SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER

Former Defence Minister, Domkat Bali Dies at 80, Buhari Mourns President: Records of Bali’s bravery, patriotism will continue to inspire young officers

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Former Minister of Defence, General Domkat Bali (Rtd) died yesterday at the age of 80.

Bali served as Minister of

Defence and member of the Supreme Military Council between 1984 and 1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985 to 1990.

He was Joint Chief of Staff between 1984 and 1985 when

President Muhammadu Buhari was Head of State.

The octogenarian retired as a decorated military officer in 1990. In December 2010, he emerged as Ponzhi Tarok, paramount ruler of Langtang

in Plateau State.

President Buhari yesterday swiftly condoled with the people and government of Plateau State over the passing of the highly decorated retired military officer.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said the president who spoke with the wife of the deceased, Esther yesterday, also commiserated with other family members, friends and

professional associates of the former member of the Supreme Military Council and Armed Forces Ruling Council.

He recalled that the late Bali Continued on page 5

Conflicting Court Orders as Bye-elections Hold in 11 States… Page 14 Saturday 5 December, 2020 Vol 25. No 9371

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Insecurity: Governors to Meet Buhari, Want Firmer Action Pledge support for police reforms Chuks Okocha in Abuja Governors of the 36 states of the federation ended their meeting late on Thursday in Abuja with a resolve to meet

with President Muhammadu Buhari over raging insecurity in the country.

Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers have continued to terrorise and kill scores of

Nigerians across the country, the latest being the massacre of 43 rice farmers in Borno State.

A source at the meeting told THISDAY last night that

almost all the governors spoke in support of a firmer action against Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers, with a call on security agencies to raise their game.

A communique signed by the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also the governor of Ekiti state, said, the governors agreed to "meet

with Mr. President as soon as possible to address security challenges across the country, particularly in the light of the Continued on page 5

EndSARS: IG Panics over Botched Suit against Panels, Moves to Avert Sanction Files notice to discontinue case, may sacrifice his Head of Legal Section Charles Ajunwa in Lagos, Kingsley Nwezeh and Alex Enumah in Abuja The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has spent the last 24 hours struggling to convince top shots in the Presidency that he was unaware of the lawsuit that came up on Thursday asking a court to stop the various states’ judicial panels of enquiry probing allegations of rights abuses and other acts of brutality against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other police units.

The Presidency is said to have been angered that a decision to set up the various panels of enquiry, taken by the National Economic Council, which has the 36 state governors and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as members, was awkwardly challenged by the Adamu-led police.

A source close to the IG said he feared he might be sanctioned or even removed Continued on page 5

FAREWELL TOLA OYEDIRAN...

L-R: Former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; APC Chieftain, Bola Tinubu; wife of the Vice President, Dolapo and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the funeral service of Mrs. Tola Oyediran (nee Awolowo) at the All Saints Church, Jericho, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State…yesterday

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New Export Rule Leaves Tonnes of Cocoa Beans Trapped at Ports Festus Akanbi There are strong indications that federal government’s efforts to claw back some of the foreignexchange earnings lost to falling oil prices are causing delays in exports ranging from cocoa beans to cashew nuts, and adding to a problem the central bank sought to address in the first place.

Nigeria is the world’s the world’s fifth-biggest producer of cocoa beans, a key ingredient in chocolate. As Africa’s largest economy, it also fell into a recession last quarter.

A Bloomberg’s report yesterday quoted Pius Ayodele, president of Cocoa Exporters Association

of Nigeria, as saying that about 100,000 tons of cocoa beans are trapped at the ports and another 100,000 tonnes of a variety of agricultural commodities are in warehouses around the country, it now takes an average of 40 days, instead of seven, to get approvals to clear a container for shipping.

That’s after the central bank started insisting on additional documentation to ensure export proceeds are returned to the country.

The documentation process involves Nigerian Export Proceed (NXP) numbers, Form NXP, which is a mandatory document to be completed by all exporters

through authorised dealer bank for shipment of goods outside Nigeria irrespective of the value and whether or not payment is involved. Any customer willing to engage in export business is required to register with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council.

According to the CBN rules, the basic documentary requirements for an export transaction includes, a duty completed Form NXP, a Proforma Invoice, a Sales Contract/ Agreement, where applicable, NEPC Registration Certificate, relevant Certificate of Quality as issued by one or more of the agencies stated in 1(d)(1)Shipping documents e.g.

Bill of Exit, Bill of Lading, etc and other certificates, e.g. Form EUR-1.

However, in a recent virtual meeting with representatives of some shipping lines, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, noted that it has been discovered that many shipping companies do not comply with the Federal Government’s directives that such shipments carry NXP number.

The oil-price plunge is having a biting effect on dollar availability in the country. While crude contributes less than 10% to Nigeria’s gross domestic product, it accounts for about 90% of foreign-exchange earnings and half of government revenue.

The shortage of hard currency is also adding to the gap between the official exchange rate and that on the parallel market.

That spread, now more than 20%, has created an incentive for exporters to divert dollar proceeds to unofficial channels.

The slowdown in trade flows since October has caused a loss exceeding 500 billion naira ($1.3 billion) in non-oil revenue for exporters, according to Tola Faseru, president of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria.

Some traders have cash-flow problems and default on loans due to the gridlock at the exporters association’s Ayodele said.

And while it’s a struggle to get shipments out of the country, the 2020-21 cocoa crop in world’s fifthlargest producer of the chocolate ingredient could exceed initial estimates by as much as 27% to reach 270,000 tonnes.

Reduced production by global chocolate manufacturers adds to their problems. Nigerian cocoa sellers are struggling to find buyers willing to enter into new forward contracts because many factories have shut operations because of the pandemic, said Mufutau Abolarinwa, president of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria. International buyers are complaining of heavy stockpiles of unsold beans, he said.

ENDSARS: IG PANICS OVER BOTCHED SUIT AGAINST PANELS, MOVES TO AVERT SANCTION before the end of his tenure next January over the lawsuit which miffed the Presidency, particularly coming from an agency of government. As a result, “he went begging everybody that matters at the Villa to help him reach out to the President about his innocence.�

Yesterday, Adamu, apparently in a bid to please the Presidency, quickly ordered the withdrawal of the suit against the judicial panels. He had earlier on Thursday disowned the suit and queried the Head, Force Legal Section, Tuesday Assayomo, a Commissioner of Police. It was gathered that Assayomo may be fired to send a signal that the IG was not in the know of the lawsuit.

Another source at the Force Headquarters said: “The IG knows there is a plan to deal with him for the embarrassment the police caused the Presidency with the lawsuit. The nature of the sanction is still not clear, but he is aware a big hammer may come very soon if he did not take urgent actions to remedy

the situation. “This is why he (IG) has been running up and down to plead for forgiveness on the basis that the lawsuit was a unilateral action by the police Legal Department. “Of course, those at the Presidency know that a police legal department cannot file a case of that magnitude without the knowledge of the IG. This is what has made his case very bad. The IG ought to have looked for a better excuse.

He should simply admit his mistakes. He wanted to protect the image of the police being battered at the panel, but went about it in a wrong way.�

Yesterday, IG Adamu ordered the withdrawal of the controversial case before the court assigned it to a judge.

The notice of discontinuance dated December 3 and brought pursuant to Order 50 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court read: “Take notice that the plaintiff herein intends to and doth hereby wholly withdraw its lawsuit against all the defendants.�

A police statement said the IGP’s order was sequel to the outcome of investigations into the role played by the Force Legal Section in the institution of the said lawsuit.

"Recall that the IGP had yesterday, 3rd December, 2020, ordered a probe into the alleged involvement of the Force Legal Section in the attempt to halt the ongoing States’ Judicial Panel inquiries into the activities of the defunct SARS", the statement signed by Force PRO and Deputy Commisioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, said.

The IG, in the statement, reassured that the force remained committed to the course of justice at all times and will not allow anybody to constitute a ‘brickwall’ to the ongoing reform processes of the force.

IG Adamu had earlier on Thursday disowned the suit and directed an immediate investigation into the role of the Force Legal Section, including its head, CP Assayomo.

The IG also expressed the disapproval of the Force

Management Team with the matter.

Real Reason the Suit was Filed THISDAY’s investigation showed that contrary to the IG’s claim, he was indeed aware of the suit and that it was aimed at stopping the negative exposure that put the law enforcement agency in a bad light and could potentially trigger another round of attacks on its personnel.

THISDAY checks showed that the police management was worried about the further negative portrayal of the force through the panels and the potential to set the stage for another round of killing of police personnel and the potential destruction of police assets.

The Botched Case against Probe Panels The plaintiff had in the suit urged the court to restrain the Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation and

their various panels of enquiry from going ahead with the probe focussing on police impunity.

The defendants, totaling 104, who were sued by the NPF, comprised the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission which set up the Independent Investigative Panel sitting in Abuja, the Attorneys-General of the states, and chairmen of the states’ panels.

The NPF, through their lawyer, Mr. O. M. Atoyebi (SAN), argued in the suit that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels to investigate activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their statutory duties.

According to the plaintiff, the state governments’ decision to set up such panels violated the provisions of section 241(1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Constitution and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act. It argued that by virtue of the provisions of 241(1)(2)(a) and

Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution only the Federal Government had exclusive power to “organise, control and administer the Nigeria Police Force�.

It, therefore, urged the court to, among others, declare that “the establishment of panel of enquiries by the governors of the various states of the federation of Nigeria, to inquire into the activities of the Nigeria Police Force in relation to the discharge of her statutory duties is a gross violation of the provisions of Section 241 (1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First schedule, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 21 of the tribunals of inquiry Act, Cap.T21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004�.

The plaintiff also urged the court to declare that “having regard to the circumstances of this case, the attitude of the governors of the various states of the Federation of Nigeria, in this case, is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever�.

for-Result performance driven model, the NGF Secretariat is following up with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to complete work on drafting the Executive Order to guide Mr. President’s directive.�

It further said that The Forum is currently intervening in resolving the lingering ASUU strike and has secured certain concessions from the federal government with the hope that the strike action will be called off shortly.

On the delayed release of Saving One Million Lives (SOML) funding, the Chairman acknowledged concerns of members and explained that the delay was due to observations made by the World Bank on the technical quality of the SMART Survey which makes it difficult to use the result for fund disbursement.

He said that the total amount won by the States was more

than the funds remaining in the funding envelope; hence they proposed the option of using a prorated approach to disburse the fund and urged the Minister of Health to convene a meeting of the SOML Steering Committee to resolve the issue.

The Forum also received presentations from Governor El Rufai, Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) Adhoc Committee on Leveraging Portion of Accumulated Pension Funds for Investment in NSIA. He briefed the Forum on a proposed National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) under the auspices of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) such that a total sum of N2 Trillion at 9% interest can be accessed through the NSIA. The NGF Chairman noted that the CBN Governor had a similar proposal to access N15 trillion for national infrastructure funding through INFRACREDIT at a lower interest rate of 5%."

the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

He had his primary education at Mban, Langtang and from 1955 to 1960, he attended the provincial secondary school at Kuru. He undertook further military courses at Camberley, London.

He entered Nigerian Military Training College in 1961 and in 1964, he was a lieutenant and troop commander.

Bali became captain a year later in 1965. In 1966, he was battery commander and during the Nigerian Civil War, he was a regimental commander. He was made major in 1968. Between 1970 and 1971, Bali was commander, Corps of Artillery and later became a colonel at the Second Infantry Division in Ibadan.

In 1973, he was posted to Akure as the commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade. He was adjutant general Nigerian army in 1975, commander Corps of Artillery in 1976 and in 1978 and GOC of the First Infantry Division, Kaduna. Prior to becoming Defence Minister in 1984, Bali was Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and Staff College from 1981 to 1983 and later director of army training and operations.

Bali resigned from the army on January 10, 1990. He was the Chairman of HFP Engineering, builders of Victoria Garden City, Lagos Nigeria. Bali was married to Esther Bali an educationist and they have two children, Nanna and Ponfa.

INSECURITY: GOVERNORS TO MEET BUHARI, WANT FIRMER ACTION carnage in Borno State" Also, the governors said they would "Support the necessary reforms that will result in a police force that works for all."

They said: "As an immediate to medium-term measure, members agreed to pay close attention to the conduct of police officers across the country in order to get them and other internal security operatives fully back to work as they have not been functioning to full capacity since the EndSARS protests with the attendant security exposure to the safety of lives and properties of the ordinary citizens."

The governors’ forum also discussed the issue of stamp duty collection, stating that it was their responsibility and not that of the federal government.

The forum "maintains its stance that stamp duties belong primarily to states and the various collection platforms are channels of payment to the

states; while aligning with the guidance provided by its lawyers and experts."

On the controversial water resources bill, the governors resolved to "direct State Attorney Generals to review the Water Resources Bill and send their input to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat as quickly as possible."

They said that the Secretariat was tracking feedback from States on the Water Resources Bill in order to coordinate the Forum’s response to the ministry.

The governors endorsed the two proposals for infrastructure development that were presented by the Governor Nasir el Rufai Committee and the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, noting that both were not mutually exclusive and could be adopted simultaneously with one streaming into the other; They also agreed to keep active and operational the State COVID-19 Task Force Teams and

Emergency The governors said that they are committed to achieving the second Eligibility Criteria (EC) requirement of publishing online their approved FY21 Annual State Budget, prepared under the National Chart of Accounts, by 31st January 2021.

They stated their commitment to implement reforms associated with the programme, including the deployment of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to support effective land administration and an efficient property tax system.

They resolved to inaugurate the NGF-NESG Economic Roundtable (NNER) Steering Committee, whose technical committee is to commence the implementation of the strategic plan; which includes but not limited to the national mapping of subnational endowments; global mapping of sub-national entities for global competitiveness and

development of competitiveness toolkits.

The governors said that a delegation of members of the Forum had paid a commiseration visit to the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, in Maiduguri on December 1, 2020, over the killing of over 40 rice farmers in Garin Kwashebe in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State last Saturday by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

The communique said after the EndSARS protests, the judicial commissions of enquiry instituted by governors across the 36 States of the federation to probe petitions of brutality by law enforcement agents were in progress.

They also discussed education, stating that "After Mr. President’s approval of the request of governors for change in the financing model of the Universal Basic Education from the current counterpart funding requirement to a Programme

FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER, DOMKAT BALI DIES AT 80, BUHARI MOURNS rose through the ranks, with a distinguished military career, attaining the peak office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

Shehu said Buhari believed that the records of bravery and patriotism of Bali, the Ponzhi Tarok, would continue to inspire young military officers, while the foundation he laid in all the commands he headed would always be remembered.

The statement added that the president also constituted a delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd.) to visit the family of the late Bali, and condole with the government and people of the state over the loss.

The statement said Buhari prayed the almighty God would

receive the soul of the departed and comfort his family.

Also in a condolence message yesterday, the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong described the late Bali as a patriotic and loyal son of Plateau and Nigeria.

Lalong, in a statement signed by his Director of Press, Dr. Simon Macham, said the passing of the retired military General was “a great loss to the country considering that he was one of the highly decorated officers who served the nation meritoriously in various capacities and proved his worth.�

He recalled that apart from serving the country as Minister of Defence, Bali was a key member of the Supreme Military Council

and Armed Forces Ruling Council, where he held several positions, including the Chief of Defence Staff.

He said: "Gen. Bali was focused and committed to the peace and progress of Nigeria and Plateau State in particular, where he contributed immensely to addressing the security challenges in the State, always deploying his wealth of knowledge and advising various administrations.

Indeed Plateau State has lost an icon."

He also said that Gen. Bali, who answered the call of his people to serve as the Ponzhi Tarok many years after his retirement from the military, demonstrated interest in the welfare of the Taroh nation

and did his best to project and protect their interests.

Condoling with his widow, Esther, his children, the Taroh nation and the entire state, Lalong said: “Even in death, Gen. Bali will continue to inspire young Nigerians who want to serve the nation within the military because of his patriotism, gallantry and principles.�

Domkat Yah Bali was born on February 27, 1940 in Langtang, Plateau State to the family of Hassan Bali Tabut and Yinkat Bali.

He was Minister of Defence and member of the Supreme Military Council of 1984–1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985–1990.

Bali joined the Nigerian Army in 1961 and is a graduate of

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾DECEMBER 5, 2020

NEWS

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

TOGETHER IN DEVELOPMENT ...

L-R: Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), Vivian Ikem; Director, Public Affairs, NBC, Ekuma Eze; Managing Director, NBC, Mathieu Seguin; Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Toby Okechukwu; Region Public Affairs and Communications Manager, NBC, Mr. Mohammed Aminu; and Hon. Dennis Amadi, during a courtesy visit to Ekweremadu by the NBC in Abuja

Buhari to Inaugurate Lagos-Ibadan Railway Line January Amaechi: Passengers will pay N3,000 to N6,000 for tickets Bennett Oghifo

President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate the Lagos-Ibadan railway in January, next year, the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has said.

Amaechi, who disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of recently elected members of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA), said passengers on the train service were expected to pay between N3,000 and N6,000.

Amaechi said the government would adopt the Abuja-Kaduna ticketing structure in the LagosIbadan railway, stating that it would have three classifications- Economy

N3,000, Business N5,000 and First Class N6,000.

According to Amaechi, “I have received the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Lagos/Ibadan rail project by January 2021 which will make Nigerians see what the standard gauge railway is like.

“Today (yesterday) I approved the charges on passengers from Lagos to Ibadan; we just transferred what we charge from Abuja to Kaduna.

“We charge N3,000 per Economy seat, N5,000 for Business class, and N6,000 for First class, the same is applicable to Lagos to Ibadan.

“It should have started running by now before Mr. President inaugurates it by January.”

The 156km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line also extends to Apapa seaports and it is expected to rid that axis and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway of goods-laden trucks.

The company building the $1.5bn scheme, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), said it completed track-laying on the 156km project in March this year.

“A stunning victory! The track laying work on the main line for the Lagos–Ibadan railway has been completed at 12:08p.m. on 28 March.

This marks the fact the railway is getting one step closer to opening to traffic,” CCECC tweeted to announce the completion.

Amaechi said Buhari was a committed reformer determined to

change the face of transportation in the country.

He said the rail project had been delivered, but its usage would commence before the official inauguration.

He also disclosed that he had approved the fares for the route.

The minister stated, “In the transport sector under this government, a lot is going on, like working to complete the terminals under aviation.

I am sure you would have seen changes at the Port Harcourt airport and Abuja. I am sure the Minister of Aviation will tell us very soon when the airport in Kano and the one in Lagos would be completed.”

While commending the activities of CIoTA under the leadership of Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Amaechi stated that

the Federal Ministry of Transportation would partner with the Institute to encourage professionalism in the transport sector as well as ensure seamless and effective transportation across all modes.

In his remarks earlier, Jamoh, who is also Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), lauded the effort of the federal government to upgrade the transport infrastructure. He said CIoTA was promoting professionalism and training to aid the government with the right manpower to man the transport infrastructure.

The CIoTA President stated, “Nigeria has made significant investment in transportation.

“The journey for the Institute has begun. We are building on broad policies anchored on a tripod of professionalism; education, research and development; and advocacy.”

To ensure professionalism, Jamoh said CIoTA was working hard to empower members with the required skills, knowledge and expertise to man the country’s transportation infrastructure.

The Institute is also working with universities and other tertiary institutions to try to build professionalism in the transport sector from the undergraduate level, he said, adding that committees have been set up to follow up on policy recommendations from CIoTA to ensure their implementation.

No Room for Disloyalty, Godfatherism, FG has Awarded 671 Road Contracts Covering Army Warns Newly Promoted Generals 13,000km Nationwide, Says Works Minister Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Army high command yesterday charged 39 newly promoted senior officers, who were elevated to the rank of Major General to remain loyal to government.

The officers were also warned against reliance on godfathers in the discharge of their duties.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, warned that there was no room for indiscipline and disloyalty.

Speaking at the decoration ceremony for the promoted officers held at the Command Officers Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, Buratai mandated the officers to take decisions that would deliver the constitutional mandate of the Nigerian Army.

He warned against hobnobbing with politicians to lobby for appointments.

He said the officers should rather lobby him “through hardwork, dedication and commitment to the service and the nation at large.”

The COAS further charged them to maintain a state of physical fitness in order to discharge their duties.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) (COPP), Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari through the Minister of Defence for approving the promotion, further urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them.

Adeosun charged the newly decorated generals to abhor godfatherism and enthrone mentorship in relating to subordinates.

“Godfatherism destroys the military system and must be jettisoned for mentorship which promotes hard work and dedication to service.

“Your decisions will now affect your subordinates, superiors, families and the entire nation hence you must make proper decisions. You cannot afford to make careless mistakes, mentoring is seriously lacking in the system.

What we have is god-fatherism.

Godfatherism destroys the system,”

he said.

According to him, “a godfather will only protect his god children from doing the hard job. He will shield them and indulging them from doing what is right procedurally and officially rather cutting corners for them but for a mentor, you make sure all your mentees are guided right.”

In his speech, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), warned the senior officers to avoid short cuts.

“With the promotion comes greater responsibilities and hence incompetence will be revealed if the promotion was not earned.

“There is no need for shortcut in life, just go with God given speed. If you are an average officer just accept it, if you are a brilliant officer it will show. Before now you were hiding under superiors, GOCs, TRADOC Commander, NDACommandant and the rest but today you are exposed.

You cannot say somebody is making you not to do your job,” he said.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday said that federal government had awarded 671 road contracts covering about 13,000 kilometres across the country.

He added that the government was also embarking on massive infrastructure upgrade nationwide.

Mr. Fashola who spoke in Ilorin yesterday during the 10th Convocation of an Islamic faith university, Al- Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, said that “here is a current investment in infrastructure expansion.

Nigeria has to build a new base of infrastructure to deal with our growing population.”

The minister, who was the guest speaker, at the event on ‘How University Education Fosters Entrepreneurship’ said that, “I am convinced that inherent in Nigeria’s current developmental

challenges certainly lie enormous opportunities.

“So where is Nigeria now? I say to you that Nigeria is also witnessing an expanded investment commitment to infrastructure upgrade of a type not seen since perhaps, what took place after the civil war.

“The construction of rail tracks; expansion of five international airports, new seaport, 671 road contracts covering 13,000 kilometres nationwide point to a clear determination to reduce the infrastructure deficits that hinder growth and efficiency of business.

“Perhaps, in order to bring the scope and size of the commitment closer home, it might interest to know that the federal government is currently undertaking the construction of several roads. And in Kwara alone, the total number of roads under construction today is 602.4 kilometres. Some of the

roads include the dualisation of Ilorin-Jebba-Bukani; IlorinKabba-Obajan; Ilorin-Omu-AranEgbe; Share-Patigi and New Busa-Kaiama.

“All these construction works necessarily propel demand for increased activities in the mining subsector. And this I am addressing specifically to the graduates and undergraduates in this university.”

He added that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration “through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BoI), Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other ministries, departments and agencies of the federal and state governments were offering support.

“In the agriculture sector, the CBN has disbursed N92.9 billion to 24,702 beneficiaries; the Anchor Borrowers’ programme totalling N163.9 billion has reached 954,279 beneficiaries.

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Maina to Remain in Prison Till End of Trial Alex Enumah in Abuja Barely 24 hours after he was brought back to the country, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, yesterday appeared in court to continue his trial in alleged N2 billion money laundering.

He would however remain in prison custody till the end of his trial.

Maina and a company linked to him were last year arraigned on a 12-count criminal charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

He however pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted

to bail in the sum of N500 million and a surety in like sum, who must be a serving Senator in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Following the guaranteeing of his bail mid-year by Senator Ali Ndume, the former pension boss however stopped appearing in court for his trial sometimes in September, prompting the court to revoke his bail and ordered for his arrest.

Earlier in the week, Maina was reported to have been arrested in neighbouring Niger Republic and was extradited to Nigeria on Thursday.

Although the court had earlier ordered the continuation of his trial in his absence and hearing was to

continue yesterday without him, however, Maina was produced in court to continue his trial.

However, when the matter was called, prosecuting counsel, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, urged the court to order the remand of Maina in custody pending the determination of the case following his jumping of his bail.

Abubakar also said that he was ready to proceed with trial as earlier directed by the court.

In a short ruling, trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, granted the prayers of the Prosecution and ordered Maina’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Center pending the determination

of his case.

“The defendant is already on bench warrant having jumped bail.

“So he shall be remanded in correctional centre pending the conclusion of the trial”, the judge held.

However, the judge adjourned further proceedings till December 8, following a request by Maina’s new lawyer, Adaji Abel.

“I am inclined to accommodate the 1st defendant for the sake of fair hearing and justice. It is safer and neater to have an adjournment to allow the 1st defendant brief his new counsel. It is said that a defendant is not guilty until he is found to be guilty by the court”, he held.

REWARDING EXCELLENCE...

L-R: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Servce, Muhammad Babandede, when the latter paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday

Appeal Court Affirms Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal, Abuja yesterday, affirmed the death sentence handed down Mrs. Maryam Sanda, for allegedly stabbing her husband, late Bilyamin Bello, to death.

A three man panel of the appellate court in a unanimous judgment affirmed the decision of Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the grounds that Maryam’s appeal lacked merit having failed to prove allegations of miscarriage of justice against the trial court.

Justice Halilu had in a judgment delivered on January 27, this year found Maryam, a mother of two guilty of culpable homicide preferred against her by the federal government and consequently handed her the maximum punishment.

“She should reap what she has sown, for it has been said that ‘thou shall not kill’ and whoever kills in cold blood deserves death as his own reward.

“Convict also clearly deserves to die, accordingly I hereby sentence Maryam Sanda to death by hanging until she dies”, the trial judge had held.

Dissatisfied, the mother of two approached the appellate court, seeking to upturn the judgment.

In a notice of appeal predicated on 20 grounds, the appellant through her legal team described the judgment of the trial court as “a miscarriage of justice”.

She submitted that the judge relied on circumstantial evidence as there was “lack of confessional statement, absence of murder weapon, lack of corroboration of evidence by two or more witnesses and lack of autopsy report to determine the true cause of her husband’s death.”

She also submitted that the trial judge “erred and misdirected himself by usurping the role of the

police when he assumed the duty of an investigating police officer (IPO) as contained in page 76 of his judgment…”

But in its judgment yesterday, the appellate court disagreed with the claims of the appellant against the decision of the trial court.

The three man panel in the judgment read by Justice Stephen Adah held that the trial judge was right in reaching a guilty verdict against the appellant as well as passing the maximum punishment.

“I have gone through the record before the court and I am fully certain that the learned trial court did not engage any investigation outside the evidence before it.

“The appellant did not point out where the trial judge went out of the scope of his duties to carry out an investigation,” he said.

The panel stated that the word “investigation” used by the lower court was “taken out of context” by the appellant, adding that ingredients of the offence were clearly established as it was required by law.

Justice Adah further explained that where there were no organic facts leading to get the cause of death, circumstances surrounding the death could be the best proof of what was being alleged in a case.

“We have no choice also in the face of these convincing situations that the conclusion of the trial court cannot in light of the facts in the face of the records before us be faulted.

“Having resolved all the issues against the appellant, it is our conclusion that this appeal is lacking in merit and the appeal is hereby dismissed.

“Then that of the trial court delivered on the 27 day of January 2020 is affirmed and also the conviction and sentence handed down by the trial court are also affirmed”, Justice Adah held.

Military Kills 12 Bandits, Recover 11 AK47 Riffles in N’west Alleged Victims of Lekki Toll Gate Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Nigerian Army yesterday said its troops of Operation Sahel Sanity had killed 12 bandits and recovered 11 AK-47 rifles and three locally made guns in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States as part of efforts to restore peace in North-west region of the country.

The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. General Bernard Onyeuko, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of the troops between 12-29 December

at the Special Army Super Camp IV Faskari, Katsina State.

Onyeuko, represented by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, said the anti-banditry troops raided illegal mining site at Kadauri village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State and nabbed 11 suspected illegal miners.

He explained that the soldiers during clearance operations in bandits enclaves at Mararaban Kawaye and Gobirawa villages of Safana Local Government Area of

Katsina State, neutralised six bandits and recovered four AK-47 rifles and three dane guns.

Onyeuko said: “In summary, in all the operations conducted between the period of 12 - 29 November 2020, 12 armed bandits were neutralised, 11 AK-47 Rifles and three Dane guns were captured. Furthermore, eight suspected bandits collaborators and 11 illegal miners were arrested.

“Equally four suspected armed robbers and three cattle rustlers were nabbed by troops while 300 cows were recovered during the

operations”.

He expressed the Nigerian Army readiness to bring an end to the prevailing cases of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other nefarious activities bedeviling farming communities in the North-west region.

Consequently, he urged residents of the zone to avail the troops with credible and actionable information that would aid the desired goal of the operation and tackle security challenges in volatile states within the region.

Shooting Protest at Lagos Panel Bennett Oghifo Some people who claimed to be victims of the alleged shooting by soldiers at the Lekki Toll Gate during a generally peaceful demonstration, were at the venue of the Lagos State Judicial Inquiry yesterday.

The people who rode in a white bus, were led by a young lady, accompanied by another set of persons with a banner on which

they inscribed ‘New Nigeria Network.’

According to the lady, “We have people with amputated legs; we have people with brain surgery in this van; we have dozens of them that are yet to be discharged. This is from Lekki tollgate massacre 2020.

We want justice. We don’t want to be silenced; we don’t want to be marginalised even in our own country.”

AfCFTA: Nigeria Will Complete Ratification EU, WHO Rehabilitate Borno Psychiatric Hospital Destroyed By Boko Haram Before Deadline, Says Buhari Michael Olugbode

Dike Onwuamaeze

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerian business community that the country would complete all the ratification processes before the expiration deadline of December 31 in order to enable the country participate fully in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), billed to commence on January 1, 2021.

Buhari gave this assurance yesterday while presenting the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 34th Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) 2020, where he spoke on the federal government’s commitment to facilitating trade and maximising

the benefits of international trade through multilateral trade relations for the betterment of the country’s economy.

Buhari, who was represented at the trade fair by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, said: ‘I signed the AfCFTA agreement and subsequently inaugurated the national action committee to navigate Nigeria’s participation in this potentially game changing scenario.

“The committee is committed to ensuring the completion of the ratification processes before the stipulated deadline of December 31, 2020, in preparation for the implementation of the AfCFTA

from January 2021.”

Buhari also used the occasion to call on Nigerians to encourage the consumption of locally manufactured goods, stating that the trade fair was meant to attract businessmen, entrepreneurs, investors from all over the world.

He emphasised that trade reduces poverty and raises the standard of living by improving productivity and creating economic growth as one of the key drivers of the GDP growth and employment creation in the economy.

He also stated that his administration was accelerating the growth of the country’s industrial sector through effective backward integration agenda.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) with funding from the European Union has rehabilitated Borno psychiatric hospital in Maiduguri which was destroyed and vandalised by the Boko Haram terrorists in 2013.

The State Psychiatric Hospital was formerly a unit in the State Specialist Hospital before it was relocated to the current location.

The hospital which was built in 1976 with 48-bed capacity, and having four wards, when it was fully functional was serving the entire North-east and three neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Since the destruction by Boko Haram, the hospital has been nonfunctional and totally dilapidated, leading to mentally ill patients seeking treatment elsewhere, until 2019 when the government approached the WHO, to facilitate the reconstruction, equipping and restoration of healthcare services to the hospital.

Speaking at the handing over of the rehabilitated hospital to the Borno State Government on Thursday, WHO’s Public Health Officer, Henry Okoro-Nwanja expressed gratitude to the European Union for making the funds available for the restoration of healthcare services in the health facility.

Okoro-Nwanja said: “The hospital currently has 48-bed capacity, with four wards as follow: Acute Ward

where male patients with functional mental disorders will be admitted; Stable Ward for male patients that are stabilised; Drug Ward for patients with alcohol and drug related disorders will be admitted; Female General Ward where female patients with all forms of mental disorders will be admitted.

“Other departments include: Outpatient Department which also accommodates the Medical Records Department; Occupational Therapy Department, with Social Welfare Section among others.”

He said empirical evidence had shown that the rate of common mental disorders had doubled to as much as 20 per cent comparatively because of the violent conflicts in the state.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾DECEMBER 5, 2020

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Musings on Buhari’s Failed Boko Haram Promises

O

ne of the promises President Muhammadu Buhari made to Nigerians while campaigning for the 2015 presidential election was to tame Boko Haram. I remember a very close friend of mine back in November 2014, celebrating in advance and telling me that it would take Buhari just few weeks to destroy the terrorists as soon as he became President. “Buhari neutralised Maitasine sect within few weeks and chased them out of Nigeria. He will do the same to Boko Haram,” declared this friend of mine. I was convinced that the Buhari I knew lacked the capacity for this, but remained optimistic about the military ability ascribed to him because I desperately wanted an end to the terrorism crisis. Of course, any right-thinking Nigerian would want a quick end to Boko Haram’s madness. Then came Buhari’s swearing in on May 29, 2015 and the long wait to end Boko Haram’s insanity began.

The Boko Haram that had been pushed to the fringes of Lake Chad by the Jonathan government suddenly came back stronger under Buhari. Yes, Boko Haram had been substantially degraded when Jonathan handed over to Buhari. This is the truth that must be told. They came back strongly because they were emboldened by the slipshod military tactics of the Commander-in–Chief and his war commanders. Our President Buhari simply went to sleep while his commanders failed to provide leadership and equipment to the troops on the war front. So, the terrorists took full charge in Borno State. The murder of 43 Zabarmari farmers eight days ago was just one of the attacks that have seen thousands of innocent Nigerians slaughtered by Boko Haram.

Under Buhari’s watch, Boko Haram became the deadliest terror group in the world, with thousands of Nigerians killed in the last five and half years.

Even in IDP camps, displaced people are persistently attacked and killed by Boko Haram, as seen in Rann, Muna Garage, Dalore and a number of others. The words of the former UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Yassine Gaba resounds: “Innocent civilians continue to suffer daily from direct and indiscriminate attacks in the North-east of Nigeria. Endless numbers of explosions, brutal killings, abductions and lootings continue to uproot the lives of women, children and men daily. Women, children and men face daily grave human rights violations and sexual and gender-based violence.”

In Borno State, the terrorists still control territories. As I pen this piece, I can confidently report that 20 of the 27 local government areas in this state are unsafe. This is why over two million IDPs can’t return home. They are living in squalid conditions in camps, struggling for a meal a day. Daily, they dream of going home, but they can’t because their towns and villages are still dominated by Boko Haram. The few that returned home had to scamper back. These facts and figures punch holes in the lies that the Buhari administration is making progress in the war against Boko Haram. It is depressing for a government to persistently make claims of degrading Boko Haram, yet, IDPs can’t return to their homes. The big question is: Why would a man, his wives and children remain in a squalid IDP camp if his village has been recovered from Boko Haram?

There is also an unprecedented long list of officers lost to Boko Haram under the Buhari government. I will never forget the likes of Colonel D.C Bako, Lt. Colonel O. Umusu, Lt. Colonel K Yusuf, Lt. Colonel Abu Ali, Lt. Colonel B. U. Umar, Lt. Col. Yusuf Aminu, Captain Victor Ulasi, Lt. Col. A. E Mamudu, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba and Lt. Col. Azubuike. I will also not forget in a hurry the massacre of soldiers in places like Sasawa, Magumeri, Malam Fatori, Gashigha, Rann, Kanama, Gamboru-Ngala, Mafa, Kunduga, Pridang-Bitta and the rest. How I wish the murderers were smoked out and slaughtered.

The terrorists are getting away with a lot of killings. For how long will the killings persist?

They seem to have better intelligence network.

This is why Boko Haram often ambushes our soldiers. There is also a long list of successful waylays by the terrorists. The one I will never forget was the deadliest massacres of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State, in November 2018. Scores of soldiers were killed at 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele. The exact

Buhari

casualty figure is still a closely-guided secret till today. The commander of the battalion, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba was also killed.

We only hear of billions of U.S. Dollars released for the purchase of equipment for the military, yet the soldiers are persistently complaining about being poorly equipped. Buhari is the only one unaware that the war against Boko Haram will not end with the likes of Army Chief, Tukur Buratai, Air Chief, Sadique Abubakar and DSS boss, Yusuf Bichi, managing this country’s security.

These men have no business staying a day longer in office. They must go because they have done more harm than good to the war against Boko Haram. A forward-looking government would have overhauled this languid leadership. I find it difficult to comprehend why terrorists consistently take the fight to our soldiers.

Our soldiers under the control of Buratai persistently gift weapons and ammunitions to the terrorists. This occurs when the terrorists attack and sack military posts. In the last five years, many of such military posts have been sacked, with hundreds soldiers killed. Some of the sacked military posts were located in Gajiram, Mainok, Rann, Geidam, Sasawa, Magumeri, Malam Fatori, Gashigha, Kanama, Gamboru-Ngala, Mafa, Damasak, Gudumbali, Garunda, Kunduga, Kareto, Jilli, Arge, Zari, Arege, Metele and Buni Gari.

Commanders who complain about the poor working condition of our troops are usually dealt a solid blow by the military authorities.

That was what happened to the former Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. General Olusegun Adeniyi. A video, in which Adeniyi was seen complaining about a lack of military equipment to combat Boko Haram went viral. He also complained that insurgents were outgunning troops, noting that intelligence failure was responsible for an attack by insurgents that

claimed dozens of soldiers. The revelations by the major general led to his removal from the insurgency war and subsequent suspension by the military authorities. The Nigerian Army then filed charges of “military social media guideline violations” against him. Last Tuesday, a Court Martial in Abuja convicted and demoted him.

Yes, that was what he got for openly saying the truth. He said it discreetly without result. So, he decided to go public. Adeniyi has been seriously bashed for doing this.

Few weeks back, the Coalition of North-east Elders for Peace and Development, led by Zana Goni urged our president to inject new hands with fresh ideas into the leadership of the military.

Goni remarked: “We have seen that the security situation under the current service chiefs has reached an unbearable state. There is no denying the fact that at this moment, the entire nation is distressed by the incessant mindless killing of our citizens and pillaging of defenseless communities by insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.

There is also no denying the fact that these have resulted in indescribable torment of Nigerians.

The President must remove the service chiefs and bring in new hands to effectively confront the security challenges staring us in the face as a nation.” Nothing happened thereafter and the result is the Zabarmari massacre.

It is pertinent to note that residents of Zabarmari alerted the military about the impending attack.

They foresaw danger after they arrested one of the terrorists few weeks back and handed him to security operatives. They also told our military about the large number of terrorists in their community. But our soldiers failed them.

They failed to act on the information given to them. This is how they have also failed so many communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Statements by the President after the Zabar-

In Borno State, the terrorists still control territories. As I pen this piece, I can confidently report that 20 of the 27 local government areas in this state are unsafe.This is why over two million IDPs can’t return home.They are living in squalid conditions in camps, struggling for a meal a day. Daily, they dream of going home, but they can’t because their towns and villages are still dominated by Boko Haram

mari massacre were disgusting. In one, he was quoted as saying that he had directed the nation’s Armed Forces to take the anti-terrorism fight to the insurgents. He is just giving this directive after almost six years as Commander-in-Chief. It is obviously clear that Buhari is unable to protect the lives and property of Nigerians. Nigeria is becoming a failed state.

Another drawback to Buhari’s war against Boko Haram is persistent deceit. Until the Buhari government is ready to end all the deceits surrounding Boko Haram, the senseless killings will persist. Just imagine Army Chief, Tukur Buratai coming up with a preposterous tale that his men had killed 1,428 terrorists and the Commander-inChief is not asking questions. His employers did not ask him when, where and how. The other day, when the Chadians killed hundreds of Boko Haram fighters, we all saw it.

Nobody queries Buratai’s fantasy successes.

It’s so depressing. We are persistently told stories of thousands of Boko Haram fighters killed, their meetings disrupted and their logistic suppliers slayed. Nigerians are shown aerial bombardments with footages of terrorists scampering for safety, without ground troops mopping up. They follow up with suspicious figures of terrorists killed after the offensives. The dead bodies are hardly seen.

That has been the trend in the last five years.

The Boko Haram terrorists that had been “slaughtered” by our soldiers often return to life, to kill thousands of Nigerians, unhindered.

That was how in 2019, the “degraded” terrorists entered Zowo village in Gubio LG of Borno State, operated for over three hours, leaving 89 people dead. That same year, they also invaded Monguno and Gajiram for hours, killing and maiming, unimpeded.

These attacks expose the deceit of the Buhari administration about having decimated the terrorists.

The peak of this reckless falsehood was the wild celebration of a fantasy victory over the terrorists in December 2016 by Buhari. I shed tears on that day that Buhari, a retired general, accepted a flag and Quaran purportedly captured from Shekau, as a symbol of victory over Boko Haram from the Army Chief.

What about the persistent falsehood that no Nigerian territory is under Boko Haram’s control?

This government knows it is not true but keeps repeating it for selfish reason. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State once confronted the service chiefs with the fact that some local governments in his state were not accessible. The state’s Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Mustapha Gubio, provided more facts and figures on these deceitful statements, saying, claims by Buhari that all local governments had been secured and are now inhabited is false.

Gubio said five local government areas - Guzamala, Kukawa, Abadam, Marte and Abadam - were totally inaccessible and largely uninhabitable due to the presence of the Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.

Our gallant soldiers lack the capabilities to end this war. My submission has not changed: We must hire the best brains from anywhere in the world to assist our military to end this war. The ultimate aim is to decapitate Boko Haram. The strategy for getting result against Boko Haram is largely through aerial power. Technology, quality equipment and quality manpower will also be needed. It requires quality fighter jets and quality armoured attack helicopters. Our gallant military lacks the competence and equipment for these.

So, our President must hire Israeli, South African or Russian mercenaries to finish this war. This is the only way forward.

The Northern Elders Forum’s call on President Buhari to resign over unending Boko Haram killings is instructive. Life evidently has no value under Buhari’s government. “Under this administration, life has lost its value, and more and more citizens are coming under the influence of criminals. We do not see any evidence of a willingness on the part of President Buhari to honour his oath to provide security for Nigerians. In civilized nations, leaders who fail so spectacularly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign,” remarked the NEF. Unfortunately, it does not happen in third world countries. But the truth Buhari can’t run away from is that the buck stops on his table as the Commander-in-Chief. This will naturally haunt him.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ DECEMBER 5, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY Pamela amela la Udoka ka

People Stare at Me in Shock When I Identify Myself as a Sex Therapist Pamela Udoka, a Lagos-based g sex therapist p and clinical p psychologist y g runs the FamilyyWellness Psychological y g Centre in Lekki, Lagos. g She talks with so much p passion about her jjob in a societyy where “sex talk” is a taboo. Popularly p y called “Pam, The Penis Whisperer”, p Pamela also offers tips p on how to manage g masturbation. This sex therapist, p who is also a children theatre practitioner, p argues g that it is better for parents p to introduce children to sex education earlyy enough g in order to protect p them from predators p in the society. y In this conversation with Festus Akanbi, she also talks about “child depression” and other challenges facing children. Excerpts

W

hat’s usually the reaction of your audience any time you introduce yourself as a sex therapist?

If I say my name is Pamela Udoka, I am a Sex Therapist, some people stare at me in utter shock, wondering what I am talking about. Some knowledgeable ones embrace the title aand are okay with it. It even goes further. A business coach by name Steve Harris named me Pam the Penis Whisperer b aafter I attended his coaching course. When you hear that, it jjolts you into asking me further questions and then I explain tthat I guide men to attain and maintain erection for sexual iintercourse. I am a certiified and licensed clinical psycholo ogist. A Clinical Psychologist, who in her quest to carry out g iintervention for one of the causes of marital con nflicts, which iis sexual dissatisfaction, became a sex therapist. Sex therapy iis one of the therapeutic techniques I deploy. In addition to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Systemic Therapy, Acceptance C Commitment Therapy etc. Sex in itself is not a taboo. It is C tthe issues surrounding sex and the way it is presented that makes society to perceive sex as a taboo or a taboo topic. m Masturbation is an old practice which has refused to g away from the society. How does this affect marrgo r riages?

It depends on which angle of the prism each partner is llooking at masturbation from. If one sees it as a sin or a ttaboo, then it will affect the marriage negatively. But if it is sseen as something or an activity that can release sexual ten nssion in the absence of one partner or even when the partner iis present but not sexually available or something one partner ccan perform for the other partner to induce sexual satisfaction, tthen it will affect the marriage positively. Let me also make iit known that masturbation is not gender speciific. Both men aand women do engage in the act. Where it now becomes a problem is if addiction sets in. That will now require clinical p aassessment and psychotherapy.

How do you keep away patients who tend to see you as an object of their sex fantasies? a First of all, clients who see me as an object of their sexual ffantasy will probably not be bold enough to tell me. They will keep it at their level of control in their fantasies. Being a w ttrained professional, I do not give room for such discussions tto even commence. I believe a client consults me because the person has some sexual or relationship challenges that require p my expertise. Consulting me is not an opportunity to exhibit m tthe fact that he or she has some ‘pervert’ tendencies. Be that aas it may, one of my lecturers, late Professor Peter Owolabi ((may his soul continue to rest in peace) who taught me aabout sexuality, sexual health, sexual dysfunctions and sexual iintercourse during my fi first Master’s degree in the Univerrssity of Lagos, had also taught me about the psychological phenomenon known as transference and counter transference. p So, I am not exactly ignorant about encountering people like S tthat. But I handle them professionally not giving any room ffor them to veer off what they consulted me for in the first fi place. If it is an online consultation, which would have been p paid for by the way, I will block such a person off. Such a p person cannot be sitting in front of me across my table, or p llying down in my therapy couch in the Family Wellness Psychological Centre in Lekki and be telling me that I am the P object of his sexual fantasy. I am a mental health practitioner o o. I will look at the matter from another angle or get the o ssecurity to excuse him out of my offfice. No hassles!

Pamela

Many parents find it difficult to engage their children i sex talks. How can they go about this without in “polluting their minds”? “ I always tell parents to give children age-appropriate iinformation. Once a child can communicate and starts learn niing about body either at home or in school, the correct name sshould be used. A fi finger is a fi finger, an eye is an eye, a penis

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ DECEMBER 5, 2020

11

SUPER SATURDAY I Guide Men to Attain and Maintain Erection for Sexual Intercourse itiing behaviours contrary to the norm. Some off them also had social phobia that was so seevere that the activities of the children’s th heatre workshop were not enough to make th hem develop self-con nfidence. This therefore meant that there were some underlying m isssues the children were dealing with. My hu usband then suggested that I should go an nd study psychology so as to be able to heelp the children. My focus during my first fi Master’s degree was on children, finding M fi ou ut how parenting style is implicated in so ocial phobia in children and carrying ou ut an intervention using psychodrama. I prrogressed from there to have additional trraining as a Clinical Psychologist with sp pecial expertise in Sex Therapy. I am giiving you this background information so o you understand that my husband has allways been part of this picture in mapping ou ut these career paths.

is a penis, a vagina is a vagina, a toe is a toe, a knee is a knee and so on and so forth. Do not give the penis and vagina coded names and then change them a few years down the line to the authentic names. Children are more intelligent that parents give them credit for. A child’s curiosity will be spiked and that child will not have the courage to ask why the change in names. Another approach is to tell the child that some body parts are private parts and nobody should touch them without their consent and they can only give that consent when they are adults. Tell them not to accept gifts from anybody without clearing from either of the parents. That way, nobody will use sweets or biscuits to entice them. A child is a child. Introduce such discussions in a most convivial atmosphere, when the child is relaxed and can assimilate the information without fear. There was an era when parents, especially mothers would enter the room, lock the door and talk drawing one ear and say things like ‘don’t let a boy touch you, once a boy touches you, you will get pregnant.’ That era is gone.

Please explain the type of touch. A child who has approached puberty should be told about pregnancy or the possibility of impregnating a girl alongside the dangers of getting sexually transmitted infections. Notice that we went from knowing correct names of body parts to pregnancy and infection.

That is what I mean by age appropriate.

Ours is a society where it is a taboo to call private parts by their real names.

How does this seeming pretension affect morality in the society and what do you think can be done to remedy the situation?

You have captured it correctly. It’s a pretension. We like ‘faking good’. Isolating specifi ific body parts and vilifying them is something we have all grown up with.

But if the present generation of parents can help change that narrative, it will go a long way in curbing some of the sexual menace that we hear about. Parents should make conscious efforts to talk with their children realistically and not shrouding the matter in secrecy. Children will be better informed, better educated and be more aware about self-protection and self-preservation against sexual predators.

How are your children responding to th his busy lifestyle?

The children all understand the various caareer trajectories. My older children follow me on social media and I always tell them m th hat what other children’s parents pay me fo or, they get for free as a birthright. They caan ask me questions at any time. We can diiscuss any issue. Because every member of th he family understands what I do, there is no o con nflict. If I am working either travelling ou utside the country or working online, ev veryone knows what Mummy is doing.

When I have to work online, I let everyone W kn now. So, there will be no interruptions.

Eiither before I start or after I am done, I ensure e everyone is sorted out in terms off food. So, there is no excuse about me fu unctioning in so many areas and neglecting my family. m

P Pamela Udoka

Does your job affect your religious practice?

No not at all. Rather I am a voice to reckon with in my religious practice because of my job. I am a Catholic. I am a member of the Catholic Women’s Organisation (CWO).

I have given talks to my fellow radiant sisters both at our Parish and at the Lagos state levels. I am the PRO of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers (CCM) in my Parish and I have given talks at our meetings and seminars with the theme and topic specifi ifically related to my job. I am a Lady of the Knight of St. Mulumba (LSM). I give talks when it is my turn or when I am directed to do so. I was appointed the Worthy Physician of my Sub Council by virtue of the fact that I am a Clinical Psychologist. I function in that capacity both in my sub council level and at the Lagos metro level when we have meetings or there are assignments/ duties directly requiring my attention.

Who is Pamela Udoka? Tell us your story I was born on the 4th of February 1965. So, I am 55 years old. Still a lady though. I grew up in a town in Cameroon called Kumba, where I attended four primary schools. I obtained my ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels from the renowned Queens College Yaba, Lagos. I had my fi first degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan and proceeded to the Unii versity of Lagos for my fi first Master degree in Psychology, then back to the University of Ibadan for my second Master degree (M. Phil) and where I am currently running a PhD programme in Clinical Psychology.

That’s for academics. I am married to the most loving, caring, understanding and supportive husband any woman can wish for. My mentor and muse. That I am a Clinical Psychologist today is all by the guidance of my husband Arnold Udoka. He also motivated me to enroll for my Ph.D. programme. I remember telling him while he was running his own PhD to hurry up so that I could start bearing ‘Mrs. Dr. Udoka.’ He told me to go for my own PhD. He said I should not struggle his own title with him. He kept on reminding me at every turn and asking if I had accessed the University of Ibadan Postgraduate school website. It takes a man who is very confi nfident in himself and his abilities and achievements to stand and tell his wife to stand on his shoulders and fl fly. And my husband will always cheer me on saying “fly fl baby, fl fly”. We have had four amazing children together. The fi first went back to become an Angel in February 5, 2008. He would have been 25 years old this year.

The only girl in the lot is 23. She read Biochemistry in the University of Calabar and while still in school won a scholarr ship into a branding and advertising academy in Lagos and presently works as the Head Marketing, content creator and social media manager in an advertising agency in Lagos.

Then there is the young man who turned 21 this year. He is a fi final year student of computer science at the University of Calabar. He is a self- taught Graphic and Website Designer.

Bringing up the rear is my little man, the eight- year-old who will rather tell me, ‘Mummy, your cooking will do me some good right now’ than ‘Mummy, I am hungry’. There is never a dull moment in my home. I am a blessed woman with a blessed family. God has been very gracious to me and I do not take it for granted.

You are a woman of many parts; a sex therapist, clinical psychologist, children theatre practitioner, who is married to a distinguished entertainer. How does this combination affect your home?

My darling husband, Dr. Arnold Udoka is not just an entertainer. He is fi first and foremost a distinguished scholar of movement and dance and a university don with a namedscholar tag of the Association of Commonwealth Universities in the United Kingdom. He is a published poet and awardwinning playwright, award-winning choreographer at both national and international levels. He was head-hunted to serve as Nigeria’s fi first national choreographer after Nigeria’s first participation in the 1997 Panafest in Ghana, due to the fi excellent display by Nigeria’s contingent in my husband’s work titled One Earth, One People. Prof. Laz Ekwueme publicly nicknamed him ‘Nigeria’s Dance Machine.’ He’s a man of different parts - from home to theatre to culture administration and the academia.

So, in what specific ways have these affected your home?

To answer your question, all my various professional callings impart my home positively. The children’s theatre practice made way for the clinical psychology practice, and my research into the causes of marital confl nflict, brought out the Sex Therapist in me. You will be wondering what links them and why I say it affects my family positively. Let me shed more light. As a children’s theatre practitioner, I had observed that some of the children I worked with were exhib-

Tell us more about your children th heatre project?

As you are already aware, I was reecruited by the former Artistic Director off the National Troupe of Nigeria Mr. ‘B Bayo Oduneye to be the pioneer Coordinator of the National Troupe of C Nigeria Children’s Theatre Workshop. I N prrogressed to running a Children’s Theatre orrganization - Children’s Arts Development Initiative (CHAIN). When I was m invited to Sweden by b an organisation to deliver a keynote paper about b the h dwindling d phenomenon about child and childhood, I came in contact with an international children’s theatre organisation known as International Association of Theatres for Children and Young People with the French acronym, ASSITEJ International. Using CHAIN, I registered Nigeria into that international organisation. So far, we have membership representation in almost all the states in Nigeria and Zonal Representatives of ASSITEJ Nigeria in all the geopolitical zones in the country. I am the President of the Nigeria Centre, was appointed an African Regional Counselor, and was elected into the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International in Cape Town in 2017. It is on record that I am the fi first black African woman to be so elected. Back home, we have been joining other member countries of the organisation to celebrate special dates in the ASSITEJ Interr national calendar, as well as have our own festival, ASSITEJ Nigeria Festival also known as the ANT Festival. The maiden edition took place in 2018. The second edition will be holding the December 2020, having been postponed because of the EndSARS protest and it will be held online due to the corona virus pandemic. Even though ASSITEJ Nigeria for me is a platform that is being used to galvanise all Nigerians who are in the practice of theatre for children and young people and align them with this international organisations so they will learn, understand and be aware of the best practices in the profession worldwide. It’s a dream come true for me even as I put CHAIN in the background feeling like a mother hen bringing goodies to her chicks. It is my wish that every individual and every organiszation in this genre will get connected and get involved.

How can parents handle depression in children?

They should not try to handle it. They should seek professional help. Contact a clinical psychologist to carry out proper clinical assessment and treat the child accordingly.

What parents can do however is to minimise or eliminate utterances that lower a child’s self-esteem. They should stop comparing siblings. Encourage their children by speaking more about their strengths instead of amplifying their weakk nesses. Ask questions about school experiences, bullying, peer pressure and their relationship with their teachers. They should be observant and query every behaviour change. All these will go a long way in preventing a child from developing childhood depression or nipping it in the bud before it escalates to severe depression.

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Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

MASSACRES IN THE AGE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC Oludayo Tade argues an urgent need to rejig and restructure Nigeria’s security architecture

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ovember 28, 2020 is a day the people of Zabarmari in Borno State will live to remember. It was the day hardworking patriots, who heeded the call of government to embrace farming were gruesomely murdered by Boko Haram fighters, loyalists and mercenaries.

About 60 seasonal farm labourers had migrated to earn a living but were let down by government who failed to protect them when it mattered. Their sin was that the community dared to arrest one Boko Haram loyalist who was terrorizing them and handed him over to Nigerian security agents. Unfortunately, they paid the ultimate price in the most gruesome manner for being loyal to Nigeria that appears to be losing her constitutional agency to protect lives and properties of her citizens. That Boko Haram fighters had sufficient time to round-up, tie, slaughter and arrange the heads of their victims on dismembered bodies without any security challenge shows who controls Nigeria’s numerous ungoverned spaces. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar gave insight into the insecurity in the northern part when he revealed how 76 people in rural Sokoto were massacred by bandits who moved freely with AK-47, killing, stealing and destroying without any state resistance. Equating the Hobbesian state of nature, life in Nigeria’s anomic ecosystem has become nasty, short and brutish. There is next level of insecurity in Nigeria everywhere you go and we seem not to be learning from our recent history. On November 19, 2018 in Metele, Boko Haram terrorists unleashed terror on 157 Task Batallion of the Nigerian Army. Over 100 gallant men of our frontline fighters fell in that battle. A surviving soldier of that attack provided insights into how armoured personnel carriers failed them and how lack of aerial support from the Airforce contributed to the bloody annihilation. He raised issues of delayed, underpaid and unpaid allowances, low morale among frontline soldiers and mole within the ranks. Indeed, the survivor narrated how some of those who came to destroy their camp were among those who had been arrested but were released by influential ‘Ogas at the top’.

While PMB administration continues to mouth ‘technical degradation’ of Boko Haram and claims to have done enough to support Nigerian armed forces, the outcomes of such investment show that the best of Mr President is not good enough. It is risky to travel on Nigerian bad roads because of the fear of being kidnapping or dispossessed if not killed by armed robbers. Kaduna-Abuja highway has become dreaded.

Criminals shattered tradition by gunning down First-class monarch in Ondo State. From Sokoto to Zabarmari, massacres of the masses continue while government condemns and life continues until another bloodbath occurs. Let us even agree with Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu that the farmers did not get clearance to go harvest rice and willingly walked into their deaths; should government watch them and not protect them from harm? Why would a government or her security allow able bodied diligent workers to be killed on account of clearance? Could the army have at least arrested the farm labourers’ for flouting the ‘protocol’ and keep them alive today? What played out is failure of intelligence, criminal collaboration and porous security in many ungoverned spaces in the North and Nigeria in general. With Zabarmari brutal annihilations, it will be difficult to expect communities in terror zones to furnish security agents with information or apprehend another Boko Haram terrorist.

Government may continue to claim it has liberated taken territories from Boko Haram but there is evidence that communities still pay Boko Haram to be spared from attack and protected. It is even more sad that farming communities now pay Boko Haram to be allowed to go to farm. Such informal security arrangement signposts who the citizens believe can guarantee their security in the terror zones. It diminishes the

THE NORTH HAS THE LARGEST CHUNK OF NIGERIA’S 14 MILLION OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN. UNLESS GIVEN THE RIGHT EDUCATION, THEY WILL LIKELY GRADUATE TO TERRORIZE THE ZONE AND THE COUNTRY BEYOND WHAT IS BEING EXPERIENCED TODAY

influence and power of Nigerian government in winning the war because loyalty of the people under terrorists’ governance is to Boko Haram and not to Nigeria because government has not displayed enough capacity to protect them. Why is weaponry still a problem to fight terrorists in 2020? Why do we continue to sacrifice our best fighters to Boko Haram owing to failure in security governance? Why do we continue to concede territories to bandits, insurgents and terrorists to victimize hapless Nigerians while we mourn, condemn and move on until another time of carnage? Could it be true that war merchants within and without are making the war fester in order to continue to rake billions at the expense of shedding the blood of hapless Nigerians? Why is it difficult for the security agents to know that this is the season of harvest and that farmers will need protection in order to save the country from surging food prices? Sadly, available evidence shows that we will live with insecurity beyond 2020 except the right policies and willpower is displayed to turn the tide.

Socio-economic policies of governments are producing insignificant impact in the lives of Nigerians. The gaps are widening between the haves and have-nots and opportunity for upward mobility is shrinking daily. The North has the largest chunk of Nigeria’s 14 million out-of-school children.

Unless given the right education, they will likely graduate to terrorize the zone and the country beyond what is being experienced today because majority of them are currently socialized to banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. Nigeria has all the trappings to experience surge in crime across the geopolitical zones in the country. National Bureau of Statistics’ last survey (2019) puts the number of poor people at 82.9million translating to 40.1 percent of the population. Considering the impact of 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, more people would have joined the poor-people’s community. Unemployment rate is 27.1 percent while underemployment is 28.6percent and this is increasing. Many people have lost their jobs in 2020 yet have unmet cultural and normative responsibilities to discharge. The pressure to meet these needs may lead those with weak social control and social support to take to crime as they encounter rising inflation and negative consequences of recession. With increased strain, and no welfare programs to reduce negative impacts, a career in crime may be adopted as a survival strategy.

Research has established relationship between drug and crime. Increasing use of narcotic drugs will contribute to the incidence of terrorism, banditry, armed robbery and general insecurity. Available data shows that North-central geo-political zone recorded highest number of drug cases with 517,711 cases while southwest and south-south had 44,744 and 28,885 cases respectively in 2019. The north east recorded only 4,490 cases but there are indications that this has increased.

What can be done to arrest further slide? There is urgent need to rejig and restructure Nigeria’s security architecture.

Centralized policing is largely ineffective. Security issues are mostly local before spreading to other states. In soccer, only a winning coach is retained. No serious club management keeps a coach who returns failure as achievement. Mr President needs to audit his security chiefs and pave way for new persons to inject new ideas on how to save the country.

Ungoverned spaces must be taken over by the state and uncompromised border governance must be ensured in the northern parts of the country. We must invest in technology, leverage on international support including intelligence sharing, deploy drones to monitor terrorists’ hideouts, improve welfare of serving soldiers and give them the required fighting weapons to conquer.

Dr Tade, a criminologist, wrote via dotad2003@yahoo. com

LAGOS, SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE ELDERLY The state government is doing everything to ensure senior citizens live decent life, writes Kehinde Akinfenwa

T

he fast-growing number of older adults in the last few decades has impacted significantly on the political, economic and social functions of societies across the world. But unlike in the past, this generation is more likely to live separately as globalization, urbanization, migration and changing gender norms are influencing the lives of older people in direct and indirect ways. Perhaps, the COVID-19 pandemic has somewhat exposed our ineptitude towards the care for the elderly.

And Like other African nations, old-age mortality has continued to decline in Nigeria as the number of surviving generations in a family has increased. Our attention towards the older population is dwindling which further demands that we interrogate the social change that is breeding such alienation.

However, in spite of its multicultural attendance, Lagos State is among the elite cities genuinely and morally offering tributes to the older population and abolishing the apathy that oftentimes subject them to series of abuses. The Sanwo-Olu administration has established a social network opportunity that is descriptively reinforcing the delight and eminence of having the elderly as an invaluable asset to humanity.

In congruence with its principle of equity and social justice, concerted efforts towards ensuring a gracious older life are taking cen-

ter stage in the whole polity of the government. Thus, appropriate support mechanism for older persons is in the mainstream of its social and economic planning.

Giving the dynamics of this population and the myriad of psychological, social and environmental vulnerabilities that comes with aging, the system is responsibly providing collaborative and symbiotic services to aid the psychosocial security of the elderly in the state.

In accordance with the World Health resolution, a comprehensive Global Strategy and Action Plan on ageing and health, the government is steamrolling series of gerontological support to improve the quality of life of its senior citizens. As the social structure is strengthening the existing traditional institutions as an integral component of family support in the aging process, lofty intervention programmes for the elderly continue to dot the nooks and crannies of communities across the state.

To invariably expand the net of vulnerable senior citizens cared for by the government, construction of additional elderly care center is ongoing at Epe, while two other centers are being proposed at Alimosho and Badagry to compliment the services rendered by the state-owned Old Peoples Home in Yaba. The Yaba Centre is a multi-residence housing facility set up to provide formal long-term

care for senior citizens ages 60 years and above. It meets a variety of services both medical and rehabilitative.

Along with other geriatric aid, government has established a health care resources protocol as sustainable efforts are in top gear to activate free medical services at various state-owned hospitals for the elderly.

Besides, citizens should also brace up for the Elderly Bus Pass (EBP) programme which is designed to offer the elderly a limitless access to board free BRT buses to anywhere in the state.

Among the most important policy concerns relevant to health and longevity are the future fiscal viability of pension.

And aside the governor’s recent approval of a 33% increase in the monthly payments for defined benefit pensioners in the state, conjugally, the state has expressed its resolve to clear all pension arrears by 2022 to ensure retirees receives their pension on time. These bouquets of charitable presents are structured to provide an awesome reception into their world of dotage.

More can still be done, creating old age benefit fund or supplementary earning for persons of 60 years and above, establishing a mental health and community support services can be a model for successful ageing.

People only live longer because of better nutrition, sanitation, health care, education

and economic well-being. The society needs to address the ageist attitudes, which is discriminatory and affect the way policies are developed and the opportunities older people have to experience healthy aging.

Absence of functional national policy on the care and welfare of older persons, changing demographics, the breakdown of the family structure and absence of a social security system, present unique challenges to the elderly in Nigeria. Therefore, the compassionate undertakings by the state government is an advocacy for governments across the country to accordingly frame policies that will respond to this current and projected transition.

Undeniably, an ageing population poses numerous social and economic challenges, but the right set of policies can equip society to address these challenges in time. Little or nothing has been heard on the implementation of the National Senior Citizens Centre Bill signed by President Buhari in 2018. While it is anticipated that the bill will be reviewed to meet the exigencies of the present reality, all tiers of government owe it to humanity to establish intersectoral alliance that will bequeath a decent life to citizens at the twilight of their years.

Akinfenwa wrote from Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, Alausa, Lagos

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Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Yet another explosion...

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Diri Moves to Industralise Bayelsa

A

griculture was majorly the source of revenue for most countries before the industrial revolution. They have about 95% of their population engaged in agricultural production in one way or the other but all geared towards producing raw materials for consumption internally or for export by merchants. Industrialization involves the moving from a system of primary production where raw material is the focus for earning income to a stage of mass manufacturing. It includes the emergence of several industries and the use of industrial machines and technology.

It brought about an era where steam engines and other scientific methods are introduced into food production to speed up production processes and increase volume of output leading to a rise in revenue generation. This system enabled the even distribution of manpower across various area in the economy.

The number of labour required in various enterprises became reduced as machines now handle majority of the task.

The use of technology in all the stages of production from land preparation, planting, post-planting practices, harvesting and processing have speed up operations in the various phases. What is remarkable here is that technology usage in agriculture birthed an era of less manpower indulging in the production of raw material and diversifying into other areas like value addition and other industry.

Industrial development increased material wealth, restructured society, and created important new schools of philosophy.

As the world count the gains and the advantage posed by the industrial revolution, African countries, even if are yet to tap into its benefits, also acknowledged its ability to bring prosperity, new jobs and better incomes for all. Despite its abundant natural resources, Africa is the poorest and most underdeveloped continent in the world. The economic underdevelopment is caused by a wide range of factors, including lack of infrastructure, colonial past, communication difficulties caused by language diversity, corrupt governments, frequent military conflicts, etc.

In other to raise the awareness of inclusive and sustainable industrialization as one of the conditions for economic growth and eradication of poverty on the African continent, the United Nations established the African industrialization day in 1989, and observed every November 20. This focuses on mobilizing the commitment of the international communities to the industrialization of African countries.

As population increases, leaders in Africa have realized the importance of industrialization and how it can provide means for earning livelihood and bringing many out of poverty, so are now embarking on several initiatives to promote development of industries.

Among these leaders is the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri. Since inception, the governor has vowed to engage the unemployed in the state by

creating jobs in different areas.

Governor Diri stated his mission is to create industries in all eight local governments in Bayelsa State to engage the youths in their respective LGAs, prevent rural-urban migration and curb crime and social vices in the state. A source of income for the youths and the able-bodied in the rural environment will help retain them in the area to promote the economy, support and learn from the elders who are mostly involved in farming and as well decongest the urban area.

To revamp the agricultural industry, Diri has embarked on an initiative to training the youths in various field of agriculture especially in the area of rice production, plantain plantation, fisheries and cassava production, considering the comparative advantage of the region. The training is geared towards building the capacity of Bayelsans and exposing them to modern farming techniques to properly key into the current trend in agribusiness.

In a bid to engage all, so that a high portion of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manpower is not only directed to the path of producing just raw materials, the governor has said that his administration will set up industries to process and add value to the primary produce to ensure the state export finished products which is more profitable. In addition, to confirm his dedication to industrial development, he has expressed his interest in revitalizing the state-owned plastic industry to create employment.

Moreover, because technology is a major factor in business transaction and key player in globalization, Diri assented to the technology bill.

Diriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision to industrialize Bayelsa State is largely built on agriculture, oil and gas, and other natural resources which are available in the state.

Havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t served as commissioner for youth and sports, Deputy Chief of Staff, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Member of the Federal House of Representative and distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, Senator Douye Diri can be described as a man who understands and appreciates the state of the challenge now and where the state ought to be, and surely unrelenting in seeing the dreams of the founding fathers come true.

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

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

Ideology Drives US Politics

T

he US is a great country without a doubt. The political parties in the United States have clear cut principles with the electorate pursuing these principles in their bid to install a candidate as president.

The Republican Party believes in big business, a winner take-all-in business, and does not believe in unnecessary charitable acts to the poor, the Libertarians and the Evangelicals are the two important wings of the Republican Party.

These wings determine the party standard bearer leading to a presidential election.

The Democratic Party has two blocs, right wing and left wing. The right wing is a conservative group and the left wing is the progressive group of the party. Both wings of the parties have to agree on a consensus candidate, or else a presidential candidate forced on the party may lose an election. The Evangelicals of the Republican Party were responsible for the emergence of the Bushes (senior and junior) and Donald Trump as presidents of the United States. Small wonder, many say that the Republican Party is a Christian Party.

Public opinion had it that Mitt Romney (Republican) lost the presidential election against Barack Obama (Democrat) because he subscribes to the Mormon religious conviction and the evangelicals of the Republican Party refused to come out in large numbers to vote for him. Mormon, they conjectured is a cult, far removed from Christian values.

Ross Perot got 19% of the popular vote, even as an independent candidate and as a politician with conservative views. He spilt the votes of the Republican Party, this was the chief reason Bill Clinton (Democrat) defeated George Bush (Republican) in the 1992 presidential elections.

Retired Generals such as Collin Powell (Republican), George Bush (Republican) and many other veterans and mainstream cabal openly endorsed Joe Biden (Democrat) to become president of the United States; many of these are members of the Republican Party and not Democrats.

World leaders now, expressly after the Second World War do not tolerate people who are threats to the New World Order causing needless bedlam.

Some of the persons and country after the Second World War seen as threats to the New World Order are Soviet Union, Slobodan Milosevic, Ayatollah Khomeini, Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden and Donald Trump. All of the above-named persons and country were dealt with by the world establishments.

Minority people in America traditionally vote the Democratic Party. They believe that the party promotes the many interests of minorities more than the Republican Party.

Jews in America support the Democratic Party but Jews in Israel support the Republican Party, the latter on issues of settlement.

Liberals in the United States are quick to settle account with the Republican Party. They say the Republican Party is a racist party.

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Simon Abah, abah_s@yahoo.com

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

NEWS

ConďŹ&#x201A;icting Court Orders as Bye-elections Hold in 11 States Nseobong Okon-Ekong Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ë&#x153; Chucks Okocha Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Onungwe Obe Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2039; Ahead of the bye-elections in 11 states scheduled for today, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final lists of candidates for outstanding National and States' Houses Assembly elections.

This is coming amidst conflicting orders from the courts in the Federal Capital Territory and Cross River State judiciary.

Also, INEC has insisted that voters must wear facemasks/face

coverings as well as maintain the recommended social distance at all polling units.

According to a statement at the website of INEC, about 151 candidates will take part in the elections to fill vacancies in 11 states occasioned mostly by deaths and resignation to contest higher offices.

A breakdown of the candidates in the pending bye-elections indicated that while Bayelsa Central Senatorial District has 11 candidates, Bayelsa West Senatorial District has 13.

Others are Nganzai and Bayo constituencies in Borno State ( 14); Dass State Constituency in Bauchi

(10); Cross River North Senatorial District (9); Obudu Constituency in Cross River (6); and Isu-Uzo State Constituency in Enugu (9).

Others are Imo North Senatorial District (14); Bakori State Constituency in Katsina State (13); Ibaji State Constituency in Kogi State (8); Lagos East Senatorial District (12); Kosofe II Constituency in Lagos State (8); Plateau South Senatorial District (10) and Bakura State Constituency in Zamfara State (14).

But, there is crisis in Cross River North Senatorial District to replace Senator Rose Okoh, who died early this year.

This is because two courts of equal jurisdictions had Wednesday in Abuja and Calabar issued conflicting orders.

A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar on Thursday affirmed Dr. Stephen Odey as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the bye election.

Ruling in the suit with number FHC/CA/CS/87/2020, the presiding judge, Justice S.A. Amobeda, held that Dr. Odey was the validly nominated candidate of the PDP for the said bye election.

Relying on relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as

amended), provisions of the Electoral Act 2020 and Articles of the PDP Guidelines for conduct of its primaries, Justice Amobeda ordered the INEC to publish the name of Dr. Odey as the duly nominated candidate of the PDP to contest the election.

Same day in Abuja, an FCT High Court declared Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the duly elected candidate of the PDP for the rescheduled Cross River North Senatorial bye election holding on Saturday, December 5, 2020.

The court, in the judgment

by Justice Binta Mohammed, held that contrary to the claim of the claimant, John Alaga, the defendant (Jarigbe) did not supply any false information in his INEC Form CF001 by purporting to have sat for / and or obtained educational qualification making him eligible to contest for the Cross River North Senatorial Bye election.

In his suit No. CV/77/2020, the claimant, John Alaga had urged the court to disqualify the candidature of Jarigbe on the strength of the alleged false information and other allegations. But in his judgment, Justice Mohammed sitting in court 27, Apo division of the FCT High Court held that the claimant has failed to prove his case. The court also held that the Cross River North Senatorial primary election of the PDP wherein Jarigbe (1st defendant) was nominated as the Senatorial

candidate was conducted with the authentic list of the Ward and Local Government Area Executives of the party.

Justice Mohammed further held that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the first defendant having won the highest number of valid votes at the said primary election is validly nominated as the candidate of the PDP for the Cross River North Senatorial Bye election scheduled to hold on October 31, 2020 or any other date.

But in the final list released by INEC, the name of Dr. Stephen Odey is recognised as the authentic candidate.

For the Imo North Senatorial election, though the name of Ifeanyi Ararume is released by INEC in the final list, a Court of Appeal has ruled directing the name of Frank Ibezim should replace that of Ararume.

In the unanimous judgment, the trio of Justice U. Onyemenam, Justice J Y Tukur and Justice M.B Idris set aside the judgment of the High Court in Owerri which ordered the INEC to replace Mr. Ibezim with Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the candidate of the APC in the election.

In the judgement, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal upheld Sir Frank Ibezim's appeal, while setting aside the Judgment of the Federal High Court earlier delivered on the 6th November, 2020.

Tinubu in Kano, Says Unity of PARTNERING FOR SERVICE...

L-R: Chiagorom Ekwonwa, Regional Customer Manager, South South, MultiChoice Nigeria; Jennifer Ukoh, PR Manager GOtv Nigeria; Olamilekan (Laycon) Agbeleshe, BBNaija Lockdown Winner, Ini Ememobong, Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Nigeria Paramount to Me Akwa Ibom State and AdeTunji Beyioku, Senior Marketing Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, at the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Akwa Ibom, during the GOtv Iconic tour in Uyo...yesterday

OPEC Calls for Balancing, Stability of Global Oil Market Festus Akanbi The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has called on oil producing countries to maintain the stability of the global oil market in the light of emerging realities of the global economy.

The need to balance and stabilise the oil market was top of the resolutions at the 12th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM) held via videoconference, on Thursday.

The Meeting reaffirmed the continued commitment of the participating producing countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to a stable market, the mutual interest of producing nations, the efficient,

economic and secure supply to consumers, and a fair return on invested capital.

The Meeting recalled the decision taken by all participating countries in the DoC at the 10th (Extraordinary) ONOMM on 12 April 2020 to adjust downwards overall crude oil production and the unanimous decisions taken at the 11th ONOMM on 6 June 2020.

It welcomed the positive performance in overall conformity levels to the production adjustments since it last met in June, and the constructive response from many countries to the compensation mechanism in accommodating their underperformed volumes as agreed at the June ministerial meetings, and later amended in September 2020.

Looking ahead, the Meeting emphasised that it was vital that DoC participants, and all major producers, remain fully committed to efforts aimed at balancing and stabilising the market. It noted that renewed lockdowns, due to more stringent COVID-19 containment measures, continue to impact the global economy and oil demand recovery, with prevailing uncertainties over the winter months. In light of the current oil market fundamentals and the outlook for 2021, the Meeting agreed to reconfirm the existing commitment under the DoC decision from 12 April 2020, then amended in June and September 2020, to gradually return 2 mb/d, given consideration to market conditions.

Beginning in January 2021, DoC

participating countries decided to voluntary adjust production by 0.5 mb/d from 7.7 mb/d to 7.2 mb/d.

Also, DoC participating counties agreed to hold monthly OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meetings starting January 2021 to assess market conditions and decide on further production adjustments for the following month, with further monthly adjustments being no more than 0.5 mb/d.

The Meeting also agreed to extend the compensation period established from the 11th ONOMM, and later amended in September 2020, for the period of January until the end of March 2021, to ensure full compensation of over production from all DoC participating countries.

Ibrahim Shuaibu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122; The National Leader All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday in Kano said the unity of this country was paramount to him.

Tinubu spoke at Wedding reception held at Meena Event Centre Kano.

He said "we must work hard for the unity and development of the country, because the dividers will not stop in trying to divide the country, but if we are united, they will not achieve."

According to him, the unity of the country was one of the major areas that should be given more priority in our daily activities.

"Within 24 hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; notice I received for the wedding Fatiha, I feel I must come, therefore I informed Governor Ganduje that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m coming even if he is not around."

Tinubu prayed for the couple,

Naisa Muhammad Bin-Uthman, and Nuruddeen Adam, a happy married life, long life, good health and blessed family.

Also speaking, Governor Ganduje said the marriage was an important wedding considering the family of the couple.

"Looking at the calibre of people at the wedding Fatiha, it is a clear indication that Bin Uthman has been contributing immensely towards the promotion of Islam and unity of the country.

"I was having a programme outside the city, but when Tinubu told me he was coming to Kano for a wedding Fatiha, even if I am around, I decided not to go anywhere until he has left," Ganduje said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Shiek Muhammad Bin Uthman commended Tinubu and Ganduje for blessing the wedding Fatiha, saying it was an indication that Nigeria is united.

Tompolo Protests EFCC Continued Siege on Firm Months after Judgement

Presidency Resolves Controversy over BPE, ICRC Roles

Sylvester Idowu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;

Ndubuisi Francis Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039;

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias "Tompolo" has protested against the continued siege on his firm, Mieka Dive Limited, five months after he was vindicated of corruption charges by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Chief Ekpemupolo, in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday evening during a peaceful protest by youths and workers of the company, said

there was no justification for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to continue to occupy the firm after a court judgement in his favour.

"After nearly five years of malicious prosecution by the EFCC and its henchmen on trumped up allegations, I was vindicated

by God and prayers of all our well-wishers in the Niger Delta and all over the nation.

"On the 15th of July 2020, the law vindicated me and the Federal High Court threw out

all the charges against me that I have no case to answer. Since then I have made several efforts to reach the government agencies particularly the EFCC to return my looted properties back to me. My peaceful efforts have so far been unsuccessful," he lamented.

The ex-warlord however noted that five months after the court judgement, his firm with all the multi-billion properties inside, were still being occupied by the EFCC operatives.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the new federal government circular on the administration of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the country has laid to rest the controversy between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) on the implementation of PPPS. Until now, both agencies of

the federal government had been enmeshed in controversy over the implementation of PPPS. He explained that with the new circular, the BPE) shall be responsible for the concession of public enterprises and infrastructure already listed in the First and Second Schedules of the Public Enterprises Act. The Vice President, who made the clarification at a webinar on "deepening the Nigerian infrastructure stock through Public-Private Partnerships

(PPPs), organised by the BPE, noted that in addition, the BPE shall act on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) as the counterparty on all infrastructure projects being developed on a PPP basis while the ICRC continues to act as the regulatory agency for PPP transactions with powers to inspect, supervise and monitor the projects and processes to ensure compliance with relevant laws, policies and regulations.

15

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ECEMBER 5, 2020

NEWS

Group Insists Ceeding 2023 Presidency to South-east Zone Non-negotiable A pressure group that covers the interest of the South-east geopolitical zone rose up yesterday from an emergency meeting in Awka, Anambra State insisting that time was long overdue in the interest of equity and justice for power to rotate to their zone in 2023.

The group lamented what it called â&#x20AC;&#x153;gross marginalisation and shunting of their region from development projects which had been extended to the political sphere and warned the time to stop such was now.

A communique signed by its National President, Chief Pius Okoye and National Secretary,

Chief Everest Ezihe read, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The realisation of the clamour for Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023 is non-negotiable. It's in the overall interest of equity, fairness and natural justice. All political parties in Nigeria should zone their presidential candidate to South-east. It's a true strategic measure of healing the wounds of the civil war. However, we appeal to Igbo leaders and organisations crusading for Igbo course to join hands in building diplomatic bridges of conviction and understanding among other ethnic groups in giving Igbos a chance to saddle on the affairs

of the nation, 53 years after the end of the civil war. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He who goes to equity must go with clean hands, similarly, we are seriously in support of gubernatorial zoning arrangement in Anambra State as enshrined and endorsed by the founding fathers of the state as well as her prominent traditional rulers.

Anambra state is sitting on a political tripod which represents the South Senatorial Zone, The North Senatorial Zone and the Central Senatorial Zone. It's a historical fact that the North and the Central have in the recent past governed

the state. Therefore, in respect to the State's Charter of Equity and total adherence to natural Justice, it's right and proper that Anambra State 2021 governorship seat be ceded to person of Anambra South Senatorial extraction. We advise that politicians should detest changing the goal post, simply because of selfish and pecuniary interests. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We observe with dismay that President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is treating issues concerning the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians with

levity. Thus, the wanton killings of innocent Nigerians by the Boko Haram Islamic militants have gone unabated for years now, we demand that President Buhari should sit up or resign for gross administrative incompetence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are equally worried on the lopsided infrastructural and human capacity developments being piloted by the federal government, thus why we are totally in support of immediate restructuring of the nation anchored in true federalism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also observed with total disappointment, the state of fed-

eral roads in the entire South-east geopolitical region which amounts to deliberate neglect as death traps.

The terrible state of the roads and infrastructural decay in the region have only reawakening and ignited the psychological trauma of defeated people during the short lived Nigeria/Biafra war.

We re-appeal to the Federal Government that now the raining season is over as their perennial excuses, they should give accelerated attention towards the rehabilitation of the federal roads and other dilapidated infrastructural projects in the region.â&#x20AC;?

Justice Iliya Excluded from Nominees for Gombe Chief Judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Position Michael Olugbode inMaiduguri The most senior judge in Gombe State, Justice Beatrice Iliya, has been excluded from the nominees to fill the vacant position of the Chief Judge of the state for being allegedly being a Christian.

It was gathered that Iliyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name was removed from the list by Gombe State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Zubairu Mohammed Umar.

The source said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Umar deliberately refused to nominate Iliya for the position because of her religion. He has the backing of the state government as they believed the CJ should come to the other religion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They deliberately refused to nominate her because they know that if her name is there, as the most senior and most qualified, the National Judicial Council will pick her over others.â&#x20AC;?

In a petition to the National Judicial Council obtained yesterday, Justice Iliya questioned the rationale behind the removal of her name despite being the most senior judge and having served as an Acting Chief Judge in the state.

She highlighted the faulty process, procedure and criteria used by the Judicial Service Commission in the assessment and selection of the shortlisted candidates.

She explained that the head of the JSC nominated himself and another junior colleague while excluding her name without any reason.

The petition reads partly: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The HAG proceeded to preside over the meeting and to present his memoran-

dum in which he proposed to the JSC that Hon Justice Muâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;azu Abdulkadir Pindiga, Ag. CJ/ Chairman JSC and Hon. Justice Joseph A. Awak should be shortlisted as preferred and reserve candidates respectively for the purpose of appointment as Chief Judge of Gombe State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The HAGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal in the memorandum, although he acknowledged my seniority over the shortlisted judges; my unblemished record; and my being eminently qualified for appointment as CJ; nevertheless, went further to justify my exclusion from the proposed shortlist.â&#x20AC;?

Faulting the nominations, Iliya said the record of performance of the two judges as acting chief judges that influenced the Attorney-Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view was not presented to the JSC at the meeting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The JSC therefore took its decision based solely on the personal, unverified opinion of the HAG and not on any objective evidence, acceptable or known, recognised criterion guiding the selection, shortlisting of candidates for appointment to the office of CJ,â&#x20AC;? she added.

She argued that the office of the Attorney-General has no oversight powers over the judiciary or judicial officers generally adding that the attorney general â&#x20AC;&#x153;is not in a position to assess and competently grade the performance of judicial officers, more so that he had not yet assumed his office as HAG when I was appointed and acted as Chief Judge from 1st September, 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4th December, 2019. He only became HAG on 9th December, 2019.â&#x20AC;?

FINAL FAREWELL...

L-R: State Governors from: (Ogun) Prince Dapo Abiodun; (Lagos) Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; (Oyo) Mr. Seyi Makinde and his wife, Engr. Tamunominini, during the Funeral Service of Chief (Mrs.) Abigail Amope Omoholagbe Makinde (Mother of the Oyo State Governor) at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Aremo, Ibadan, on Friday...recently

N2.2bn Fraud: Again, Court Grants Fayose Permission for Medical Trip Festus Akanbi Former governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose yesterday secured the permission of a federal high court in Lagos to seek medical treatment abroad.

The judge, C.J. Aneke granted the permission following an

The Runsewe family has released the official funeral details for their late matriarch, Mrs. Felicia Adesola Runsewe (Nee Ademosun), who joined the Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă? Î ÍźË&#x203A; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?ĂĄĂ?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and President WorldCraftCouncil(WCC)Africaregion,thefuneraldetailsforhislatemother also known as 'Mama Kaduna' will kick start with a wake keep and service Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; ͚ͿË&#x153; ͺ͸ͺ͸Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ë&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x152;ĂŁ Í˝Ă&#x161;Ë&#x203A;Ă&#x2014;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; ÍšÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁ Ă&#x152;ĂŁ ͚͸Ă&#x2039;Ë&#x203A;Ă&#x2014;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; takes place at Eagle Club opposite Shoprite and Leisure Centre, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos.

in July and in December 2019.

His December 2019 medical trip had generated heated controversy when photographs of the former governor at relaxation spots somewhere in Europe, (when he was supposed to be receiving medical attention,) was circulated on the social media.

Fayose reacted to the criticisms that followed by saying he was on â&#x20AC;?medical check-up, not admissionâ&#x20AC;?.

The recent application was not opposed by Rotimi Jacobs, prosecuting counsel of the EFCC. The judge adjourned further hearing in the case till January 22, 2021.

CHANGE OF NAME

Glo Excites Subscribers with 10% Bonus Airtime

Telecommunications Company, Globacom has announced a special 10 per cent bonus airtime on all recharges made Assemblies of God Celebrates As part of its end of activities to mark its annual Christmas celebrations, through E-Top up which the the Assemblies Of God Church, Isolo, Lagos, has put together an event with company said was meant to the theme, 'Celebrating God's Protection and Mercy' to praise and worship give customers an enriched God. A statement by the Chairman and Secretary, Planning Committee, experience during the yuletide.

According to Globacom in Bro. Williams Orji and Bro. Chimeziem Anyanwu said the host pastor, Rev. Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă? a statement, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the special bonus a power-packed sermon to win souls for God, during the church's annual airtime offer gives an additional harvest/thanksgiving taking place this month at No. 5/7, Risi Laguda Close, 10% bonus credit on all E-Top off Metropolitan College Road, Metro Bus stop, Ire-Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos up recharges of N100 and above, in addition to the actual amount by 8.00 a.m.

NCAC DG, Runsewe, Buries Mother on December 18

application by Ola Olanipekun, Fayoseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s counsel.

The former governor is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N2.2 billion fraud.

Fayose had earlier secured similar permissions to seek medical care outside the shores of Nigeria

topped up by the customer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All new and existing prepaid customers on Glo network can enjoy 10% bonus airtime upon recharging electronically, via Glo E-Top up. The bonus airtime can be enjoyed all through the upcoming year-end festive season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Glo E-Top up service gives customers the opportunity to top up their Glo lines or those of friends and family without scratching any card, adding that

it is convenient and requires no PIN. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is non- denominated (flexible) and any value from N1.00 to N500,000 can be purchased in a single transaction. Customers can E-Top up their Glo lines by dialling *777#, Glo CafĂŠ, through bank USSD codes, Bank ATMs, Mobile Banking Applications, Online/web payment platforms, PoS terminals or by visiting the nearest Gloworld, Glozone outlets, Glo E-Top up retailer.â&#x20AC;?

Pharmacists Demand Practice Regulatory Framework National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Samuel Adekola, has called on the Federal Government to develope appropriate legal and regulatory framework for community pharmacies in Nigeria as in other parts of the world.

Speaking at the opening

ceremony of the Annual National Conference of ACPN in Abuja, Adekola said the benefits of Community Pharmacies as primary healthcare delivery facilities would be maximised if the authorities unlock the pool of potentials inherent in this class of health care providers. According to him, the country would achieve

Universal Health Coverage through appropriate assessment and full utilisation of every strata of healthcare delivery system in Nigeria, including Community Pharmacists.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Community pharmacists are the health professionals most accessible to the public and are a cornerstone of primary health care.

16

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

Plus Dakuku Peterside My Parents Taught Me Never to Compromise

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER Ëž 5, 2020

PLUS Dakuku Peterside

My Parents Ta Taught Me Neverr to Compromis Compr Compromise omisee Call him the boyy from Opobo p and you y will be right. g Dr. Dakuku Peterside, immediate past p Director General of the Nigerian g MaritimeAdministrationandSafetyyAgency g y(NIMASA),isthesonofSeniboAdolphus p PetersideofOpobo p inRiversState.

DakukutrainedasaMedicalLaboratoryyScientist.Heisnowap politician,administrator,management g consultant,leadership p andturnaroundexpert; p oilandg gasmaritimeresourcep personandfounderoftheDevelopment p andLeadership pInstituteof Nigeria, g a development p think tank. Dakukuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ph.D. is not honorary. y This former member of the House of Representatives p obtained a Doctoral degree g from the Universityy of Port Harcourt, in Organisational g Behaviour, specialising p g in Corporate p Political Strategy. gy Dakuku, a former Rivers State Commissioner for Works and former chairman of Opobo-Nkoro Local GovernmentArea,sharesthestoryofhislifewithOnyebuchi Ezigbo E I have lived in different cultures spent p my y formative y years in a number of cities and that must have influenced my y cosmopolitan p view of life. I spent p some p part of my y life in a p place called Azumini in Abia State, where we had a p plantation settlement. I spent p some time in Aba, the commercial city y of Abia State. I was in Port Harcourt at different times and in Kaduna and in North Western Nigeria. g Those were the principal p p places p I spent p my y formative years y and I am always y p proud to say y that it must have influenced my y cosmopolitan p disposition. p I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t relate with p people p on the basis of where they y come from or their background. g I lived with both the high g and mighty g y and the very y low people p p in the society. y I have encountered both the poor p and the rich, smart and dull p people, p Muslims and Christians, and I have lived in different cultures and g geographical g p regions, g which shaped p who I am. It has made me more accommodative of people p p and to understand diversity. y I am able to relate and integrate with all manner of people.

I

Growing g up, there was so much emphasis on discipline p What I can remember growing g g up p is that there was so much emphasis p on discipline p -g go to church, behave well to protect p family y name, read your y book so that you y can get g the best jjob. With the benefi fit of hindsight, g I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe my yp parents were doing g the right g thing. g They y were always y emphasising p g that I should go g to school, get g the best grades g and g get the best jjob, but I realised that life isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about g getting g the best jjob. Life is about feeling g fullfilled and clearly y fullfilling g ap purpose, p but in the course of g growing g up p I realised clearly by y age g 11 that I had discovered my y life p purpose p which is actually y to play p y a leadership p role, help p people, p p help p society, y help p organisations g to fi first defi fine their vision then fullfill their mission and from then there has not been any y looking g back.

From the early y part p of my y life through g the institutions I attended and p post university, y I have always y been out helping p people p p fulfi lfill p purpose, p discover who they y actually y are and supporting pp g them to achieve their vision. That way, y I am also fullfilled. I feel Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m fullfilling my lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose and I am happy.

My y parents p were neither rich nor poor p I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t born with a Sliver-spoon. p My yp parents were neither rich nor poor p in the strictest sense of it. I come from a medium income family. y My y mother whom I spent p most of my y time with was a teacher and she taught g at three levels of education. She taught g in p primary y school, taught g through g secondary y school, rising g to be a p principal p and taught g briefly at Rivers State Polytechnic, y Bori. The disadvantage g is that we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t g grow up p being g aggressive, gg gg we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fig ghting g for space. p We were taught g to fig ght for excellence not for space p to survive and Nigeria g requires q a bit of aggressiveness. gg I also grew up g p being g contented which is the other g good p part of it, being g focused in life and imbibing g the virtue of hard-work.

Those were the earliest virtues of life we were taught; g the virtue of hard-work, honesty, y of not compromising p g on the truth, listening g to other people, p p accommodating g other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s p p opinion p and the value of integrity g y in the society. y My y parents will always p y tell you y â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;if you y can compromise p on any virtue, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compromise p on integrityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, g y and another thing g they y often say y is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hard-work doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t killâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. My y father will tell you whatever has to be done, should be done now. That was y one lesson he emphasised always, which we internalised.

Dakuku D k k Peterside P id

The opportunity pp y to travel around the country y Well, if y you ask me, my y best g gift as a child was the opportunity pp y to travel around the country y and learn other cultures. At the time, it was some sort of excitement and education. I still remember when we visited the commercial City y of Ontisha. Is it in Lagos, g Kano, Ilorin, Maiduguri g or Calabar? Secondly, y were those p precious moments I spent p with my y parents p talking g about remarkable historical events. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if I can emulate that part p of them. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend p quality q y time with my y children. My y parents p were always y spending p gq quality y time with me, talking g about stories of wars of y yesteryears, y of how our p people p fought, g conquered q and never lost any y battle and all sorts of history. y The other one I enjoyed j y was the opportunity pp y to read books and explain p to them. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe my y children have enjoyed j y that from me; how and why, y I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t explain p but for me those were the most precious moments. For me, g p gifts were not material things g but the q quality y time my yp parents spent p with me. Growing g up p in life I realised my yg grandmother was an incurable g giver and I feel all the blessings g I enjoy j y in life are because of the g generosity of my grandmother. My mother did a little bit of that also.

19

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER Ëž 5,2020

PLUS I Have Lived with the High and Mighty and the Very Low in the Society made a new rule that those in Primary y Six would elect a school monitor and unfortu unately, y I was the smallest boy y framewise in the class and my y classmates elected me. The school authorities felt that I was too small so they y â&#x20AC;&#x153;annulledâ&#x20AC;? the election and asked that they y should nominate more persons p for the contest. Each new process p ended up p seeing my y mates voting g for me as their Monitor.

That was my y earliest exposure p to some form of democracy y and so I was elected to be Monitor. Surprisingly, p g y they y found out that I was a very y assertive and strict-minded person. I was clear where I wanted my p y colleagues g to be and I had capacity p y to enforce discipline. p When I g got to secondary y school, at my y final y year, I was appointed pp School Prefect and amongst g us we will elect an Administra ative Head. The Administrative Head was called Secretary y of Prefects Council and I was elected by y my y colleagues. g You may y have observed a p pattern. When I g got to university, I was elected Student Union leader so you y can see a p pattern was established. Apart p from the fact that I discovered early y that I have the calling g to lead, at any y time, there was a calling g to lead, some unique q p part of me answers to the invitation. Most times, I am invited at very y challenging g g times to lead and I have never disappointed.

I made up my mind to get married early y I was 29 when I got g married. I made up p my y mind to g get married early y and it was not in nfluenced by y anybody. y y I discovered that it was possible p that I could be distracted and I needed to cure that thing g thaat I discovered about myself. y The y young g lady y I married used to live in my y neighbour g rhood and I observed her over a very y long g time without her being g aware. Her conducct, her reasoning, g integrity g y and the fact that she was always y calm either in the midst o of challenges g or whenever other persons p werre losing g their cool, were q qualities I loved.

I started chatting g with her and observed those cherished old time character-traits that are no longer g common these days. y The virtues of fidelity, y of enterprise, p of honesty, y values of dedication and a clear vision of where she wanted to go g and I was p pulled by y the forces of those quali q ities and we got g talking g more often until somehow I fell in love. I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say y it was love at fi first sight. g Each p passing g day, y I discovered a woman that was unique q in every y respect p and it was something g that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t common, something g I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find in other women and I got fi g naturally attracted to her until it got g to a point p where I asked her to marry me.

The painful p points p in my y life There are three important p things g I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to talk about. First, as a young y boy y many yy years ago, g I went out of the house taking g a bicycle y for a ride without anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s y permission. It is not something p I would normally y do and I was nearly y crushed by y a moving g vehicle. I took that bicycle y without p permission, without telling g anybody y y and got g myself y exposed p but God d showed me mercy. y Second, when I was in n the university, y there was an incident that happened pp and I was erroneously y tagged gg what I am not. Whenever I look back I jjust say y to myself; y God showed me mercy y because I could have been hurt. Those were two incidents that were remarkable in my y life. Third, when I lost my y fi first cousin who at the time was the closest person p to me. We g grew up p in the same house and I never knew he was my y cousin till I was old enough. g I always y thought g he was my y direct brother and we shared that kind of bond till his death. We lost him in an avoidable circumstance. He died by y a surgery g y that was wrongly g y conducted. Those were the real painful points in my life.

My y biggest gg mistake I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say y it was a mistake. It was a case of lack of discernment and not being firm on my fi y decision. It was about my y choice of course of study y in the university. y I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t follow my y heart, I tried to p please my yp parents and whenever I look back, I say that was one mistake I made.

High g p points in life Well, I will just j mention a few. I became the President of National Union of Rivers State Students at a y young g age g of 21 and made a lot of impact p even though g at the time I was ahead of my y time. However, whenever I look back I realised I was doing the right g things. g I was working g hard to protect my p y integrity g y but the p people p of my y age g then didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand it. Indiscipline p and corruption p had started creeping p g in but I resolved in my y heart not to do the things g that people p p of my y age g were doing at the time. The other one was when I made up p my y mind to p pursue a doctorate degree g p programme. g It was an accident, I had an interaction with a professor p who lectured me during g the Masters p programme g who said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;you y are an exceptionally p y bright g scholar whether y you like it or not, I am recommending g that y you enroll for a Ph.D programme p g and he insisted. At the time, I was g getting g exposed p to making g money y and getting g g involved in just j too many y political p activities which can be a distraction. He said he feels that I am very y bright g and cannot watch my y talent waste and when I look back, I just j thank God that I followed his advice and I pursued p it. At least, it enhanced my y research skills and sharpened p my yq quest for knowledge g and how to apply pp y knowledge g to solve real life p problems. The other remarkable event was the day yIg got married. If I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t g gotten married the time I did, so many y other things g would have distracted me. In life, over time I have had other p passions that I g got really y interested in which I would have made me relegate g family y life to the background g but I thank God. The other thing g I remember is the blessing of children God gave me. I will not

Dakuku with his wife

forget g when I was appointed pp Commissioner for Works in Rivers State and I purposed p p to give my g y best to that assignment. g I am happy ppy I left great g footprints. p The latest of them was the NIMASA assignment. g I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lobby y for the Job, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t talk to anybody y y and I was appointed pp chief executive of NIMASA and I had asked â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;God that if y you see me through this landmine, I would remain eternally y grateful to you g y and looking g back today, yI am satisfi fied I discharged g myself y honourably, delivered on the assignment g and made a mark which would be diffficult for anybody to erase.

Pursuing g vision and heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires Everybody y y in life desires things. g There are things g I desire like anyone y else with modest vision. What differentiates people p p is the way we g go about the p pursuit of our vision and heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires. My y way y to g go about my y heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires is to pray p y to the Almighty g y God, draw up pap plan, work towards it, be very y determined, give g my y best and ask for peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s p p support. pp There is no big g vision you y would accomplish p without peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s p p support pp but fi first that vision must be y yours. To work for the realisation of that vision is yours, y no one can envision for you. y It is your y responsibility p y to identify y your y vision, you y must be p passionate about the vision, y you must formulate a p plan to accomplish p the vision and other people p p can only y support pp you to achieve that vision of yours. y y So, I have clear vision of the kind of things g I want to accomplish p in life. I have my y plans p well documented on how to accomplish p the vision and from time to time, I would ask for support pp wherever I need it. I have no doubt that God will help p me accomplish p those visions of mine before I am called to the other side of the world.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to disappoint pp God The greatest g fear, I must confess, is not to disappoint pp God, my y wife, my y children and my y family; y disappoint pp them in terms of my conduct and character. For me, this is the greatest fear. If there is any g y fear that puts p me on my y toes when I wake up p at night, g it is the fact that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to disappoint pp God, my y family, y and those that trust me. It is my greatest fear in life.

You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always get everything you want Life has taught g me that y you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always y get everything g y gy you want when you y want them. The Holy Book says, and I agree that

Photo: TY Bello

time and chance happeneth pp to them all. It is not about y your smartness, education or your contact that guarantees y g success. I have realised that in life you y can have the right g education, the right g contacts, the right g quali q ities, the right g character yet y you y may y not be a success. There is something g in Christendom called grace g and I have come to realise in life that the grace g factor is something g you y cannot wish away. y In secular world, it is called the luck factor. In other places, p it is described as faith and p preparation p meeting g opportunity. pp p So, y you must be p prepared p and the op pportunity p y must come but there are times you are prepared y p p and the opportunity pp y never comes and there are times the opportunity pp y would come and y you are not p prepared p and so for opportunity pp y to meet p preparation p it is something g that y you need to be g grateful to God for. That is one of the things g life has taught g me that time and chance are important. p You can say y that I have given g my y child the best of education, I taught g my y child to live with integrity g y and be a man of character and therefore it is guaranteed g that he/she will succeed; it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work that way. y Sometimes, you y see those with nasty character succeed in life. Please, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be tempted p to jjoin them because I believe life is more than that.

I was called to leadership at the age of 11 I realised early y in life that I was called to leadership p at the age g of 11. It took a number of events for me to come to that realisation and so I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t g get involved in p politics by y accident or because I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find a jjob or I would have preferred p something g else. I think I had a natural calling g to serve in that area. God p perhaps p called me to serve in that area and He equipped q pp me to play p y that role. I sometimes believe that it is the reason why y each time I am given g an assignment g in leadership p very y often I discharge g myself y very well. I have proven p again g and again g that everything y g is possible p if you y have the vision, passion, determination, encouragement, p g you y are able to mobilise partners p or collaborators to work towards the achievement of an objective or a goal.

The starting point of my political journey y Well, I will tell you y a story. y When I was in p primary y school, the school authority y appoints pp School Monitor, which I believe is what they y call Head Boy, y Head Girl now.

For the first time, the school authorities

I would like to serve God Almighty g y Going g forward there are three things g I deesire. Firstly, y I will like to serve God Almighty. g I will like to be known and remembered as a man of impact. p I will like to leave legacies g and when I say y legacies g not necessarily y physical p y structures; I would like to be a role model to young y g people p p of what a man of character should be. I will like to work with others to raise a successful g generation of leaders who will change g this world by y the kind of things g they y will do and impact p they will make. I will like to also contribute in changing g g society. y I am not satisfied fi with the Nigerian g society y we have today. y I believe that people p p of like-minds should come together g and begin g to work towards changing g g society y so that we would have a society y that works for all of us, one where growth g is sustainable, a society y that all of us will be proud p of. That gives me concerns every g y night. g When I think of the future of my y children, the future of generations that would come after mine and g I ask myself y - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;what legacy g y are we leaving behind for them?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; it g gives me sleepless p nights. g Whenever I think about it, I get g worried and it may y have in nfluenced a lot of my y writings g in the p papers, p which is deeply py shaped by my concern for the future of our country.

Motivations for my strategic turnn around book There are fi five main reasons why y I decided to write the Strategic g Turnaround. First, I wanted those who are serving g in public p offi ffice or who may y be appointed pp in future to serve to learn from our failures and succcesses in NIMASA. The reason is that failure teaches a lot of lessons and can strengthen g anyone y to achieve amazing g results. Second, we wanted to shore up p the con nfidence of those in public p offi ffice to believe in possibilities p no matter the odds. NIMASA at the time we were appointed pp was almost an institution that was a liability y but today y it is the toast of the nation. Third, we wanted to document our experience p for posterity. p y Fourth, we chose to put p together g a reference material or a workbook, sort of, so all those who want to embark on organisational g renewal can see a model that worked, to pick p vital lessons from our experience. p Finally, y we applied pp principles p p of transformational leadership p in a p public sector organisation g and scholars of leadership will have lessons to learn from the way y we applied pp the p principles. p Strategic g Turnaround brings g insight g in form of a story y to show that the British model of p public service system y without adaptation p to our local setting g will have diffi fficulty y delivering g the results we expect. p Our cultural context and environment are unique q so when we import p leadership p and management g p principles p we should adapt them to our situation. We magni g ified what Peter Drucker said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;that you y donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t manage g what y you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t measureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Our emphasis p in the NIMASA jjourney y was g get to the root of the p problem, we called that diagnosis, g then set goals g to achieve desired results, and the second is p performance measurement at every y unit of the organisation g and at the organisation-wide g level. We used a lot of stories or narratives to show the importance p of q quantitative and q qualitative measurement of outcome. Finally, y we used a g good number of African folklore to show that a lot of leadership p and management g p principles are embedded in our African stories.

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ë&#x153; 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Funke Akindeleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Omo Ghettoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Saga Continues With a subtitle, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Sagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the official trailer for the forthcoming episode of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Omo Ghettoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; series is stoking anticipation for the movie. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

S

ubtitled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Sagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Funke Akindele highly anticipated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Omo Ghetto,â&#x20AC;? is already making the rounds as one movie to watch out this festive season. The sequel which marks Funke and her partner/hubby, JJC Skillz first joint directorial debut, promises to be star studded as usual. The actress turned producer, in Omo Ghetto The Saga, reunites with Eniola Badmus who played the character Busty.

Expectedly, the upcoming movie packs star cast. Same as the prequel, Omo Ghetto The Sagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story follows Lefty and her friends, Nikky, Busty and Chummy Choko in Askamaya Ghetto.

The film stars Funke AkindeleBello, alongside Chioma Akpotha (as Chummy Choko), Eniola Badmus (as Busty), Bimbo Thomas (as Nikky), Akah Nnani, Alex Ekubo, Zubby Michael, Deyemi Okanlawon, Timini Egbuson, Paschaline Alex, Mercy Aigbe among others. The original film; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Omo Ghettoâ&#x20AC;?, starred Rachael Oniga, Taiwo Hassan, Yinka Quadri, Eniola Badmus, Ronke Ojo and many more. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Omo Ghetto The Sagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; features other actors such as Tina Mba, Femi Jacobs, Timini Egbuson and Blossom Chukwujekwu. Also expected to feature in the upcoming film is popular singer, Naira Marley.

According to Funke, Naira Marley will make a cameo appearance. The actress confirmed casting Marley in the film earlier in the year. Ten years after returning to set, Funke filmed some of the scenes in Dubai. The official trailer which was released last weekend stoked anticipation for the movie. The dramatic teaser gives glimpses of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to come and the drama that will unfold. You wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprise seeing fans of the superstar actress hum the movie soundtrack. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Emi lo mo ghettoâ&#x20AC;Ś Lefty Omo Ghettoâ&#x20AC;ŚI was born in the

L-R: Bimbo Thomas, Chioma Akpotha, Funke Akindele and Eniola Badmus in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Omo Ghettoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

ghettoâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The original Omo Ghetto tells the story of twin sisters reunited by series of dramatic twists. The filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plot is woven around two twins (played by Funke as Ayomide and Lefty) who are separated at birth. Twenty years later, both are living two completely different lives. One is a ghetto kid and leader of a notorious female gang. The

other, a pretty rich girl is raised in affluence and has anger issues.

The very popular ghetto twin is daring and ridiculously uncouth in her manners while the rich kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temper almost results in the death of her fiancĂŠe. This incidence made her go into hiding for fear of being jailed.

The ghetto twin and her gang are apprehended on their way to unleash terror on an unsuspecting victim.

The fact that Funke actually played the ghetto girl that awesomely is a very good one. Characters like Lefty, Nicky, Busty and Omojoyibo all did their part in showing the other side of life you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wanna be against.

The slum board was complete with Adebayo Salami playing the role of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Funke for her creativity and trying to step out of the box, shone through.

Diâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ja is Ready with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Inyamuriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mavin Records star, Diâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ja, unveils a new single called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Inyamuriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports Off her forthcoming EP, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aphropop vol. 1â&#x20AC;?, Mavin Records star Diâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ja has dropped a new single â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Inyamuriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, produced by DJ Coublon. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been working on a new set of projects with one of them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aphropop Vol. 1â&#x20AC;? almost ready to go, and the second, Vol. 2, in its final stages.

The Aphropop Series is aimed at appealing across all moods. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My project Aphropop Vol.1 and 2 is something I am excited about,â&#x20AC;? Diâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ja, real name Hadiza Salma Blell revealed earlier in the year.

Talking about the new track, the songstress wrote via her Instagram page: â&#x20AC;&#x153;@coublon x @only1klem How do I talk about working with you both without crying tears of Joy? Please support our work by Pre-adding the link in my Bio. Muntanen Arziki Ranan Jummaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a zan sake sabon waka. Allah ya Kai mu.

After the protests I realised we have allowed hate to grow so much we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get through to one another. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always curious where hate stems from because I love so deeply. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the way, this Cover was designed by one of my followers @mimieekay. #4dijanationbydijanation. Words have history and i want us to talk about. #Onelove #Inyamuri.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Inyamuriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; follows â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yaraye Iyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, both of them very upbeat songs which she dropped months back. Only last year,

she released the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aphrodijaâ&#x20AC;? EP, and since then has released two other singles from her Aphropop Vol. 1. Diâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;jaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent releases have stayed more true to her Northern roots. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In my life I constantly go back and forth with what I know. This is what defines who we are and what we have to share with the world. You are currently seeing a reflection of my lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experiences and how it entwines with the path I have chosen as a career. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m forever changing, infusing and evolving.

How my music is interpreted is up to the listener.

I hope you allow yourself to fall in love with my music. I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t call it a shift, more like two sides of the same coin,â&#x20AC;? she said in recent interview.

Further on her forthcoming EP, the mother of two acknowledged that the Northern sound and the upbeat mood are common themes on the northern front. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes, my project Aphropop Vol.1 and 2 is something I am excited about. In truth all my backgrounds play a part in building the foundation of my songs, alongside infusions of what you have learned and entangled with along the way.â&#x20AC;?

Diâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ja

21

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ë&#x153; 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Linda Ikejiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Search of Husband It is widely known that popular blogger, Linda Ikeji is super rich, and with means not a few single mothers and women her age would aspire. But the internet sensation croons sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;still looking for hubby sha.â&#x20AC;? Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

D

espite all the accomplishments and possessions, Linda Ikeji wants a man in her life. The mother of one made this known via her Instagram page last Tuesday, while showing off two of her expensive cars. The multimedia personality expressed excitement about the kind of life that she is living. The former model said she is living her dreams on her own terms.

The celebrity blogger, noted that though she is independent and strong, she still needs a partner.

The media woman had shared a photo of herself posing with her new 2020 Autobiography Range Rover and her Bentley Mulsanne cars. She bought the Range Rover as birthday gift to herself. Standing beside both cars, the blogger stated that she is living the life of her dreams on her own terms. Speaking on the desires of her heart, Linda wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Living the life of my dreams...on my own terms! #RR2020 #BentleyMulsanne. #womanlikelinda.

Selfmade. Strong. Independent. But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still looking for husband sha...â&#x20AC;?

This comes two months after celebrating her big 40th birthday and splurged herself with designer shoes and bags. Noting that she loved her life, Linda stated that one of the perks of being financially independent was that she could do whatever she liked.

But as it is, nothing appears to be more important to Linda than family. For years she had hammered on how much she was looking forward to getting married, having children and building her own family and she believed God was going to come through for her on that one wish, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but I have come to understand that we have no control over what life throws at us no matter how much we plan, pray, or work.â&#x20AC;?

Her dream of building a family with her baby daddy (Sholaye Jeremi), crashed when she â&#x20AC;&#x153;fall pregnantâ&#x20AC;? and gave birth

Linda Ikeji

to her lovely son, Jayce. That relationship went viral back in 2018 and was the butt of jokes after the blogger announced that things between them have gone sour.

Linda would then come under heavy criticism after she revealed her pregnancy outside wedlock. She even faced heavier

criticisms when she revealed that she and her baby daddy had gone their separate ways.

She went on to tell-all how their relationship started following her one night chance at Wheat Baker Hotel and how the Jeremi dumped her after impregnating her. Prior

to meeting her estranged baby daddy, Linda once revealed that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most important thing is a man who supports what I do.

If he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t support it, there is no Linda Ikeji and the person. That cannot happen. A man who respects women, who is kindhearted, has his own money, has a job.â&#x20AC;?

Traidmarc Releases â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Epilogueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;To AllThe Broken Heartedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hits Cinemas Tosin Clegg

M

cDonald Emiantor popularly known as Traidmarc just released a 24-tracks album entitled, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Epilogueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. He could trace his journey into rap from growing up listening to hip hop music from the electrifying, Tupac. PACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s influence paved in a lot of him as he gently glided into hip hop and soared onwards.

Talking about his album he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Epilogueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with 24 tracks is a masterpiece, a class act. I say that with all confidence because of the amount of work that went into that. I have a decade worth of experience that has come into the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Epilogue.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Everything about the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Epilogueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has been my story, my journey. I write about the things I go through. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like writing fictional work. I write factual work.

My songs are not gangstar stuff, kill you, shoot you, bang, bang, boom, boom, boom â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no. My music is about my lifestyle and how I live my life as a boss. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything I have been through from when I was homeless, being kicked out, moving from place to place, having nowhere to stay, trying to figure out how to make my booths straight because I got bills to pay. I got introduced to

Tosin Clegg

Traidmarc

Tony who gave me my first weight.â&#x20AC;?

Traidmarc is hopeful that his music would gradually settle into the Nigeria market and earn him a spot to explore and grow fansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; base. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I already have a lot of fans in Nigeria.

My music is out there popping. My fans in Nigeria love it. Shout out to all my fans in Nigeria.

You guys know you are the reason we are doing what we are doing, putting Nigeria on the map.

I want the rest of the world to know that great talents can come out of Nigeria.

From the stables of Nevada Bridge Tv, comes this intriguing Romantic Drama called â&#x20AC;&#x153;To All The Broken Heartedâ&#x20AC;?. It features a star cast of Gideon Okeke, Bimbola Akintola, Uche Elendu, Ego Nwosu, Desmond Elliot and a host of others.

The movie journeys through the life of Ego Nwosu playing the role of Elena who finds herself dealing with a broken home and the tragic loss of her twin sister.

As the movie rolls in, she accidentally falls for the guy next door, Gideon Okeke who plays the role of Jubril Al Hassan. Ugly truths are uncovered as challenges arise, forcing the two love birds to decide if they want to fight for what they have or let it go.

This movie directed by Desmond Elliot centers on the

consciousness of addressing the reality of heart break, PTSD and the importance of mental health and sanity.

Uche Elendu and Gideon Okeke

22

Ë&#x153; Ëž DECEMBER 5, 2020

EVENTS

O

n Sunday November 22, 2020, Muslim Ummah of SouthWest Nigeria (MUSWEN), an aggregration of all Muslim Associations in South-West converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting to

ratify the appointments of the National President and National Deputy President of the association. At the gathering, Alhaji Abdulrasaki Oladejo emerged as National President and Alhaji RaďŹ u Adisa Ebiti as National Deputy President.

Here are dignitaries that graced the occasion

L-R: Newly appointed President, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alh. AbdulRasaki Oladejo; Former Executive Secretary/ CEO, MUSWEN, Prof. Dos Noibi; newly appointed National Deputy President, MUSWEN, Alh. RaďŹ u Adisa Ebiti

L-R: National Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Ahmad; Former Chairman, Finance Committee, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN)/Past President of ICAN, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi; Chairman, Olabisi Onabanjo University Muslim Community, Prof. Lasun Gbadamosi; Executive Secretary/ CEO, MUSWEN, Prof. Muslim Tayo Yahya; and Chairman, MUSWEN, General Assembly Planning Committee, Prof. Abdulbaniy Olayinka Raji

L-R:Member, BOT, MUSWEM, Alh. Kunle Sanni and Executive Secretary/CEO, MUSWEM, Prof. M. T. Yahya

L-R: National Amir of Companion, Alhaji Wale Sonaike and Chairman Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi

L-R: Alhaja Nimutallahi Tafa-Salaam, Alhaja Sekinat Adekola and Dr.(Mrs).

Lateefa Durosinmi

R-L: Prof. M.A Durosinmi and Prof. Muibi Opeloye

L-R; Chairman, Ibadan Muslim Community, Alh. Bayo Oyero and former Mimister for Communication, Dr, Abdur Raheem Adebayo-Shittu

L-R: Alhaji Jamiu Ekungba and Alhaji RaďŹ u Adisa Ebiti

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍłË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

EVENTS

L-R: Alhaji AbdulRasaki Oladejo, Managing Director, CRC Credit Bureau, Dr. Ahmed Tunde Popoola and Alhaji RaďŹ u Adisa Ebiti

Alhaji Lere Alimi reading the citation of the newly appointed  National Deputy President of MUSWEN, Alhaji RaďŹ u Adisa Ebiti

BoT MUSWEN, Alhaja Adekola

National Amira of Criteriun, Alhaja Yewande Oyefeso

L-R: Senator Gbenga Kaka and Captain Rasheed Adisa Raji (Rtd)

L-R President, MSCIA, Ekiti Chapter, Alh. Sanni Yakubu Oladoro; National President, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alh. AbdulRasaki Oladejo; and National Deputy President,MUSWEN, Alh. RaďŹ u Adisa Ebiti

L-R: Chairman Education Board, Ansar-Ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Prof. Babatunde Ogunsanwo and National President, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (Diaspora), Alhaji RaďŹ u Saani Omiteru

L-R: Keynote Speaker/Chief of StaďŹ&#x20AC; to Ogun State Governor, Alh. Shuiabi Salis; Sheikh Musak Nojimudeen; and Alh. (Imam) Abibullahi Akinpelumi

Cross Section of Delegates

Managing Director, AIMS Media Communications, Hajia Amina Mohammed and others

Cross Section of Delegates

24

Ë&#x153; Ëž DECEMBER 5, 2020

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

BY

Accident, Not A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; ccidentedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Cars

Y

ou are welcome to this first edition in the last month of the year: â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śled a team to present to him notification (a notification) letterâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;ŚOrtom said he had turned down many awards but decided to acceptâ&#x20AC;Śbecause the newspaper has (had) distinguished itself as a reputable platform for objective journalism.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;GOtv unveilsâ&#x20AC;Śas brand ambassador, kicks-off (kicks off) iconic tourâ&#x20AC;? (PAGE 2 BUSINESS, November 18) â&#x20AC;&#x153;The IGPâ&#x20AC;Śyesterday maintained that he is (was) in firm and full control of the Nigeria Police Force.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śraised the alarm on the decrepit state of the clinic and called for a probe on (into) its poor facilities, (otiose comma) despite the huge budgetary allocation to it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Muhammadu Buhari spent some time in London (a London) hospital in his first term in office for medical treatment.â&#x20AC;? What else would he have gone to the hospital to do if not (medical) treatment? Perhaps televangelism! â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śas accidented (accident) vehicles flood Nigerian portsâ&#x20AC;? (BUSINESS/ MARITIME NEWS, November 18) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Accidentedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a Nigerian creation that has no etymological bearing! â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śnot alleged injustice meted on (meted out to) the South East actuated his defection.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reps raise alarm (the alarm) over planned takeover of Chibok by insurgentsâ&#x20AC;? I quite appreciate the fact that articles are, most times, not allowed in headlines. But, we cannot because of this tamper with fixed expressions. The option is to find an alternative or strictly keep to morphological rules. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hack writers (Hacks), journalists of fortune and Ayadeâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those who take laws into their hands

do so at their own riskâ&#x20AC;? (Imo Government Press Release, November 25) Stock entry: take the law into your own hands.

A rewrite: Those who take the law into their own hands....

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk sports: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Osimhen (Osimhenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) market value drops to N22bâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;A delegate of the PDP in Ogun Stateâ&#x20AC;Ś slumped and died in the early hours of Thursday in an hotel in Abeokuta, the state capital.â&#x20AC;? This is certainly the old school genre. New class: a hotel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Police absolves security agencies of electoral fraudâ&#x20AC;? It would be astounding for the Nigeria Police to indict fellow state gangsters! And, of course: police absolve (not absolves). â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śeven if it means going extra milesâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? I will go the extra mile (note the fixed expression) to ensure that this column appears unfailingly every week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And like (as) someone said recentlyâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śin the evacuation of dead bodies to mortuary.â&#x20AC;? On a clinical note: corpses instead of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dead bodiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and a mortuary or mortuaries, depending on the fact of the matter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śas well as condoning the place and evacuating the dead and survivors to nearest health facilities.â&#x20AC;? Bomb blasts and conflicting figures: cordoning off (take note of the spelling and correct entry) the place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There seems (seem) to be stiff competitions among the foreign media and local press as well asâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śpoliticians are also culprits in overheating the system with provocative statements in blaming their opponents over (for) every misdeed.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baring few skirmishes which regrettably led to the death of four personsâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;?

An anatomy of the season of linguistic violence: there is a world of distinction between â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a fewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (which correctly applies here) and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which connotatively suggests an expectation of more skirmishesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

except if the writer has a weird denotative inclination towards potentialities for more skirmishes! Otherwise, the extract is lexically absurd because of his regret. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just imagine a young man that rounded up his apprenticeship as a welder.â&#x20AC;?

This is an indication of the current malaise in scholarship: a situation where a lecturer cannot distinguish between phrasal verbs, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;round upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;round offâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (which applies here). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Will anybody please let us know which country became a super-power by allowing its best brains to roam about the world?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Roamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; encompasses â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aboutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;News from the universities are no longer about innovation.â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? News is news (uncountable). â&#x20AC;&#x153;The condition, which is said to be due to an abnormality in either the number or structure of the chromosomes, cuts across every races.â&#x20AC;? Get it right: every race or all races. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Janet, a twelve-year-old and the third child of her parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; four offsprings and the only one with the problemâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Offspringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is non-count. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since 1993, funding of oil exploration have (has) been beset by different levels of problems.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;In answering this question we classify the outcomes into long term and short term implications.â&#x20AC;? The greatest problem of journalists: unnecessary embellishment (outcome) of words. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is clearly a danger signal as the time between discovering an oil field and commercially putting it on stream could be between four to five years.â&#x20AC;? No analysis: between four and five or from four to five years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lack of funds cripple waste management activitiesâ&#x20AC;? Another error of attraction: Lack of funds cripples. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nevertheless, the donor country is also interested in this decision to ensure that the loan is repaid as at when due with its accrued interest.â&#x20AC;? Without any periscope:

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

the loan is repaid when due (not â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;as at when dueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which is pleonastic). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Government should consider the destructive effect that further delay in the sale of rescued banks would mete out on the banking systemâ&#x20AC;?. Stock phrase: mete out to (not on) the banking system. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the family cannot truely relish at least a decent meatâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? Spelling counts: truly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A man does not have to be a money bag (sic) before he can dress well and look charming in his own little way.â&#x20AC;? Brighten up your English usage: A man does not have to be a moneybagsâ&#x20AC;Ś. Moneybag is a sac! â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śin addition, (sic) to dispensing drugs for immediate relief and giving counsel on the steps necessary to prevent a reoccurrence.â&#x20AC;? Good grammar: recurrence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śit sent the signal that those responsible for the security of lives and properties in Oyo State are working at cross-purposesâ&#x20AC;?. Some caution, please: life and property. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The arsonists usually escape with their loot as the embattled market lays in ashes, leaving many traders terminally ruined financially.â&#x20AC;? There should be no dilemma: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;laysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;liesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I still remember vividly that when it was my turn to speak at the occasionâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;?

I thought we had gone past this stage: on (never at) the occasion.

Remembrance: The first and last time when I met with the (vital article often omitted by most writers) late Dr. Ernest Ogunade in his UNILAG mass communication departmental office, he profusely and profoundly commended my newspaper grammatical interventions as published in the heyday of Daily Times.

May his cerebral soul continue to rest in peace (not â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;perfect peaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as abused in Nigeria)!

TRIBUTE

Farewell Chief Felix Nwokeji Sonnie Ekwowusi

C

hief Felix Iloehiagu Umeilogbu Nwokeji (a.k.a senior citizen of Amichi) who quietly slept away on Thursday November 12 2020, aged 90 was, by popular acclamation, an easy-going and amiable self-made man. If ever a person looked like an accomplished man, a man who had squandered the advantage of intelligence and the friendship of successful people, it was

Felix.

Something interesting happened between me and Felix this year. I had met him in early this year. He told me he had turned 90 and would be inviting me for the celebration scheduled for March 2020 I was perplexed on hearing that he had turned 90. Why? Because he did not look it at all. He wore a young and slim physique. He looked every inch a fair-complexioned handsome man although he had slightly breached his face and dyed his hair. He looked strong and agile. In fact, he could pass for a man of 50 or 60.

Asked what had kept him so young over the last 90 years, he smiled and whispered something to my ear which I cannot readily remember now. Anyway I accepted to honour his invitation and to attend his 90th birthday celebration which had been scheduled to hold in March 2020 but had to be postponed owing to the ravaging coronavirus pandemic. After this encounter I completely forgot about Felix and his 90th celebration. But in October 2020 I received a WhatsApp message from Felix reminding me about the celebration and that it had been rescheduled to hold on 6th December 2020.

How is it said again? Man proposes but God disposes. Felix had worked hard to put together a befitting 90th birthday celebration on 6th December, in order to thank God for, as he put it, â&#x20AC;&#x153;his multiple merciesâ&#x20AC;? for him. He had invited so many friends and acquaintances, townsmen, business partners for the big celebration. But unfortunately death snatched him away even before 6th December.

Like most Igbo businessmen in Lagos, Felix rose to stardom from a very humble beginning. He came to Lagos in 1962 to

establish a small-scale business but due to lack of funds he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sustain the business. In order to continue eking out a living, Felix decided to take up a paid employment in Lagos. In the course of doing that he developed a certain appetite for a formal education. Consequently he enrolled to study medical DRS in a medical school. Upon graduation after a two-year study, Felix was admitted to do his housemanship at Kiki Hospital. Thereafter he worked for the Lagos General Hospital. At the Lagos General Hospital, he worked directly under Dr. Dozie Ikedife and Dr. Emmanuel Iwenofu respectively. Having exceedingly excelled in his job, Felix was poached by St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, where he worked for a few years before resigning to establish his own Pharmacy shop at Abule-Ijesha, Yaba, Lagos.

No sooner had Felix established his own Pharmacy shop than the Nigerian Civil War broke out forcing Felix to flee and abandon the Pharmacy shop he had labored to establish.

After the Civil War in 1970, Felix went to his bank and luckily for him the money in his bank account was still there. Consequently he withdrew the money and used it to set up another Pharmacy shop this time at No. 1 Owedele Street, Surulere, Lagos. But unfortunately, pharmacy retail business at that time was not a thriving business. Therefore Felix quit the pharmacy business and switched over to the textile business. He had his shops at both Martins Street, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Lagos. A few years down the line, Felix left the textile business and ventured into the electrical business, which again, he later abandoned and moved over to the Vehicle spare parts business at Isale Eko, Idumota, Lagos. In 1998 Felix finally retired from all businesses after his children had successfully succeeded him in the management of the businesses I may be wrong, but I think Felix belonged to the old school of thought which teaches that success in life results from diligence and unmatched zeal and commitment in the fulfillment of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily duty. With the death of Felix, another chapter has been closed in the generation of Nigerians who believe that handwork and sheer determination really pave the way to success. Felixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meteorological rise to stardom in his different entrepreneurial callings could be attributed to his knack for handiwork and resilience in the face of obstacles.

I think Felix will be most remembered for his great contribu-

Nwokeji

tion to the promotion of community development especially the Amichi Community. Oftentimes we delude ourselves into thinking that what matters in life is fame, power or a sparkling professional life of material success forgetting that communallybinding ideals are key to real human advancement. Recognizing that sustainable development finds its true meaning and fulfillment in sustainable values, Felix spent the greater part of his retirement in co-founding and supporting many values-based community developments.

In an age in which untrammeled individualism and selfishness and inordinate ambition to acquire material wealth and enjoy bodily pleasure, it is irresistible not be edified by the dogged commitments of Felix in teaming up with others in promoting community development. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The work of dying well, is, in largest part, the work of living wellâ&#x20AC;?, writes Richard John Neuhaus in his book: As I lay Dying.

Felix, in my view, has lived well and has died well too. His exemplary life in the promotion of community development has shown that public life can be used to serve society.

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ECEMBER 5, 2020

POLITY

Oyo PDP and the Storm Makinde Must Weather Babajide Balogun

I

n Oyo State, there is absolutely no confusion about the fact that the scenario playing out within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party where some senior members of the party are expressing open hostility against Governor Seyi Makinde of the same PDP is a classic case of political backstabbing. Between the governor and his traducers, someone or both parties must be in the wrong.

For any observer of political developments in the PDP in Oyo State before the last governorship election, the current hostility which some of the chieftains of the party are throwing at Governor Seyi Makinde was almost inescapable. During the primaries for the gubernatorial ticket of the party, many amongst the chieftains of the PDP at the state level of the party did not have Mankinde as their choice candidate. In most part, they saw him as a stranger in the PDP who had crossed from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in order to usurp their privileges. Even though that was not to be, as Makinde gave a warm embrace to all of them.

But despite his openness, their fear was that Makinde had a very formidable grassroots network across the state and he possessed a financial war-chest that could give the incumbent APC a tough run for its money. He came with a humongous capital and it was not unexpected that Makinde came out victorious in the contest for the PDP’s ticket.

Then, it came to the time for campaigns for the general election. It is not a secret that a lot of stakeholders of the PDP left Makinde to face his campaign alone with no form of a tangible support. For some of them, they would prefer the APC winning the election so that they can run again in 2023. For some others, they merely hate the idea that Makinde was not ready to submit himself to adopt them as a godfather. Many a time, they would even hold meetings without inviting him and rumour was rife that quite a few of them was actively working for the APC to win the election.

The moment Makinde secured the ticket of the PDP was the time that some of the leaders of the party began to hobnob with the APC up to the point that they even publicly refused to support the PDP candidate for Oyo Central senatorial district and pursued the litigation of the APC against the PDP winner of that election up until the Supreme Court.

For Governor Makinde who is at the receiving end

of these games of betrayal, there are strings of options before him to consider. The governor could choose to be agnostic about happenings in the party; pretend that everything is fine and move on with the hope that, someday, his enemies within would beat a retreat and begin to be loyal to him. He could choose to fight back openly and escalate the tension in a way that would distract him with heavy consequences on his ability to provide good governance for the citizenry. The State has witnessed this kind of eruption before in the days of the conflict between late High Chief Lamidi Adedibu and then governor Rashidi Ladoja. Governor Makinde might also quite well be taciturn in dishing out revenge to the disloyal elements.

The truth of the matter, however, is that should the turf war within the PDP get more intense and the people are to take a side between Governor Makinde and his challengers, not only would the people side with the governor on account of his performance, they might also cast his challengers as enemies of public interest.

The Makinde administration has opened up Oyo State to a fortune of good governance in a way that the people have not seen in a long time. Taking the path of confrontation with such a performing governor like Makinde is an act of political indiscretion. In the contrary, anyone who is a member of the PDP in Oyo State should be proud of Governor Makinde and be reasonable enough to support the governor in his drive to deliver good governance to the people.

Within two years, Oyo state has seen massive investment in public education such that gone are the days that every family even those with very lean means must send their children to private schools. I was reading in the news just recently how the governor went on an inspection of an education facility that was about collapsing. Why won’t the people love such a governor?

Pensioners in Oyo State affirm that in the first 18-months of Makinde administration, they have received payments more than what they collected in the 8 years of the previous administration. Likewise, civil servants not being owed one single month of salary since the inception of this PDP adminmistration. Why won’t the people fall in love with such a governor?

Infrastructure that have long been neglected in the state like hospitals and the Adamasingba stadium are having a turn around and new roads are being constructed, while at the same time the state is steadily growing its internally generated revenue - what kind

Makinde

of administrative wizardry the governor employs to make what seemed previously impossible now become a walk on the cake, no one understands. And, yet, politicians in the PDP are angry with the governor because he is not letting them loose to eat the destiny of Oyo State away. Why won’t the people love Governor Makinde?

One thing is clear: between feeding the insatiable appetite of the politician and the delivery of promises of good governance to the people, the Makinde administration has taken a side. The governor is with the people and the people, too, are with him.

And, if what it would take for Oyo State to keep soaring in Human Development Index is the fight that politicians from both sides of the isle have picked with the governor, then our prayer is that may the fight never end. We appeal with Governor Makinde to keep that fight on for as long as it can last.

––Balogun wrote this piece from Oluyole Estate, Ibadan.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Acting Director General Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Ambrose Oruche; President,MAN, Mansur Ahmed; Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Farouk A. Salim; and Director Product Certification Lead Assesor, (SON), Tersoo Orngudwem, during the interactive session between SON and MAN Council members in Lagos... recently

L-R: Non-Executive Independent Director, SEPLAT, Mr. Basil Omiyi; CEO SEPLAT, Mr. Roger Brown; the Chairman, Dr. ABC Orjiako; Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and Non-Executive Independent Director, SEPLAT, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, during a visit by a team of select Board and Management of the company to the Governor in Edo State... recently

L-R: Commissioner for Insurance and CEO, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas, presenting the insurance license of Stanbic IBTC Insurance Limited to Regional Chief Executive (West Africa), Standard Bank Group, Mr. Yinka Sanni, at the NAICOM Headquarters, Abuja ...recentl

L-R: Publisher, Brand Communicator, Joshua Ajayi; General Manager, Media Panache, Peniel Bello; Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami; and Managing Director, Jubilee Life Mortgage Bank, Gbenga Mayungbe, at the second edition of BrandCom Awards where Media Panache emerged Young Agency of the Year (Public Relations) during the award ceremony held in Lagos...recently

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ë&#x153; 2020

FAIRGROUND

Chika Ikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lavish 35th Birthday Party

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

A

ctress Chika Ike who turned 35 early November threw a lavish party at Shiro Lagos where her col- leagues, family, friends and business partners attended in style. Shiro Lagos was transformed with exquisite decor to celebrate the actress and business woman.

Some of the big names in attendance were Cecil Hammond, Rita Dominic, Eucheria Anunobi, Nse Ikpe Etim, Ayo Makun (Ay), Mike Ezuruonye, Beverly Osu, Juliet Ibrahim, Williams Uchemba, Ini Edo, Linus Okorie, Basket mouth, Michelle Dede, Lily Afe, Eniola Badmus and Sir Uti. They all showed up ready to party and they did not disappoint as pictures and videos showed all of them throw it down on the dance floor as they celebrated with their friend and colleague. Denrele Edun was the official MC.

Juliet Ibrahim, Chika Ike and Lillian Afegbai

Chika Ike

Chioma Ude, Ini Edo and Denrenle Edun

Chigurl, Cecil Hammond, Chika ike and Olisa Adibua

Eniola Badmus, Chika Ike, Eucharia Anunobi and Adaobi Harmony

Nse-nkpe Ettim, Chioma Omurah, Basket mouth, Ini Edo and Chioma Ude

Mike Ezeronye, William Uchemba, Chika Ike and Ayo Makun

Mary Uranta, Chika Ike, and Beverly Osu

Michelle Dede, Ini Edo, Chika Ike and Rita Dominic

GLOBAL SOCCER

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

5.12.2020

NEWS

201ST NORTH LONDON DERBY PAGE. 29

Karim Adeyemi

The Record Breaker

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾DECEMBER 5, 2020

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Karim Adeyemi

The Record Breaker He not only scored the goal that that put the light off Lokomotiv Moscow inTuesday’s Champions League group stage but also gave Red Bull Salzburg a fighting chance of proceeding to the knockout stages of the competition, Karim Adeyemi’s goal on Tuesday was indeed symbolic as he becomes his club’s youngest goal scorer in the history of the competition

A

t 18 years and 318 days, Nigerian wonderkid Karim Adeyemi on Tuesday set a new landmark for Austrian giants, Red Bull Salzburg as he broke a Champions League record when he scored in their 3-1 victory at Lokomotiv Moscow.

Adeyemi added Salzburg’s third in the 81st minute away at the RZDArena, finally killing off the contest after Anton Miranchuk had pulled one back for Lokomotiv two minutes beforehand following a first-half double from the visitors’ Mergim Berisha.

In finding the net,Adeyemi becomes youngest player ever to score in the Champions League for RB Salzburg.

His goal capped off an excellent outing for the Austrian champions, as they finally ended a run of five UCL games without a victory—losing four and drawing one match during that spell.

Surprisingly, their goalscoring has been impressive even if they haven’t been able to pick up victories, with only Bayern Munich scoring more goals per game across the last two UEFA Champions League campaigns out of the clubs to feature in both editions of the tournament.

While the impressive Berisha will hog the headlines, the goal was a landmark moment for Adeyemi who is continuing to rebuild his career after leaving Bayern Munich amidst a cloud after disciplinary issues overshadowed his immense potential.

He was an Austrian champion with the club last season, and has one league goal in six TMobile Bundesliga outings so far this season.

The youngster, who was born in Munich, has represented Germany up to U-17 level, but is yet to progress further up the national-team ranks.

Despite the victory, ending a run of three consecutive defeats, Salzburg are up against it as they look to qualify for the knockout stages after being drawn into GroupAalongside Bayern and Atletico Madrid.

The two heavyweights are currently in place to reach the last 16 on 13 and six points respectively, but Salzburg could leapfrog Atletico into second if they defeat them inAustria in a winner-takes-all showdown in game week six on December 9.

The 18-year-old had to overcome a number of obstacles as a young man but now looks set for a career at the very top of the game teenage footballers deal with rejection in different ways.

Being cast aside by the club you have dreamed of representing can be tough at any age, but particularly for those who are perhaps too young to fully understand why.

The majority of those youngsters eventually slip out of the game completely, playing only in their leisure time.

Others are able to make professional careers for themselves, albeit at a lower level than they may have hoped for.

The tiny few, however, are able to deal with such disappointment and channel it as such that they can go on to fulfil their potential elsewhere, becoming a household name the world over in the process.

For Adeyemi, the signs are that he will follow the third path, with the forward recovering from release by Bayern Munich to become one of the brightest prospects in European football.

The 18-year-old - was earlier this year named as one of the top 50 teenage footballers on the planet in Goal’s annual NxGn list.

Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal have all already been credited with interest despite Adeyemi only making his senior debut for Salzburg in February, having spent the first half of the season on loan with FC Liefering in

Karim Adeyemi

the Austrian second division.

It is all a far cry away from his humble beginnings at local club Forstenried, though he would not be there long once the reigning Bundesliga champions got him in their sights.

“The football boots and equipment in general that I had at the beginning were not that great,” he tells Goal of his time at Forstenried. “We didn’t play on the grass either, but on the red earth or on the rubber court. But these were not in the foreground for me at the time - the most important thing was to get to know the boys and play together.

“In winter we often had small indoor tournaments where I could show myself, and Bayern scouts were present. They contacted my parents and offered me a trial. Since I’m from Munich and Bayern is the best club in the city, it used to be my favourite club, I was really happy to get the chance to play with the best young players in Munich. My idol has always beenArjen Robben.

The way he went one-on-one and his precise shots on goal impressed me.

“I would not say that I was particularly nervous. I was just playing football and at that moment I wasn’t really concerned with whether I would be accepted or not. The training was very different, much more intensive and structured.

At Forstenried there were a lot of players, while at Bayern the groups were smaller. In short, the quality and conditions were simply higher.”

Despite impressing his coaches on the field, away from the pitch issues began to arise with Adeyemi’s family and the Bayern hierarchy

while there are claims that his own behaviour began to deteriorate; so much so that he was eventually let go by the five-time European champions.

“At Bayern it quickly became clear that there was a precise plan. If you, as a player, stepped out of line or did not stick to this plan, you usually received little support,” Adeyemi reveals. “I don’t think the club is betting on players who have their own ideas how to attack.

Ultimately, however, every club deals with this topic differently. I don’t want to judge which way is the right way. After all, Bayern are an absolutely top club.

“It remains to be seen whether Bayern felt I had a lack of discipline. I don’t think that was the decisive factor. It just didn’t fit with Bayern anymore. We didn’t get along so well anymore.

The relationship between my parents and the sports director at the time was no longer as it should be. But that’s yesterday’s news.

“Of course, I was sad at first, but shortly afterwards I just continued playing football and decided to go back to my old club in Forstenried. After a tournament in which scouts from Unterhaching were present, they came up to me and wanted to sign me.”

It was at Unterhaching where Adeyemi met the man who would go on to mentor him throughout his early teenage years, Manfred Schwabi.

Schwabl noted the behavioural issues that were plaguing Adeyemi’s progress and ensured that his young charge was placed on the right path

both on and off the field, even going as far as to ban him from training until he had evidence that his attitude at school had improved.

“I was a very active child who needed a lot of leeway,” recalls Adeyemi. “I couldn’t keep still and always had to move. Then there was the fact that school was never easy for me. That not only got on my parents’ nerves, but also got on his (Schwabl’s) nerves.

“There were often discussions about school, including with the club. At some point we got it right. My excuse has always been: ‘The teacher is to blame’. I’m not a guy who can sit and watch at school for hours. I think I have now understood that I was responsible.”

It was Salzburg, though, who eventually secured his signing, spending a reported €3 million to add the 16-year-old to a system that is becoming increasingly famous as a football finishing school.

“I think it doesn’t matter which club you play at - football offers a great platform overall,” Adeyemi admits. “If you are a good player who steps on the gas and shows their best in their performance, the clubs will see it.

“I want to play a lot more games at Red Bull Salzburg and show who I am before, in my own time, play in a top league one day. My goal is to be on the pitch with the best players in the world.”

Given his early career to date, that is an ambition that seems likely to come to fruition for Adeyemi. He may even fall into that ‘Best Player in the World’ bracket himself.

29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾DECEMBER 5, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

North London Derby

Arsenal Face Tough Tottenham Test In what will be the 201st North London derby,Tottenham have the chance to go five games unbeaten in this fixture for the first time in 24 years as Jose Mourinho Welcome Mikel Arteta to New White Hart Lane on Sunday

Premiership Table Tottenham Liverpool Chelsea Leicester West Ham Southampton Wolves Everton Man Utd Aston Villa Man City Leeds Newcastle Arsenal Crystal Palace Brighton Fulham West Brom Burnley Sheff Utd

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 10

12 5 12 5 6 3 0 2 0 7 4 -2 -3 -2 -3 -2 -8 -11 -13 -12

21 21 19 18 17 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 10 7 6 5 1

PREMIER LEAGUE

TODAY

Burnley v Everton 12:30 Man City v Fulham 15:00 West Ham v Man Utd 17:30 Chelsea v Leeds Utd 20:00 SUNDAY

West Brom v Crystal Palace 12:00 Sheffield Utd v Leicester 14:15 Tottenham v Arsenal 16:30 Liverpool v Wolves 19:15 MONDAY

Brighton v Southampton 20:00 LA LIGA TODAY

Former Arsenal defender, Laurent Kosciweny watches as Harry Kane’s goal bound header went wide

T

hey stand a very good chance of doing so, having a very strong start to the season as they found themselves in top spot after the last round of

games.

On the contrary, Arsenal have had a torrid start to the season, by their standards, as they sit in the bottom half of the table.

The Gunners are 14th in the Premier League while Spurs top the table.

Tottenham boss in his characteristic has started the mind game, saying Arteta is a “talented” coach and that he would not be at Arsenal were that not the case.

Arteta will enter Sunday’s North London derby, amid the most difficult period of his 12-month reign at the Emirates, with the Gunners 14th in the Premier League having scored just five goals in their last eight league matches.

Arsenal’s disappointing form this season has led some to question how much progress they have made since Arteta replaced Unai Emery, but Mourinho says their FA Cup triumph in August is evidence of his counterpart’s quality.

He told Sky Sports News: “He is a good coach. He is a talented coach. He won already an important competition in the first few months of his career; that we cannot deny.

“To be the Arsenal coach, you have to be good - if you are not good, you are not there.

“So yes, I think Mikel is a good coach but I want to respect the others - especially the others that I don’t know well and probably are also very talented.”

The derby will see fans return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since March after the Government relaxed restrictions on spectators attending live games.

Meanwhile, Manchester City welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium this afternoon with both sides coming into the match off the back of much-

needed Premier League victories.

The return of fans will have to wait in Manchester, but City at least have the chance to make a significant climb up the table as they host the Cottagers.

However unpredictable, unprecedented and illogical the 2020-21 season has been so far, you would have still got long odds on Manchester City sitting in the bottom half of the table more than a quarter of the way into the campaign.

Pep Guardiola’s side have unquestionably been a few steps off their best so far this term, and coming into this match their record of two wins from their last five league games is actually the same as opponents Fulham.

Things are not quite as bad as they might seem on first glance, though, and victory in this match could lift Man City from 11th all the way into the top four, while they also boast a game in hand over most other teams in the league.

Two of City’s most reliable traits consistency and goalscoring - have deserted them so far in 2020-21, but Guardiola will be hopeful that last weekend’s 5-0 win over Burnley marks an end to that.

Those five goals were as many as they had managed in their previous six top-flight games, while victory over Fulham would give them back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season.

The goals were lacking again during Tuesday night’s goalless Champions League draw at Porto but, given that Man City have already booked their place in the last 16, Guardiola will not be too concerned by their profligacy in Portugal.

What he will be concerned about is Man City winning only three of their last eight Premier League games, although they will be firm favourites to improve that statistic at home to Fulham this weekend.

The Citizens have won their last seven home games against promoted

teams by an aggregate score of 21-1, and are unbeaten in their last 39 such matches stretching back to February 2007. Should they avoid defeat today then only Chelsea, with a 43-game streak between 2001 and 2015, would have had a longer such run in Premier League history.

Fulham will no doubt go into the match knowing that any points they can get at the Etihad would be regarded as an unexpected bonus, although Monday night’s 2-1 triumph away to Leicester City will have raised belief that they can come away with something.

The Foxes are flying high in the top four and hammered Man City themselves at the Etihad earlier this season, but Fulham produced a shock win at the King Power Stadium to climb out of the relegation zone.

Another win today would secure back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since April 2019 and successive top-flight away wins in the same season for the first time since May 2011.

That would be some turnaround for a team that lost seven of their opening nine games, and victories at the King Power and the Etihad would see them do so in style too.

However, if they are to achieve that notable double then they will need to overcome a poor record against Man City which has seen them lose all of their last nine meetings by an aggregate score of 27-3.

Fulham’s winless run against the Citizens stretches to 15 games since April 2009 - including 12 defeats - while Man City have only ever failed to score in one of their 26 Premier League meetings with the Cottagers, and that was back in 2004.

Indeed, Fulham have only ever won four of their Premier League meetings with Man City in the past, although they may take a shred of comfort from the fact that three of those wins did come at the Etihad Stadium.

Levante v Getafe 15:00 Sevilla v Madrid 15:15 Atlético v Valladolid 17:30 Cádiz v Barcelona 20:00 SUNDAY

Granada v Huesca 13:00 Osasuna v Real Betis 15:15 Villarreal v Elche 17:30 Alavés v Sociedad MONDAY

Eibar v Valencia 20:00 SERIE A TODAY

Spezia v Lazio 14:00 Juventus v Torino 17:00 Inter v Bologna 19:45 SUNDAY

Verona v Cagliari 11:30 Parma v Benevento 14:00 Roma v Sassuolo 14:00 Udinese v Atalanta 14:00 Crotone v Napoli 17:00 Sampdoria v AC Milan 19:45 MONDAY

Fiorentina v Genoa 19:45

Hot Shot PLAYERS

CLUB

Calvert-Lewin Son Heung-Min Jamie Vardy Mohamed Salah Harry Kane Patrick Bamford Bruno Fernandes Callum Wilson Bamford Ollie Watkins Danny Ings Wilfried Zaha Jack Grealish Zaha Diogo Jota

Everton 10 Tottenham 9 Leicester 8 Liverpool 8 Tottenham 7 Leeds 7 Man Utd 7 Newcastle 7 Leeds 7 Aston Villa 6 Southampton 5 Crystal Palace 5 Aston Villa 5 Palace 5 Liverpool 5

GOALS

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾DECEMBER 5, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Kano Pillars players during one of their training sessions

Rilwan Babatunde

Kano Pillars, Rivers Utd Target Confederation Cup Comebacks The 2020-21 CAF Confederation Cup will wrap up its preliminary round with 18 second-leg matches across the continent this weekend, and the focus will fall on the comeback efforts of Nigerian sides, Kano Pillars and Rivers United.

The NPFL sides find themselves trailing 1-3 against ASC Diaraf of Senegal and 1-2 against Equatorial Guinea’s Futuro Kings respectively, though both will be at home this weekend and looking to build on footholds in the ties thanks to their away goals.

Kano Pillars captain Rabiu Ali has promised maximum effort in their

match in Kaduna today: “We know our fans are not happy with us on what happened in the first leg but they should be patient because in football, you either win, draw or lose, but we will try our best in the return leg.”

Rivers United defender Ifeanyi Anamena has echoed similar sentiments: “We lost 2-1, and if we can win 1-0 or 2-0 at home then we are done, it is a matter of self-motivation, and we will make sure we get a positive aggregate result that will overturn the negative outcome of the first leg.”

Elsewhere, Zambia’s Green Eagles will host Musongati of Burundi with

their tie locked at 2-2; Ghana’s Ashanti Gold face a tough clash in Burkina Faso against Salitas (the teams drew 0-0 in Obuasi last weekend); and Cameroon’s Coton Sport will be confident of progression as they prepare to host Togo’s Sokode with a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Lome.

The 18 aggregate winners will advance into the first round to join Sagrada Esperanca (who had a walkover), RS Berkane, ES Setif, JS Kabylie, ESAE, San Pedro, Etoile du Sahel, Pyramids, Al Ahly Tripoli, El Hilal El Obeid, Orlando Pirates, KCCA, UD Songo and DC Motema Pembe (who all had byes).

PSV’s Madueke won’t Rule out Nigeria Switch England-born Nigerian starlet Noni Madueke, who has been in top form for PSV Eindhoven, has refused to rule out switching his allegiance to Nigeria.

The attacking midfielder has netted four goals from three starts in the Dutch Eredivisie this term and also scored against Greek giants PAOK in the UEFA Europa League.

Still only 18, Madueke has played for England’s youth national teams, but qualifies to represent Nigeria through his parents.

Madueke is reportedly being courted

by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who have been successful in prizing talent away from England in the past with Joe Aribo and Alex Iwobi opting to play for the African nation.

“I am only 18 so I have got to be open to everything,” Madueke told the Sun. “If I had a closed mind-set I would not be where I am now so for sure I am open to both. We just have to see in the future what is best.”

Madueke, who joined the Dutch giants from English side Tottenham Hotspur in 2018, says playing under

PSV under-19 coach and Manchester United legend Ruud Van Nistelrooy has helped hone his finishing.

“Ruud helped me a lot last year, taking my game to the next level and now I am just trying to get better every day,” he added.

“I have always scored nice goals but I know I needed to score easier ones being in the right place at the right time — striker-type finishes.

“Ruud has been teaching me how to get into those positions more and, being a Manchester United fan, I know he is the master of that,” he said.

Ahead of World Title Fight

Fury Charged to be by the Ringside to Research Joshua Tyson Fury ‘should be coming’ toAnthony Joshua versus Kubrat Pulev to research his British heavyweight rival, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

UnifiedchampionJoshuadefendshisWBA, IBF and WBO belts against Bulgarian Pulev on December 12 and victory could set up a massive showdown with WBC titleholder Fury next year.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has called on Fury to be among the 1,000 attendance at The SSE

Arena in Wembley, but admits that Joshua must not be distracted from the threat posed

by Pulev, his IBF mandatory challenger.

“I think that he should be coming,” Hearn told Sky Sports, when asked about Fury watching from ringside.

“If he wants to fight Anthony Joshua, it’s not a case of calling him out, it’s called doing his research and building the fight.

“Tyson Fury is more than welcome to come down. I only live 45 minutes away

from Wembley. He can come around on Sunday afternoon for a roast as well, if he wants and a cuppa.

For a whole week, Joshua takes over Sky Sports Mix as it becomes Sky Sports AJ “We just want to get that fight made. But first things first, we’ve seen it before at Madison Square Garden with Andy Ruiz when we were talking about the Wilder fight. This is it. This is the last hurdle - Kubrat Pulev, December 12.”

Serie A, La Liga Continues this Weekend on GOtv As SerieAand La Liga continue this week, SuperSport promises GOtv subscribers live coverage of all matches, from the 5th to 6th of December 2020.

Today, the Serie A action gets underway with Juventus vs Torino. Juventus will host Torino at Allianz Stadium.

This will air live on SS Select 1 (channel 33) at 6pm.

Another top pick in Serie Afor this weekend is the clash between Inter Milan and Bolgna airing live on SS Select 1(channel 33) at 8:45pm today.

Other matches today include Spezia vs Lazio at 3pm, while on tomorrow, Verona will take on Cagliari at 12:30pm. Roma will clash with Sassuolo at 3pm, Crotone will face Napoli at 6pm and Sampdoria vs AC

Milan at 8:45pm, all showing on SS Select 1 (channel 33).

The top clash out of Spain this weekend sees the La Liga derby when Sevilla and Real Madrid face each other this evening at 4:15pm live on SS La Liga (channel 32).

All eyes will be on Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Los Sevillanos are eyeing their fourth consecutive win in La Liga and they are surely capable of matching the out-of-form reigning champions at home ground.

SuperSport remains the home of the legendary La Liga leagues with English commentary.

Another highlight of this round in La Liga sees Atletico Madrid clash with Valladolid today at 6:30pm on SS La Liga (channel 32).

Atletico Madrid will be hosting Real Val-

ladolid at their Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Matchday 12.

People see Diego Simeone’s troops as one of the main favourites to win the national championship. Valladolid will have a much bigger fish to fry against Atletico Madrid, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home Other La Liga fixtures for this weekend include Levante vs Getafe at 2pm and Cadiz vs Barcelona at 9pm, both airing today live on SS La Liga (channel 32).

On Sunday, Osasuna will face Betis at 4:15pm, while Villarreal will clash with Elche at 6:30pm and finally for the day, Alaves is set to face Sociedad at 9pm. All matches for the day will be showing live on SS La Liga (channel 32).

GOtv Boxing Night and the Rise of Baby Face Name: Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde. Age: 23.

Occupation: Messing up faces. Title: West African Boxing Union welterweight champion; three-time winner GOtv Boxing Night Best Boxer Prize.

In any language, the resume above spells impressive. It is more so when it is considered that five years ago, Babatunde was training to be a barber and in his spare time, boxing as an amateur in and around the Lagos suburb of Egbeda.

The days of anonymity in the barbershop are now history thanks to GOtv Boxing Night, the platform on which he has risen to local and international stardom. These days, he is seen across Africa as he messes up opponents’ faces at different editions of GOtv Boxing Night.

There have been 12 opponents and not one has left undefeated, with four unable to last the distance. One particularly dramatic instance was top Ghanaian opponent, Edem Biki, who had designs on Babatunde’s WABU title at GOtv Boxing Night 19. The title defence bout had looked like it was going to drag to the last of the 12th round when Babatunde, using his considerable reach and power to deliver a vicious combination of punches to send the opponent sprawling.

The crowd cheered lustily, but the cheers quickly died down when Biki was discovered to be motionless and had to be rushed to the hospital where he regained consciousness. With the WABU title firmly in his grip, Babatunde has his eyes on the World Boxing Federation (Intercontinental) and the African Boxing Union welterweight titles. Locally at least, very few would bet against him clinching those titles.

His ability has also attracted attention from outside Africa, with offers to fight in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, both of which were botched by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Yet, it almost did not happen for him, not in the most straightforward ways at least. On a sultry morning in February 2015, he arrived at the Lagos Boxing Hall of Gym along with over a hundred boxers for the first edition of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, an initiative just aimed at discovering young boxers on the verge of turning professional.

The boxers took turns sparring under the accomplished eyes of the great Obisia Nwakpa, Joe Mensah and Jerry Okorodudu for three days. The assessors drew up a list of those they considered to be the best. Babatunde did not make the cut, but someone at the venue recognised his latent ability and advised the selectors not to ditch him.

It was an inspired move, as selectors confirmed after the first cohort was put in camp. Perhaps watching him for much longer gave the coaches a better opportunity to assess him and within a short time, they were crowing about the speed of his development.

His professional debut at GOtv Boxing Night 7 was solid rather than spectacular. But from there, he pushed on, defeating more experienced opponents and quickly clinching the national light welterweight title vacated by the explosive Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, who had taken the ABU title. He would move to the welterweight category where he has continued impressively and has won the GOtv Boxing Night Best Award thrice, including last Friday when he knocked out Jubril “Terrible” Olalekan.

The reward, in addition to fame and prestige, has come in cash of N2million, N1million twice and N500,000 when he was second runner-up.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾DECEMBER 5, 2020

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GLOBAL SOCCER

TAIWO AWONIYI

A Failed Dream?

After his exploits with the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria at the 2013 U-17 World Cup, he was seen as one of the youngest talents in world football, which led to scrambling for his signature by big European clubs. In 2015,Taiwo Awoniyi joined Liverpool and had a dream of making an impact with the Merseysider but it was not to be as he never got the chance to lace his boots for the Anfield side for once. Rather, he was loaned from one club to another.

After seven loan stints, the Union Berlin of Germany loonee feels he had had enough of Liverpool

T

aiwo Awoniyi moved to Anfield in 2015 but he is yet to play a match since his arrival and the Nigeria youth star has stated he prefers to leave Liverpool after failing to secure a work permit in the UK since his arrival in 2015.

Awoniyi joined the Reds five years ago following his heroics at 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and 2015 Africa U-20 Championship where he helped Nigeria win both tournaments in the United Arab Emirates and Senegal respectively.

Since his move to Liverpool, the 23-year-old has had seven loan stints in clubs across Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

He disclosed his ambition to play for the reigning Premier League champions but he was left with second thoughts after another loan deal was agreed with Union Berlin in September for the entire 2020-21 season.

“It is my dream to play for Liverpool. But me playing for Liverpool has to do with getting my work permit,” Awoniyi told ESPN. “Without it, there is no chance for me discussing about playing for Liverpool for now.

“This season was maybe a bit tough to make the decision because honestly, I was hoping to leave permanently.

“Liverpool have been great, they have been so supportive and we always talk with the director and every time, they tell me to be patient.

“But the reason I discussed something permanent this season was just that I felt most loans I have been to, have not really been the way I want it.

“And I felt like it happens that way because the loan players get less of an advantage than the players of their own club.

“That was what made me think, okay, maybe it’s time to find a home with my family.”

Awoniyi opened his goal account for the season with the opening strike in Union’s 2-1 Bundesliga victory over Cologne a fortnight ago.

He is looking to build on the goal as Urs Fischer ’s side who are sixth in the German top-flight table and aim to enter the European qualification spots.

“Every striker wants to score.

I am a player that also wants to work for the team,” the Imperial Academy product said. “And to make the work you are doing on the field count is when you score the goals.

“The first three games I started, I really put in a lot of work and everyone was impressed. Some of my teammates were really feel-

Taiwo Awoniyi outpaces an opponent

ing bad because I had not scored before then.

“Getting that goal was really something that that gave me the joy that finally it came. But now, I just have to forget about it and look forward to the next one.”

Players moving to the Premier League for the first time from abroad always need time to get up to speed, even more so in a system like Jurgen Klopp’s, and although many had guessed if he’ll sink or swim at Anfield.

“As a boy coming from Africa, even sometimes when you have nothing to kick, once you have the ball, you forget about most of your worries and you just keep on kicking,” Awoniyi said.

He believes he has developed

his game and could earn him a place in Klopp’s squad but it was not to be .

Awoniyi has featured seven times for Union Berlin in the Bundesliga this term.

“Coming here is just to make myself better. I’ve really improved since coming to Germany.

That’s the goal with being on loan,” he added.

“Even when you are not playing, you just have to be ready and keep on improving yourself and wait for your time as well.

“I don’t think I’m the same player as I was in the last few years. I personally have seen improvement in my game and I believe most Liverpool coaches have seen that as well.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͳË&#x153; ͰͮͰͮ

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ë&#x153; 2020

AUTO WORLD

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

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Top Six Causes of Hard Steering Wheel and Solutions The steering system is an important part of the control mechanism of a vehicle. It provides control over the direction the driver wants to guide the car. A problem like steering wheel hard to turn is dangerous because it can lead to accidents when you are driving on a highway or a street filled with cars or people. Just imagine a situation when you need to change lanes or take a turn but steering wheel sticks or moves slowly. It could be a deadly situation if you are driving on a treacherous, mountainous road.

Steering Wheel Hard to Turn â&#x20AC;&#x201C; What Are the Reasons?

Irregular maintenance and late servicing coupled with the wearing off of some components are the reasons of the stiff steering wheel. It is important to know about them as it will help you to spot the signs early and take the car to servicing before they become worse.

Pajero Sport

Mitsubishi Launches Virtual Showroom in Nigeria

V

isiting a car showroom is just a click away with the newly launched Massilia Motors virtual showroom displaying Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and the legendary pick-up.

Massilia Motors is the joint venture of the CFAO Group and the Chanrai Group uniting forces to deliver customer satisfaction. With operations run by the CFAO group, Massilia Motors is the sole distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Line-up includes: ASX, Eclipse Cross, Outlander, Pajero, Pajero Sport, and the L200 pick-up.

The showroom, according to a statement by Massilia, comes with benefits as it guarantees safety in the face of the covid-19 pandemic, ensuring potential customers can avoid

contact until the last phase of their intended purchase.

It also enhances convenience because customers are not restricted to the usual office hours and can take their time to explore the models on display and specifications without feeling pressured by a sales representative. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Customers are also assured of Ease of Use as the virtual showroom is not only for the tech-savvy but can be explored by all by just logging on to www.mitsubishi-motors.com.ng and clicking on the virtual showroom tab. Exploring a model is as easy as selecting the car of your choice, opening the door with just one click, and navigating the car in a 360-degree experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Discover the Eclipse Cross, Outlander, Pajero, Pajero Sport, ASX, and the L200 pick-up.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A virtual showroom is a tool for easier decision making, as a prospective customer can share the link with family and friends, unlike the physical visits where only people present can advise. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To enhance interaction with customers, Massilia Motors has also offered a Whatsapp Business plugin to enable seamless communication with sales executives.â&#x20AC;?

General Manager of Massilia Motors Limited, Mr. Olatunji Itiola, stated that well-trained sales representatives are available for customers, who want to make further inquiries, take a test drive or close deals virtually. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the launch of our virtual showroom, we expect more customers to explore our models since the challenge associated with physical presence has been resolved,â&#x20AC;? he stated.

PAN to Unveil new Vehicle Models at Keffi Polo Tournament Multi-brand automobile manufacturer and assembler, PAN Nigeria Limited, has said it would unveil the newest vehicle models produced in its Kaduna plant at the Keffi Polo Tournament.

PAN is partnering with the Keffi Polo Ranch to support the 2020 Keffi Polo Tournament, which theme is on education, according to a statement by the automaker.

The models to be displayed at the tournament include the Higer H5C 16-seater bus, the Higer H6C 19-seater bus, and the Higer Ambulance.

The vehicles, which can be optimally used for mass transit, as school buses, and for ambulance services, started rolling off the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assembly lines in Kaduna in December 2019.

In addition to having spacious leg and head room, the buses are equipped with features such as USB charging ports for all passengers/occupants, park-assist, rear camera, and DVD/15â&#x20AC;&#x2122; LCD Display.

Moreover, the Higer Ambulance is fitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment such as suction catheters, stretcher belts and anatomical mattress, silicon resuscitators with mask, pulse oximeter, digital thermometer, 2kg fire extinguisher, automatic loading stretcher, scoop stretcher, AC/DC electronic suction machine, oxygen regulator, among others.

PAN Nigeria is well known for the

1. Tire Pressure Surprisingly, bad air pressure could be a cause for steering wheel hard to turn. Improper tire pressure, especially deflated tires, can trigger this problem. All the tires of your vehicle should have been inflated according to the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommended PSI. Also, the front-end alignment is another important thing. Uneven wear on the front tires will make your car pull to a side while driving or taking a turn. Uneven tire tread leads to misalignment of the wheels, which can also a reason that triggers hard and stiff steering at the time of making turns on the road.

2. Bad Steering Rack The steering rack is connected to the wheel through a series of shafts and U-joints. These parts and the rack itself get damaged and worn simply because of everyday driving. If you find the stiffed wheel just after starting the car, the problem is definitely with the steering rack. The wheel will gradually feel free to move when you continue driving. It happens because the rack gets hotter with the running of the engine, allowing the lubricant to settle in. you can keep driving with this condition but leaving the deteriorated rack as it is will escalate the problem.

3. Damaged Serpentine Belt Another common cause of steering wheel hard to turn is a cracked or broken serpentine belt. The belt gets worn out over time because it works all the time when you drive the car. The wheel starts showing the sign of stiffness when the belt begins to erode and becomes loose. Delaying the repair or replacement will cause the belt to break, making the steering wheel to go kaput.

4. Fluid Leakage Inadequate level of fluid in the steering system is another top reason. It happens when the pressurized hose area develops a leak or gets loose.

Fluid leaks through that crack, leading to reducing pressure in the system and drying out the pump.

As a result, the wheel does not get enough supply of fluid to perform freely.

5. Pump Malfunction Along with the fluid, the pump also has a major role in creating the right amount of pressure in the power steering system. If the pump gets damaged or stops working for any reason, it will be difficult to turn the steering wheel. An impaired pump will not stall the wheel completely. You will still be able to move it but it will need much more effort, which could be dangerous when you need to take a sharp turn on the road.

PAN Nigeria Higer Bus H5C

production of popular vehicle models such as the Peugeot 404, 504 and 505, and in more recent times, the 301 and 508.

PAN Nigeria is a multi-brand manufacturing company, assembling a diversified range of vehicles, ranging from family sedans, SUVs, to utility Pick-ups and Light Commercial Vehicles, including the Higer H5C and

H6C buses.

The automaker said it decided to partner with Keffi Polo because it believes in education and in â&#x20AC;&#x153;the noble sport of polo, known for its equestrian mastery and skillful sportsmanship,â&#x20AC;? which aligns with its vision and mission â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;To be leader in the Nigerian Automobile industry driven by superior technology.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

6. Thick Fluid Like all other types of fluid in a vehicle, the power steering fluid also collects dirt and debris over time.

It becomes too thick to flow freely and lubricate all the parts of the system if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change it within the specified period. It especially causes steering wheel hard to turn at low speeds. The only solution is to flush the old fluid out of the system and refill it with new, fresh liquid.

(Source: Car From Japan)

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER Ëž ÍłË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

TRIBUTE Ralph Chiemeka Nwokedi: 1937 to 2020 Kennedy Nwokedi

O

n 11th September 2020, a very brilliant mind, a bright star that shown on the horizon of Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State, the Federal Civil Service, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and the private sector of the Nigerian economy passed on. Professor Ralph Chiemeka Nwokedi Oranyelugo Enugwu-Ukwu na Umunri was born on 24th December 1937 into the eminent family of late Pa (Hon) John Nwokedi Okeke, the first President-General of Enugwu-Ukwu Patriotic Union (EPU), later renamed Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union (ECDU). He spent his childhood in Enugu and attended New Bethel College, Onitsha and was one of the pioneer students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

He studied in prestigious international universities namely Princeton University New Jersey USA, and Washington International University Penn. State USA, where he obtained his bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree, post graduate fellowship and doctorate degree respectively. Prof Ralph Nwokedi began his career as an administrative offi f cer in the Federal Governn ment in 1964 and rose to the rank of Principal Secretary in the then Federal Cabinet offi f ce. During his civil service career, he undertook many diplomatic assignments and represented Nigeria on the Board of Governors of International Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) in Washington D.C, and was the Administrative and Political spokesman of Nigeria in the World Administrative Radio Conferr ence sponsored by the United Nations for twelve weeks in Geneva in 1980s. He was also on Nigerian delegation to Commonwealth and ECOWAS Conferences in Cyprus, U.K, Ghana, and Kenya and led a Government delegation to China. Prof Ralph Nwokedi served as Deputy Secretary to the Constitution Drafting Committee that midwifed the Presidential Constitution in Nigeria in 1979 and was subsequently involved in the implementation of the Transition Programme from the military regime to the civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari in October 1979.

While in the Federal Cabinet Offi f ce, Prof Nwokedi served as Secretary to high powered Presidential Administrative Panel on Nigerian Airport Authority, Secretary Judicial Tribunal on Exams Leakage in the West African Examinations Council in Nigeria, and Secretary, National Commission on Education for Citizenship, His public service career was interspersed with academic studies in universities and professional institutions overseas such as University of Pittsburg, USA, and Urwick Management Center, Slough, U.K as well as a Postgraduate Fellowship in an Ivy League University, that is, Princeton University, New Jersey USA. Prof Ralph Nwokedi voluntarily retired from the public service in 1988 to become the Head of Administration of a new Commercial Bank, Orient Bank Plc. He became the MD/CEO of Moneyline Finance and Management

Nwokedi

Consultants that offered consultancy services to both government and private institutions.

In 2003, he decided to pursue fully an academic career to enable him publish books and journals. He then joined the University of Nigeria Nsukka as a Senior Lecturer in Public Administration and Local Government. He later became Associate Professor in Caritas and Godfrey Okoye Universities as Head of Department of Business Management in 2007 and 2010 respectively. He was also a Visiting Professor in a foreign university. He served on National Universities Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s panel on accreditation of post graduate programmes in public administration at some federal and states universities.

Prof. Ralph Nwokedi was a prolific writer. He authored many books and publications. Amongst his books are Power Sharing in Nigerian Federation, Revenue Allocation and Resource Control in Nigerian Federation, Nigerian Federation at a Glance, Reflections on Power and Revenue Sharing Amongst Tiers of Government in Nigeria, Politics of Nigerian Federation, Past, Present and Future, and Storm over Revenue Allocation And Resource Control In Nigerian Federation as well as two novels/drama books i.e Family in Crisis and My Choice, My Faith.

For his brilliant public and academic performances, Prof.

Ralph Nwokedi was a recipient of U.N Undersecretaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award in Political Science, Parvin Fellowship in Public and International Affairs, Princeton, USA , Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration of Commonwealth University in conjunction with the London Graduate School, Marquisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Biographersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Who is Who Award in Public Finance, USA, U.N Peace Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award, Rotary International Public Affairs Award, Fellowship of African Institute of Applied Economics, Fellowship of Institute of Management Consultants and Membership Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Nigerian Institute of Management and Nigerian Institute of Personnel Management.

As renowned biographer and erudite professor of public affairs eulogized during public presentation of Professor Nwokediâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last two booksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Benjamin Franklin says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;if you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either writes things worth reading or do things worth writing aboutâ&#x20AC;?

Professor Nwokedi was a Knight of St Christopher and a Cabinet Chief with the title of Oranyelugo Enugwu Ukwu na Umunri.

Prof. was a committed Christian. He ensured his family was raised in the fear of God. When talking to his children about his achievements in life, he would say â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a godfather but the Father Godâ&#x20AC;?. He believed in the power of prayer and faith in God. Prof. was active in church, especially at All Saints Church in Enugu, where he lived. One of his books titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Family in Crisisâ&#x20AC;?, a concise religious comedy was inspired by a play he jointly composed and acted in along with his son, Obinna on a certain Fathersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sunday at the church. He regularly made quiet donations to the church to further the cause of the gospel.

Oranyelugo will surely be missed by many who had the opportunity of knowing him or making his acquaintance. He will be remembered for his intelligence, resilience, gentility, and the spirit of Camaraderie when and wherever he was around.

He was survived by his widow, Chief Mrs Benedette I. Nwokedi (Gosim of Enugwu-Ukwu), Miss Nneka Nwokedi, Mrs. Amaka Allison (ACA), Engr. Ugochi Horace, His Honor, Barr. Patrisha Puregold Ezechi, Engrs Nnamdi, Emeka and Obinna Nwokedi, many grandchildren, many brothers and sisters and other relations.

A service of songs will be held in his honor on Monday 7th December 2020 at All Saints Anglican Church, GRA Enugu at 5pm, and Commendation Service in the same church on Thursday December 10th 2020 at 9am and service of songs in his residence at Ezi-Okpalanri, formal Ezi-Elias EnugwuUkwu at 5pm.

His remains will be laid to rest at his Enugwu-Ukwu residence on Friday December 11th after funeral service at St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anglican Church, Uruekwo, Enugwu Ukwu at 10am. May his gentle soul rest in peace, Amen.

Engr. Kennedy Emeka Nwokedi wrote this piece on behalf of the family

Ogunlana Ogu Og gun unl nla laana Emerges Eme Em me erge rg ges es O Oba-elect baa-e -e elec le ect ct of Ma Mag Magbon agb gb bon Alade, Ala Al lad ade de, e, Ibeju Ibe bej eju eju juLe Lekki Le ek kki Bennett Oghifo

A

fter a keenly y contested royal y search and rigorous g process, p Prince Sikirullai Alade Adebola Ogunlana, g has emerged g the Oba-elect of Magbon g Alade, in Ibeju Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Ogunlana was unanimously adopted as the Oba-elect by Ipatun, Oketun and Oga, which are the three quarters that make up the royal stool in Magbon Alade.

The Oba-elect was presented to the entire Magbon Alade indigenes at a brief but colourful traditional ceremony by the kingmakers in Ibejuland.

Performing the traditional rites of presenting the Obaelect to the townspeople, the traditionalist saddled with the responsibility said all the qualified princes from the three royal quarters were presented to Oketun and Magbon Communities for ratification, adding that Ogunlana emerged as the rightful choice to mount the throne.

Basking in the euphoria of the joyful moment, the Obaelect, Prince Adebola Ogunlana, expressed appreciation to all the royal families and kingmakers of Magbon Alade, promising not to let the town down.

Ogunlana further commended the kingmakers for particularly not ignoring the outcome of the traditional rights that eventually produced him.

The Oba-elect extended the olive branch to other contestants, who he described as very eminently qualified to mount the throne, should any of them have emerged.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let me appeal to all the princes, who contested for this royaI patun, Oketun and Oga stool to forget about the contest and let us forge ahead as a family. Originally, we are one and we should continue to be. All of us should forge ahead and be magnanimous in victory. What we all stand

L-R: Chief Nureni Mustapha; p Oba-Elect, Prince Sikirullai Alade Adebola ogunlana; g Chief Igara g Moruf and Chief Yakub Akinsanya at the traditional unveiling ceremony of Prince Ogunlana as the Oba-elect of Magbon Aladeâ&#x20AC;Ś recently

for is the development of Magbon Alade.â&#x20AC;?

He further appealed to the Lagos State Government to come to the aid of Magbon Alade community by immediately ensuring electricity reaches every part of the town.

Ogunlana added that his priority as the Oba of Magbon Alade will be to work with and galvanise all sons and daughters of Magbon Alade to ensure rapid development

of the community, clean water, education, health care for children and mothers especially the aged.

Dignitaries at the unveiling ceremony include Honourr able Kazeem Raheem, representing Ibeju-Lekki II at the State House of Assembly, the Chief Imam of Magbon-Alade, Chief Igara Moruf, Chief Yakub, Pa Alade Kazeem, Alhaji M.O Kazeem and Alhaji Kola Akinsanya.

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ë&#x153; 2020

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

Total Rolls out Reward to Mark Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Customers Week Total Nigeria Plc., has said it would reward its customers to mark the 2020 Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Week.

According to the company, the celebration which will be observed between December 7 and 9, was one of its ways of showing appreciation to customers for being loyal and consistent to the brand.

The company, in a statement, informed that the week offered it an opportunity to pause, listen, and gather feedback from customers who have remained a pillar of support in challenging times.

It stated further, â&#x20AC;&#x153;For us, our customers are more than just customers.

We value them as our partners. Great services start with small details. Our customers choose Total because we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

just provide fuel, we are committed to offering them quality service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We mobilise all available talents to offer the best possible experience to our teeming customers. Whether we are talking about our employees or our customers, people are our greatest asset.

We prioritise our customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and staff safety; we take responsibility for our sales and services across all our sales channels. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We equally have an increased level of cleanliness/hygiene in our service stations to ensure that customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; buying experience is always pleasurable. We prioritise the proximity of our stations and facilities in order to ease access to our products and services.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As part of the activities for the week also, Total said it would be paying an unscheduled visit to select service stations and customer sites all over the country to reward customers with a surprise â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thank you giftsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will also be showcasing a bouquet of products and services offered by Total on select radio stations and via all our social media handles.

There will also be quizzes on select radio stations between December 1st and December 7th, 2020.â&#x20AC;?

The firm urged customers to visit any of its service stations to participate in any of its offerings and asked that feedback on their experiences be shared via hyperlink.

Accessing Capital in COVID-19 Era Dominates IIF Deal Summit Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), a non-profit organisation, recently held its 2020 Deal Summit with a focus on the financial support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) could receive from not just the government but also from philanthropic, private and public sources, particularly to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition to the monetary and fiscal stimulus packages by the federal government, joint interventions from philanthropic, private and public sources are required to cushion the effect of the pandemic, hence, the need for the 2020 IIF Deal Summit,â&#x20AC;? according to the foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Projects Lead, Ms. Maria Glover, during the summit.

Established in 2018, IIF promotes the growth of impact investing in Nigeria, in collaboration with key stakeholders active in the sector to unlock capital for social investments.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event, which was

funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), was geared towards contributing its quota in bridging the financing and economic gap COVID-19 may have created in the Nigerian economy.

The Country Director, OSIWA, Mr. Jude Ilo presented an address and the context for the day was set

by Meghan Curren, West Africa Director Acumen.

According to Mr. Ilo some of the key reasons they were involve in this, was to see the gaps COVID-19 has exposed or further complicated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been confronted with unprecedented situation, as a people and as the world responds to this unprecedented situation and its creativity. To better understand the ecosystem of impact investment, also to the players who have been doing fantastic work in this areas; to turn their ideas into reality and to impact into the life of ordinary Nigerians; to support access to

basic services and to be an open door for prospective investors.â&#x20AC;?

He said people whose lives have been turned around due to this pandemic can see reasons to smile again.

Participants include: Moses Owoicho Enakela, Founder/ CEO SonoCare Healthcare, Port Harcourt. Their primary reason for this is to make healthcare accessible to everyone, irrespective of their location or social classes; Chibueze Okaegbu.I, CEO Learm Factory Education. Their aim is to help millions of Nigerian children who do not have access to quality education.

They want to provide accessible, quality and world class education to give every child that brighter future; Ibrahim Mohammed Aboki, CEO -Co founder, Fatara Farms/ Renewable Energy/Energy access clear. Their purpose is to create small scale farming business for

women and also provide them with rental solar services and at the end of the month they pay small token for the solar services.

Others are: Kernelinc Resources /Agriculture / Agricultural/ Supply chain. Amajuoyi Ikechukwu/ Founder. They are into palm oil production. Their aim is to help people eat healthy and stay alive.

To provide healthy and affordable cooking palm oil to Nigerians at large. Their vision is to be the palm oil of choice of every home in Nigeria; Eja- Ice Nigeria LTD / Renewable Energy/Energy access clear. Jubril Olabinjo , Co-founder /Sales Director. They offer solar power freezers to fish retailers on lease.

To help them sustain their business from wastage due to lack of finance to acquire the desire assets and help them make more profits; Tumeric Limited/Healthcare, Tolu Idowu, Managing Director.

Epe Community Braces up for Maiden Heritage Festival Organisers of Epe Heritage Festival have said that the event would bring innovations to the entertainment industry.

Chief Executive Officer of 10Dollar Entertainment, Muyiwa Otedola, while addressing the press stated that the festival, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, would open up entertainment industry in the coastal city.

Otedola worried that the supernatural sector of the entertainment industry was not fully harnessed, despite its enormous human potential, adding that magical entertainers were limited.

The festival which is coming up on December 20, will play host to scores of supernatural artistes, comprising magicians, illusionists, contortionists and others who will display extraordinary talents to the delight of guests.

According to Otedola, more than 10,000 persons are expected to grace the one-day show that will be holding at Epe Recreation Centre, in Lagos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Epe Heritage Festival will be a world class supernatural and magical entertainment show in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am using this platform to showcase the talented magical entertainers to the world and bring new innovations into the entertainment industry,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Winner Emerges in 100 Percent Entertainment Reality TV Show After weeks of skill and talent display, a winner has finally emerged in the maiden edition of 100 Percent Entertainment Reality TV show. The winner, Chukwuemeka Collins, better known as MOG, 22, won for himself N1 million and an official car, among other prizes.

Collins, who is a singer and rapper, beats over 100 other contestants to emerge the overall winner. 100 Percent Entertainment Reality TV show is a platform designed to promote talent in music, comedy, acting and fashion.

Speaking on the win, Collins said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am so excited to have emerged winner of this show. This is a big one for me and I am full of gratitude to the organisers. With this win, I believe that the sky is not my limit. I got to hear about the show on instagram and I applied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was excited when I was called up, at first, I became tense but along the line I became more confident. I wish to dedicate my success to my family and all my fans that stood by me. Above all, I dedicate this feat to God Almighty. I cannot describe this feeling of success. I am overwhelmed!â&#x20AC;?

TRIBUTE

Emma Okocha, the Ikemba Asaba Passes on Emmanuel Ndubuisi The people of Asaba were recently thrown into helpless mourning following the shocking news of death of the author of Blood on the Niger, ogbueshi (Prof) Emma Okocha, the Ikemba Ahaba designate. Emma Okocha, died in the early hours of Sunday, 29 November, 2020.

The news was contained in an obituary announcement released from the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, H.R.H Obi (Prof) Joseph Chike Edozien CFR, on 30 Nov, 2020, as signed by the Palace Secretary, Ogbueshi Patrick N.C. Ndili.

In the same announcement, Obi Edozien, made known to the public his gracious conferment of a post-humous chieftaincy tittle of Ikemba of Asaba, to the late Chief Emma Okocha, a tittle to be conferred on him Saturday November 28, 2020, a day before he passed on.

The astonishing qualities of the late Chief Emma, and his contributions to society are recognised and praised Okocha even in the international front. Following Okochaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book, Blood on the Niger, two international anthropologists characterised his life. Notable individuals and groups from the University of South Florida, Professor Elizabeth who had known the late okocha, personally, or associated Bird and Professor Fraser Ottanelli, came to research the closely with him cannot stop eulogising him. Many incident and produced an internationally acclaimed book remember him for his role in seeking justice for the published by the Cambridge University Press in the UK Asaba massacre of 1967.

One of such prominent personalities is Chief Philip with the title: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Asaba Massacre, Trauma, Memory, and the Nigerian Civil Warâ&#x20AC;?. Consequently, these two Asiodu, the Izoma of Asaba. He recalled that the late Okocha was very active and engaging. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;He will be long Professors both wrote of Chief Okocha: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The loss of Chief Emma Okocha is a sad blow to remembered for his brave well researched â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Blood On the people of Asaba and beyond. His courageous and The Nigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the October 1967 Asaba massacre during pioneering work uncovered the truth about the Asaba the Nigerian Civil Warâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; he remarked.

In his own tribute to the deceased, Chief John Edozien, Massacre, setting the stage for the international recognition of this tragic event. He has earned an honored place in the Odafe of Asaba and former CEO, Afribank, pointed out that the late Okocha lived an authentic life and deserved the history of his nation.â&#x20AC;?

Chief Emma, was renowned for his humanism. recognition for boldly speaking up for Asaba people. He He, no doubt, left positive indelible footprints in the wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;. He was an open, authentic and deeply passionate sands of time. The barrage of tributes from both far and Asaba man committed to rewriting the wrongs done near to his memory attest to the passion for service that to Asaba during the Civil war.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Regretting that death had cut short his hopes of working with the late Okocha on the next phase of the Asaba Massacre chronicle, Chief Newton Jibunoh, former chairman of Costain and an environmentalist mourned: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I identified with his noble quest for justice and effort at documenting history. I will miss his passion for great literary works.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chief Oni Idigbe, former DG, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research said Okochaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death was a great loss and then expressed confidence that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;his well-documented capture of the 1967 Asaba Massacre in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blood on the Nigerâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; will keep his memory fresh in the minds of many.

Aside his intelligence, the late Okochaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patriotism did not go unnoticed. This is aptly captured in the tribute from Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, Okilolo of Asaba and the President General of The Asaba Dev Union worldwide (ADUWW). His message read: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;News has just reached me of the passing unto glory of an illustrious son of Asaba, Prof Emma Okocha of BLOOD ON THE NIGER game. ADUWW mourns this intellectual titan and dedicated son of Asaba Ujom for his undisguised Asabacentricsm and his dogged passion to put on the front burner of international conversation the dastardly Massacre of Asaba people during the Civil War. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No doubt Emma played his part and I am supremely optimistic that history will be kind to him. ADUWW considers a fitting candidate for our HAll of Fame. He will also get a special mention in the World class film on the ASABA Massacre that ADUWW has commissioned.

Other respected Nigerians who eulogised the late Chief Emma, include Ogbueshi Chike Ogeah - former MD Sachol and former Commissioner of information for Delta State. According to him the late Okocha was an enigma with audacious courage and brilliance which enabled him speak truth to power according to the convictions of his mind thereby displaying the strength of his character for all to see. Ogbueshi Ogeah noted that the late Okochaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book, Blood on the Niger was a

great recollection and documentary of the unfortunate events of the civil war especially the Asaba Massacre. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;If my memory serves me right, he recalled the noble and patriotic role my late mother, Mrs Henrietta Titilola Ogeah, a woman of the Yoruba extraction, played in saving many lives in Asaba at those critical moments in his Narration,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he recalled.

For Ken Odogwu, former chairman of IMB Bank and present chairman, Board of Directors of Royal Exchange Insurance Company, the late Okocha was a true hero of our time. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;He left a lasting legacy through his masterful documentation of a pivotal part of our history,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;On a personal note, I have lost a childhood pal, who I shared pleasant memories growing up and whose siblings were like adopted children to my parents. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Good night, great author of a bestseller. Good bye, ASABA HERO.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, Isama Ajie of Asaba, described the late Okocha, as a rare breed whose pace of life was faster and more intense than the norm. He revealed that the deceased was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blessed with a deep and penetrating intellect which found expression with his passion for justice and speaking truth to power often in the face of dangerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. On how close he was with the late Okocha Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I had the pleasure of a last journey with him these last few days as he proudly received the revered tittle of the Ikemba of Asaba bestowed on him just last week by His Royal Majesty Prof Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba. I had the singular pleasure to work with Emma Okocha when I presented the Petition regarding the Asaba Massacre atrocities on behalf of the Asaba Community before the Oputa Panel in 1999/2000 and from then till his passing last Sunday we have been close fellow travellers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we say goodbye to this hurricane of a man let us thank God for the gift of his association and the immense service he rendered to Asaba over many yearsâ&#x20AC;?, he added.

Read full tribute on www.thisdaylive.com

38

Ë&#x153; Ëž DECEMBER 5, 2020

FAJ/JOE

THEFRONTLINES

Charting a New South-south Devt Agenda

JOSEPH USHIGIALE

W

hen the federal government team decided to ignore and stayed away from a meeting slated to hold with leaders of the South-south region in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital; some of us from the region waited with baited breathe for the next line of action from those who were at the

botched meeting.

The meeting which had the governors of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom, Cross River, Ben Ayade, Rivers, Nyesom Wike, Edo, Godwin Obaseki and Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa in attendance including prominent paramount rulers from their respective states had vexed speakers after speakers berating the federal government for belittling leaders of a region from where the nation draws over 90 per cent of its livelihood.

Governor Okowa who chaired the meeting had to save the day for the federal government when he announced that he received a call from the presidency stating that the federal team was held up in Abuja where it was attending a meeting. He also said a new date for the meeting would be agreed soon.

At the rescheduled meeting, Okowa told the federal delegation that the South-south is committed to restructuring the country to guarantee â&#x20AC;&#x153;true federalismâ&#x20AC;? and devolution of powers to the states to create and manage their own police and security architecture under a federal structure.

The regional leaders also called for the relocation of the headquarters of major oil companies, NNPC subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the South-south region.

They also requested the immediate implementation of the consent judgment entered in the Supreme Court Suit No: SC/964/2016 to enable the South-south gets its fair share of $55 billion collection shortfall on deep offshore and inland basin production sharing contracts.

Okowa emphasized that â&#x20AC;&#x153;True federalismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guided by the principle of derivation, revenue sharing and control of resources by each state of the federation as it was the case in the first republic is what we want.â&#x20AC;?

According to him, the geopolitical zone desires a federation where its constituent units are constitutionally empowered to create their own structures like local government areas, manage their elections and control their judiciary.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are all aware of the huge endowment of this country. As such, it is imperative to stress that with a little bit of efforts, imagination, hard work, sacrifice and leadership, every state of the federation as of today, has the ability and capability to contribute to the national purse. This should be encouraged rather than the whole country depending substantially on a region of the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is worse and even more painful in this ugly situation is the deliberate lack of understanding, empathy and the uncompromising attitudes of some Nigerians, who have refused to understand the challenges of the Southsouth region of the country, especially, the degradation of the environment and our waters. As a result, most of the demands of the region have remained unattended to while

the resources of the region have been used continually to develop other parts of the country.â&#x20AC;?

The governors called for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major seaports in Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri to enhance the economic development of the region. They demanded that the two refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri should be privatised.

That is not all, just as Okowa rightly pointed out, the rail line conceived by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to cross crisis the entire zone including the east west road, have all been abandoned by the present administration in preference for development in not even only the north but extended into Niger republic, a foreign country.

Therefore, the leaders should insist on the rejuvenation of these very important projects that have capacity to transform and leapfrog the zone to greater heights. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more? Apart from huge deposits of hydrocarbons in the region, it also commands huge gas deposits in excess of 180 trillion mcf.

Yet, majority of this gas is flared daily causing environmental degradation and pollution.

Given these proven reserves and the huge prospects of being a leader in both the local and foreign gas markets, the region must insist on the quick implementation of the gas master plan to end gas flaring and generate revenue.

One of the quick fix is for the leaders to convince the federal government to reintroduce a new partner for the implementation of the P&ID project in Calabar, Cross River state because completely abandoning it would amount to throwing away the baby with bathe water.

As part of the botched deal, the P&ID was required to build a state-of-the-art gas processing plant to refine natural gas (â&#x20AC;&#x153;wet gasâ&#x20AC;?) into â&#x20AC;&#x153;lean gasâ&#x20AC;? that Nigeria would receive free of charge to power its national electric grid. The P&ID was not entitled to be paid for this work: instead, it was to own the by-products created by the refining â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as propane, ethane and butane or natural gas liquids and was to have the exclusive rights to sell them on the international markets. This market was projected to be worth billions of dollars over the 20-year lifespan of the contract.

To begin with, Nigeria is known to flare most of its gas released during oil drilling. Until recently, the penalty for gas flaring also known as flare payments (penalties) was N10 per thousand standard cubic feet. However, a revised penalty issued few years ago increased or reviewed it upwards. A statement from the Nigeria Gas Flare and Commercialization Programme (NGFCP) said â&#x20AC;&#x153;the upward review in the case of any one producing 10,000 barrels of oil or more, to $2.0 USD per thousand standard cubic feet of gas and, in the case of anyone producing less than 10,000 barrels of oil per day, to $0.50 USD per thousand. This year, government has projected a revenue of N104b receipt up from N45b which accrued to the federation account in the past.

Thus, it was cheaper for the oil majors to make flare payments rather than investing in gas production which would have had multiplier effects including generating revenue for government and improved electricity supply to millions of homes in Nigeria.

So was the project desirable and was it going to have

Of Love and Life: Who Is Your Friend?

F

riends are great; we all need them. Friends are useful; most of us canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do without them. Friends are supportive; few of us canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t breathe without them. All I am about to say will be summed up in one phrase: only inept people will look up to any friend for help in times of need. Perhaps, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m jumping the gun and declaring the answer without showing the process - donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no â&#x20AC;&#x153;wuru-wuru-to-the-answerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (a special trick of my older daughter in Maths). And before you jump up to accuse me of passing off my peculiar experience as the yardstick for universal occurrence; just hold on.

Let me also add: Some friends will latch on you, not like a parasite, but like a guiding angel - even in spite of your bad mouth. They will hold you up when you slip; they will go before you and smoothen rough edges you have left hanging; they will do things your siblings cannot, or are not in a position to do.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t confuse the two: those are not friends: they are angels, and you did not choose those ones. Frankly, you have no intelligence to choose an angel as a friend.

You know who can.

Sadly, angels are not that many; and most of us are not that fortunate to have even one as a friend.

Even sadder is my suspicion that there is hardly any angel that is a female. See why the womenfolk are in great danger of falling into all sorts of temptations and troubles. No wonder - well, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still my opinion - many women who truly are wise, stay away from any sort of friendships.

If you are going through any matrimonial â&#x20AC;&#x153;wahalaâ&#x20AC;?, your biggest mistake will be to go to your friends for advice. In case, you have many friends, and you are one of those whose mouth is their â&#x20AC;&#x153;senior sisterâ&#x20AC;? - then you are in mortal danger of not only losing your family life,

but also handing over your man into the bed of that same â&#x20AC;&#x153;close friendâ&#x20AC;?.

If you watch our home videos, most of their sub-themes are on incredible betrayals of confidences between two women or more. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t smile it away, and say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a movie. No, we all live in the same environment. True, real-life experiences are the firewood for most of the menu we consume in our home movie productions.

There are friends who really want to give you â&#x20AC;&#x153;goodâ&#x20AC;? advice. Their intentions are genuine; but the consequences of their advice expose them as wicked fiends looking for co-travellers on their journey to matrimonial breakdown. What do I mean? Look at them very well. I mean those your good friends. And ask yourself some questions before you accept to use their advice. What sort of home do they run? Are they often out of their houses - spending all their waking hours at your shop, house or office? Even several hours after the closing time? What do they talk about when with you?

Are they moaning about what their husbands have done to them (or what he has refused to do)? What latest headache they recently â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dashedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the poor souls?

Do they worry if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s any food in the house for both husband and children - or just for their children? Do they call their husbands all sorts of derisive names in your presence? Do they wonder repeatedly why you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t abuse your husband - at least behind his back? Do they fret more about the diminishing spending power of their husbands, and the ageing status of their wardrobes - wishing they had married the latest money-bags dominating the pages of soft-sell magazines? Are they always feasting on the current marital woes of others splashed in the soft-sell papers? Add more if you truly want candid advice, and you are serious about identifying the kind of friends you have.

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

positive effects on the people and the economy? Yes it was because at present, the World Bank estimates that only 59% of the country have access to reliable supply of electricity. It also acknowledged that with almost 8 billion cubic meters of gas flared annually according to satellite data, Nigeria is the seventh-largest gas flarer in the world. At the same time approximately 75 million Nigerians lack access to electricity.

According to the records, the GSPA was signed during the administration of President Umaru Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua. The duo of Mr. Michael Quinn and his partner Brendan Cahill proposed the project to late President Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua in August 2008. At that time, the late Rilwanu Lukman, a 2-time OPEC Secretary-General, who was Minister of Petroleum Resources at the time, signed the GSPA. It was learnt that the P&ID and the Nigerian Government entered into a 20-year Agreement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; known as the Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to refine natural gas for powering Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electricity grid. Specifically, the GSPA was to generate an additional 2,000 megawatts of power for the national grid. Such a major increase in low-cost electricity supply brought by the P&ID project could have been transformative for millions of Nigerians.

The most unconscionable act of the present administration is to turn a blind eye to the sufferings of the people of the Niger Delta and choosing to totally neglect and deploy resources from the region to develop the north and Niger republic. The leaders of the Niger Delta have to realise that its oil is principally the collateral for the foreign loans which are being used in developing the north.

It stands to reason that leaders of the region have to close ranks, identify viable projects that have the capacity of pulling the region out of poverty for recommendation to the present administration to source loans for their implementation.

The federal government has no choice than to pamper the region especially now that peace and tranquility have replaced the volatility that enveloped the region unleashing different militia groups including the Avengers who disrupted oil supply and cutting off revenue accruing to the federation account.

It is unpardonable to allow the region slide into another era of restiveness arising from neglect and marginalization of a region that lays the golden egg. We are all witnesses to the calamity that befell countries like Kuwait and even Libya recently and the huge losses recorded when their oil fields were taken out. Nigeria which depends solely on oil revenue for survival would grind to a halt.

This should not be allowed to happen and should be prevented not through a repeat of blood letting that we saw and crude methods of gunboat diplomacy and reign of terror in the region. Rather, the federal government should hold such consultations regularly, genuinely and transparently carry the people of the region along for peace to reign.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

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

Now, the major part is this: are you willing to answer those questions truthfully? Are you willing to take the right step after confronting the true nature of your friends?

Why is this so important? Many of us are in the habit of wanting one thing, and choosing another. It is called â&#x20AC;&#x153;delusionâ&#x20AC;?. Some of us donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the will to do the right and proper thing that will ultimately benefit us and our partners; but we cringe at the immediate stress, the anxiety and possible grief that our decisions will cause even when our heart tells us that a particular relationship can only lead to one spot: pain and regret.

Let me give you a good style practised by my wife, which has kept us away from the precipice, and has assured me that I have a God-given angel in her: be nice to everybody that is nice to you; be indifferent to anyone that is rude to you; be supportive to anyone that comes to you in grief; be helpful to anyone in obvious need, within your capacity; be brisk and half-deaf to all those who bring tales of others to you; and have none as â&#x20AC;&#x153;close friendâ&#x20AC;?. What that does to you is it gives you space and time to be there always for your man in all seasons; and be a real mother to your children.

Then it is a foolish man, worthy of only contempt from man and God that will treat such a woman with levity; or abandon her warmth and love for the cold and soul-less insides of a night club or hotel room, with you-know-what. Yes!

39

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾DECEMBER 5, 2020

SPORTS XTRA Shoretire Lights up Premier League 2 with Man Utd Manchester United Academy continue to produce talents and Nigeria-eligible striker Shola Shoretire is being tipped for a first team breakthrough as a teenager going by his performances in the Premier League 2.

Still only 16, Shoretire’s age-mates are competing in the U18 Premier League but United youth team coaches have spotted his potential and fast-tracked him into the U23 set up.

The versatile striker has had a brilliant start to life in the Premier League 2 and has been productive in recent matches.

In a 3-1 win over Southampton B on Friday night, the diminutive player provided the assist for United’s second goal netted

by Facundo Pellistri, playing a brilliant through ball from inside his own half thirty

seconds into the second half.

Shoretire was involved in the build up to his side’s third goal when Puigmal netted from a rebound after latching onto a pass from the Anglo-Nigerian.

Shoretire is in his best form of the season so far with two goal and two assists to his name in his last four matches in the Premier League 2.

The first year scholar has been nominated for United’s Goal of the Month for November 2020 for his headed goal against Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United stars Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Brandon Williams and Scott McTominay rose through the academy ranks before earning promotions to the first team.

May face Argentina, Brazil or Canada

Ola Aina’s goal against West Brom in line for Goal of the Month

Aina, Eze Battle Vardy, Mahrez for Premier League Goal of the Month

S

uper Eagles and Fulham defender and another London-born player of Nigerian descent, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze are among the nominees for the Premier League Budweiser Goal of the Month for November 2020.

Eight spectacular strikes have been shortlisted for the monthly accolade and the

two Nigerians face competition from Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, Southampton duo Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse, Brighton & Hove’s Solly March and Leeds United’s Raphinha in their bid to win the prize.

While Aina has been picked for his strike against West Brom on November 2, Eze’s effort against Leeds

United on November 7 made the shortlist.

Thirty minutes in at Craven Cottage against the Baggies, the Super Eagles right-back doubled Fulham’s advantage with a wonderful strike into the top corner - his first goal in the Premier League in his seventh appearance.

Against Leeds United, Eze scored with a brilliant free-kick midway through

the first half, also his first goal in the English top-flight.

Aina and Eze will be aiming to become the first player of Nigerian descent to win the Premier League Goal of the Month since the inception of the award in the 2016-2017 season.

The winner will be chosen by the supporters’ vote combined with the choices from a panel of experts and will be announced next week.

Solanke Scores in Bournemouth 4-0 Rout of Barnsley Anglo-Nigerian forward Dominic Solanke was among the goals as Bournemouth romped to a 4-0 victory away at Barnsley yesterday.

Midfielder Philip Billing, who remains eligible for Nigeria despite making his Denmark debut earlier this year, opened the scoring for the Cherries in the 12th minute before Solanke added their second in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.

The contest got away from Barnsley in the second period, as Diego Rico added another seven minutes after the break and Sam Surridge scored their fourth in the 68th minute.

The win moves Bournemouth back above Norwich City into top spot in the second tier, with the Cherries having

now amassed 30 points from 16 appearances to date as they look to make an immediate return to the Premier League following last term’s relegation.

Solanke has impressed in the second tier so far this season, finally finding a measure of consistency in front of goal after struggling to ignite during his first two seasons

at Bournemouth.

His goal yesterday takes his tally up to six goals and three assists in 16 Championship appearances so far this term, with the forward already netting more league goals this term than in his previous four campaigns combined.

There’s hope yet, that at 23, the one-time England international can realise the

potential he demonstrated at youth level, when he was a champion both at the U-17 European Championships in 2014 and the U-20 World Cup three years later.

Solanke, who remains eligible for Nigeria, has represented England at every youth level from U-16 to U-21 before making his debut for the senior side in 2017.

Napoli Rename Stadium after Maradona Napoli have renamed their stadium after late club legend Diego Maradona.

Former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager Maradona, who died age 60 in November, led the Italian side to two Serie Atitles in 1987 and 1990.

The Stadio San Paolo will now be known as the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, after the Napoli city council approved the resolution.

Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis proposed renaming the stadium in an open letter after Maradona’s death.

The mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, also backed the idea.

Maradona spent seven years at Napoli after joining from Barcelona in 1984, also winning the 1987 Coppa Italia and 1989 Uefa Cup with the Italian club.

Fans gathered at the stadium

to pay tribute to him after his death on 25 November and Napoli honoured him before their Europa League match against HNK Rijeka, each player wearing a shirt with ‘Maradona 10’ on the back.

“The resolution was signed by the entire city council,” said the council in a statement.

They added that Maradona was “the greatest footballer of all time” who “with his immense talent and magic honoured the Napoli team shirt for seven years” and “receiving in exchange from the whole city an eternal and unconditional love”.

Maradona made 188 appearances for Napoli, more than he made for any other club in his career, and scored 81 goals.

He represented Argentina in four World Cups and was captain when they won the 1986 title in Mexico.

Nice Sack Vieira after Two and a Half Years Nice have sacked ex-France andArsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira as their manager after two and a half years.

The French club have lost five games in a row, includ-

ing Thursday’s 3-2 defeat

by Bayer Leverkusen that confirmed their exit from the Europa League, and are 11th in Ligue 1.

Vieira, who also played for

Manchester City, Inter Milan and Juventus, was New York City boss before joining Nice, Adrian Ursea, who was assistant to Vieira, has taken The Stadio San Paolo now be known as the Stadio Diego Armando over as head coach.

Maradona

Lakers Re-sign Davies, James for $275m Bach to Run Unopposed for IOC President Anthony Davis and LeBron James have signed new deals with NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers.

Davis has agreed a reported five-year deal worth $190m, His agent told ESPN the 27-year-old has the option to terminate it before the fifth year.

Four-time NBAchampion James, 35, has signed a two-year extension worth a reported $85m which will run until the end of the 2022-23 season - his 20th in the competition.

James will become a free agent in the same year his 16-year-old son Bronny is scheduled to enter the NBA when he graduates from high school.

His career earnings will approach $435m (£324m) by the end of his Lakers deal.

Davis and James helped the Lakers to their first NBA title in a decade in October.

James, who joined the Lakers in 2018, was named the finals’ most valuable player and became the first player to win the title with three different teams, having twice won it with Miami Heat and once with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“LeBron James is a transcendent basketball player and human being,” said Lakers general manager general manager Rob Pelinka. “This contract extension paves the way for LeBron to further solidify his legacy as an all-time Lakers great.”

While he said Davis’ deal was a “blessed moment for Lakers Nation.”

Thomas Bach will stand unopposed to be reelected as president of the International Olympic Committee next year, the governing body has said.

The 66-year-old will be the only candidate for the election, which will be held during the 137th IOC Session in Athens next March.

A statement from the IOC read: “As decided by the IOC executive board, the elected president will take office after the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which will take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

“The length of the President’s first term of office is fixed at eight years. If re-elected, his term will end in 2025.”

Bach was elected IOC president in September 2013, succeeding Jacques Rogge in the position

at the head of the Olympic movement.

The Olympic rings monument has been reinstalled in Tokyo Bay as organisers ramp up preparations for next year’s postponed Summer Games.

The rings, which were taken down in August, were later illuminated and the neighbouring Rainbow Bridge lit up in a multi-coloured display, as organisers looked to provide a symbol that the rearranged Games can go ahead safely next year.

However, the return of the monument, which stands 15.3m tall and 32.6m wide and was originally installed in January, was overshadowed by requests from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that entertainment establishments and restaurants close at 10pm local time until December 17.

Saturday, December 5, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE

JNI to Buhari “We nevertheless, once again call on the federal government to rise up to its responsibilities and do well beyond the traditional condemnation, as lip services on security matters should stop.

Nigerians are desperately yearning for concrete actions.”

– Jama’atu Nasril Islam urging the federal government to tame insecurity.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Will Ghana Make History Again Next Week?

F

ellow Africans, please lend me your eyes, as you read through, what I consider, a very important article this weekend.

On Monday, December 7, 2020, Ghana, certainly one of my favourite countries on planet earth, goes to the polls again, to choose its President, Vice President, and members of Parliament. The story of my unconditional and uncompromising love for Ghana, despite the occasional skirmishes with Nigeria, is not new to any of my readers and followers on social media. It is also a well-known fact that I have been interacting with Ghanaian leaders for over 20 years, beginning with former President Jerry John Rawlings, now of blessed memory.

The meat of my epistle to you today is that Ghana once again stands on the threshold of making monumental history, if things go according to plan for the opposition NDC party in the Presidential election next Monday. The incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo will duel with his immediate predecessor, former President John Dramani Mahama for the Presidential trophy. This will be their third time of slugging it out in keenly contested elections. Mahama won the first in 2012 while Akufo-Addo won the second in 2016. So, wither direction will the wind of fortune blow this time around?

Who will win the third of the epochal battles between these two dynamic, but different foes?

Personally, I will say it is too close to call even though I’m willing to place a strong bet on Mahama, for several reasons on ground.

One. Many Ghanaians generally feel a sense of disappointment in Akufo-Addo who they believe over-promised but has much underdelivered after attaining power. Except for the free education (in Senior High Schools), the great Nana has not been able to produce any real landmark achievements in the last four years. While Mahama can confidently point at world class projects that were conceptualized and actualized by his highly technical government, President Akufo-Addo’s achievement in the area of infrastructure development pales into insignificance when compared with the Mahama legacy of his first term in office.

Two. A government that promised to operate a shoe-string budget has become one of the most recklessly profligate in the history of democratic governance in Ghana with the personnel running the affairs of state. For starters, the President assembled over hundred senior and junior Ministers in a country of only about 30 million people. It is interesting to make the comparison with Nigeria which has almost 200 million people and just over 40 ministers of both categories. The Akufo-Addo government is packed full, with friends and family, cronies who are to a large extent, members of a particular clan. Surprisingly, the ruling government studiously forgot to look after its greatest catchment area of support from the Ashanti Region. This may become the NPP’s albatross and back-breaker on Monday. Mahama as the consummate politician that he is saw the maltreatment of the region in the distribution of the political spoils of war arising from the NPP victory in 2016. Mahama has therefore made spirited, bold and robust incursions into the Ashanti kingdom, hoping to garner about 40 percent of the votes which would be a major boost for his chances of electoral success at the polls. Mahama is realistic enough to know that the Ahanti Region is still a major stronghold of the NPP, but he nevertheless fancies himself and his running mate to make the necessary significant inroads into the votes of people who consider themselves greatly marginalised by a

Mahama and his running mate, Professor Opoku-Agyemang

Government that they practically assisted in foisting on the nation.

Three. The economy is practically in shambles.

The government has borrowed excessively and endlessly and there does not seem to be any hope or expectation that a new term would signal the termination of the ceaseless borrowing.

The debt burden of this present government has become so humongous that some say, the debt of these past four years is more than all former governments accumulated and pooled together, without any sign that even just some of the borrowed money has been invested in capital projects that can enhance the industrialisation the country and ultimately create jobs for its multitude of unemployed youths. It had been the much-vaunted assertion of President Nana Akufo-Addo when he was campaigning that he would set Ghana on a path of industrialisation and technical growth never before witnessed in West Africa, not to mention, Ghana. He promised much but delivered precisely nothing in this regard. Instead of one industry and one dam per District that was promoted, promised and pledged during the 2016 campaign, the reality of the Akufo-Addo government’s performance was more like one toilet project per District. Such was the penchant for delivering on the toilet projects that the government has now become the butt (no pun intended) of serial jokes regarding the fact that the sensibilities of Ghanaians has been assailed by the malodorous discharges emanating from these contraptions. This has led to much disappointment and disenchantment by the teeming Ghanaian masses. The promise of one million US Dollars per District also never materialised and has since been long forgotten by the long-suffering populace subjected to great dissatisfaction, discontent and distress under Nana’s Government.

Indeed, to make matters worse, a lot of the notable projects of the Mahama administration embarked upon and almost completed have been abandoned patently through vindictiveness and spite, and without any reasonable justification.

This is worrisome and of great concern considering the fact that the Government of

Ghana either fully paid, or secured the loans, for the remarkable developments which Ghanaians expected that in the spirit of continuity and good governance, the incoming administration of Akufo-Addo would conclude and finish them for the benefit and betterment of Ghanaians of all political hues and shades.

Four. Too many atrocious and unpalatable scandals have surfaced in a government that largely came to power on the saintly promise to clean up Ghana and get rid of the alleged voluptuous and voracious greed and avarice of corrupt politicians and government officials in the preceding Mahama led Government.

Unfortunately, this government has been hit left, right and centre by some highly odoriferous charges of malfeasance on the part of its leaders in high places. The Government has waltzed from one crisis to another and nobody has been spared in the gory details of allegations of sensational brigandage and pillaging. The climax of these supposed corruption in high places and of high offices occurred with the very embarrassing resignation of the Special Prosecutor who accused the President of a proclivity for protecting corrupt people by directly instructing him to drop certain investigations.

What is galling for most people is the fact that they believed that this was the democratic administration that would clean the Augean stable, much like the late President J. J. Rawlings did as military Head of State, albeit not with the same kind of dramatic mass executions or killings. The passing of the revered, charismatic and much beloved Rawlings has put the issue of corruption and abuse of office on the front burner like never before. It has become an issue that is on the tongue of most Ghanaians today.

Five. Financial and economic institutions and organisations have collapsed like a pack of cards. Banks have gone under in suspicious circumstances amidst swirling allegations of insider trading, sharp practices, favouritism and downright abuse of office. Companies have caved in have groaned under the weight of great debt and oppressive business policies which have sometimes made little sense both in

terms of logic and practicality. As a result, many Ghanaians have either lost their jobs or lost their investments or both. In several instances, government had been accused of witch-hunt and sharp practices in order to corruptly enrich its inner circle. Sadly, this intimate, seemingly incestuous clique of family, buddies, comates and chums has not given any reason to douse or dispel the rumours having regard to the astonishing and remarkable opulent lifestyle of those close to the seat of power.

I could probably go on and on, but what I have said should suffice to demonstrate why I believe that Mahama may be the odd on favourite to win this election. The opposition has taken advantage of the myriad of challenges facing the government. Even those who never liked Mahama, and many still don’t like him, have now agreed that Mahama was misjudged, abused and harassed out of power unjustifiably.

Some are quietly saying that his government was composed of saints when juxtaposed with this present administration. What is not in dispute, is that the scale and level of tremendous achievement under the Mahama administration cannot be compared with the degradation and doldrums that Ghana appears to have been plunged into by the Akufo-Addo government. As some commentators have said it is akin to comparing sleep with death. It is noteworthy, that the media that lampooned, lambasted and lashed at Mahama at every opportunity in the past suddenly became deaf and dumb, possibly out of shell shock, under the present dispensation. I suppose they could not imagine what they were witnessing and the depths of failure, despair and pain that the country was plumbing in the new era of Akufo-Addo.

It is therefore not surprising that most opinion polls have tipped Mahama to win. Even if such polls could not be totally relied upon, as we have seen in the past, the mood in Ghana and the blistering campaign embarked on by the former President in practically all areas have combined positively to tilt the balance and odds of success in favour of John Mahama.

The clincher for many Ghanaians is Mahama’s choice of a female Vice Presidential candidate, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, a Professor of Literature, first female Vice Chancellor of a State University in Ghana at University of Cape Coast, former Minister of Education and lately Chancellor of the Women’s University of Africa, amongst other phenomenal achievements.

Her credentials and stellar accomplishments speak volumes for her as do her credibility and integrity. This is the first time a woman has been picked by a major political party in Ghana as a Presidential running mate.

And it is not just any woman, because of her daunting laurels and great distinguished career. If their ticket wins, she will become the first woman Vice President of Ghana, just like the American, Kamala Harris. It is perhaps no coincidence, that like Biden, Mahama seeks to unseat a sitting one term President who had pledged and assured the best but has achieved infinitely and abysmally little. The omens and stars appear aligned and seem right for John Dramani Mahama!

Ghana has knack for leading the way in delivering many firsts in different parts of the African historical landscape, whether good or bad. This is one positive, notable and laudable historic first that many people, including me, would love to witness. I will certainly keep “JOHN & JANE” in my prayers as well as the peaceful people of the Republic of Ghana...

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