SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2019

Budget Defence: President Bans Ministers from International Travels Lawan: We won’t allow MDAs to frustrate our December target Olawale Ajimotokan and Chuks Okocha in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the immediate suspension of international travels by all

cabinet members and heads of government agencies to enable them personally lead the process of budget defence at the National Assembly.

On the same, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan,

said the National Assembly would not allow Ministers or Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to frustrate it from passing the 2020 Budget proposals by

December.

A statement yesterday by the Director Information, Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, said the travel ban on ministers followed

the recent presentation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill by the President before the National Assembly.

According to the statement, the suspension of such travels would enable functionaries and

agencies of the executive arm of the government to provide the required cooperation with the legislature in order to ensure timely passage of Continued on page 5

FG to Procure Russian Helicopters, Tanks in Fight against Insurgency‌ Page 6 Saturday 12 October, 2019 Vol 24. No 8951

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Buhari Bemoans Sexual Harassment in Schools, Calls for Tougher Sanction Commends BBC undercover report on UNILAG Reacting to recent revelations of sexual President Muhammadu Buhari harassment in institutions of yesterday in Abuja called for higher learning in the country, stricter laws against sexual Buhari said he was glad that harassment in Nigerian the undercover news reporting at the University of Lagos had schools.

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

spurred an amendment to extant laws in the National Assembly.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, the president said such proposed

amendments by the legislature would get his support as long as they conform to the Nigerian Constitution. “The country must do more to address incidents of sexual violence, sexual abuses in

our schools, discrimination, human trafficking and cultural practices that violate women’s rights,� the president was quoted as saying.

The statement further added that Buhari urged

law enforcement agencies and school administrators to take up such cases with seriousness and ensure that perpetrators face the consequences of their Continued on page 5

At Last, NNPC Strikes Crude Oil Up North Light sweet crude discovered in Upper Benue Trough/Gongola Basin Hydrocarbon already flowing, computation of volume ongoing Chika Amanze-Nwachuku in Lagos and Chineme Okafor in Abuja Nigeria's northern region could become an oil producing jurisdiction soon following disclosure yesterday by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that it had discovered hydrocarbon deposits in the Kolmani River II Well on the Upper Benue Trough/Gongola Basin.

Also yesterday, the corporation signed a $2.5 billion pre-payment agreement with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company for upstream gas development projects for the supply of gas to NLNG Train 1 to 6.

Acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Samson Makoji revealed both developments in two separate statements, explaining that “preliminary reports indicated that the hydrocarbon discovery consisted of gas, condensate and light sweet oil of American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity “ranging from 38 to 41 found in stacked siliciclastic Continued on page 5

GOODBYE VICTORIA NNEKA ANNEKE...

L-R: Businessman, Tonye Cole, his wife, Sylvia, Mrs Ogochukwu Aneke, Helen Aneke, Ms Angela Aneke and Femi Young, during the funeral service for Mrs. Victoria Nneka Anneke (nee Jibunoh) at the House on the Rock Lekki, Lagos‌ yesterday kunle ogunfuyi

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Senate: Lopsided Recruitment Ongoing in FIRS, NDLEA, Others Summons heads of 8 agencies Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË The Senate has expressed concern over alleged lopsided appointments in some federal agencies and departments and has therefore resolved to probe the on-going recruitment exercise with a view to ensuring that all geo-political zones are evenly represented.

Chairman of the Senate committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator Danjuma La'ah, who

disclosed this at the maiden meeting of the committee, listed the agencies to include Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Open University (NOUN), Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Rural Electrification Agency and Nigerian Navy.

He warned that the committee would not tolerate imbalance in the on-going recruitment exercise, thus the decision to invite the heads of the affected

agencies to shed more light on the exercise.

"I have made it clear that we need to be thorough to show that we are not witch-hunting anybody or any organisation.

We want to be sure that the employment exercise will not be lopsided so every geo-political zone must benefit from the employment because that is needed to promote national unity,” La’ah said.

According to him, the committee will not hesitate

to suspend any recruitment that contravenes approved guidelines, adding that the committee should be informed about recruitment exercises by government agencies to ensure equitability in appointments and employments.

La’ah specifically accused the Federal Character Commission of always avoiding his Committee in order to keep the Senate in the dark about what is going on in the government agencies.

He declared: "We will ensure the promotion and enforcement of equitable participation in government by all sections of the country to promote national unity and redress any imbalance in appointment to all levels of the government.

"We will ensure the promotion and enforcement of the equitable and proportional distribution of infrastructural facilities and socio-economic amenities among the federating units of Nigeria.”

He further added: "Our

mandate therefore is to stick strictly to these principles as outlined above and discourage executive and administrative arbitrariness.

"You are all aware that noncompliance with these principles is punishable under the law or act establishing the Federal Character Commission.

"I want to categorically state here that the Committee will ensure enforcement of provision in section 14 of the 1999 Constitution as amended."

“Here at NNPC, we are thinking beyond Train 7; if your ambition is Train 7,” Kyari said.

He noted that though NLNG had been a huge success as a company, it should go beyond its current achievements and initiate other viable projects capable of generating better return on investment.

“Actually, our thinking should be on what else we can do or what other projects we can work on as quickly as possible to take advantage of the enormous potential in-country. There is also the need for us to take advantage of what is happening in the global market and do things very differently. There are opportunities there and our company must move into those locations and we must move fast,” he declared.

The NNPC helmsman said the pre-payment gas supply agreement was a milestone which aligned with the federal government’s aspirations of monetising the nation’s enormous gas resources, protecting the Federation’s investment in the NLNG, ensuring full capacity utilisation (22mtpa LNG and 5mtpa NGLs) of Trains 1-6 plants, generating employment, and providing new vistas of growth opportunities in the nation’s LNG sector.

Earlier in his address, the Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah, stated that the signing of the gas supply pre-payment agreement was a significant step towards ensuring the company’s business sustainability and competitiveness.

He called for support to ensure that the Final Investment Decision on the Train 7 Project was taken this year without fail, adding that the project was no longer an ambitious one in the light of developments in the global LNG market.

The event was witnessed by the Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, and representatives of Total, Eni/ NAOC, amongst others.

Meanwhile, the NNPC yesterday disclosed that its subsidiary upstream company, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC), reported a fire incident on one of its oil blocks - Oil Mining Lease (OML) 20 at Egbema-West of Imo state.

It explained in a statement

by Makoji that the fire outbreak was discovered on October 7,

but did not disclose what level of loss it has caused Nigeria in terms of shut-in of oil production from the asset and revenue from therein.

The statement quoted the Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Mansur Sambo, to have stated that preliminary investigation on the incident revealed that a spark which ignited the fire during bunkering activity by vandals might have caused the incident.

According to Sambo, the fire outbreak occurred in the oil block’s ‘Well–18T’ which is located within the flooded part of Abacheke community.

It noted that further report released by the Community Liaison Officer in charge of Abacheke community indicated that no fatality was recorded.

NPDC said appropriate action to minimise the impact of the fire and ensure safety of the community had been taken, adding that following successful aerial surveillance carried out on October 9, it was mobilising and employing the services of a reputable safety consultant to completely put out the fire.

The upstream oil company however advised members of Abacheke community and its environs to avoid the affected area and stay calm. It equally promised to update the general public on the incident.

to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Girl-child. The theme for this year’s celebration is GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable,” she tweeted.

The wife of the President expressed appreciation on the progress made in terms of advocacy by women groups on the need to protect girls and women against any form

of gender-based violence.

“I am happy to note the progress that has been made in the area of activism by girls to protect their gender.

“I want to state that more needs to be done especially to address gender-based violence, which seems to be more pronounced recently and all hands must be on deck to achieve this,” she said.

Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/ FSP) just like the Senate did.

The Senate President stated that "this shows the commitment, capacity and willingness of the House to work assiduously for Nigeria to make progress", stressing that "we are going to work jointly to ensure that we maintain and sustain this momentum."

Lawan said the desire of the ninth National Assembly was to ensure that Nigerians get better in structure and social services.

On the Legislative Agenda that was unveiled, he noted that the Senate and the House of Representatives “have many

things in common,” adding that the two chambers “have great deal of understanding of positive things for Nigeria.”

According to him, even though the legislative agenda of the two chambers are separately treated, "we have the same mission; and it is to take Nigeria to greater heights in the next four years."

Lawan further added that the next thing was to transform and translate the prevailing stability within the two chambers into productivity by way of legislative implementation of the legislative agenda.

The Senate last month deliberated on its Legislative Agenda and adopted it.

AT LAST, NNPC STRIKES CRUDE OIL UP NORTH cretaceous reservoirs of Yolde, Bima Sandstone and Pre-Bima formations.”

The statement said the corporation resumed the search for crude oil up north when President Muhammadu Buhari came into office in 2015.

Drilling of the Kolmani River II Well was flagged-off in a colourful ceremony by Buhari on February 2, 2019.

Makoji stated that NNPC acquired 435.54 kilometressquare (km2) of 3D seismic data over Kolmani prospect in the upper Benue trough in the Gongola basin.

He noted that this was to evaluate Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) Kolmani River 1 Well discovery of 33 billion standard feet (BCF) of gas and explore deeper levels.

"The well was drilled with 'IKENGA RIG 101' to a total depth of 13,701 feet encountering oil and gas in several levels. A Drill Stem Test (DST) is currently on-going to confirm the commercial viability and flow of the Kolmani River reservoirs," said Makoji.

He further stated: “On Thursday 10th October, 2019, at 18:02hours, one of the reservoirs was perforated and hydrocarbon started flowing to the well head at 21:20hours in which the gas component was flared to prevent air charge

around the rig.

"Computation of hydrocarbon volume is on-going and will be announced in due course."

According to him, the corporation has also acquired additional 1183km2 of 3D seismic data over highly prospective areas of the Gongola basin with a view to evaluating the full hydrocarbon potential of the basin.

Makoji said: "NNPC has deployed world class cuttingedge technologies including surface geochemistry, ground gravity/magnetic, stress field detection, full tensor gradiometry aerial surveys to de-risk exploration in the frontier basins.

"The NNPC plans to drill additional wells for full evaluation of the hydrocarbon volume in the Gongola basin."

Buhari, had during the spud-in ceremony of Kolmani River II, stated the commitment of the federal government to the exploration for oil and gas in the frontier basins in the entire length and breadth of the country.

The basins, according to the NNPC, included the Benue trough, Chad basin, Sokoto and Bida basins.

The President stated that attention would also be given to the Dahomey and Anambra basins, which have already witnessed oil and gas

discoveries.

The NNPC said the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantity in the Gongola basin would attract foreign investment, generate employment for people to earn income and increase government revenues.

On the gas deal with NLNG, the NNPC said the six trains of the NLNG currently have a production capacity of 22 metric tons per annum (mtpa), with an expected capacity expansion by eight metric tons per annum through its upcoming Train-7 project.

Makoji explained that the agreement would help to resolve issues around gas supply to NLNG’s existing six trains.

Speaking yesterday at the signing ceremony, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari charged shareholders of the NLNG to intensify efforts towards expanding the production capacity of the company beyond Train 7 so as to take advantage of developments in the global LNG market.

The GMD, who spoke on the significance of the agreement, said it would help to resolve the issues around gas supply to Trains 1–6, stressing that there was need to fast-track action on the process of bringing more trains onstream.

Fire Outbreak on NNPC’s OML 20 Oil Asset

BUHARI BEMOANS SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS, CALLS FOR TOUGHER SANCTION actions.

Shehu also said the president advised victims of sexual harassment not to die in silence but to report to appropriate authorities.

“Survivors and their families must avoid cover up.

They should be encouraged to come forth and report cases of abuses wherever and whenever they occur,”

the president was further quoted as saying.

Also yesterday, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, called for urgent action to protect the girl child from abuses. Aisha in a tweet to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-child in Abuja stressed the need for parents to protect their children from all forms of violence and abuses. The

theme of the 2019 celebration is Girl Force: “Unscripted and Unstoppable.”

NAN reports that the day, which was declared by the United Nations, was first celebrated on October 11, 2012.

October 11 is dedicated to calling for more opportunities for girls and increasing awareness of gender

inequality faced by girls worldwide based on their gender.

The celebration of the day also reflects on the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research.

“Today, I join millions of girls around the world

BUDGET DEFENCE: PRESIDENT BANS MINISTERS FROM INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS the Appropriation Bill.

"Honourable Ministers who have already secured approval to travel are by this directive, required to revalidate such approvals with Mr. President after confirming the Schedule of Appearances with the relevant Committees of the National Assembly," the statement added.

Additionally, Bassey said all MDAs are to liaise with the relevant committees of the National Assembly for their schedules of budget defence.

Lawan: We will not be frustrated to miss December target for 2020 Budget Meanwhile, the President of the Senate has said the

National Assembly would not allow MDAs of government to frustrate it from passing the 2020 Budget proposals by December as planned.

In a statement by his special adviser on media, Ola Awoniyi, the Senate President said: "The National Assembly will do the right thing, which is to work on the budget and pass it."

Lawan, who spoke at the unveiling of the Legislative Agenda of the House of Representatives, declared: "We will not allow anyone to frustrate our desire to pass the 2020 Budget before the end of this year. So, it is an opportunity for all those concerned with defending

their budgets, to take the advantage."

The Senate President has been consistent in his desire to reverse the current unpredictable financial year to a more predictable January to December cycle of budgeting.

To achieve what some people consider a tall order, the leadership of the ninth National Assembly has repeatedly warned government officials to take advantage of the opportunity to defend their budget estimates on schedule.

Lawan, who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly, added: "One thing that we have collectively decided in the National

Assembly, is to pass the budget 2020 before the end of the year.

"Already, the House has suspended plenary; the Senate will do same on Tuesday next week for the consideration of budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

"Only the window of October is available for budget defense. Any Minister or Head of Agency who decides to travel out of Nigeria, without defending his or her respective budget would have no opportunity to do so."

He commended the House of Representatives on the prompt passage of the Medium Term

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News Editor Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x; ͸Î&#x20AC;͚͚͞ͿͽΠÎ&#x20AC;͚͸ Ě&#x2122;sms only) Email Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ë&#x203A;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;ĚśĂ&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ë&#x203A;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;

COVERING MORE GROUNDS...

L-R: Deputy Head Mission, Swedish Embassy Nigeria, Fanny Nylander; Managing Director, OriďŹ&#x201A;ame Nigeria, Mr. Isidore Ogunjiofor; Sweden Ambassador to Nigeria, Chana and ECOWAS, Mr. Carl Michael Grans; Sales Support and Marketing Manager, OriďŹ&#x201A;ame Nigeria, Divinea Okwara; and the Executive Director No1Leader, OriďŹ&#x201A;ame Nigeria, Kemisola Ajetunmobi, at the OriďŹ&#x201A;ame Nigeria ďŹ ve years anniversary press conference in Lagos...recently

Nigeria to Procure Russian Helicopters, Tanks in Fight against Insurgency tHands over seized American anti-mine resistant vehicles to US

Kingsley Nwezeh Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; multi-purpose military vehicles intercepted by the 23 Amoured Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă?

In a renewed bid to contain the insurgency in the North-east, Federal Government has concluded plans to procure helicopters, planes and battle tanks from Russian Federation.

Nigeriahad,atarecentsecurity summit in Moscow, sought the assistance of Russia to combat terrorism in view of its wide experienceintacklinginsurgency.

This comes as federal government yesterday in Yola handed over six mine-resistant and

Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yola in August to the American government even as troops of Nigeria and Chadian Armed Forces killed 15 insurgents and captured arms and ammunition in Jigalta Borno State.

President Buhari is expected tomeetPresidentVladimirPutin onthesidelinesofaRussia-Africa summit in the Black Sea city of Sochi.

"We're sure that with Russian help,we'llmanagetocrushBoko Haram, given Russia's experi-

ence combating Islamic State in Syria," Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Steve Ugbah, said in an interview with Russia's RIA news agency.

He added that Nigeria was interestedinpurchasingRussian helicopters, planes, tanks and other military equipment.

Ugbahsaidamilitarytechnical cooperationdealbetweenRussia and Nigeria had already been drafted and that it only needed to be finalised.

"WehopepresidentBuharican take the talks to their logical end.

The agreement will open new

possibilities in such areas as the supply of military equipment and training for specialists," he said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria military officials handed over six mineresistant and multi-purpose vehicles to the officials of the United States government.

Soldiersmanningacheckpoint in Adamawa State had intercepted the vehicles transported intoNigeriawithoutdueprocess.

Troops of the 23 Armoured BrigadeinYola,seizedtheequipment in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

FAAN Refutes Alleged Attack Tell Buhari the Truth, Corruption on Royal Air Maroc at MMIA Resides in His Presidency, PDP Charges Sagay Chinedu Eze

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has refuted reports that Royal Air Maroc flight that arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, early yesterday morning was attacked.

The agency said that immediately the aircraft with registration number CN - ROR touched down on the runway andtaxiedtowardstheterminal, itwasescortedbysecurityoperatives until it arrived the terminal.

FAAN said there was no indication that the aircraft was attacked and remarked that the baggage compartment which was discovered to be open, might have been caused by hard landing, which jolted the aircraft and caused the luggage compartment door to open.

The agency also said that no

luggage was missing, as every passenger on the flight collected his or her luggage, except one passenger whose luggage was confirmed to have been left in Morocco.

Astatement issued by FAAN and signed by its General Manager,CorporateAffairs,Henrietta Yakubusaid,â&#x20AC;&#x153;ARoyalAirMaroc flight with registration number CN - ROR landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 0404hours today (yesterday)October11,2019with its baggage cabin door opened. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Confirming the incident, Aviation Security officials that escortedtheaircraftuponlanding notedthatalthoughallnecessary security landing procedures were observed as the aircraft was landing and there was no invader around the aircraft, they suspectedtheopeningmusthave been as a result of force landing.

Chuks Okocha Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039;

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said that President Muhammadu Buhari should leave the 8th National Assembly out of his failures to tame his fraudulent officials and curb the humongous corruption festering in his Presidency.

The party said in a statement byitsNationalPublicitySecretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, that the ChairmanofPresidentialAdvisory Committee on Corruption, Prof.

Itse Sagay, at his age and status, ought to be bold enough to tell PresidentBuharithatcorruption residesinthePresidentialVillaand that a President who surrounds himself with corrupt persons as ministers, special advisers and confidantscannotfightcorruption.

ThePDPtaskedProf.Sagayto clear his conscience by using his positiontoaskPresidentBuharito answer Nigerians on the alleged

siphoningofN9trillionoilmoney through shady contracts, under hiswatch,asdetailedintheleaked NNPC memo.

Thepartyfurtheradvisedthat Prof.Sagaycouldtakeaface-saving measurebydemandinganinvestigationintotheallegedcorruptionin thehandlingoftheN1.4trillionoil subsidyinvolvingthecabalinthe PresidencyandcertainAllProgressives Congress (APC) leaders, in addition to the reported stealing ofoverN1.1trillionworthofcrude under Mr. Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watch.

AccordingtoPDP,"Itisstrange to many Nigerians that Prof.

Sagay, as the Chairman of the Anti-corruption Committee, could not summon the boldness to ask President Buhari to order an investigation into allegations by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, that the N500bn meant for Social InvestmentProgramwasdiverted to private purses.

The equipment was imported without an end-user certificate from the Office of the National SecurityAdviser.After the interception, the vehicles were kept at the Customs Headquarters in Yola.

Comptroller,NigeriaCustoms Service, Yola Command, Mr. Kamardeen Olumoh, handed over the vehicles on behalf of the Nigerian government to Kathleen FitzGibbon, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of United States in Nigeria.

Olumoh said that the command received a directive from the NSAto release the vehicles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am directed by the National Security Adviser to comply, release and hand over the vehicles to theAmerican Government,â&#x20AC;? he said.

In her response, FitzGibbon thanked the Nigerian government for its understanding.

She said the vehicles would be moved to Niger Republic for a security mission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria andAmerica have a good relation and understanding; the vehicles were moving to

the Niger Republic for a security mission,â&#x20AC;? she said.

She disclosed that the US Air Force Carrier would transport the vehicles to Niger Republic.

Meanwhile, troops of 242 Battalion in a joint operation with Sector 2 Multinational Joint Task Force(MNJTF)ChadianDefence Forces (CDF) yesterday killed 15 insurgents in Jigalta Village, Borno State.

An army update on the war against insurgency said troops encountered an ambush organised by Boko Haram fighters at Jigalta Village ahead of Marari, 27 Kilometers from Monguno in Borno State while on a joint clearance operation.

It said the insurgents laid an ambush with five gun trucks and unconfirmed number of insurgents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, the gallant troops responsively countered the ambush and decimated the uncoordinated criminals. Resultantly, 15 of the Boko Haram criminalswereneutralisedwhile few of them escaped with severe gunshot wounds.

Sadiya Farouq Denies Rumoured Marriage to Buhari Bennett Oghifo

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster and Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq has denied her rumoured planned marriage to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister, yesterday, stated on her twitter handle @ sadiya_farouq that the news of her impending marriage trending on social media was fake, stating that it should be ignored.

Her said in her tweet that â&#x20AC;&#x153;There have been several

speculation in media regarding marriage between myself and Baba Buhari. I will like to clarify this that me and Baba Buhari have been old time friends and Her Excellency Aisha is a good friend and a sister. I will like to maintain this good relationship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;DearNigerians,pleasekindly ignore all rumours as this is not true. We are currently completely focused on making sure we have a better Nigeria. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continue to prayforourdearcountryNigeria.

God bless.â&#x20AC;?

SATURDAY OCTOBER 12, 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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Bandits Hold on to Abducted Kaduna Schoolgirls after N3.6m Ransom Payment John Shiklam in Kaduna

Abductors of the six female students and two staff of Engravers College, Kakau Daji, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State are yet to release their victims after allegedly collecting a ransom of N3.6 million.

Also, abductors of four students of the Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Gwagwada, Chikun Local Government Area of the state, have demanded for a ransom of N2 million.

Sources close to families of the abducted girls said the money was paid a couple of days ago, but the girls and the staff were yet to be released. The development is said to have further heightened fears and apprehension among parents as they waited anxiously for the release of their children who have remained in captivity since their abduction on October 3, when the hoodlums invaded the school.

Sources close to the parents said since the ransom was delivered, there had been no communication from the bandits.

According to the source, â&#x20AC;?Parents of the girls contributed N3.6 million and was delivered to the kidnappers, but they have not released the girls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As it is, the parents are helpless and apprehensive. There has been no communication with the bandits after the money was delivered, so everybody is very worried. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been praying day and night to God to touch the hearts of the kidnappers and free the children and the staff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The parents have been in trauma since the incident happened and they were hoping that with the payment of the ransom, they will release the girls,â&#x20AC;? he said.

On Thursday, 14 students of the school were abducted on their way to school, however, troops of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Operation Thunder Strikeâ&#x20AC;? were

said to have rescued all the students.

However a community leader in Gwagwada said not all the students were rescued as four of them were still in captivity.

According to him, 10 of the students were rescued following the prompt arrival of soldiers.

He said the bandits, who were many in number, divided themselves in groups after abducting the 14 school children. â&#x20AC;?They divided themselves in two groups and the group with four students had escaped before the army arrived.

The army did not know that one of the groups had escaped with four students.

But they pursued the group with 10 of the students and rescued the students,â&#x20AC;? he said.

According to him, the bandits had called to demand for a N2 million ransom, adding that negotiations were still going on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We told them that we are poor

village people and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have N2 million. We pleaded with them to understand with us,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He said further that villages along the Kaduna-Abuja Road were being terrorised frequently by bandits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are living under the mercy of kidnappers, but we have been praying to God to protect us and deliver us from these criminals,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna had earlier in a statement yesterday confirmed that troops of Operation Thunder Strike rescued the students.

Colonel Ezindu Idimah, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said in the statement that the troops who were on routine patrol in the general area received information from a reliable source that some bandits terrorising the AbujaKaduna highway waylaid some students on their way to school and abducted them.

In Brief Buhari Congratulates Ethiopian PM President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja congratulated the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, on his emergence as the winner of ͺ͸͚ΠĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;äĂ? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;ĂĄĂ&#x2039;ĂŁË&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; the peace processes within countries, and across the borders of the African continent. According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari felicitated with the Prime Minister, his cabinet and all Ethiopians on his remarkable global recognition Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ͚͸͸Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;äĂ?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; also attributed the victory to a decision to end the 20-year conflict between two African countries - Ethiopia and Eritrea. "The President reiterates his beliefthatAfricandevelopmentisstronglytiedtopeacefulco-existence,and deliberate efforts by governments and people to sustain harmony within and between countries, urging more concerted and collective partnership onpeaceinthecontinent. PresidentBuharipraysthattheglobalrecognition will spur more interest on issues of peace in Africa, and drive home the immeasurable benefits," the statement added.

WAEC Appoints New Registrar TheWestAfricanExaminationsCouncil(WAEC)hasappointedMr.Pateh Bah, from The Gambia, as its new Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ě&#x2039;ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?âĂ&#x161;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; ͺ͸͚ΠĂ&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; September2024. Mr.PatehBahtookoverfromDr.IyiUwadiae,fromNigeria ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; ͝͸Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚ΠË&#x203A; Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ě&#x192; Ă&#x;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x153; Headquarters, Accra, Ghana, Mr. Abiodun Aduloju, in a statement said, Bah graduatedfromPuneUniversity,Maharashtra,Indiafromwhereheobtained Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; ͚ΠΠͿË&#x203A; Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? andprofessionalqualificationsfromotherinstitutionsinIndiaandtheUK.The statementreadsinparts."Mr.BahworkedbrieflywiththeMinistryofEducation, Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014; ͚ΠΠ͸ Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; ͚ΠΠ͚ Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; Î Ë&#x153; ͚ΠΠ͚Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2DC; ͺ͸͸ͺË&#x153; Ă&#x2019;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ëš andheconsequently,relocatedtothecouncilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sHeadquartersinAccra,Ghana.

Reviving Moribund Industries

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, has sought the collaboration of the Bureau of PublicEnterprises(BPE)toreformsomemoribundindustriesinthecountry in line with its mandate. Speaking when he led the management staff of his agency on a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh in Abuja, Arabi said the BPSR had received several requests from state governments in the country to revive their dying industries, adding that with the vast deposit of knowledge at the BPE as a foremost reform agency, it was appropriate to collaborate with the Bureau. According to him, the Gombe State Government, for instance, had requested the BPSR to reform itsTomato Company which he said, with the collaboration with the BPE, it could be achieved easily. He noted that BPE had a critical role to play in the mandate of the BPSR and urged the Bureau to participate actively at all the meetings of the Steering Committees of the BPSR for enhanced results.

Fake Civil Servants Nabbed

MOVING FORWARD MINERALS DEVELOPMENT...

L-R: Managing Director, OCP Africa Fertilisers, Mr. Mohamed Hettiti and Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Ms. Fatima ShinkaďŹ , during the signing of a landmark co-operation agreement aimed at developing Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s phosphate deposits as an extension of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative in Casablanca, Moroccoâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

Nigeria Plagued with Plethora of Problems, CJN Laments Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale Ă­n Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko, has lamented that the country was plagued with plethora of problems, saying that while the general climate was unsuitable, the country's economic weather was equally unfriendly.

In a different forum, he canvassed for the amendment of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court as contained in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) so that not all cases would terminate in the apex court Tanko, who was represented by Justice John Tsoho, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the unveiling of the 9th House of Representatives Legislative Agenda.

He said that the importance of the legislative arm of government in the effective and efficient administration of a country could not be overemphasised.

According to him, the legislature plays the pivotal role of stabilising governance by making laws that would ensure societal order, peaceful coexistence of the citizens, and good governance of the federation.

Tanko noted that the legislature was no doubt, the bedrock of every democracy, added that no democratic government thrived without solid and well-articulated parliament.

The CJN stressed that the progress and well-being of a nation rested on the shoulders of its NationalAssembly, while also pleading with lawmakers not to handle the enormous powers conferred on them by the Constitution with levity.

The apex Court justice stressed that the onus lies on the lawmakers to meticulously steer the ship of governance through the right waters to avoid any storm or turbulence, noting that the destiny of the Nigerian State lies in their hands.

The CJN explained that the parliament had a broad oversight functions and was equally empowered by the constitution to form committees of its members to scrutinise bills brought before them and also critically examine the conduct and activities of government institutions and officials, which invariably cuts across the other two arms of government, the executive and judiciary.

Tanko explained that this sweeping power was not bestowed on the

legislature for fun, adding that it was absolutely with the intent to strike a balance between the three arms of government and also ensure compliance with the doctrine of separation of powers, which is anchored on checks and balances and enthronement of a regime of mutual relationship and interdependence.

He noted that this was a constitutional provision that the lawmakers must cherish and apply to the letter, with a view to evolving the rule of law and egalitarian society.

Tanko stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In your Ninth House Legislative Agenda, you should endeavour to carry on board the general welfare and wellbeing of all Nigerians. The times are quite unfavourable, to say the least. The general climate in the country is literally inclement. The security challenges across the country are gaining momentum by the day; and the right legislation should be put in place to arrest the tide.

The economic weather too is quite unfriendly. The purchasing power of an average Nigerian is waning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is no more news that unemployment now governs the labour market.

As you settle down to roll out your

agenda for the ninthAssembly, I crave your indulgence to fashion out new laws that will address the plethora of problems plaguing our nation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will like to assure you that as you embark on this important voyage of national rebirth and reinvigoration through effective, people-oriented legislation, the judiciary is solidly behind you. Since our role is strictly limited to the interpretation of the laws of the land, we will not leave any stone unturned in that respect. You can be rest assured that you already have a good and dependable ally in the Nigerian Judiciary. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will on our part, as usual, vigorously pursue the observance of the rule of law by all citizens. There is no sacred cow anywhere, as no one is above the law, no matter his or her position in the society.

Justice must be served without fear or favour. Every law of the land must be obeyed. Let me assure everyone present here that the consequences of disobeying lawful court orders will be too grave to bear. We all should gird our loins to do our Constitutionally assigned duties with due diligence so that Nigeria can be the pride of everyone,â&#x20AC;? he added.

FollowingtheongoingimplementationofBiometricValidationofallcivil servantsandpensionersinEkitiStatethroughtheMinistryofFinance,two takecivilservantswereyesterdayapprehendedbypoliceontheground of impersonation at the Ekiti State Data Centre. The impersonators; 27-year-oldOmotadeSamuelsaidhehadbeenimpersonatinghisâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;lateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ě&#x2122; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ë&#x153; ͽ͝Ě&#x161; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? ͺ͸͚ͺ while28-year-oldAkinbodeFatadealsoclaimedhewasimpersonatinghis ËŠĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;ËŞ Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ě&#x2122; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153; ͞͸ãĂ?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D;Ě&#x161; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? ͺ͸͚Î&#x20AC;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x2122; claimedtoliveinIbadan,OyoState,confessedthathehasbeenreceiving prompt payment of his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salary for several months via electronic transferasheworksasasecurityguardatAramokoLocalGovernment Council office. This act, according to him was aided by a senior Staff of theLGAofficewhoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sknownasMrs.Oguntuase.â&#x20AC;&#x153;IliveinIbadanbutcome toAdo-Ekitimonthlytoimpersonatemylatefatherandclaimhissalary.

Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î&#x20AC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă? ĂĄĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; here for biometric verification, it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t occur to me that I will be caught,â&#x20AC;? heconfessed.Fatadealsoconfessedthathisunlawfulactwasaidedbythe HeadMasterofSt.Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sAfricanPrimarySchoolOke-Mesi,Mr.Igbalajobi.

Ajetumobi, Gawat Join Sanwo-Olu

LagosStateGovernor,Mr.BabajideSanwo-Olu,hasappointedTheNation newspaperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sstaffwriter,WaleAjetunmobi,ashisSpecialAssistantonMedia, and social media specialist, Jubril Gawat as Senior Special Assistant, New Media. While Ajetunmobi will work in the press unit, Gawat will function in thenewmediaunit,assistingtoprojecttheGovernor'sactivitiestotheonline community. Ajetunmobi, an award-winning journalist, and Gawat were part of the media strategists that worked with the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign team in the build-up to the last general elections. A statement by Sanwo-Oluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said the appointment was with immediate effect, adding that Gawat and Ajetunmobi were chosen to be part of the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s media team based on their track records in their professional calling. A youthful journalist, Ajetunmobi started his career as a student-writer at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in 2007, contributing to the Campus Life pages of The Nation.

Ode Remo Musuem, Park Opens

ThevisionofOdeRemoMuseumandParkwasgiventoAareAdetolaOlaniyi Olaonipekun Emmanuel King, GMD of Adron Group upon his conferment of the chieftaincy title â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bobajiro of Ode Remoâ&#x20AC;? a little over a year ago by the Alaye of Ode â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Remo, His Royal Majesty Alayeluwa, Oba Adetunji Amidu Osho (FNSI). At a press briefing for the unveiling, Emmanuel King said his vision was to change the view of Remoland and make life comfortable for the people, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am saddened that our cultural value is depreciating every day, but with this project, this town can become a tourist center and improve the GrossDomesticProducts(GDP)oftheState.Ourprimarygoalofpromoting theOdeRemoMuseumandParkasaworldclasstouristcentreistherefore in line with Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, MFR, administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy towards a more sustainable tourism and hospitality sector in Ogun State.

9

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁

Boko Haram: Where Are the Borno Elders Now?

I

n early March, 2013, former President Goodluck Jonathan was in Maiduguri to engage Borno elders on the Boko Haram scourge. It was the final day of his 48-hour on-the-spot assessment of Yobe and Borno, the epicenter of the insurgency. The Borno elders openly, and rightfully too, confronted Jonathan over the escalating assault by the terrorists. They challenged Jonathan to rise to the occasion as Nigeria’s Chief Security Officer and tame Boko Haram. At the town hall meeting, the Borno elders blamed the federal government for the terrorism and also accused the soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of extra-judicial killings and flagrant abuse of the rights of innocent people “under the guise of fighting militants.” The Borno elders asked that the soldiers be taken off the streets of Maiduguri. They also asked for amnesty for members of the sect and the introduction of a Marshall Plan to rebuild the state.

I remember one of the elders, Professor Nur Alkali, lamenting the untold hardship caused by the activities of the sect. The former Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri said: “There is no one in this hall that has not lost a relation or friends to the crisis. When a soldier is killed, there is retaliation with corpses littering the streets.”

Alkali argued that with the sect’s members indicating readiness to dialogue, they should be embraced and encouraged: “There is no alternative to dialogue and since they talked about peace, we should work towards it, though it may take some time to achieve. The use of violence brings more violence. The minimum expectation is pardon, rehabilitation.”

The then Chairman of the PDP in the State, Baba Basharu, called for the removal of roadblocks and sandbags from the streets of Maiduguri. “The building of bunkers on every street in Borno is lamentable. It does not exist even in war torn countries,” he said.

I also remember the member representing Marte/Monguno/Nganzai constituency in the House of Representatives, Mohammed Monguno, saying that soldiers must evolve professionally and be cautious in their duty.

Also speaking, Shettima Ali Monguno (now late) told Jonathan to embrace dialogue with the sect.

All these happened six and half years ago. The Jonathan presidency is now history. Before he left on May 29, 2015, he succeeded in pushing the terrorists to the fringes of Sambisa forest.

This is the truth that must be told.

Yes, the Borno elders have the right to challenge the man elected as Chief Security Officer of the country to perform his duties, but Jonathan at the parley made a thought-provoking point:

Babagana Zulum

That Borno State in particular may continue to be terrorised by the sect unless the elders come out to condemn its activities. I remember Jonathan telling them that their call for the withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Maiduguri was entirely in their hands. He said he was willing to withdraw the troops once the elders entered into a commitment with the federal government that they should be held responsible for every single death caused by Boko Haram after the withdrawal of the soldiers.

I also remember Jonathan saying: “Government will never sit down quietly and wait for insurgents to take a part of this country or kill our soldiers like chickens. I don’t want to hear that one soldier is killed in Borno State or any part of this country. I cannot preside over this country as a president and my security officers are killed. This people leave their families, stay on the roads and the bush so that we will sleep and I will not want to hear that one of them is killed. We will not allow it and I will not celebrate the death of one security officer anywhere in this country. We will not, and I repeat, will not accommodate it.”

All Jonathan warned about is now happening.

Six and half years after, Borno State is facing an unprecedented mess, with 22 of the 27 local governments in the state either fully or partially controlled by the terrorists. The Buhari government squandered all the gains made against Boko Haram by his predecessor because of ineptitude. Many local government areas were retaken by the terrorists under the Buhari government. As I pen this piece, aid agencies can’t access many local governments in Borno.

There are scores of IDP camps, with close to a million people living there, no thanks to rampaging Boko Haram and ISWAP. These people cannot return to their homes because they are occupied by the terrorists.

Maiduguri is persistently under threat of being choked. So, where are the Borno elders?

Why are they not tackling President Buhari ferociously, the way they attacked Jonathan?

Their voices have become inaudible amid the anguish in Borno State. Where is Asheikh Jarma, AIG Muktar, Amb. Gambo Gubio, Sadiq Ghide, Kaumi Damboa, Yusuf Ngulde, Ibrahim Ngulde, Dr. Bulama Gubio and Professor Alkali.

Are they saying the death of Shettima Ali Monguno and Ambassador Gaji Galtimari has put an end to their agitations for security in Borno State?

The few tackling Buhari to perform his duty as the country’s Chief Security Officer are not even elders. One of them is Ali Shettima, Chairman of Marte Local Government in northern Borno. He cried out last week that the entire local government was deserted because of the activities of Boko Haram: “We have Boko Haram there now, and these people are merciless and can even kill 50 people at a time without blinking an eyelid. We are appealing to the military to clear them. And it is after the place is cleared of Boko Haram and de-mined that we can return.”

Shettima, who is now running his local government from Maiduguri, said as a result of frequent attacks by Boko Haram, the residents of the local government had all relocated to IDP camps in Maiduguri: “About 70,000 others are in Monguno; we have some at Gajiram and others in Gamboru. Many of the families are separated and the main challenge is bringing the families together.

Because of the insurgency, many of these people who are farmers cannot till the ground and have been made to depend on stipends from others to survive, this is just enough to live and be well.”

Two federal lawmakers from Borno State have also been saying a bit of truth about Boko Haram and the territories they control in their state. Mohammed Tahir Monguno

and Ahmadu Jaha opted out of the club of heartless and deceitful Borno leaders.

They decided to join the few telling the government the fact about the sagging war.

Monguno said eight local government areas in Borno North were under the control of the terrorists. Corroborating Monguno, Jaha gave graphic details of how Boko Haram had taken control of areas in his constituency, saying that more needed to be done to motivate soldiers on the frontline so as to win the war.

Jaha added: “The truth of the matter is that a substantial number of locations in Borno are still under the occupation of Boko Haram whether we like it or not.”

The guerrillas are roaming freely in many areas in Borno State, after successfully dismissing military bases.

The military inadvertently advertises that the terrorists are alive and kicking. A technically defeated Boko Haram keeps thrashing our soldiers and military formations. Just on October 3, a military convoy was attacked by Boko Haram in Borno, leaving 11 soldiers dead and 14 others injured. The soldiers, including two officers, were ambushed at Mauli-Borgozo area of the state. The terrorists stole rifles from the soldiers, made away with an anti-aircraft gun truck, and damaged a gun truck and a military lorry.

Last Saturday, the insurgents attacked Babangida, headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, burning a section of the Emir of Jajare’s Palace. Our gallant soldiers are doing their best but lack the capabilities to end the war.

Buhari should be prepared to answer pertinent questions regarding this faltering war: Why has he refused to go on an assessment tour of the frontline states? How much equipment has he procured for the military in the last four years? What have we achieved with the Multi-National Joint Task Force arrangement?

Why are we not hiring foreign military experts?

The MNJTF is obviously not working. The terrorists are still moving across borders with ease as seen from the damages done.

Buhari should be investing more in technology and intelligence gathering for the military.

Above all, we should also hire the best brains from anywhere in the world to assist our soldiers. The ultimate aim is to decapitate Boko Haram. Technology, quality equipment and quality manpower will be needed to destroy Boko Haram.

The strategy for getting result against Boko Haram is largely through aerial power. It requires quality fighter jets, quality armoured attack helicopters. Our gallant military lacks the competence for these. Buhari must hire Israeli or Russian mercenaries to finish this war.

The Lucky Chap Called Nasir Danu N125bn for the National Assembly?

Who is Nasir Danu? Well, for those who don’t know, they call him Director of Logistics at the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) with headquarters in Abuja. Danu provides necessary logistics to the scores of Buhari media influencers at the BMO office. He ensures that the office lacks nothing. Danu is indeed, a jolly good fellow. The news is that while millions of Nigerians are complaining about Nigeria’s excruciating economic situation, Danu is among the few smiling and unperturbed.

This President Buhari’s man has really been changed by the “Change” government. Danu, the combatant from Jigawa State, is now a business mogul, getting good contracts in key government agencies and departments.

For example, When the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation released the names of oil companies approved for the highly sought-after contracts to exchange crude oil for imported fuel, (2019/2020) Danu’s firm, Casiva Limited and its partners made the list.

What a lucky chap. So, he has been paying back very well. Danu was in the news lately over some shenanigans at the Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom. Well, smart Danu fixed it and he is back in business in Abuja.

The guys at the BMO office have nothing to fear; as Danu will always say, no shaking for the BMO.

Nasir Danu

The National Assembly has again been awarded an atrocious N125 billion in the 2020 budget.

Each senator will continue to smile home with N14.2 million monthly. Those in the House of Representatives will each continue with N9.1 million monthly. This is happening in a country where millions go to bed without meals and wake up not sure of breakfast.

It is happening in a country that has been brought to its knees by Boko Haram, yet, defence will get a paltry N100 billion. So, how will the military defeat the terrorists? It is equally very painful that the allocations to a critical sector like health is a worthless N46 billion. No wonder the 24 federal tertiary hospitals are in tatters.

Debt service pledges and recurrent expenditure are still crowding capital expenditure The phony N10.3 trillion budget has a recurrent component of N4.88 trillion and debt service of N2.45 trillion. Chickenfeed is left for infrastructure development. The N2.45 trillion set aside for debt servicing is more than the N2.14trillion for the entire capital budget. It is pertinent to close the growing inequality gap between the rich and less privileged class in Nigeria. This budget 2020 is incapable of doing this. In just six months of this year, three million people have been added to the group of Nigerians living in extreme poverty.

Ahmad Lawan

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY Sadiya Umar-Farouq

The New Super Minister

Sadiya Umar Faruk

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

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SUPERSATURDAY The New Super Minister...

Call her Nigeria’s new Super Minister and you would be right. Forty four-year old Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the minister of the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, evidently has President Muhammadu Buhari’s ear. Besides, her ministry is supervising five mega budget agencies, writes Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

H

ajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the minister of the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, qualifies to be called the new Super Minister. This modest lady is immensely trusted by President Muhammadu Buhari, with her advice and opinion highly regarded. She has worked closely with the President for over 10 years. Prior to her ministerial appointment, Hajia Sadiya worked with Buhari as National treasurer of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from 2011 – 2013.

Sadiya was also the Interim National Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress, before her appointment as member, APC Presidential Campaign Council where she served in the directorates of election planning and monitoring, field operations, and fund raising, in preparation for the 2015 general elections which the APC eventually won. In the APC government, Buhari appointed Hajia Sadiya as Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) on September 26, 2016.

At the Commission for Refugees, Sadiya developed a Strategic Roadmap of Action to reposition the Commission as the lead government agency responsible for coordination, protection and assistance of Persons of Concern (PoC). The roadmap focused on total provision of durable solution to PoC, by implementing standardised procedures for utilising Research, Data Gathering and Planning for Resettling, Rehabilitating, Reintegrating and Readmitting PoCs. These milestones largely informed the decision to entrust Sadiya with the newly created mega-ministry.

The President has now tasked her to provide solutions to the plight of millions of Internally Displaced Persons, as well as coordinate humanitarian affairs and social development in the country. Hajia Sadiya is supervising agencies managing jumbo budgets per annum, much more than the budget of some state governors in the country.

The allocation to the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which was transferred to her ministry by the President, has been massive. Since the inception of the NSIP in 2016, N500 billion per annum was allocated to its four component programmes in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 budgets respectively.

However, actual releases have been lower than budgetary allocations. The Special Adviser to the President on NSIP, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, recently disclosed that the Implementing Unit of the National Social Investment Office received N470.825 billion in three years out of N1.5 trillion budgets. This is still huge, at an average of N156 billion annually. The money-gulping NSIP has four components - The Home Grown School Feeding Programme, the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (comprising the MarketMoni, the FarmerMoni and the TraderMoni), and the the N-Power programme.

The NSIP was established in 2016, to tackle poverty and hunger across the country. The suite of programmes under the NSIP focuses on ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations, including children, youth and women. Since 2016, these programmes combined have supported more than four million beneficiaries country-wide through a process supported by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP) and other notable MDAs with aligned goals. Another mega-budget agency under Hajia Sadiya is the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Aside the billions of Naira in budgetary allocations, NEMA takes 20 per cent of the nation’s Ecological Fund. The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the North-east Development Commission are the other mega-budget agencies under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Born 5 November 1974, Hajia Sadiya hails from Zurmi Local Government of Zamfara State. She was educated at the Federal Government Girls’ College Gusau, Zamfara State and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State graduating with a degree in Business Administration (Actuarial Science) in 1998, before proceeding to earn her Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy in 2008 and also her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 2011 from Ahmadu Bello University.

Earlier, Hajia Sadiya, under the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme served with the Nigeria National Assembly, 1999 to 2000. She served in the Senate Committee on Aviation and worked with the Senate Committee on Appropriation. After NYSC, Hajia Sadiya worked as Operations Manager at Pinnacle Travels and Tours Ltd between 2001 and 2003. She joined the National Assembly Service Commission as an Administrative Officer II in 2003. She rose to the position of Principal Administrative Officer before resigning in 2010 to pursue her political ambition.

Sadiya Umar Faruk

Photo: Godwin Omoigui

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͹ͺ ˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

LAGOS RAINS AND ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE Adesegun Ogundeji urges the public to help preserve public infrastructure

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f late, in Lagos, the rains have been torrential with its attendant effects on the state of the roads and traffic gridlocks. The roads under construction are worse hit, as they are heavily flooded. Understandably, Lagosians are not happy with the mostly rain-induced traffic situation.

When flash flooding occurs, one of the negative effects is that it washes away the surface of the roads, thereby making them almost impassable. This often results into avoidable gridlocks that make commuting a dreadful experience. Flash flooding which is mostly a consequence of Lagos’ peculiar topography is, therefore, one of the factors responsible for frequent damage of Lagos roads.

Fortunately, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has responded by directing that palliative measures should be carried out to alleviate the sufferings of the people. Consequently, over 150 failed portions of roads across the state have been worked upon. But then, the torrential rains still constitute a problem.

In view of this, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has promised mass rehabilitation of roads immediately after the rainy season. He pleaded for time to ensure that the intervention would stand the test of time.

Towards this end, two critical agencies of the state government, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure as well as the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, have been working round the clock to make real the pronouncement of the governor.

It will be recalled that in order to underscore the importance of free flow of traffic on the socio-economic development of the state, the Sanwo-Olu administration made traffic management and transportation the first pillar of its development agenda termed “THEMES”.

Thus, one of the earliest tasks of Governor Sanwo-Olu was to issue the very first Executive Order on Indiscriminate Refuse Dumping, Traffic Management and Public Works.

This is quite germane to the issue at hand. Granted that the government has the responsibility to ensure that the roads are motorable round the year, the people also owe the responsibility towards taking ownership of public infrastructure in their domain. This will ensure that development is extended to all parts of the state, since less is spent on avoidable repairs.

Therefore, the appropriate question to ask is: After the government has achieved the rehabilitation of bad portions of the roads, what next? Are we going to take deliberate measures as a people and government to say never again shall we leave our roads to this level of deterioration? That, indeed, is the crux of the matter.

Lagos State has a very high water level, as the Ogun River and her estuaries empty into the Lagos Lagoon to further increase the volume of water the smallest state in the country could cope with.

The state’s largely swampy parcel of land makes road construction and rehabilitation a little more challenging and costly. The ever increasing population of the state leads to increasing demand for property development for residential and commercial purposes. Many of such developments are on poorly reclaimed wetlands.

Presently, new communities are springing up across the state, especially in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry corridors where land is still available. The implication of this is that, instead of infrastructure development coming before properties are built, infrastructure comes after communities have been founded mostly with little or no regards for physical and urban development plans of the state.

Thus, as pressure mounts on government to provide infrastructure in the new communities, the existing ones in the communities are subjected to abuse, resulting in quick deterioration of such facilities and the need to re-fix them.

This is the bane of the Lagos road infrastructure.

We must, therefore, make concerted efforts to educate and enlighten our people on the dangers of turning the drainages into receptacles of refuse. For instance, the notion that the storm water will wash away refuse is wrong and misplaced.

Irrespective of the velocity of the flood, it will not carry the refuse farther than the downstream.

The moment the drainage channel is silted or clogged and inhibits the free flow of water, it stays on the roads for unnecessarily long time and affects the pavement of the road. In essence, our indiscriminate waste disposal is a major threat to road’s lifespan. The quest for land has also led many to compromise drainage channels and canal banks thus making drainage cleaning difficult.

Also worthy of mention is alleged destruction of the roads by in- traffic- hawkers to slow down traffic to enable them ply their trade.

It has been severally alleged that some hawkers dig the pavement of the roads at nights. Roads rehabilitated during the dry season have been found to develop craters overnight without any rainfall. This act of sabotage is part of the heavy price we all are paying with dire consequences for time and health management.

One only hopes that appropriate security agencies will be on the look out to deal with such unlawful acts and bring the perpetrators to book.

Evil triumph when evil doers are not brought to justice.

Indiscriminate parking of vehicles on our roads is another threat to the lifespan of the roads because, apart from inhibiting free flow of storm water into the drains, the portions of pavement that fall under the vehicles take time to dry, thereby weakening the asphalt.

Therefore, it has become obvious that we owe ourselves the responsibility of helping the government to make life easier for us by playing our parts in the management of public infrastructure and utilities. For now, one hopes that the rains subside early enough for comprehensive road repair works to commence. But then, we all need to work assiduously towards preserving public infrastructure across the state.

OUR INDISCRIMINATE WASTE DISPOSAL IS A MAJOR THREAT TO ROAD’S LIFESPAN

Ogundeji is Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Works & Infrastructure

THE ANAMBRA DIGITAL SECURITY LEVEL

Anambra State takes security of life and property to the digital level, writes C. Don Adinuba

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frica, on Friday, October 11, 2019, had for the first time the super smart closedcircuit cameras (CCTVs) in three of its cities—thanks to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State who has decided to fight crime with the latest technology anywhere in the world. The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, personally led the commissioning of the Anambra State’s state technology-driven security initiative, the Smart City project, also known as the second phase of Operation Kpochapu (that is, Operation Wipe Out Crime). The CCTVs are being installed in Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, and later in other parts of the state.

The Smart City Security Project was inspired by the governor’s visit to Massachusetts, United States, in October, 2018, when he toured places like the Cambridge Innovation Centre, Boston University and Industrial Video and Control in Boston. He was struck by, among other things, the sophisticated surveillance cameras from Industrial Video and Control, developed in conjunction with researchers at the Cambridge Innovation Centre and other research centres in Massachusetts. These products proved effective in helping the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to identify the two brothers from originally Kyrgyzstan, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, that on April 15, 2013, bombed participants in the annual Boston Marathon, killed three persons and injured many others, including 16 who lost their legs.

Though the advanced surveillance cameras from Industrial Video and Control are not yet in some American cities and even states, Governor Obiano felt that they should be installed in Anambra State so that it will remain Nigeria’s safest state and as a result attract considerable

investments. To operate effectively for 24 hours daily, these gadgets require electricity which unfortunately is not always available in Nigeria.

The governor consequently opted for the solarpowered type.

As part of the launch of the second round of Operation Kpochapu, 109 vehicles have been procured and equipped with state of the art electronic devices to work in unison with the super smart gadgets. All the pickups in the fleet, 49 of them, are from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Nnewi, Anambra State.

Select police officers have in the last two months been undergoing training on how to operate the sophisticated CCTVs and the equipment in the new 109 vehicles.

The fact that the Anambra State government has chosen to deploy advanced technology in its fight against crime shows a government which does not rest on its laurels. After all, the state has in the last three years become Nigeria’s safest and most peaceful state. But the government is conscious that to retain this status, it has to be at least one step ahead of criminals, many of whom are becoming more sophisticated and more daring. It recognizes that crime can no longer be fought effectively in the traditional way. In the more developed countries of the world, technology has proved immensely useful in crime detection and prevention. We have already cited the example of how FBI’s use of the latest surveillance cameras from the Cambridge Innovation Centre assisted to unmask the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers.

Indeed, by deploying advanced technology to safeguard the lives and assets of its people Anambra State has thrown a challenge to other

governments in the federation. The federal government, for instance, needs to provide security and paramilitary agencies like the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Customs Service and National Security and Civil Defence Corps with such equipment. The Customs Service, for one, cannot realistically be expected in this day and age to stop smuggling or reduce the socioeconomic menace drastically without technology. The military, which has engaged in a patriotic fight against insurgents, can be assisted to stop suicide bombings by providing the soldiers with modern technology.

State governments need to use advanced technology to provide security to their people and in return boost their economies tremendously.

They should learn from the Anambra experience.

Since Anambra became Nigeria’s safest state, its economy has been galloping. It has recorded in the last three years about four billion dollar investments, mostly in agriculture. The latest of such investments is the automated Coscharis Rice Mill at Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area, which was on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, commissioned by Governor Obiano and assisted by his Kebbi State counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, and the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefieli.

With a gross domestic product of $13.77 billion out of Nigeria’s $375.8bn and with GDP per capita of $2,295, as against Nigeria’s GDP per capita of $1968, Anambra State now has the fourth healthiest economy among the 36 states in the federation plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. All this is because of our excellent security.

One other lesson which Nigerian governments need to learn from Anambra State is the incentivization or motivation of security agents. There are in

Anambra regular prizes for outstanding officers, whether in the police force or the DSS or the military or the National Security and Civil Defence Corps or the Anambra Vigilante Group. The prizes boost the morale of these officers. In addition, the state government provides a kind of insurance cover for security agents, which guarantees families of officers who die in active service a reasonable compensation. As is well recognized by social scientists, organizations and societies which excel are those where the people work with commitment or passion.

Another lesson which other governments should learn from Anambra is the value of lightening the environment at night. As a number of cities, towns and villages in the state are now provided with street lights which work efficiently even when there is no supply from the electricity distribution company, security of life and property is enhanced.

The bright lights enable security agents to see clearly at night and perform better. Though it costs considerable resources to provide streets and big electric power generating sets as well as maintain them, the benefits are huge. If Anambra State which receives one of the lowest allocations from the federation account every month could invest so much in the security of its people, most other governments should be able to do the same thing for the benefit of their own people. All it requires is, apart from the will to do the right thing, prudent financial management.

As Anambra State takes security of life and property to the digital level, the whole nation stands in solidarity. The government and people of the state are truly living up to their reputation as the Light of the Nation.

Adinuba is Anambra State Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment

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͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

What’s in it for the people?

APC and Kogi’s Governorship Election

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s the time for the November 16 governorship election campaigns before the November gubernatorial election”. in Kogi State closes in , the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Babatunde Irukera, who is the first runner-up in the party’s primary looks formidable as a result of the mending of fences among its once also called on his supporters to vote for the governor at the coming poll. fractious ranks. The party at the beginning of the tenure of incumbent He said he is a national leader and a great believer in the party and will not Governor Yahaya Bello was enmeshed in a crisis after the sudden demise of Prince support any action that will derail the victory of the party in the coming Abubakar Audu. The sudden change in the internal configuration of the party governorship election. did not go down well with some stakeholders, particularly those who were in the Professor Mohammed Seidu Ogah, former Director General of The National kitchen cabinet of Abubakar Audu or what was known as the Audu/Faleke camp.

Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has since rest his case The ensuing crisis even saw the dissolution of the Hadi Ametuo- led state and has joined the wagon of those who believe APC deserves to continue and executive council and its replacement by a council loyal to the governor and consolidate on its governance agenda for the state. Also Vice Admiral Usman led by Hon. Abdullahi Bello.

Jibril said, “I have not directed my supporters to any PDP candidate. I remain At the height of the non-payment of salaries controversy it was speculated APC loyalist”. Speaking on Governor Bello’s return bid, APC national leader, that the national leadership of the APC was not in support of the governor’s Bola Tinubu who was initially rumored to be against giving the ticket to the re-election bid and that he was making subtle moves to defect to the Labour incumbent, has this to say: “If you don’t have complaints in politics, then there Party. But as the party inched closer to its August 28 primary election, it began is no democracy so we only pay attention to the noise in the market because to emerge that disgruntled stakeholders in the party were becoming more we have so many apples, oranges and various fruits of different characters but amenable to the overtures of the governor. there is one that is constant. This is a market of many branches and this is the The primary proper was another show of force and unity as it was rancorbroom; they will come together as a bunch to sweep clean all the debris of the free, in what seemed like a consensus among the grassroots of the party that past, that is it, we are going to win”.

Governor Bello indisputably deserved a second term as he won with a wide What is clear now is that the APC in Kogi State is for the first time since the margin of 3,127 votes from a total of 3,596 delegates. demise of Prince Abubakar Audu, one united and coherent house with a rich This was followed by a post primary reconciliation within the party in variety of talents and competent individuals with vast political support and which aspirants who had sought the party’s ticket resolved to support the electoral value. governor as the candidate of the party at the poll.

Dr Tom Ohikere, secretary, media and publicity committee, Kogi State Since then the floodgates of goodwill for the governor’s re-election had APC governorship Campaign Council been opened as other aggrieved and defected members began making their way back to the fold. Just last month, the Speaker of Kogi State House Assembly, Hon. Mathew Kolawole, formally received some of the defecting members of PDP and other parties into the APC in Okun land. The defectors were led by Mr Nathaniel Taiwo, a former chairman of Kabba-Bunu Local Council and former member of the state House T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE of Assembly. Similarly, early this month, in Omala, DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU members of the PDP led by a former chairman of the MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO LGA, Alih Ajuh defected to the APC. The defecting DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI band was composed of youths and women leaders EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN from across the wards in the local government in a MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE ceremony held in Abejukolo.

Even Hon James Falaeke, who was the deputy gubernatorial candidate of the party in the 2015 election and one of the main leaders of the Audu Falake camp, and was once in court with Governor T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D Yahaya Bello over the decision of the party leadership EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA to give the first runner up of the primary that produce GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, Audu Abubakar as the candidate of the APC in 2015, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI is back and solidly backing the party and governor DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE Bello’s re-election quest.

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH Speaking on the newly found love and unification ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO within the party, Mr Falaeke said: “Following the deciCONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI sion of the leadership of Audu/Faleke group to work DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO with Governor Bello as loyal party men and women, I TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com on behalf of the group, met with the governor to chart the way forward and build a strong and united APC

Who Are These Wealthy Individuals?

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resident Muhammadu Buhari, during the 25th Nigeria Economic Summit, stated that few individuals in four to five states include the FCT hold the country’s wealth, leaving over 150 million Nigerians in the remaining states to languish in abject poverty. President Buhari’s statement coincides with the Oxfam shocking revelation of increase of poverty in the land, from 89 million to 94 million as captured by the World Poverty Clock. Although, President Buhari neither mentioned the names of those individuals and the states they live nor the sources of their wealth, his statement has puzzled many Nigerians .The million- naira questions begging for answers are: Who are these individuals? What are the sources of their stupendous wealth?

Even before the return of democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria is a country with a high rate of income inequality as the country’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of few elite. These few elite normally made their fortune in government. They were once public servants in government or are highly connected to the ruling elite. They own oil wells and investments in petroleum industry, power, telecommunication and any lucrative business they can lay their hands on. Yes, they have corruptly enriched themselves through abuse of office or dispersed favours to their friends, families and cronies. Is Buhari referring to these categories of people?

Or is Mr President referring to our enterpreneurs, business moguls and captains of industries who own and control our manufacturing industries? If only few individuals in few states own the country’s wealth and the vast majority of Nigerians live in poverty as stated

by Mr President, it means something is actually wrong somewhere. What are causes of this high level of income inequality in the country? The answers to these questions are not far-fetched. Firstly, the way and manner with which corruption is entrenched in our national lives has contributed tremendously towards widening the income inequality and promoting widespread poverty in the country. Secondly, few individuals have hijacked and cornered the resources meant for the development of the country. The high rate of poverty being experienced in the country cannot be unconnected with how some few individuals who stole the country dry.

I think, if the few individuals’ wealth is tied to the proceeds of corruption, Buhari’s administration which came to power under the mantra of fighting corruption, should quickly bring them before the law of the land.

Sadly, our corruption fighting institutions are weak so are our laws. No wonder, these corrupt elements become untouchable and continue to undermine our peace, unity and socio-economic development.

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁

NEWS

FG Launches ‘Operation White’ to Track Fuel Distribution Peter Uzoho

GLOBAL VISTA ...

L-R: Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Dr. Obiora Anidi of the College of Technical Education, Enugu, and Mr. Akeem Adediji, an arts collector, at the Oreze International Arts Exhibition symposium, held at Onitsha Ime Obi on Thursday as part of the activities marking the 2019 edition of the Onitsha Ofala Festival sponsored by Globacom

Finance Minister Tasks AMCON, Govt Agencies on N5trn Debt ChikaAmanze-Nwachuku Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has charged the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) led

by Mr. Ahmed Kuru, to do everything within the powers conferred on it in the newly amended Act to ensure the recovery of the N5trillion debt owed the Corporation by a few recalcitrant individuals and organisations in the country.

The minister’s directive came as more agencies of the federal government indicated willingness to collaborate with AMCON in its quest to recover the huge debts.

Speaking in Abuja at the weekend during the quarterly briefing of the Ministry of Finance, the minister, who commended AMCON on the national assignment, said a lot more was expected from the Corporation with the signing of the amended 2019

AMCON Act into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The law gives additional powers to AMCON to deal with the obligors.

“AMCON must ensure that the debts are recovered before the sunset, which is around the corner. If at sunset AMCON fails to recover the huge bad loans, the debt will become government problem, which the government is not willing to carry.

Therefore, everything must be done to ensure that AMCON recovers the debt from the obligors because it will have a huge positive impact on the economy,” a statement from AMCON quoted the minister to have said.

While urging all the agencies under the ministry’s supervision to always remember the 11 priority areas of the Buhari’s administration in the discharge of their duties, the minister said that the quarterly meeting had become critical because it creates the enabling platform for sister agencies of

government to cross-fertilise ideas for improved collaboration and delivery.

Earlier, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr. Mamman Ahmadu, had declared the agency’s willingness to collaborate with AMCON in the quest to recover the debt, which he said would help liberate the economy as well as improve the commonwealth of the nation.

The BPP boss said that the bureau had intensified its due diligence process and would ensure that those to be awarded contract from the government were scrutinised to establish that they were not among the obligors.

Similarly, the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who also chairs the Inter-Agency Presidential Committee set up by the Vice President to recover AMCON debt, has added his voice in rallying sister agencies of government to ensure that they tighten

the noose on AMCON obligors, which he said will pressure them to repay the debt before sunset.

According to him, the InterAgency Presidential Committee, which includes the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU); Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Ministry of Justice; ICPC and AMCON have concluded plans to expand the dragnet of the debtors by looking at those who facilitated the loans on the side of the banks and those who benefited from the proceeds.

An Executive Director at AMCON, Dr. Eberechukwu Uneze, who represented the AMCON boss at the quarterly meeting, reassured the minister of the commitment of the management and staff of AMCON to deliver on the mandate in line with the expectations of the federal government.

Dino Loses Appeal as Court Solid Mineral Development Fund, OCP Orders Fresh Election in 90 Days Africa Partner on Phosphate Production Alex EnumahinAbuja The senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, yesterday suffered a setback as the Court of Appeal dismissed his suit challenging his sack from the National Assembly. A three man panel of the appellate court in a judgment delivered, upheld the decision of the Kogi State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of Melaye as Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District on account of manifest electoral malpractices.

Melaye had approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the majority judgment of the tribunal which nullified his victory in the February 23 senatorial election and ordered for a fresh election within 90 days.

In the appeal, Melaye claimed that the tribunal erred in law when it reached a decision based on hearsay to nullify his election.

He therefore asked the appellate court to set aside the tribunal’s judgment and upheld his election as Senator representing Kogi West

Senatorial District.

However delivering judgment in the appeal, the three-man panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Abubakar Yahaya upheld the decision of the tribunal and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

In the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, the appellate court held that the election was invalid due to fundamental error by INEC which in the result sheets fixed February 25 as date the senatorial election was conducted rather than February 23 the actual date the election held.

Melaye through his lawyer Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), had urged the Appeal Court to set aside the over-voting decision of the tribunal because it was based on hearsay instead of polling units agents’ result.

The counsel drew the attention of the Justices to the fact that only three witnesses were called, adding that the evidence of the three witnesses based on hearsay could not justify the cancellation of the senatorial election.

The Solid Minerals Development Fund and OCP Africa Fertilisers Nigeria Limited (OCP), a subsidiary of OCP Group, have signed a technical cooperation agreement for the exploration and development of Nigeria’s phosphate deposits in the Sokoto Basin.

This agreement which was signed in Casablanca, Morocco will ensure technical cooperation between SMDF and OCP Africa, in the fields of phosphates exploration and appraisal; support SMDF effort to develop phosphate mining and provide training and academic exchanges, aimed at developing human capacity in the Nigerian mining sector through the training of exploration geologists and mining engineers.

Based on the success of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, the President recently approved the strategic exploration and development of phosphate and potash deposits across the country as an extension of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative.

Nigeria is the biggest agriculture market and crop producer, and amongst the biggest consumers of

agricultural nutrients in Africa. With the country’s population projected to hit 400 million by 2050, crop production will need to keep up to ensure agricultural self-sufficiency in the country.

A statement from OCP said the local production of phosphate would provide a cost-effective solution of increasing Nigeria’s phosphate fertilisers application rate which at 2kg/hectare is far below the global average of 16kg/hectare and peer countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia at 19kg/hectare and 13kg/hectare respectively.

Speaking on the strategic partnership, Hajiya Fatima Umar Shinkafi – Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund stated that “Phosphate is one of the 5 strategic minerals that have been identified by the SMDF for immediate intervention. Agriculture and mining have been put in the forefront of the current government’s priorities; and agro-minerals (e.g. phosphate) readily provides a good link between the two important subsectors of the economy.

The federal government has inaugurated ‘Operation White,’ a critical transparency initiative to be carried out by an 89-man monitoring team for the tracking of movement of petroleum products in and out of the country including importation and distribution.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva while formally launching the `Operation White’ project yesterday in Lagos, said the initiative was geared towards ensuring transparency and accountability of petroleum product supply and distribution in Nigeria, especially premium motor spirit (PMS).

Represented at the occasion by the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Mr. Ahmed Boboi, the minister said that the essence was to entrench energy security and deepen the drive for transparency in the downstream operations.

He added that the strategic initiative was aimed at deploying adequate measures to ensure that all molecules of regulated petroleum products imported by the Nigerian

National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) were well accounted for and utilised in-country.

Sylva noted that the NNPC had continued to record excellent performance in product supply and distribution to the nation, saying “it is doing what it is supposed to do as supplier of last resort, but the reality is the nation bears a great cost in terms of absorbing the shocks of differences in cost.

“It is critical that all hands be put on deck to ensure that every molecule of product imported into this country is utilised within the borders of this nation for the benefit of the Nigerian populace. This is a national imperative and a core thrust of Mr. President’s mandate for leadership of the oil and gas industry.

“Therefore, the task for us is to ensure that the petroleum products supply and distribution chain in Nigeria is completely devoid of illicit practices including oil theft, diversion and smuggling of petroleum products, which constitute economic sabotage and hemorrhage of the national revenue through high cost of under recovery.”

Lokpobiri Drags APC, INEC to Court over Guber Ticket Alex Enumah in Abuja Immediate past Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has joined the league of aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members challenging the outcome of the September 4 primary that produced David Lyon as the APC’s flag bearer in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Those who had earlier commenced legal action against Lyon’s emergence include; Peter Ozobo, Preye Aganaba, Sidi Godwin, all of the APC and Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Lokpobiri in his own suit is praying the court for an order setting aside the nomination of Lyon as the governorship candidate of the APC in the forthcoming governorship election on the ground that he did not win the September 4 primary poll.

In the court action instituted by his lawyer, Fitzgerald Olorogun, the former minister is praying the court to declare him candidate of the APC

in the November 16 governorship poll having allegedly won majority of the votes cast.

According to him, he polled the highest votes 111, 439 cast at the election, while the next to him, Aganaba Stephen scored 5,426, Ebitimi Amgbare clinching third position with 638 votes and Lyon David Pereworinimi came fifth with 325 votes.

In the originating summons sighted by our correspondent in Abuja, Lokpobiri applied for an order of perpetual injunction restraining APC, its officers, agents and privies from treating, presenting or holding out Lyon to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s candidate for the election.

The plaintiff also sought an order of perpetual injunction stopping INEC, its officers, agents and privies from accepting or further accepting, publishing or further publishing David Lyon as the flag bearer and another order barring the electoral body from excluding him as the APC candidate.

EU Calls for Credible Polls in Bayelsa, Kogi, Cautions AgainstViolence Emmanuel Addeh inYenagoa The European Union (EU) and the Polish Governments yesterday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other agencies of state involved in the conduct of elections in the country to ensure free and fair polls in Bayelsa and Kogi states.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen and his counterpart from Poland, Joanna Tarnawska, were in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital on a visit to Governor Seriake Dickson and some governorship aspirants during the last party primaries in the state.

Karlsen said that the EU was committed to the encouragement of the conduct of free, fair and credible elections as part of the effort to aid the deepening of the democratic culture in the country.

The ambassador noted that the forthcoming governorship poll in

Bayelsa and Kogi states will be a litmus test in strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

Stressing that the team was in the state to interface with the governorship candidates of the various political parties, the envoy stressed the need for neutrality on the part of INEC, security forces and other stakeholders in the election.

He cautioned against vote buying and the use of youths as political thugs to cause violence during the election.

Also speaking, the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Tarnawska, said Poland as a member state of the European Union supports democratic government as well as the inclusion of youths and women in the electoral process.

In his comments, Governor Dickson decried the alleged abuse of the nation’s security forces to aid electoral abuse and violence with the intent to subvert the will of the people.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁

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NEWSXTRA

Use Looted Funds, Forfeited Assets for Public, TUC Tells FG Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the federal government to use all the forfeited properties for public interest.

It added that the over N1trn recovered from corrupt Nigerians should be used to provide some basic amenities lacking all over the country.

The Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) recently, declared that the Committee has generated a total of N1 trillion in cash, as part of the looted assets.

The Congress in a statement

jointly signed by its President and Secretary General, Comrade Quadri Olaleye and Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, commended the effort of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) and the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, at trying to sanitise the country and get it rid of corruption.

Comrade Olaleye suggested that the properties should be used for public interest like; school, hostels, Youth Corpers’ lodge, tax offices, youth development centres.

“I have seen pictures of police barracks and military cantonments in the country and I can tell you they are displeasing and ugly sights. These security operatives live and raise children in very dirty environments; whereas some privileged individuals loot the treasury to build mansions and even own estates in choice cities.

Those estates should be converted to an extension of police and military barracks.

He further said that efforts should also be made to reclaim and sell out the properties acquired in foreign countries. It makes no sense stealing from the country

and investing elsewhere, while agencies of government are in a rented apartment and Nigerians homeless.”

The TUC boss said that if the country was going to change then we all must begin to do things differently. He counseled the federal government and agencies in charge to leave no stone unturned in the fight for sanity in the system.

“Some people have alleged that the corruption fight is only against the opposition parties. While many of us do not believe that we would like to advise that the fight be total, irrespective of whose ox is gored,” he emphasised.

Foundation Urges Govt to Integrate Education, Jobs into Security Measures A non-governmental oganisation, The Sinachi Foundation, has called on government at all levels to integrate child education and job creation into their security plans, warning that out-of-school children were a time-bomb in any society.

Founder of the NGO, Mrs. Ifesinachi Ugwuonye Okechukwu, made the call at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the educational foundation at Amankwo Oghe, Ezeagu Local Government Area in Enugu State, saying that security measures must be holistic to yield the desired results.

While thanking the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his administration’s investments in the education sector and also appreciating the Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Ike Ekweremadu for his scholarships and adult literacy programmes through the Ikeoha Foundation, Mrs. Ugwuonye-Okechukwu, however, stressed that the challenges in the education sector were too enormous to be left to government or persons in government.

“The results our Foundation is getting from the various

interventions in the education in Ezeagu LGA and beyond, our scholarships and supports to pupils and students many of whom are university graduates today, are clear testimonies that we could all make our communities better by contributing our little quotas.

“We therefore encourage privileged persons to join hands so that we do what we can to help keep kids in school and out of the streets.

We must all continue to work hard until no child is left behind. We believe that we are not doing well, until all of us are doing well”, she said.

Also speaking, the Founder of Chineme Foundation, Dr. Vitalis Okechukwu; the traditional ruler of Amankwo Oghe community, Igwe Crescent Obueke; and the Town Union President, Chief Julius Eze, commended The Sinachi Foundation for its contributions to human capital development in Amankwo Ogbe in particular and Ezeagu in general.

Dr. Okechukwu pledged that beyond support to healthcare, the Chineme Foundation would also continue to work with The Sinachi Foundation towards educational development in the rural areas.

Ikpeazu, Orji Seek Accurate Data to Facilitate Rural Devt Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

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L:R: Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during a courtesy call on the minister in his office in Abuja...recently

Election Tribunal Affirms Gov Fintiri in Adamawa Daji Sani inYola

The Election Tribunal sitting in Yola, Adamawa State capital yesterday confirmed the victory of the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in the last governorship election held in the state.

The All Progressives Congress ( APC) had challenged the victory

of the PDP and it governorship candidate in the state before an election tribunal over noncompliance of the used of cards readers, over-voting in 385 polling units of 12 local government areas and among others.

However Justice AA Adebara, the lead judge of the Tribunal in his nine-hour verdict dismissed the suit filed by the APC for lack of substantial evidence to proof that

there was over voting in these 385 polling units.

The Judge also dismissed the suit based on the fact that the APC’s governorship candidate, Ex-governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow the beneficiary of the suit was not included in the suit.

Justice Adebara further explained that even if the verdict was given in favour of the APC, it will be effort in futility because the party

governorship candidate was not joined in the suit.

The lead counsel to the PDP, Mr. Ibrahim Mahmud Madaji expressed joy and thanked the court for standing on justice.

While Counsel of APC, Mr. Emem, Asuquo said they will go and study the verdict carefully before taking the next step He confirmed that his client suit was dismissed by the tribunal.

IG Laments Effect of Social Media on Policing as Obiano Donates Vehicles, to Security Agencies David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has said that policing Nigeria in the era of social media was very difficult.

Adamu who was referring to the usual problem of fake news said this while addressing Police Public Relations Officers of commands in the 36 states and federal capital territory and staffs of the public relations unit of the force headquarter in Abuja during the closing ceremony of a 4-day capacity building workshop in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He said, “Things are no longer the same, technology has changed the terrain, especially in communication, and today we have several means if communication.

“Social media can make or mar your job. As police public relations officers, your job is to polish the image of the police, so you must be acquainted with the various means of communication.

“You do not only have the print and electronic media to contend with, but also, social media. Policing is made difficult by the social media, so you have to be up and doing and be acquainted with the use of social media.

“You can use the social media to your advantage, and it can also be used against you by mischief makers,” Adamu told the public relations officers.

The IGP also cautioned the image makers on the need not to reply to some fake news materials which most times are peddled to attract their attention and elicit their reactions.

“Sometimes it is better not to respond, and if you don’t, the originators of such fake news will be frustrated, and they will back out.

“Sometimes, the mischief makers originate this fake news to make you react to it. So, as they are skillfully,

you too have to be skillful, and that is the essence of this workshop.”

Meanwhile, Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano yesterday donated 111 security fitted hi-tech vehicles and 79 motorbikes to all security agencies in the state.

The governor made the donation while launching the second phase of a security operation code named; Operation Kpochapu.

He said the state was committed to wiping out all kind of crimes in the state, and that the security equipment donated to them would aid the quest, saying that the equipment were the very best of its kind in the world.

The management of the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development (ASOPADEC) has been urged to priortise data acquisition in order to effectively drive development in the oil communities.

Senator Theodore Orji made the call at the inauguration of the headquarters office complex of ASOPADEC in Umuahia, saying that the intervention agency was necessary to give the oil bearing communities a sense of belonging.

The Abia Central Senator, who was represented by Chief Batho Onyemobi noted that ASOPADEC was among the legacies he bequeathed to the state when he was governor, adding that the Commission should try to fulfill its mandate.

“I feel very happy about what is happening today,” he said, adding that ASOPADEC has continued to expand and reaching out to more people under its jurisdiction.

“Just as the governor has said, I will advise the management of ASOPADEC to take more data, get more information about areas of deficiency and continue to expand the areas they have touched.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who was on hand to inaugurated the 77 office room edifice, said that with adequate reliable data and statistics his administration would be in a better position to monitor the level of

development in the state.

According to him, such information would enable government to know the communities that lack potable water, electricity and other basic amenities so that prompt intervention could follow.

He assured that the flood menace at the area where the headquarters of ASOPADEC was located would soon be tackled as two major tunnels would be constructed to ease flow of water from the Winners/Ehimiri area axis of the capital city.

Governor Ikpeazu said he was impressed with the efforts of ASOPADEC in keying into his vision of providing dividends of democracy and conducive environment for workers in Abia State.

The chairman of ASOPADEC, Chief Samuel Nwogu, had earlier in his address reeled out the achievements of Commission, saying that it has embarked on over 150 projects around the state.

He said that the projects included provision of road infrastructure, civic centres and rural electrification, construction of drainages, training of youths in several skill acquisitions and scholarship awards, among others.

Apart from the inauguration of the ASOPADEC headquarters the vehicles procured by the Commission for its Commissioners and board members were handed over to the beneficiaries by the governor, who also Inaugurated skill acquisition scheme of the Commission.

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SATURDAY OCTOBER 12, 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Announces Class of 2020 {ø»e‚2’

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Alibaba Being Single and Celibate Can Lead You to Depression Faster Than You Think

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

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

PLUS

Alibaba with wife

Being Single and Celibate Can Lead You to Depression Faster Than You Think Comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, (Alibaba) rattled the social media with his recent dispatch on the goodness of being married. In it, he tells singles and celibates that they risk depression if they persist on that line. Some however fired back, saying it was not his business to lecture on marriage, reports Ferdinand Ekechukwu

F

or Comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, respectably recognised in the entertainment industry as Alibaba, ‘’comedy is a way of life and good for social change.’’ Only recently, Alibaba subtly stoked up a conversation when he advised his followers that being married was a beautiful thing and being single and celibate could lead to depression. The comedian shared a post on his Instagram that read: “Being married or committed to one person is a beautiful thing. Don’t let these folks tell you a lie. Ain’t nothing better than having a soulmate, best friend, lover, and protector.”

He added in the caption: “Being in a relationship is important. Being alone and

͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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PLUS Being Single and Celibate Can Lead You to Depression Faster Than You Think celibate... can lead you to depression faster than you think.” Alibaba writes in favour of being married. Philosophically, Alibaba could be saying these, from a place of experience and knowledge. He is married to Mary Akpobome. Alibaba has had course to celebrate her. He did that during her birthday celebration in April last year.

Alibaba expressed his love to his wife on her 50th birthday by appreciating her hard work, strength and perseverance.

In a series of posts marking her birthday, the Delta born Alibaba expressed his love to Mary, a banker, thus: “Happy 50th birthday to @mummymary_ you deserve a huge celebration. You have persevered.

You have laboured. You worked hard. You sacrificed. You prayed. You hustled. You put in the time. You were bruised. You were discounted… still you rose. Above everything you had God. You had friends.

You had mentors. You had family. You had guts. You have it all… so happy 50th birthday my MTO… MaryB… MaBrandi… love you scatter.” Mary and Alibaba have five children - Xsara, Brenda, twin boys, Ejiro and Tejiri, and Valerie.

Like the comedian once alluded, it’s not really what one sees on social media that messes one up but what you do with what you take in that messes you up. The 54 year old Nigerian had made this observation discussing the trend of the social media influence as opposed to how he uses it being someone coming from a traditional leaning. For a fact, the standup comedian and actor is highly influential beyond just the industry; and he knows this for sure.

A voracious reader, the Religious Studies and Philosophy graduate of Ambrose Ali University, Alibaba, no matter what, is entitled to his opinion. That notwithstanding, it appears a lot of people now on social media read but don’t understand and can’t comprehend. They read something and jump to conclusion. Alibaba’s struggle has always been to correct some social impression and misrepresentations and you may or may not agree with his positions.

Someone anonymous responded thus immediately Alibaba unveiled his marriage counseling dispatch: “Ali Baba has no authority to say that; is he aware of how lonely most married people are? Yes he might have a peaceful marriage, thank God for him, but I feel he is insensitive to attack others’ choice to stay single or celibate, he has not walked in other people’s shoes, so he should keep mute on this topic, “Not everyone is meant to be married, and if staying celibate rocks your boat great, he is a man and in Nigeria for that matter where women care more about what becomes of them if they should leave their abusive partners. Married people both men and women are the most unfaithful currently in Nigeria, why is that? Mr. Ali Baba the unsolicited relationship expert.

Please do not pressure people into relationship; depression is a mental illness that could happen to anyone whether married or single.

“I know marriage is a beautiful thing but we must do it when we are absolutely sure the person is right for us, and if your marriage is not working please feel free to take a walk. We all make mistakes, the perfect man or woman could be just around the corner and if not, please live life, have wonderful friends make memories that is what really counts, not marriage and having children. I know a woman whose only son she broke her back to raise, after 38 years of pain, this same boy used cutlass to cut his mother to pieces, so please make Ali go Sidon one place with his entitle opinion.”

So many people outside their industries really do look up to the national honours awardee on social media. To him, the social media is an open market to everybody. But what Alibaba has chosen in his small space and timeline, is to influence people. In his words: “I influence people. I let people know that this is what should be done; this is how you should go about it. I have seen that the biggest problem is actually lack of education and not poor education.”

For it is expected that one’s association on social media should be one that reflects who you are, the space you maintain and the level of intelligence possessed.

This justifiably reflects his perspective on whatever social issues he opinionates on irrespective of his stance. It is no doubt that

Alibaba

Alibaba is one who has used the power of his profession to drive social change, with several awards and recognition to show for it. In commemoration of his 20 years on stage, Alibaba was awarded Comedy for Change icon in recognition of his impact to the larger society.

Alibaba was inducted into the Johnnie Walker ‘Striding Man’ Society in 2009, which recognises men who have achieved great strides in their chosen fields and who motivate and encourage others. In 2012, he rang the Year End Closing Bell of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the first Nigerian comedian to do so. In March 2015, Alibaba was featured on CNN African voices, speaking about his goal to professionalise and gain acceptance for Nigerian comedians.

He has been a professional stand-up comedian for the past 30 years. Alibaba

was born in Warri, Delta State, on June 24, 1965. He spent the first eight years of his life in Warri. His father is a retired soldier who served in Lagos where he (Alibaba) had his early education before proceeding to the former Bendel State University now known as Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma to read Religious Studies & Philosophy. After acquiring a degree in 1990, Alibaba relocated to Lagos having “accidentally” in 1988 discovered his comic talent in his third year at the university.

He planned to return to Ekpoma to read Law but that was not to be since he discovered he could make more money by making people laugh than by defending them. He was one of the comedians who professionalised standup comedy and made it commercially viable on coming on the scene alongside names like Muhammed Danjuma, Yibo koko, Alarm

Blow.

Alibaba has successfully remained relevant in the industry drawing consistency, originality, creativity, with dynamism as his strength. He began his professional career performing at corporate events, appearing on television shows with Patrick Doyle, Charly Boy and Danladi Bako, and making cameo appearances on radio shows with Bisi Olatilo, Soni Irabor and Mani Onumonmu. He also worked with Dapo Adelegan of DP Lekki Limited as executive assistant in 1991.

In 1993, he registered his company Alibaba Hicuppuray 3rd to enhance the perception of comedians as a profession and a respected way of life. As part of this work, in 1998, he hired billboards on strategic Lagos streets with the message that became known as “Being Funny is Serious Business.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

FEATURE

Harvest of Sexual Misconduct in Ivory Towers Felix Ifijeh

prosecuted and sentenced in December 2018 to two years imprisonment.

In another incident, on January 8, 2018, a graduate of the University, Funke Dezarn, alleged on Facebook that Dr. Francis Fakoya, a former lecturer of the University, was in the habit of sexually harassing female students, alleging that he was deliberately failing Medical Students who turn down his sex demands.

I

t’s another season of sexual cacophony in our ivory towers, no thanks to the BBC’s “Africa Sex-forGrades” documentary by a 28-year-Old Port Harcourt lady, Ms Kiki Mordi, who disguised as a 17-year old admission seeker to expose the now running sex escapade at University of Lagos and the University of Ghana against teenage female students put under their care in their campuses to tutor and nurture.

Ms. Mordi gained admission into one of Nigeria’s foremost higher institutions to read medicine some years back. She was determined to become a medical doctor but that dream got shattered after the death of her father by no fault of hers but a randy lecturer, who demanded and insisted on sex with her if she was to advance in her studies. The young lady refused the lecturer’s advances and paid dearly for her recalcitrance; she did not only abort her dream of becoming a medical doctor, she dropped out of school completely.

The aggrieved young woman had lived with the grudge ever since and was determined to take a pound of flesh in return anytime, anywhere against round randy academics intent on tormenting innocent young ladies in tertiary institutions.

Allegations of sexual misconduct in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions are no news anymore, they are legendry and as old as the nation’s first of these institutions and almost now the norm for lecturers to solicit sex to help female students in their academic work.

Female student victims in most cases are cowed into silence either for fear of victimisation or out of ignorance. In other cases, they are left in their wounds until long after graduation before they summon the courage to speak. The system itself does not permit victims voicing out their ordeal as the few that had the courage to do so had the experience of being left disappointed as they were punished and dismissed for want of evidence and for those, who were not that bold as Ms Mordi, the “cold room” as their fate.

While in the opinion of many, the prevailing uproar over the BBC “Africa Sex-for-Grades” documentary may actually be because it was sparked off by a foreign medium, sex for grades or for help in academics, as the world totters to general moral decadence, is not almost now institutionalised in the country’s ivory towers, as you will discover yourself from our findings here soonest, it’s almost now of global acceptance in the world’s citadels of learning.

University of Lagos (UNILAG) The University of Lagos and the University of Ghana are actually the centre stages of Ms Mordi’s documentary. The disguised 17-year-old admission seeker met Professor Boniface Igbeneghu, a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and a Pastor at the Foursquare Gospel Church, who could be seen in the documentary, trying to sexually prey on the young admission seeker. Serving the undercover journalist a glass of wine, Igbeneghu instructed her to “Switch off this light. Lock the door. I’ll kiss you for a minute.” He then went on to share stories of how lecturers sexually molest female students in the University Staff Club.

“There is the upper part of the staff club, where lecturers romance students. They take girls there, touch their breasts and body. They call it Cold Room…,” the Prof spoke on subconsciously.

This is by no means strange to UNILAG, years back, Afeez Baruwa, a lecturer of the university, was charged to court for allegedly raping a student of the institution.

In 2018, a professor of English in the University, Olusegun Awonusi, who had returned to UNILAG on completion of his term as Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), was accused of sexual harassment by a student, Joy Nwanna. Ms Nwanna accused him of habitually harassing female students each time they go to his office. The student released semi-nude pictures of Awonusi in one of her “encounters” with him in his office, narrating her experience: “I have been suffering this for months now.

Whenever students go to his office for anything, he is always trying to touch you.

“I took pictures of him on one of the days I entered his office. He has made molestation a part of him. I am even scared for my life in UNILAG. That is why I am reaching out to you so he can be stopped. I have completely given up when it comes to academics, he has failed me before. When I talked to him, concerning it, he told me I should know what to do that I am an adult. I feel so dirty for even allowing such an old man to touch me. But he doesn’t even care.”

In yet another case, Aigbeme Okonkwo accused another UNILAG lecturer, Prof Louis Egwari of sexual harassment in 2006. Okonkwo, whose father was also a lecturer in UNILAG at that time, said she went to Egwari’s office in connection with her course work and moments after entering his office, the lecturer stood from

Ekiti State University (EKSU) A lecturer at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Dr. Olaleye Aduwo, was also alleged to have been involved in sex-for-grades scandal. The lecturer in a 29-second video that went viral, was accused of attempting to have sex with one of his students for marks.

During the process, the lecturer was tortured, harassed and dehumanised by people allegedly sent by the lady after him.

Ambrose Ali University (AAU) In the wake of another high-profile case involving a lecturer in the department of electrical and electronic engineering at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in Edo State, Dr. Peter Otubu was detained by two sisters, Judith Ivie Okosun and Juliet Obehi Okosun. Dr. Otubu was accused by one of the women of demanding sex in return for marks.

Prof. Richard Akindele, OAU, jailed lecturer his seat, moved closer to her and touched her thigh, saying “ I didn’t know you were so beautiful’’.

University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is where Ms Mordi’s frustration and motivation for the BBC documentary sprang from. As a young undergraduate, Kiki’s dream of becoming a medical doctor was frustrated by lecturers, who she vehemently refused to surrender her body to. In fact, for her stubbornness, she was frustrated and made to drop out of school.

Such cases as Mordis’ are legion in the school. A female student with Twitter handle @akinde_ore had alleged increasing cases of sexual harassment in the University recently. In a tweet by her, she had alleged that two Micro Biology students of the school were allegedly raped by a staff.

University of Ilorin In Unilorin, as it is popularly called, the case of a 17-year-old female student allegedly raped by a lecturer sent cold spines across the campus recently. The young girl was introduced to Mr. Olowookere, an Arts Education teacher, by his graduate of the school friend to help keep an eye on her academic progress. Olowookere allegedly took advantage of the young girl, raped her in his office and tried to prevent her from concealing his sexual misconduct by allegedly altering her results into higher grades.

Lagos State University (LASU) The Lagos State University (LASU) has the case of Odubunmi Sukanmi, an associate professor in the Department of Economics, over alleged sexual assault of a female student.

Odubunmi was allegedly caught assaulting a female undergraduate of his department. He reportedly invited the student to his office on a Saturday to rewrite a paper she allegedly failed. On getting to the office, the lecturer reportedly removed his shirt and started cuddling the student after giving her papers to rewrite the exam he invited her for. Unknown to him, the student had sought the help of a non-governmental organisation to garner evidence to nail the lecturer.

However, after prompt investigation by the school disciplinary committee, Odubunmi, and his accomplice, Dr. Ajani Ogunwande, an Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, were dismissed from the school’s employment.

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife (OAU) In a most widely reported case, the Obafemi Awolowo University had sacked Professor Richard Akindele for demanding sex from a student, Monica Osagie, in exchange for marks. In a leaked audio conversation between the lecturer and Monica Osagie, Akindele was heard asking his victim for sex five times to increase her exam score from 33 to a pass mark.

After two months of investigation, Prof Akindele was dismissed from the University in 2018, apprehended,

University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) In April 2018, Funa Banana tweeted of a shocking sexual harassment on campus. .Funa Banana, a graduate of the University of Pot Harcourt, alleged in a tweet that ‘’UNIPORT lecturers don’t just ask to sleep with you, they also demand threesome and you must pay for the hotel room and they still end up giving you E.” The tweet went viral. However, no lecturer was specifically fingered as the allegation only started and died on Twitter.

Of all the rots in Uniport, that of the Faculty of Management Sciences stands out. At the Department of Business Management, allegations of sex for grades have remained very high on the lips of students. It is alleged that some female students don’t sit for some courses in exams but come up with high grades.

Federal Polytechnic, Auchi In 2016, 41 lecturers were accused of sexual harassment and extortion of students. After a panel’s report, five were dismissed, eight got their appointments terminated, 16 were demoted, four were warned, two advised, two cautioned, one recommended for mentoring while two students were denied further admission into the institution.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria In 2013, a Professor in the Faculty of Education was dismissed over sexual harassment. Kolo was earlier sentenced to two months imprisonment by a court in Jigawa State, after he was found guilty of attempting to force his female student to accept his sex advances.

The student (a married woman) through her husband informed security agents.

University of Calabar The University of Calabar in 2015 suspended the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Cyril Ndifon, for allegedly raping a 400-level law student.

University of Abuja A lecturer of the University of Abuja (name withheld), was also indicted for demanding for sex to award marks to one of his female students. The alleged scandal came to light after the lecturer, a dean, was caught in a hotel in Gwarimpa area of Abuja, where he allegedly had an affair with the student.

Osun State University At the Osun State University, Osogbo, a randy senior lecturer in the Department of Languages and Linguistics, Dr. Olabode Ajoniyi, was caught on video, having sex in a hotel room with one of his female students, Mercy Ikwue.

Sexual misconduct is not peculiar to Nigerian tertiary institutions. In the University of Ghana, Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor of the College of Education, like the University of Lagos lecturers, is enwrapped in the sex-for marks BBC documentary scandal. Dr. Buttakor was seen applying to be a potential female student’s ‘side boy’.

The documentary recorded him asking Kiki Mordi, “How many guys have told you you are beautiful today? Let me be your side guy. Men have side chicks… May be you’ll be my side and I’ll also be your side.” He then went on to offer the undercover student a National service work placement in his department even though the deadline for applications had elapsed.

If you are still in doubt that sexual misconduct is not all of Nigerian, then the case of Boston University (BU) is worth recalling. In 2017, BU found that Geologist

21

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

FEATURE HARVEST OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN IVORY TOWERS I can’t wait to see how the law and the church will handle this case. Thank you BBC for having the foresight and the courage to do what we could not do here in Nigeria. Our fate is in your hands dear God, please do not abandon the helpless”.

David Marchant sexually harassed his former graduate student, Jane Willenbring, when they were working at an isolated field camp in Antarctica in 1999 and 2000, when Willenbring was 22 years old.

Reactions Reactions for the sex for grades BBC documentary had been quite revealing on the part particularly of women of all shades, who in no mistaken words, have come out to admit of their experiences of the act in their university days as they call for the sack and imprisonment of all those indicted in the film.

First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, who said she suffered sexual harassment as an undergraduate at an exclusive screening of the BBC Africa Eye undercover investigation documentary on Monday, said she was lucky not to have been a victim of rape in the hands of her university teachers.

She said: “I was also a victim of sexual harassment in my university days but I was lucky not to have given in to the demands of sexual predators. While watching the BBC’s undercover investigation, I cried and laughed. I cried at what the young ladies were passing through in the hands of lecturers and I also laughed at the audacity these sexual predators have. I think it is time to speak out and also support victims of these atrocities. This has to end.”

She urged states and higher institutions of learning to come up with a robust sex offenders register to not only shame sexual predators but also prevent them from going to perpetrate such evil in other places. According to her, once such a record was in place, people would think twice before harassing anyone sexually.

Similarly, a former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ibim Semenitari, said she was sexually harassed by a male lecturer as an undergraduate, remarking on Facebook Tuesday morning that she was just 15 years old when her lecturer at the University of Benin sexually harassed her.

“I was 15 when I got into the university at first try. I studied hard. I was a staunch member of the Christian Union. I didn’t go to lecturers’ offices. I was from a home where I was well provided for and well-loved by my family, so, I didn’t have any problem but I was harassed and it cost me two years of my university education and I had to change faculty,” she said on the social media. Mrs. Semenitari studied English Language and Literature from 1982 - 1989 at the University of Benin.

Immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the sexual harassment bill passed by the eighth Senate, stating that

ASUU While many have blamed the umbrella body of the University teachers for not coming out strongly to condemn sexual misconduct among lecturers and students, in an official response to the OAU case, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, said any academic staff member found guilty of sexual harassment, after undergoing due process, should be made to face the wrath of the law. He also stated that those found guilty would enter the union’s Book of Dishonour.

However, Nigerians are still waiting to see Prof.

Akindele”s name entered in the Union’s Book of Dishonour.

UNILAG The expose had forced the University of Lagos (UNILAG) into ‘action’. It has suspended Dr. Igheneghu along with one other lecturer, constituted a panel to investigate the allegations and ordered the immediate shutdown of the Staff Club, ‘Cold Room’ mentioned in the documentary for further investigation. But many wonder why it has taken the University till now to do something about the notorious club long fingered as a notorious centre for female student’s molestation by lecturers.

The Foursquare Gospel Church, where Professor Boniface Igbeneghu, was a serving pastor, immediately wedged the big stick against him, asking him to step down from all ministerial assignments.

Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu the ‘Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Prohibition Bill’ prescribes a five-year jail term for any lecturer, educationist or person in a position of authority in any tertiary institution in Nigeria found guilty of sexual misconduct. He urged the institutions concerned to conduct robust investigations not only on the accused but also into all other reports and complaints that may be made afterwards.

For Soni Irabor, an acclaimed broadcaster and Public Relations Consultant, “outrage is an understatement!”

He remarked on the social media: “…To think that no lesson was learnt from the OAU, Ife saga that happened not up to two years ago is surprising. I shudder at the thought that a man, who is assigned the duty of grooming a young woman spiritually and emotionally, is the same man destroying the very foundation of a fellow human being old enough to be his daughter! Very scary!

Why Sexual Harassment Persists in Tertiary Institutions The ugly trend has continued because not all erring lecturers and students were sanctioned and made to face the music to serve as deterrent to all like it is in the developed world. Besides, it remains a surprise why in this age of ICT, students in the nation’s tertiary institutions were still made to submit assignments and examination scripts in hard copies instead of online?

E-copy submission of scripts and assignments will go a long way to reduce the ugly trend.

Also tongues are wagging as to why university authorities have continued to gloss over the ugly practices in such centres in the campuses as the UNILAG ‘Cold Room’, Guest Houses, Staff Clubs, offices, hotels and lecturers’ residences. There must be something that meets the eye.

Eximia’s Fiona Lawton Apartments Targets First Home Buyers Bennett Oghifo

T

he nation’s housing developers are seeking new ways to ensure their products succeed in the market, which is a reason Eximia Realty Company, the promoter of Fiona Lawton Apartments in Lekki, Lagos is targeting first time home

buyers.

The Chief Executive Officer of Eximia Realty Company, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran told guests at the groundbreaking of Fiona Lawton Apartments, recently, that the company also targets millennial, empty nesters and investors.

The project has provision for studio apartments, and one and two bedroom apartments, Ogunniran said and that payment plans are available and tailored to each client, adding “we are building on about 35% of the land with lots of greenery, walkways, car parks for all and some guests. It is an estate within an estate; a truly gated community” that is designed to be compact, comfortable and convenient.

There will be a playground for children, communal lounge for adults, biofil and water treatment plant, Wifi, laundromat, CCTV, and controlled access.

Ogunniran said the project fulfills their objective to create a unique and innovative platform to deliver real estate solutions by addressing emerging living models tailored to contemporary urban lifestyles.

“The general trend of urban dwelling in leading cities across the globe since 2011 is that ‘the era of mac-

L-R: Otunba Tobiloba Lawal; Lagos State, Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu Fatai; Chief Operating Officer, Eximia Realty Company Limited, Mrs. Obi Ubahakwe; Chaiman Eximia, Hakeem Ogunniran; and his wife Dr. Mrs. Iyabode Ogunniran, at the groundbreaking of Fiona-Lawton Apartments, Lekki… recently mansion is gone’. With land in limited supply, construction costs spiralling out of control and the necessity to optimise living and maintenance costs, it has become inevitable to re-engineer home design and construction to achieve maximum efficiency. This is reflected in the significant reduction in the average sizes of dwelling apart-

ments in such cities as New York (39 sqm) London (46sqm) Paris (36sqm) and Hong Kong (15sqm)in the last few years,” he said.

According to him, “These developments are being fully complemented by our company’s creation of our own ‘Home Ownership Ecosystem’ to tackle both the supply and demand

sides of housing delivery. To this end, we recently launched Kyrious Real Estate Multipurpose Society to ease the burden of home acquisition and financing for potential home owners.”

He said they are greatly encouraged by the market acceptance of Kyrious and Fiona Lawton apartments, “our first foray into our defined market segment.”

22

Ë&#x153; Ëž OCTOBER 12, 2019

EVENTS

O

n Saturday October 5th, 2019, a prayer session was held in memory of Alhaji (Dr.) Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola, OON who died on Wednesday October 2nd, 2019. A very religious man, he was President, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and Deputy President-General (South) Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). Held inside the Havilah Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, politicians, religious leaders, traditional rulers, children, family members and friends trooped out en mass to honour the man who was popularly known as SOB. Described as a humble, unassuming, wealthy, philanthropist and an exemplary man with a Midas touch, he would be sorely missed by his loved ones. Here are a few faces of the dignitaries at the occasion

L- R: Olori Ratibi of Lagos, Shaykh T.O.S Gbajabiamila, Chief imam of Lagos, Shaykh Sulaiman Abou Naalah and Alfa Agba of Lagos, Shaykh Mujitaba Giwa

L-R: Chief Imam, Anwarul Islam, Imam A.B.Yousuf, Chief Imam Nawairudeen, Lagos State, Imam Abdulmajeed Ayinla, Chairman Education Committee, MUSWEN, Prof. Muhibudeen Opeloye

National Missioner, Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Shaykh Abdurahman Ahmad, Mudir Markaz Agege, Shaykh Habeeb Adam Abdullah AlIlory and Executive Sec, MUSWEN, Prof D.O.S Noibi

L-R: Chief Imam Ansarudeen Ede Branch, Imam Ibrahim Tijani Adekilekun, Baba Adinni of Lagos, Shaykh Afeez Abou (OFR), Chief Imam of Ede, Shaykh Hussein Akajewole

L-R: Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and Alhaji Adaranijo of Lagos Central Mosque

L-R: Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Prof. Isaq Oloyede and Mudir Markaz

L-R: Olu of Owode Ede, Oba Murain Oyedepo Ajibola 1 and HRH Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Timi of Ede

L-R: Prof M.A. Badmus, Former Chief Imam Unilag, Imam Rasheed Ajose, Chief Imam Alalukurani and President, Muslim Community of Lagos State, Prof T.G.O. Gbadamosi

L-R: Yeye Tola Santo- Anjorin, Hajia Abbah Folawiyo and Chief (Mrs.) Ireti Asemota

L-R: Chief Oba Adejumo, Former Minister for Finance and Foreign AďŹ&#x20AC;airs, Chief Anthony Asuquo Ani, Chief Tokunbo Thomas and former CEO, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Alhaji Olalekan Saliu

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

EVENTS

L-R: Mr. Sabiru Babalola, Alhaja Halima Babalola (widow) and Dr. Rilwan Babalola

L-R: Mr. Lekan Babalola, Mr. Tokunbo Babalola and Mr. Tunji Babalola

L-R: Hon. Idia Babalola, Alhaja Fatima Braimoh and Mrs. Bimbo Olawoyin

L-R: Mrs. Bolanle Animashaun, Ms. Halima Babalola and Mrs. Biola Shasanya

Cross section of Lagos High Chiefs

L-R: Alhaji Akeem Gbajabiamila, Mr. Yinka Adeola and Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti

L-R: Olori Titi, Olori Kuburat and Olori Maryam Akiolu

L-R: Alhaji Umar Saro and Alhaji Idris Jawando

L-R: Former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, Iyasuna of Lagos, Alhaja Muinat Shopeyin and former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Alhaja Lateefah Okunnu (back row) Alhaja Dupe Sukura (Shine Shine) and Alhaja Adebisi Ebiti (Right)

L-R: Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN) and Alhaji Jamiu Ekungba

24

Ë&#x153; Ëž OCTOBER 12, 2019

EVENTS

M

rs. Okeobaro Chuma- Chinye rolled out red carpet to mark her 50th birthday ceremony with the launch of her third book title â&#x20AC;&#x153;Building the Dreamâ&#x20AC;? that followed a gala night that attracted important dignitaries across the country. Here are some of the personalities that greaced the ocassion.

Photographs by Godwin Omoigui

The author of the book and celebrant, Mrs. Okeobaro Chuma- Chinye (R ) and Husband, Chuma Chinye

L-R: Executive Director, Fidelity Bank, Sir. Obaro Odeghe and Lagos state Commissioner of Econoic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube

Justice Charles Archibong and wife, Juliet

L-R: Celebrant children; Amal, Malobi, Chuma (Junior) and Nwabunor

R-L: Amina Zanna Ibrahim and Zannas Magaji

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;R: Chief Chris Okobah and Dr. Chris Atugbolah

L-R: Mr. Chiazor Collins and Niyi Ayoola-Daniels

L-R: Kola Ologbondiyan and wife, Omolola

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;R: Adeola Adegun and Sneha Bose

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

POLITY

TV Signal Piracy: Dressing Theft Up as Patriotism Ezra Mabadeje

S

omewhat curiously, there appears to be belief that illegal transmission of pay television signal is no crime. And if at all it is, perpetrators seem to believe that it a less severe form of theft than piracy of CDs, DVDs and books for which, understandably, there is a larger market.

My conviction that illegal transmission television signal is deemed harmless grew stronger last week, following media reports of a crackdown by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on three Port Harcourt-based cable television operatorsCANTV, Metro Digital TV and Communication Trends Limited (CTL)-all of which have been redistributing content exclusive to MultiChoice, StarTimes and Bein Media, the Qatar-based broadcast giants, among others, without authorization.

The three firms are members of the Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria (ACON), which claims to have the right to steal content and redistribute commercially.

To be clear, the alleged crime is no novelty. As a matter of fact, the trio have been at the game for years, according to their lawyers. CTL, for example, had its licence suspended in 2010 for pirating the signal of the defunct Hitv.

What, however, is new is the audacity to claim that their illegal activities benefit Nigerians in the low income brackets, who they claim cannot afford the tariff of MultiChoice, leading pay television service provider; and StarTimes.

To attract support for a clear economic crime dressed up as pro-people activity, the operators sought to invoke nationalistic fervor, serving the public a mish-mash of lies such as the well-worn allegation that MultiChoice seeks to crush competition (by frowning at the theft of its content) and claiming that they are licensed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to redistribute content-without the owner’s authorization! More crudely, the pirate operators sought refuge in the recent anti-foreigner attacks in South Africa, hoping it would reboot local anger, thereby deflecting attention from their crime.

Last Wednesday, one of the items on the order paper of the House of Representatives was a motion by Hon. Abdulganiyu Olododo. Titled “Increasing Trend of Copyright Piracy in Nigeria”, the motion invited attention to the relentless infringement of intellectual property rights thereby rendering creativity unattractive and impacting negatively on the socio-economic lives of Nigerians.

Olododo’s motion noted that copyright piracy is defying the efforts of government agencies, including the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), and threaten-

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information

ing the country’s economic well-being.

This point has been studiously ignored by the operators who, according to reports, were billing subscribers between N3, 000 and N5, 000 monthly for content exclusively owned by others. Their template seemed to have appealed to the now defunct TStv, which briefly came to the market last year, falsely claiming to have rights to premium sporting, news/ general entertainment content and offering such as impossibly low rates.

But before it rolled out, CNN, FOX Entertainment and Bein wrote to the NCC to state that there was no content redistribution agreements between them and TStv. Bein, in a recent letter to the NCC, restated that it has no content rights to operate in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Kenya among other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

But ACON members, claimed they have been paying licence fees as well two per cent turnover to the NBC, whose code, they further claimed, bars a single operator from having exclusive rights to major sports content.

In a letter to the EFCC by their lawyers, the pirates claimed that the anti-graft commission has no business in the matter, as the crime alleged is not financial in nature.

But Abdulrasheed Bawa, head of EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Office, said the EFCC is empowered to deal with crimes that are financial and economic in nature.

Section 40 of the EFCC Act defines “economic crime” as “non-violent criminal and illicit activity committed with the objectives of earning wealth illegally”. Accord-

ing to the act, it includes any form of fraud, narcotic drug trafficking, money laundering, embezzlement, bribery, looting and theft of intellectual property and piracy among others.

The NCC also has a dim view of piracy. Section 51(1) of the Copyright Act defines broadcast piracy as the rebroadcast commercial scale, without authorization, of content protected by copyright.

How else the operators want their activities perceived other than theft eludes me. The NCC on 26 January 2018, according to nlpiw.com (website of the Nigerian Law Intellectual Property Watch), arrested one Idoni Joseph Osagie in Osogbo, Osun State. The commission stated that Osagie was caught with broadcast piracy equipment such as DStv and GOtv decoders, coaxial cables and signal boosters.

In September 2018, the NCC threatened two Kadunabased cable television operators, ABG and QTV, with suspension for unlicensed broadcasting.

Augustine Amodu, NCC’s Enforcement Director in Kaduna, said the Commission received letters from Aljazeera, Bein and Canal Plus among other international broadcasters that their content was being redistributed illegally.

In its letter summoning the two operators to its headquarters in Abuja, the NCC wrote: “After doing vigilant surveillance and investigation, we have found out that the original and rightful owner of the content you are transmitting is MultiChoice. But ABG has gone behind without getting due licensing from MultiChoice to continue to operate on the cable of MultiChoice. The only people with the exclusive license to broadcast English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, LaLiga among others is MultiChoice Nigeria. So, we are here to issue a very stern warning to you to desist from this illegal act or run the risk of been shut down.”

Also in Warri and Ughelli in Delta State, the NCC seized illegal broadcast equipment worth N36.1million in anti-piracy operations carried out between 13 and 16 March 2018. Similar operations, leading to arrests and prosecution, are routinely carried out by the NCC-relying on extant legislation.

Bizarrely, the operators busted in Port Harcourt believe that their clearly criminal enterprise deserves the support of Nigerians, who they hope would get redeyed with rage at the reference to MultiChoice’s South African origins, hence the disingenuous use of the recent xenophobic attacks, cheap talk of monopoly and legless pro-people stance.

In any language, stealing, even with the desire to give to the less privileged, spells crime in bold letters. Cheap appeal to nationalism or patriotism cannot deodorize a fetid activity.

––Mabadeje, a public affairs commentator, writes from Benin

MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Announces Class of 2020 Tolulope Ibukunoluwa

T

he MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa Academy has announced the class of 2020 for a full-year, tuition free training in film and television production.

A total of 20 students from Nigeria and Ghana were chosen after a month-long process which shortlisted candidates from thousands of entries, according to a statement released by the company on Wednesday.

The MTF Academy is a 12-month fully funded training launched in May 2018 to create a pipeline of skilled and talented movie professionals that produce high quality content that resonates with African viewers.

The admission of the new students comes on the back of the graduation of the MTF West Africa Academy inaugural set in September 2019. This year’s students underwent a standard rigorous interview and adjudication process by a group of leading film and television industry experts.

The 20 new students will undergo their training at the Pan-Atlantic University in Lekki, Nigeria, where they will be provided with training and hands-on experience in the film industry, with a focus on storytelling, production, audio and directing among other key areas.

The students will also get the opportu-

Ugbe

nity to learn directly from leading African and international industry experts, work on live sets of local TV productions and create original content aired on local

M-Net channels across the MultiChoice platforms – DStv, GOtv and Showmax.

Speaking on the expectations of the 2020 class, MTF Director West Africa,

Femi Odugbemi, noted that the 20 aspiring filmmakers carry a lot of hope for the African continent in the quest to tell African stories that reflects the continent’s people and their progress as storytellers.

“We are very excited to welcome the Class of 2020 and to begin a new journey of discovery.

We learn filmmaking by making films and that process of hands-on exposure and learning from the best industry leaders remains our path to infusing the passion of our students with creative power,” Odugbemi said.

In a meeting with the new MTF students, John Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, said MultiChoice remains dedicated in enhancing the skillset of professionals practicing in the African movie industry.

“MultiChoice is committed to enriching lives by improving the skills of talent in the film and television industry and the success of these students will over time, deliver a more professionalized, networked film and television industry across Africa and an expanded community of highly skilled professionals who are passionate about creating quality home-grown content,” Ugbe said.

The MTF has over the past 12 months, partnered with government, local and international film industry associations and partners to hone and sharpen the skills of emerging filmmakers and industry professionals.

It would be recalled that Pan-Atlantic University, New York Film Academy, Dolby and Universal Music Group partnered with MultiChoice to produce the pioneer graduates of the MTF Academy.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

POLITY Ugwuanyi Revs Up Healthcare Laurence Ani

S

ituated in Asata, just at the cusp of a major intersection that connects several middle income and high density neighbourhoods in the Enugu metropolis, there couldn’t have been a more apt location for Poly Clinic, a facility which in its early days was comparable to the famous Massey Street Children’s Hospital in Lagos. Everyday, this secondary health facility witnesses a daily surge for maternity reasons, or generally from patients seeking specialist care for a variety of ailments for which they pay fees subsidised by the state government.

Indeed, as one of the centres where the public can access treatment for the Enugu State’s Free Maternal and Child Health, the pressure is even more so to such extent that on peak days like Mondays and Wednesdays the figure could be between 150 - 180 women and children. That figure is specific to the clinic for pregnant women and children under five years.

For a clinic established decades ago when the population in the state capital had not experienced such exponential growth, it was only a matter of time before facilities became overstretched.

Last year, the facility began to experience a makeover conceived to improve its aesthetics and confer on it a look and space that are dignifying for both staff and the patients. But the makeover has not merely been in a structural sense. Besides being re-equipped with diverse medical tools and facilities described as “comparable to the best standard anywhere in the world” by Dr. Okechukwu Ossai, administrator of the state’s Hospital Management Board, the manpower also grew massively with more specialists employed by the state government.

The upgrade culminated in a change of status, from a mere clinic managed by non-specialists that it was to a general hospital with all the specialties and departments in the medical field. “If you step into every room in this hospital you would understand why we’re

gathered here,” the permanent secretary of the state’s health ministry, Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, told guests that had gathered to witness the reconstructed facility’s commissioning. He wasn’t exaggerating.

From the obstetrics theatre to the general theatre and the emergency ward and laboratory, each of the installed equipment bespoke some cutting edge technology.

Asimilar makeover is being extended to the 390 primary healthcare facilities and 43 cottage hospitals across the state. The upgrade is consistent with the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration’s desire to improve the quality of healthcare at the primary and secondary levels and expand their capacity to cater to the needs of a growing population.

That desire underpinned the Enugu State government’s determined push towards attaining a universal health coverage status for all residents. Its recent fulfillment of requirements for the takeoff of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and payment of the mandatory N100m counterpart fund underscored that commitment. “This will enable all residents in the state to access care under the Universal Health Coverage,” noted shortly before he formally commissioned the facility, also said to be the “busiest general hospital and second busiest public healthcare facility in the state after the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane”.

But Ugwuanyi is not simply reveling in the glory of the moment.

In anticipation of the manpower demands arising from the expansion and the increased traffic of referrals from the general hospitals, his government recently granted approval to the state’s teaching hospital to absorb one hundred and twenty-five interns of diverse medical background and one hundred and two resident doctors.

This is in addition to a sustained employment of consultants in different medical fields.

The robust expansion of medical facilities which the state government has carried out, and the requisite staffing it has ensured reflects in Enugu’s impressive doctor-patient ratio. According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics, Enugu State’s doctor-patient ratio of 1:1,812 is the fourth best in the country, coming only behind the Federal Capital Territory (1 doctor to every 1,267 resident popula-

tion), Edo State (1:1,416) and Lagos State (1:1,709). Only states such as Oyo (1 doctor to 2,729 patients), Kwara (1 doctor to 2,965) and Rivers (1 doctor to 3,661) posted any figure that could be considered somewhat close to the top three states.

Although Enugu’s figure (indeed, every state in the federation) fell below the desirable doctor-patient ratio of 1 doctor to every 1,000 recommended by the World Health Organisation, the commitment that Ugwuanyi has demonstrated towards enthroning an affordable healthcare with an extensive reach suggests the state can conveniently attain that threshold. His comment at the formal opening of the reconstructed Udi District Hospital (now Udi General Hospital) helped reaffirm this. “We remain committed to our campaign promises and the social contract and unrelenting in our bid to change the narratives in our state health system,” he said.

He had similarly demonstrated that resolve through his government’s doubling of the monthly sum dedicated to funding the state’s free health programme for pregnant women and under-5 children. The approval and implementation of the Consolidated Health Workers Salary Scale (CONHESS) for health workers in the state also highlighted the Ugwuanyi administration’s vision for a reliable public health system. That gesture brought a significant rise in the earnings of nurses, midwives, laboratory scientists, radiographers and a host of other health workers under the Allied Union of Health Workers. Of course, it goes without saying that doctors in Enugu State have long been on the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS).

Poly Clinic’s upgrade means a vast population of residents in the Enugu metropolis no longer have to make any more lengthy commute in search of a prime health facility like they once did.

Usually, that entailed going to either the state university’s teaching hospital or the more distant University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital at the outskirts of Enugu. “This is the real democracy dividend,” a young mother cradling an infant says to no one in particular. There are countless others like her who feel this way.

––Ani, former editor ofThisDay -The Saturday Newspaper, and SaturdayTelegraph, lives in Enugu.

AsiwajuTellaandTheLongWalktoHonour Tunde Musibau Akanni

T

o the bounteous glory of Almighty Allah, my brother and friend, Kayode Awobadejo, a distinguished muslim alumnus of Concord Press, clocked age 60, just six days ago. In a most gratuitous manner, Awobadejo, who himself chose to personally celebrate this with umrah, chose to further spice his celebrations with an offer of hajj to a fellow media professional, AbduRasheed Abubakar, publisher of Muslim News. It would be AbdRasheed’s first Hajj.

Awobadejo’s saadaqah, perhaps unknown to many, is a re-enactment of Basorun MKO Abiola’s generosity to Awobadejo. He emerged a beneficiary of MKO’s similar offer in 1993 after a rigorous Islamic Knowledge based interview chaired by Alhaji Liad Tella The Concord publisher’s sponsorship of Hajj for the workers in that company was being coordinated by the man of this moment. Alhaji Liad Tella, Deputy Editor of Concord newspaper at that time also doubled as the Chairman of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and led the MKO-sponsored ones including Awobadejo during the hajj rites. The story of the huge impact registered on Awobadejo between then and now would span volumes for those of us who knew the gangling, jean lover, Mr. Kay, very well before the holy pilgrimage. Mildly speaking, Mr. Kay was as much endowed as much as he chose to indulge himself. But Tella has since led Mr. Kay into spiritual freedom. Allah, the most beneficent, later made it possible for Alhaji Tella to be similarly nationally relevant. He eventually emerged in 2007 as pioneer commissioner representing the entire southwestern Nigeria at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON. Awobadejo’s liberation and probably those of several others he later served are what have culminated into today’s glory for the first Asiwaju Musulumi of Iwoland.

By the time the world converges on Iwo to honour Alhaji Tella, not a few would readily recall Alhaji Liad Tella’s life of service spanning decades, special glory to the almighty Allah for His limitless favours. What may recur in most discussions is that the man, most of his colleagues and admirers affectionately call Alhaji or El Haj, possesses a relentless commitment to the religion of Islam with the support of his dresser and darling beau’ and soulmate, Barrister Funke Tella. The story

of Alhaji’s sartorial distinction among peers is reserved for another day.

Indeed, Alhaji Tella has mustered unmistakable efforts in contributing particularly to the visibility of Islam which has, in turn, earned the faith more reckoning, embolding many young professionals from the southwest today to identify with it. Many stories will readily ooze forth about this, from otherwise muted voices, here implying Prof Ojebode’s inference, as enunciated in his recently delivered inaugural lecture as a professor of communication studies at the University of Ibadan.

This writer’s voice was almost muted as a rookie reporter at a national newspaper in the 1980s. Those were the days the newsroom relied on typists for the typing of reporters’ stories often submitted in longhand. Fresh from the university, I stuck to my name as borne all my life, and registered on all my certificates for my byline.

The typist, a non Muslim, assigned to typing my stories and those of my colleagues, chose to consistently ‘murder’ my Muslim identity.

After repeated embarrassment resulting from the unpardonable misspelling, I resorted to two names, thus dropping my Muslim name. Yet, late Shuaibu Adinoyi Ojo and some other reporters managed to keep their three names as byline elsewhere. Alhaji Tella literally pulled up the drowning voice of mine and embellished it with grandeur. He facilitated my entry to Concord Press in 1991.

In retrospect, Alhaji’s support for me to be a Concord staff was part of his focused design to strengthen the initiative of another dear brother, Publisher MKO Abiola, with the army of the best in his vicinity. Same way he took me in, he attracted one time most ethical journalist prize winner and now Communication’s Director of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Wahab Gbadamosi; as well as Abdul Fatah Oladeinde, now the Editor of Xpress Nigeria newspaper.

Abdul Fatah, my fellow Unilorite, was the best graduating student in his department when he rounded off his first degree programme in English Studies. Yet another was Abdul Warees Solanke, arguably the most prolific broadcast journalist in Nigeria today. ADirector at the Voice of Nigeria, VON, Solanke still ceaselessly publishes articles in leading newspapers practically every week till date. My darling kinsman and very dear friend, Bayo Adeyinka, yet another Tella boy, who

now lives in the US is known to have cultivated the core of reporting and programming model for business, finance and allied beats for which AIT is known today. He was actually the president of the Financial Correspondents Association of Nigeria, FICAN, in its early years. If anyone reckoned with Concord Press as an oak in the publishing industry at that time, it was largely attributable to the unflinching, brotherly dedication of thorough professionals like Alhaji Liad Tella.

But Tella has always been modest with his enviable accomplishments even as he never wasted knowledge sharing opportunities with attentive younger ones. One afternoon, shortly after the proscription of Concord titles in 1994, we had both just left Thisday newspaper office at Yunusa Adeniji Street Ikeja, when we suddenly met late Dr Omotosho Ogunniyi, formerly of Daily Times. Alhaji instantly pulled up the car, rushed out and lay flat in prostration before Dr. Ogunniyi who visibly relished the warmth and courtesy, the usual Yoruba way.

He prayed for Alhaji Tella after reviewing a few events and issues with him. Alhaji later told me “that was the man who hired me at Daily Times, my first journalism job. He’s such a wonderful human being. It took a while before I knew he came from Ede.” Even with his mother-hen, disarming, all-time warmth, Alhaji has never been one that would fold arms and resign to fate in the face of challenges. When it became clear that the Abacha junta meant to completely crush Concord and other similarly proscribed publishing organisations following the annulment of the 1993 election won in 1993 by MKO, the Concord publisher, he incorporated a media consultancy firm. His clientele cut across both the public and private sectors.

Often, they celebrated his interventions on their matter each time he was called in. The official interactions he had using his company availed him the opportunity to demonstrate some of the tangential advisory he has had the opportunity to raise as a Concord columnist which had endeared him to the world, in the first place.

The energy and creativity from the private initiative came in handy when he became a commissioner at NAHCON. Alhaji Tella’s directorate was the central, daunting and most tasking one called Operations. But Tella’s extraordinary industry and cosmopolitan disposition exhibited in the media for more than four decades had

successfully registered him as a household brand in the media and beyond, nationwide and even internationally. His antecedents in the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, was no less supportive for his new assignment. NAHCON, courtesy of Tella, therefore consistently enjoyed prime visibility which attracted grace and honour from the authorities and the lowly, alike. For all the years Tella served at NAHCON, the organisation was uniquely renowned for prudence and integrity yet never lacking in excellent delivery of its mandate. It consistently refunded surplus budgetary allocations thus earning official commendations during the Presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua years. NAHCON remains, till date, a beneficiary of the tenacity and creativity cultivated by team Tella. He is always, of course, quick to impress it on colleagues and acquaintances that he would do anything to treasure and guard his integrity as a distinguished prince of a Yoruba ancestral home of Oyo, the original roots of his own Agboluaje extended family in Iwo. Way back in 1992, the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in Osun State was no less a beneficiary of Tella’s devotion to duty deriving from varied management and allied experience garnered from his chairmanship of Odu’a Printing Company as well as committee membership constituted by state and federal governments implying international exposure. It is on record that Alhaji’s performance as the Chairman of the Muslim Pilgrims Board remains the one to be beaten decades after he left. Little therefore, did people who knew his trajectory, wonder that he was invited to serve the nation’s Muslim community at the highest level of NAHCON. Aconsummate leader and passionate happy family man with children of biological, professional and other forms of descent, he ensured that his multidimensional knowledge, talent and connections got properly invested. His last duty post, Better By Far University of Ilorin, harvested all of these. As Alhaji Tella therefore bags a distinguished, formal recognition from his Iwo root today, what may probably remain the most enduring legacy is the inspiration he has cultivated in multitudes across assorted sectors.

All hail Asiwaju Tella!

––Dr. Akanni is the Director of Digital Media Research Centre, DMRC, of the Lagos State University. Follow him onTwitter: @ AkintundeAkanni

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

POLITY

Empowering Youths Through Street Project’s Boot Camp Tolulope Ibukunoluwa

I

n recent years, concerns have been raised by all and sundry over the escalating rate of unemployment in Nigeria. According to a 2018 report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate surged to 23.1 per cent from 20.42 per cent in December 2017; and this is despite an estimated total of 500,000 graduates produced by tertiary institutions in the country annually.

The figures, explained by human resource experts and employers of labour, have been rising because many tertiary institution graduates have no skills that make them employable, a situation blamed on the outdated educational curriculum used by Nigerian schools.

As part of the remediation of the development, a group, Street Project Foundation (SPF), launched an initiativeCreative Youth Boot Camp-in 2016.

The initiative was conceived to provide an opportunity for singers, musicians, poets, creative writers, presenters, comedians, spoken word artists, actors, visual artists, fashion enthusiasts and performance artists of any kind to hone their skills under the guidance and mentorship of industry experts.

Since inception in 2016, the Creative Boot Camp has up-skilled a total of 200 young people, with 80 per cent of them placed on internships, while 50 per cent secured full-time jobs or started their own businesses after the programme.

This year’s edition, the third since inception, has as its theme: “Art for Social Transformation”, and will run for six weeks, starting from Monday, November 11.

Rita Ezenwa-Okoro, SPF’s Founder and Lead Visionary, explained that she was inspired to establish the boot camp after noticing how her siblings struggled to gain employment upon their graduation from higher institutions.

According to her, her siblings struggled because they were forced to study courses that did not align with their passion.

She stated that the experiences of her siblings, therefore, spurred her to focus on creative art and vocational skills in order to improve the skill-set of the Nigerian youth aside from what they learn in the classroom. She noted that the boot camp will place emphasis on building soft skills, which, according to her, are essential for communication in both formal and informal workplaces. She added that the initiative also provides a platform for the youth to pursue their passion while giving them a platform to showcase their talents.

“SPF was set up to focus on youth development using the creative art as a tool. When you are teaching drama for

Rita Ezenwa-Okoro, Founder and Lead Visionary of Street Project Foundation. instance, you are teaching young people diction (communication); when you are teaching dance, you are teaching stance, public speaking and non- verbal communication; when you are teaching improvisation, you are building their critical thinking skills. That was what birth the creative youth boot camp.

“The whole essence of this is to teach young people soft skills that they need for the work place. One thing that people are always looking out for when they want to hire the entry level position they are always looking out for the character of work; timeliness, ability to communicate effectively, project management, team work, team building these are all of the things that we teach our

young people when they come to the creative youth boot camp,” she said.

The SPF founder disclosed that this year’s boot camp is unique as it caters for the need of people living with disabilities. She insisted that there is the need to fully integrate people limited by health challenges into the society as they also possess critical skills needed to make the world a better place.

She said: “The first two cohorts were run in Lagos in 2016 and 2017 but now we are taking it to the city of Abuja where we also want to replicate this now. What is making this year’s own unique is that the SPF agenda for the next three years is to scale up activities, we are looking at the inclusion of people living with disabilities and working with more young women as well and so that’s why this edition 30 per cent of our participants are going to be young people living with disabilities.”

Noting that the SPF wants all its participants to blossom, Ezenwa-Okoro acknowledged that every individual will venture into any field which entices and guarantees them success. She noted that some of its graduates such as Ruby, Josh2funny and Chizzy d’ Ace have excelled in the entertainment industry, while another of its prodigies, was recruited by a prominent accounting firm in the country.

On his part, Ezenwa Okoro, SPF’s Director of Programmes, explained that the boot camp also empowers participants by providing internship placement and mentorship during and after the programme.

According to him, the SPF places emphasis on a safe place for its trainees because the lack of opportunities for young people makes them vulnerable to the dangers of society.

“Internship placement is a critical component of this boot camp and also finding mentors for these young people. We are passionate about youth development, which stems from life experiences,” he said.

He called on employer-partners from both creative and corporate organizations interested in accepting interns from the boot camp to attend the Street Project Foundation’s Employer Partnership Forum, scheduled for Friday, 8 November in Abuja.

Okoro said it is imperative for the SPF to gather employers and make them aware of the benefits of the boot camp to the society and their businesses, as well as to young people seeking opportunities.

This year’s edition, which is supported by VOICE, will have a total of 100 participants, including 30 gifted youths living with physical disabilities. All participants will be split into four cohorts of 25 each and placed on internships at the end of the boot camp.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: President, National Association of Nigeria Travel, Bankole Bernard; President, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye; Special Guest/ The Olota of Ota, HRM Oba Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege; former President, Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), Chief John Faoseke; and Managing Director, Top Comm Tourism, Ogbeni Tope Awe, at the ANJET Annual Tourism Seminar 2019 held in Lagos…recently SUNDAY

L-R: Guests, Dr.Tokunbo Dabiri; Mrs. Fehintola Muri-Okunola; Special Guest of Honour/wife of the former governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; Lead Visioner, Jandor Foundation, Mr. Olajide Adediran; and Osolu of Irewe Kingg y g the opening p g ceremony y of Jandor Office Complex p in Lagos... g recently y dom, Oba Abideen Agunbioyinbo, during

L-R: Senior Manager, Programme Implementation, MTN Foundation, Abasi-Ekong Udobang; Director, MTN Foundation, Hon. Reginald Okeya; Director, MTN Foundation, Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki (OON); Director, MTN Foundation, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Dennis Okoro; and the representative of Director, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Okey Odunna,attheNorthernRegionnominatorsappreciationeventoftheMTNWhatCanWeDoTogether(WCWDT)Initiative held at Ladi Kwali Hall Sheraton Hotel, Abuja …recently

R-L: Managing Director, Phillips Consulting, Mr. RobertTaiwo, receiving the recognition award from President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Professor Segun Ajibola, at the panel of the 12th CIBN conference themed: ‘Driving g Digital g and Innovation’ in Lagos…recently g y

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 12, 2019

POLITY Governor Nyesom Wike’s Toxic Nativism Austin Tam-George

W

hat exactly does Governor Nyesom Wike mean, when he brags often about a certain “Ikwerre governorship” in Rivers State? Rivers State belongs to the Ogoni, the Ikwerre, Ijaw, the Etche, and many other communities bound together by a long and triumphant history in 1967.

The diverse cultural and ethnic tapestry of the State was always understood as a blessing, not a curse. This is why for 52 years, the people of the State have developed a proud and collective persona as “Rivers people”.

But rather than conduct himself as the governor for all Rivers people, Mr. Wike seems to prefer to view the State and his administration through the key hole of tribalism. As governor, Wike’s statements and actions tend to be unendurably repugnant and divisive. He projects himself, not as a broad-minded public administrator, but as some kind of triumphant avatar of Ikwerre nativism.

During a government event on Birabi Street, in Port Harcourt, Wike ramped up his divisive rhetoric. In his address, he praised former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, for paving the way for an “Ikwerre governorship” in the State. But you see, the Ikwerres are an incredibly

smart people; they know a political cartoon character when they see one. They know that Wike’s arrogant mobilisation of ethnic bigotry is strictly for his own benefit. They can see that besides only a few of the governor’s nativist cronies, there is nothing for the Ikwerre people as a whole.

For instance, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Rivers State has the highest rate of unemployment in Nigeria, under Mr. Wike’s watch. There are hundreds of thousands of brilliant and ambitious Ikwerre youth trapped in the jobless quagmire. The cancer of joblessness has metastasised into an outbreak of criminality across Rivers State, and our Ikwerre communities have not been spared.

Today, Elele, Emohua, Choba, and other communities are like open graves patrolled daily by a merciless gang of kidnappers. Our so-called ‘Ikwerre governor “ has done nothing about this malignant cancer that destabilises our communities, and threatens to drown an entire generation of young people in hopelessness. In the past four years, Governor Wike has refused to pay pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants in the State. Among them are thousands Ikwerre senior citizens devastated by the administration’s callous indifference to their plight.

In agriculture, there is an even more spectacular failure. Taken together, our Ikwerre communities have perhaps the

largest arable landmass in Rivers State.

And so the people are asking: where are the agricultural industries established by Governor Wike in the past five years?

Where are the thousands of workers he could have employed in those imaginary farms?

Where is the governor’s blueprint for food sustainability in the State? Why is Risom Palm in a state of rut? What happened to the industrial fish farms across the State? Or is the “Ikwerre governorship” simply about those golden foot paths paved by the Wike administration in Isiopko and elsewhere?

Those who are naive enough to believe in Governor Wike’s mythology of “Ikwerre governorship” should take a walk down the popular Ada George Road.

From that road, they would see one man’s glitzy mansion, standing in galactic contrast with the poverty-stricken humanity of Rumueprikom. The truth is that Wike represents no one, but himself. His failures are not the failures of the Ikwerre people. His Pan-Ikwerre rhetoric is a dazzling, but false gold.

In Akwa Ibom State, the governor has taken his people to the majestic skies. In Rivers State, Governor Wike is the dividerin-chief, who roams blindly in his dark tunnel of hate and tribalism.

One thousand new flyovers sited in Wike’s expansive sitting room may send the nativist contractors smiling to the banks. But it will make no difference

Wike in the material lives of our people.

Finally, by casting himself in the mold of a tribal zealot, Wike is in material breach of his oath of office. He has lost the organic legitimacy of all Rivers people to govern the State. His administration is a moral nullity, because he has betrayed the elemental trust to act fairly on behalf of all communities. It is the duty of all Rivers people to resist and reclaim the state from Mr Wike’s nativist zealotry.

––Dr. Austin Tam-George was Commissioner for Information, Rivers State.

Ayade Gives Teaching a Quantum Leap with TCTI Chidi Onyemaizu

T

he wet weather did nothing to dampen his bursting energy. So, on this particular rainy morning, Governor Ben Ayade defied the inclement weather, hopped into his official vehicle. Destination?

A world-class Teachers retraining facility - the West African Teachers Continous Training Institute, TCTI - springing up in Biase.

Biase is located in the southern part of the state and the home local government of Deputy Governor, Ivara Ejemot Esu. Ayade and Esu are both erudite scholars; professors of different disciplines but united in their grit resolve to reinvent their darling state, Cross River. Just before his arrival at the project site, the drizzling rain had given way to blazing sun, almost at a baking point.

But even in the sweltering sun, there was this disarming normality in the manner he methodically inspected the progress of work at the project site. Occasionally, as if the hot sun itself was a soothing balm sort of, he let out a broad smile, one hand up pointing at a something that caught his attention. Soon, there was a crowd of heads- those of his Deputy, aides and Engineers working on the site-poring over a piece of paper, probably a building design.

And at that moment, one could notice him nodding in affirmation of whatever it was that was being explained to him, his cherubic face flushing with a glint of inward satisfaction. On this day, Biase was awestruck. And this told boldly on the faces of hundreds of ecstatic and cheering indigenes who had thronged the Institute to catch a glimpse of the governor and also of their son, Professor Esu. “This governor is a wonder man ooo ; person never see this kin thing before. Na forest be dey here ooo . How he take build this kin fine school here wonder me ooo ,” a middle aged man who could no longer hide his joy exclaimed loudly in pidgin English, to no one in particular.

Another bewildered indigene, a young mother with a sleeping baby strapped on the back and who claimed she teaches in a private primary school in the area said she never believed Ayade meant business when the site was being cleared early this year.

Ayade Adjusting the sleeping baby, smiles coloured the young mother’s face on sighting Ayade pointing something out to the site manager.

Then, lowering her head and gently tapping her chest as if to assure herself she was not dreaming, she said, “I was one of those who doubted the possibility of this Teachers Institute. I thought Ayade was not serious but I have been proven wrong. This Institute is one of the best things that has happened to Biase and to people like me who want to be professional teachers”.

There was every reason for the people of Biase and indeed all Cross Riverians to marvel. Just three months back, the site where the TCTI now stands was ground zero, barren land sort of.

However, on that same place, a towering, world-class edifice dedicated to remoulding teachers across the West African sub-region now uncompromisingly announces itself as one of the undeniable efforts of Professor Ayade to reposition education and the teaching profession in Cross River.

Professor Ayade is not magisterial as won’t leaders who wield enormous powers.

At Biase, he again demonstrated that, and lived up to his billing as “Project Manager”

which at his second term inauguration he said he had become, as he for four hours, without a minute pause, moved from one structure to the other, personally inspecting them and occasionally handing down modifications instructions to the contractors handling the project.

One of the unique features of TCTI is that when operational, it will have a provost who will superintend its affairs. The Teachers Training Institute is also modelled like a post-graduate school.

“We already have the provost. The Institute is a little higher. It is more like a post-graduate school because you have to have a degree in Education and you have to be teaching already for you to qualify to come here,” the governor said.

“You don’t have to be teaching in Nigeria, West Africa. In fact, anywhere you are on earth and you have a teacher that wants to be trained, he can come here to actualise his or her ambition of becoming a qualified professional,” he further stressed.

The Institute, according to Professor Ayade, will be technology and ICT driven in order to bake qualified teachers, well equipped for 21st century teaching. “We are building a world-class West Africa Teachers Continues Training Institute to cater for all teachers within the whole of West African sub-region and to start the regeneration of ethics, morality, quality of research, science and technology including ICT in a modern concept in line with 21st century.

“The teachers themselves will be taught the use of ICT to facilitate training with digital touch screens. Cross River will lead the digital world. As we are driving agriculture as a leading state in agriculture, so are we going to take education to the zenith. I think that when I’m done, Cross Riverians will know that I came in prepared and that I had a clear idea of where I was coming from and where I’m going to. Nigerians will be surprised what we are going to produce out of this Institute,” Professor Ayade stressed.

As a sub-regional teachers retraining Institute that is poised to deliver quality, Its frontiers in terms of recruitment of lecturers will be widened to look beyond the shores of Nigeria.

“This school represents the whole essence of our being, that as professors, we want to deal with education from its roots and take us back to where Nigeria’s foundation was.

That’s why most of the lecturers that will come to teach here are not necessarily going to be Nigerians. Our target is competence, so whether they are Indians, Pakistanis, or Ghanaians or whatever country they come from provided they are the best in the subject matter, we will recruit them,” says the governor.

Cross River is the only state in Nigeria superintend by two professors as governor and deputy governor respectively. It is, therefore, not a huge surprise that accessing quality education is one of the top priorities of the Ayade administration. According to the governor, the classy TCTI which will start formal academic activities soon was geared towards revolutionising the teaching profession in Nigeria.

“I am a governor and a professor, my deputy is also a professor and we believe that the right thing to do is to deal with the issues of quality of teaching thoroughly.

We believe strongly that the educational system in Nigerian is almost collapsing, so Cross River State is beginning a renaissance.

That is why we are setting up this Teachers Continuous Training College (TCTI),” the governor informs.

In the sprawling TCTI which is about 75 per cent completed, there are a demonstration senior and junior secondary schools and an Amphitheatre for recreation for the teachers undergoing training or retraining as the case may be. There are also science labs for practicals. The idea of the demonstration secondary school and science labs within the College is to constantly subject the teachers to teaching practicals.

There are also tastefully designed hostels for the teachers, a luxurious duplex for the Provost and beautiful quarters for the lecturers. Meanwhile, the TCTI has already attracted the attention of the Governing Council and Management of National Teachers Institute (NTI). The Institute has declared its intention to train teachers from across the nation at the TCTI. The Director-General of NTI, Prof. Garba Azare made this known recently at the 6th meeting of the 8th Governing Council held recently in Abuja. He said the curriculum and design of TCTI fit the capacity-building model of NTI nationwide.

––Onyemaizu is Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to Governor Ayade.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL GLOBAL SOCCER SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

NEWS

EAGLES TRY BRAZIL FOR SIZE

12.10.2019

PAGE. 29

Ike Ugbo The New Super Eagles Bride

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Ike Ugbo tries to bully past an opponent

Ike Ugbo The New Super Eagles Bride Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;ĂŁ Ă&#x152;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă? ʨĂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ę°Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ě&#x2122; Ě&#x161; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ě&#x2039; Ă&#x2022;Ă? Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2122;ĂĄ ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ͺ͚Ě&#x2039;ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ě&#x2039;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; ĂŁĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC;

C

oming after Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s duo of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori decided to go the way of the Three Lions, the direction of the Nigeria Football Federation

has turned to yet another English player of Nigerian descent- Ike Ugbo, who has been impressing on loan in Holland, having scored five goals in eight matches for Roda JC. To show its seriousness about the 21-year-

old, Nigerian officials were at a game against Telstar on Friday night to watch Ugbo in action and are stepping up their interest in him.

Ugbo was born in Lewisham, South London and is eligible to play for Nigeria

through his parents, though he has played for England at U-17 and U-20 level, helping the latter squad win the 2017 Toulon Tournament.

Nigeria were dealt a blow last week when Ugboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stamford Bridge teammate

31

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁

GLOBAL SOCCER

Abraham was recalled to the England squad when they were hoping to persuade him to switch allegiance.

Prior to the 2018 World Cup qualifier matches, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick was optimistic of Abraham playing for the Super Eagles after having a fruitful discussion with the Chelsea striker.

“I had a very honest and productive discussion with Tammy and his father last week. It has been a long process but I can tell you authoritatively that he has agreed to play for Nigeria and not England.

Clearly, he understands he stands a better chance playing for the Super Eagles. With his talent, he has the ability to fight for a place in the Nigeria squad,” Pinnick had said.

Abraham, however, discounted the NFF boss’ claim, though he admitted having met with him.

“I can confirm I met the President of the NFF given he is a friend of my father.

However, any suggestion that I have made a decision to change my international representation is incorrect and wide off the mark. I have informed the FA that I remain available for selection for England,” Abraham said two years ago.

Earlier this year, however, the 22-year gave Nigeria soccer fans a slender hope

when he said in an interview with ACL Sports on the possibility of representing Nigeria.that: ‘’Anything is still possible.

I have not ruled it out completely but we will see!’’

Unlike his compatriot, Fikayo, who admitted that it wasn’t an easy decision to make concerning his international allegiance, Abraham’s comment after his England’s call-up showed that he never at any time thought of donning the green-white-green colours of Nigeria.

“It wasn’t England all the way,” Tomori told The Guardian of London. “I had certain people and certain things that I had to consider. I spoke to my family and people that I care about and that’s the decision I came to. So when England came calling, it was difficult to say no.

“England is obviously such a big nation, as well as Nigeria and Canada coming up, so I think I was going to be happy with whoever called me up, but it’s nice it is England.”

Abraham on his part said: “For me, it’s always nice to be wanted by two nations.

Clearly it means you’re doing something well. At the back of my head, I’ve always wanted to play for England. I was born and grown in England.

“My dream was always to play for Eng-

land. It doesn’t affect the fact Nigeria still wanted me, and it’s a big nation. I love both nations. My head was just screwed on with England.

“I’m here and I’m ready to stay. I want to do the best I can. That means playing well, for club and country. Just hopefully I can get many years experience under my belt for England.”

Now that it was obvious that NFF had all the while been on a wide goose chase on Abraham, attention has now been turned to Ugbo to stir the Super Eagles striking force.

Though Chelsea Manager, Frank Lampard never hid his desire to give academy products the chance to be part of his team, the 21-year-old centre-forward appears far from being in the Blues squad list for this season as he was dropped from the gaffer’s pre-season squad, meaning the youngster had to join a club where regular first team action will be guaranteed during the 2019-20 season.

The youngster had to follow the footsteps of Tomori and Abraham, who spent last season on loan at Derby County and Aston Villa respectively and only returned to Chelsea after their awe-inspiring showings for their respective clubs throughout last season.

Only last month Chelsea was considering

recalling Ugbo from his loan spell at Roda JC after he was not being paid his £38,000 wages by his Dutch club thanks to their shambolic Mexican investor.

But the former Eredivisie club want to use his wages to spread across the rest of the squad, instead of their star loanee.

Ugbo earns about 10 times what his team-mates take home and the coaches would rather have one angry unpaid player than several.

Ugbo was born on September 21, 1998, he began his career with Chelsea at U-10 level turning professional in 2015.

In 2017, Ugbo signed a season-long loan deal with Barnsley and on August 5, made his debut off the bench against Bristol City in a 3–1 loss. In January 2018, Ugbo’s loan spell with Barnsley was terminated, following a lack of game time.

The next day, he joined League One club Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the remainder of the season and made his debut for the club in a 0–1 third round FA Cup away victory over Queens Park Rangers.

He joined Scunthorpe United on loan in August 2018, and in the current season the striker headed to Holland to spend the season on loan at Roda JC in the Dutch second tier.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚ͺË&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

Kanu Nwankwo scored the goal that brought about the real rivalry between Brazil and Nigeria

Brazil Vs Nigeria

More Than a Friendly Encounter Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;äĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2013;ĂŁĂ&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ͺ͚ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x161; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; ͚ΠÎ&#x20AC;Î Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ?Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E; ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039; ËŞÎ Íž Ă&#x2013;ĂŁĂ&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014; ÍťĚ&#x2039;Íš Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;äĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; ÍźĚ&#x2039;ÍťË&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x17E;ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x17E;ĂĄĂ&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x201C;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2019;ĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁËŞĂ? Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x17E;ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;

F

rom the most expensive footballer in the world-Neymar to their COPA America winning captain Dani Alves, Brazil have left no one in doubt they are not in Singapore for a tea party.

The game is coming 23 years and a couple of months after Nigeria spectacularly ejected Brazil from the Centennial Olympic Games menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football tournament in Atlanta, Georgia at the semi final stage. It is also the last and icing on the cake of a two-match schedule for the fivetime world champions in Singapore, which begins with a clash with the Teranga Lions of Senegal on Thursday.

In spite of the array of stars at their disposal,

Paris Saint-Germainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brazil international defender Marquinhos has warned his side that they must work hard if they were to defeat Nigeria in Singapore on Sunday.

Marquinhos told the media that, Nigeria is one of the best teams on the continent and they are aware of the threat they poised. â&#x20AC;?We have to make a big game, impose our rhythm. They are very intense opponents, aggressive, with physical imposition and technical game too,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Paris Saint Germain defender also identified Victor Osimhen as Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most dangerous player ahead of Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international friendly between the two countries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria have very physical and skillful players. Osimhen has done well at Lille.

Virtually unknown before his transfer but now everyone knows him that shows he can be very dangerous. We have to put an eye on himâ&#x20AC;?, Marquinhos told reporters at the Brazil training base in Singapore.

Corroborating the Brazilian defenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position on Osimhen former Nigerian international, Henry Nwosu believes Osimhen has the potential to meltdown the defense of the Samba Boys. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am proud that we have a quality striker in Victor Osimhen who has been banging in the goals for Lille in the French League,â&#x20AC;?

Nwosu told Soccernet.ng â&#x20AC;&#x153;Playing in his first season, Osimhen has shown his determination to achieve greatness and I am glad heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in good form to face Brazil

in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international friendly encounter in Singapore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No doubt, he will cause all sorts of problems for the Brazilian defenders regardless of their experience. He has what it takes to shoot down the Brazilians and further put himself in the spotlight of the round leather game.

Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assistant Coach Cleber Xavier however picked Alex Iwobi as the most dangerous player in the current Super Eagles team, saying the Everton man plays more of an inside role as a second striker. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At Nigeria, Iwobi plays more of an inside role as a second striker than at Everton. He is the link in the counter attack, drags opponents out of position and infiltrates well in the box,â&#x20AC;? stressed Xavier.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁

33

GLOBAL SOCCER Super Eagles Roll Call GOALKEEPERS

Francis Uzoho (Omonia) Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland) Emil Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf) DEFENDERS

Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor) Chidozie Awaziem (Leganes) William Ekong (Udinese) Tyronne Ebuehi (SL Benfica) Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn) Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Brom) MIDFIELDERS

Alexander Iwobi (Everton) Anderson Esiti (PAOK Salonica) Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City) Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers) Ramon Azeez (Granada FC) FORWARDS

Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC) Moses Simon (FC Nantes) Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC) Super Eagles pose for a group photograph on their aarrival in Singapore

“Nigeria defend less than Africa’s topmost team, Senegal. The Senegalese are more about positioning with Idris Gueye marking strongly,” Xavier told BBC. Despite playing 72 hours ahead of Nigeria match Chukwueze believes the CopaAmerica kings have enough quality to give Nigeria a good game come match day.

“That’s a big game to look forward to in Singapore and I think it’s going to be a tough match,” the Villarreal forward noted, even as he was quick to add. “I don’t know how it’s going to be but I’m confident we are going to make our country proud because everybody is going to look up to this game.

“It’s going to be a tough game but everybody would see what we are made of when we play against Brazil. I believe this set of Super Eagles is very good; it’s not just that we are good but we are committed. “We have the fighting spirit to do everything possible to remain one of the best teams in the world and I think we are going to do well against Brazil,” Chukwueze said.

Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Kanu Nwankwo has said the Super Eagles are under pressure to give a good performance when they meet Brazil in Singapore.

Kanu who stars in Nigeria’s 4-3 famous victory over in Brazilians back in 1996, Atlanta Olympic games, opined that Nigerian football fans want to see the Gernot Rohr’s squad give the Brazilians a good run for their money.

“There is a lot of pressure because everybody loves football, they don’t want to hear that Nigeria went to a game and lost.”

“I don’t think people will really appreciate the boys if they lost in a friendly game, that’s how it is here. The boys have to take it on board and ensure that every game they play, they have to do well.”

The two-time African footballer of the year also advised Rohr and his boys to take the game to the Brazilians and give a World Cup final performance, because of the rivalry that exists between both sides.

“Playing against Brazil will show the level of football they are playing and where they are, and if they can beat Brazil, the confidence and belief of the boys will grow.”

“And for me, it’s always tough when Nigeria and Brazil play each other; whoever will represent us should know it’s not a friendly game.” He concluded.

Super Eagles arrived Singapore on Wednesday and the Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, said in a statement announcing the list of invited players said. “All invited players were expected to arrive in Singapore on Wednesday, October 9.”

Efosa Solomon-Otabor (CSKA Sofia) Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk) Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge) Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Prague) SELECAO ROLL CALL GOALKEEPERS

Ederson (Manchester City) Weverton (PalmeirasBrasil) Santos ( Athletico-PR Brasil) DEFENDERS

Daniel Alves (Sao Paulo) Danilo ( Juventus) Alex Sandro (Juventus) Renan Lodi (Atletico de Madrid) Thiago Silva (PSG) Rohr... Faces Samba test

Marquinhos (PSG) Eder Militao (Real Madrid) Rodrigo Caio (Flamengo) MIDFIELDERS

Casemiro (Real Madrid) Arthur Melo (Barcelona) Fabinho (Liverpool) Henrique (Gremio) Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich) Lucas Paqueta (Milan) FORWARDS

Everton (Gremio) Firmino (Liverpool) Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo) Richarlison (Everton) Tite... Will Map Super Eagles Fall

Neymar Jr (PSG) Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

Nigerian coaching crew led by Gernot Rohr and the rest of the 23 players invited converged at Fairmont Hotel on Wednesday, and the team had their first training section on Thursday.

Brazil defeated the Super Eagles 3-0 the last time both teams met in a friendly encounter in 2003 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Sunday’s game which is billed to hold at the Singapore National Stadium, Kallang will kick-off at 1 pm Nigerian time.

Singaporean Jansen Foo has been appointed as referee for the prestige international friendly match. Foo will be assisted by compatriots Abdul Hannan (assistant referee 1), Ong Chai Lee (assistant referee 2) and G. Letchman (fourth official).

Neymar... Brazil Poster boy

34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹΁

GLOBAL SOCCER

Top Class Sparring Boosts Joshua’s Bid to Win Rematch with Ruiz Jr

A

nthony Joshua has revamped his sparring with new and improved partners ahead of his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua “struggled” to identify appropriate sparring partners before his defeat to Ruiz Jr, who replaced original opponent Jarrell Miller, according to Hearn.

But it has been a key area of focus before the second fight with Ruiz Jr on December 7, with the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on the line.

“We’ve got that under control,” Hearn told Sky Sports about recruiting sparring partners

for Joshua.

“Sparring is something we’ve been working at. First time around we only had four weeks, and three weeks of sparring. We found guys but probably not the guys we really wanted.

“Now the sparring is top class. He is focused and looking great. Eight weeks to go.

“We’re not interested in looking at Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or anything else. It’s just about winning one of the biggest heavyweight events of all time.”

Joshua denied rumours that he had been knocked down in sparring before the first Ruiz Jr fight, and told AJ: The Untold Truth about his frustrations.

Speaking about previous sparring partners Joshua said: “I feel like people are more interested in their five minutes of fame.

“Even in sparring, everyone wants to be famous, rather than a good fighter.

“You can’t even enjoy your training and work on things without someone trying to make up false allegations, and trying to get five minutes of fame.

“You bring someone into your training camp to do them a favour, you’re paying them, nothing like [the knock-down rumour] in that nature has happened, you beat them up in every round, then they go and do an interview.

“It just happens all the time in boxing, there is just a lot of envy.”

Hearn previously explained: “It’s so difficult to replicate the style of Andy Ruiz. The guy is 6’1”, he’s 19st, and he’s got speed like a middleweight.

“It’s one thing getting a sparring partner in, it’s getting them to let their hands go against Anthony Joshua. Would you want to do it?

You’ve got to be mad to even spar with him, let alone fight him.

“Last time we tried to get the sparring in, we struggled a little bit, no excuses, but this time around the preparation has got to be spot on.”

International Pairs

Tukur, Ajibade Win, to Represent Nigeria in Portugal With a combined score of 76-points over two days, the team ofAjibadeAdeyinka and Raji Tukur stole the show at the national finals of this year’s International Pairs competition which holed out at the Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort on Sunday.

The duo defeated over 50 other pairs who took part in the two-day competition.

With the victory, Ajibade and Tukur would be representing Nigeria at the World Finals of International Pairs in Portugal in November. The team will enjoy an all expense paid trip to the world finals.

Excited by the honour of representing Nigeria, the duo promise to be worthy representatives saying they would work hard to make Nigeria proud among over 30-other countries that would take in the Portugal finals.

While describing their success as a good example of partnership that works, Ajibade said, “Everything worked in our favour this week. We were calm and the gods of golf was also with us. We were on the course for each other. That

partnership was what gave us victory,”. .

Also speaking¸ Tukur added, “This is the best golf I have ever played in my life.

My partner was my backbone. Honestly, I can’t ask for a better partner”.

Okey Igwe former Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club also made history at the event shooting his first ever hole-in-one in a competitive event. It was also the first to be recorded in the Six year history of International Pairs in Nigeria.

While thanking every participant for their spirit of sportsmanship, International Pairs representative in Nigeria Remi Olukoya, said he will continue to work hard to improve on the quality of the tournament.

“We are not stopping here; we will continue to work hard to improve on the quality of the tournament. This year we have learnt something new”, he said.

The monthlong competition was supported by NCDMB, AirFranceKLM, CAP Plc, makers of Dulux Paint, Doll Designs, RwandAir, Ibom Air, UAC Foods and several Individuals.

L-R: International Pairs winners; Ajibade Adeyinka and Raji Tukur displaying the trophy they won at the national final of International in Uyo over the weekend

DStv, GOtv to Show Brazil-Nigeria Match Live Tomorrow DStv and GOtv subscribers will have front row seats this Sunday when Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on five-time world champions Brazil in an international friendly.

The kick-off time for the encounter is 1:00 pm (NigeriaTime) on Sunday, on channel 227 for DStv subscribers and channel 37 for GOtv customers. The Nigerian friendly match is exclusive to SuperSport.

The Super Eagles will face Brazil in an international friendly to prepare the team ahead of November’sAfrican Cup

of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho.

In the last meeting between these two sides in Abuja, the Brazil beat the Super Eagles by 3-0 The Super Eagles will be looking to prove their mettle this time around. Gernot Rohr’s men are yet to lose any of their last four friendly matches.

Brazil had earlier played Senegal in an international friendly in Singapore on Thursday in the build-up to the match against the Super Eagles but were held to a 1-1 draw by Aliou Cisse’s men.

180 Schools Jostle for Honours at Lagelu Relay Race Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

One hundred and eighty private and public secondary schools from Oyo and neighbouring states, are set to participate in the third Lagelu FM Inter-Secondary School Relay Race competition for students under 15 years.

According to the organisers, the event slated for between October17and19, attheUniversity of Ibadan Sports Complex, is essentially a grassroots race with the objective of discovering and nurturing athletes for major national and international events.

Events to be featured in the competition include 100m, 4x100m,4x200m,4x400mmixed race and 4x100 (hurdles).

The General Manager (Operations), West Midland Communications, operators of two radio station based in Ibadan, Lagelu FM and Splash FM, Mr.TundeOlawuwo,while speaking at a press conference to herald the competition, said it wasadevelopmentalavenuefor young talents to be discovered.

While lauding the Oyo State government for sponsoring the competition, he said some of the goodies available for grab as a meansofencouragingtheyoung athletes include scholarship, school equipment, teaching and academic materials aside from medals and trophies.

OthersponsorsincludeSumal Foods, Fan Milk, Living Proof Bakery & Supermarket and Kayrom Lee Fitness Center.

R-L: Leslie Oghomienor, Chairman, Blaugrana Group making a presentation to Bernat Villa, Pioneer Technical Director, Barca Academy Nigeria

Villa, Former Nigeria Barca Academy Coordinator Moved to USA Bernat Villa, pioneer technical director, BarcaAcademy Nigeria, has been appointed the coordinatingtechnicaldirectorforthewhole of United States ofAmerica . This elevation by the global body - FC Bercelona, is informed by his ability and passionate drive to see to the birth of the amazing projects conceptualised by the promoters and visioners of the Academy in Nigeria, acclaimed to be elitist and the best in Nigeria and first in sub-Saharan Africa, led by Leslie Oghomienor , chairman , Blaugrana Group International , the facilitators of the project in Nigeria, launched barely three years ago in Lagos, in a global cultural fiesta like well attended opening ceremony, with highly placed executive presence.

Though seen as elitist, theAcademy, which started at the Teslim BalogunStadium,Surulere Lagos,

now has two additional facilities in Children International School, LekkiandCoronaSchool,Gbagda, the Elite 96 Scholarship Project initiated in the in first year for exceptional and gifted children irrespective of their background, istheAcademy‘swaytogiveback.

She has gone on several foreign trips and with a population of over 150 students and has won manytrophiesofwhichneitherthe AmericansnortheEuropeanshave won. The BarcaAcademy Nigeria successeshavebecomearolemodel and a spur for other Academies worldwide.

Inachatwiththemedia,recently, after a send forth dinner for a select few, in his honour in Lagos, the overwhelmed and joyous Villa, told the media that without the visionary direction and sound uncommon passion and endurable ideas of the team leader Leslie

Oghomienor, the technical team which he led would not have achieved much.

He further explained that Nigeria is his second home and he would always look forward to seeing his children - the amiable pioneer students of theAcademy, whoseparents,were boldenough, to take the first step of faith, trusting in the drivers of the project’s confidence to deliver.

‘I have travelled far and wide, training young and very young people, but have discovered that the Nigerian child is exceptional in energy, skills and talent, and proper honing is all he needs to live his dream and make Nigeria tallverytallinthespheresconcern,’ he stated.

Headdedthat,‘“Nigeriaisavery beautifulcountry.Verywellblessed richdiverseresourcesifarticulately harness would make truly the gi-

ant she is in the community of the highly recognise super nation in the global arena. ‘ In his response, Oghomienor was delighted that in such a short period the Academy has made tremendous impact both locally and internationally because of the technical team led by Bernat Villa, passionatetotalcommitmenttothe cause,andhisuncommonhumane love for children who are missing him already .

‘His success here is what informedhiselevation.Inthisweare veryproud.Thisisaclearindicator that we have walked a few good milesawayfromourpointwetook off three years ago. We are very grateful to alł our stakeholders,’ he stressed.

It was also revealed that Academy’s new season barely a few weeks ago in all the three facilities in Lagos.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚ͺË&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î

35

GLOBAL SOCCER

Efosa Solomon-Otabor

Efosa Solomon-Otabor

Set to Take His Chance with Selecao? Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x153;Ă?ĂĄ Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x17E;ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;äĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ?Ă Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; ʨĂ&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2013;

Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x; Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ě&#x2039; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x;â Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ě&#x2039; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ě&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x153;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;ËŁ

T

hough CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria winger Viv Efosa SolomonOtabor had severally expressed his desire to play for Nigeria in spite of being eligible to star for England-his country of birth but Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr has never looked at his direction.

His dream however came to pass after injury to Bordeaux of France winger, Samuel Kalu knocked him out of the party to the National Stadium, Singapore-venue of the Brazil versus Nigeria clash on Sunday and Solomon-Otabor was invited as his replacement.

The London-born winger currently plies his trade in the Bulgarian Professional Football League for CSKA Sofia and has featured in seven league games for them this season.

Solomon-Otabor, who offers pace and aggression on the flanks can make his international debut when the Super Eagles square up against five-times world champion, Brazil in Singapore on Sunday.

The 23-year-old has roots to former Super Eagles player Thompson Oliha, who is his uncle.

The Winger was born in London to parents originally from Edo State. Victor-Banks Otabor, his

father, played for Bendel Insurance before moving abroad.

The energetic winger has played for Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool and Oxford City in the past.

In 2018, he was offered a chance to play for the England U-21 team after coach Aidy Boothroyd called him up for the 2019 UEFA European U-21 Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Scotland but declined the opportunity.

He is a right footed forward who can operate as a central striker or on either of the wide areas. He is adapting well at in the Bulgarian Professional Football League where his explosive pace is a useful weapon.

Solomon-Otaborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only individual award was when he won the Birmingham City Young Player of the Season in 2016.

His pace and aggression on the flanks adding to his technical ability have won him praises from several coaches who have tutored him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take decision alone. I have discussed with my parents if the Nigeria Football Federation contacts me to play. But for now, I am ready. My parents want me to represent Nigeria and that is what I will do.â&#x20AC;? The CSKA Sofia star declared his readiness to defend

the colours of the three-time Africa champions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to be a patriotic and a committed footballer who will never turn his back on the nation when given the opportunity to play for the good people of Nigeria. I believe I have what it takes to make the most out of the opportunity when afforded one. I am ever ready to represent my beloved country should I be invited by the technical handlers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know the competition for places in the squad wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easy but I am a fighter whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always prepared for a battle and I believe I can thrive under the charges of coach Gernot Rohr because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tactical genius who can easily bring the best out of any player.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;My parents have always helped me to trace my roots and it will be their wish to see me play for Nigeria,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Solomon-Otabor was indeed invited to train with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football Olympic team in 2015.

The player, however, said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elated by the call-up and promised to do his best to stay in the team for a long time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is an honour for me and I am very happy for the call-up,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will learn a lot from the senior players in the team and if am given the opportunity I will definitely

give my best.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is not easy to make it into the National team so I am very happy for the invitation.â&#x20AC;?

How much the London-born winger his able to warm himself in training and match proper (if featured) to the Franco-German Super Eagles tactician remains to be seen.

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

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

Ě&#x201C;

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t 0$50#&3 , 2019

FAIRGROUND Kenny Blaq, Small Doctor, 9ice, Others Perform At SB Live in Vibe Concert

N

igerian contemporary live musician, Seun Bankole, popularly known as S.B Live recently signed an international deal with one of the top music promoters in the United States of America, Treidak Entertainment, recently stunned the city of Lagos with an amazing live band concert titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;SB Live In Vibeâ&#x20AC;?. The event, which took place at the Haven Center GRA, Ikeja Lagos on the October 6, was a full package of fun ranging from music, comedy, dance and most especially live band.

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

The concert was graced with huge Nigerian celebrity, performers and other diginities such as wife of former Lagos State Gover, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Kenny Blaq, Small Doctor, 9ice, Mr Real, Woli Arole, Bash, The Angels, Jigan, Peteru, Mama No Network, Mc Smile among others.

SB Live is a yearly concert, which already gained some sort of prominence in the states after having a successful US tour titled SB Live 2019 US which covered about nine states in the United States before returning back to Nigeria.

Congratulations to Seun Bankole and The Band.

9ice

L-R: Former First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, Seun Bankole and Mrs. Olabisi Labode

Seun Bankole

Small Doctor

L-R: Wole and Shola Fajobi

L-R: Seun Bankole, Akin Sugar and a guest

L-R: Bisola Fagade, Steve Ayorinde and Biodun Kupoluyi

Kenny Blaq

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t 0$50#&3 , 2019

FAIRGROUND

Sunlight Set to Empower More Women

W

ith the urbanisation rate of Nigeria at 4.3%, according to the African Population Studies, women living in rural areas lack access to decent nutrition, health, and social services.

However, Sunlight has stepped in to drive women empowerment towards improving the lives and wellbeing of Nigerian women. One of the ways these women are reached is through the “Shakti", a businessinclined women empowerment programme where Unilever products are provided for these women to start petty trading.

These products serve as start-up capital which these women use to increase/start their trade and provide for their families.

Over 3000 women have benefitted from the Shakti Programme, with an earnings growth of more than 400% and they are extending the support to other women in their network. Sunlight’s purpose bid to empower women are practical and direct.

In 2019, Sunlight also collaborated with Style House Files, the conveners of Lagos Fashion Week and through their Fashion Focus Fund supported two young female designers, Chechi Arinze and Titi Bello with the sum of N2, 000, 000 each towards the growth of their businesses. They were chosen for their passion and work towards empowering other designers; which is aligned with Sunlight’s purpose. subSaharan Africa’s fashion market is worth $31 billion with Nigeria accounting for 15% of that at $4.7 billion.

Cross-section of women given Sunlight products

Regardless of these numbers, an average Nigerian designer finds it difficult to get capital to start or scale up due to the challenges that fashion entrepreneurs face, including being taken as seriously as other start-ups from other industries such as tech

and agriculture.

Continuing to empower women through fashion, Sunlight will be the official cosponsor of Lagos Fashion Week 2019. For this partnership two designers Vathiswa

by Keji and Zurizola Woman by Chibuzor,

who train other women at SHF’s Fashion Focus Funds, have been chosen to make and showcase a Sunlight collection at the Lagos Fashion Week 2019 where all sales proceeds go back to the designers to grow their businesses.

Danny S Experience to Embark on Tour of Nigerian Campuses

AfriSAFE Award Organisers to Host Night of Glitz and Glamour

EGE crooner, Danny S, still basking in the euphoria of his widely accepted records, is putting out some of the hottest street pop songs back to back since he came up the music radar.

Marinating in the massive success the most recent of them, which happens to be a freestyle "Fo Kuli" that went viral on arrival, he has decided to tour round some major tertiary institutions across Nigeria, including Kwara State University, Lead City University, Lagos State University, Obafemi Awolowo University among others.

The campus tour tagged: “The Danny S Experience” will also feature an array industry's heavyweight like; Small Doctor, Mr Real, Oladips, Jaywon, Lyta, Wale Turner, Barry Jhay, Rayce, Lil Frosh, Qdot Alagbe, Chinko Ekun, Dotman entertaining the students.

Danny S is using the opportunity to appreciate his fans across Nigerian campuses, bringing electrifying and breathtaking musical, comedy and dance performance to their doorsteps on campus.

In his words: "The demographic of people who listen and support my music are on campus, so am using this opportunity to bond and interact with them, using music as a bait of communication. It's going to be a loud one, as we hope to make the students have a good time".

The Danny S Experience Campus Tour is packaged Danny S

by Twelve02 Media and Playmode Music.

More than 300 industry leaders from four African regions will be treated to a night of glitz and glamour in an event that will celebrate excellence in health, safety, environment and wellbeing initiatives in Africa.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HSENations, organisers of AfriSAFE Award, Mr. Femi Da -Silva, said that in a continent like Africa where health and safety both in private and public sector is a big challenge, the African safety award for excellence, AfriSAFE will extol and project the silent but excellent work that organisations and safety practitioners are doing.

"AfriSAFE is an annual award project that is committed to celebrating the best of health and safety conscious organisation, professionals and practitioners alike and their achievements in keeping our facilities and lives safe.

Covering all specialties of Health, Safety, Environment and Wellbeing practices, AfriSAFE aims to be the biggest unifying industry catalyst in Africa, recognising exceptional professionalism, rewarding excellence and raising awareness on hazards and the control of risk" , he said.

The CEO explained that the event, which is slated for November 8th at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, will be a fun night to share,

Singer, Kaha Unveils New Career Moves A US-based Nigerian artiste, Emmanuel Nzemeke popularly known as Kaha has been working on a new set of music, which is set to release soon.

Famed for his hit song, HeartRobber featuring 2Baba, the singer relocated few years ago where he now divides his interests between music, showbiz promotion and a car dealership business. Few weeks ago, his Enzee Entertainment outfit successfully hosted African Musik Festival at Center Stage Theatre in midtown, Atlanta.

The show, which was headlined Davido, which held few days ago,

was witnessed by a capacity-filled hall comprising a mixed-race crowd. The hot line-up include Dremo, Danagog, Kobazzie, Kelvin Boj, Morientez, Tyra Meral, Cyrus Deshield, Maleke and Fisum T. According to Kaha, “I have spent most of my evenings recording songs in my home studio and looking to drop a single soon (Only You). I have plans to drop a few singles and videos set to be out as soon as the project is completed. I have an auto dealership company here in the United States.

(Enzee Autos). We buy and sell cars within the United States and also ship

to Africa.”

Explaining the idea behind the music fiesta, he said: “The idea behind Africa Muzik Festival is actually to showcase and promote Africa music and dance to the western world. It brings together people of different colors and backgrounds in celebration of the African Culture and variety.”

“The event will typically cover time frames of two to three months through a one-year period in different states of the United States to assist in moving gradually towards its longer term goals,” he added.

Kaha

Femi Da -Silva

learn and network. It will be compared by ace comedian SeyiLaw and co-hosted by Ugochi Obidiegwu also known as ‘the Safety Chic and Amazing Adeboyin.

Among our top awardees who had confirmed attendance is the Founder of Juli Plc and Chairman of MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi who would be honoured for his contribution to the growth and development of Health, Safety, Environment and Wellbeing in Africa.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t 0$50#&3 , 2019

38

AUTO Withdrawal of Logistics Vehicles Disrupts NIPOST Mail Network for 6 Days

L-R: Group General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde; Managing Director, Coscharis Mobility (Sixt), Mr. Christian Chigbundu; Sector Commander, FRSC, Lagos, CC Hyginus Omeje; and Head of Finance, Coscharis Mobility (Sixt), Mr. Olaleke Oyeniran, at the Media announcement of the Coscharis Mobility Driving Academy in Lagos ... yesterday

Coscharis MobilityTurns 6, Opens Driving Academy, to Begin Haulage with 50 new FordTrucks Stories by Bennett Oghifo

C

oscharis Mobility Limited, a subsidiary of the Coscharis Group and the exclusive representative of the globallyrespectedlogisticsbrand,Sixt GlobalMobility,inNigeria,yesterday, unveiled plans to play a major role in the haulage business.

ManagingDirector,CoscharisMobility(SixtRentals), Mr.ChristianChigbundu,unveiledtheplansinLagos while speaking on some milestones recorded so far within the six years of existence of the company.

“In 2020, our company will play major role in the haulage industry in Nigeria as we partner with our parentcompanyinleasingFORDTRUCK;thenumber 1 truck in Europe and the United States of America.

These trucks are brand new as safety is guaranteed.

When leased, clients will have to pay monthly lease rentals,” Chigbundu said at the event organised as part of the company’s Annual National Conference

(ANC). He said 50 brand new trucks would be rolled out, initially, even as he disclosed that some corporate customers in the haulage industry had already keyed into the plan as a way of phasing out their old fleet of trucks.

ThedisclosurecameastheLagosSectorCommander, FederalRoadSafetyCorps(FRSC),Mr.HygenusOmeje, who was a special guest at the occasion, called for institutional support for fleet owners in the country to help them access funds to replace their old trucks because of the huge funds involved.

Omeje, who lauded Coscharis Mobility’s plan for the haulage industry, said injecting brand new trucks intothesectorthroughthearrangementwouldsurely help in reducing accidents on our highways caused by old and faulty trucks.

Maintaining that both Coscharis Mobility Limited and Sixt Nigeria came into existence in 2014 with a clear vision of creating value by making a change in the transport and logistics industry in the country, the Coscharis Mobility boss said, “We have over

the years shown that business can be done by best practices in international standard notwithstanding the environmental challenges which we at Coscharis Mobilityhasturnedintoopportunitiestodelivervalue for money.”

Listingserviceswherehiscompanyhasexcelledinthe fewyearsofexistencetoincludeshortandmediumterm car rental service, long term car rental, short and long termleases,fleetmanagementandconsulting,haulage andsupplychainmanagementaswellasoutsourcing and human resource consulting, Chigbundu added that, “We have also, in few years of operation opened offices in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Uyo, Enugu, Kano with other branches to be rolled out in 2020.”

AccordingtoChigbundu,“Knowingtheimportance oflogisticsintourism/hospitalityindustry,SixtNigeria has the highest hotel locations in Nigeria operating from the following hotels: Four Points by Sheraton, Raddison Blue Hotel, Oriental Hotel, Legend Hotel, Le Meridian Hotel, with other locations to be added in 2020.”

Babajide Sanwo Olu Flags-off Pilot of UberBOATin Lagos

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overnor of Lagos; Babajide Sanwo Olu was the special guest of honor and “rider zero,” as Uber, yesterday, announced its pilot of UberBOAT in Lagos.

The event which took place at the Lagos State WaterwaysAuthority complex at the Five Cowries Jetty Falomo, also had Governor Sanwo Olu take a ride on the newly unveiled UberBOAT. Speaking during a media parley, the Governor said, “The last couple of years have seen the Lagos State Governmentcommittobuildingupinfrastructurethat supportsmulti-modaltransportation,whichincludes water transport. We collaborated with Uber on this because of the shared vision to utilize the waterways more as a means of decongesting the city. We remain excited at the prospect of scaling this initiative up and taking it further.

“Lagos State Government has embarked on a transformation agenda that has traffic management and mobility as key focus areas” said Dr, Frederic Oladeinde; Commissioner for Transport in Lagos State. UberBOAT presents a unique opportunity to help improve mobility in the state by ramping up on water transportation as a means of getting people from point A to B” he concluded.

“We are piloting UberBOAT as a service that is focused on moving people from point A to point B via the Lagos waterways” said Lola Kassim; General Manager West Africa, Uber. Speaking further she said: “In this phase, the service will be available between the Five Cowries and Ikorodu Jetties. We are aware of the man hours and productivity that are lost every day due to vehicular traffic in Lagos State and are looking at ways to provide commuters with an easy and affordable way to get in and out of the city’s business districts. With UberBOAT, riders can leave their cars at home and instead utilize the waterways as a means of getting around faster and with less stress.”

Onhispart,DamilolaEmmanuel;ManagingDirector Lagos State WaterwaysAuthority said: “At LASWA, our mission is to develop the waterways in Lagos State as a means of giving the people of this great city more efficient options to get around. Because

L-R: Tayo Oyegunle; Country Manager Nigeria, Uber Dr. Frederic Oladeinde; Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Babajide Sanwo Olu; Governor of Lagos State and Oyinade Osobajo; Marketing Manager West Africa, Uber at the demo of the booking process, during the launch of UberBOAT in Lagos ... yesterday UberBOAT utilizes technology, then it means that the efficiency we seek is achieved, and we are able to bring the service to even more people within the city.”

Speaking on the collaboration between Uber and LASWA, Tayo Oyegunle, Uber Country Manager for Nigeria said: “Uber first launched in Lagos, Nigeria in 2014 with the Lagos State Government being a key stakeholder. Over the last several years, we’ve built lasting partnerships with public transportation agencies around the world, because we understand howimportantitistobuildonregulatoryframeworks that modern cities provide. LASWA’s vision is to transform Lagos into a Model city with world class inland waterways infrastructure and services that help expand and improve access to urban mobility.

We believe our app can help ensure this vision is brought to more people of Lagos State.”

There are two ways to book a trip on UberBOAT;

the pre-booking which is 24 hours before, or on the day of the trip. For the former, riders can click on t.uber.com/bookuberboat to reserve a seat on the boat, and will thereafter receive a confirmation that secures their spot. The second option is to arrive at the jetty on the day of the trip, 30 minutes before cruise time, open the Uber App, select UberBOAT and input either the pick up or drop off points. A PIN will then be generated which is used to secure the riders spot on the boat.

Uber’s mission is to help people get a ride at the push of a button - everywhere and for everyone.

We started in 2009 to solve a simple problem - how do you get a ride at the touch of a button? Six years and over five billion trips later, we’ve started tackling an even greater challenge: reducing congestion and pollution in our cities by getting more people into fewer cars.

Nationwide distribution of mail, parcels and cargo by the Nigeria Postal service (NIPOST) which collapsed on Monday following the withdrawal of logistics vehicles by the agency’s private operator-partners over non-payment for services rendered over many months, remains paralysed six days after.

It was learnt that the deadlock is as a result of the inability of both parties to reach a way-out agreement at the negotiation table.

NIPOST relies on the collaboration with no fewer than10privatesectorpartnerswhoprovidebuilt-up trucks needed for the daily distribution of mail and parcels to all parts of the country.

However, the mail and parcel haulers embarked on an indefinite strike Monday morning following fruitless attempts to get NIPOST management to clear arrears of payments for services which have run into four months.

It was learnt that the notice issued to the organisation over the outstanding charges expired Sunday night with no attempt made by the management to convince the operators not to withdraw their vehicleswhichconstituteavitallinkinthedischarge of NIPOST’s core mandate of efficient and timely mail movement across the country AttheShomoluzonalmaildistributionhubyesterday, some of the trucks painted in the organisation’s official colours were parked in the premises with no trucking-related activity going on.

The operators could not be reached for their comments as at the time of going to press..

Whencontactedonphone,NIPOSTChiefOperating Officer, Mrs. Lorretto Nwakanma, would not volunteeranycomment,butratherreferredthecaller to the Corporate Communications Manager, who she later assured would revert with information on the development.

Also contacted on phone, the General Manager of NIPOST’s Mail Route Network, Mr. Yalpilami, confirmed that the 10 transport companies collaborating with the organisation in the mail movement partnership, commenced a nationwide strike Monday, but declined further comments.

“Of course, they have withdrawn their services, but that is all I can tell you. To get any further information, you have to contact our headquarters in Abuja. I am not in a position to give you the information you are asking for,” Yalpilami said.

Some concerned observers who reacted to the collapse of the nationwide mail route network following the action of the private logistics companies, spoke of injurious consequences on business transactions and the economy generally.

Stakeholders Gear-up for NAJA’s 2019 Automotive, Transport Award Preparations for the 2019 Edition of the Nigerian Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), Awards slated to hold December 12, 2019 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The NAJA annual awards is put together to recognise corporate stakeholders’ organisations and other automotive products and ancillary products like tyre brands , lubricants and individuals that are adjudged to have relatively stood out among other competitors in their respective segments in the country’s auto industry within the year.

The annual awards also remains the only authentic industry event in the country that involves all the motoring journalists in Nigeria drawn from the print, electronic and online media in the voting process.

According to the organisers, one of the high points of the awards is in the Car-Of-The-Year (COTY) award category.

Other segments of awards are Luxury Car of the Year, Heavy Duty Truck of The Year, Auto Plant of the Year, CEO Of The Year, Auto Personality Of The Year and CSR Company Of The Year, Pick-up of the Year, Showroom of the Year and many others.

New additions to the awards segments this year, which include Super Luxury Car of The Year, Online Auto Marketing Platform of The Year and Motorbile Taxi Service of The Year.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t 0$50#&3 , 2019

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AUTO

Mercedes-Benz Posts new Record, Best-ever Third Quarter Poland, Denmark and Hungary.

Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 88,676 vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region last month (+17.6%). Sales in the first nine months of the year totalled 731,279 units (+2.3%), so new records were achieved in both September and in that period. The Stuttgart-based company with the star also set new sales records in its core market of China in both September and the year todate:61,664carsweredeliveredlastmonth(+12.9%) and 525,890 units were sold since the beginning of the year, an increase of 5.0%. Furthermore, the past three months were the best quarter of all time in China with 181,233 units sold (+12.9%). From January to September, more Mercedes-Benz vehicles than ever before were delivered in South Korea, Vietnam and Singapore.

Sales in the NAFTAregion grew for the third month in succession with 31,819 units sold (+1.7%). In the coremarketoftheUnitedStates,salesalsoincreasedto 27,433 vehicles of Mercedes-Benz (+4.8%). In the year to September, sales thus continued to approach the previous year’s volume (-0.5%). Deliveries in Canada also increased last month.

Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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ercedes-Benz achieved a new September record last month with 223,838 vehicles sold worldwide (+10.4%).

From July to September, a total of 590,514 cars with the three-pointed star were sold, which is the best third quarter in the company’s history (+12.2%). Within just three months, Mercedes-Benz also reversed its sales trend since the beginning of 2019. In the year to September, deliveries increased by 0.6% to a total of 1,725,243 vehicles. The segment of compact cars was one of the key drivers: new sales records with double-digit growth rates were achieved from January to September as well as in the month. The established C-, E- and S-Class Saloons also posted sales increases worldwide in September. Since the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz maintained its market leadership in the premium segment in markets including Germany, UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland,Portugal,Denmark,Turkey,SouthKorea, Japan,Australia,Thailand,Canada,RepublicofSouth Africa and other markets.

“We have posted the best-ever third quarter for Mercedes-Benz – a strong team performance of which we are extremely proud, especially in these challenging times,” said Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. “In the year-end spurt, we want to further consolidate our ambition to remain the world’s leading premium

Mercedes-Benz S-Class automobile brand. Despite the highly competitive environment, we assume that Mercedes-Benz retail unit sales will increase slightly in the full year.”

Mercedes-Benzunitsalesbyregionandmarket IntheEuroperegion,99,092Mercedes-Benzvehicles were handed over to customers last month (+8.2%).

Unit sales since beginning of this year rose for the first time in this region in 2019, with 692,533 units representing an increase of 0.5%. In the core market

of Germany, double-digit growth was achieved for the third consecutive month and a total of 28,397 cars with the star were delivered (+24.7%). From January to September, 228,737 vehicles of the Stuttgart-based companywiththestarweredeliveredinthedomestic market(+5.0%).Despiteachallengingmarketenvironment, Mercedes-Benz was able to increase slightly its unit sales in the United Kingdom once again in September. Since the beginning of the year, new sales recordshavebeensetinFrance,Belgium,Switzerland,

Mercedes-Benz unit sales by model More than 72,700 units of the A- and B-Class, CLA Coupe,CLAShootingBrakeandGLAweredelivered last month – more compact cars than in any month before(+17.7%).InadditiontothenewA-ClassSaloon, the new B-Class and the new CLACoupe have been key drivers for the growth of the compact models, especially in Europe. Both models, the B-Class and the CLA Coupe, achieved significant double-digit sales growth in Europe last month.

Lexus Offers Customers new Value, Technology, Sportiness

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exus is offering ES 300h customers a new standard of value, technology and sportiness, more than doubling grade availability in the luxury sedan range.

Customers interested in the ES 300h Luxury will be provided with greater choice, thanks to a newly added ES 300h Luxury with Enhancement Pack that delivers expanded and indulgent features previously reserved for the flagship grade.

For the first time in Australia, customers can then step to the new ES 300h F Sport offering select style and suspension upgrades, and the ES 300h F Sport with Enhancement Pack adding further impressive specification.

The trio of new grades fit neatly between the existing ES 300h Luxury and flagship ES 300h Sports Luxury, growing the number of available variants from two to five.

The ES 300h Luxury - priced from $60,4881 now benefits from the standard adoption of an intelligent clearance sonar with four sensors mounted across the front bumper, and Apple CarPlay®2 and Android™3 Auto compatibility as standard.

The range-wide fitment of enhanced smartphone integration complements the expansive 12.3-inch centre display, wireless smartphone charging4, satellite navigation, voice control and DAB+5 included on every ES 300h.

Also standard on the ES 300h Luxury are bi-LED headlamps with cornering lamps, 17inch alloy wheels, a smart key card, moonroof, head-up display, power adjustable steering column, and 10-way power adjustable and heated front seats.

Standard safety technology includes 10 airbags, a rear-view camera with back-guide monitor and Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+)6 - incorporating a pre-collision safety system that can detect pedestrians as well as vehicles, autonomous emergency braking, all-speed active cruise control and lane tracing assist.

The ES 300h Luxury with Enhancement Pack - priced from $68,8751 - builds on this comprehensive list with a panoramic-view monitor, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and parking support brake system that can automatically brake to avoid a collision with an object or pedestrian ahead, or an object or moving vehicle behind.

Updated Lexus ES 300h

Do You Have a Tyre Inflator

How would you feel if you planned to leave very early in the morning for work or embark on a trip only to discover you have a flat tyre?

What would be your reaction if you also discover that your spare tyre is equally flat or your jack is faulty, and being early in the morning, there is no vulcanizer to help fix the problem. How frustrated would you be?

What if the above scenario happens when you have already driven out and in an isolated and dangerous spot or perhaps in the night? What if it happens to a medical personnel on an emergency, a couple on their way to their wedding? What if it happens to a school bus conveying children to or from school and the driver who is without an assistant abandons the children in the vehicle in search of a vulcanizer? What if it happens to an ambulance conveying a sick person whose life depends on how fast treatment is administered or to a security patrol vehicle on an emergency assignment? What if it happens to a lady and she is all alone?

The above scenario is no mere supposition or fiction. It happens every day and it could happen to you even if your tyres are just out from the factory and filled with the best tyres sealant in the world!

Thecausecouldbeeitheratinypunctureoraleaking valve stem. So how can you save your time, life and valuables in the event of such happening to you? There is only one way and that is to ensure that you always carry a compact tyre inflator that

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 you can power from the cigarette lighter of your vehicle to pump the flat tyre.

I am sure you are curious to know how the inflator can save your time. To address your curiosity, let us consider the steps you need to take to change to a spare tyre; see how much time this will take and then compare these with the steps you need to take to utilize the tyre inflator and see how much time is involved.

Let’s number the various steps needed to change to a spare tyre so we can get a clearer picture of what is involved; (1) you will need to bring out your jack (hoping it works) and (2) the nut driver (spanner) or ratchet. (3) you will need to bring out your spare tyre. This may not be easy depending on where and how it is stored in your vehicle and you could also be unfortunate to discover that the spare tyre is equally flat since most people hardly check to see the condition of the spare before driving.

If you don’t have wheel blocks in your vehicle (4)

you will need to look around for something you can use to block the two tyres (front and back) farthest from the flat tyre so as to prevent the vehicle from rolling as you jack it up. (5) you need to remove the hub cap first before you can have access to the wheel nuts. The wheel nut on the flat tyre have to be unscrewed, half way first and then fully when the vehicle is jacked up. Your wheel will normally have about five nuts and removing each is taken a step so this means further five steps (6,7,8,9,10).

Note that some nuts can prove very stubborn to remove, (11) you need to locate the proper sport under the vehicle to place the jack and this might not be easy to locate (12) then comes the actual jacking up of the vehicle and you might discover that when fully operated, the jack has not given the vehicle enough ground clearance to remove the flat tyre.

So you (13) jack it down and (14) look for objects to place under the jack to support the height (15) again you jack it up. When enough clearance has been gotten, you now fully unscrew the five nuts which will be another five steps (16,17,18,19,20).

After removing the nuts (21) remove the flat tyre and (22) then go for the spare, (23) you need to properly guide the spare tyre through the studs to click it in position. Having done that, you screw the five nuts back halfway first (another five step 25,25,26,27,28) and then (29) jack down the vehicle.

With the vehicle fully jacked down, you now screw the five nuts tight which requires another five more

steps (30,31 32 33,34). It is now time to (35) remove the jack ,(36) pack it, (37) store away the flat tyre and (38) remove the blocks placed on the two tyres to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Process complete. You are now free to drive off.

You can see that there are about 38 steps involved in changing to a spare tyre. How much time and manual work do you think the whole process will take? Assuming each step takes more than one minute, you will be spending about 38 minutes.

Remember you are not a professional vulcanizer so it could take you longer time.

Let us now look at the process involved in using the tyre inflator. All you need to do is simply (1) take the inflator from your booth or pigeon hole, (2) connect the plug to the cigarette lighter of your car and (3) then chuck to the valve stem of the flat tyre (remember the flat tyre is not removed) (4) start you engine and (5) switch on the inflator. In about five minutes, your tyre is inflated and (6) disconnect the chuck (7) disconnect the plug, (8) pack the inflator and off you go. The process of connecting (2,3) and disconnecting/packing (6,7 & 8) the inflator will not take more than a minute!

The pumping time is about five minutes so in all you be spending about seven minutes.

Now compare the 38 minutes you will spend to change to a spare tyre and the seven minutes on the inflator and you will see that the inflator will be saving you more than 80% on time. Not only that, the amount of manual work you do with inflator is very negligible compared to changing to a spare tyre. Anybody, including women, can use the inflator without a single drop of sweat.

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OCTOBER 12, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

OCTOBER 12, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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Ë&#x153; Ëž OCTOBER 12, 2019

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

Between Criterion & Criteria

C

LASSIC FM 97.3 Front Page News Review of September 26 welcomes us today for the first time with this non-classical entry: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is the criteria forâ&#x20AC;Ś?â&#x20AC;? Get it right: criterion (singular) and criteria (plural).

So, what are the criteria forâ&#x20AC;Ś? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rumble in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Desertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Joshua needs confident (confidence) to over come (overcome) Ruizâ&#x20AC;?

(WEEKEND SPORTINGSUN Headline, October 5) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Quality Projects is a labour friendly (labourfriendly) governorâ&#x20AC;? (Full-page advertorial signed by the Rivers State Government, September 25, 2019) â&#x20AC;&#x153;We invite you to the commissioning ceremony (We invite you to the inauguration) on Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? (Source: as above) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reps (Repsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) minority crisis: PDP torn between devil and deep blue seaâ&#x20AC;? (Politics & Power, September 25) This way: between the devil and the deep blue sea (fixed/stock idiomatic expression that should not be altered). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Banks in last minute (last-minute) rush to meet new lending ratioâ&#x20AC;? (DAILY SUN Headline, September 25) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Independence: Onitsha Main Market, other markets shutdown (shut down) in Anambraâ&#x20AC;? (South East News, September 25) FromArewa News of September 25 comes the next headline solecism: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kebbi invests N4bn on (in) new settlements infrastructureâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zimbabwe opposition lawmakers walk out on presidentâ&#x20AC;? Either Zimbabweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opposition or Zimbabwean opposition â&#x20AC;&#x153;Okowa preaches fair play, as Delta principalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cup kicks-off (kicks off)â&#x20AC;?

DAILY Sun Editorial of September 18 takes over the baton with three slip-ups: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Recent statistics from the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) indicate that hundreds of Nigerians are presently (sic) in (on) death row in some countriesâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;There should be proper legal assistance to (for) our citizens accused of traffickingâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śif any of its citizens is properly tried or convicted or (for) any offense abroadâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Payback period is between 3-10 years.â&#x20AC;? (Fullpage advertisement byAccess Bank, THISDAY, September 21) More than banking: between 3 and

10 years or from 3-10 years The next three headline slips are from THISDAY of September 21, 2019: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Police charge 15 for (with) allegedly planning to kill Patience Jonathanâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Woman stabs 2 months (monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) old or 2-month-old babyâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Police uncover fake hospital in Edo, nabs (why?) killer of 3 policemenâ&#x20AC;?

Now, a special report: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He said he does (did) not know, that the urge comes to him just like thatâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is designed to nurture grassroot (grassroots) talents and future football stars for the State (sic) and the Nation.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The FootballAcademy will be commissioned (inaugurated/auspicated) by his Excellencyâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;?

(Full-page advertorial by the Rivers State Government, THISDAY, September 21) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adron Homes unveil (unveils) Rufai,Ali, Onyali as its ambassadorsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;SuperSport to view (air, broadcast or televise) IAAF World Championship liveâ&#x20AC;? (Global Soccer, September 21) â&#x20AC;&#x153;As at press time, he neither answered (took) his call nor did replied (reply) text messages.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the years, she has proven (proved) to be a woman of excellence and reputeâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;? Another form: He is a proven case of incompetency! â&#x20AC;&#x153;The appearance of Tiwa as one of the models gave the charity a big boast (boost).â&#x20AC;? (THISDAY, September 21) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll handover (hand over) recalcitrant debtors to EFCCâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

The next three oversights are from a full-page advertorial, THISDAY, October 5, signed byAlhaji Hamza KosheAkuyam, chairman, PDP, Bauchi State: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;Śjoin our teaming (teeming) citizens to wish you a very Happy Birthday (unnecessary capitalization).â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are a Boss (sic) who inspire (inspires) us with your courage, humility and service for (to) the people.â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adelegate of the PDP in Ogun Stateâ&#x20AC;Śslumped and died in the early hours of Thursday in an hotel inAbeokuta, 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.

22 YearsWithout Fela:WhoWill Now Sing for Us?

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ow time flies...even the passage of the most illustrious amongst us will come and go like beautiful a flower in a windy forest... only hardened devotees, blessed with great drive and passion, may lay some landmarks, physically or metaphorically, to memorialise their legacies.

October 15, 2019 marks what ought to be the 81st birthday of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incomparable musician, avid social raconteur and creative iconoclast, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. From Monday, a week-long, multi-tiered ceremonies dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Felabrationâ&#x20AC;? will, once again, churn out colourful feast of music, talk, drama, culture and more, as tribute to a genuine magic-maker who fell to the consequences of his exuberance 22 years ago on August 2, 1997.

Below is an article written the same year of Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demise, lamenting what the writer foresaw as a future filled with criminally deafening silences in lyrical advocacy and protest performance - the likely scarcity of a twangy voice unabashedly loud on behalf of the mass of voiceless Nigerians.

As Felabration rolls through time between Monday, October 14 and Sunday, October 20, it is perhaps a great opportunity to ask again: Who else, amongst the plethora of singing gems, can stand on the side of the people and splash truth and sense on the placid faces of irresponsible and self-indulging leadership? â&#x20AC;&#x153;People! All sorts. The Good. The Rough. The Naive. All sorts.

At the sunset of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revered iconoclast, the several shapes and shades of humanity were fully represented.

It is to the glory of Nigeria and the unbended souls of our fallen African heroes that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;send-offâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of Fela Anikulapo Kuti should attract such an unprecedented turn-out of people, that even the usually sedate newspapers could describe it as â&#x20AC;&#x153;mammothâ&#x20AC;?.

In death, Fela poked his fingers in the faces of dictators, corrupt people and oppressive apparatus, all over the world. But the pain lingers for his immediate constituency - the Nigerian populace. They have lost the single most virulent voice capable of communicating their frustrations, neglect and anguish to those whose birthright includes oppression and corruption. The poor and needy of Nigeria are now deprived of a ringing voice who could put his political poetry into music and blare it into the consciousness, and to the embarrassment of the establishment.

Now, there is a strange silence - isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there?

Do the Nigerian people have any succour in a rejuvenated voice who can step into Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role? Can we begin to rejoice at the emergence of a force that will carry the crusade of Fela on wax, even without the so-called excesses of the giant? From among our legion of musicians and singers, is there one or two whose creative genie will be kick-started by the shock of Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absence

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

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: 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;Aman 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:Aman 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)!

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

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

Fela Kuti

and the necessity for another trenchant voice in the wilderness that is Nigeria?

We took a short drive across the boulevard of Nigerian music; probing and synthesising the landscape littered with serious pretenders, professional misfits, genuine talents and colourful lay-abouts. Of course, Nigeria is not short of musicians: every street, similar to football, has a silent star - either in a full-blown dreamland or in extended depression. But who among our â&#x20AC;&#x153;super-starsâ&#x20AC;? (largely created by our exuberant music press) can muster the courage, virtuosity, mastery, consistency and tremendous knowledge of Fela?

We do not need martyrs, but we do need exemplars who can instruct us on the benefits of martyrdom. How will our history look like without the fact that during the darkest period of our national life, when the civil war was ravaging, only the then Olufela Ransome-Kuti had the nerve, audacity and gut to lambast the atrocious carnage Nigerians were turning the Igbo cities to; and he valiantly supported the secession of Biafra!

Apart from lamenting the socio-cultural inadequacies of his people as in Jeun Koku, Sakara Oloje, Roforofo Fight, Excuse O, Water E No Get Enemy, E No Possible, etc; Fela lambasted the inferiority complex of his own people, and evoked the pangs of nationalism with JJD, Lady, Gentleman, Colomentality, Why Blackman Dey Suffer, Buy Africa, etc.

Fela struck with blinding fury at the sundry governments foisted on his people, specifically denouncing their inefficiency and corruption. The catalyst of his more politically scathing lyricism began with the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd). From 1976 till his last recorded album in 1993, he thundered relentlessly with: Zombie, No Bread, Ikoyi Blindness, Sorrow Tears and Blood, No Agreement, Suffering and Smiling, Vagabonds In Power (VIP), Authority Stealing, Power Show, International Thief Thief (ITT), Overtake Don Overtake Overtake (ODOO), Army Arrangement and Beast of No Nation (BONN).

In all his unflinching vitriol at successive blundering governments, Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s object of attack never folded their hands and gaped entranced by his pulsating rhythms. From 1974 till few months before his death, Fela was arrested, detained, beaten, clubbed, jailed, tortured, disgraced, abducted, thrashed by the muscles of the state - sometimes for months. He was once jailed for 17 months!

In l977 alone, at the height of his confrontation with the Obasanjo regime which led to the sacking and razing of his first Kalakuta Republic, Fela was arrested and detained every quarter of the year!!

But, this is not an empty search for â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoe-steppersâ&#x20AC;?, clones, imitators or â&#x20AC;&#x153;sound-a-likesâ&#x20AC;?. We do not glorify confusionists, rabble-rousers, chauvinists and pseudo-critics. But who will sing for us now? Who? Who will carry the banner for millions of voiceless and powerless souls in Nigeria? Who will dare the beasts in our rulership, and remain constant as Anikulapo-Kuti? Who will withstand inhuman treatment in the hands of brutish security personnel, with unbending and undefeated spirit? Who will be our next superstar? Who?â&#x20AC;?

And a poem for the fallen master lyricist...

The Saxophonist Ebun, I love the Sax-man!

How can you love a poor man?

O, I just love him...

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sick - loving a poor twig.

No, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know... his music.

Yes, I know... nice - and so what?

But you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t... heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich.

Then, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know it!

O, no, his music ... I mean...

His music? You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean it?

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t laugh Ebun. His music is rich.

Well, let him eat it then.

O, music is the food of life.

Poor you, but life doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat.

O, you really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know.... â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;(November, 1988 - after my first encounter with Fela as a reporter).

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Joshua, DJ Cuppy Rolling to Another Level?

Emelonye Drops Trailer for ‘Portrait of IBB’ pg. 45

Yemi Alade Up for Grammy Awards’ Consideration pg. 50

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DJ Cuppy with Anthony Joshua on one of their outings

Joshua, DJ Cuppy Rolling to Another Level?

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

I

s something serious about to happen in the relationship between DJ Cuppy (Florence Otedola) and star boxer Anthony Joshua? For quite some time now, both celebrities have been spotted together in and outside the country. Joshua and DJ Cuppy, daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, sparked dating rumours when they were spotted hanging out several months ago.

There has been open exchange of gifts from both sides, first from the Gelato singer who gifted the heavyweight champion a cake to celebrate his return to motherland Nigeria. Just last Saturday, the famous disc jockey showed off a customised neck piece she received from the former world boxing champion.

The two were present at a family gathering to celebrate the birthday of Joshua’s son where the boxer presented the gift to DJ Cuppy.

Anthony Joshua also presented a special gift to DJ Cuppy’s dad, Femi Otedola. Flaunting the expensive necklace which has the dollar sign, DJ Cuppy wrote, “New family chain alert thank you @AnthonyJoshua”.

While on his part, Otedola shared a post captioned: “Lovely gift from the champ@ anthonyjoshua yesterday…F.Ote.” In a video clip which was shared by the billionaire on his Instagram, Joshua was captured presenting a gift to Otedola, whom he thanked for making his Nigerian visit possible.

The oil magnate was seen thrilled in the clip as he stated that he was excited to be meeting

the former IBF, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion.

Both further exchanged pleasantries and warm hugs. Recall that Joshua touched down in Nigeria in July and was hosted by DJ Cuppy, who shared several photos of them spending time together and enjoying some of the special places and things in Nigeria.

Reliving that memory, the boxing champion had a lot to be thankful for when he met Otedola in London and referred to him as “uncle.”In response to the sweet gesture, Otedola expressed delight over meeting Joshua.

DJ Cuppy, who happens to be one of the most talked about female disc jockeys in Nigeria, had made a startling revelation about her love life. The young woman who was born with a silver spoon revealed during a recent interview that she has dated every race of men apart from Asian.

DJ Cuppy made the statement during a chat with OAPs at Hot FM in Lagos. “I have dated more or less every race apart from Asia,” she said laughing in a video which was posted online Instagram by the radio station. The soft hearted and fun loving Nigerian once shared photos of herself and the Nigerian-born British boxer enjoying themselves in Spain. Markedly, the duo then once again sparked dating rumours due to the emergence of their cozy picture.

In the video shared, Anthony Joshua was seen smiling and accusing DJ Cuppy of not bringing his “Gelato” while coming over to Spain. Meanwhile, Joshua who is limbering up for a rematch with Mexican Andy Ruiz after a shock defeat on June 1st, 2019, would be 30 on October 15.

DJ Cuppy with Anthony Joshua

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Obi Emelonye with Enyinna Nwigwe (lead cast) and crew on set of the movie Badamasi...

Emelonye Drops Trailer for ‘Portrait of IBB’ Prolific movie maker, Obi Emelonye drops intense trailer for his long awaited movie, “IBB: Portrait of a General”. Hopefully it wouldn’t be much longer this time before it hits the cinemas, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

A

fter a long wait, prolific filmmaker Obi Emelonye recently released the official trailer for his most anticipated Nollywood movie, “Badamasi: Portrait of a General”, and movie buffs have been talking about the project. The IBB biopic takes a look into the life of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. The film is set to detail the history of Badamasi’s rule as President of Nigeria which began on August 27, 1985, after he toppled Muhammadu Buhari.

The film aims to tell IBB’s story and reflect on how his rule altered history. Despite being ‘threatened’ not to release the film by political powers that be, which also led to a forced postponement of its cinema release originally slated for 29th November, it appears Emelonye has overcome whatever hurdles thrown at him by making the two minutes 30 seconds trailer public.

The trailer appears as intense as the period the movie captured with edgy scenes. With the trailer released, it appears a new date for the movie is in the offing. However, the multiple award-winning director/producer told THISDAY: “None yet; suspended everything until I feel safe. But we are hoping to ramp up support to drown out the dark figures.” Hopefully it wouldn’t be much longer this time before it hits the cinemas. According to the movie synopsis,

a powerful Army General attempts to guide Nigeria through a viciously strained era in this first of its kind authorised biopic.

Born in a small village in Northern Nigeria called Wushishi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida or IBB as he is fondly called, loses both of his parents by the age of 14. It is his charm and intelligence that would propel him from that inauspicious beginning to the pinnacle of military politics in Africa’s most populous country. But to fulfill his destiny, Badamasi has to survive a brutal civil war, spearhead several successful military coups, escape a few ferocious plots on his own life and confront his deepest fears.

But when fate pitches the General against the will of million tough Nigerians, something has to give. Badamasi won several battles to rule Nigeria for 8 years. However, with the country about to implode, he may have to lose the fight to bring her back from the brink. Although, mostly known for remarkable cinematic works, including Last Flight toAbuja (2012), The Mirror Boy (2011), and Onye Ozi (2013), Emelonye’s recent films have had commercial successes, as well as critical acclaim.

Debonair and dedicated to a mission, Emelonye represents a new hue on the canvas of Nigerian moviemakers. Known for his deep, enthralling and refreshing storylines so are his techniques and focus. Emelonye’s making as a moviemaker is enchanting as the movies he has worked on over the years. Between 2011

and 2015, Emelonye enjoyed an incredibly tremendous success which saw him feature on CNN as the Future of Nollywood in a series of interviews, and African Voices programme.

Lately, he was on Arise News International Network Morning Show discussing the movie which had taken seven years. Though the last couple of years have seen his name off the records of awards categories in Nigeria, Emelonye had earlier mentioned that in an industry with thousands of practitioners striving to improve their craft, it was unlikely that other practitioners sit quietly and watch only a few others cart away all the honours. He had acknowledged that the industry had become more competitive such that one needed to take a deep breath before hitting the scene.

Such breath it would seem Emelonye had taken just so to renew his vigour working on the biopic about IBB the man that ruled Nigeria for eight years between 1985 and 1993. He believes that with what he has done in the last few years in the industry, a project of that magnitude and importance was never beyond him. He had started writing the script based on information available in the public domain. But needed to have a personal perspective from the man himself about his own life and significantly, about his time in office.

Quite challenging as the General maintained a regal silence since leaving office. But Emelonye managed to get through to him after persistent

inquiries and was surprised that, for the first time since leaving office, ‘Maradona’ was willing to get into a detailed conversation about what happened in those many dramatic episodes in his public life involving Africa’s most populous black nation. Those meetings saw Emelonye shuttling between London and Lagos to Minna consistently.

What he considers first in any project is the nature of the story. Reason he chose IBB from all of the previous Nigerian rulers. IBB is perceived the most controversial Nigerian leader and was allegedly involved in a civil war, several coups, for and against, and topped it up with an intriguing and fascinating political drama of June 12.

Another factor Emelonye considers, aside from dramatic stories is how the story would blend with his production style which is often visually enthralling. Projects like Badamasi and the Last Flight to Abuja, for instance, tick the boxes amply for him in this regard and such would get his interest any day.

Obi Emelonye, a former professional footballer graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with BA (Hons) Theatre Arts degree (1990). He went on to study for an LLB Law degree from the University of Wolverhampton (1998). He completed a post-graduate degree in Legal Practice from London Metropolitan University (2002) and practised Law for a few years before focusing on his first love: film.

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SHOWBIZFLAIR SAMUEL NWACHUKWU

We’ve to Do Everything We Can to be the Best at Anything We Touch Samuel Nwachukwu, well known by his stage name CalledOutMusic, is an artiste and performer with growing presence on the gospel music scene. As a multifaceted artiste, Nwachukwu first displayed his God-given talent and passion for music at the tender age of 7 in his home church. After producing original songs for musicals for several years, his career kicked off in 2016 with his debut single, “Working on me”.

Since then, CalledOutMusic has successfully released songs featuring the likes of TY Bello and productions with Danny Duncan, thus furthering his career up to his latest single “Love Around”. Nwachukwu tells Tosin Clegg about his journey into music, his global concert series, career at large and a lot more How my music journey started started my musical journey when I was seven years old. My father bought me a small keyboard that he actually wanted to play himself and, as time went by, I just picked it up and started making melodies. I started understanding the basics of music and the foundation of music and from then on, it just grew into this thing that I couldn’t control any more. I just love music, and my parents always played traditional Igbo Christian music every morning. The journey has been incredible. I’ve met so many wonderful artistes and music executives who have shaped my career to what it is. I’m still in the early stages of my career and I’m so excited for what’s to come.

I

Mastery of producing, singing, writing In terms of music production, I would say when I started messing about with the sounds on my keyboard I loved what it created, so I started to understand beats and melodies and how important they were to songs. I took some time out to study some production on the side, as well as songwriting. There is a producer that I really admire, his name is Max Martin and I studied everything that he did. Everything that Max Martin did, I wanted to do and from then on I just started realising that I could take some elements of pop music, jazz music and I could use it to praise God. I could make it my own and make my own unique sound out of it which is good.

We have to do everything we can to be the best at anything we touch and I made the effort to be the very best producer/songwriter that I can be.

CalledOut came from 1 Peter Chapter 2 Verse 9 It says “We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation… we have been called out from darkness into the light.” So, that transformative process is what stuck out to me because, as a human being, I believe since I found Christ I started the process of being transformed and I believe there are so many people going through the same process as I am.

I’m inspired by a lot of things I’m inspired by music and inspired by ministry, testimonies, life and people‘s experiences, as well.

As for picking songs for the right season, I just try to be as authentic as possible. If I’m going through a period of being patient and waiting on God, I’ll write about it. I just try to keep it very real. As for how long it takes to write a song, it depends on who I’m working with and how quickly the song comes together. We also consider whether the production is a live record or studio record.

There are so many factors but generally it shouldn’t take more than three weeks to get a song from start to finish. I have one official album on the charts ‘In Due Time’ which was released in December 2018 and another compilation album ‘The collection’ made out of previous singles. They have given more solidity to my career as it gives listeners an insight to my life and my story. We’ve been blessed to have received a lot of awards in the three years we’ve been doing this but amongst them all, the stand out ones would be the ‘Best Male’ artiste I received this year at the Premier

Gospel awards.

Key elements in making quality sound Good music is subjective. For me, it is music that makes sense, music that conveys a clear and positive message to the listeners. I find that the songs I love are pieces that lean towards the melody rather than just the beat. It’s the melodies that make songs stick around forever, not the beats.

Making music in the UK and back home in Nigeria It’s the same, to be honest. The main difference is the sound. In Nigeria it’s obvious that afrobeats is influencing everything. We now have artistes in Nigeria who are switching up their sound to blend in with the crowd. However in the UK, there is more of an appreciation for different genres and styles. So, I as an artiste who makes Christian Pop music, there is so much room for me to create and express myself. So, perhaps in Nigeria there needs to be more of an effort made to embrace different styles of music. My friend, Johnny Drille is someone who is making a huge impact at the moment because someone gave him a chance. We need more people, bold enough to stand with their uniqueness to reform the music industry in Nigeria.

Record label and management HFP is an independent Christian music label in Hampshire England. We have been working together since 2016. With the help of label executive, Chibuzo Okoro, I’ve been able to discover my sound in a crowded market and have been instrumental in getting the music to the ends of the earth. It’s been such an amazing three years with HFP music.

‘CalledOut Live’ is essentially the flagship tour we hold around the world We put up these nights to push the music by encouraging believers, young and old to hold on to the truth of the Gospel. The last one we held in Lagos was amazing. Being back home and worshipping with family and friends was a feeling I’ll never forget. God willing, we’ll come back again for it.

Musical influences, role models and mentors Kirk Franklin and Mali Music have been huge influences on me. I love how they create and see music. I would love to meet them someday. As for mentors, there are many, my father being the main one. His tenacity and drive inspires me. He’s also responsible for showing me the gospel of Christ for which I’ll always be grateful.

Upcoming projects We have so many amazing things planned for next year. It will all be announced on the socials when the time comes. Hopefully soon, I plan doing more travelling and spreading the gospel to as many ears as I can. This is my purpose and the music is simply a tool to make this happen.

This has always been the goal and always will.

Before I am a musician, I am a Christian and I have an important role to play in getting the good news out there. So, whatever form this takes I’ll be willing to be used by God however He chooses.

Samuel Nwachukwu

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Tosin Clegg 07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

MY STORY

Gists

One Africa Music Festival Interswitch One Africa Music Fest announced that they have partnered with Air Peace as their 2019 Official Airline Sponsor. Air Peace is quickly becoming one of Africa’s leading airline carriers domestically and internationally.

This partnership, Air Peace said would highlight their shared commitment of philanthropy, tourism and global awareness, showcasing all that Africa has to offer.

The multi-faceted partnership between the two organisations was solidified October 4. Interswitch One Africa Music Fest and Air-Peace have come together to engage customers through entertainment, lifestyle and tourism.

Speaking on Air Peace’s partnership with One Africa Global, Allen Onyema, CEO of Air-Peace remarked: “Africa

Allen Onyema and Paul O

is made up of vibrant populace and we are extremely proud of the rebirth that has been witnessed, notably in the entertainment sector and the economy, particularly with our music, fashion, and the creative industry which has resounded and gathered international applause in recent years on the forte of sheer flexibility and in the spirit of growing African enterprises.”

In addition to this fruitful partnership, Paul O., CEO, One Africa Global said, “It’s been my ultimate goal to showcase Africa to the world and create a channel that bridges the gap. I am enthusiastic and equally pleased to announce this partnership! As two proudly-African brands come together for a common goal to showcase the very best from Africa. We are on a journey to take Africa to the world and bring the world to Africa.

I am super excited it is with Air Peace.This year, the Interswitch One Africa Music Fest was completely sold-out in New York and London.

Our next concert will take place in Dubai on the 15th of November at the Festival Arena, Festival city Dubai.”

In an attempt to continuously reaffirm their commitment in taking Africa to the world, One Africa global is running promotional campaigns for 24 new customers of Quickteller to stand a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to Interswitch One Africa Music Fest events happening in Dubai.

Joe Praize to Hold Concert This October, brace up for live, unrestricted and resounding praise at Joe Praize’s Praise Ovation concert tagged: “The Praise of the Fourth Man,” is scheduled to hold at Loveworld Arena, Lekki, Lagos. Joe Praize is a music minister by the will of God, a worship leader, song writer and arranger, performing artiste, multiple award winner. His love of God and passion for the gospel is evident in the lyrics of his songs and the power in his ministrations on stage.

Joe Praize shared the vision and purpose behind the concept and everything to be expected from this great event: “It’s been 10 years for me and if you don’t tell about it no one would know. In 10 years, there are so many people who rose but five years down the line you can’t remember them. But in 10 years, God has been faithful and he has given me access to so many places.

I’m a ministry person and when it comes to gospel music you would see the impact I have made. For me, it’s not just another event it’s special for me in every way. But the spirit of God gave me this idea which is the praise of the fourth man and many people keep wondering what it’s all about.

So, a series of events led to the story of the event which would hold this month.” Praise Ovation marks 10 successful years since Joepraize began his music journey and it’s a commemoration of musical excellence so far.

He assures everyone that the event will be marked by unusual praise.

There will be no official guest artiste invited for the event because it is an exclusive Joe Praize music concert.

He added that, “I like to move with instructions that God gives me and not just move because I have to and once he gives I move wide because I know it’s good for me.”

Joe Praise

Super Balat Covers Scream Magazine Summer Issue Fast rising Afro Pop Act, Super Balat is the cover star for Scream Magazine’s latest issue, which was released recently.

It would be recalled that the fans’ favorite made a statement on the scene with his 2018 collaboration ‘Omo Local’ with Reminisce and ended the year winning a major award.

In this issue of the magazine, Super Balat talks about his music career, growing up, having an eventful year and his soon to be released single, ‘Shiba’ which he is confident will take him to great places and take over the music scene. With the intention of bridging the gap between the mainstream and the streets, Super Balat is poised to take the game to the next level. While his latest single, ‘My Love’ is doing well on radio and television.

Super Balat recently hit the city of Abuja for a media tour to further promote his music, shortly after getting featured on Hip Tv’s ‘Next Rated’. From all indications, he has put in a lot of hardwork and he is ready to hit the limelight. It is only a matter of time before Super Balat a.k.a Omo Local joins the A-list and establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with.

Super Balat

AYOMIDE ADE

Singing is My Calling, Not Rap Ayomide is a budding singer whose root is of a unique style and appeal. He makes his music to have a different energy and vibe to stand him out of the flock of talents around. With goals alive for greatness, he is one act to look out for. Tosin Clegg asks about his journey, style of music, among others

H

ow did it all start?

I started my music journey in 2010, kicking off as a rapper. I recorded my first song in 2012, titled, ‘Hard’ and later went on to record more songs in 2015 and 2016. But, I started professionally in 2017 when I released my first official single “Fed Up” which was when I found out that singing was my calling not Rap.

Tell us about your kind of music?

I am an Afro fusion artiste but I’ll like to refer to my style as urban afrobeat. My music is unique, because I don’t want to sound or write my songs like anybody, I just do it my own way.

What inspires your work?

I draw my inspiration from what I go through and I put it into music to inspire people. I also draw inspiration from something with less meaning and I make it meaningful.

Define what music is to you?

Music is a universal language everyone understands when you speak it. Music is a tool; music is a weapon, with music you don’t have to explain yourself. You just sing and everyone understands, music gives me joy, music is life.

Where do you see yourself in a few years?

I see me singing to the world. I see me creating global sounds.

The sky will be my starting point with God. My role models are Asa, Brymo and Mr. Eazi, as I love what they do with music.

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Uche Ogbodo in Red Nollywood actress/producer Uche Ogbodo was stunning in an all red-inspired photo shoot shared on her Instagram page on Monday. It was not her birthday. Uche just decided to stun her fans. She wrote: “Why is everyone asking me why I’m looking so fine?

Is it my birthday? Haba! Is it only on birthdays people take pictures? It’s like I haven’t been living true to my goddess status. So, you guys don’t really know how beautiful I am on the real. Don’t worry, I promise to bring you constant heat from now on.”

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Brown Skin Tiwa Savage Singer/song writer, Tiwa Savage has been sharing photos on her Instagram page showing her new brown skin. Tiwa is no doubt, the real “Brown Skin Girl.” Her new photos testify to this. Here is showbizflair’s pick from the lot shared by the musician.

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Yemi Alade

Yemi Alade Up for Grammy Awards’ Consideration Ferdinand Ekechukwu

S

he added that she aims to move her musical career to a global stage. “We are up for Grammy Awards consideration. Reaching out to all voting members @ recordingacademy to consider my album ‘Woman of Steel’ for Best World Music Album. This has been an incredible project and I would love to celebrate it with all of you,” she wrote.

The choice of the ‘Woman of Steel’ for the award consideration became imperative after her album received over a million global streams.

Also, being the first afropop female singer to have over 100 million views on a video on Youtube, which is her hit single ‘Johnny’, may fetch her laurel at the Grammys. Alade, no doubt, has been on the rise with her music exploit since inception.

She has over the years won laurels, including BET, MTV, and MOBOAwards as well as changing the narratives with her music outside the shores of Africa. The singer was in 2018 listed as one of the most influential people in Africa.

Her 2013 single, Johnny, with over 100 million views is still the most viewed video by any African artiste on YouTube six years after its release. Alade is the only female afropop/ afrobeats artiste with this record.

Alade is being considered for the Best World Music Album category at the Grammys. One of the most celebrated Nigerian female artistes, Alade had on occasions said that her ultimate goal was to win the Grammys.

Once on a television programme “Today on STV”, the “Johnny” crooner had stated that her goals keep changing as far as God gives her energy and ability to attain those goals. She said pop music had gotten more attention and popularity in Nigeria; emphasising that there should be a focus on harnessing human resources because Nigeria is sleeping on human resources.

She said even though numbers don’t lie, one

cannot use a particular medium to measure up who is more popular than the other. She said popularity should not be used for measurement; because there were some people who had won Grammys and people don’t know their songs.

After months of expectation Yemi Alade dropped her Woman of Steel album last month

Yemi Alade

to the delight of her fans and music lovers across the continent. The Nigerian afropop singer/ songwriter, following months of social media drive with the hashtag #WOS, which was later revealed as ‘Woman of Steel’, had in May, announced the album after she released a remix of her single, ‘Oh My Gosh’ which featured

American rapper, Rick Ross.

This fourth studio album (her fifth project with an EP) was then made available for pre-order on August 21, 2019. The 15-track compilation, which comes just after her record-breaking musical feats and two features on Beyoncé Knowles “The Lion King: The Gift”, reaffirms Alade’s top spot in the Nigerian music scene. The album not only represents a personal one but thematic shift too for the artiste, from Mama Africa, to King of Queens, then to Woman of Steel.

A medley of reggae, R&B, highlife, and afrobeats, the album features songs with Rick Ross and Angelique Kidjo.

A decade ago, the singer made her debut winning the first-ever reality show of Nigeria’s Peak Talent. It marked the beginning of her music career, but visibility came after her debut album, King of Queens in 2014. The album won Alade the Best Female Artiste trophy at the MTV Africa Awards in 2015. She followed that up with Mama Africa in 2016 and in 2017, Black Magic. Both album stands out in their own rights. King of Queens had collaborations with seasoned musicians and sound engineers that doctored the musical work to taste.

Prior to the recent news of her ‘Woman of Steel’ being considered for nomination at the 2019 Grammys, there had been thoughts of her among other African artistes mostly Nigerians of winning the Grammys in a two-way efforts following her recent feature on Beyoncé’s latest album featuring Burna Boy, Tekno, Mr Eazi, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and Tiwa Savage. The American singer featured the six Nigerian artistes on the album, “The Lion King: The Gift Album”.

Reacting then, Don Jazzy had hinted that Nigerian artistes on Beyoncé’s new album were likely to receive Grammy awards in 2019.

According to the famous record label owner, “It’s safe to say our people are finally getting that Grammy… hehe. Beyonce go dey world category of Grammys this time around and once the album wins world album of the year, we won too.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t 0$50#&3 , 2019

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Group Portfolio Marketing Manager, The La Casera Company (TLCC), Mr. Onyeka Okoli; Senior Brand Manager, La Casera, Mrs. Ruth Ode; Managing Director, TLCC, Mr. Chinedum Okereke; and Group Marketing Director, TLCC, Mr. Emmanuel Agu, at the media launch of La Casera Refresh and Connect Promo in Lagos... recently

L-R: 1st Vice President NFF representative, Folashade Folakun; Representing Chief Justice of Lagos, Justice Obafemi Adanson; Representative of Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Folashade Fadare; Founder, The Feeders foundation, Hunsu Olusegun; Representing Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Adebayo Abel Olusoji; Representative of Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Akojenu Adeyinka; and Actor, Yemi Solade, during the 2nd Edition of The Feeders Foundation novelty match between Celebrities and Lagos State funtionaries with the theme: Towards A Drugs Free Society, held at Agege Stadium, Lagos... recently

La Casera Rewards Consumers in New Promo The La Casera Company has officially launched in the market, a new under the crown consumer promotion , tagged, ‘ Refresh & Connect’.

According to the company, the initiative aimed to reward customers and improve on the existing bond with its brand loyalists.

It was also designed to strengthen the brand position as a major player in the carbonated soft drinks (CSD) market.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos during the week, Managing Director of the La Casera Company (TLCC), Mr. Chinedum Okereke, reiterated that the new promo was sincerely initiated to express gratitude to consumers for their commitment, which had helped to sustain the brand’s relevance since inception.

He stated: “We are in business because our teeming consumers have chosen to remain loyal and committed to our brand. The product has been in the market for almost two decades and

consumers loyalty is a prerequisite for success in the highly competitive CSD segment. One of the ways we intend to be appreciative of the consumers efforts is by reciprocating their loyalty in this creative and exciting promo.”

He further added that the ‘Refresh and Connect’ promo, which will end on December 31, was based on deep insight that depicted an average Nigerian as one who relishes staying refreshed and connected to loved one, hence the promo idea.

Speaking further, Marketing Director of TLCC, Mr Emmanuel Agu, expressed optimism on the expected outcome of the promo, particularly, the excitement it will generate among consumers across the country.

He said: “With the ‘Refresh and Connect’ consumer promo, the brand is set to further connect with consumers by encouraging them to partake in the promo and win big. Various prizes to be won included smart TVs, laptops,

mobile phones, bluetooth Headsets, La Casera products and, airtime worth millions of naira.

He stated further that the promo crowns for the La Casera Apple Drink had been specifically designed to come in yellow other than the regular blue colour.

He added that consumers should purchase the La Casera promotional bottles in 35cL, 50cL or 60cL, with the yellow cover to participate in the promo.

Group Portfolio Marketing Manager, TLCC, Mr. Onyeka Okoli, explained further that consumers were required to look under the bottle cap and text the code under the cap to designated numbers to qualify for various prizes.

“Consumers who participate up to 10 times each month will qualify to enter for monthly grand draw where various prizes will be won.

Six grand draws would be held throughout the duration of promo at different locations,” he said.

ORide Restates Commitment to Safety Motorbike hailing service, Oride, has restated its commitment to safety in its areas of operations as part of its responsibilities to the country.

The firm gave this reassurance when the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, paid a courtesy visit to its Lagos head office in Ikeja, recently.

Speaking during the visit, Country Manager of OPay, Iniabasi Akpan , stressed the objectives and vision of the company was to address transportation issues of getting people and goods to their destination, in a timely and safe fashion.

He said the firm had met its objectives within a short period it started operations in the country.

According to him, the company which has extended operations to cover South East and North, has been able to tackle the social and economic problems of unemployment, absorbing a good number of unemployed population into its system since inception in May this year.

Responding, Muazu assured of police support to ensure smooth running of the business.

He in particularly, praised the company on how its modus operandi had helped in great amount to

Three States Qualify for Semi-final at Cowbellpedia Contest Three states including Oyo, Ogun and Rivers have emerged semi-finalists in the the season five of the Cowbell Mathematics competition.

Representatives of the states in their respective junior and senior schools schools were able to pick the last sets of semi-final tickets in the contest after a successful performance in a tough screening exercise.

They included David Charles of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt and Toluwanimi Adeeko of Rhema Chapel International college Ibadan, for the junior category.

While representatives from the senior category were Folayemi Oyekunle of Deeper Life High School, Ibadan and Gift Omoegbeleghan from the Crescent International High School, Ijoko-Ota, Ogun State.

With their emergence, their colleagues from other schools in Edo, Bayelsa, Osun, Kebbi, Jalingo and Ebonyi were knocked out of the competition.

The exercise is expected to run for 13 weeks and it is divided into nine preliminary stages and three semi-finals before the grand finale next month.

This year’s edition is living up to its billing in terms of excitement and reward as promised by the organisers in line with its goal of ‘nurturing great inventors’.

Away from the N2 million grand prize, Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, the sponsor of the show , Mr. Anders Einarsson disclosed that the winner in each of the two categories, (junior and senior) would enjoy an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country at the end of the initiative.

“In addition, the first and second runners-up in each category will receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, while the teachers of the top prize winners will be awarded N500, 000. Those of the first and second runners-up will receive N400, 000 and N300, 000 respectively,” he said.

curtail criminal acts and securing lives of lagosians.

“ORide ensures that riders are not only trained to international standards (and by third party verified trainers) but also undergo verifications processes before they join the programme. Some other processes include providing two guarantors and a riders license.

“I know for the riders, you are engaging them in training, you have do’s and don’ts for them and also know them very well. They aren’t like the regular bikers you see on the road and the business is well regulated. “

Safeguard Encourages Kids Play in New TV Commercial Safeguard soap, a product of Procter and Gamble, has unveiled a new television commercial (TVC), tagged ‘Childhood Non-Stop’ to encourage play in children as an opportunity for learning.

The 30 seconds TVC highlights the importance of play in the development of a child’s cognitive development as well as social skills.

It also stressed the need for parents to allow their kids do more outdoor games, with the assurance that Safeguard provides protection from all types of germs.

The brand further expressed its belief that restricting play would stop children from learning, saying, the focus should be on protecting children from germs as they indulge in favorite outdoor games and explore the world.

Providing more information on the commercial, Brand Manager of the company, Oluwaseun Balogun, emphasised the importance of nature on kids, especially in building their confidence, creativity and stimulating senses.

“But, kids today spend half as much time outside as their parents did. This is a growing trend that needs to be addressed. We ran a poll on why parent don’t allow their kids play outside as much as we did back in the days and the result showed that many of them worry about their kids contracting germs.

Their worries are valid, however, we also cannot stop kids from playing. What we can do is protect them from these germs and that is what Safeguard does. Protection from all sorts of germs for the kids and for the whole family,” he expressed.

21st Century Wins Big at NTITA Awards Foremost Information Communication Technology (ICT), company, 21st Century Technologies (21 CTL), has emerged Integrated ICT Solutions Provider of the year at the Nigeria Tech Innovations and Telecom Awards (NTITA).

The Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of firm, Mr. Wale Ajisebutu, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

NTITA, an initiative of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCONl and Instinct Wave, is recognised to be the most celebrated industry award event, which has grown to be the Oscars of the ICT and Telecoms Industry, attracting top decision makers and companies in the sector.

According to President of ATCON, Olusola Teniola, the 2019 edition of the award had been packaged to showcase and reward individuals and corporate organisations that are changing the narratives of the Nigerian Telecom and ICT sector positively.

He noted that in particular, the award initiative sought to honour government institutions as well as telecom and IT companies that have championed innovation and creativity in the sector.

He said: “This innovation has impacted positively

on the products and services being rendered by all these organisations and ATCON thought the only way to encourage further innovation in the industry is to reward those who are not resting on their oars but striving to make a difference in the sector “Nigeria as a nation can only take advantage of the digital revolution that is going on in the world if more attention is given towards youth creativity and innovations, that guarantee maximum investment.

“It is believed that the adoption of creativity and innovation would automatically lead to further investment in the sector both locally and internationally.”

He further added that the Hall of fame was reserved for people who had made indelible marks in the development of the sector, while those who wear the cap only emerged after a rigorous selection exercise.

21CTL was founded and registered in 1997 and began operations in 1999, in the 20th Century.

The company obtained a Tier IV certification from Uptime Institute, the first in Africa to receive such. By the certification, the firm has become the most certified ICT firm in the country.

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Ë&#x153; Ëž OCTOBER 12, 2019

PERSPECTIVE 2020 Health Budget: Citizens, Health Associations Appeal to NASS Judith Ann-Walker

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or the fifth year in succession, the health sector has been relegated to a less significant sector in terms of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national priorities in the annual budget. Both the 2014 Budget for Jobs and Inclusive Growth and the 2015 budget of Transition allocated only 5.78% to the health sector.

The 2016 Budget of Change was no better with only a 4% allocation. This was also the case for the 2017 Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth; the 2018 Budget of Consolidation; and the 2019 Budget of Continuity with 4%, 4.4% and 4.75% allocated respectively.

With a gloomy 2020 global economic forecast and an annual population growth rate of 2.6%, it is easy to be persuaded by the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disproportionate prioritization of the economy. Not surprisingly, the 2020 budget, dubbed the budget of Sustaining Growth and Job Creation, similar to the 2014 budget, focuses squarely on economic development. However, to balance off the disproportionate focus on infrastructure, transportation and the economy, the government of the day has paid some limited attention to the social sector by allocating billions to social investment programs, to education and SDG 5 - Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls - which received more than half of the N40 billion allocated to SDG funds.

Lawan Budgeting is a difficult task and no government can satisfy all sectoral interests.

However, in budgeting for the people, the government must be consistent with its own policy pronouncements on the centrality of health in its human development program. Indeed, it is page 3 of the Call Circular for the Budget of 2020 where health came in first place for honorable mention as government guided MDAs on budgeting principles: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Prominence should also be accorded to human capital development, specifically Health, Education and Social Inclusionâ&#x20AC;?.

The 2020 budget has done justice to government guidelines on education and social inclusion. But where is health? The proposed 2020 budget of the Federal Ministry of Health is N46 billion, which amounts to just 4.14% of the budget as against the 4.75% of the 2019 approved budget. This means that instead of moving forward we have moved backward, losing the match before the whistle is blown.

But perhaps more worrying is that the statu-

tory transfer of the 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) has been cut by half. The Federal Government has proposed N44.50 billion for the Basic Health Care Fund in the 2020 budget. This does not appear to be in accordance with the National Health Act (2014). In the Act, the Federal Government ought to allocate at least 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for BHCF, which should be about N81.55 billion.

In the face of this deprioritization and disinvestment in the health sector, professional health associations and Nigerian citizens are calling upon the Legislature to reposition health as a catalytic sector for national development. Civil society organizations under the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale (PACFaH@Scale) coalition, call on the Legislature not to be confused by the argument that funds released to the health sector are returned to the treasury on an annual basis. This is not an indication that the health sector is adequately funded. Rather, this is evidence that late releases and poor fiscal discipline lead to costs overruns a host of incomplete health sector capital projects. Happily, the 2020 budget lays emphasis on completing ongoing projects â&#x20AC;&#x153;rather than commencing new onesâ&#x20AC;?.

So as the 9th NASS studies, reviews and analyzes the 2020 budget, citizens and civics of Nigeria call upon Legislators to score a goal for health. A goal for health is a goal for every other sector- education, infrastructure, transport - all sectors. A healthy population is a productive population.

Dr. Judith Ann-Walker is the Executive Director, Development Research and Projects Centre, anchors of the Partnership for Advocacy in child and family Health At Scale, PACFaH@Scale. She can be reached at drpc20022002@yahoo.com

About $582bn Stolen from Nigeria Since 1960, Says Chatham House Bennett Oghifo

C

hatham House, a British thinktank, estimates that $582bn has been stolen from Nigeria since it won independence in 1960.

This revelation is contained in an article, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Catch me if you can, African kleptocrats are finding it tougher to stash cash in the West.

The days of brazen looting and laundering have passed,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; published in the latest edition of The Economist Magazine, online edition, published on Thursday this week.

The article, which is an expose of how some African leaders steal their countries blind, says â&#x20AC;&#x153;LIGHT-FINGERED tyrants are looking back wistfully. In past decades they could stash their illicit wealth in the West. Friendly lawyers, banks and middlemen were on hand to park the loot. Sani Abacha, the military dictator who ran Nigeria in the 1990s, deposited billions of dollars in banks across the rich world, no questions asked. Western governments often seemed equally confused.â&#x20AC;?

According to the article, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Corruption Unit says its investigations have led to the confiscation of ÂŁ76m ($117m) in laundered loot since 2006. Another ÂŁ791m has been frozen worldwide thanks to its work. Yet that barely makes a dent in the ÂŁ100bn of illicit funds which Steve Goodrich at Transparency International, a watchdog, reckons enters Britain every year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seizures are still the exception,â&#x20AC;? says Jason

Sharman, an expert in international corruption at Cambridge University. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty money still gets through most of the time.â&#x20AC;?

Giving a clue on the movement of the stolen money, the article says â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best way to hide and move stolen wealth is to set up a raft of anonymous shell companies and bank accounts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Questionable payments linked to Mr Sassou Nguessoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son passed through Cyprus, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, Global Witness, another watchdog, reported in August. The EU is trying to make this sort of thing harder by forcing member states to publish registers disclosing the beneficial owners of companies.â&#x20AC;?

What could address the problem, the article says is Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Unexplained Wealth Ordersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, another innovation introduced that allow courts to order â&#x20AC;&#x153;politically exposed personsâ&#x20AC;? to explain why their assets are so much larger than their salaries back home. The first was issued last year, it says.

African states also complain that little of what is recovered is ever sent back, the article says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;America, Britain and Switzerland have had some success. More than $1bn seized from Mr Abachaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bank accounts has been returned.

But many African states have not helped their cause, often because thieving politicians are still in charge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Switzerland returned $500m of Mr Abachaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money, most of it disappeared again.

The World Bank has programmes to guard against such things, but some Western states remain wary, and rightly so.â&#x20AC;?

It states that tough laws will not work unless

everyone imposes them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there is a gap, then the money-launderers will find it,â&#x20AC;? says Max Heywood, Transparency Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global advocacy coordinator. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Willing and effective implementation is vital. Some surprising places, such as Switzerland and Jersey, have grown more robust in this regard. But America leads the way. The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative at the Department of Justice has seized stolen loot not just in America, but abroad. â&#x20AC;&#x153; The US is aggressive in enforcement,â&#x20AC;? says Matthew Axelrod, a former DoJ official now at Linklaters, a law firm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Penalties are very high and prosecutors are insulated from political interference.â&#x20AC;?

The article says Europe lags behind. Its law-enforcement agencies are often underresourced. Investigators struggle when dirty money is held in several countries.

Britain has spearheaded the International Anti-corruption Co-ordination Centre, created in 2017. Its head, Rupert Broad, says pooling intelligence has led to the arrest of five senior officials in four African states. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most important thing, campaigners say, is to take steps to stop dirty money arriving in the first place. Banks are becoming better at reporting dodgy deposits.

Purveyors of luxury goods are less alert. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boat dealers in the Netherlands are supposed to flag suspicious purchases. But of 40,959 suspicious-activity reports to Dutch authorities in 2015, just three came from yacht-dealers, Transparency found.â&#x20AC;?

SATURDAY OCTOBER 12, 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

NEWSXTRA

EFCC Presents N111m Recovered from 'Treasury Looters' to Kwara Gov

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday presented N111, 428, 891.00 cash recoveredfromtreasurylootersto theKwaraStateGovernor,Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Speakingduringthepresentation at the office of the EFCC in Ilorin, the zonal head, Mr. Isyaku Shari,saidthecommissionwhich startedworkinFebruarythisyear

at the zonal office had achieved a lot in terms of recovery and convictionofcorruptindividuals.

Headdedthatthecommission alsosavedthestatefromfinancial recklessness in May this year at the eve of handing and taking over of government.

"We have 29 convictions and over N500 million recovery of both assets and cash, part of this recovery is the N111, 428, 891.00 cashrecoveryfortheKwaraState Government.

"This recovery is from suspected Kwara State treasury looters. The suspects alleged to havecriminallymisappropriated landed properties of Harmony Holdings while others diverted funds meant for micro small and medium credit scheme. The suspects cut across political office holders, traditional rulers and top civil servants," he said.

He added that he was mandated by the Chairman of the commission Mr. Ibrahim . Magu

to present the draft of the cash recovered as part of their contributioningettingridofeconomicand financialCrimes-relatedoffences in the state and promised their continued support to the state.

In his response, Abdulrazaq thankedtheEFCCanddisclosed that the cash would be used for thesocialinvestmentprogramme in the state to lift poor people out of poverty.

"We are overwhelmed because history is being made

in Kwara State with the return of our money recovered by the EFCC especially now that there are many projects to embark on.

"As we promised to replicate the federal government social investment programmes, this cash would be used for that programme and we will make our people realise that the seed money for social investment programme before we came into power was also recovered.

"The money will go into social investment programme

of the state and also go into most neededprogrammes.Wewould let our people know that it is the money realised by the EFCC we are giving them so that they can pay back when they get the loan.

It will help to lift thousands of people out of poverty," adding that the money won't be used for any project.

While commending the commission, he said "indeed EFCC is a partner in progress. Nigerians should join hands with them by building its capacity."

Flood Submerges Akeredolu's Mother’s Village James Sowole in Akure

GOING GRASSROOTS...

L-R: Wife of former Governor of old Enugu State, Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Nwodo; Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; new Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Anthony Ikenna Nwodo; Junior Nwodo and the President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, shortly after Ikenna was sworn -in as a Special Adviser at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday

Hundreds of residents of communities in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State were rendered homeless sequel to flood that ravaged their houses.

Some of the communities ravaged by flood that followed torrential rain of several days included Igbotu, the hometown of the mother of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Chairman of Eseodo Local Government, Mr. Omolewa Ojo and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Jimi Kufo.

Other affected communities are Igbobini, Iluagbo, Sabome, Inikorogha, Oboro, Ojuala, Ipoke and Igbekebo, the headquarters of the Eseodo Local Government.

Apart from the residents that were rendered homeless, all the roads linking the communities including Igbobini-Irele have been cut, forcing the people to use canoe to access their destinations.

The people who are predominantly of Apoi and Ijaw are now living in churches, schools and under tents erected on roads.

The Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Ojo said thousands of the people in the local government had been rendered homeless because of the flood.

Ojo said many of the residents especially children had been trapped in their houses because of the flood.

He called on both the federal and state governments to come to their aids so that the people could live their normal lives.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Kufo said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) would soon distribute relief materials to the people.

Kufo cautioned people against building their house along canals just as he warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways.

Sultan Advocates Stiff Penalty for Out of School Children’s Parents

Policy of Subsidised Sanitary Pads for School Girls Underway

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III yesterday said that henceforth the parents of out of school children would face the full wrath of law for refusing to send their children to school.

He stated this at Sultan Maccido institute, Sokoto, in an event to commemorate international day of Girl -child organised by Sultanate council..

The traditional and religious leader explained that Islam

was not against girl-child education as speculated in some quarters.

"We in the caliphate hold education in high esteem because the caliphate and Islam was built on knowledge," he said. He further added that he would soon convene the meeting of Northern traditional rulers in Kaduna to get the statistics of children out of school in each emirate and chiefdom.

Sultan averred that in the next year event the council would organise debates for

all the schools in Sokoto State where the winners will go home with prizes and scholarships.

He encouraged married women who were yet to acquire Western education to do so as it was never late.

"If you are a married woman and you are yet to acquire Western education, it is never late as you can enroll in adult education," he counseled.

On her part, a guest speaker at the occasion, Prof. Sadiya Omar Bello said she was

worried at number of out of school children which she said was about 13 million in Nigeria where girls account for about 7million and Northern Nigeria have 65 per cent of the same number.

She encouraged parents to accord priority to girl-child education saying girls, if educated would contribute to the development of society.

There was good will messages from chairperson of NAWOJ, Comrade Zainab Saidu and other women organisations.

Kolade Chairs as Anya Delivers TheNiche Annual Lecture Aformer chief executive officer oftheNigeriaEconomicSummit Group (NESG) and scholar of international repute, Professor Anya O. Anya will speak on ‘Business and Accountable Governance: The Obligation of Leadership’ at TheNiche Newspaper second annual lecture, scheduled for October 15.

Former diplomat, boardroom giant, and academic, Dr. Christopher Kolade, will chair the event, which holds at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos at 10a.m.

Kolade’s analytical mind will gel with Anya’s erudition

to create an environment for a healthy debate by professionals who are also scholars, experts, andstakeholdersintheNigerian Project.

A statement signed by the TheNiche Executive Editor, Oguwike Nwachuku noted that “the lecture series is the contribution of TheNiche to a Nigeria of everyone’s dream, an avenue for thinkers and experts to rub minds on the best way to grow the polity and economy.”

He said this year, Anya, a Professor of Biology and one of Nigeria's finest intellectuals, will stir minds in the debate, “in line with our pledge last year

to do so.”

Others who have accepted invitation to the lecture include governors, traditional rulers, public servants, captains of industry, the media, and key members of civil society organisations.

“At the event, TheNiche will also recognise some individuals and corporate bodies who have shown commitment to industry, good governance, and accountability in their activities that are in public interest,” Nwachuku said. TheNiche, published by Acclaim Communications Limited, started the series last year, which also marked the fourth

anniversary of the newspaper.

Last year’s lecture was delivered by Professor Kingsley Moghalu, presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2019 election; and chaired by Professor Remi Sonaiya, presidential candidate of KOWA party in 2015.

TheNiche, an incisive, analytical and investigative newspaper, debuted in April 2014 in both hard copy and online.

It migrated fully online in November 2017, and continues to play its watchdog role with factual, fair, and balanced reporting.

Secondary school girls, especially in rural communities can begin to look forward to their monthly menstrual period, even as policy to subsidise the cost of sanitary pads, as well as its free distribution is in the process of taking effect.

The Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Ms. Mary Ekpere, who stated this, yesterday, in commemoration of the 2019 International Day of the Girl and with the theme "Girlsforce: unscripted... Unstoppable" and "empowering girls for a brighter tomorrow" said the centre was in talks with sanitary pad producing companies towards ensuring that the price of pads are subsidised.

She added that corporate organisations were also not left out in the quest towards ensuring that as part of their social responsibility, contributions to the cheap and availability of sanitary pads were achieved and that young girls did not have to suffer as a result of the high cost of the necessity.

Ekpere said even though so much had been achieved, there was still. much to be desired as child marriage still exists, alongside daily occurrences of gender based violence against the girl child with some of the being turned into sex slaves.

She lamented that in as much as girls today were pushing barriers and challenges that hitherto hindered their progress, most were unable to complete their basic education due to insecurity and vulnerability of the family among others.

She said: "We have a menstrual hygiene corner in our programme whereby many of you could just drop N10 or N20 and there's an arrangement with most of these companies who produce sanitary pads who will now sell at subsidised rates of which we will distribute to rural areas, especially to secondary schools in particular.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΁

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SPORTS XTRA

Brazil Seek to End Three-game Winless Run with Win over Nigeria Ndidi says Taranga Lions game will help Eagles beat Selecao

B

razil’s Coach Tite has called on his players to step up and deliver a good performance when they face Nigeria in Sunday’s international friendly at the Kallang National Stadium; Singapore after the Selecao drew 1-1 with Senegal on Thursday.

Brazil are now on their longest run without a win since 2013, after drawing 2-2 with Colombia and lost 1-0 to Peru in last month’s friendlies.

Tite was critical of his players after the game and asked them to give more on the pitch in their next game.

“We were below what we can do. The squad played less than what it can play. It was less competitive than what it can be.

The squad can give more than

this. This wasn’t a good game.

We need to get results. When we don’t, criticism emerges and I have to be mature enough to absorb it,” Tite said at his postmatch news conference.

Neymar became the youngest player to earn 100th cap for Brazil, but the player struggled to impose himself on the game. Tite admitted the 27-year-old is still far from being 100 per cent having missed a few months through injury and transfer drama.

“He is getting back to his normal patterns. We are also making adjustments for him in the 4-4-2 system, as we’re doing within the whole team,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi has been talking tough ahead of the Super Eagles’ eagerly anticipated friendly encounter with the Selecao, with the midfielder convinced that

Nigeria has enough in attack and defense to hurt their opponents on Sunday.

Ndidi is optimistic that the team’s preparation will help them overcome the Samba Boys, most especially after watching them drew with Senegal on Thursday and Ndidi believes a few weaknesses observed in the Brazilian team could be exploited by him and his teammates.

“We watched the game between Brazil and Senegal, it was a good game and we have been preparing based on that, plus working on our shape,” Ndidi said.

“We have to find our solutions, while we’re trying to go deal with them, we are also mindful of our back.

Corroborating the Leicester City midfielder optimism, former Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Babayaro, who described Sunday’s friendly against Brazil as a good test for the Super Eagles suggested the Samba Boys are no longer the invincible team they used to be, and Nigeria have a chance of getting a good result against the five-time world champions if they get their acts right on Sunday in Singapore.

“I think it is a good test for the Super Eagles even though I don’t see this present Brazil team as the same as we used to know,” Babayaro told Goal.

“Since after the World Cup they hosted,I have not seen Brazil do anything quite spectacular but the fact still remains Brazil is Brazil

any day and they have quality players like Neymar and the likes in their team, so they would definitely be a good test for our team but we can get a good result against them if we get our acts right.”

Withtheseasonstillveryyoung across the globe, Babayaro suggests that players may likely be cautious during Sunday’s game so fans might not see the very best of performances.

“In games like this, you might not get the very best from players because they would not want to go back to their respective club injured, most players tread cautiously in this kind of in-between season friendly games,” Babayaro continued.

Whilereflectingonthe1-1draw

recorded between Senegal and Brazil on Thursday, Babayaro - a member of the Nigeria U17 team that won World Cup in 1993 - said it may influence Sunday’s game.

“The result from Thursday’s game could rub off on how Sunday’s friendly will go,” he added.

“AfterdrawingagainstSenegal in their last outing, Brazil can either come all out to make sure they win against Nigeria and also the Super Eagles can also draw inspiration that if Senegal can hold the Brazil team, they can do same if not better.”

Nigeria are set to face Brazil in an international friendly match slated for Singapore on Sunday, with kickoff billed for 1pm Nigerian time.

Lawal Gives Reason for Super Eagles’ Loss to Brazil in Abuja Brazil beat Nigeria in 2003 because the South Americans were more determined and highly motivated for the game former Super Eagles Midfielder Garba Lawal has told www. brila.net.

It was the first meeting between the two at senior level following Nigeria’s dramatic 4-3 victory at the Olympic Games in 1996 and the pain of the defeat inspired their performance in Abuja, Lawal believes.

“We had a full strength team in Abuja, but Brazil came ready and with a complete squad and we didn’t expect how much importance they attached to the game,” the former midfielder said.

“We now know that whenever they come to play against us, they come with anger and determination. It could be a

friendly on paper but it really isn’t.”

The 45 year-old was capped 57 times and played all 90 minutes in the friendly against Brazil at the Abuja National Stadium.

On Sunday, October 13, the two will meet for only the second time at the senior level and Lawal has warned the can be no room for complacency.

“When you play against Brazil you must play as a team, everybody must play together otherwise they’ll punish us.

“We must take our chances and avoid costly mistakes.

I believe our team will excel because they’re young and can play with intensity.

“But what you want to avoid is any individual play because like Barcelona this is a very technical and compact side.”

Neymar Jr of Brazil is challenged by Salif Sane of Senegal during the international friendly match between Brazil and Senegal at the Singapore National Stadium on Thursday in Singapore

Dennerby Confirms Resignation as Super Falcons Coach Iwobi Tries Convincing Bournemouth’s Midfielder to Dump Denmark for Nigeria The Super Eagles playmaker believes that Bournemouth’s Philip Billing has the ability to do well in the green and white colours of Nigeria and has reportedly been trying to convince the Danish youngster to switch his allegiance.

Philip Anyanwu Billing, 23, plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth and, having only represented Denmark at under-19 and under-21 level, is still eligible to play for Nigeria.

Alex Iwobi and Everton came up against Billing and the Cherries a couple of weeks ago, a game Bournemouth won 3-1, and the Nigerian saw enough from the Danish youth international to speak to him about considering playing for Gernot Rohr’s men.

In quotes translated from BT,

Billing said: “It wasn’t until when we (Bournemouth) were going to play against Everton a couple of weeks ago when Alex Iwobi asked if I might be interested in coming and playing for Nigeria.

“He said the coach had asked me. It was the first time I heard anything concrete myself.”

He added: “It’s a pat on the back that another country would like you to play for them. I just take that as a shrug and proof that you are doing well.

“It would feel strange to have to play for Nigeria, even though my father is from there.

“I am half Nigerian and I feel that way too but I was born and raised in Denmark.

My mother is Danish and my sister is Danish, so it would feel strange to have to play for Nigeria.”

Thomas Dennerby has resigned as head coach of Nigeria’s women’s team after a year and eight months in charge.

The Swedish tactician boycotted the Super Falcons’ doubleheader against Cote d’Ivoire after unresolved issues with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), reportedly due to lack of cooperation and interference.

The 60-year-old coach, who led Sweden to finish third at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany, had signed a two-anda-half-year contract to take charge of the team in January 2018.

In his time in charge, Dennerby led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2018 Wafu Women’s Cup in Cote d’Ivoire, where he returned to lift the title in 2019. He also won

the 2018 African Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana and later steered the nation to the Women’s World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 20 years in France earlier this summer.

The NFF on Friday confirmed reports that the Swede had stepped down, allegedly due to his demand for more expatriate and unqualified local coaches.

“As for Thomas Dennerby, we have received his resignation letter and of course, he has his right to resign from a job,” the NFF revealed in a series of Tweets via its Twitter handle. “We want to put it on record that no head coach in the history of the Super Falcons has been afforded the level and readiness of support that has

been provided Dennerby by this board.

“Perhaps, one of the reasons he left was because we did not accede to his request to bring in more expatriate coaches and an indigenous coach who does not have the required license.

“If we had agreed to his request for more expatriate coaches that would have left our indigenous coaches presently with the team in the lurch.”

Despite the sad end, Dennerby will not comment on issues leading to his resignation while appreciating the NFF for the opportunity to lead the African champions.

“I, Thomas Dennerby, have terminated my contract agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation,” Dennerby told Goal.

Djokovic, Federer Knocked out of Shanghai Masters Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The world No 1 fell at the hands ofStefanosTsitsipas,whileFederer wasdefeatedbyAlexanderZverev on a dramatic day in China.

The conqueror of Djokovic, Tsitsipas, has struggled in recent months but found his form to produce a superb 3-6 7-5 6-3

victory - his second career win over Djokovic.

Djokovic sits at the top of the rankings at the moment but trails Rafa Nadal in the yearly standings and,withtheSpaniardabsentfrom Shanghai, had hoped to make up significant ground in China. “He deserved the victory,” Djokovic said. “He was the better player in the second and third sets. I started well in the first set, but I wasn’t

sharp enough.

“Stefanos had the high-quality tennis and he played very well after his serve,” the Serb added on the ATP Tour website.

“He was backing up his serve with really good and aggressive first shots in the rally. I didn’t make him defend enough. I just gave him enough time to really dictate the play from the back of the court and he deserved to win.”

Until Friday’s match, Djokovic had won 24 straight sets in Asia, a run that included last year’s Shanghai Masters and the title in Tokyo last week.

Tsitsipas’victoryensuredhewill make his debut at the ATP Finals in London next month.

Federer followed Djokovic out of the competition by losing a dramatic last eight clash 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 to Alexander Zverev.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

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LCCI on Budget 2020 From the total budget size of N10.3tn, having a recurrent component of N4.88tn and debt service of N2.45tn, there is not much left for infrastructure development.

– The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry punching holes in the budget 2020 presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Social Media and President Buhari’s Imaginary Wedding of the Century

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ellow Nigerians, these are very interesting and humorous times indeed! Barely one week after the Big Brother Naija show was concluded, ending our light relief, some restless Nigerians have started their own nebulous reality show in earnest. To say Nigerians are well endowed with fecund imaginations and fantastic creativity would be an understatement.

This is why rumourmongering is big business in this climate.

Let me reassure you that it didn’t just start today. Many are blaming the proliferation of social media and the affordability of internet data for this unusual surge in the wild speculations and stories flying everywhere today, but I wish to disagree with this theory. This is a major aspect of my research work at The African Studies Centre, University of Oxford.

Society Journalism is not new to Nigeria or Africa. This genre thrives on wild rumours and fertile imaginations. It was once described as junk journalism. And society loves junk generally because it is like fast food. People love to read and hear and discuss society people. Society people or newsmakers themselves love to gobble up junk stories, no matter how ridiculous they may be or sound. More often than not, the stories are untrue, but society still feeds on them.

Let me take you down memory lane. In May 1989, a wild rumour surfaced that nearly sent the government of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida packing. The content of the rumour was so bizarre, but even intelligent people still believed the story. It was what led to what was tagged THE SAP RIOTS. SAP was the acronym for Structural Adjustment Program which President Babangida had introduced at the time. Then came the news, which was made believable by the participation of the famous social critic, Dr Tai Solarin, who swore by Jove that the story was impeccably true. What was it all about? It turned out that this tale was what he had learnt from a brief but hasty trip to a public toilet where he had overheard a conversation in which the lurid allegations were made.

It was reported that while Nigerians were being asked to tighten their belts and lives, Babangida’s family allegedly owned some of the most exclusive and expensive boutiques in Europe. Since there was no social media to help project, propel and distribute the gossip, the promoters had to improvise by typing the tales by moonlight on stencils and printing them as leaflets.

Unlike today, that was a time when we had no social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp, it therefore remains a mystery how they were able to make those leaflets go so viral in 1989. From Lagos to Edo State and around the South West axis, the stories developed wings and began to spread across Nigeria like wildfire in harmattan. The more people tried to douse the fire, the higher the fire took a major leap of its life. And sadly, people believed the campaign of calumny against the government of the day which led to the youths taking to the roads and streets screaming “Babangida must go...” Anyone who said anything contrary was instantly considered an enemy of the people and friends of the looters. The situation was not so much different as it is today, but social media has since made such stories readily available to a willing, gullible and sometimes ignorant market.

I was away from our office at the Weekend Concord newspaper when the news broke on a horrible Wednesday. I returned on Friday afternoon by which time the first edition of the tabloid had gone to bed and already printed. The screaming headline was BLACK WEDNESDAY IN LAGOS. I immediately disagreed with my boss, Mr Mike Awoyinfa, that the headline was rather weak for a Saturday paper. He then challenged me to come up with a better headline and I picked up the

Buhari and Aisha challenge and came up with my own: RUMOURS THAT FUELLED THE RIOTS! My Editor was over the moon with his Deputy Editor, Mr Dimgba Igwe (now of blessed memory).

The next problem was how to write a good story to justify my new headline without getting into trouble with the military government of the day. Trust me, I offered to be the lamb of God who would carry the sins of the world. Interestingly, this was 30 years ago, in 1989. I ordered a bottle of beer and raised one of my legs on the table while I pumped the alcohol into my brains to emit some powerful words for one of the biggest stories of my journalism career. That was when the famous columnist, May Ellen Ezekiel, who had just lost her job at Quality magazine and was now working on her own publication, Classique magazine, but kept a column in Weekend Concord, which I edited, sauntered in and saw me drinking while writing. First it was strange, and almost sacrilegious, to find anyone drinking in the main offices of Concord newspapers, except at the popular Bush Canteen, earmarked for such purpose, and then to be writing a satanic story at that. May Ellen approached me and said “shuo, what’s going on here?” I explained the delicate story I was working on and she was excited too.

That was the day her respect for me quadrupled and she started making moves to headhunt and poach me to her magazine, to which I fell yakata about a year later.

Fortunately, that evening, our Chairman, Chief Moshood Abiola, returned from a trip to Europe and brought us copies of the Ebony magazines which was allegedly supposed to have carried the stories of the Babangida’s outlandish ownerships of expensive shops and choice properties abroad while Nigerians languished in excruciating pains.

Nothing of the sort was ever published by Ebony.

That was not the type of gossipy stuff Ebony would normally disseminate. So, I first regurgitated all the fictional anecdotes before revealing that we had laid our hands on recent editions of Ebony and nothing of the sort was contained therein.

And we published a bromide of the Ebony on the cover to prove the authenticity of our claims.

I believe our second edition on Saturday morning reportedly sold over 80,000 copies in Lagos and its environ alone. And I earned a double promotion that May 1989, when I moved straight from Staff Writer to Literary editor. Six months later, I was promoted News Editor, and it was such a meteoric rise for me. Our Managing Director, Dr Doyinsola Hamdat Abiola, who had handpicked me for the job at weekend Concord as a pioneer staff, from my former post at the African Concord magazine, was very proud of her decision.

Thus, you can imagine how I feel today, 30 years after, with another round of incredible fictionalisation, this time, about a former military ruler, now a civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari. The difference this time, I must reiterate is that the youths of today are much more audaciously creative, and

largely emboldened by their smartphones from where they can operate even more clandestinely and incognito.

No one knows how the rumours of President Buhari’s supposed whirlwind romance with one of his new Ministers surfaced and blew out of proportion such that everyone is talking about it authoritatively. Different versions of invitation cards have been designed and printed online.

Some people claimed the wedding was definitely taking place and procured their own “aso ebi”, a special uniform dress for special guests, friends and relatives. By Thursday night, I had reached out to several impeccable sources within and outside the Presidential villa and was told categorically that no such event would take place on Friday, October 11, 2019. I also confirmed that the supposed bride was not even anywhere near Nigeria. She was away overseas on national assignments.

But some new videos, purportedly showing the supposed arrival of the reportedly estranged First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, who has made England her new home and base these past months, were going viral. One of them was a loud voice lamenting how some parts of the villa had been locked up and the woman in the video was practically stridently lamenting and soliloquising about how she was being treated shabbily. “Enough is enough” was her bitter assertion in that particular video. There were other videos of the new bride dancing and being sprayed with crispy notes in what looked like a traditional wedding party. All the videos of the alleged returnee wife and the supposed incoming bride turned out to be old footage obtained from God knows where and how.

My investigations further revealed that the First Lady was also out of the country. I therefore, tweeted that there was no way such a wedding would take place in secret, but many still disagreed with me. President Buhari is a man well known for his strong convictions and would not hide behind one finger, if and when he decides to take another wife. It is not an offence against his culture and religion to marry more than more wife, so there is nothing that can stop or discourage him, if he really wants another wife. What I find odd and strange is that his handlers allowed the silly rumours to fester beyond redemption. A simple statement would have killed the unbridled rumour in its infancy.

By yesterday afternoon, the rumour came up with renewed vigour as the day of reckoning loomed with some people running commentaries like football commentators from the “wedding venue”. I have never felt so entertained and titillated in my life. My name even came into one of these spoofs. These guys are downright hilarious!

Someone created the account, Uncle Demola @OmoGbajabiamila, and ran this commentary: “Burna Boy is giving us ‘when the gbedu de enter body’ “...

“Oshiomhole don off shirt.”

“LMFAOOOooo... Chris Ngige is doing breakdance to Burna Boy’s song. Anambra people can disappoint sha!”

“Adebayo Shittu is finally here.”

“When Baba see strippers, E just de shout ‘Astagafurillahi, Astagafurillahi, Astagafurillahi!’ “ “I’m hearing noise outside. Let me go and check what’s happening.”

“There is a serious problem outside between Rochas and DSS.” “Apparently, Rochas Okorocha came with a giant statue of Buhari and he wants to bring it inside but the DSS guys won’t allow it. Where’s Abba Kyari FFS???

“Rochas just came in and he’s complaining bitterly about the DSS guys not allowing him bring the statue in.”

“Wait! Dino Melaye has been allowed to enter as Naira Marley’s backup singer. Smart man!” #BUSA19 “Naira Marley has not even started singing, Lauretta Onochie is already twerking... DSS, heissss DSS. Do your job naaau!”

“Shehu Sani is on low cut. Baba wan disguise enter. ABBA Kyari catch am. DSS is taking him away already!”

“Apparently, someone told Dele Momodu that the party had been called off. So, he didn’t bother to come.

Baba dey Twitter now de lament as e see say groove don begin.”

“LMFAOOOOooo... ABBA Kyari don bounce Dino Melaye.”

“Elrufai don show!!!”

“Goodluck Jonathan came with his own Sapele water.

Ijaw man himself. Hennessy na like Sprite for am.”

“Garba Shehu de in charge of Barbecue.”

“Be like Femi Adeshina de suspension.” “...Dem don wake Ganduje, make E come go sleep upstairs. Be like Baba don de snore.”

“Amaechi and Wike are also here but the two of them are on handcuffs so that there won’t be any fighting between them.”

“Akeredolu with this his baggy trousers sha. Who is his tailor nitori Olorun?”

“Buhari has collected the mic from Naira Marley.

Looks like he doesn’t like the Soapy song. Not sure Abike Dabiri will like this!”

“Rauf Aregbesola is drinking Malt.”

“Fashola is calling NEPA boys to bring light. Be like fuel don low for gen and Mele Kyari nor remember to buy fuel.”

“Femi Gbajabiamila is here on a Gucci up and down. Iyalaya anybody!”

“Femi Otedola and Dangote are forming big boys.

Nonsense!”

“I think I have been reported. The DSS guys are looking at me wan kain...” That’s the narrator, Uncle Demola himself.

For me, that was the height of comic relief that attended this silliness and maybe it came at the right time of acute stress everywhere. It certainly alleviated my feeling of gloom and doom. The solution is certainly not to ban or criminalise fake news. That was not done in 1989 by the more authoritarian, dictatorial military regime of Ibrahim Babangida. It should not be done now, when we are in a constitutional civilian democracy!

For me, as a journalist, the freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution is sacrosanct and, in any event, there are extant laws available to deal with any abuse or infraction. Any new law will only be used by those keen to muzzle critics and presumed opponents of government like the so-called “wailing wailers”!

My conclusion is that nothing can ever shock Nigerians again so that even if this story had been true, we would have taken it in our stride. Our proclivity for absorbing shocks is infinitesimal.

The world is waiting and watching how alleged family feuds, rebellion and relationships involving the leadership, domestic and other staff would end eventually.

Will this national drama ever lead to a denouement? Time will tell.

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