matter how little.

Lessons from my dad Growing up, he would always tell us that it’s what you give out that’s yours and what you keep for yourself is not yours. And we grew up seeing more people living with us, feeding from us; they were more than his children.

We were trained with such mentality that nobody is different from the other.

Even my house help, I won’t say my kids are better than her. Because, of course, we cook from the same pot and it is what they give me to eat that I eat. That’s how we grew up knowing we don’t discriminate and till now, that’s how we are.

My perception of life My perception of life is to take things easy. Do things one step at a time and be yourself in most cases. No good thing comes easy, so it’s best you work hard and be sincere in whatever you do because when you are sincere you won’t get things wrong. I think sincerity is all, and always let your word be your bond.

Life has taught me to be myself As a business person, I invest a lot and try a lot of things. But there are like two or three things that I have invested in and didn’t come out well.

But today, I thank God for how far He has brought me from there. Life has taught me to be myself and be straightforward in all I do. And it’s not everything you discuss with people because you can say something now and they would misinterpret it.

Gambo

Education was paramount ducation was paramount as I grew up. I went to Igbudu Primary School, Warri and later to Nana College, Warri and completed my secondary education in Kaduna State at the famous Queen Amina College. I later gained admis-

E

sion into the Ahmadu Bello University where I studied and obtained a BA in Geography and Planning.

Making my mother happy as a kid At an early age, honestly because then I didn’t want to see her suffer, as it was a polygamous home, I decided to think of what I could do for her. I decided

to help with her business. I was very young then like seven and I would wake up as early as 3 or 4 a.m because she had these customers who used to come early to grind things before heading to their shops. So, sometimes, I can be awake from that early till when my dad would take every other person to school. Even sometimes, I would

What you give out is what’s yours In my religion, we believe that what you give out is what’s yours because we believe that on the day of judgement, it’s the things you have given out that would be accumulated to reduce some of your misdeeds. We believe they would ask ‘what are this person’s good sides and what are the bad sides;’ that if the good outweighs the bad, the judgement would be reduced. The Joy you derive when you see that smile on people’s face, that’s enough and that’s the pleasure you get when people reach out to you with a problem or two and you are able to solve it, as that happiness knows no bound.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾OCTOBER 30, 2021

PLUS As a Woman, You Need to Assist at the Home Front

The Joy you derive when you see that smile on people’s face, that’s enough and that’s the pleasure you get when people reach out to you with a problem or two and you are able to solve it, as that happiness knows no bound

Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo and wife Aisha

I Dream of peace everywhere I would wish for nothing more than peace everywhere; whereby you can walk the streets at any time of the night and you can still travel when you want to travel. I remember in those days I can drive myself from Abuja to Kano with the kids and spend time there and come back, but now, we don’t get to see that again. Now, anywhere you are going, you have to buy a plane ticket and you won’t get to see how the countryside is and all its beauty.

Working as NOWA President There are things you pray for when your husband gets to a certain rank in the military. But again, promotion comes from God and it is whoever God wishes that he gives it to. Becoming NOWA President is as a result of my husband becoming the Chief of the Naval Staff and automatically the position makes me oversee the women affairs of the Naval Officers Wives Association. And what I have tried to do is to empower most of our women which, of course, we have been doing. I have tried to see to it that from time to time, we should bring together some of our former CNS’s wives. I was the first person to see to that. Recently, I sent them an invite and they all came which had never been done before and that was a big achievement. We discussed and agreed we should be doing this

even if it’s once or twice a year; where we have all of us sit down and discuss problems or challenges and get advice on how to do things. Also, we train the women on skills acquisitions and IT because when most of the men are not around, it’s the women that take care of the home front. So, whether the man is around or not, they should be able to stand on their own and take care of things. Wherever the man is, he would have peace because when his home front is fine, he would be good to go.

My ‘clean water’ project My ‘Clean Water ’ project is one of my notable achievements. This project came to my mind on the realisation that so many communities in Nigeria, in this age and time, still do not have access to clean water.

This is a disturbing reality hence I felt we have to support government by assisting to provide portable water to as many communities as possible during my tenure. The project is strategically targeted at providing rural areas with access to portable water across the 36 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

I’m so proud of myself When I look at the woman I am today, I would say I’m grateful to God

because each day that passes, I keep telling myself that I cannot thank God enough because I’m so proud of myself and I know wherever my parents are they are so proud of me.

Also, my siblings are proud of me and that’s asides the fact that my husband is the Chief of the Naval Staff. We are 32 that my father had and I can tell you when there are issues in the family I’m still called upon to see how best we can resolve them and to me that’s something to be proud of. They have elders they can call but they still choose to call me.

How people perceive me They might see someone that looks arrogant or see someone that’s snobbish but I don’t open up to people when I don’t know them. So, I select the people I associate with and that’s because of peace of mind. And it’s only a few people that understand me. Those that understand me well accept me for who I am. And I’m someone that tells you what is black is black and what’s white is white but when people get to know me they have positive things to say about me.

When you know the kind of person I am, it speaks for itself.

Life as a military’s wife Life as a military’s wife is the most

difficult task and again the easiest task. Difficult because most of the time, your husband is not around or vice versa, in case of the woman as an officer. In my own case, my husband was not always around until he got to a certain position in the Nigerian Navy. Now, as a military’s wife, don’t lie to yourself and don’t assume what you are not; that’s where most people fail. So, it’s advisable to plan according to your resources and don’t give your husband unnecessary budget because I remember when we were quite young, my husband gives me a larger percentage of his salary and keeps the smaller part. From what he gives me, I can do my monthly shopping conveniently and a lot more, because when you plan your budget, you can never go wrong with it. The man will only get to certain ranks when you allow him peace; the more problem you give him, the more he has in his place of work and that affects his performance. As an officer’s wife, cut your coat according to your size and get something doing no matter how little to support the family. I was working in my house for years and I made a lot of money, but as a woman, whether military or not, you need to assist at the home front. When you don’t attract unnecessary burden you would all have peace at home.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER30, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY Linda Osifo

The Early Stages of My Career Were Very Tough, Challenging Having experienced a world apart from what she’s used to, Nigerian actress and Canadian trained Psychologist, Linda Osifo was torn between practicing in Toronto, and pursuing her passion of becoming a screen performer back home. She settled for the latter, after weighing the options, and got her first break into the spotlight in Nigeria from Desperate Housewives Africa. The beautiful, and brilliant Linda tells Ferdinand Ekechukwu that the early stages of her career were tough and thought-provoking, dealing with cultural, environmental and social changes, as she reminisces on her journey so far

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hy did you relocate to Nigeria from Canada when it would have been the other way round for most?

Whenever I’m asked that question I tend to get emotional and smile because its true most would have it the other way around. Firstly, being a Canadian citizen had given me the level of comfort and exposure I needed in life. I was at a very delicate stage in my life where I had to make a career choice. I had just turned 22, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and had to choose between practicing Psychology in Toronto, Canada, or pursuing a passion of becoming a screen performer. Nigeria wasn’t my first choice, because it was a total world apart from what I was used to for almost 15 years of my life. I had my options opened to New York City and Los Angeles, but I felt a stronger connection to Nigeria because my belief always was that the western world is already developed and there are so much more developments that Africa still needs as a whole and why not begin with my own home, which is Nigeria.

How was the feeling when you came back to Nigeria?

You’re taking me into memory lane because it will be 8 years this year since I came back. The feeling was indescribable!!! You can’t describe Nigeria, especially Lagos by words, if you know what I mean. You just have to be here to experience all of its wonders.

What has the experience been like since venturing into acting?

Since I ventured into acting professionally it’s been another experience that words truly can’t explain. It’s a life journey.

I say that because each stage comes with different life experiences. The early stages of my acting career were very tough and challenging because I was an unknown face. I was dealing with cultural, environmental, and social changes all together within that time. I did not know anyone in the industry or understood exactly what I was doing. I was simply looking for job opportunities everywhere and every day, I would go out for auditions that I felt could be a breakthrough.

The experience started changing when I got my first break into the spotlight from Desperate Housewives Africa in 2015. I started to understand what I wanted and what I am doing. I was able to take more control of my choices. Overall it’s been a great and beautiful experience that I couldn’t be grateful for.

Linda Osifo

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

23

SUPER SATURDAY I’m Still Discovering the Rest of Me, One Day at a Time You also model alongside acting, tell us about it. Which did you start with first?

Both modeling and acting had been playing alongside me since I started.

I started as a beauty queen in 2012, which had created an avenue for me in modeling.

Have you always wanted to be an actor?

Yes, I have. I auditioned and performed for my first ever acting role at the age of 14 in a Christmas school play in St. Marcellus Catholic School in Canada. I grew up in a small community church where I had managed the youth group and coordinated its entertainment departments such as dancing, drama, children and youth day, and many more.

Also, I specialized in courses that had to do with drama both in high school and university and was always hands-on with anything that involved fine arts at every stage of my life. All I needed to do was choose the one that I loved the most and that was acting.

What movie launched you into the limelight?

The African adaptation of the ABC Studio series, Desperate Housewives Africa, by Ebony Life in 2015.

What were you doing before acting?

I was still in school studying psychology at York University Canada and a parttime health worker before professionally acting.

Tell us a bit of your journey into acting; what attracted you… What was the first movie you featured in?

My journey into acting started after I contested in a beauty pageant when I was 21. A producer saw my pageant performance and immediately offered me a position as a TV Host for a Talk show. I got to interview local guests and celebrities. I saw how effortless I flowed with the camera and how much I loved seeing myself on the screen. From that platform, I was offered my first acting role in 2012 for an international job in New Jersey which was “Family Secrets”

by Onyeka.

Are there any roles you can’t play in movies?

Definitely. I choose my roles now, more cautiously. Specifically, I wouldn’t take a role that involves nudity or that line.

What do you keep up with when you are not on set?

When I’m not on set I keep up with my friends and family and some one on one time with myself.

What are the things you treasure most in life?

My family and my career.

How was growing up like, family background, and how has it contributed to what you are today?

My life while growing up would have to be broken down into 2 phases. The first phase is growing up in Benin City, Edo, where I was born. I spent most of it around my grandmother. I believed that may have contributed to my level of maturity at a young age. Growing up in Benin was the average typical day-to-day struggle with insecurity and instability. I mainly remembered most of my childhood experiences to be traumatic due to the major insecurity my family experienced at that time. The second phase of growing up for me was in Canada, where life was very different and structured. That phase took place at age 8 till 22. I spent those years closely growing up with my parents & my siblings.

My parents are faith-based and very supportive of me. This created a strong bond between my parents and myself.

Both experiences have tremendously

Linda Osifo

contributed to the way I view life and to what I am today.

You once said you are not in a relationship. Has your relationship status changed?

(Laughs-out-loud), I’m not yet married so I guess my relationship status hasn’t changed majorly.

Who is Linda Osifo? Tell us your likes and dislikes; your hobbies; turn on, turn off departments; phobia, your favorite food, favorite color, and things like that…

Linda Osifo is a girl who is just simple, very funny, and very down-to-earth. She loves taking adventures. She’s a character on her own. She’s super athletic and loves sports. She loves everything about

art. She loves to work a lot. She has a soft heart.

She’s a humanitarian, she dislikes taking advantage of others. She loves fashion and uses fashion to express herself. Her favorite animal is a lion; she hates any animal that slides on the ground.

Her favorite shade of color is black and royal blue is her color. My horoscope sign is Leo. She goes crazy over Banga soup and starch, especially with snails and dried fish! She loves listening to music and dancing but not a great dancer at all. The rest of me, I’m still discovering one day at a time.

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

BY

Deflower/Debauch, Not ‘Disvirgin’

V

OICE of the nation welcomes us today: “Insecurity: corps members undergo martial arts training for self defence” Get it right: self-defence NOT news at all: “CBN increases intervention to (in) healthcare sector to N200bn” “Ortom moves to check paddling (padding) of teachers’ salary (salaries)” Book review: “…next week Tuesday.” Just next Tuesday or Tuesday, next week” “In her yet to be published (yet-to-bepublished) biography….”

POLITY: “NGEP engages stakeholders on roll out (roll-out) of micro distribution (microdistribution) centres in Katsina” “As you begin this new chapter of your life, we wish you good health and pray all your heart (heart’s) desires will be fulfilled.”

“CITN steps-up (steps up) sensitization campaign for tax payers (taxpayers)” THISDAY of October 13 takes over the baton of solecisms: “We must put an end to such emblem of shame.” This way: such an emblem of shame.

Still on the above edition: “Cleric blames parents over (for) crimes among youths” More headline blunders from Vanguard of October 13: “Naira appreciates as foreign reserves drops to $30.86bn” Why not ‘drop’?

“UNIPORT alumni commends Buhari” The alumni association commends, but alumni commend.

“Shell mobs oil spill in Niger Delta” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, October 12) Get it right: mops (up).

The next three infractions are from DAILY CHAMPION On-line of October 11: “LASACO Assurance boss advocates for quality service delivery” Just delete ‘for’ and move on.

“The problem of unemployment in Nigeria has reached dangerous dimensions” Again, yank away ‘the problem of’ and begin the

sentence from ‘Unemployment’, which is clinically, sociologically, technically and holistically a social problem.

“Aside from the presidential seat, 15 senatorial and 18 legislative seats are for grabs during the general elections.” Cerebral feature: up for grabs “But they say that what is good (sauce) for the goose is also good (sauce) for the gander.”

(THE NATION, October 11) “Sanwo-Olu flags-off (flags off) football talent hunt tourney” (Source: as above) DAILY INDEPENDENT of October 11 posted a school-boy howler: “Post election violence” Voice of the people: Post-election violence “Cabinet shake up imminent in Delta” (DAILY CHAMPION On-line, October 10) So soon after appointment: shake-up “PDP chieftain killed by suspected assasins” (SUNDAY LEADERSHIP, October 3) Now, a way of life here in our Hobbesian degeneration: assassins Daily Trust of October 6 goofed: “…had threatened the supposedly hallowed arm of government to its foundation.” My telescope authoritatively tells me it is ‘foundations’.

“House of Representatives Imo Caucus condoles our leader…” Not my legislation: condole with or simply console.

Please note: obituary (not obituary announcement) as contained in most funeral advertorials.

A ‘ nnouncement’ is implied in ‘obituary’. (Thanks to ace broadcaster Eddy Ekpenyong who contributed this). I look forward to more contributions from one and all.

“Poverty remains one of the most serious problems confronting the developing world, a world in which the poor is struggling to stay alive.” The poor are (not is) still struggling, unprecedentedly more and more, to stay alive in this jungle!

“These kind of policy measures from an economic standpoint are pro-growth and pro-poor.” Options: this kind or these kinds.

Or: this type/these types of policy measure/ measures, depending on context.

“Is there some barriers that may prevent you from developing a serious liaison with them? Is this carelessness or half-literacy? This way: Are there some barriers….

“Nigerians are by nature very compassionate, almost to a fault, their brothers’ keepers you may say.” Plurality notwithstanding, the stock idiom is ‘brother’s keeper.’

“We believe there is no discernible excuse for the shortage except bureaucratic bottleneck or non-challance.” Let us write well or not write at all, please: nonchalance. Get it right: bottleneck (no hyphenation) “…was guest at Vanguard Newspapers yesterday during which he rubbed minds with Vanguard editors.” Could that have been possible? The learned gentleman merely exchanged ideas/brainstormed with the editors. There was no physiological exercise, but a meeting of minds!

“There cannot be a single solution to the plethora of problems confronting the refineries which often result to (in) fuel scarcity.”

“There was a case of a couple that divorced on the ground (grounds) that….”

“The husband got himself involved with a teenager and disvirgined (deflowered/ debauched) her.” That is how lascivious men irresponsibly impregnate girls indiscriminately these days!

“She shook her head, gasped for breathe and bit her lips as he starred forlornly at the air.”

Verb: breathe; noun: breath. And this: you stare in (not at) the air. “…the incursion of the 419 kingpins into the area whose lifestyle, like that of the drug lords, was a superfluous display of pomp and pageantry.” Post correctly: pomp and ceremony (or circumstance).

“For sometime now (some time) there has been a lot of debate as to the role of women in our present world.”

Funny October People

A

s October rolls off, it is understandable that a member of that auspicious month should throw the last salute. ‘’How do I do it this particular week o?’’ wracked me for days, then it hit me: why don’t we honour those who came on this earth, or left it, in October, with a parting shot - in ungrudging felicitation of their remarkable attainments. Interestingly, my picks rode into our consciousness in the 70s and 80s on the wings of their comedies and slapsticks - regardless of whatever they may or might have wintered into - and that will be our focal point. Permit me to reminisce on these great thespians, once again: “MOSES OLAIYA ADEJUMO, MON A very unusual personality. His biographers claimed he was born June, 1937, while a yearbook puts his birthday at Sept.

22, 1936. However, one thing is incontestable about Moses Olaiya Oluwasanya Adejumo; he is the Baba Sala - Nigeria’s answer to America’s Charlie Chaplin. Moses Olaiya, the comic icon developed as a wild seed: germinating with luxuriant gusto into many branches, producing colourful fruits.

While still in Obokun High School, llesa – now State of Osun (1954 - 1957) - he took to magic. He was so successful that one of his early apprentices was Moshood Abiola Folorunso (yes, that’s the late Professor Peller)!

Fed up with school with a year to go, Olaiya came to Lagos in 1958, and set up a flourishing band in 1960 (Federal Dandies Band). One of his band boys was Adeniyi Adegeye (yes, you’re right, King Sunny Ade).

The supreme funny man carved out a drama group out of his band in 1965, and Alawada Theatre Group was born. In the group was Ade Afolayan (yes again, Nigeria’s first ‘home-groomed’ filmmaker, and

talented dramatist, late Ade Love).

With consistent hits in all his creative endeavours, Moses Olaiya beat himself roundly when he won a local competition which fetched him a one year contract to feature monthly on the first TV in Africa (WNTV). In January 1966, Baba Sala stepped on TV - the first drama troupe.

Seventeen years later, with no more hills to conquer, Baba Sala stepped out of TV - a folk hero, a national icon (M.O.N in 1978) and plunged into celluloid. Of course, with a resounding splash.

Orun Mooru (1982), Aare Agbaye (1985), Mosebolotan (1986), Agba Man (1989) and Obe Gbigbona (1990) set off Baba Sala as Nigeria’s most enduring dramatist and the adorable bungling man who taught Nigerians how to laugh at their foibles and inadequacies. [He died October 5, 2018 at the age of 81]. Oh, yes… we go with May 17, 1937 as his confirmed birthday. Thank you.

POSTSCRIPT: Early part of 2021 has witnessed robust arguments and disputations that suggest that Baba Sala might indeed be one of the strongest figures to accord the contentious title of the original ‘proponent’ of capturing Nigerian dramatic plots on video (VHS) format. Contrary to our position somewhere in these ‘Reflections’, movie scholar, Shaibu Husseini, PhD, quoted Baba Sala’s son, Emmanuel, with the revelation that Agba Man, shot and released in 1988, was actually shot on Video, not Celluloid nor Reversal Film. If the young Adejumo has a faultless recall capacity (indeed, he reconfirmed to us), then the dateline ricochets against long-held beliefs and assertions.

LANRE HASSAN Still teaching by leading the ropes and acting her roles efficiently and relentlessly - Lanre Hassan Adesina (Iya Awero) has logged nearly six decades at the acting portals. Well, she was part of the Young

Star Concert Party around 1964 - and that was not the beginning of her romance with drama. Reportedly born October 3, 1950, she incredibly started acting while barely in her teenage years (at 14 yrs) in an era when theatrical displays were set aside for vagabonds. At 71 years old this year (2021), she has seen it all. A founding member of Ojo Ladipo theatre group, Awada Kerikeri, etc; the inevitable “Maami of Yoruwood” is a virtual irreplaceable in the sketch of presentations of Yoruba dramaturgy. She has also amassed works in the English medium of the art with surprising elasticity - a totem to an undying thespian spirit.

SUNDAY OMOBOLANLE, MFR Ironically, this vendor of raucous mirth, joyous jocularity and disguised buffoonery, is also extremely withdrawn and introverted - at least, from the sidelines.

The well-liked actor, playwright, comic, director and producer, Sunday Omobolanle would be 67 in October, 2021; and by his own admittance, he swayed into acting after watching Gbekude, a weekly drama on NTA 10, performed by “students of the University of Ife” (possibly the Ori-Olokun Players). From an apprentice pharmacy assistant, he joined the Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group in the early 70s. Soon, he was faced with an ultimatum thrown by then leader of the group, Ojo Ladipo: face theatre full time or quit. He chose to drop out of the pharmacy, forever.

By the time Ojo Ladipo died in 1978, Omobolanle had entrenched himself into the group as ‘Aluwe’, the swashbuckling, multi-clothed jester. The tag, phrasing his thought, was not original. The actual inspiration was by a man jocularly called Aluwe, from his pharmacy world, whose facial contortions and postures evoked laughter, in spite of not uttering a word of

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Properties and cash carted away worth millions of naira.” Except in special applications like science and mortgage, ‘property’ is uncountable.

“The Beijing supporters advocate without restrain that women should be allowed....” Verb: restrain; noun: restraint.

“Nigeria…to bath in the same pond, on the same spot, where four years ago, instead of limpid water, it scooped putrid grit” Verb: bathe; noun: bath.

“It was late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who….” A rewrite: It was the late Nnamdi Azikiwe who….

“Second, because General Abacha was not forthcoming in his plan to handover power….”

Phrasal verb: hand over (two words).

“But the Awo legacy is not based on halftruths and double standards” The vindication of Bola Ige: double standard.

“It has been postulated ever since Russia joined the bandwagon of free enterprise....”

Standard expression: climb/jump on or aboard the bandwagon.

“The police appears unable to fish them out because of the barrier of national boundaries” Tense security: The police appear unable.…

“Harold Laswell and other theorists on power believe that a person may be said to have power to the extent to which he influenced the behaviours of others in accordance to his intention.” Fixed, morphological orderliness: in accordance with.

“It was in the heydays of the Babangida administration.” ‘Heyday’ is uncountable.

“And hidden in the quiet suburbs of Yaba is an agency which has laid a virtual siege on (to) the pages of the national press.”

“Shipping companies brace-up for war over tariff pegging.” Once more, phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON

fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

comedy. And Aluwe was reborn. Roughly translated, Aluwe in English is ‘the swimmer’.

Well, the ‘Papi’ that completes the moniker was added by King Sunny Ade at the Ariya nightclub where Omobolanle frequented as a guest and fan. And it stuck: Papi Luwe.

But he is not all guffaws and comedy; he has played non-stereotypical roles which attest to the possibility that there could be a life outside of Papi Luwe. He played Baba Mero in the emotionally charged Omi Lo Danu (1978), a commemorative stage play in honour of the group’s fallen leader, Ladipo. His performances as Osuntunde in Kannakanna, and another role in Ekun Alagbara are similar arguments about his ability to deliver outside the Aluwe bubble.

With the demise of Ladipo, the need arose to re-strategise; the group changed to Awada Kerikeri, and Adebayo Salami, aka Oga Bello, was appointed the new leader.

The group soon surged into different areas of performing arts: television, celluloid, and later, video productions.

Quietly impressive, though trapped by his uni-dimensional characterisation, Sunday Omobolanle’s efforts to spread joy and meaning could be seen in some of these works: Ogun Ajaye (film, 1985), Omo Orukan (film, 1987/8), Eri Okan (film, 1989); in these videos: Asewo To Re Mecca (video, 1992), Oko (Stone), Ilu-le, Iyawo Alhaji, Love of My Life (2002), 36 Kinihun, Green Snake, Látòrunwá, Ogun Àdùbí (all 2003); Lánléyìn (2004), Eewo Orun (2005), Adun Ewuro (2006), Head Gone (2014), Konkobilo, Oba Alatise, amongst hundreds of others.”

[Adapted from my book, Reflections Amazon - June, 2021]

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

Nigeria’s Culture Chief, Runsewe Backs Ohafia Festival Justina Uzo

T

he National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), better known for its role in positioning unique cultures, will soon turn to Abia State, to focus on Ohafia cultural festival.

The Director General of NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe said the upcoming Ohafia Heritage Festival and Slave Route Tour (OHFESRT), scheduled for January 2 and 3, 2022 in Ohafia, will impact on the economies of the local communities. Last August, Runsewe had unveiled an economic plan to ensure non-oil exports contribute significantly to the nation’s economy. Christened “Beyond the Oil Economic: The Diversification Option for Nigeria”, the culture and tourism stakeholder said they are seeking new ways to promote and sell culture in a bid to start shifting the narratives from near total dependence on oil exportation as the source of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.

They, therefore, hoped the cultural cum tourism event to be held in Ohafia would add value to the economic agenda of the present administration, as the festival is expected to create economic and business opportunities in Ohafia and the Old Bende division. The beauty is that the gains will trickle down to everyone from the tour guides, art and crafts makers, transporters, car rental operators and hotels, as well as other tourism-reliant businesses.

Runsewe, who expressed this view while endorsing OHFESRT said: “Nigeria is known to be one of the most culturally diverse nations of the world. With over 250 distinct ethnic groups, each with a unique cultural manifestation, Nigeria clearly has a comparative advantage over all other African nations in the area of cultural tourism.” He also informed that Nigeria has rich and fascinating cultural festivals many of which are already known in the world cultural map and that they have been attracting both local and international audience.

“It is important to note that festivals serve as a catalyst that attracts recreation seekers to destinations with great tourism offerings.

This means that visitors are likely to spend

Ohafia Heritage dancers

more days in a given destination when attracted to the cultural festivals in that destination,” he said, adding: “This long stay helps to improve the revenue-base of the people and also impact on the local economy.”

Giving reason why NCAC is involved, the Director General said it’s in line with the current economic policy of the present administration with particular emphasis on the economic diversification.

The National Council for Arts and Culture, he said, is working in close collaboration with state governments and key stakeholders in the arts, culture and tourism sector in developing, harnessing and promoting these cultural products as rich economic assets to drive the diversification agenda.

“It is in the light of the above that the Council has given its full endorsement for the takeoff of Ohafia Heritage Festival and Slave

Route Tour (OHFESRT),” he explained.

The nation’s culture chief also said Ohafia boasts a rich and colourful cultural history anchored on the creative artistry of its people.

According to him, the Ohafia War Dance with its fearsome war-like display rendered in rhythmic drum percussion, energetic and intimidating dance steps, as well as the slave trade route and relics of the slave trade, are some of the materials that could be developed as a rich tourism attraction of economic benefit to the people of the region.

He stressed: “The rich culture of Ohafia and historical remains of the slave trade, including the Slave Trade route are huge for the sustainable tourism industry with economic benefit to the people of Ohafia in particular and Abia State in general.”

OHFESRT is a festival conceived to show-

case and celebrate the heritage of Ohafia and old Bende people in Abia North Senatorial zone. The organisers of OHFESRT said the event aims to project a festival and tourism products that would drive tourist traffic to Ohafia and Abia/North and, by so doing, boost tourism in the state.

According to them, “It is a festival aimed at providing a platform to create content to celebrate the culture, history, creativity and artistry of the culture-active people of Ohafia and by extension the old Bende Region. The festival is also designed to create tourism content and develop a tourism economy for the people.

This would be done through publicising natural and historical tourism endowments in this part of Igboland and build steady tourist traffic that could translate into wealth for the people.”

Azibaola’s Now Dikeorgu 1 of Etche Austin Ekeinde

Seest thou a man diligent in his business?

He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” – Proverbs 22:29

T

he founder and CEO of Zeetin Engineering, Azibaola Robert, has been honoured with a revered traditional title by the people of Etche kingdom, in Etche local government area of Rivers State. Robert was honoured with the traditional title of Dike-Orgu 1 of Etche (meaning, great warrior) by Eze Ken O. Nwala, Onye Ishi Agwuru III, Ulakwo/ Umuselem-in-Council, in recognition of his immense contributions to the wellbeing and overall development of Etche kingdom, at the royal palace of the monarch and kingmaker in Etche local government area of Rivers State.

“This honour is in recognition of Barrister Azibaola Robert’s immense contributions to the wellbeing and overall development of Etche Kingdom, and Nigeria as a whole,” the traditional ruler vouched, adding, “I must say that Barrister Robert is my personal friend and has been a wonderful friend of the people of Etche.”

A lawyer-turned entrepreneur, Robert is the founder and CEO of several companies which have thousands of Nigerians in their

Azibaola being installed as Dike-Orgu 1 of Etche employment, such as Zeetin Engineering Limited, Kakatar Construction and Engineering Limited, Kakatar Equipment and Leasing Limited and Greetings Media, among others.

While thanking and appreciating the king and people of Etche kingdom for the honour, Robert, originally from Ogbia, in Bayelsa State, said: “I am ready to perform my chieftaincy duties. Whenever there’s

launching, there are developmental projects, please, always call on me to bring my money.”

An investor, Robert promised to assist in the development of Etche: “One thing I know is that you are blessed with a lot of land, so industries will thrive here. I am an industrialist; if I have a new opportunity of setting up an industry in the Niger Delta, apart from my community, Etche community will be number one. I know you are peaceful, so continue in your peaceful nature so that investments will come to the community.”

Eze Nwala honoured Chief Robert, with whom he has been friends and classmates at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, as part of activities marking his seventh anniversary on the throne of his ancestors. He said the people of Etche would never forget their true friends and would always stand with and accord them the recognition they truly deserve for their contributions to the wellbeing of his people.

The occasion was marked with traditional dances which saw Robert take to the dance floor in regal response to the renditions of traditional music of the titled to the admiration of the cheering crowd.

He was decorated in the costume of his title to complete the ceremony which is rarely done in the community.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

FEATURE

The Next Titan Season-8 Begins As the 18 contestants for the Next Titan Season 8 edition, an entrepreneurial reality TV show tagged “Uncaged” begin the race for the coveted price, the next 10 weeks promises to be interesting. Funke Olaode who was at the unveiling of the contestants in Lagos reports

Season 8 Next Titan Contenders

I

t was a night of apprehension that Sunday evening of October 24, 2021 as 70 contestants selected from over 20,000 applicants from different parts of the country where auditioning held, were assembled at the Lagos Continental hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, to know their fates in their bid to make it into the Titan House and contest for the N15 million grand price.

While few of the contestants were selected from the Lagos State audition, the others were flown in by the organisers from different parts of the country to help them actualise their dreams as an entrepreneur.

Irrespective of the states they all had been selected from, the emphasis was on how far they have all come to get to the penultimate stage before getting into the house. And as one of the Judges of the show, Chris Parkes puts it; only hard work is expected from them at this stage and not luck.

For the days spent together in Lagos before the unveiling of those who would be going through to the house, the 18 contestants were hosted to a ‘boot-camp’, which historically became the largest boot-camp the show has ever had.

According to the executive producer of the Next Titan, Mide Onalaja, the boot-camp “is to expose the contestants to all the tasks that they might likely face when they get on the show, so they can gain a better insight on what’s expected of them.”

Onalaja adds: “We received over 20,000 entries. The season eight auditions held in six cities - Abuja, Kano, PH, Enugu, Ibadan, Lagos and also online - gave the contestants across Nigeria an opportunity to pitch their business ideas in different zones to our judges.

Onalaja: “From these numbers, 70 vibrant young entrepreneurs were able to make it to the Titan boot-camp which we have been in the last three days. And this evening, Top 18 contestants with bright ideas would be unveiled, and these entrepreneurs shall live together to compete by carrying out weekly business tasks and challenges around the city of Lagos for 10 weeks on television, and with weekly evictions during the boardroom shows.

“Season eight promises to be more exciting,

entertaining and impactful and the winner will walk away with N15 million cash as grand prize.”

He also added that the current edition was very special because “about 1000 best contestants who earlier auditioned for the show are already being shortlisted for NYIF funding of up to N3 million each courtesy Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.”

Onalaja said the reality show’s platform was aimed at practically engineering entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth through identifying the best business minds and supporting their entrepreneurial acumen through logistical assistance, informal training, knowledge and other requisite services needed to propel them into successful personalities.

He said: “The show not only celebrates some of the nation’s best entrepreneurial ideas but also makes an attempt to provide a launch-pad to the most deserving of Nigeria’s budding entrepreneurs where people with ideas would dare to bid for their dreams and ideas.

“It is a way of encouraging young unemployed graduates to take their destinies in their hands by using their talents to build values.”

Onalaja said the top 18 contestants, who were later unveiled, would need real street smarts qualities in order to make it through the challenges, as they are expected to prove their entrepreneurial flair through various business challenges on the 10-week show.

He added that the show would not just have effects of educating and involving Nigeria’s budding entrepreneurs who will be watching the show, but will also ignite entrepreneurial spirit in transforming lives with just an idea that can be scaled to greatness with a market and with Nigeria’s population.

On the value of the show to national development, Onalaja said the Show, by scouting for young talented people who have entrepreneurial acumens, grooming them through rigorous tasks, boardroom process, mentorship, and eventually funding a win-

ner’s idea leading to an opportunity to create jobs for themselves and others was indeed a big contributor to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

“Apart from the success stories of the previous winners of the show which have been phenomenal, the Next Titan being on national television has also positively impacted on the generality of other young people, who have shared their testimonies regarding the programme, causing a paradigm shift in their mind-sets to moving from jobs seekers to jobs creators.”

The Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Sunday Dare, said although it was the first time the ministry was partnering with the initiatives, “however, we are confident that it would be the beginning of an amazing partnership.”

The Minister who was ably represented by his Special Adviser on ICT and Corporate Relations, Kemi Areola equally noted that the idea behind the set-up of The Next Titans was one of the core ideas of what the ministry represented.

“Our focus in the ministry is to ensure that we not only empower the youth but also invest in them.

“The Federal ministry of Youth and Sport Development approved the National Youth Investment Funds (NYIF), last year, which gives young entrepreneurs, MSMEs funds for developing their businesses.

“And we are committed to ensuring that at least a thousand people that passed through the doors of The Next Titans would be empowered with this NYIF. And this is what touches the core because this fund is for business development, and that is would you can easily find in the Next Titan.

“Hence, we are grateful to the organisers of the Next Titans for putting together such a wonderful show, and for ensuring that it has lasted this long, and has continued to grow. And we can see that the entrepreneurs that come out of it are amazing at what they do.

“We will ensure to continue to partner with The Next Titan and also invest in the Nigerian youth.”

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat said the ideas of the show aligned with the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of Lagos state.

According to him, the initiative has helped to discover more youth with true entrepreneurship spirit, talent and passion.

He said since the show began in 2013, it had become a vehicle for young Nigerians to stand up and showcase their entrepreneurial skills in a competitive environment and before a wide television audience.

“As partners in the advocacy for youth development and empowerment, I am delighted to know that past editions have not only played host to thousands of young aspirants and young entrepreneurs among various cities in the country but have as well mentored and discovered individuals who have launched their various businesses and created wealth for others.

“This brings us to the relevance of the theme of The Next Titans titled, ‘The Uncaged’. Our young men and women must know that the magic water of entrepreneurship is such that it entails you to be resilient, determined, passionate, and most importantly, confident in your dreams.”

He said the uncaged entrepreneur must be creative, dedicated, resilient and have the hunger to succeed.

Hamzat said the spirit of an entrepreneur was unyielding, and he or she must have the zeal to take actions and never to give up. He likewise said they must have a mission, a vision and a direction.

“His first instinct must be his focus to succeed.

In other words, success is an early business endeavour. It requires doggedness, drive, flexibility, enthusiasm, courage, determination, perseverance and commitment,” he noted.

The highpoint of the event was the announcement of the 18 contestants who made it to the live show scheduled to last for 10 weeks.

The 18 contestants are Shittu Omobolaji, Felix Oguji, Teda Temitayo, Anita Onu, Sebastian Fibi, Victor Emayen, Olufemi Richard, Debora Adejumowo, Maria Esin, Edusu Taiwo, Owunka Johnson, Joy Badaki, Naomi Gbominira, Lovitat Saheed, Hyacinth Orji, Cynthia Chioma, Victor Winnie, and Dolapo Quadri.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN

Set for Super Eagles Challenge

30. 10.2021

NEWS

REDEMPTION SONG PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman celebrating his first goal for Leicester City

Set for Super Eagles Challenge Two days after President of the Nigeria Football Federation,Amaju Pinnick,confirmed Anglo-Nigerian Leicester City striker, Ademola Lookman’s resolve to don Nigerian colours in spite of having won the U21 World Cup with England, the forward indeed proved he was ready to fight for a place in the Super Eagles crowded frontline as he scored in Leicester win over Brighton in midweek League Cup

A

demola Lookman scored Leicester City’s second goal against Brighton & Hove Albion in Wednesday’s League Cup which ended in a 2-2 draw before the Foxes won the eventual penalty shoot-out.

Adam Webster cancelled out Leicesters’ opener three minutes into added time but it did not take long for Lookman to restore the hosts’ lead at the King Power Stadium.

The Anglo-Nigerian found the back of the net two minutes after Webster’s equaliser as Leicester City go into the break ahead.

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has confirmed that Leicester City forward Lookman has started the process of switching his international allegiance from England to the Super Eagles.

Pinnick revealed some of his conversations with Lookman when he visited the RB Leipzig loanee last weekend.

Lookman, born to Nigerian parents in England has played for the European country’s youth teams and he is now focused on being a part of Gernot Rohr’s squad.

“Ademola Lookman is excited about fight-

ing for a shirt in the Super Eagles. He loves Nigeria. By His Grace, we shall conclude the switch very soon.

It has been a mixed start for Leicester City’s 2021/22 new recruits this season, however, one new signing has really shone so far for the Foxes: Ademola Lookman.

The winger has impressed and excited City fans with his dazzling displays on the right of midfield since signing for Leicester on a single season loan from RB Leipzig on deadline day in August, though a number of fans were seemingly disappointed with his signing. Perhaps this was due to the names that the rumour-mill was throwing up in the days before his signing.

But Lookman has answered any doubts that fans may have had and has done it in impressive fashion.

He was one of the best three players for Leicester in September, and for good reason.

His form for Leicester has been brilliant recently: Lookman dribbles fantastically and smartly, he takes the game to his opponent and creates space in other areas of the pitch with his runs.

Getting Lookman in on loan was a smart

idea, it was a risky move and certainly a step up in challenge compared to his previous Premier League stint at Fulham, but so far, he has passed each test he has faced with flying colours.

He is clearly enjoying his football at the club. Needless to say, if Lookman continues this form for Leicester, then the Foxes will surely sign him on a permanent deal, especially as he has taken so well to all aspects of the club – not just on the pitch.

Lookman certainly isn’t the final answer for Leicester in terms of their attacking wingers, but he fixes a problem position that has been there for several seasons.

He is still developing and growing as a player and will be an exceptionally useful asset for the Foxes this season and, hopefully, in many more seasons to come.

The Leicester City summer arrival opened up on his own personal experiences on racism as the Premier League’s No Room for Racism campaign continues.

All matches taking place between October 16 and 24 were dedicated to the campaign as fans are urged to both challenge and report discriminatory behaviour

should they witness it.

League-wide sanctions introduced from the start of the current season means that anyone found guilty of racist abuse will be permanently banned from all Premier League stadiums.

Ahead of the Premier League clash against Brentford, Lookman outlined his own experiences of abuse and what more can be done in order to tackle the ongoing issue.

“I was shocked in the sense that there are people out there who actually think in that way and believe what they say. It was more online where it happened to me. I don’t think it’s right for somebody to hide behind a screen and to send all sorts of messages and get away with it. I don’t think it’s right.

“Your family will always be important to you and be supportive in situations like that.

Also, the club has taken action and want to help out as well.

“I feel like the support is there but we can do a lot more.”

One thing that Lookman says is vital in the fight against racism is education, with the fight starting at a young age in a classroom.

“It’s vital. We live in a very uneducated world where unfortunately there are people who don’t understand equality. It’s sad,” he said.

“The messages that some people send online, that’s not something that they’ve just done, it’s because they’ve felt that way for a number of years and that’s due to education,” he added.

“That’s due to the fact that they’re uneducated, so if you put the right messages into classrooms for kids who can learn over time and actually learn about history and people, about different races and different backgrounds, then of course that will help a lot,” he noted.

29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Under Pressure Man Utd Seek Redemption at Tottenham With just one point from a possible 12, and a humiliating 5-0 drubbing in the handsofarch-rivals,Liverpoollastweekend,ManchesterUnitedwillbehoping to get back to winning ways as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer visit an inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur in today’s Premier League match at the newWhite-HartLane. Another loss by the Red Devils may bring an end to the Norwegian’s coaching job at Old Trafford. After a winning run of three matches with the Lilly Whites, Nuno Espirito Santo had gone on to lose four matches out of nine, which is putting the Portuguese under immense pressure like his today’s counterpart.Today’s outcome would no doubt go a long way in determining if Ole will keep his job or not

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

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

20 22 21 21 16 20 6 17 0 15 -4 15 1 14 1 14 0 14 -3 14 0 13 2 12 -2 10 -5 10 -3 9 -4 8 -8 7 -8 4 -9 4 -21 2

PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY

Leicester v Arsenal Burnley v Brentford Liverpool v Brighton Man City v C. Palace Newcastle v Chelsea Watford v Southampton Tottenham v Man Utd

12:30 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 7:30

SUNDAY

Norwich City v Leeds Utd 14:00 Aston Villa v West Ham 16:30

La Liga TODAY

Elche v Madrid 13:00 Sevilla v Osasuna 15:15 Valencia v Villarreal 17:30 Barcelona v Alavés 20:00 SUNDAY

Cádiz v Mallorca 13:00 Atlético v Betis 15:15 Getafe v Espanyol 17:30 Sociedad v Bilbao 20:00

Head to Head 21-10-30 Tottenham Man Utd 21-04-11Tottenham1-3 Man Utd 20-10-04 Man Utd 1-6 Tottenham 20-06-19 Tottenham 1-1 Man Utd 19-12-04 Man Utd 2-1 Tottenham 19-01-13 Tottenham 0-1 Man Utd 18-08-27 Man Utd 0-3 Tottenham 18-01-31 Tottenham 2-0 Man Utd

Battle of the captains...Tottenham Captain, Harry Kane skipped past his Manchester United counterpart, Harry Maguire

M

anchester United will be bidding to bounce back from theirhumiliatinghomedefeat to Liverpool when they travel to North London today to take on Tottenham Hotspur.

The Red Devils suffered a 5-0 home loss to their bitter rivals in the Premier League last Sunday, while Spurs were also beaten same day, going down 1-0 at the home of West Ham United.

Tottenham suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Vitesse and West Ham in the Europa Conference League and Premier League respectively, but they were able to return to winning ways on Wednesday, recording a 1-0 victory over Burnley to advance to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup. In many ways, it has been a strange start to the season for the North London outfit, who have won five and lost four of their nine league games to collect 15 points, which has left them in sixth position, two points from fourth-placed West Ham United and one spot and indeed one position above their opponent today.

Spurs have found it difficult to show consistency this term, but they did manage to record important league wins over Aston Villa and Newcastle United before the onegoal reverse at West Ham, and the fact that the capital outfit are sixth at this stage must be taken as a positive.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have only

actually scored nine times in their nine league games this season, while Harry Kane has registered just once in England’s top flight this term, with the 28-year-old suffering a hangover following his failure to secure a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the summer.

Spurs have only won one of their last five Premier League games against Man United.

The capital outfit suffered a 3-1 defeat in the corresponding contest between the two teams last season.

Man United, meanwhile, were thumped at home by Liverpool last weekend, with Mohamed Salah scoring three times in a five-goal victory for the Reds, and the result piled the pressure on head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it does appear that the Norwegian will lead the team against Spurs.

Whether Solskjaer keeps the job on a long-term basis remains to be seen, but there is no question that there is immense pressure on the 48-year-old, who will be demanding a response from his players today after his “darkest day” at the helm.

The Red Devils sit top of their Champions League group despite three underwhelming performances in Europe, but they have now lost three of their last four league matches, collecting just a single point in the process which has seen them drop down to seventh position on the table.

The 20-time English champions have collected just 14 points from their nine matches and are now eight points behind leaders

Chelsea, while they have conceded 15 times, with only Leeds United, Watford, Newcastle United and Norwich City shipping more after nine games.

Man United lost their long unbeaten away league record against Leicester two weeks ago, but they have enjoyed themselves against Tottenham in the past, winning 36 of their previous 58 Premier League games, suffering just 10 defeats in the process.

Meanwhile, neighbours, Manchester City will seek to bounce back immediately from their EFL Cup heartbreak when they welcome Crystal Palace to the Etihad Stadium today.

The champions currently occupy third spot in the table after nine games, while draw specialists Palace are down in 15th following four successive stalemates.

If any side was going to break Brighton & Hove Albion’s defensive resilience, it was free-scoring Man City, who chalked up a quartet of goals on the South Coast to ease to a 4-1 victory over Graham Potter’s men last weekend.

Phil Foden bagged a brace while Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez also found the back of the net at the Amex Stadium, with Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty proving to be little more than a consolation for the home side.

However, Foden went from hero to zero as City’s quest of an unprecedented fifth EFL Cup crown in succession came to an end in

midweek, with the England starlet failing to convert from 12 yards as West Ham United advanced to the quarter-finals.

Pep Guardiola certainly has bigger fish to fry than the EFL Cup, though, as third-placed City seek to keep the pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea, who are one and two points ahead of them in the top three of the table respectively.

Now unbeaten in eight Premier League games since their opening-day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, City’s tally of 12 goals on home soil is the second-best record in the league behind Chelsea’s 16, and they are the only team in the division yet to concede on familiar territory so far this term.

Crystal Palace were not involved in midweek EFL Cup action following their August defeat at the hands of Watford, which has given Patrick Vieira ample time to figure out a way to end his side’s run of stalemates in the Premier League.

After sharing the points with Brighton, Leicester City and Arsenal, the Palace faithful harboured hopes of a longawaited win when Christian Benteke put them ahead against Newcastle United, but Callum Wilson equalised just nine minutes later in the second half to force another stalemate for Palace.

The Eagles’ failure to convert one point into three has bedevilled them in the past few weeks, and Vieira’s side currently sit 15th in the Premier League as a result but are five points clear of the dotted line, despite claiming just one win so far this season.

Finding the back of the net is not the problem for Vieira’s crop, who have scored in six of their last seven Premier League games - but failure to shut up shop at the other end has seen them concede 10 goals away from home already this season - not a good omen before a daunting trip to the home of the champions.

Palace did prevail at the Etihad as recently as December 2018 - thanks in no small part to Andros Townsend’s thunderbolt, but City won both fixtures in the 2020-21 season by an aggregate score of 6-0, including a 4-0 success on home soil.

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presenting a cheque to the captain of the winning team during the HoS Games

Funke Oshonaike

SMED Network: Okegbenro Confirms Oshonaike as BOT Members

WBF Title Defense: NBBofC Hails Sports Minister for Saving Scorpion’s Belt

A frontline journalist of about four decades experience, Gboyega Okegbenro, has confirmed the Board of Trustee members of the Sport and Media Development Network billed for launch next week in Lagos.

The SMED Network is an NGO aimed at boosting the careers of youths, journalists and athletes across the country and beyond.

Seven-time Olympian, Funke Oshonaike, is one of the members of the prestigious BOT of the SMED Network.

An elated Oshonaike said she was proud to be named on the board that has many top personalities in various endevours in Nigeria.

The secretary of the governing and regulatory body of NigeriaBoxingBoardofControl, (NBBofC), Remi Aboderin has lauded the kind gesture of the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare towards professional boxing.

The minister last weekend pledged to support the current WorldBoxingFederations(WBF) SuperFeatherweightChampion, Ridwan‘Scorpion’Oyekolainhis questtodefendhistitleagainstan opponent from Georgia, Giorgi Gogatishvili.

NBBofC scribe has described thegestureasfirstofitskindfrom the of office of the minister.

Aboderin who doubles as the president of West African Boxing Union (WABU) also noted that the minister’s intervention had also given a relieve to the apprehension of the boxer losing

“I was surprised when I learnt about this. Anything that has to do with the development of the youths is also of interest to me and so I am so excited about the SMED Network.

“Many youths will look up to this new project to boost their respective areas of endevours. There was nothing like this in our time and I call on corporate bodies to help SMED Network to better the lives of the current generation of athletes and the youths generally,” Oshonaike said.

BOT Chairman, Okegbenro, also named Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Prince Abimbola Onibokun, Hajia Rabi Danladi Bako, Mr.

Sydney Kelechi Nwosu, Mr. Biodun Adeyemi as other members. Adeyemi is the secretary of the BOT. “We are positive that the SMED Network will change the face of sports, journalism and youth empowerment in Nigeria,” Okegbenro assured.

The Media Launch of the SMED Network is billed to take place at Omole Estate, Ogba Lagos on Tuesday November 2.

A former international, Segun Odegbami alongside Saturday Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Onochie Anibeze, and former Ogun State’s Commissioner for Sports, Bukola Olopade, are all expected to deliver papers at the SMED Launch next Tuesday.

Tottenham vs Man Utd Live on DStv, GOtv DStv and GOtv customers can look forward to Round 10 action from the Premier League, with matches scheduled to run from today to Monday.

The top match from the Premier League for this round of action comes from North London, where Tottenham Hotspur play host to Manchester United today on DStv channel 203.

The weekend’s action gets underway on Saturday with a potential thriller at King Power Stadium between Leicester City

and Arsenal at 12:30pm on SuperSport Premier League, before the afternoon games are headlined by the three main title contenders: Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

The Citizens will be at home to Crystal Palace at 3pm on SuperSport Variety 1 (DStv channel 206), the Blues head to St. James Park to face Newcastle United at 3pm on SuperSport Variety 3) and (DStv channel 205 and GOtv channel 31), and Liverpool will welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Anfield for

a fascinating clash on SuperSport Premier League.

Sunday sees Leeds United looking to claim an away win over struggling Norwich City at 3pm on SuperSport Premier League, before two of the league’s most ambitious mid-tablers, Aston Villa and West Ham United, do battle in Birmingham at 5:30pm on SuperSport Premier League.

The round wraps up on Monday with Wolves hosting Rafael Benitez’s Everton at 9pm on SuperSport Premier League.

NBBF Extraordinary Congress Postpones Election The Nigeria Basketball Federation has resolved to postpone its 2021 election slated for today in Benin City by a few weeks.

Rising from its extraordinary congress held on Thursday, 28th of October, via Zoom to discuss the position of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the congress agreed that sorting out pending issues was in the long term interest of the sport in Nigeria.

Presided over by the NBBF President, Musa Kida, he admonished the congress to

respect and appreciate the advice of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to postpone the elective congress so that all concerns raised for a successful elections 20212025 was addressed.

With just 11 states absent with some tendering apologies, the congress unanimously agreed to postpone the elective congress by a few weeks.

They also mandated the NBBF President to engage the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in a positive

discussion for a free, fair, transparent and successful elections to usher in a new board.

A vote of confidence was also passed on the NBBF President, Mr. Ahmadu Musa Kida for the unequalled milestones recorded under his watch since coming on board in 2017.

They thanked the Honourable Minister, Sunday Dare and his team for their unflinching support for the NBBF board as they look forward to a better working relationship between the NBBF and the government.

the belt, as the global body that is managingthebelt;WorldBoxing Federation (WBF) has agreed to shift the date of the title defense to December 26.

ItwouldbenotedthatScorpion hadbeenfacinglotsofchallenges, especially on finances towards defending the WBF belt he won last December courtesy of supportfrom Dotun Sanusi of Ilaji Hotels and Resort.

The title defense fight that was earlier fixed for 30th of this month seems not realisable according to Core Afrique Boxing Promotions that is managing Scorpion.

The boxer might be stripped of the title by the global body that is managing the belt if he could not defend it this year.

“President of WBF, Howard Goldberg has agreed

with us to shift the fight after he read the news about the intervention of our minister and that is why I am making this statement to warmly appreciate the Honourable Minister”, said Aboderin.

He added that “Minister has pledged to appeal to his friends and corporate bodies to support the title defense of Oyekola. This is a commendable gesture, as the minister has shown that he’s not for football alone as often been demonstrated by many of his predecessors.”

“NBBofC as a body want to thanktheMinisterforhissupport thistimearoundfortheprofessional boxing, as the game still needed support from all and sundry to be at par with the western world hence we can produce many moreboxingworldchampions”, Remi Aboderin enthused.

Sanwo-Olu Boosts HoS Games with Cash Prize TheLagosStateGovernor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has doled out cash prizes for the winners of male and female categories in the football competition of this year’s finals of Head of Service Games.

Both male and females went homewiththesumofN1million each, while the second position in both male and female categories also went home with the sum of N500, 000 each as their cash prizes.

In the male category, Lagos State Neighborhood Safety

Agency defeated their Public Service Office 3-1 to emerge champions while Health Service Commission placed third. Public Service Office however beat State Universal Basic Education Board by 3-1 to win the female category of the tournament, just as Mininstry of Agriculture finished in the third place.

In the tug of war final, Lagos State Fire Service defeated their counterpart from LAWMA in the category, while Fire Service

defeated Lagos State Bus Services to win the female category.

Amongst those who witnessed the finals of this year’s HOS Games included the Mr. Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Executive Council Members, Permanent Secretaries, HRM Oba Oniru of Iru land Oba Gbolahan Lawal, HRM Oba Elugushi of Ikate Land, Oba Shaheed Elegushi, DG Sports Commission, Mr. Toyin Bolowotan and former Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins.

Over 150 Golfers Battle for Honours at Ikeja Ladies Championship Over 150 golfers would be battling for honours at the Ikeja Ladies Championship which started counting since October 25.

The championship which has its main event between October 29 and 30 however, commenced activities since Monday, October 25 with the Caddies, Club Professionals and Admin Staff event; October 26 and 27, had the men taking their turn as Thursday which made it a cocktail.

Busola Ladipo, the Lady Captain of the Club however, gave some perspective on the increase in the participation figure in an earlier interview where she said: “This year ’s Ladies Club Championship has an impressive

record figure in Ikeja Golf Club history.”

She revealed, “In the previous years, the figure of participating golfers usually stand at 60-70; but I’m proud to say under my tenure and for the first time, we are having over 80 golfers who have registered ahead of the Championship; but we are expecting over 150 to register before the tournament proper which was yesterday and today.”

This development the Lady Captain said was a confirmation of her efforts at turning around the Ladies Section of Ikeja Golf Club the which hitherto was beginning to lose the desired glamour associated with Ladies

Section of clubs.

“Before now, lady members at the Ikeja Golf Club were becoming reluctant to play golf, but today as the Captain, I have been able to encourage them to improve in their game and the situation is now very impressive,” the Captain enthused.

The Captain added, “The men have been my biggest surprise in this Championship; they have been very supportive morally and financially - they have been by me to ensure the success of the event.”

Concluding, she said that participants would be given the best treatment while the Championship lasts as all logistics have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free event.

31

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Odion Ighalo Will He Return to Super Eagles?

Odion Ighalo scored one of his five goals at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt

With the quality of strikers presently in the Super Eagles fold,it is shocking that the eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation and indeed the national team coach, Gernot Rohr are persuading erstwhile Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo who honourably took a bow out of the team after 2019 AFCON to rescind his decision

O

dion Ighalo announced his retirement from international football after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot. He was awarded the top scorer’s prize in Egypt after scoring five goals in seven appearances for the Super Eagles.

Over two years after the former Watford striker took the honourable decision, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Super Eagles FrancoGerman manager Gernot Rohr are talking him into reversing his decision to quit international football.

“I had a long conversation with Odion Ighalo, personally I believe we need experience in our attack to combine with our energetic youthful Osimhen, Onuachu, Kelechi et al.

“Odion’s body language is very positive. We are also in touch with his agents and club.

“The vibe going into these last two games and indeed AFCON is very good.”

Rohr has indeed revealed that he has included former Manchester United striker Ighalo on his provisional roster for the upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifying matches against Liberia and Cape Verde.

Ighalo bowed out on his international career when the ovation was loudest.

Pinnick and Rohr have been attempting to persuade him to reverse his decision to quit the national team without success.

Ighalo is believed to still stand by his decision to quit the national team despite holding talks with Rohr and Pinnick, meaning he is not at the disposal of the Super Eagles coach for the games next month.

Rohr pointed out that he wants the Al

Shabab striker because the Super Eagles badly need his leadership qualities with so many young strikers in the current squad, and has labelled Ighalo a ‘great player’.

Asked why he wants to extend an invitation to Ighalo despite having Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu in his squad, the FrancoGerman said to Elegbete TV : “We miss his leadership, we miss his experience, we miss the goals he scored, he was the best goalscorer in the last AFCON, he was the best goalscorer in the qualifiers and I think we have so many young players that could learn a lot on the side of such a great player.

“Ighalo is a very important man, I hope that he can come back, I put him on the bigger first list, provisional list for the next games.

“We are in touch, he’s doing very well in the club and he has still the ambition to help his country.”

Ighalo is proving that age is just a number as he is still going strong at the age of 32, scoring eight goals in nine matches in the new Saudi Pro League season.

Ighalo was singled out for missing what fans believed was a clear goal opportunity that would have kept Nigeria’s World Cup hopes alive in the game against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup. The striker has faced a barrage of insults including threats of violence.

Ighalo had to take to social media to address fans and appealed to those who “want to kill him.”

Writing in the local pidgin vernacular,

Ighalo asked fans to remember he was “someone’s child.”

“Great experience to be at the World Cup and I enjoyed every moment of it,” he wrote on Instagram.

“We did our best but sometimes things don’t always go the way you want, but life has to go on.

“For those that want to kill me abeg na person pikin I be o (please I am someone’s child),” Ighalo wrote.

He started his career as a youth player in the U-20 team and later made his senior debut during an international friendly match against Uganda in March 2015.

After playing 35 matches and scoring 16 goals, which ranks him as the seventh all-time highest goalscorer in the national team history, he took the decision to bow out for younger ones to ‘learn and grow’.

“This is one of the most difficult career decisions I have had to take. It’s been an amazing five years journey, but after due consultation and extensive discussion with my family I have decided it’s time for me to retire from the national team,” Ighalo wrote on Instagram.

“It has been an eventful and most memorable opportunity to serve my country with pride, passion and to contribute my quota to the development of our football, the memories would stay with me for a long time and I’m immensely grateful.

“It is now time to concentrate on club football and give the younger players the chance to learn and grow. I would love to thank the NFF, coach Gernot Rohr for believing in me against all

odds, to my teammates for their professionalism and team spirit, without you guys I wouldn’t have achieved so much with this team.

“To Nigerian football fans all over the world, I say thank you, you were always there to cheer us on and our 12th player every time we step onto the pitch. I will be watching and cheering the Super Eagles from this side. Thank you... Signing out.”

Ighalo has however confirmed that Rohr and Pinnick have contacted him over a potential return to the national team.

“They have been in contact with me about the possibility of coming back, Amaju and coach,” Ighalo told ESPN. “I don’t know. I have not said yes or no. I haven’t made any decision concerning the national team.”

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old showed why Rohr wants him back in the squad after he scored in Al-Shabab’s 3-0 win against Al Tai on Thursday night.

It now remains to be seen if Ighalo would bow to pressure to lured out of retirement from international football.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 23, 2021

INTERVIEW Andy Uba:

I’ve No Doubt, Anambra Will Vote for APC The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, has expressed confidence that the people of the state will vote for him and his party on November 6. In this interview with select journalists, he also gave the assurance that nothing would stop the conduct of the poll. Olaoluwakitan Babatunde was there

I

n the light of militant opposition to election in the South East, what are the prospects of conducting the November 6 poll and what are your chances?

As I have said, the militant agitation is a sad symptom of dissatisfaction among a segment of people but not all the people, by any means. There is a majority of people who understand that even an imperfect election is preferable to perfect anarchy. Many appreciate that Nigeria is still on a long learning curve and that gradually over time, we will begin to get things right.

The only way to change unsuccessful governance is to vote out the unsatisfactory incumbent at the polls and give a new administration an opportunity to do better. That is the democratic and constitutional way. There is no other way for now and I have no doubt that in November, the majority of the people of Anambra State will exercise their franchise and vote for the APC to make her great.

Your opponents associate you with the attempted ‘coup’ of 2003 which sought to forcibly remove Governor Chris Ngige from his seat. How true?

I had absolutely nothing to do with that incident and is another example of an untruth being made to sound true as a result of much repetition. I actually got wind of that news while on a foreign trip with President Obasanjo at the time. I received a call at 2.45 am that morning from the Presidential Villa Control Phone. It was Chief Bode George asking me to put the President on the line. I initially prevaricated because of the time of night but when I noticed Chief George’s agitation, I took the phone to the President. He received the news with rude shock and promptly instructed me to call both the Inspector General of Police and Vice President Atiku and ask them to see to the immediate release of Governor Ngige, which I did. That was the sole extent of my involvement in the saga, so help me God. Fortunately, Chief Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku and Chief Bode George are all still hale and hearty and will corroborate my testimony. The matter was thoroughly investigated subsequently and no mention of my complicity is contained in the White Paper, which is public record.

Several allegations have been leveled against you by opponents; one of them is the alleged sale of Ikenga Hotels, Awka during your brief stint as governor in 2007. What is your reaction to that?

That is one piece of propaganda that might have been laughable were it not for the fact that when you repeat a lie often enough, it begins to resemble a truth. It was a media smear campaign orchestrated by some members of the Obi administration with the complicity of compromised journalists, who were paid to do just that. Some of them have since had cause to repent and apologise to me even though all that is now academic because the damage they did then is almost unforgivable.

However, the greater majority of people who know me see it as what it is: an amateur but malicious propaganda effort.

A land sale of that alleged magnitude would be a well-documented transaction containing detailed information in a Conveyance about the Buyer, Seller, witnesses, and a lawyer. It would be usually deposited at the Lands Registry in the end. I would really love to see such a document produced in proof of that allegation. In any case, how come the land on which that hotel was built is the same one on which the construction of Awka ShopRite was begun under the Obi administration? So, how was that possible if the property had been sold?

Would the so-called buyer not have cried to high heavens? No matter the skill of a liar, people should be able to decipher what is believable or not by the application of basic intelligence.

These are extraordinary times in the South East with agitations by separatist groups like

There is this suggestion in some Igbo quarters that the APC is an Hausa-Fulani party and therefore alien to them?

One thing with some politicians is that they get so desperate to score points that they engage in the most improbable propaganda, no matter how ridiculous or poisonous. It is the height of ignorance and deceit to contend that the APC has any ethnic affiliation. Once again, I should like to appeal to people not to swallow stuff hook, line and sinker but to apply at least a modicum of intelligent scrutiny. The APC was formed not long ago, in 2013 to be exact. It was the result of a merger of the three biggest opposition parties and the new PDP. How it can be construed as a Fulani party by any stretch of the imagination defies logic. It can only be the product of malicious and mischievous desperation to clutch at straws. It also demonstrates a cynical and disrespectful underestimation of people’s intelligence. The APC is a broad-based national party and that is a matter of fact.

Andy Uba IPOB, MASSOB AND BNL among others. How do you feel about the groups?

You know that there is usually no smoke without fire. There is no doubt in the significant justification for the feeling of resentment that people in the South East harbour. For instance, there is so much discontent especially regarding unemployment and the apparent inadequacy of infrastructure in the zone. However, on close inspection, you will find that much of these inadequacies are largely down to the governance at the state and local government levels. That is one major reason for my gubernatorial aspiration. Only from an executive position, will I be capable of effecting, attracting or executing the promotion of employment, improvement of education and equitable deployment of infrastructure in my state. Hopefully, when other governors do likewise in their respective states, you will no doubt see that a spectacular change will take place in no distant time.

Furthermore, there is a pressing need to begin meaningful dialogue with all relevant segments of the society: youths, women, artisans, entrepreneurs, civil servants, security outfits, civil society, traditional leaders, professionals and academics among others. Only honest dialogue will help us pass through these unfortunate times.

In 2017, I personally initiated dialogue with Ralph Uwazuruike, the head of MASSOB, even while he was in prison. I have always been a believer in dialogue. Violence is not an option because violence breeds violence. We have seen enough violence as a people with over two million dead in the Civil War. Only those who have not experienced war seek it, while those who have done so owe a duty to ensure that those who have not, do not see it.

Marginalisation seems to be the mantra of many Igbo people; are these claims justifiable?

In many ways, every segment of the Nigerian population has areas in which they will feel marginalized, sometimes justifiably. In a developing country of 200 million, it is probably unrealistic to expect that all the people will be happy all the time.

One of the reasons why I am running for office is to help bring these feelings of marginalisation that our people feel to the conference table at the centre. I believe that the chances of a robust and meaningful discussion of marginalisation are greater when our state is represented by a political party that is relevant at the centre. As a result, the chances of a successful resolution of the issues to be raised will be assured; issues like employment, appointments,

infrastructure and so on. Nevertheless, I also try to look on the bright side even while grappling with thorny issues. As an Igbo man, I am very proud of the resilience, determination and industry of my people. From almost nothing at the end of the Civil War in 1970, look at how far we have come. Igbos are prominent in every part of the country, doing business, acquiring property and living peacefully among the local populations almost everywhere.

So, while we may sometimes lament marginalisation, let us also occasionally celebrate accommodation. Some of the largest markets in Nigeria are outside the South East and are dominated by the Igbo, such as Alaba, Trade Fair, Computer Village and so on.

I am determined that we must not lose all our gains of the past 40 years even as we try to gain more in other areas. That is my philosophy: ‘Nkemjika!’ What I have is greater. But at the same time, ‘Nkeiruka!’ The future is even greater still!

There is actually more that unites us than divides us. The fact is that incidents of banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping and extremism are actually engaged in by an evil minority but the truth is that by their violent nature, their prevalence is greatly exaggerated.

What is your take on the sentiment that there is conspiracy to deny Ndigbo the presidency?

Listen, the question of the Presidency in a country like ours is to be approached principally by way of calculation, coalition, alliance and negotiation. It is not really a matter of entitlement or force because politics everywhere in the world is a game of numbers. With the right attitude and approach, any section of the country can achieve the Presidency and I am not merely talking about the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo. The Idoma man, the Itsekiri man or the Ibibio man has as much right to aspire to become President as any other man. We do a lot of disservice and exhibit extreme marginalization towards our so called minorities by not including them in the Presidency conversations. Social courtesy, political dexterity and diplomatic nicety are the keys to engaging successfully with partners in any enterprise, including politics. Without these, it will be difficult to acquire the cooperation and goodwill of those you will actually need to depend on to attain your objectives. I am happy that many of our current crop of leaders have understood this need for engagement and I have no doubt that as far as the Presidency is concerned, we shall achieve it sooner than many think.

Every political contestant has an elaborate manifesto but what realistic objectives would you say you have for Anambra if you are elected?

After long hours of deliberations, balancing what is desirable with what is possible, I have arrived at a set of practicable objectives, which are interdependent. For instance, the mother of all objectives is the security of life and property.

Therefore, my priority in order to make Anambra great is the establishment of a public security system that will engender confidence in the people, especially after these long months of fear and insecurity. Only having done that can we turn our attention to other sectors because they are all dependent on a state of law and order. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which is one of my pet plans may then be set in motion, enabling rapid industrialization, which will include the establishment of Industrial parks particularly aimed at small and medium enterprises.

A major priority of mine will be facilitating the construction of the Onitsha-Nnewi-Awka gas pipeline, which will greatly boost the manufacturing sector. Like I said earlier, one of the causes of the prevalent restiveness and unrest is bad infrastructure such as roads, some of which should be rehabilitated or dualized and so on. The development of inland waterways will also be a priority due to the need to facilitate the movement of agricultural products out of our numerous riverine locations.

Obviously, this is not the forum to delve into all the details of our manifesto but I will like to assure you that all our aims are practicable and attainable and are not the flights of fancy or campaign fantasies usually associated with politicians aspiring to high office The issue of open grazing has lately been on the front burner among Southern governors and there have been insinuations that you are in support of Fulani herdsmen and open grazing. How true is that?

First of all, let me just say that this is the first time that I will be making any official statement whatsoever on open grazing since it has not been within my immediate purview to do so. Therefore, any statement that may have been credited to me before now is emphatically false.

Having said that, the destruction of private farmlands by cattle is completely unacceptable and there are no two ways about that. As a result, it makes total common sense to pass an open grazing law to protect farmland from cattle. This has been done already by the man, who by the grace of God will be my predecessor as Governor, Mr. Willie Obiano and I congratulate him on that.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 30, 2021

POLITY

How Saraki’s Reconciliation Paved the Way for PDP’s Convention Chuks Okocha reports on the role played by the Saraki-led PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee that paved the way for the party’s National Convention ongoing in Abuja

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ow, all is set for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention holding throughout the weekend in Abuja. This is coming after the scare on Thursday and Friday that the convention might be stopped by a court. Now that the case had been resolved, over 4000 delegates from all over the country will today converge in Abuja for the National Convention of the party.

The PDP now has elected officials in 35 states. The one in Lagos was disrupted and therefore postponed.

It was only in Oyo State that a parallel Congress took place as a result of the disagreement between Governor Seyi Makinde and some of the leaders of the party in the state.

The PDP now has elected officials in 35 states. The one in Lagos was disrupted and therefore postponed.

It was only in Oyo State that a parallel Congress took place as a result of the disagreement between Governor Seyi Makinde and some of the leaders of the party in the state.

Eagles Square which is hosting the convention is now wearing a new look. There is elaborate decoration. The place is now wearing the green, red and white logo of PDP. Everything is looking sparkling and cool. Sure PDP is in opposition but it retains the sense of flamboyance, elegance and sophistication.

PDP’s journey to this national convention has been long.

The readiness to elect new National Working Committee members is happening because a lot of the problems that plagued the party have now either being resolved or at least mitigated. The party has mitigated the damaging impact of the crisis in some state chapters which was holding it down.

The convention is therefore a political show to concretise the break-through or to celebrate that the party has pulled through some of its problems.

However, one body that should be appreciated for the breakthrough is the National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee (NRSC) set up by the immediate NWC of the party last December to identify the problem areas and resolve them, while also suggesting strategies that can help the party.

The body was led by immediate past Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. It has other members like the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; former governors Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Shema, Ibrahim Dankwanbo; and former leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

The body was set up at a time the party was seriously hemorrhaging and many top members were leaving in droves. The first task the committee took on was to reassure party members that the solution is not to leave but to stay and resolve all lingering issues, as well as build a cohesive, united, focused and strong opposition party.

This time last year, the general impression was that PDP was hemorrhaging and almost everybody was set to leave. In the wisdom of the NWC, the NRSC, comprising two former Senate Presidents, three former governors and a former leader of the House of Representatives, and the membership spread across the six zones, held

series of meetings and spoke to many stakeholders.

They consulted with many people, travelled across the various states to resolve differences/disputes, defray frayed nerves and appease people who nurse grievances over certain issues.

As they were holding these meetings across the country, they were making suggestions and recommendations to the NWC from time to time.

The committee has successfully resolved the crisis in Ogun State, up to the point that the agreement it drafted, which the hitherto disagreeing groups signed, had been pronounced as consent judgement by a court. They also resolved the 14 year old crisis in the Borno State chapter and all the members have signed an agreement, which they are following conscientiously.

The committee has resolved the crisis in Lagos State, though the disruption in the Congress indicated a relapse.

The committee also recorded a breakthrough in the Niger State crisis. Now, the state has a functional state executive and the feuding parties have been working together.

It intervened in Cross River State when they heard the state Governor was discussing with the ruling party. Eventually, the efforts only helped in slowing the pace of his movement into the APC. However, the Committee succeeded in rallying leaders and members in the state under the PDP umbrella, to ensure the exit of the governor will not affect our fortune in the state.

This new unity in Cross Rivers inspired the return of the former Governor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke.

They also recorded success in bringing together the feuding groups in Nasarawa, Ekiti and Plateau states.

The committee also intervened in the disagreement among some stakeholders in Oyo State and the state Governor. Also, the committee’s meeting with the PDP youth leaders led to its recommendations to the NWC that the party’s constitution should be amended to reflect that only persons between the ages of 18 and 35 can be elected as youth leaders and people in this age bracket who are aspiring for public office should be excluded from paying the Expression of Interest fee just as the party does for women. This recommendation, which the PDP NWC had since adopted, is now being copied by other parties.

Reconciliation is always a work-in-progress in any human organisation because disagreement is also a permanent feature.

But how come that in spite of the work of the committee, the party is still witnessing defection of key member? Saraki responded thus: “In politics, just like in any human organisation, you cannot accurately predict how human beings will handle a particular situation.

Our reactions to issues and developments differ. The committee at least held discussions with Cross River and Zamfara state governors who are the only key members that have defected. It tried to re-assure and convince them on the need to stay and build the platform that had given them the opportunity to attain their present positions.

“However, people have different interests, motivations and inspirations. What this committee has achieved is giving confidence to the teeming members of our

The forces pulling members from opposition parties into a ruling party that is underperforming and not delivering on its promises to the people cannot be ordinary. I think we have done well in stopping the onslaught that is planned against our party. We are getting the party ready to return to power and solve all the problems confronting the country

Saraki

party; that the PDP is still the best bet for the country and cannot be defined by the exit of just two or three members, even if they are senators or governors. The committee has stopped what should have been mass exit. It also worked to bring in new members as well.

“The forces pulling members from opposition parties into a ruling party that is underperforming and not delivering on its promises to the people cannot be ordinary. I think we have done well in stopping the onslaught that is planned against our party. We are getting the party ready to return to power and solve all the problems confronting the country.”

No doubt, the party owes Saraki and his team a thank you for the good work they have done. What the former President of the Senate has done is to re-invent the story of Richard Milhous Nixon, who served as Vice President of the United States of America from 1952-1960. Nixon who was the Republican presidential candidate lost to John Kennedy in the 1960 election. He went on to even contest the governorship of his state, California in 1962, and still lost. However, he realised that the Republican Party had become fractious, divided and no longer a solid party.

Nixon then set for himself the assignment of re-uniting the party, refocusing it and strengthening it. He took on the task of campaigning for all Republican candidates in any off-season elections and helping them with strategies to win. By 1968, when he threw his hat into the ring, he got overwhelming support from across the party.

Nixon won the presidential election to become the 37th US president, serving from 1969 to 1974. Incidentally, Nixon became President at a time the US had been seriously divided, with turbulence in the cities and war overseas. The first goal he set for his administration was also reconciliation.

Though the political systems are different in the US and Nigeria, Will Saraki also reap the benefit of his good work in the build up to the 2023 presidential election and go ahead to also reconcile Nigeria? Only time can tell.

The convention opening today in Abuja is therefore a means through which the PDP can boldly advertise and demonstrate its new found unity and energy. The new executive that will emerge from the convention should also put in place a body that will continue the good work Saraki and his team had done. The assignment of reconciliation is always work-in-progress.

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POLITY

Fayemi and His Penchant for Legacy Projects Raheem Akingbolu, who was in Ekiti to witness various activities lined up to commemorate the third-year anniversary of the second term of Governor Kayode Fayemi in the state, reckons that despite all odds, the governor presented to his people a well-orchestrated scorecard that x-rayed his commitment to delivery of legacy projects that would serve generation yet unborn

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he story about the lean economy of Ekiti has been told and retold by analysts and politicians. Of course, the fact that Ekiti, Adamawa, Gombe and few others get the lowest FAAC allocations is not in contention but despite this, Governor Kayode Fayemi appears to have deplored thorough creative ingenuity and collaboration with global bodies to sustain the tempo and open up Ekiti for development.

As a leader, committed to instituting and actualizing legacy projects, Fayemi had shocked his political traducers at the beginning of this administration when he embarked on the 40 year-old abandoned new Iyin road, which he promised to construct to end the frequent loss of lives on the ‘Akannasan’ bend along old Ado-Iyin road. True to type, the governor had within a few months in office, mobilised contractors to site and the job began.

Few months into the project, kidnappers struck and whisked away one of the expatriates supervising the project and temporarily disrupted the progress of the job. In his desperate move to keep the job going, the governor mobilized security agents and made sure the man was released and the construction continued. Today, with adequate protection of those on site, the first phase of the project is near completion and the governor has announced last week that it would be inaugurated soon to serve Ekiti people and visitors into the state.

Again, in his quest to provide his people with potable water supply and to ensure the sustenance and consolidation of the gains of the reform of the water sector, Dr. Fayemi, has commissioned a new headquarter complex of Ekiti State Water Corporation.

The holistic intervention in the water sector commenced during his first tenure. Before the expiration of the term in 2014, his team got an opportunity to reposition the water sector in the Fayemi state through the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform In a speech prepared by Ijan Progressive Union, which was Project. As a responsive and responsible government, the administration put in everything required to ensure Ekiti State shared with reporters in Ijan Ekiti and signed by its President, emerged as one of the three states in Nigeria that qualified for Mr. Bisi Ige and two others, the community listed at least eight the magnificent project, which is a World Bank assisted project developmental achievements of the Governor in the community, that his administration keyed into for the benefit of his people. which covered appointments, school rehabilitation, hospital Speaking during the commissioning of the long awaited project, renovation and majorly the construction of the road linking Ijan the governor expressed his gratitude, thanking the people of the to Igbemo, Ire and Ilupeju Ekiti. “The road is an edifice for Ijan in particular and other towns in general,” the people echoed. state for their patience and support through the years.

For the people of Ekiti West, the local government that houses “This is a World Bank assisted project that we keyed into, for the benefit of our people and by implication, the state was the popular Ikogosi Warm and Cold Springs, the Fayemi’s expected to make some counterpart fund contribution. The total administration was described as a “God sent” to them as he credit facility of fifty million United States dollars (50m USD) has continued to be their messiah over the years; in making was supported with the counterpart fund of nine hundred and sure that the nature’s hidden treasure in the local government eighty-six million, seven hundred thousand naira (n 986,700,000) is not abandoned. Beyond the construction of the road linking only, by the Ekiti State government. Despite the little resources Aramoko, Erinjiyan and Ikogosi, the people expressed their available for us as a State, we fulfilled our part in this multi-million joy over the restoration of electricity in Ikogosi, Ipole-Iloro and Erijiyan communities that have been in darkness for four years.

Dollars project.”

Speaking with Journalists in Aramoko, Mr. Issac Fatoyinbo, The governor continued: “This was made possible by the irrevocable standing payment order given to the Federal a community and political leader described Governor Fayemi’s Ministry of Finance to deduct from source on quarterly basis approach to governance as a reflection of his urbane personality as our counterpart contribution throughout the period of the and a product of his passion for all round development.

“With what we have seen in the last three years and the project. The effort was done during my first tenure to affirm our readiness and commitment to the tenets and success of the foundation of good governance laid by Dr. John Kayode Fayemi between 2010 and 2014, there is no gainsaying the fact that the reform project.”

Another legacy project, which many have argued would Governor is not like a typical Nigeria politician who will say redefine Ekiti State social rating is the newly commissioned what he would not do and do what he didn’t say. Before he Ekiti Civic Centre, a purpose built shopping mall located at the came on board three years ago, the previous administration Business District Area of Fajuyi Square, Ado-Ekiti. The facility used the Aramoko-Erinjiyan-Ikogosi road to canvass for votes consists of the basement and four floors with a total area size and our people voted but for four years, we waited in vain of 7906.72 square meters. The mall offers a supermarket as its for the road to be constructed. Just as JKF did during his first anchor tenant, a 2-screen cinema as well as other line shops term, he didn’t only construct the road, it’s also to his credit for fashion, health and beauty and specialist retailing. It also offers space for food court, café and lounge services and with sufficient parking.

However, beyond the pomp and pageantry that characterize the 3rd year anniversary celebration, it was easy for discerning minds to see and appreciate how the governor has followed, consistently, its five point agenda which touches on Governance, Knowledge Economy, Social Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development and Infrastructure and Industrial Development.

As dictated by JKF’s mantra, “Reclaiming the land, restoring our values” during the build up to his second term governorship campaign, the scorecard of the Governor presented to the people during the course of the month –long celebration proved that Fayemi was indeed committed to his signature tune and not a mere political campaign.

Whereas the celebration was on a low key, the bigger focus was on project commissioning which continued till the end of the month. The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye and the First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi coordinated the commissioning across the 16 local government areas.

Perhaps what better reflected the mood of the people towards the achievement of the Governor was the tumultuous crowd, comprising traditional rulers, market women, artisans and other members of the public that assembled in Ijan, Oye and Aramoko Ekiti on Wednesday, 13th of October to witness the commissioning of the state roads constructed by the governor in the last three years. The roads are; the Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo- Ijan road, Oye-Isan- Ikun Dairy Farm Road, Aramoko- Erijiyan road, Agbado-Ode-Isinbode Road, Ibuji-Igbaraodo-Ilawe- Ado Ekiti road.

While calling on the Federal Government to beam its search lights on the dilapidated federal roads in the state, Fatoyinbo pointed out that Governor Fayemi deserves commendation for providing alternatives for Abuja bound trucks and luxury busses that have suddenly found succour in the state in the midst of collapsed federal roads across many states, a development that is making travelers look for alternative routes, notably Ekiti roads

that the moribund Gossy Water Company and Ikogosi Warm Spring Resorts were resuscitated. We are also happy to tell the world that the Governor has given a facelift to our schools and hospitals in all the seven towns and settlements in the local government,” Fatoyinbo stated.

While calling on the Federal Government to beam its search lights on the dilapidated federal roads in the state, Fatoyinbo pointed out that Governor Fayemi deserves commendation for providing alternatives for Abuja bound trucks and luxury busses that have suddenly found succour in the state in the midst of collapsed federal roads across many states, a development that is making travelers look for alternative routes, notably Ekiti roads.

The position of the community leader was also reechoed by the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye on Sunday during a thanksgiving service organized to mark the anniversary by advising Fayemi to do everything possible to protect the newly inaugurated roads from being destroyed by the current influx of trailers and luxurious buses.

The Bishop expressed dismay that the recent influx of articulated vehicles and luxurious buses (from other parts of the country) in the state is already taking its toll on the new roads which risk being destroyed.

However, Thursday, October 14, 2021, turned out to be a major highlight of the commemorative events, when the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), joined by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the host Governor Fayemi to cut the ribbon to commission the Ekiti State Civic and Convention Centre, AdoEkiti. The magnificent multi- storey building which has since been described as one of the most beautifully designed civic centers owned by any state in Nigeria. The high point of the inauguration was the major take-home from the maiden edition of the state’s Economic Summit, where Vice President Osinbajo and three Governors, including Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State, Obaseki and Sanwo-Olu took time to review the governor’s approach to economic rejuvenation and how Fayemi’s approach to Knowledge economy could lift states in Nigeria.

While admitting that technology has no border, Prof. Osinbajo said in his keynote speech that the future of every state, especially with the growing population of young men and women, is technology.

He said, “Ekiti is in the flow of progress regarding the plan to build a technology special economic hub in the state. Clearly, the future of a fast-growing economy is the knowledge economy.

Natural resources are forced to give way to the knowledge economy. Unlike land, science has no border, visa and immigration restrictions. Technology has erased visa, immigration, border and even physical offices. From the age of territory, we are entering the age of science. This is the future of jobs.

“However, for the digital hub to be successful, it must be attractive to digital companies. I understand that Ekiti State is already attracting investments via paying telcom companies due to a major slash of the fees charged telcomunication companies.

So, we need to train talents in the state to be engaged by incoming investments.” The Vice President said.

Meanwhile, one beautiful thing about Fayemi’s approach to governance has remained his determination not to leave any of his projects uncompleted and commitment to complete uncompleted projects of the previous administration.

Speaking during the state-of-the-state address delivered in the House of Assembly as part of the activities, Fayemi allayed fears that preparations for the 2022 Ekiti governorship election could affect projects execution and other areas of service delivery by his administration. “The final year will be used to build on our existing performance and no project will be left uncompleted,” he stated emphatically.

According to the governor, “This administration has about only one year left, but I can assure you we shall work till the very last day. All abandoned projects by the previous (administration) had been completed by us, with only few others still at various stages of completion, but I am giving my words that by the time I leave office, there will not be any project left unattended” Governor Fayemi has demonstrated this by completing several projects abandoned by some of his predecessors in office. The completion and commissioning of the Secretariat buildings embarked upon by the Segun Oni administration and completion and inauguration of the Civic and Convention centre, as well as the Ado-Iyin road which has been abandoned since 1978 are pointer to the governor’s ability to match his words with action in respect of abandoned projects.

The Governor, at the state of the state address, said his administration had, in the last three years, delivered well above 1,000 projects, while it has embarked on a 1,000 kilometers rural roads in partnership with the World Bank. This is to facilitate movement of farm produce from the farmsteads to market across the three senatorial districts.

The project is designed to complement the administration’s huge investments in agriculture and rural development. The agenda is to allow local farmers to exit side by side with the big players like Coscharis Farm, Dangote Farm, JMK, FMS and Arog farms.

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˜ ˾ OCTOBER 30, 2021

POLITY

APC Chairmanship, Buhari’s Legacies and Matters Arising Adekunle Bakare

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he merger of four political parties in a mega opposition to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in 2013 was a radical step taken to salvage the country from ruin, despair and hopelessness as a result of a lack of internal democracy, colossal corruption in key government institutions and a brazen disrespect for the rule of law.

The urgency to redeem Nigeria’s global image as a haven for lawlessness and corrupt practices heralded the coming together of these political parties –– the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

In retrospect, this alliance achieved its stated aim of taking power from the men who supervised the illegal sharing of our national assets to their cronies; weakened the armed forces through the diversion of funds approved for arms procurement, and the mismanagement of the country’s foreign reserves.

The adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 was hinged on his impeccable record of integrity, his simple approach to life and his background as former military ruler. The odds were in his favour and this goodwill was extended to more than 80% of the candidates that contested elections under the party – as they recorded a clean sweep in their various elections.

Much has been achieved by the ruling APC since it took power in 2015. The need to sustain the legacies bequeathed to the party by President Buhari on account of his goodwill and the events that occurred during and after the 2019 general elections have given more compelling importance on who emerges as the national chairman of the Nigeria’s foremost party, APC. In recent times, the media has been inundated with an x-ray of the candidates jostling for the national chairmanship position. As at the last count, close to 10 aspirants comprising of former governors, former and serving senators have directly

or indirectly indicated interest to contest the vacant chairmanship position.

Based on their recent activities related to the chairmanship position, Senators Tanko Al-Makura and Mohammed Sani Musa, former governors Abdulaziz Yari and Ali Modu Sheriff have stepped up their engagements within the party and in the media. It is commonplace to have the prospective candidates engage with party stalwarts and members of the fourth estate of the realm before making a formal elaborate pronouncement.

No doubt, these candidates have enriched the outlook of the APC as a national party in their various states either during its formative years or at its later stage.

Put differently, these are men of timber and calibre who have done their bits in the shaping of the party into the formidable force that it is today.

But then, the challenge that will face the party in the coming years goes beyond mere consolidation; it is about taking the party to the next level, ensuring the sustenance of its ideals as indeed the legacies of the current administration. That obviously requires new breathe of vision, energy and dynamism. This is where the question of the qualities of the individual aspirants to the office comes in.

In other words, it comes to the question of whether the party can source for a fresh broom.

This is perhaps where the candidacy of the senator from Niger East, Sani Musa, comes across as interesting.

Obviously, he does not belong to the class of the former governors often regarded as the ‘heavyweights’. Yet, he cannot be described as a pushover by any stretch of imagination.

A silent player and achiever, his numerous selfless activities in and out of the party is outstanding if not unequalled. As the highest individual financial contributor to the APC in Niger State during and after the 2015 and 2019 elections, he presented election materials, vehicles for easy transportation, branded billboards and other souvenirs alongside radio and television jingles that conveyed the party’s message to the remotest parts of the state. In this he has been consistent since 2014 in his

contribution to the development of the party both at the state and national level. In the build-up to the 2015 general elections, he furnished and maintained the biggest campaign office in the country which happens to be that of his home state of Niger which inevitably served as the campaign headquarters of presidential and other elections in the state.

No doubt, there is also a lot to say about his highly cosmopolitan outlook which accounts for why he’s highly respected among his peers in the National Assembly where he currently serves; his strong advocacy for inclusivity and his capacity to build bridges between the young and the old, and among the different groups in the Nigerian federation. Those virtues will surely serve the party well at this time.

One other factor going well for candidacy for the Niger East senator, Sani Musa, might well be the silent restructuring already on-going within the APC itself. Political analysts privy to the workings of the party have alluded to the body language of President Buhari and other top leaders within the party echelon as being unenthusiastic at the possibility of a former governor’s emerging as party chair owing to what some have described as their overbearing tendencies. The argument here goes that the governors, having tasted of the enormous powers as chief executive of their states, stand the risk of seeking to run the party as if it is an extension of the states they previously governed.

Some analysts, drawing from the party’s recent odyssey appear to suggest that the experiences have not been stellar. Here, it is said of Senator Musa that he possesses all the right qualities to lead the party as its chairman without the highhandedness that the party’s rank and file experienced in the hand of a former chairman who often handled party as if it was his personal fiefdom.

Above all, Musa has distinguished himself as a loyal party man with the requisite leadership acumen to carry on and sustain the legacies of President Buhari for the All Progressives Congress. He is as progressives as they come, a master-strategist, shrewd mobiliser who is not only passionate about the wholesome development of the nation but has the capacity to manage diverse people and interests irrespective of tribe and religion.

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PHOTO NEWS

L-R; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on State Lotteries, Ms. Olufunmilola Olotu; Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly on Finance, Hon. Olowo Rotimi Emmanuel; CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Mr. Bashir Are; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu; the Oniru of Iru Land, HRM, Oba Abudlwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal at a press conference and Unveiling of new brand Identity of Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority in Lagos… yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: The Trade Marketing Manager, BIC Nigeria, Patrick Bello; 4th Place 2021 BIC Art Master Africa, Andrew Nathan; 3rd Place 2021 BIC Art Master Africa and National Winner BIC Art Master Nigeria, Odaro Franklin; Senior Sales Manager, BIC West and Central Africa, Guillaume Groues; and Marketing Manager BIC West Africa, Leonard Ehouabolet at the BIC Art Master Press Conference/Prize Presentation held at BIC head office, Anthony Lagos....yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Honorary Consul of Ireland, Embassy of Ireland, Connie Guilfoyle; West Africa Manager, Bord Bia, Ese Okpomo; Ireland Ambassador designate to Nigeria, Sile Maguire; Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Ireland, Ronan Mullin at Bord Bia Meet the Maker event held in Lagos recently

L-R: Ekulo Nigeria Limited Representative, Maurice Ozoemena, Cubana Group Boss, Obi Iyiegbu, Golda Okonkwo, Frank Okonkwo, William Kouton, Uzoma Eziokwu, Chibuzor Nnaebue and at the signing of a partnership deal between Ekulo International Limited and Cubana Groups for Laurent Perrier Champagne in Lagos.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾OCTOBER 30, 2021

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POLITY

Amosun is Reaping His Bargains Femi Ogbonnikan

A

t a point in life, when somebody is superior to you in all ramifications, but you are insisting it is just a little in inches, then, something is wrong that requires urgent interventions in order to come to the reality on ground.

Without mincing words, the event in the last couple of weeks within the family circle of the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the supremacy battle for the control of the structure and soul of the party wasn’t palatable, but calls for concerns by major stakeholders. It is unheard of, if not an aberration, for an erstwhile helmsman, who had expended his two terms (eight years) in office, to still be locking horns with his successor on many fronts. After all, the 1999 Constitution provides only for a single Governor in a state to exercise power on governance, but not for an interloper to usurp the responsibilities of the incumbent helmsman and embark on an inciting and provocative inspection of the state-government projects, which he abandoned and failed to complete while in office.

Besides, taking it from the cursory look of the party structure, the governor wields perceptible influence and powers, and he decides who takes and gets what. As number one citizen, he is constitutionally the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the state and every other person is subject to him, regardless of the political party, riches, creed, religion, colour, ethnic group and race.

Also, the Holy Scripture in Romans 13:1-2 admonishes the subjects to respect higher authorities. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation”.

However, the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the parallel state congress at Ake Palace, Abeokuta. The only approved Ogun State Congress by the APC national headquarters, Abuja, was the one held at MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, on Saturday, October 16, 2021.

Nonetheless, the authentic executives (ward, local and state levels) were those conducted by the seven-man Congress Committee sent from the APC national headquarters, Abuja, and monitored by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by the Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner.

In reality, the political structure in the state provides for congresses in the 236 wards. At these wards, five delegates were elected per wards and which by implications, five delegates elected at the ward level were the main body that were expected to vote at the State Congress of the party.

Amosun and his co-travellers ought to have realised that they were embarking on a journey of self-deceit and mirage. You can plant vegetable and harvest onions.

There is a limit to human endurance and Amosun, with his co-travellers - the likes of the Minister for Mines and Steel, Olamilekan Adegbite, Senators representing Ogun West and Ogun East, Tolu Odebiyi and Lekan Mustapha, and others, with the display of affront and arrogance, have pushed the Governor to the wall.

Sounding a note of warning to those attempting to foment trouble in order create anarchy by heating up the polity, following the violent clash at the Ake Palace Parallel State Congress, the Governor averred: “By the Grace of God, I am the only Governor of Ogun State today and no other person.

“All those who continue to live in an illusion of grandeur; all those that continue to be deluded; I hope the message is heard and clear. I am the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of this state. I will not allow a breakdown of law and order”.

The Governor’s civility shouldn’t be misconstrued to mean a sign of weakness. He is not a toothless bulldog that can only bark, but he is ready to bite.

Closeness to the Presidency shouldn’t be a licence to cause mayhem in the state. Whatever he is reaping today is fallout of his bargains from the various dirty tricks. After all, his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, dared not attempt to do a quarter of raising unnecessary dust without paying dearly

for it, while the former was in office. Trust him, evidences abound that, the Ogun Central Senator was ready to extract every pound of flesh on any of his arch-rivals or political foes.

Suffice to say, the emergence Abiodun, as the fifth democratically elected governor of Ogun state in the March 19, 2019, was pre-destined.

As a child of circumstance, when governance was at its lowest ebb, Abiodun assumed office and rekindled hope of a brighter future for the people of the Gateway state. He allayed the fear that not all politicians are of the same feather and redefined governance as all-inclusive and participatory.

Abiodun departed radically from the inherited practice of converting the entire state into a personal family estate. Abiodun inherited a near empty treasury and it doesn’t worry him in boosting the morale of the workforce, with the regular payment of their salaries, with or without the federal allocation.

The mindset of every Nigerian politician is rooted in the use of the electorates whenever they are needed and soon afterwards, dump them, having realised their dream. And this is just a betrayal of the trust reposed in them, as a result of their failed leadership by example.

The values of abandoned projects Abiodun inherited from his predecessor, Amosun, were like booby traps laid for his failure, but with divine intervention and the former’s penchant for touching the lives of the citizenry, a handful of the projects have been completed.

It took the courage, listening ears and kindness of the governor to take up the responsibility for the completion of all the abandoned road projects.

Obviously, overwhelmed by the deplorable condition of the road projects, but unperturbed nonetheless, Governor Abiodun pledged his administration’s best efforts to complete all the abandoned road projects inherited from his predecessor, despite the financial strain. The decision was informed by the fact that leaving the abandoned roads would not only amount to a waste of the tax payers’ money, but would also be detrimental to the economic growth and development of the state.

From the outcome of the “Report of the Contract Review Committee” chaired by Mr Adekunle Mokuolu which submitted its findings on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, a sum total of N218 billion, a huge chunk of the debt which the immediate past administration of Amosun incurred between 2011 and 2019, was needed by the current administration in the state to complete all the abandoned road projects that were spread across the three senatorial districts in the state.

As a promise-keeping administration that has lived up to its billings in the last seven months (January 2021 to June 2021) under review, with the execution of 54 road projects across the state, with Ogun Central taking the lion share of 29, Ogun West 10 and Ogun East 15, it clearly shows the commitment of the government to ensure that no section or part of the state is developed at the expense of others. Also, in a clear demonstration of prudent management of resources, transparency and accountability, the 42-kilometre SagamuAbeokuta road projects reconstruction which the immediate past administration awarded at N60 billion was reconstructed by the current administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun of N20 billion.

Several other abandoned road projects that were fully paid up by the immediate past administration dotted every part of the state capital 105-kilometre Oja-Odan/Ilara (Imeko-Afon LGA), Ilaro/Owode road, Ilaro, Ijebu-Igbo and NNPC/ Kuto, Abeokuta flyovers, Ijoko/Sango-Otta road, Mowe/Ofada road, amongst others and they are currently receiving the attention of the current administration for reconstruction.

Licking the wounds of defeat in every elective office is expected, but it doesn’t require making it a ‘do-or-die’ contest, having challenged the governorship electoral victory, starting from the State Election Petitions Tribunal through the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division (Oyo state capital) and to

Governor Abiodun

In his quest to broker peace with the aggrieved chieftains who dissolved into the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) at the wake of the intra-party crisis in mid-2018 and returned to their former party, APC, has put the past behind him, extended an olive branch and also provided a soft landing for the loyalists and supporters of Amosun the Supreme Court, Abuja, without success. Refusal to eschew acrimonious rivalry and display the spirit of sportsmanship, despite the loss at the Apex Court and join forces with the victor, Abiodun, to move the state forward, has left a sour taste in the mouth of political pundits, chieftains and supporters of the ruling APC party and other critical stakeholders.

The Governor, imbued with a big heart, in the quest to broker peace with the aggrieved chieftains who dissolved into the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) at the wake of the intra-party crisis in mid2018 and returned to their former party, APC, has put the past behind him, extended an olive branch and also provided a soft landing for the loyalists and supporters of Amosun. Despite overtures to embrace dialogue, Amosun and his godson on the platform of the APM in the March 19, 2019 governorship election, Abdulkabir Akinlade, have rebuffed every entreaty to throw their weight behind the Abiodun-led administration in the state.

“Pride comes before a fall”, says the Holy Scripture. If care is not taken, they are gradually treading the path of dishonour which might spell doom for their political career.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

WASIL, Global Shea Alliance to Develop Shea Sector As part of eͿorts to boost Shea Butter poduction, West Africa Soy Industries Limited (WASIL) has joined the Global Shea Alliance (GSA) to increase activities in the sector.

The Àrms noted that the partnership would help Nigeria move up from its current status as the fourth exporter of shea butter in Africa, despite being the largest producing country.

WASIL, a subsidiary of Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group also announced its registration as a sustainable partner, in line with its commitment to local value addition and sustainable development of the sector.

Speaking on the deal, President of GSA, Simballa Sylla said, “We are very pleased to see industry leaders take action and invest in sustainability. This partnership will not only contribute to the development of the Nigeria shea butter sector but also to the achievement of the GSA’s 2020 -25 strategic objectives – to expand local value addition by 50% and empower over 500,000 women and improve community resilience. We truly look forward to an impactful partnership with TGI”.

Head of Sustainability at TGI, Osenaga Umobuarie remarked, “We are elated to join the GSA and we stand by our goal of promoting the sustainability of the shea sector through the empowerment of women collectors, parkland conservation and seedling planting.

“This project encompasses the sensitive areas that need attention and we are very pleased to work with GSA to impact positively the Shea industry and its beneÀciaries”.

Over the next two years, TGI Group through WASIL, in partnership with the GSA, plans to support 10,000 women shea collectors and processors in the Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states.

It noted that the public-private partnership would enhance business skills of women, provide access to storage facilities, and connect them directly to markets while also building their capacity to eͿectively manage shea parklands.

“These eͿorts are part of the USAID funded sustainable shea initiative which aims to improve women’s market access and proÀtability”, Umobuarie said.

L-R: Regional Sales Manager, Amber Energy Drinks Ltd, Adegbite Adeniran; Marketer, Omotola Bose; ASR, Amber Energy Drinks Ltd., Aransiola Shola Abiola, during the Amber Wholesaler Loyalty Scheme at Maza Maza, Old Ojo market, Lagos… recently

9ijakids, Kidpreneur Engage Children with ‘Savings Challenge’ To commemorate this year’s World Savings Day, an edtech Àrm, 9ijakids in partnership with Kidpreneur Africa and Access Bank has introduced a savings challenge for children starting from November one.

The challenge, which will last for 30 days, followed a training and awareness campaign organised for children on savings habit.

The World Savings Day is observed globally every October 31 to increase

public awareness on the importance of savings and Ànancial literacy for both economies of countries and individuals alike.

The organisers noted that the 30Day Savings Challenge would enable children to have a hands-on experience by practicing what they have learned from the training and get them into the habit of saving.

Speaking further, Co-founder of 9ijakids, Titilope Adewusi said savings

go beyond Ànancial security but also teaches children discipline and delayed gratiÀcation.

“Research has shown that children’s Ànancial habits are learnt at an early age from their parents. Most children know how to spend money from an early age which is why it is very important to teach them that money isn’t just for spending—they should be saving and investing money regularly, too.

“During the challenge, children will be

required to open a bank account, save money daily/weekly and deposit their savings in their account. At the end, children will have opportunities to win cash prizes to help them towards their saving goals”.

Founder of Kidpreneur Africa, Juliet Vincent-Obi added, “Good savings habit combined with budgeting allow children to develop financial discipline, a skill applicable to other areas of their life.”

Remita Charts Path for Firm Restates Commitment to Growth in Logistics Sector Consumers Wellness in New Campaign Electronic payment platform, Remita has advised stakeholders in the logistics and supply chain sector to take advantage of the huge beneÀts of electronic payment to enhance service delivery for customers.

It further encouraged the stakeholders to see it as a growth strategy that guarantees customer satisfaction and retention, fast-track delivery process and increase accountability for sustenance.

Business Lead for Special Projects and Fintech Partnerships at System Specs, Providers of Remita, Kayode Osinulu while on a panel session at Conclase Business webinar recently, maintained that e-payment remains a game changer that will enhance value in the logistic sector.

The webinar was organised by Conclase Consulting in partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) with the theme, ‘Enhancing hitch-free delivery for businesses and Logistic Companies to Maximise Customer

Satisfaction”.

Osinulu argued that epayment would seamlessly manage the process preceding pick-up down to delivery in logistics.

He said, “Digitising the tracking, invoicing, and collection of payments will greatly improve experience for logistic Àrms and other businesses. As a result, there will be improved accountability, transparency and proÀtability.

Also, e-commerce competitive pricing strategy and delivery e΀ciency will make logistic Àrms stand out.”

“With mobile payments continuing to deepen expansion, commerce Àrms are likely to continue to beneÀt from a sustainable ecosystem.

Business owners should also be particular in understanding their customers’ behaviour while implementing innovative sales strategies that maintain low operational costs, create value for customers and improve revenue for the business,” Osinulu said.

Beverage brand, SuperYogo has launched a national awareness campaign to reiterate its refreshing goodness and healthy value.

The new campaign tagged -“It’s Yoghurt” also reinforced the brand’s leadership position in the frozen sweetened yoghurt category.

According to the organisation, the campaign highlights the brand’s quality refreshment value and stimulates positive consumer experiences as a preferred frozen sweetened yoghurt for on-the-go nourishment.

It noted that the campaign was also in line with Fan Milk’s vision of ‘One Planet, One Health’ to inspire a healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices among consumers.

Brand Manager of SuperYogo, Abimbola Odimayo-Olabode reiterated

that the new campaign “is to remind Nigerian consumers of the healthy and nourishing value of the brand among its contemporaries.”

He adds, “We are excited that for the past 20 years, Superyogo has become a household name that has built an a΀nity with consumers across all ages who are health conscious, young, upwardly mobile and love to bring out the best in their snacks by savouring it with this great tasting and refreshing yoghurt.”

On her part, Marketing Manager of SuperYogo, Jennifer Balogun said, “This is a brain and body snack which is very refreshing and can be consumed anywhere to refuel and refresh the body.

Indeed, we believe this campaign will help in solidifying our proposition of providing Nigerians with healthy treats on the go.”

Amber Energy Drink Delights Jumia Launches First Africa’s Wholesalers in Loyalty Scheme E-Commerce Report Amber energy drink, a premium brand from the stable of Amber Energy Drinks Ltd, is rewarding its loyal wholesalers in a 3-day promo titled “Amber Wholesaler Loyalty Scheme.”

The scheme, which has three different categories namely Platinum, Gold and Silver, will reward qualified wholesalers according to the number of Amber cases bought in a month.

The initiative, which took place at five different locations around Ajasa Command, Idimu, Egbeda, Ile iwe Eggbe and Igando, has seen the Amber team presenting gift items to the winners.

Speaking on this initiative, Regional Sales Manager, Amber Energy Drinks Limited, Adegbite Adeniran, stated that the idea behind the initiative is to reward

its wholesalers and also increase its market value.

His words: “The Amber Wholesaler Loyalty Scheme is all about rewarding our wholesalers and not the distributors. The idea is that we are pushing distributors from the office, but we are not pulling out from the distributors. We want to engage all the distributors in the channel of distribution to increase our market value, because using only the distributors does not add value to us.”

Explaining why Amber selected its winners, Adediran said: “Under these distributors, we have wholesalers and sub-distributors, so engaging both distributors will accelerate our sales return. The programme is quarterly; so it has three categories, which includes Platinum, Gold and Silver.

Foremost e-commerce platform, Jumia has published its first Africa e-commerce report, “Jumia Africa e-Commerce Index 2021” with a Nigerian section.

The report leverages data from Jumia’s platform to illustrate the importance of shopping online in a pandemic context.

The report was compiled in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and MasterCard, amongst others, highlighting the impact of e-commerce on the African economy.

In its submission, UNCTAD argues that internet businesses in Africa, including e-commerce which sits at the heart of the digital economy, could add $180 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025.

UNCTAD Head of E-commerce and Digital Economy, Torbjorn Fredriksson said, “COVID-19 led to a surge in the use of digital solutions, including e-commerce.

This was particularly demonstrated with domestic sales rather than cross-border e-commerce. Food delivery, essentials, and pharmaceutical goods were among the top performing online shopping categories.”

Chief Executive Officer of Jumia, Massimiliano Spalazzi informed that ecommerce has become indispensable to merchant since the outbreak of COVID-19.

He said, “Many businesses have joined Jumia to keep their business running and to grow. Consumers used Jumia for their daily needs and sought convenience and competitive prices on the platform too.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

‘Charge and Bail’ Premieres, Now in Cinemas Ferdinand Ekechukwu

I

t’s the premiere of the movie ‘Charge and Bail’. Its theme dress code “Guilty as Charged” had set the tone for the night at the EbonyLife Place in Victoria Island. The guests, including the cast and crew had pulled up at the red carpet with a handful of them missing out on the memo, but what does it matter after all. As it seems, they already fixated, in anticipation of the screening of the Inkblot’s latest production which has taken weeks of online buzz after the release of its teaser.

Opening with scene which introduced some of its cast at a reception party, the 95minutes Nollywood fusion of drama and comedy, starring actress, Zainab Balogun and Stan Nze in the lead, is a light-hearted, yet realistic movie about finding yourself in places you feel you don’t belong to or beneath you and yet it grows on you and becomes the place you don’t want to be without. Nze played the role of Dotun, an egocentric character who thinks he is one of the best things that happened to the legal space.

While Balogun, with her legal background, was able to bring her skills and experience to bear on her character, Boma. Currently showing at the cinemas, Charge and Bail makes for a decent watch. The dramedy tells the story of Boma Ossai, the daughter of a top lawyer. Expectedly, her father had assumed that she would be posted to his firm for her NYSC programme after schooling abroad and had in fact reserved a position for her there. Unfortunately, she was posted to another law firm owned

by Wole, her father’s estranged friend.

Wole has been on cold terms with Boma’s dad over a long relationship issue involving a love triangle between Mr. Ossai (played by Bimbo Manuel), Mrs. Ossai, and Wole (played by Femi Adebayo). On getting to the firm, she wanted them to reject her. Unfortunately for her again, Wole’s chamber refused,

insisting she works with them as they needed all the hands possible to keep the firm running. For someone like Boma, who was from the high class, it was difficult adjusting to becoming a ‘Charge and Bail’ lawyer in a less standard firm. Eventually, Boma finds herself doing the job and even falling in love with it.

“Charge and Bail” is written by Chinaza Onuzo and directed by Uyoyou Adia. Its crisp sharp scenes reflect its cinematographic quality output. Shot in real courthouses in Igbosere and some actual prison cells, the movie also shows the struggles and extent to which people go to get justice for their loved ones as well as how lawyers compete among themselves to get clients. One spectacular thing was how different messages and subplots of the movie were introduced and led into the main plot without feeling detached from the story.

Give it to the actors who did a good job. From Femi Adebayo, to Bimbo Manuel, Folu Storms, Pere Egbi, Tope Olowoniyan, Eso Dike amongst many others were a delight to watch. One of the best scenes was a silhouette visual at the prison where Boma and Dotun had a conversation. There was also a scene where four of the characters were speaking almost at once but each knew to say their lines for the audience to hear them simultaneously without being confused about who was saying what.

Dotun was portrayed as the ‘slay king’ especially with the long black coat he wore in a scene where they went to visit a client. However, ‘Charge and Bail’ makes missteps with a bit of its scenes which seem unresolved and incomplete.

Like the scene of Aisha’s (Folu Storms) party. It was not properly portrayed for the audience to fully grab the essence.

Bimbo Manuel played the commendable role of a Nigerian father and good lawyer. Not forgetting the comic relief provided by Crazeclown and Chigul’s characters which keeps the audience mixed reaction.

Uyoyou Adia, Zainab Balogun, and Eku Edewor at the premiere of ‘Charge and Bail’

Ladipoe’s ‘Providence’ is Ready Ferdinand Ekechukwu

H

ip-pop artiste, Ladipo Eso is set for his forthcoming EP titled ‘Providence’ scheduled for release on November 4. Some of the features on this project are such that his fans might not see them coming. But that wouldn’t be much of a surprise. The last time the rapper dropped a body of work was in 2018.

“I think what will surprise them the most is the fact that I’m dropping a body of work because I take so long. I take a long time to drop music. The last one I dropped was 2018, so I think that’s the biggest surprise,” he said.

Ladipoe, as he’s often called, recently featured on Apple Music’s Africa Now Radio where he spoke on Providence, which he says defines his career trajectory.

He said: “One of the most important things to me about the project is the definition of the word “providence”. It means timely preparation for future eventualities. And it also means the protection and the guidance of God. So really that’s how I feel like my career has been. It’s been one where once I accepted this is what I wanted to do.

“I feel like all the things that have happened are preparing me for moments

Ladipoe

such as this and the ones that are to come. While I can say I feel humbled and motivated, I don’t feel like I don’t belong.

I feel like I’m right where I need to be, so that’s the energy and the attitude behind the project. I started it in 2019.

The idea of releasing it came when I put out a song I did this thing called ‘Revival Sunday,’ releasing a song every Sunday for the fans. And there was a particular track I had called ‘Providence.’ And that track, it meant a lot to me.

“And it just birthed the idea that it’s time for another body of work, but the pandemic hit, which was good and bad for a lot of reasons.”

In the build-up to his EP release, the Mavin Records first rap artiste shares his moods in a song titled ‘Feeling’. On the track, Ladipoe provides an antidote to the pressures of living in 2021: “Feeling genuinely describes how I feel.

It’s two things; it’s humbling, but it’s very, very motivating because I can taste it now and once I can taste it, I can’t let go.

So yeah, it was a good year and we can make it better.”

After the huge success of “Feeling” featuring Buju, Ladipoe links up with Fireboy for another fire tune titled “Running”. Designed to uplift, the instantly contagious song merges Poe’s powerful rap flow and delivery with an anthem chorus from Fireboy DML. With production driven by Andre Vibez, ‘Running’ reflects Poe’s musical DNA incorporating his poignant pen-hip and feel-good spirit.

Ladipoe’s international growth skyrocketed after the success of “Feeling,” alongside breakthrough vocalist Buju spread across the globe. The track broke records racking up over 80M streams in addition to being the first song in Nigeria to go to No.1 on YouTube without a video.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Sheila O

AfrobeatClosingGapBetweenAfricansandAfrican-Americans Sheila Okonji-Ashinze (Sheila O) is an international business and showbiz mogul, who has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry worldwide. In February 2017, Sheila O made history as the first international female personality to create and host an Afrobeat radio show in the United States, airing across major FM platforms. AfroZons is a ‘groundbreaking’ two-hour weekly radio show that fuses today’s hip hop with Afrobeats’ while simultaneously highlighting the latest in global, urban trends and news. Leading a movement to bring African culture to American audiences, AfroZons with Sheila O features an array of African artists, DJs, designers, activists and entrepreneurs. As the ‘hottest’ new musical genre, Afrobeats offers a rare opportunity for hip-hop stations to catch up with the new wave of music, featuring artistes such as Black Coffee, Whizkid,Tiwa Savage and Davido. After enjoying successful ratings airing weekends on a top radio station in Chicago, the show has since gone national, debuting in Washington, D.C, Houston, Miami, and on SiriusXM HURVoices Channel 141. In 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, Sheila O decides to produce How Far” which translates to Whassup! “How Far” provided a platform for Sheila O to check in and conduct her interviews with her artistes, into the studio, via Zoom. The show that solely aired on AfroZons Radio on YouTube got picked up by HipTVand now airs in over 44 African countries. Again, while the world is still in a pandemic, in 2021, Sheila O lifts AfroZons to higher heights, and launches her latest venture, AfroZons Soundoff, partnering up with DubaiTourism, connecting the African and American market to Dubai.With a host of radio partners all over the world, Sheila O is making AfroZons a household name. No wonder she was selected as a Grammy Recording Member for the Class of 2021. Sheila O shares her trajectory with Vanessa Obioha

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he world is looking forward to the AfroZons Dubai Soundoff.

What is the Soundoff all about and how did you conceive the idea?

The AfroZons Soundoff is about bringing different cultures together as one indivisible unit, reaffirming our shared ties, promoting our culture, under the banner of Afrobeats music, and making it one big celebration.This year Dubai has volunteered to be our host city and they have truly gone the extra mile.The Ethos for AfroZons with Sheila O has always been to keep bridging the gap with Africans in the diaspora, through music and this is simply a continuation of that same theme.

Secondly, Dubai is a country that’s on many people’s bucket list to visit. Making the trip affordable for blacks in the diaspora was something we really wanted to achieve, hence our partnership with the DubaiTourism board.With complimentary tickets to the once in five years EXPO, 3 customized tours, five-star hotel accommodation, awesome comfort and a select number of all expenses tickets to giveaway winners, we’ve made dreams not only affordable, but real.

You have been a worthy ambassador of Afrobeat music. Has Afrobeat music made any impact in the world today?

Of course, Afrobeat is closing that gap between Africans and African-Americans, which more importantly really means that you are bridging cultural awareness between lost brothers and sisters from distant lands. I am so thankful to be in the forefront of this digitized movement.We are still the only nationally syndicated afrobeat show in the United States till date with a presence in 44 African countries. Next stop is the UK where we will be launching on prime time shortly.We don’t just talk about connecting, we live it daily.

Apart from Afrobeat music, what other genre of music are you into?

I am an avid fan and a lover of all good music.

Afrobeats might be the focus here, but my Hip Hop and my R & B are never too far away.

From the information out there, lucky winners will have a chance to win a spot to attend the AfroZons Sound off. How can one win this opportunity?

Oh, that’s very easy to explain, simply go afrozons.com and enter for a chance to win! Enter your details into the draw and you could end up being one of our lucky winners. Remember if you win, you get to bring a guest as well. You can thank us later. And Goodluck to all those who seize this

opportunity.

Afrobeat is synonymous with Africa and the black community. Why did AfroZons choose Dubai as the destination for the Soundoff?

Yes, it is, but people of the African diaspora are everywhere. So quite honestly, we can celebrate our culture, anywhere and everywhere. Dubai was gracious enough to open their doors and hearts to welcome us, so why not. See Dubai as neutral grounds.

Doing it in the Middle East just adds an additional, rich layer and a unique backdrop to the entire travel experience.The fact that it runs in parallel with the Expo 2020, a hub for some of the best inventions this world has seen, gives us another reason to celebrate this choice. I would rather modify your question to ask; Why would we chose anywhere else?

What role has the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing been playing in the success of the Soundoff?

DubaiTourism has been key to making this experience unforgettable, easy to navigate and last but not least, affordable. Without their influence and support, this experience and the perks, wouldn’t be possible. I want to thank him and his team for looking in our direction. From the

interest we are seeing so far, it looks like both of us have made the right decision.Touch wood.

Discounted flights and accommodation packages have been arranged for individuals who want to attend the Soundoff on their own. How can one key into this and are there other benefits for coming to Dubai during the Soundoff?

Again, that’s easy, anyone wanting to be a part of this experience, but not as a winner of a giveaway, they can go to AfroZonsDXB.com and visit our selected travel partners, click on their country flag and just choose a package that meets your budget. 10 countries in total will be participating.

The first six were the USA, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Tanzania and Zambia. Not wanting to be left out, the UK, Canada, Uganda and Zimbabwe have also just joined the list.There’s an old Nigerian saying that says it’s better to be there than to hear about it.

We’ve seen a long list of celebrities that will be in Dubai for the Soundoff. How were these celebrities chosen and should travelers expect any surprises in Dubai?

There are many surprises in store for those travelers that join us in celebrating us, the surprises are so big that. ‘E Choke’. Sometimes when I think about it all, I can’t keep still. I could tell you,

Sheila O

but if I did, it wouldn’t be a surprise. So, please tell a friend, to tell a friend, to tell a friend to embrace this opportunity. Let’s just say to everyone, that I look forward to hosting you all in Dubai and surprising you pleasantly at the very same time.

Obey, KSA, Dokpesi, Bakare Headline Faj@60 Celebration Pastor(Dr.)TundeBakare;High ChiefRaymond Dokpesi(chairman emeritusofDaarCommunicationsgroup); Ovation Internationalpublisher, AareDeleMomodu;presidentialadviser,Mr.Femi Adesina;andveteran journalist,Dr.Reuben Abatiareamongdignitariesinvitedto theOctober 30thDiamondbirthdaycelebration ofMr.Femi Akintunde-Johnson (also known asFAJ).

AstatementbytheeventorganizerslistsDr. Dokpesiasthechieflauncheroftheevent,aswell ascelebratedmonarch,ObaAdedokun Abolarin; long-standingbusinessman,ElderBimbo Oladapo; Mr.TokunboWahab(SpecialAdviserto Lagos Governoron education);Mr.ChijiokeOkoli(SAN), ChiefTonyOkoroji(Chairman ofCOSON),Prince Adedapo Adelegan (presidentoftheNigerianBritishChambersofCommerce),AlhajiTeju Kareem, theMD,ZmirageMultimediaLtd.,andMomodu as chiefpresentersofthefourbookswritten byFAJ. TheeventwillbechairedbyMr.Segun Oloketuyi (theimmediatepastManagingDirector/CEOof WemaBank,who leditssuccessfulrestructuring between 2009 and2018).

To review thebooksareDr.AbatiandMr.Anote Ajeluorou,whileBakare,shallperformtheroleof the‘FatheroftheDay’.Amongthespecialguestsof honourarePresidentialmediaadviser,Mr.FemiAdesina;federallawmaker,Hon.ShinaPellerAbiola;the GMDofPunch Newspapers,Mr.AdemolaOsinubi; PastorJSAjulo (GOofBibleBelieversChurch Ministries),formerDeputyVCofUNILAG,Prof.

Duro Oni;veteran newscaster,Mrs.BimboOloyede; Nigerian AmbassadortoTogo,Mr.DeboAdesina; andrespectedfilmdirector,Mr.TadeOgidan.

Equallyexpectedatthevirtualcelebrationare such musicnotablesasEvang.EbenezerObey-Fabiyi,KingSunnyAde, EmmaOgosi,SirShinaPeters, AdmiralDeleAbiodun,KWAM1,AdewaleAyuba,the ‘maskedone’,Lagbaja,amongmanyothers.

Thetwo-parteventstartswithacolloquy, titled“DidAnythingGoodComeOutOfThe ‘60s? - Lessons&MemoriesofNigeria’sFormative Decade.Thestorylineofthecolloquyshallbewoven bythefollowingdistinguishedNigerians:Mr.Ben Tomoloju (keystoryteller,formerGuardianeditor anddramatist);Mr.Laolu Akintobi(ofthe70shit

group,BLO);Mr.LanreIdowu(veteranjournalistand coordinatorofDAME,themediaawards),andMr. Sesan Ekisola (veteran broadcaster, pioneer MD ofRaypower).OthersareMrs.GloriaRhodes-Nash (oftheSteveRhodesVoices),MallamDanladiBako (veteranbroadcaster),Mr.NorbertYoung(actor anddirector),MsComfortOkoronkwo(veteran broadcaster),andfamousinternationalvisualartist, LemiGhariokwu.

Thesecondeventisthelaunchingoffourbooks comprisingacollectionofpoetry;acompilationof shortstories;detentionmemoir, and an account of FAJ’s roles in the defunct popular FAME magazine.

The event takes place on Zoom (Online ‘Event Centre’), at 4.30pm prompt, and it is strictly by invitation, via one-touch registration. The organizers urge attendees to register early for the event, so as to receive prompt updates ahead of the day, while the RSVPs are Jahman Anikulapo (0803 307 6418) Abbey Oshinibosi (0803 326 2264), Folarin Ademosu Jr (0802 072 5343), ËØÎ ˾ ÙÙÕ×ËØ ËØßÝÓ ̙ ÓËÝÚÙÜË ÙÙÜÎÓØËÞÙÜ̚˝ +447533572784.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

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Fela honoured as Africa’s Fearless Man at Felabration 2021 Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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t was a night of great performances and talent display as Fearless energy drink, the premium brand of Rite Foods, honored the late Afrobeat king, Fela AnikulapoKuti, with a posthumous award of the “Fearless Man of Africa” at the Felabraion 2021 Ànale. It was also for his musical prowess and the legacy the music legend left behind for posterity.

The Fela’s posthumous award is hinged on the story conceptualized by the energy drink brand, from its recent Àndings on courageous people in all spheres, including music where the late Afrobeat king made an enduring impact.

Looking so magniÀcent and admirable, the posthumous award formed part of this year’s week long Felabration event held from October 11-17, 2021, with the theme “Viva Nigeria Viva Africa.” Relaying his past, Fela fearlessly composed songs like “SuͿering and Smiling,” “Sorrow, Tears and Blood,” and “Unknown Soldier” as a form of political resistance against oppressive and dictatorial rule. Also are songs against inhuman acts against Africans like “Colonial Mentality,” “Teacher Don’t Teach

From Right: Brand Manager, Rite Foods Ltd, Boluwatife Adedugbe, with Kunle Anikulapo-kuti, and his sister, Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti

Me Nonsense,” ‘’Mr. Follow Follow’’, among others.

Speaking on the bespoke award, the Managing Director of Rite Foods, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, posits that the late Fela deserves honour for the impact he made in the music industry, having fought a good cause for the people through his songs. He said Fela resonates with what Fearless stands for,

positive energy, courage, leadership, and can-do spirit that comes with Fela’s creativity and leadership quality, his pursuit for a better Nigeria and Africa in general.

Presenting the award, which attracted loud ovation from Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, Fela’s eldest daughter and younger brother, Kunle Anikulapo-Kuti, Rite Foods Brand Manager, Boluwatife Adedugbe, said the Fearless

posthumous award signiÀes the importance attached to the life and times of the Afrobeat megastar. She a΀rmed that the outstanding performance by the music legend that made the nation and Africa could not be unrecognized; hence the noble recognition awarded him.

Receiving the award, Yeni, who was amazed and thrilled with the attractive symbol said it signiÀed his father’s greatness in his sphere of music genre and his giant stride in bringing about social change through it, and expressed her joy for the very important recognition of her father’s eͿort. She stated that the award is signiÀcant because it is from a leading brand that has been promoting human and economic development, especially in the entertainment industry, which is a burgeoning sector of Nigeria’s economy.

Similarly, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, an Afrobeat icon and Fela’s heir, commended the Fearless energy drink brand of Rite Foods for sponsoring this year’s Felabration as talented artistes energized by the leading brand came up with electrifying performances at the musical shows of the event. Other highlight of the night was the performance by D’Banj, a megastar in Nigeria’s musical industry, who thrilled the audience with one of his hit songs, “Top of the World.”

Kahren Finds Self with ‘IThink I Know Her’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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fter releasing singles like ‘Peekaboo’ and ‘Safa,’ talented songstress, Kahren has taken up the challenge to face the music world, coming out with her record titled “I Think I Know Her”. An alluring Àve-track project with vocal assistance from sensational rapper, Blaqbonez, alongside fast-rising singer, Victony, Kahren dedicates this debut EP to Ànding herself as a 21-year-old woman in Nigeria and her music industry. Already streaming online, this body of work is one that shows the singer’s readiness to be widely known by music lovers.

Whether weaving her melodies between Spanish guitars, Afrobeats percussion or pop rhythms, Kahren’s enigmatic lyricism invariably leaves listeners with something to ponder: “I’m an angel in the morning,” she sings on “Safa”; “the devil in the night.”

Traversing pop, soul and alternative R B,

Kahren boldly presents her eclectic iteration of Afro-fusion. The singer marries astute songwriting with honey-toned vocals that Áoat between soul-tinged sound beds. She is beautiful and arty.

Her approach to the Afro-fusion sound is deliberate and memorable in the same breath, with a soulful undertone second to none. Her greatest strength, however, lies in her versatility and ability to make complex subject matters easier to relate to – a proof of her goal to make music that heals and spreads love. Musically, she points to names like Jhene Aiko, Jorja Smith as sources of inspiration. She has also on multiple occasions lent her voice as a featured or backup artiste for multiple names within the industry.

As a young person, she had a passion for dance. This morphed into a love for music.

In the thick of lockdown, she won her Àrst set of fans after her acoustic performance videos went viral. She released ‘Peekaboo,’ a showcase of her burgeoning and equally scary pen game. She followed it up with ‘SAFA,’ an acronym for ‘Stay away, far

away.’ A pop record, it showed a more Àerce side to the Black Melon singer. In a new video for the song, she appeared grown and sultry, while she rode her tidal waves of ‘sexy’ and ‘unconcerned.’

Personality-wise, she is articulate and conÀdent with a blend of shyness, while speaking on camera. But when in her element to make music, she lets loose. Revealing an artiste in bloom, Kahren makes an honest assessment of her experiences, seeking solace on “Breathe”, expressing vulnerability on the Victony-assisted “Mirror” and reprimanding a problematic lover on “Commando” with Blaqbonez. Kahren, born Karen Anyanwu, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.

Kahren fell in love with music and its power to lift spirits at an early age. It was not long before she began to try her hands at the art of making music herself. A little while later, she learned to play the guitar and had her Àrst studio session. She started music professionally around 2019, and received reasonable online buzz from covers renditions she did to songs by Aurora and

Kahren

Annie Marie. Fueled by the reception and a natural dedication to her craft, she released her debut single titled ‘Remember’ in the last quarter of 2020 to reasonable success – one she intends to surpass with every future endeavors.

GOtv Nigeria Introduces ‘GOtv SUPA’ Pay TV platform, GOtv, has announced the addition of a brand-new package ‘GOtv Supa’ to its selection of packages. The new package will be available to the African audiences from 1st November 2021.

This festive season, the proudly African entertainment provider is rea΀rming its commitment to audiences by introducing the package that packs a Supa punch, without putting extra pressure on the purse strings.

“With the festive season fast approaching, families need aͿordable ways to spend time together, we hope the launch of this entertainment-focused package will do exactly that.

And bring families together during this special time of year,” said Chief Executive O΀cer, John Ugbe.

The brand new GOtv Supa package will oͿer a range of lifestyle and entertainment channels, featuring more entertainment for the kids, more drama-Àlled telenovelas, and more proudly local content. It’s an aͿordable upgrade that unlocks a world of the Ànest entertainment for the entire family – the ultimate gift this festive

season. This new package will focus on an extensive catalogue of general entertainment channels even though no additional sports channels are added, GOtv Supa subscribers will be able to view all the sporting action available on GOtv Max. In terms of home entertainment, GOtv Supa is set to become a game-changer. It joins an already extensive entertainment family within the GOtv oͿering, with tailored options from GOtv Jinja to GOtv Max. With the additional channels, there is certainly something for everyone to enjoy on GOtv SUPA. Some of the channels included in the new GOtv SUPA package are: Honey, Africa Magic Urban, WWE, TL Novelas, Novela Magic, ROK, KI;, Nick Jr and NickToons to mention a few.

This new GOtv Supa package will appeal to audiences all over Africa and, in terms of what’s on oͿer on the various channels, the proof is in the pudding. Here are a few of the brilliant shows and channels to look out for on GOtv Supa: Suidooster

This Afrikaans soapie follows the story of three families – the Octobers, Samsodiens and Du Plooys – who work in a small shopping centre in Cape Town. Track their tales and see how they handle life’s most important moments, from romance to business, every Tuesday at 8am on Novela Magic, GOtv Channel 5.

Brand New Africa Magic Series, ‘The Rishantes’ Discover the best in local series and movies with Africa Magic Urban, such as The Rishantes, which premieres on Monday, 1st November 2021. The conÁict between The Rishantes threatens to tear them apart until they realize that they are the targets of a bigger enemy and he is closing in on them. What remains to be seen is if they have enough to conquer their enemies. This series will air weekdays at 9pm on AM Urban.

My Naija Plate We celebrate Nigerian food in this upbeat cooking show hosted by food blogger Winifred Nwania. Chef Winnie takes viewers on a whirlwind exploration of popular Nigerian

dishes, from plantain and Egusi to Nigeria’s famous jollof rice. She explores the most exciting recipes made with ingredients that are simple and authentically Nigerian, shares the tips and tricks that are key to Nigerian cuisine. Tune in Tuesdays at 7:30pm on Honey.

WWE Catch If you’re in the mood for on-screen action, the WWE channel is where you can catch your favourite wrestlers in action on a channel dedicated to showcasing their talent.

KIX KIX is the ultimate destination for martial arts movies. ‘Detection of Di Renjie’. This story is about detective Di who investigates several bizarre deaths revolving around rumours of a ‘Flying Goddess Mural’ and has to conduct many investigations before Ànding the murderer. Find out more on Thursday, 4th November at 7:40pm on KIX. Nick Jr For child-friendly entertainment, Nick Jr is dedicated to the little ones and features ageappropriate content that kids will enjoy.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

AUTO WORLD

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

TIPS OF THE WEEK

15 Maintenance Tips for Old Cars

Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost

Rolls-Royce Re-engineers Black Badge Ghost, now Excitingly Sinister

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he Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost debuts dark side of Post Opulent design; packs 6.75-litre V12 engine that now delivers increased power (600PS) and torque (900NM), Its drivetrain and chassis have been re-engineered for more urgent

performance.

The curated collection debuts striking Turchese Leather and Technical Carbon veneer, and the bespoke alloy wheel introduced in Black Badge house style with carbon fibre barrel, and its Infinity lemniscate symbol continues to codify noir expression of Rolls-Royce.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “After considerable

internal debate, Rolls-Royce announced that it would create an officially sanctioned response to a new kind of client: a permanent Bespoke treatment to its motor cars named Black Badge.

These products, which were launched in 2016, would be darker in aesthetic, more urgent in personality and dramatic in material treatment.

“In the five years since Black Badge became publicly available, this bold family of motor cars has come to symbolise the pinnacle of a new type of super-luxury product, setting in motion a shift across the wider luxury industry. Subsequently, nearly all luxury makers create products that seek to capture the Black Badge spirit.

“Today, we announce a product that represents a new kind of Black Badge motor car, one that

seizes on the minimalist, Post Opulent design treatment that has recast the legend of Ghost but amplifies and subverts it with the application of black. Our most advanced motor car yet has been reengineered to characterise the alter ego of Rolls-Royce: assertive, dynamic and potent.

This is the purest Black Badge motor car in the marque’s history. This is Black Badge Ghost.”

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has a unique fluency in its clients.

Its close relationship with the women and men who patronise the marque affords the company’s decision-makers an unparalleled understanding of the super-luxury consumer: their aesthetic preferences, uncompromising lifestyle requirements and changing taste patterns.

Autochek Secures $13.1m Seed Funding to Scale its Technology

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utochek, the automotive technology company facilitating auto Ànancing across Africa, has today secured $13.1mn in seed funding. Co-led by follow-on investors, TLcom Capital and 4DX Ventures, the round also included participation from existing investors, Golden Palm Investments, Enza Capital, Lateral Capital as well as new participants, ASK Capital and Mobility 54 Investment SAS (the venture capital arm of Toyota Tsusho Corporation /CFAO Group).

With the new funding secured just under a year after Autochek’s $3.4mn pre-seed raise, the round was preempted by Autochek’s lead investors - TLcom Capital and 4DX Ventures. As part of Autochek’s growth strategy, the capital will be deployed to bolster its core auto loan processing platform and deepen its footprint in West Africa, starting with its recent entry into Cote d’Ivoire. Additionally, the company is rapidly expanding its footprint across East Africa, following its recent acquisition of Cheki Kenya and Cheki Uganda, East Africa’s leading online auto marketplace. As part of the investment by Mobility54, Autochek will be leveraging Toyota Tsusho’s vast retail network across 54 African countries to further deepen its expansion.

Launched in October 2020 and operational across East and West Africa in 5 countries Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Cote d’Ivoire; Autochek combines technology, underpinned by data analytics to deepen auto Ànance penetration across the continent. Powered by its residual value algorithm, Autochek has built in-house digital solutions such as Collateral Management, Dealer Management Systems

We hear so much in the media about the aging baby boomers. But now there’s a new trend: the aging beaters. For those who don’t know, a beater car is a term for an older, high mileage car that still runs well. If you want to keep your vehicle in good running condition, learning how to take care of an old car is essential.

The data show that America’s more than 220 million drivers are keeping their cars longer than they have in the past. According to a 2017 Department of Transportation survey, the age of light-duty vehicles in the U.S. increased 13 percent to an average of 10.5 years. By and large, these aging beaters are aging gracefully and enjoying a great quality of life, especially if their owners properly maintain them.

According to an Energy Information Administration spokesperson, “Overall, the aging of the vehicle Áeet suggests many households have delayed purchasing a new vehicle or have instead purchased a used vehicle,” the EIA noted.

There are some good reasons behind this trend.

Vehicles have been manufactured better in the past 20 years than in prior decades. And, given the cost of a new vehicle, not to mention the sales tax and insurance premiums, keeping your car longer than you had planned can save you great expense and make good sense.

But, in order to get more mileage and years out of your car, you need to know how to take care of an old car. Old car care is both art and science. It means being proactive about routine vehicle maintenance, whether you do it yourself or take your car to your local auto shop. Neglecting maintenance could lead to costly repairs, a breakdown, or even a crash.

Follow these simple old car maintenance tips and chances are that you’ll keep your car running for a long time to come. (Scroll down for tips speciÀc to 10 year old car maintenance.)

Old car maintenance tips 1. Maintain your car’s braking system Many owners wait until they hear disconcerting noises. Old car care requires being proactive, and not waiting around until something bad happens to your car. Have your brakes checked to ensure the brake pads don’t wear thin and that your brake Áuid doesn’t run out. Leaking brake Áuid usually indicates that immediate repairs are needed.

Consult your car’s owner manual for details.

2. Don’t neglect your tires According to the National Highway Tra΀c Safety Administration (NHTSA), cars with tires that are underinÁated by more than 25 percent are three times more likely to be involved in a collision. What’s more, underinÁated tires cause 660 highway deaths and 33,000 injuries annually.

Have your tires rotated periodically and keep a tire gauge in your car at all times so you can check your air pressure. Ensure it is in line with your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, which is usually between 30 and 35 PSI. Check your owner’s manual to be sure.

Taking care of your tires, like most old car maintenance tips, is also good for your bank account, because it makes your car more fuel e΀cient and you spend less on gas.

3. Steering system Steering and suspension problems not only cause steering problems but they also accelerate the wear of your tires. Avoid these problems by ensuring that your steering Áuid is changed and that your shocks are inspected by a professional.

The Autochek team

and a proprietary CRM system for managing stakeholder operations within the ecosystem such as vehicle Ànancing, inspection, valuation, and inventory management. Since its pre-seed raise in November 2020, the platform has achieved rapid traction across its business, most notably in the area of auto-Ànancing where the number of processed loan applications rose from just 10 in November to over 46,000 to date.

Autochek has now partnered with 70 banks across the continent including leading regional

players such as Access Bank, Ecobank, UBA, Bank of Africa and NCBA Bank. The startup has also achieved several key milestones since the start of the year including over 1000 dealers on the Autochek network actively using the loan processing solution, and over 15,000 certiÀed and Ànanceable vehicles on the Autochek marketplace across its markets. Over the course of the year, Autochek also launched its truck Ànancing platform and more recently Ànancing of brand new vehicles.

4. Maintain your windshield wipers The inability to see clearly is the cause of many accidents, and yet it only costs around $15 to have your windshield wiper blades replaced. It may seem small, but it’s very important. Learning how to take care of an old car means learning how to do the little things right.

5. Radiator hoses Part of old car care is making sure your hoses are changed. As cars age, they usually need every hose replaced. In fact, it’s very likely that your heater hose, which transmits coolant to the radiator, has never been changed.

(Source: Fix Auto San Francisco)

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

AUTO WORLD

Stallion Rolls Out Buy-now-Pay-in-2022 Promo for NISSAN ALMERA

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tallion NMN Limited, Nigeria’s exclusive representative of Nissan brand, has rolled out an offer that enables Nigerian auto buyers to acquire a brand new NISSAN ALMERA with an option to pay in installments from 2022.

The company’s General Manager, Amit Sharma, who made the announcement, said the offer is aimed at assisting Nigerian auto buyers through the harsh economic conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained: “Harsh economic condition resulting from COVID has adversely affected the income of businesses and individuals such that it becomes a great deal to raise capital to buy a brand new car and pay outrightly. That is why we are providing Nissan customers flexible payment plan to buy a brand new car.

“In the Nissan Almera sales promotion, customers are exempted from making the first three installments of the loan. That means the repayment starts from the fourth installments onwards.

“The customers can make as low as 10% down payment, spreading the balance from 12 to 48 months.”

In addition to a Special Interest Rate of 17%, beneficiaries of this offer, according to Sharma, are also entitled to Free Vehicle and Life Insurance for First year, Free Vehicle Registration, First Three Services Labour Free and 3 Years or 100,000 Km Warranty.

The Nissan ALMERA is powered by an

impressive 1.5 litre petrol engine available in automatic transmission, delivering 73kW of power with 134Nm of torque – enough to get you from A to B in no time. While the Nissan ALMERA feels like a big car on the inside, it still offers small sedan efficiency. When it comes to performance and outstanding fuel economy, the Nissan ALMERA really is the intelligent choice for those looking for big value for money.

Step inside and the Nissan ALMERA delivers confident and modern sophistication that is practical, ergonomic, functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The intelligently designed cabin layout puts all the controls you need right at your fingertips, from audio control to boot release, powered mirror control to remote central locking. High quality finishes compliment the vehicle’s stylish design, while easy-to-read dials keep the driver up to date at all times. Passenger comfort is also not compromised, the Nissan ALMERA sports a rear centre armrest with cupholders, rear fan and adjustable rear head rests. The Nissan ALMERA’s audio system features MP3 and USB connectivity so you can enjoy your tunes just the way you like them. Now that sounds good.

In the Nissan Almera, the tallest can stretch out in comfort. And with the revolutionary design, owners can enjoy class-defying comfort and versatility in a beautifully compact package.

The car provides the perfect balance of superior space for driver, passengers and luggage, all in one compact sedan that’s truly big enough for everyone. Think premium space minus the premium price tag.

Nissan Almera

Peugeot e-208 GT Paves Way for Brand’s Electrification The Peugeot brand has just started selling the Peugeot e-208 GT, its 100% electric hatchback, on the Brazilian market; The Àrst 20 customers will be oͿered a “WEG” home charging station, a partner certiÀed by the brand in Brazil and qualiÀed to sell charging stations through the Peugeot dealer network; The arrival of this top-of-the-range version inaugurates the launch in Brazil of an ecosystem designed around customers purchasing electric vehicles; To support this launch, strategic partnerships have been signed with various partners and give substance to the “Move to Electric” strategy developed by Peugeot do Brasil.

By embracing the world of electriÀcation in Brazil, Peugeot is strengthening its position as an innovative brand, in phase with the new aspirations and values of a changing society. With those of an increasingly demanding customer, just like the PEUGEOT brand, whose commitment is to achieve the highest standards of excellence.

The proof? The highly selective “Quatro Rodas” magazine ranked the PEUGEOT e-208 GT at the top of its recent comparison with its main B-segment competitors, citing “its pleasure [to drive] and high performance, but also its user-friendliness in

urban use, its level of technology, its Ànishes and its space for passengers and luggage.“ PEUGEOT do Brasil launched the new PEUGEOT e-208 GT, its 100% electric saloon in the prestigious setting of the “Museu do Amanhã[1]” in Rio de Janeiro.

Designed to write a new chapter in the famous Series 2, the new PEUGEOT 208 is a seductive car in every respect. Since its launch in 2020, it has won several awards, both in Europe and in Brazil, such as the European Car Of The Year (COTY) trophy, one of the most coveted awards in the world. In Brazil, in its FlexFuel conÀguration, the UOL Carros website awarded it the “Best Compact Hatchback” prize. Also in Brazil, but in its 2021 version, the PEUGEOT 208 was voted “Best Compact Car” at the eleventh edition of the CAR AWARDS BRAZIL and was awarded the title of “Purchase of the Year 2021” by the magazine Motor Show.

Continuing along promising trajectory, PEUGEOT has started selling the PEUGEOT e-208 GT in Brazil, which oͿers a lively and stimulating driving experience thanks to its 100% electric engine: 100 kW (136 hp) and 260 Nm of torque (available from 0 km/h) for immediate responsiveness, Silent running and no vibrations.

Peugeot e208 electric car

The Patient Dog 2 Last week, I concluded with some words of caution to drivers and aspiring drivers. I warned you not to get too spiritual while driving.

Pray as you drive but avoid tempting God by passing the buck to him. In the words of an observer, “we are the only being that has left everything to the will of God while the rest of the world is busy Ànding solutions to safety issues. We plead the blood, blame the devil, blame government and its agencies while our responsibilities as citizens who directly bear the brunt of road crashes is played down.”

In the foreword written by South African Bishop Tutu, in ‘Make Road Safe, A Decade of Action for Road Safety’, the respected Clergy expressed similar concern. He noted that ‘from time to time in human history, there comes a killer epidemic that is not recognised for what it is and is not acted against until it is almost too late. HIV/AIDS which is ravaging Sub Sahara Africa is one such. Road tra΀c injuries have the potential to be one. We ignore it at our peril. This epidemic is invisible through its ambiguity, yet when we stop to add together the daily toll in each neighborhood or city, each country and region, we can comprehend the true tragedy: 3,500 people killed every day, thousands more seriously injured; 260,000 children killed every year, and more than a million more seriously injured, with barely a voice in protest.

Yet, according to the celebrated Bishop, “this

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

is predominantly a killer of the poor. It is the poorest communities which live alongside the fastest roads. It is the poorest children who have to negotiate the most dangerous routes to school. It is the most vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists, who are at great risk.

Yet, 1.3 million are killed each year and more than 50 million are injured, a toll greater in low and middle income countries such as ours. Yet it is the same group who are potential victims that rarely think safety should be a priority. They are the ones who more often throw decency to the wind; assault and abduct Marshals for cautioning them against acts capable of maiming or even killing them. They are the ones whose vehicles are rarely maintained because of the economic realities. Yet, these same groups would savor pepper soup joints, gulp available liquor even on credit while the least safety apparatus in their vehicles are ignored. These same groups delude themselves always as their choice of

travel is often at great risk; night journeys, bad weather driving bumper to bumper driving (tail gating). The three people burnt beyond recognition last Friday along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the fourth who died on the way to the hospital, and the seven vehicles out of nine burnt, were not vehicles of the rich, not of the few privileged, but of the people struggling to become great despite not being born with a silver spoon. They forget that this hidden road epidemic is a crisis for public health and major contributor to the cause of poverty. Therefore, all that we require is a change in how we use the road by exercising patience which in the thesaurus, is described as the “the capacity of enduring hardships or inconveniences or tolerance. In the Make Road Safe manual and what I Ànd most instructive is the need for individual change.

Such a change should embrace the fact that a signiÀcant number of lives can be saved by improving how people manage just a few human behaviours, including use of seatbelt; wearing a crash helmet, tackling inappropriate speed and drink-driving. For those who delight in speeding, remember that speed kills. The chances of survival for an unprotected pedestrian hit by a vehicle diminish rapidly at speed greater than 30km/h, whereas for a properly restrained motor vehicle occupant, the critical impact speed is 50km/h for side impact and 70km/h for head on crashes. Please, if you love speed, please

take time to learn this song, it may not hit the local music scene in Nigeria, neither will it dream of Grammy, but trust me that you will Ànd it helpful, especially if you love life and truly wish to live beyond this EMBER season.

The lines are simple. Even if you failed your music exams, you will cope. The song says, at 80km/h, God will take care of me, at 100km/h, which incidentally is the approved speed limit for cars on Nigerian roads, Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah and at 129km/h, Nearer My God to Thee. Are you nodding as you try to Àt your driving into these lines? It says also that for those who love speeding, at 140km/h, their chant should be, This World is not My Home, at 160km/h, Lord, I am Coming Home, while at 180km/h, Sweet Are The Memories Of The Dead. But if these various speeds still do not met your drive sense and you choose to go above 180km/h, just keep it melancholic by singing, Take My Life And Let It Be. So, which of this speed Àts you? Whether on the highway or built up areas? I don’t know your reactions to the song, but it shows how bad a driver we all are, including me that we need to stab the cosmetic approach by calling past time which over the years has taken us to where we are. Now you know that machine is worse that a Bazooka or AK-47.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

46

NEWS Emir of Kano, Runsewe, Others Endorse NANTA Eminent Persons Award The royal seat of Kano emirate kingdom, over a century old and revered, will move to Abuja in great cultural splendor, come November 12,as Nanta unveils its very eminent industry achievers and role models .

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, have endorsed the Eminent Persons Award being organised by the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA).

Eminent Persons Award, slated for November 12 in Abuja.

The Emir of Kano conÀrmed

GOOD TO SEE YOU… L-R: First National Deputy President, NANTA, Kabir Maiwada; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; and NANTA President, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, during a courtesy visit by the group to the Emir’s Palace in Kano...recently

NECO Releases 2021 SSCE Results Laleye Dipo in Minna

The National Examination Council NECO yesterday released the results of the Senior School CertiÀcate Examination (SSCE) it conducted nationwide between June and July this year.

Registrar and Chief Executive O΀cer of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi who released the results in Minna, said more than 878,925 candidates recorded credit in Àve subjects including English

and Mathematics.

The Registrar also disclosed that 1,226,796 candidates scored Àve credits irrespective of English and Mathematics while 1,094,291 candidates had credit in Mathematics.

1,226,796 candidates made up of 657,389 males and.

576,242 sat for the examination out of the 1,233,631 that registered.

Wushishi also revealed that the cases of malpractices recorded during the examination was just 20,003

as against 33, 470 recorded last year attributing this to “adequate security measures” put in place by the organisation and the adoption of biometric veriÀcation devices and the strengthening of the examination monitoring devices.

The Registrar said as a result, some schools in Bauchi, Kaduna and Bayelsa states had been recommended for deregistration “due to their involvement in mass cheating/whole school cases”

while 20 supervisors were also blacklisted for aiding and abetting the commission of the malpractices.

Wushishi said the examination body faced a lot of challenges which included paucity of funds and appealed with the government to look into the matter.

He appreciated the roles played by the security agencies, the media and other stakeholders which ensured the success of the examination.

APC Chairmanship: Group Drums Support for Al-Makura A group, the All Progressives Congress Coalition for Credible Leadership says the emergence of former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, as the National Chairman of the APC is the best thing that could happen to the party ahead of the 2023 general election, saying his personality will have a calming effect on the storms in the party.

The group also dismissed as baseless the prediction that Al-Makura’s emergence as APC’s National Chairman might trigger political rifts that could cost the party Nasarawa State in the 2023

election, observing that contrary to the dogfight between former governors and their successors, the incumbent governor, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, remained Al-Makura’s chief campaigner for the coveted office.

The Coalition stated this in a press release signed by it’s National Coordinator, Comrade Luben Gbenda.

“The statement credited to a group named APC Unity Forum claiming a rift between Senator Tanko Al-Makura and Governor Abdullahi Sule, which could worsen and result in APC losing

Nasarawa State to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election is both illogical and total falsehood.

“On the contrary, not only has Governor Abdullahi Sule been very public and unapologetic as Senator Al-Makura’s chief campaigner for the office of the National Chairman of our great party, the popular view among party faithful and key stakeholders is that Al-Makura’s emergence will have a calming effect on the party’s storms, given his peaceful, and humble, cosmopolitan nature.

“It is equally noteworthy that while the recent state congresses of the APC were marred by cracks and parallel congresses in many states, that of Nasarawa State went smoothly and without any issues, given the quality relationship Al-Makura enjoys with Governor Sule,” he said.

The group, therefore, added that Al-Makura had all that it takes to reconcile the contesting interests, boost the party’s national popularity ahead of the 2023 elections, given his far-reaching goodwill within and outside the party.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

developing without adherence to a clear-cut master plan thereby exposing the cities to uncoordinated development.

But the permanent secretary said that the workshop with over 100 participants drawn from the 25 town planning authorities, the ministry and Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), was an opportunity for town planners to come up with ideas to make Abia cities the best designed in Nigeria.

Bestman, who is also a town planner, reiterated his resolve to lift the ministry to the level where it would be discharging its duties efficiently and optimally through adequate training and retraining of staff.

Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and frontline aspirant for the national chair of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator George Akume, has said that he would abide by the party’s decision on zoning of the topmost position in the party.

Akume spoke on the issue while answering questions on Arise Television Night News Live.

He said that the party had yet to formally announce the zone that would produce the national chairman, pointing out that his decision to throw his hat in the ring would be based on zoning of the position and

what he called his “clearance to contest.”

Akume hinted at his qualiÀcation and capacity to successfully and meaningfully steer the ship of the APC ahead of the crucial 2023 general elections, citing his governorship of Benue for eight years where he successfully managed intricate government and party issues as well as his legislative exposure and his current assignment in the Federal Executive branch.

He said that as it were, APC, with a membership registration Àgure of over 46 million members, had become the single biggest party on the continent of Africa.

Redeemer’s University Holds Convocation, Confers Honorary Doctorate Degree on Olanipekun Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State will hold its 13th convocation on November 4, where 450 undergraduate and postgraduate students would be awarded degrees.

Addressing journalists yesterday on the campus, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Akinlo, said Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) would be conferred on honorary doctorate degree of Letters (D.Litt) (Honoris Casual) in recognition of his astute leadership qualities and his immense contributions to the nation’s educational develop-

ment.

He said the set, tagged as the “Dunamis Class,” has been raised as global leaders and change agents imbued with God-fearing attributes; adding that they are distinct brands.

The Vice Chancellor explained that 381 graduating students will be awarded undergraduate degrees while 69 will bag postgraduates degrees.

Akinlo revealed that aside from oͿering scholarships to members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the university has also extended the scholarship to foreign students.

Stakeholders Charge Media, Government to Champion Peace for Economic Growth Rebecca Ejifoma Critical stakeholders have charged the media and the government at all levels to champion peace across the nation for economic growth.

They made this call at Imperative of Peace for a Successful Economy virtual conference put together by the American Business Council (ABC), the Nigerian Orientation Agency (NOA) and The Nedola Initiative.

The webinar engaged groups including the media, private sector, clergy, government officials, and the public to underscore

‘Technology Vital to Remittance Town Planners Urged to Redesign APC National Chair: Akume Says He Will Increase Inflow’ Abia Cities for Sustainable Growth Abide by Party’s Decision on Zoning Ugo Aliogo Town planners and allied professionals in Abia State have been urged to come up with sustainable means of making the cities attain the status of well planned urban areas with zero distortions as they expand.

The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Mr. Aaron Ikechi Bestman, gave the charge at a two-day retreat on Abia State Town Planning Development Council 2021 held in the commercial city of Aba. Abia’s major cities, Umuahia, the capital city and Aba, the commercial hub have been

through his personal secretary that he will grace the occasion not only as the Royal Father of the Day but also as a lover of Nigerian cultural tourism and travel which NANTA represents and promotes.

The Emir who recently received in his palace the NANTA executive led by the President, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, on a courtesy visit, had assured the association he would partner with her team, to rebrand Kano as a culture, trade and tourism destination, adding that the promotion and marketing famous Kano Durbar will be left in the professional care of the association.

The Chief Executive O΀cer, Baxi, Degbola Abudu, has revealed that improved technology adoption would increase remittance inÁow in Africa especially Nigeria, noting that the global remittance market is estimated at $25 million inÁow opportunities.

He also stated that to serve the more than 55 per cent of Nigerian consumers currently excluded from formal Ànancial services, Nigerian Àntechs have built strong agent networks that are the crucial interface to reach Nigeria’s 31million Ànancially underserved and 67 million Ànancially unserved populations.

the need for a peaceful society where lives and businesses can thrive while encouraging Nigerian institutions to partake in peace making processes and programmes.

According to the President of ABC, Mr. Dipo Faulkner, said that there is a direct link between peace and economic prosperity, hence, the need for everyone to work together to sustain the peace in the country.

“The current insecurity in Nigeria has cast a big shadow on investors’ confidence in the country, which was evidenced in continued decline of direct investment into the country,” he bemoaned.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 30, 2021

47

SPORTS XTRA

Leicester City Rue Losing Nigerian Trio to Africa Cup of Nations

L

eicester City are already going to have around a month without Nigerian duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, and also Ghana’s Daniel Amartey and Papy Mendy of Senegal when the African Cup of Nations tournament kicks off at the start of the new year.

But the Foxes could

see another player join the quartet at the tournament in Cameroon, with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) keen to get Ademola Lookman signed up.

The on-loan winger, who scored in City’s Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out win over Brighton in midweek, grew up in Wandsworth and has represented England at Under-21 level, but owing to his

Nigerian parents he is also eligible to play for the Super Eagles.

Amaju Pinnick, president of the NFF, wrote on social media this week: “Ademola Lookman is excited about fighting for a shirt in the Super Eagles. He loves Nigeria. By His Grace we shall conclude the switch very soon.”

Pinnick was in Leicester to see two of Nigeria’s regulars in Ndidi

and Iheanacho. Ndidi is currently out with a hamstring injury, and Pinnick is hoping he is fit for the November international break, when the Super Eagles play Liberia and Cape Verde in World Cup qualifying.

“Wilfred is recuperating from an injury that has kept him out for about five weeks,” Pinnick said.

“Being a very key player for the Super

Eagles, we cannot afford to toy with our last two games.

“Ndidi has been an integral, committed and passionate member of

the Super Eagles.

“The good news is that his second scan came out very good so he starts training with his club.”

Erikson Barred for Rest of Season over Cardiac Arrest Christian Eriksen is not permitted to play in Italy this season as a result of the cardiac arrest he suffered at Euro 2020, say his club Inter Milan.

The Denmark midfielder, 29, collapsed during his country’s Euro 2020 game against Finland in June and had life-saving treatment on the pitch.

Helaterhadanaimplantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device - a type of pacemaker - fitted.

But Inter will let Eriksen leave the club as he cannot feature for them. “The player has been temporarily inhibited by the Italian medical authority from sporting activity in the current season,” Inter wrote in a statement on Thursday.

“Although the current conditions of the player don’t meet the requirements of achieving sporting fitness in Italy, the same could instead

be achieved in other countries where the player could resume competitive activity.”

It is unclear whether other countries would allow Eriksen to participate in their respective leagues with the ICD device.

Ajax’s former Manchester United defender Daley Blind was also fitted with an ICD after being diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation, but the 31-year-old has continued playing for the Eredivisie champions and the Netherlands national team.

Eriksen spent six and a half seasons with Tottenham, playing in their Champions League final loss to Liverpool in 2019, before joining Inter in a £16.9m transfer in January 2020.

He played in the Europa League final later that season as Inter lost to Sevilla and then helped them win Serie A in 2020-21.

US Open Winner, Raducanu yet to See Trophy

Wilfred Ndidi (l) and Ademola Lookman may be absent for Leicester City as long as six weeks during AFGON

Vieira Targets Christmas Comeback for Ebere Eze Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has provided a major injury update on Nigeria Football Federation target Eberechi Eze ahead of his side’s Premier League match against Manchester City.

The former Arsenal captain revealed that Eze is on the comeback trail having resumed full training with the rest of his teammates but the trip to the Etihad Stadium has

come too soon for him.

The former England youth international sustained an Achilles injury in training at the back end of the 2020-2021 season and the initial prognosis after his surgery had suggested that he could be out of action until 2022.

Asked to provide an update on Eze’s fitness at yester day’s prematch press conference,

Vieira said : “He’s been very good. He had a full week with the first team where he did from the start to the end, and is doing really well.

“So I was really pleased with where he is at the moment but it’s still too short for him to take part in the game tomorrow”.

Eze is making a swift recovery and is in line to make his first appearance of the season before

Christmas.

Asked if Eze will be back this side of Christmas in terms of his return to the pitch, Vieira answered : “Hopefully, it will be before Christmas”.

In 36 appearances in his first season with the Eagles, 34 in the Premier League and one each in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, Eze scored four goals while registering six assists.

Contradictions over Unvaccinated Players for Australian Open Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said unvaccinated players would be free to compete at the Grand Slam in Melbourne after undergoing a two-week Covid-19 quarantine provided the state of Victoria applied for permits for them; but Victoria Premier, Daniel Andrews has no intention of doing so Morrison had said unvaccinated players would need to quarantine for two weeks, while Andrews said his government will not apply for travel permits to allow unvaccinated tennis players to compete at

the Australian Open in the state after Morrison indicated they would be allowed into the country.

Morrison said earlier on Wednesday that unvaccinated players would be free to compete at the Grand Slam after undergoing a two-week Covid-19 quarantine provided that Victoria, which hosts the tournament in Melbourne, applied for permits for them.

Andrews said his state would make no such applications.

“On behalf of every vaccinated Victorian who has done the right thing, my government will not be applying for

an exemption for any unvaccinated player,” he told reporters.

“If we don’t apply for an exemption, then no exemption will be granted and then the whole issue is basically resolved.”

Australia’s borders have been effectively sealed for 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though authorities approve travel exemptions for special cases.

Victoria has been Australia’s hardest-hit state, with its capital Melbourne locked down six times. The sixth lockdown ended on Friday, but only for fully vaccinated adults.

Reigning men’s champion Novak Djokovic has declined to disclose his vaccination status and suggested last week he might not play at the 2022 Australian Open.

Victoria’s position is a blow for the Grand Slam’s organisers Tennis Australia, who want a strong field for the tournament in January.

Andrews said tennis players should be held to the same standard as everyone else at the event.

“I’m not going to require people sitting in the grandstand, people working at the event, to be vaccinated while players aren’t,” he said.

Emma Raducanu has yet to see US Open trophy after winning title in dramatic fashion at Flushing Meadows in New York because it has been shipped directly to the National Tennis Centre as a “token of appreciation”; the Lawn Tennis Association later tweeted: “We’re taking good care of it” Raducanu says she has yet to see the US Open trophy she held aloft at Flushing Meadows because it has been shipped directly to the National Tennis Centre as a “token of appreciation” from the teenager.

The British No 1 backed up her maiden WTA Tour win with a straightforward victory over Ana Bogdan to reach the quarter-finals at the Transylvania Open on Thursday and stay on course for a meeting with top seed Simona Halep.

Raducanu showed glimpses of the form that swept her to the US Open title in sensational fashion as a qualifier in September, becoming the first British woman to win a singles Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade’s 1977 Wimbledon triumph.

Speaking during her on-court interview, Raducanu confessed that she presented her trophy to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) as a “token of appreciation” in recognition of their role in her development.

“I just thought the LTA had done so much for me and I just wanted them to have it as a sign for everything they had done for me through the young ages.

They played a huge role in my development so it’s a little gift,” the British No 1 said.

“I haven’t actually seen it. I got it shipped straight to the NTC so I can’t wait to go. I don’t know if it’s there right now, but that’s the address,” Raducanu later added during her press conference. “I just thought it was a nice gift and a nice moment. I think they’ve (LTA) done a lot for me so it was just a token of appreciation. A special one.”

Four Nigerian-eligible on Parade in Arsenal 4-2 Win against Leeds Arsenal came from behind to register a 4-2 win over Leeds United in a Premier League 2 clash at Elland Road yesterday evening.

Barcelona President Admits Talks with Xavi Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he is in contact with the 41-year-old former Barca midfielder, Xave Hernandez, following the sacking of Ronald Koeman on Wednesday.

Koeman was dismissed after a 1-0 away defeat by Rayo Vallecano.

But Al Sadd tweeted: “Xavi has a two-year contract and is fully focused on the team’s upcoming matches.”

Xavi is favourite to replace Koeman and Laporta said: “I have always said one day Xavi will be Barca’s head coach but I don’t know when.

“We have great references about Xavi at Al Sadd. All our reports about Xavi are

positive. We can talk a lot about Xavi, but I cannot give you more details. He is in all the papers, but we also have other options.”

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Laporta was asked whether he waited too long to make a decision on Dutchman Koeman’s future.

“Probably, yes,” he said.

“Looking back it is easy to analyse, we felt Koeman deserved confidence to recover some injured players and it was a way to motivate the manager.

“I looked for some positives. Probably we had to make an earlier decision, I assume the responsibilities of this decision.”

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Bishop Ajakaye on Next Nigerian President “Whoever wants to be Nigeria’s president must be healthy, both in body and in mind. We are tired of a weak President and a strong Presidency. We shouldn’t allow mediocre to be leading us” –The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Felix Ajakaye, on necessities for the Nigerian Presidency in 2023.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

UT H

& RE A S O

N

26 years

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Why I Crossed the Rubicon F

ellow Nigerians, I know I caught many people unawares yesterday with the sudden announcement of my membership of the leading opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party.

It was practically impossible to inform all members of my extended family and many friends of such a monumental decision for several reasons.

I know for a fact that many of our people seriously suffer from the negative spirit of self-doubt. They often judge you by their own standards while I set seemingly impossible goals for myself. It is not my fault but that of my mentors, particularly, The Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and the Spirit of Africa, Dr Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Isola Adenuga (aka The Spirit of Africa). These are prodigiously gifted and extraordinarily brave creatures of God who have shattered many myths and superstitions because of their can-do spirit. They were never afraid to walk on roads less traveled. They took their time to plan, prepare and pray and everything else would fall in the right places. It usually did.

There’s nothing I hate more than being discouraged by anyone. I’m incredibly stubborn about my convictions. Chief Abiola taught me that before you can convince others about your decisions, you must first convince yourself. Once I reach that point, I’m ready to take any risk and more often than not, things work in my favour. It is always better to plan something and fail than fail to plan at all. May we never fail.

Anyone who has followed me fastidiously in the last five years would definitely have noticed my growing frustrations with the Buhari government. Before attaining power, President Muhammadu Buhari had over-promised heaven and earth but upon getting power, he rapidly began to under-deliver. I had told him during our meeting in 2015 that I was going to be his regular adviser, free of charge, like I did to President Goodluck Jonathan, his predecessor.

For about one year, I still gave him a chance or the benefits of doubt. Ill-health also slowed him down.

The first sign of trouble in the Buhari empire was his ill-assorted cabinet members. Except for a few sparkling ones, others were nothing to write home about. Even at the diplomatic level, some of our Ambassadors were abysmally worthless. It was surprising that a man who chased power for so long was not ready to hit the ground running when he eventually collected the power. So I gave up.

For me, the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the unexplainable inability of a retired Major General, and a man with the kind of strong persona President Buhari paraded, to obliterate the terrorists and bandits that litter and populate the forests of Nigeria. And rather than call a spade a spade and do the needful, Buhari preferred to chase shadows, and harass people who did more of thinking and planning with their valuable time. He pounced on the people of South East because of the supposed sin of one man, MAZI NNAMDI KANU! And what’s this sin? The freedom fighter was calling for a referendum which is a peaceful demand for a dignified exit by the Igbo people if they can’t be treated with the respect and equality they deserve in a unified Nigeria. The response of the Federal Government was to kill the

National Vice Chairman of PDP (South South) Chief Dan Orbih welcoming Chief Momodu to PDP in Abuja yesterday

flies with sledgehammers. Unknown to Buhari, violence begets violence. Dialogue would have been a better option but such does not exist in Buhari’s lexicon. The only vocabulary he understands is “attack the real and imaginary enemies…”

As if this was not bad enough, Buhari failed to act decisively on the menace of Fulani herdsmen who were destroying farmlands and, worse still, kidnapping, raping and killing innocent Nigerians. Never in the history of Nigeria had we witnessed such wanton destruction of lives and properties. Yet Buhari has not deemed it fit to use the appropriate nomenclature of TERRORISTS on these itinerant and dastardly felons. But he had ample time to unleash his goons on Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Igboho Oosa. Those who invaded Adeyemo’s house in the dead of the night left sorrow tears and blood in their wake. Even after Igboho escaped their wrath, they still pursued him to Cotonou where he’s still languishing in indefinite detention without urgent trial. This is the type of selective injustice that has led to the absolute chaos in our country. Never had our country been this divided. This makes me sad. Unknown to Buhari, he has practically turned his people into the enemies of the rest of Nigeria, inadvertently, by seeking to give unnecessary preferential treatment, whereas the Fulani that usually go on rampage are the wanderers who had sauntered into Nigeria from neighboring countries unhindered by our Immigration officers. Some people have alleged that left to Buhari, all Fulani descendants in the world would migrate to Nigeria and remain domiciled here forever.

I really do not know what drives or motivates Buhari, but definitely he has carried his prejudices too far, and beyond normal. I believe the time has come for all opposition parties to get real and join hands to dislodge a Party that has undoubtedly inflicted maximum damage on the country.

I used to think I was done with active politics.

I had always worked for individual candidates contesting different positions without joining or being an active member of their respective parties. However, I have come to the clear realization that the parties always pick some of the wrongest and worst candidates, so our responsibilities start from encouraging the

parties to seek, screen and process the finest candidates. This will never happen if we leave the process entirely in the hands of hardcore politicians. This is the principal reason I decided to offer the very critical sacrifice of becoming an active politician again. At 61, I’m already speeding towards the retirement age of 65 when most people should be getting ready to return home in peace to their loved ones.

After due consultations with many stakeholders, I knew I was ready to move.

Contrary to insinuations that nothing good can come out of the two leading political parties, I can safely confirm that a juxtaposition would reveal that PDP is way ahead of its closest rival.

For example, while the Federal Government continues to regale us with some phantom achievements, I have seen real developments in many PDP States. I couldn’t believe the plethora of ongoing projects in Rivers State, for example. I must single out Governor NYESOM WIKE for inspiring me unknowingly to making this move. Former President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki treated me to dinner at home on the eve of my declaration and actively encouraged me to go for it.

I spoke to former President Goodluck Jonathan and got his avuncular blessing. Former Governors, James Ibori, Ayodele Peter Fayose, Peter Obi, Seriake Dickson and Donald Duke; former Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi, Senators Abiodun Olujimi, Mohammmed Daggash, Ademola Adeleke and Shehu Sani, Hon. Awwal Tukur, Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, and so many friends have been most wonderful and supportive. They realised that all good hands must be on deck if we are to save Nigeria and prevent this government from plunging the country into the abyss.

I woke up feeling very good and happy yesterday morning and with my best friend, Prince Adedamola Aderemi, we quickly drafted my press release: “It is with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to a unified and developed Nigeria that I have decided to re-enter the political arena and join the fray of active politicking again. I have been very frustrated about the state of our country and the manner the ruling party APC has virtually returned and reduced Nigeria to the rubbles of Stone Age. I have decided to stop my perpetual lamentations and join hands

with other patriotic Nigerians to rescue our nation from the brink of a calamitous collapse.

Therefore, in line with practicing what I have preached for a few years now, I believe that only by joining mainstream politics and becoming a member of one of the leading opposition parties can I hope to make such meaningful difference as I have been demanding of others.

I have consulted widely. And it is clear to me that given the dangerous and disastrous drift that our Nation has experienced in the past six years, the only Party from which amends can be made to rectify our situation is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This accords with my vehement opposition to the policies and practices of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its leadership, which has denuded our country of everything we hold dear - National Unity, Cohesion, Security, Economic prosperity, Educational advancement, Social infrastructure, and above all, our cherished moral values.

“For these reasons, I am happy to declare that I am now a full-fledged participating member of the great and patriotic Peoples Democratic Party.

It is deeply saddening and regrettable that some of the biggest and landmark achievements recorded under the PDP administration have been diluted, wasted or diminished by the present APC Government. I offer my sincere apologies on the role some of us played in 2015 in bringing President Muhammadu Buhari to power.

I wish to salute the resoluteness and steadfastness of PDP members in staying strong despite the challenges being faced at all levels.

I resolve to join the Party, its leadership and other members in redoubling our efforts to making Nigeria the giant of Africa it was once reputed to be. I wish to thank the leadership of my party, PDP, for fully accepting me with love and enthusiasm. I intend to serve Nigeria from within the PDP with all humility, purpose, vigour and sincerity in whatever role the Party and God deem fit for me.

Thank you.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Since then, social media has been on fire.

My declaration for PDP went viral within minutes and continues to trend.

I must emphasise that my membership of the PDP is not about position, but about the regeneration and rebuilding of the nation by those who matter. The silent patriots and youths who have been relegated to the sidelines. I have taken this bold step to encourage and motivate others.

My first task was to visit my great leader, the grassroots mobilizer, Chief Dan Orbih, a National Vice Chairman of the Party, who received me at home and reintroduced me to all the PDP Chairmen in Edo State and particularly my Local Government. I can’t thank him enough for reuniting me with my people. I also visited the PDP National Secretariat where I was warmly received by the respected Acting Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi.

Many youths have responded massively and the PDP website is already on fire with Nigerians from everywhere registering online.

The rave is now #IamPDP. I believe that the revolution to unite, secure and develop Nigeria has started in earnest.

I feel fulfilled.

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