The Niche

Nigeria's Sunday Exclusive

June 01, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 7

₦200

Togo Triangle: Where stolen Nigerian crude oil is sold (2)

I was almost robbed of my Olympics gold – Ajunwa PAGE 68» TODAY'S WEATHER

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Lagos 25oC - 28oC

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Abuja 25oC - 31oC

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Port Harcourt 21oC - 25oC

Emefiele set to confront CBN tasks Stakeholders table agenda as he assumes office

By Kelechi Mgboji Assistant Business Editor

C

entral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, assumes office tomorrow with a plate full of requests and suggestions from the gamut of bankers, economists, financial analysts, insurers, manufacturers and other players.

He comes to the job from Zenith Bank where he was Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and replaces Lamido Sanusi.

Stakeholders want Emefiele to depart from the worn out track created by Sanusi. He should stimulate the economy, create jobs and turn

around the living conditions of Nigerians, they said.

Stakeholders who bared their minds to TheNiche unanimously agreed that the CBN should not continue to defend the naira and fight inflation at the expense of the economy.

They warned Emefiele not to get involved in politics and controversies and instead, concentrate on core banking activities.

Even though they praised the positive policies of the former CBN leadership, the stakeholders – also drawn from the capital market and organised labour – warned against

Continues on PAGE 4

Nwabueze: We'll go nowhere with confab Close Up

Marriage, relocation slowed me down PAGE 51»

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Jennifer Eliogu

INSIDE BUSINESS FASHION FAITH HEALTH SPORTS

39» 52» 54» 57» 66» PAGE 09»

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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investigation Togo Triangle: Where stolen Nigerian crude oil is sold (2) In the concluding part of the trail of stolen oil from the world’s sixth largest producer, investigative reporter, Emmanuel Mayah, lays hands on documents produced for transactions to make an illegal trade in stolen Nigerian crude look genuine in the Togo Triangle. Pirates are also in on the game, posing danger to buyers and sellers alike.

However, Nigerian collaborators still amass illegal proceeds enough to buy up hotels and luxury homes in some countries on the West African coast.

Continued from last Sunday ost people in the crowd at Togo Triangle are mere foot soldiers. Oil traders based anywhere in the world can remotely arrange buys. They only have to charter a tanker and provide the vessel owner and captain with technical information: where and when to pick up and offload cargo and how much.

Ship owners, captain and crew may never know the seller’s or buyer’s identity or the cargo’s provenance.

M

The thriving illegal trade of refined petroleum products creates strong incentives for piracy. Pirates target the large amounts of cash used for illegal deals, as well as the fuel, which they can then sell on the black market.

The addition of piracy into the equation makes Togo Triangle a very dangerous place to go, day or night.

Transactions and documents One of the documents Novinyo provided has as seller, GAVF International Nigeria Ltd, and PetroGhana Ltd as buyer. The inspection company is SGS-Benin. The tugboat name is MV MSS Supply; its colour blue and white and its captain Hadonou Francis. The name of the super cargo is Daniel Bright, a Ghanaian whose travel passport is reproduced on the document.

The basic steps in the transaction begins as follows: • "Buyer and seller sign and seal contract documents, copies of which are deposited by either party with his bank. Buyer raises draft in favour of seller for marine ATB to be cashable upon confirmation of the marine ATB by the buyer.

• “Seller releases his ATB and

calls the buyer super cargo on board.

Buyer's bank releases to seller's bank his bank guarantee to the full value of the cargo and commissions.

• “Seller moves vessel to Beninoise, Togolese or Ghanaian waters at buyer's request for Q&Q. Buyer's inspection agent confirms the quality and quantity, and upon certification, buyer places charter on the vessel from the vessel owner.

• “Seller procures and presents a complete set of shipping documents in favour of buyer as specified or may be required by LCD/BG. • Payment is effected by Swift Wire Transfer within 24 hours after presentation of documents as specified and the cargo led to Togolese waters.

• Buyer's vessel is allowed to sail to buyer's disport."

The document finds space to explain that the crude oil is of Nigerian origin; that the seller has the independent capacity and ability to purchase the product from the NNPC or its official lifters and re-sell to the buyer. The buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent, both also called facilitators, are each entitled to a commission of $2 per barrel.

But Novinyo has never earned $2 per barrel. Most times a group of four to six facilitators come together to work on one transaction and thereafter split the commission. He said he has heard stories of crude brazenly stolen from pipelines and loading terminals, and that officials at terminals may decide to pump more crude into a vessel.

"A vessel may have authorisation to lift 60,000 barrels of crude but someone at the terminal decides to feed it with 140,000 barrels. That is not a mistake you know. The vessel will later transfer the surplus to another tanker.

You and I are not to blame. We are only looking for something to eat," Novinyo added.

Perhaps the easiest way of stealing crude from Nigeria is through an official process called crude oil swap.

The PPMC has swap contracts with a number of companies that empowers them to lift crude oil from Nigeria for free, sell the products on the international market, and use the proceeds to import premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol.

The PPMC signed a swap agreement with SIR Refinery of Cote d’Ivoire. SIR is supposed to process the crude at its Abidjan facility, then ship the refined products, mostly petrol, kerosene and diesel back to Nigeria.

The deal entitles SIR to a $2.50 per barrel "processing fee". Between 200,000 and 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) are taken out of the country under swap arrangements with different companies; however, there is no proof there is any swap-refining going on in Cote d’Ivoire Coast. And SIR hardly lifts a finger.

SIR, owned by the Ivoirien government, has since sub-contracted the swap to another oil company called Sahara Oil. The deal allows Sahara to lift and sell all the crude oil allocated to SIR by the PPMC on the open market.

It is alleged that SIR is helping the fat cats in the NNPC to sell stolen crude taken out of Nigeria through this arrangement. Nobody can say for sure the volume of crude actually lifted by SIR even though the contract states 60,000 bpd.

A crime advertised Because of glut in illicit oil with supply sometimes outstripping demand, advertisement of stolen crude from

"A vessel may have authorisation to lift barrels of crude but someone at the terminal to feed it with 140,000 barrels. That is not a you know. The vessel will later transfer the to another tanker. You and I are not to blame. only looking for something to eat," Novinyo added.

60,000 decides mistake surplus We are

NNPC Managing Director, Andrew Yakubu.

Nigeria is common on the internet.

One read: "Hello we are expecting over 200kmt of AGO in Togo Triangle over the weekend and we need real and urgent buyers to pick the product immediately.

“I have the bill of lading and confirmation of product with me already.

Buyer signs SPA and returns then I will forward the bill of lading and the confirmation of product for buyer to raise a BCL or POF. Please only real buyers should reach me. Thanks."

The advertisement went on to give the seller's contacts and email. When this reporter called the telephone number, a male voice assured that he is a certified marketer listed in NNPC books.

Another online advertisement stated: "Bonnie Light Crude oil TTO Togo Triangle vessel available with all loading documents and CPA for a buyer to confirm and place MT799, then board for Q&Q and place MT103 thereafter.

TTT transactions – Lome/Togo Triangle/Nigerian waters.

“The price for each barrel of Bonny Light crude oil delivered on outturned barrels shall be based on

dated Brent on the date of transfer as published by McGraw Hill market wire, less discount of $6.00 per barrel; $3.00 net to buyer; $3.00 to brokers/ facilitators & consultants.

“Commissions: $1.50 seller’s agents/ brokers & facilitators – (closed) $1.50 buyer’s agents/brokers & facilitators TTO transactions – Lome/Togo Triangle/Nigerian waters.

“The price for each barrel of Bonny Light crude oil delivered on out-turned barrels shall be based on dated Brent on the date of transfer as published by McGraw Hill market wire, less discount of $6.00 per barrel; $3.00 net to buyer; $3.00 to brokers/ facilitators & consultants.

“Commissions: $1.50 seller’s agents/ brokers & facilitators – (closed) $1.50 buyer s gents/brokers & facilitators CIF transactions – buyer’s port of discharge (ASWP).

“The price for each barrel of Bonny Light crude oil delivered on out-turned barrels shall be based on dated Brent on the date of transfer as published by McGraw Hill market wire, less discount of $4.00 per barrel; $2.00 net to buyer; $2.00 to brokers/

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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The addition of piracy into the equation makes Togo Triangle a very dangerous place to go, day or night.

The ability of pirates to target tankers carrying out a ship-to-ship transfer shows that hijackers are well organised and connected, and often know beforehand that a transfer is going to take place. It is said that they use traders and prostitutes as spies.

When a tanker Energy Centurion was hijacked, the pirates had a shootout with the Togolese navy and still went away with the vessel and its content.

Back in Lome, this reporter was told that over 800 Nigerians are languishing in jail in that country. All of them are illegal migrants fleeing the economic hardship and a lack of basic infrastructure and opportunities in Nigeria.

Novinyo disclosed that many rich Nigerians, among them corrupt government officials and oil thieves, are buying up hotels and luxury homes in Benin, Togo and Ghana.

TheNiche contacted NNPC General Manager (Public Affairs), Ohi Alegbe, to comment on the report. He said he would investigate and get back to us.

But he failed to do so at press time.

• This investigation was made possible with a grant from Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Reporting.

Fact Sheet Investigation into the subsidy scheme exposed mindless corruption. For example, the government pays subsidy on 59 million litres of fuel per day, yet domestic consumption is only 35 million litres. About 24 million litres are stolen a day, diverted and sold in neighbouring countries.

A report by the International Crisis Group shows that in Benin Republic, petrol smuggled from Nigeria was about 5 per cent of national consumption in 2000. In 2011, the figure rose to 95 per cent. facilitators & consultants.

“Commissions: $1.00 seller’s agents/ brokers & facilitators – (closed) $1.00 buyer’s agents/brokers & facilitators.

“Note: the above information will be incorporated into the SPA containing seller’s information that will be presented to the buyer. Discounts are subject to change based on transactions/product availability."

A parallel oil industry Large as the market for stolen crude is, the trade in refined petroleum products from Nigeria is even more rife. The pathetic state of Nigeria's four refineries has for decades enthroned a regime of massive importation of refined products.

Very large tankers known as motherships – holding some 60,000 metric tonnes of fuel – come from Europe and elsewhere and, too big to enter port, moor offshore.

Nigerian companies charter smaller tankers – holding 5,000 to 10,000 metric tonnes – to ferry the fuel from the mothership to depots onshore, from where it is distributed to filling stations.

Because the imports are subsidised by the government, fuel is cheaper in Nigeria than in Benin, Togo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad and Niger.

Investigation into the subsidy scheme exposed mindless corrup-

tion. For example, the government pays subsidy on 59 million litres of fuel per day, yet domestic consumption is only 35 million litres. About 24 million litres are stolen a day, diverted and sold in neighbouring countries.

A report by the International Crisis Group shows that in Benin Republic, petrol smuggled from Nigeria was about 5 per cent of national consumption in 2000. In 2011, the figure rose to 95 per cent.

Every day, large wooden boats offload contraband fuel in plastic jerry cans on isolated beaches around Grand Popo in Benin and Hilakondji in Togo. There are over 50 other discharge points.

Most people in the crowd at Togo Triangle are mere foot soldiers. Oil traders based anywhere in the world can remotely arrange buys. They only have to charter a tanker and provide the vessel owner and captain with technical information: where and when to pick up and offload cargo and how much.

Ship owners, captain and crew may never know the seller’s or buyer’s identity or the cargo’s provenance.

The thriving illegal trade of refined petroleum products creates strong incentives for piracy. Pirates target the large amounts of cash used for illegal deals, as well as the fuel, which they can then sell on the black market.

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

www.thenicheng.com

News Emefiele set to confront CBN tasks

Utomi

Continued from PAGE 1 erosion of the autonomy of the CBN, which is now under attack.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) First Vice President, Issa Aremu, advised Emifiele to open new frontiers and consolidate on the positive gains of past.

According to him, one of the gains of the past is the relative stability in exchange rate and single digit inflation.

He, however, urged Emefiele not to lavish effort to sustain naira stability at the expense of the economy.

Bestworth Assets and Trust Managing Director, Adesola Adeniyi, urged him to determine from outset what the CBN should achieve under his watch.

His words: “Does the CBN want to stimulate growth of the economy, encourage investment, help banks to be able to lend more? Why are the banks not lending as they should to the manufacturing sector? If they have certain fears or challenges, how can we mitigate these challenges?

“What do we need to put in place to encourage banks so that they will lend more to manufacturers and there will be real production and jobs will be created and the circle continues?

“When there is more employment, people will be more financially empowered and then the per capita income will continue to improve. These are some of the things that we should concentrate attention on.”

Manufacturers raised the bar for Emefiele, demanding

Aremu

Emefiele single digit interest rate.

They said without it the economy may be left completely in the hands of foreign investors who have access to cheap funds from their home countries.

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Director General, Muda Yusuf, reiterated that the manufacturing sector was gloomy in the first quarter of the year because of bad micro and macro-economic policies.

He blamed high interest rates on the tight monetary policy of the CBN, saying with the stability in the economy, there is compelling need to lower interest rates so that the cost of funds will reduce to enable made-in-Nigeria products compete with imported variants.

In the words of Aremu, the rates are not industry-friendly and need to be crashed to move the economy forward.

He added: “The rates are useful to manage inflation but they are not good for industrialisation. What the economy requires at this stage is industrialisation.

“To propel industrialisation, no serious producer can borrow at between 22 per cent and 23 per cent interest.

We are looking forward to a CBN that will return interest rate to a single digit.

“Besides, Sanusi tried to innovate development financing through special intervention funds. Emefiele should consolidate on those special intervention funds, especially those for automobile, aviation, textile and SMEs (small and medium-scale enterprises).”

Professor Pat Utomi, an economic expert, urged Eme-

“Interest rates are useful to manage inflation but they are not good for industrialisation.

What the economy requires at this stage is industrialisation.

“To propel industrialisation, no serious producer can borrow at between 22 per cent and 23 per cent interest. We are looking forward to a CBN that will return interest rate to a single digit.

“Besides, Emefiele should consolidate on those special intervention funds, especially those for automobile, aviation, textile and SMEs.”

fiele to build a strong CBN institution, rather than building himself up as a strong man, like Lamido, whom he described as a lone ranger.

The biggest challenge for Emefiele is how to undo “the damage done by Sanusi that will require courage to redress. The levels of abuse by Sanusi are unbelievable. Nigerians will eventually hear all of them,” Utomi stated.

“I know many of such abuses. And when Nigerians hear all of them, they will be shocked.

Utomi also wants Emefiele to refocus CBN on the business of central banking.

“Right now, the CBN has become school development officer of Nigeria, donating money to every secondary school and university out of the whims of political orientation of his predecessor. The CBN has to know that this is wrong.”

He lamented that Sanusi created the impression that

Nigerian bankers are all crooks and implored Emefiele to change that impression because confidence is the essence of banking. “If you tell the world that all your bankers are criminals, how will they deal with crooks?”

Besides, the new CBN boss should stop “the over regulation of banks which is stifling the industry. Banks cannot breathe without thinking of the CBN. The general mood in the industry is that banking has been made so onerous with so many regulations.

“You turn here it is the CBN, you turn the other way it is the CBN. The strategies of banks are constrained. So Emefiele has to find a way of returning banks to their glory when banking was exciting and wealth was being created.”

According to Utomi, the problem is that unfortunately Nigeria is entering into elec-

tion year when ordinarily, the Central Bank will want to defend the naira.

But it is not a wise thing to continue to defend the currency without the sense of a limit, he insisted.

“If you defend so much, we get the experience that we had in 1980s when they defended and defended.

Eventually when the naira crashed, the trauma was too much for investors to bear.

“There are a lot of uncertainties concerning the environment. That uncertainty is leading to capital flight. It often happens that towards elections many people are usually afraid of what the outcome will be. They begin to take positions outside of the currency to protect themselves abroad.

“That is a challenge obviously that puts pressure on the local currency.

Utomi maintained that devaluation of the naira depends on what the CBN is doing. “If you are on the frontier, you won’t feel the impact. You walk out quite better. But if you are import dependent, obviously the cost of your goods will go up significantly in the local market, and your market share and size will take a hit.”

Utomi lamented that the best talents in the banking industry “have been destroyed.

About 200 quality banks have been ruined over the past 20 years for real and imagined offences, many of them more imagined than real as a result of excessive focus on power and strongman, self-driven egomania syndrome.

“Human beings just crushed them so that they could get what they want. Some of

what they called banking reforms was just a stealing of other people’s strategy. They are open robbery and all of that.”

He said instead of going a methodic way to correct problems and move forward, the abuse of power led to the crippling of institutions and persons. “As we go back to the late Sani Abacha-era reforms in the banking industry, the best players were hounded and put out of the industry on propped up charges.

“The people who carried out the reforms and the persecutors of other people, the Abachas and co, we know today what they did. Most of those professional bankers did not do even one millionth of what the Abacha people did; that is if they did anything at all. Because we know that some did absolutely nothing at all.”

Utomi urged Emefiele to learn to build up institutional memory from those experiences, mindful that there is something wrong in the system, he would clean it out, save the system and keep moving.

“We can clean it out and move on without the abuse of power and crippling of the opportunities of others and some of the things that people will find tomorrow that those who did those things did much worse.”

All the stakeholders warned Emefiele to learn from the mistakes of his predecessors by developing autonomous approach to issues and not throw his hat into the ring on controversial policies that gave the CBN away as partisan.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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News Furore over unpaid allowances rattles confab leadership

By Chuks Ehirim Assistant Editor, North

A

nother rowdy session would have taken place at the national conference on May 28 but for the death, same day, of Mariam Kutigi, wife of conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi.

Religion and other tetchy issues threatened to divide the confab.

The greatest concern of the conference secretariat, however, is how to pacify delegates over unpaid allowances which have accumulated for five weeks.

Each delegate is entitled to N1.46 million per week, but the secretariat staff have allegedly breached the agreement to pay the allowances two weeks in advance and instead pay in arrears.

TheNiche published the story on May 25 that the money is allegedly being paid into a fixed deposit account in a bank owned by the son of one of the conference leaders.

Assistant Secretary (Media and Publications), Akpandem James, denied that the delay in payment is caused by secretariat, saying the staff do not handle money as transactions are done electronically.

“If you know the rules of

procedures of this conference, then you will dismiss what they are saying as rumours and fabrications. Nobody among the conference officials touches money.”

James said those who handle money in the conference were seconded from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Another source in the confab secretariat told TheNiche that delegates have been paid one month's allowance.

However, it was learnt that a day after the story broke the conference leadership convened a meeting to deliberate on why the allowances have not been paid four weeks running.

A source who attended the meeting said neither the conference leadership nor the office of the SGF could explain the delay.

The blame game shifted to the Ministry of Finance, with the allegation that Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, did not approve the voucher.

A delegate with civil society background said the delay reinforces the suspicion that Abuja is upset because delegates are not keen on the idea of a single six-year presidential term the Villa floated.

“The reason for this failure to pay our allowances cannot be far fetched. The Presidency

2.

Kutigi may have decided to apply the arm twisting approach since it is no longer sure that the conference will do its bidding,” the source said.

He added that the non payment may be connected with the frustration in the Presidency that the conference, judging by the way it is going, will not rubber stamp a sixyear term.

Another delegate, who did not want his name in print,

disclosed that the non payment is taking a great toll on delegates, the majority of whom live outside Abuja.

This has made life almost unbearable, he confirmed.

A delegate from the South South told TheNiche that he had to cancel his plan to travel last weekend because he did not have money.

The financial hardship has led to a high rate of absenteeism at plenary.

Proceedings at plenary on May 27 nearly ended in a free for all over the issue of religion between Northern and Southern delegates.

Sensing what would have amounted to a national embarrassment, confab Deputy Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi, adjourned the session till the following morning. But the death of Kuti’s wife prevented reconvention and plenary was adjourned to tomorrow June

Delegates had agreed to reject the recommendation of the Religion Committee that the government should set up a Religious Equity Commission. They also agreed that all levels of government should hands off the funding of pilgrimage to Israel or Saudi Arabia.

Trouble started when a delegate from Kogi State, Sola Akomode, moved a motion for the scrapping of Pilgrims Welfare Boards for Christians and Muslims.

The motion was seconded

by Edo State delegate, Charles Edosomwan, but a counter motion was tabled by Charles Ibiang, supported by Saidu Dansadau.

When the issue was put to question, the majority, through a voice vote, appeared to have supported Akomode’s motion.

That, however, resulted in confusion that almost degenerated into fisticuffs.

Many delegates have also complained against the way the leadership handles other delicate issues.

One of them, Daniel Aluko, expressed displeasure that although the committee report on the Land Use Act recommended expunging it from the Constitution, the conference leadership deferred decision on it.

JAF condemns attack on Chibok girls campaigners • Says FG must be held responsible

By Victor Ebimomi Head, News Desk

J

oint Action Front (JAF), an amalgam of civil society organisations, has condemned the attack on a group of women campaigning for the release of more than 200 girls adducted in Chibok on April 14 by Boko Haram.

JAF Secretary Abiodun Aremu told TheNiche that from the conduct of the aggressors, it was clear the attack was sponsored.

“We suspect it was state sponsored and it is a condemnable act. It is irresponsible of any state to sponsor attack against dissenting citizens” he said.

“It was a cover up by the state because it is trying to avoid using the police. The state must be held responsible for the attack.”

Some campaigners have raised the alarm over the threat to their lives.

They alleged that a hostile group unleashed violent attacks on them in Abuja last week and also assaulted foreign journalists covering their peaceful gathering.

The protesters, led by Bala Usman and Obiageli Ezekwesili, also alleged that the operation of the new group aligns with the message they got from the Presidency days earlier when they went there.

They narrated that they were

The protesters told that “protest should be directed at the terrorists”, which means that Aso Rock is not the place to register their complaint.

The group leaders said: “Following our march to meet with President Goodluk Jonathan, during which he was represented by a delegation led by the Secretary to the Government [Anyim Pius Anyim], a speech was read on his behalf advising our movement

#BringBackOurGirls, Abuja Family: that protests should be directed at the terrorists.

“Last Monday, May 26, being the 27th day of our daily gathering at the Unity Fountain and the 42nd day since the abduction of our girls, we observed a large contingent of a new group that arrived in over 30 federal government SURE P Buses with a message that aligned with what we had been told during our meeting

with the federal government delegation.

“Understanding fully the constitutional guarantee of every citizens’ right to their expression and to peaceful gathering, we continued with our own meeting in a new location, having lost our usual spot to the new group.

“Regrettably, we then witnessed patterns of escalating aggression toward our group by this new group.”

They added that they wrote letters of complaint dated May 28 to the Inspector General of Police and the Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner asking the police “to be available to reprimand the aggressive group.”

The protesters said but when the new group eventually struck, police officers present did not intervene.

“Unfortunately, what we feared would happen unfold-

ed, and tragically with officers of the Nigerian Police Force looking on, thugs, hooligans, miscreants dressed in the red, yellow, and white T-shirts with the inscription: ‘#ReleaseOurGirls Boko Haram’ burst upon our group breaking chairs, and bottles on the heads of members of ‘#BringBackOurGirls, Abuja’, many of the women broke down.

“They snatched the phones and hand bags of ladies in our group and also attacked local and international media correspondents, confiscating and breaking their cameras.

“The police, at a point, arrested two of the ringleaders, but before our very eyes, released them barely 10 minutes after.”

The protesters urged Jonathan, the government and the international community to act against the violence visited on them, a women-led civil society group driven by the plight of the abducted girls and their families.

Despite the incident, they said, “we remain resolute in standing with the Chibok girls.”

One of the organisers of the protest, Rinsola Abiola, confirmed in a statement on May 30 that harassment will not stop their agitation.

The protesters have relocated their meeting from Unity Fountain to Amusement Park.

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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News Oshiomhole plans cabinet reshuffle to fire traitors

By Our Reporter

E

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, may soon dissolve his cabinet to get rid of those disloyal in the conflict in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The rift, which showed up during the ward and council congresses, led some to defect with hundreds of their supporters to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defectors included Osagie Ize-Iyamu (former defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Vice Chairman); Tony Omoaghe (former state ACN Chairman); Usman Shagadi (Edo North Senatorial leader); and Isaiah Osifo (former Chief of Staff ); Others included Bright Omokhodion (former state Assembly Speaker); Razak Momoh (House of Representatives member, Etsako Federal Constituency); Solomon Edebiri (former governorship candidate); Senator Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South Senatorial District); Frank Erewele and Amos Osunbor (Edo South Senatorial

leader).

Acknowledging the defections, Oshiomhole said “I am aware some people have left our party, we wish them safe journey. When I came, I was clear and I said we will work for the people of the state. I did not say I was going to work for individuals.

“So, if individuals feel angry that I have not helped them in what they call individual personal empowerment, I have the choice to make; work for individual or work for the people. I choose to work for the people.”

Suspecting that some of his cabinet members are sympathetic to the defectors, he intends to do a house cleaning to weed out saboteurs.

A source in Government House, who did not want his name in print, told TheNiche that Oshiomhole will “any moment from now flush out the loyalists to the defectors.”

But a defector explained that they changed camps “because we could not be detained in the APC when it was clear that the party in Edo State had been hijacked by a cabal who do not believe in free democratic participation.

“We are impressed with the leadership of the PDP in Edo State and we see the party as a more sincere, refined and better organised political platform.”

A number of defectors were said to have also resigned their appointments with the Edo State government.

Four state Assembly members, Ise-Idehen, Osayimen, Ogierhiakhi and Abdulrazak Momoh defected to the PDP, which now has eight lawmakers among the 24 in the legislature.

It was learnt that more APC legislators are planning to jump ship to give the PDP the majority in the Assembly.

However, state APC Publicity Secretary, Godwin Erhahon, said “Ize-Iyamu’s faction is greedy and thought they can blackmail Oshiomhole into submission, but by the grace of God, they have failed.

“Those who want to come back, we welcome whole heartedly but those who want to go, we grant them freedom. We also want to let them know that the PDP they are going to is not better.”

Oshiomhole

Guess who is reading

TheNiche...

Quick Read Belgian trade mission visits Nigeria For the first time in 50 years, an important Belgian trade mission will visit Nigeria tomorrow, June 2.

The delegation, led by Van Peel, President of the Port of Antwerp, will comprise representatives of over 60 companies. It will visit Lagos and Abuja, and remain in the country till June 6.

The investors will seek to establish relationships with prospective business partners and explore opportunities in power, transport, port equipment, construction, dredging, agriculture, health, and logistics, among other areas.

The delegation will visit the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Eko Atlantic City project, in which a Belgian construction company is involved.

The visit is under the guidance of the Nigerian-Belgium Chamber of Commerce and the Belgian Commercial Information and Documentation Centre initiated in Belgium by FIT-Flanders Investment and Trade, which is responsible for commercial missions.

Belgium is the third largest importer to Nigeria.

Beneficiaries laud Ndoma-Egba’s largesse Beneficiaries of the empowerment programme of Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, have commended his assistance to the people in his constituency, Cross River Central Senatorial District, since his election in 2003.

Loveth Bisong, a banking and finance graduate of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), one of the 120 beneficiaries of the CBN/Ndoma-Egba Business Enterprising Training who received N200,000 each as start up capital, said she learnt how to manage an enterprise and be self-reliant.

Another beneficiary, Otu Echadu, a 200-level student of UNICAL, urged Ndoma-Egba to keep up the good work.

Items he has donated in the constituency included cars, generators, deep freezers, viewing centre equipment, laptops, farm tools, oil mills, beans/corn mills, garri processing machines, and musical equipment to churches.

OkorochaurgesNigerians to aim for greater heights

...Tope Tedela, award winning actor

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has urged Nigerians, irrespective of their political, religious and cultural differences, to join hands and ensure that Nigeria attains the greatness expected of it as the most populous country in Africa.

He made the call in his goodwill message on Democracy Day, stressing that both the leaders and the led should be conscious that they have roles to play in nation building.

Okorocha expressed regret that Nigerians, especially the elite, play up the things that divide the country instead of emphasising those things that promote unity, adding that injecting tribalism, religion and politics into everything does not portend a brighter future for the country.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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News The Week Ahead Babcock University convokes today Babcock University will hold its 12th convocation today, June 1, to award degrees and prizes to graduands.

The ceremony takes place at the school’s sports stadium.

... also FCSC holds conference The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) will begin its 42nd annual conference today, June 1.

The conference, with theme, “Enhancing Civil Service Core Values and Performing for National Development,” holds at the Giginya Coral Hotel, Sokoto It ends on June 6.

Stop attacking Jonathan, Igbo group tells Ezekwesili

By Innocent Anoruo Senior Copy Editor

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digbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) has asked former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili to stop attacking President Goodluck Jonathan, for the sake of national good and to build on the recent gains of the South East.

NCSN Coordinator, Udoka Udeogaranya, said her statements embarrass Ndigbo and their culture, where messages to a king are couched in diplomatic language.

Ezekwesili, who is also former Vice President of World Bank (Africa Region), spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national summit in Abuja on March 6 in a way some regard as indecorous to the federal government.

“We are deeply concerned about Oby Ezekwesili’s overnight critic super heavyweight posture against a government that has done the very best for Ndigbo when compared with the past 11

regimes in the last 44 years since the return of Ndigbo from Biafra,” Udeogaranya said in a statement.

“For the record, Ezekwesili was part of Olusegun Obasanjo's administration that did nothing for Ndigbo, and while she was in that government, nobody knew her as a critic of bad governance.”

In just one term, the group recounted, Jonathan offered Ndigbo rare appointments like that of chief of army staff, and extended the tenure when it expired, an act the group said proves that he is at home and secure with Ndigbo.

“Jonathan upgraded Enugu Airport from an abandoned domestic airport to an international status, unbanned all the goods Ndigbo import, which were earlier banned by the administration Ezekwesili served in, reconstructed the Lagos-Ore-Benin-Onitsha highway, a road that serves Ndigbo more than any other ethnic group in the country.”

Udeogaranya said Jonathan also gave Chukwue-

Ezekwesili meka Odumegwu Ojukwu a state burial and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum, which the Obasanjo administration and other past administrations abandoned, is now nearing completion.

“Or do we talk about the

second Niger Bridge that Obasanjo performed a macabre dance over in Onitsha, just to fill space in his valedictory speech, which is now under construction by Julius Berger during Jonathan’s administration.”

Boko Haram is common enemy – Boyloaf

F

NRC begins new service June 2

ormer Niger Delta militant leader, Ebikabowei VictorBen, also known as General Boyloaf, has urged the federal and the Borno State governments to treat Boko Haram as a common enemy rather than blaming each other over its menace.

“Whose fault is it and who is to blame? I don’t want to blame anyone, but no government will be happy to have such a crisis. So, the federal and state governments should stop blaming each other and unite to face the common enemy,” he counselled.

“Boko Haram has effectively kept our security agencies busy in the last

The Nigerian Railway Corporation will begin a new shuttle service in Lagos on June 2.

TAF stages play June 4 On June 4, the Taruwa Festival of Performing Arts in Nigeria (TAF) will stage a play titled “The Engagement” at the TerraKulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The play was written by Seffi Atta.

four years or so. The entire North East, particularly Borno and Yobe states, are dead socially and commercially. There is no growth there! Meanwhile, the other regions are in relative peace and growth.”

Victor-Ben also reacted to the comment by former House of Representatives member, Usman Bugaje, that there are no oil-producing states and that the oil in the Niger Delta belongs to the North too.

His words: “It is a laughable statement, mischievous and a statement of fallacy. People like Usman Bugaje are the problem we have in this country.

“Such people, once they are no more in govern-

ment, all they do is cause confusion by making irresponsible statements and fan the embers of discord between the ethnic nationalities, instead of strengthening our unity.

“Let me ask Bugaje: if there is oil spill, like there has always been in the Niger Delta, whose livelihood is affected? Whose environment is degraded?

Is it the nearby community or Bugaje’s village in Katsina that feels the impact?

“Nigerians are now wise and can discern. We are not losing sleep over Bugaje’s irresponsible statement because most Northerners do not think the way he does.”

Full interview on page 20

Boyloaf

World Environment Day June 5 This year’s World Environment Day (WED) will be marked on June 5.

WED, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is marked every year to raise global awareness on the environment.

VAI tasks electorate to stop corrupt leaders in 2015

By Victor Ebimomi Head, News Desk

V

oters’ Awareness Initiative (VAI), one of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the vanguard of political education in Nigeria, has advised the electorate, particularly the youth, not to vote for candidates with a background of corruption.

The group also urged them to watch out for those imposed by godfathers and refuse to vote for them.

VAI President Wale Ogunade said Nigeria is too blessed that its people ought not to be subjected to their current suffering as a result of bad leadership.

Ogunade, a constitutional lawyer and activist, implored the electorate “to stop corrupt people from emerging as political leaders in 2015.

“Also they should refuse to allow those imposed or rigged into power because they will not be there to serve the people but the man who imposed them, the so-called godfathers.

There will be no dividends of democracy from them,” he stated in an exclusive interview with TheNiche in Lagos.

To prepare the public for the election, VAI plans to begin a sensitisation and educational campaign in August, which will also involve membership drive.

The campaign will cut across all strata of society and include

the use of the media and street shows as well as town hall meetings.

Ogunade advised the electorate to use the campaign to acquaint themselves with what is expected of them and ensure their votes count and not hijacked.

He urged those interested in being part of the campaign to change Nigeria and free it from the claws of a selfish political class to join VAI to “show that we can all savage the country together.”

He frowned at the diatribe among politicians over the girls abducted from Chibok, warning that politicians should not ridicule the country more as its image has been dented by the event.

Ogunade said Abuja responded ineffectively to the abduction “because those girls are the children of other persons, if they are the children of the privileged ones it would have been different.”

He reminded Nigerian politicians that winning elections “should not be at all costs or a do-or-die affair. They should respect the choice of the people,” citing the recent elections in South Africa and India.

He also challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to study the polls in South Africa and India with regard to logistics, voting and results, lamenting that it is only in Nigeria where an election slated for 9am will not start until 12 noon or 3pm.

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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News International

Today In History

Pakistan’s barbaric culture

01:06:2014 1938. Superman makes first appearance Popular comic character Superman, created

by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster, made his first appearance on June 1, 1938 in the debut of the Action Comics Series issue.

It remains the only comic to have sold for more than $2 million for a single original copy.

1946. BBC introduces television licence The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) introduced television licence on June 1, 1946, costing £2 for the British public.

This was in addition to a radio licence of £50.

1961. Northern Cameroon becomes Nigeria’s province Northern Cameroon became the 13th province of Northern Nigeria on June 1, 1961.

1964. Jomo Kenyatta becomes Kenyan President

Scene of the stoning

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onour killing’, a barbaric culture in the Middle East where a person could be killed by his or her kith and kin for ‘dishounoring’ the family name, has come under renewed scrutiny because of its bias against women.

Under the culture, a woman could be targeted for a variety of reasons, including refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, being the

victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce – even from an abusive husband – or (allegedly) committing adultery.

The mere perception that a woman has behaved in a way that "dishonours" her family is sufficient to trigger an attack on her life.

Last week, a 30-year-old Pakistani, Farzana Parveen, was gruesomely killed by her own father, brothers and former fiance for going against her family’s wish to marry a

man chosen for her. She was three months pregnant.

Her husband, Muhammad Iqbal, was charged to court for allegedly kidnapping her.

Farzana, before her death, told the police that she had married him of her own accord. The police also said the couple had been engaged for a number of years.

According to her husband, the police did not attempt to stop the stoning of his wife.

In 2005, three Pakistani women were killed by a

male relative who had seen a video of the women laughing and considered this act a dishonour on the family.

Also, in Iraq, 47 women were killed, and in 2006 a young woman died in an honour killing committed by her brothers in Kuwait.

Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has condemned the stoning of Parveen and ordered the chief minister of Punjab province to take "immediate action.”

A strongman mounts the saddle in Egypt

T

he man who is to become Egypt’s seventh President, Fatah El-Sisi, was born in 1954 in the Gamaleya district of Cairo. He is described by many as one who speaks only when there is a need to.

He served in the military from 1977 to 2014, when he dropped his military uniform to contest for Egypt’s top job.

El-Sisi was Commanderin-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, as well as Minister of Defence, from August 12, 2012 until March 26, 2014.

It was during this period that he played a prominent role in removing President Mohamed Morsi from power and squashed his Muslim Brotherhood movement in which over 1,400 people were killed and 16,000 detained.

El-Sisi’s election victory, although plagued by voter apathy, was predictable.

His popularity among secular Egyptians is huge. He garnered 93 per cent of the vote cast, winning with 23.9 million ballots while his opponent, Hamdeen Sabahi, the only other candidate, got 3 per cent, a total 756,000

votes cast in his favour.

According to the BBC, ElSisi had aimed to win 40 million of 54 million registered votes to show that he had the support of the majority of Egypt. Turnout for the previous presidential election between Mohammed Morsi and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq was about 52 per cent.

Before results were announced, supporters of ElSisi had already taken to the streets to celebrate his victory. There were fireworks in the air, and the Egyptian flag was waved by both the young and old.

Egyptians who have had to vote for the second time in two years believe El-Sisi has some sort of magical powers to heal the country of its troubled and depleting economy, uprising, and insurgency that have visited them, the BBC said.

Expectations are high for the former military chief as Egyptians have become impatient with promises unfulfilled and are now quick to take to the streets to protest for their rights. In a nation that is already divided, trouble will only brim over.

Jomo Kenyatta became the first Prime Minister of Kenya from 1963 to 1964, and then became President on June 1, 1964 after Kenya became a Republic.

1980. CNN begins transmission Cable News Network (CNN) was launched in Atlanta, the United States on June 1, 1980.

Founded by Ted Turner and 25 others, CNN became the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage and the first all-news television network in the U.S.

1993. Melchior Ndadaye elected Burundian President Melchior Ndadaye became the first democratically elected President of Burundi on June 1, 1993 after winning a landmark vote. He was, however, assassinated in October 1993, after only three months in office.

1994. FX Channel launched FX (then-stylised as "fX") was launched on June 1, 1994. The network centered on original programming, broadcast live every day from the "fX Apartment".

It also rebroadcast classic television shows from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s – such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Eight Is Enough, Nanny and the Professor and The Green Hornet.

1997. Hugo Suarez wins Presidential vote in Bolivia Hugo Suarez won the Presidential election in Bolivia on June 1, 1997. He was a dictator from August 22, 1971 to July 21, 1978 and became President from August 6, 1997 to August 7, 2001.

2009. Air France plane crashes Air France Flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on June 1, 2009.

All 228 passengers and crew died.

El-Sisi

Our error Last week, we reported on this page that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed by Chad, Mauritania and Zambia. It was formed by 32 countries on May 25, 1963.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

www.thenicheng.com

9

News Amid corruption, battle against Boko Haram costs N1.08b per day

Boko Haram fighters

Badeh

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Nigeria’s soldiers say that commanders pocket the bulk of their salaries, leaving them with little incentive to fight a wellequipped guerrilla movement that knows the rugged terrain and forests.

“Why risk death at the hands of Boko Haram for no reward? It is hard, in such conditions, to see how outsiders could raise Nigerian troops’ morale, let alone improve their military skills.”

By Ishaya Ibrahim Senior Correspondent, Lagos igeria has voted about N2 trillion for security in the past two years, a huge chunk of which is spent on the fight against Boko Haram in the North Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

In the first four months of 2014 alone, Abuja gave the military N130.7 billion, according to Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who said another N3.8 billion has been approved and will soon be released.

About N968.127 billion is budgeted for defence this year, from which N130.7 billion was disbursed between January and April.

That means the military has spent N32.675 billion each month this year, from January to April, or N1.089 billion per day, the lion share of which was consumed in the battle against Boko Haram.

Yet, the military is ill-equipped and poorly motivated to counter Boko Haram. As a result, two mutinies have taken place in Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri in a space of one week, one of which almost cost the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Abubakar Mohammed, his life.

Angry soldiers complained of not having the kind of arms and ammunition Boko Haram fighters flaunt every time they engage them in a fight, hence the cause of the several deaths of their colleagues.

The low morale among soldiers confirmed what Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said in February about the federal government’s handling of the insurgency.

“Honestly, Boko Haram (people) are better armed and better motivated than our own troops. I am an eternal optimist as I have always said, but I am also a realist.

“Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram,” Shettima told journalists after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the worsening security in Borno.

But the Presidency insisted that the military is well equipped to deal with

Boko Haram.

“If the insurgents have not been completely routed, it is due to the fact that our armed forces are severely constrained because of the fact that civilian settlements are also co-located in this vicinity, making selective engagement tenuous and difficult if heavy civilian casualty is to be avoided,” Presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, said at the time.

It turned out that the abduction of over 200 girls at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14, made Okupe’s argument untenable.

Because of the inability of the military to stop the Boko Haram terrorists, they took over Ashigashiya and Chinene villages in Borno State last week, hoisting their flags, to prove that the villages have fallen under their control.

A report in The New York Times on May 24 said: “There is a view among diplomats here (Abuja) and with their governments at home that [Nigeria’s] military is so poorly trained and armed, and so riddled with corruption, that not only is it incapable of finding the girls, it is also losing the broader fight against Boko Haram.”

Daily Mail of the United Kingdom published a more damning report in its Mailonline edition on May 28 that Nigerian soldiers are issued only “60 bullets” for an operation against Boko Haram.

“Nigerian troops have complained they are not properly paid, are dumped in dangerous bush with no supplies and that the Boko Haram extremists holding the girls are better equipped than they are.

“Some soldiers have said officers enriching themselves off the defence budget have no interest in halting the five-year-old uprising that has killed thousands,” the newspaper said.

The Economist of London, in its edition of May 10, also took a swipe at Nigeria’s military.

It said: “America has operated drones from a base in neighbouring Niger since 2012, but Nigeria’s government has long refused American requests to be allowed to do the

Okonjo-Iweala

same from Nigerian territory.

“Moreover, Nigerians are proud of their army, the biggest in Africa, with its long history of contributions to peacekeeping missions, most recently in Mali.

“And they are also notably secretive and prickly about its operations – and the low standards of soldiery which foreign experts would see.

“Though Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the north-east a year ago, his army has dismally failed to defeat Boko Haram.

“Corruption, Nigeria’s great scourge, is another reason for foreign military advisers to keep their distance. Nigeria’s soldiers say that commanders pocket the bulk of their salaries, leaving them with little incentive to fight a well-equipped guerrilla movement that knows the rugged terrain and forests.

“Why risk death at the hands of

Boko Haram for no reward? It is hard, in such conditions, to see how outsiders could raise Nigerian troops’ morale, let alone improve their military skills.”

To justify the effectively handling of Boko Haram, however, Jonathan and his Defence Chief, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, argue that the government is not just dealing with Boko Haram, but Al-Qaeda in West and Central Africa bent on destabilising Nigeria.

A retired Major, Shankara Ibrahim, urged the government to do a thorough audit of the budget of the Defence Ministry, particularly allocations to the military in the past four years.

He said there is a possibility that some generals have been profiting from the insurgency by diverting money allocated for soldiers’ pay and logistics.

...Stop talking, take action, David-West tells Badeh Former Petroleum Minister, Tam David-West, asked Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal, Alex Badeh, to show more action than talk in the war against Boko Haram.

Badeh announced last week that the military had located where the jihadist are holding the girls.

David-West knocked him for it, say-

ing he was “disappointed as a bloody civilian” to read that he announced that the army had discovered the location “because it does not make any security sense to announce it to the world.”

He expressed concern that Boko Haram may relocate or scatter them into different groups.

“I read in the papers today (May 30)

that even President Goodluck Jonathan is annoyed with him. We are not interested in words, but action. We are not interested in public relations.

“What he was trying to do was to give Nigerians the impression that Nigerian military located the girls before the Americans came. It does not make any security sense.

“If you read the papers, you will hear ‘task force has killed 200 Boko Haram members.’ It does not make sense. Any time such announcements are made, Boko Haram strikes again to be defiant.

“We don’t want talk. All we want to see is that the girls have been rescued.”

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Diplomacy Boko Haram: Foreign support no threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, says Quaker-Dokubo

CHARLES QUAKER-DOKUBO, nuclear proliferation, conflict resolution and strategy analysis expert at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), speaks with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, on the country’s security challenge, particularly the international dimension of Boko Haram among other issues

S

ome interpret the current security challenge in the country as build up to the alleged prediction that the country will disintegrate by 2015. Do you subscribe to that?

No, not at all! Nigeria is a country in which the worst has never happened and the best is yet to come. I doubt if it is one of the crisis that would threaten the edifice of the Nigerian state and cause the country to disintegrate. It is not. The truth is that we will eventually overcome what is happening. Yes we will get through it. Aside the Civil War, this is one crisis that has posed serious threat which Nigeria had never faced. But I think that with what the government is doing, by working in concert with international partners, we will be able to subdue it.

Looking at the international partners that are assisting in the fight against the Boko Haram menace, don’t you think it will affect the sovereignty of the country?

Sovereignty these days is no longer an absolute thing. The fact is that as you enter into agreement with other nations, you share their sovereignty. Nigeria as part of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), you share a bit of the sovereignty; Nigeria as a member of the UN (United Nations), you share a bit of their sovereignty. Even in bilateral and multilateral situations, you share sovereignty. Sovereignty is no longer as static as it used to be.

So, I doubt if their coming will have any effect on Nigeria’s sovereignty. Nigeria will have to work in partnership with other countries to make sure that this crisis is contained, just like the United States (U.S.) in its global war against terror. They are not doing it all alone. It is a war most other countries are also

anti-terrorist initiative sponsored by the U.S. So, it is not new that nations will have to work in concert to deal with issues. You see, this issue of terrorism is not any particular nation’s problem; it is trans-national, in the sense that you can see that these terror groups have links with Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, the El-Shabbab etc. They have all sorts of linkages. So, no nation can deal with it on its strength alone. Also, because of globalisation and the fast media experience where things move easily from one end to another, breaking borders and barriers, you cannot totally track terrorism down on your own. So, Nigeria is not doing something that is at variance with any other country. What we are doing is what some other countries have also done; collaborating with other countries. So we have to be careful in saying that it affects our sovereignty. It does not. We have (US)AFRICOM (United States Africa Command). I doubt if any African country has complained that it negatively affects its sovereignty because there are some things that are mutually beneficial to countries that are into it. Nigeria has a right to act in concert with other like-minded countries that also see the threat that it is not only a Nigerian thing but an international issue.

Some critics say the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is weak in its handling of the issue. Do you share in this view?

I will never accept that the government is weak. In fact, the government is treading a careful path in the sense that if you become too forceful in such a way that you use all the military might that you have, then they will say it is human rights abuse.

If you keep quiet and the people are dying, they say you are not

the government is trying all it can do to make sure it contains the situation in the best way possible. For instance, if in the kidnap of these Chibok girls, you send all the military helicopters to go and bomb the area, what eventually happens? You kill those you want to rescue. It is a delicate thing that the government is tackling. No government in power, no matter the political complexion, will on its own solve this problem. It is not a Jonathan’s problem; it is a Nigerian problem.

Most times, Nigeria claims to be the giant of Africa; but we do not seem to gain respect as a country in the global arena. Why? Foreign policy is a reflection of domestic reality. Sometimes, most of these issues we have within the country affect our image world-wide. But let me bring it to your notice that Nigeria is the fastest growing economy in Africa. Now, it has overtaken South Africa, because of the new rebasing that has taken place.

So, it is not that Nigeria is standing still; Nigeria is working hard.

Nigeria has done well; but you see, there is no place you have a strong power like Nigeria that everybody will like. America, for whatever it is today, is not loved by everybody. Nigeria is suffering the same fate. The fact is that in the genesis of our foreign policy, we were just altruistic in the sense that we were not looking for gains and all that most people complain about. But it is not a good way to talk about Nigeria. You don’t make gains when you go into peace-keeping. You only gain when you are in peace-support operations where you have post-conflict peacebuilding, building infrastructure and institutions that have been destroyed by war. It is only then that countries make gains.

America did not make gains during World War II because it sent

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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We are beginning to have good elections, I mean unlike in the past – when, if the people did not agree on the election, they may start burning houses; but now they go to the courts. It is a new development and we will get there with focused leadership.

Also, bearing in mind where President Jonathan is coming from, 20 years ago, could you ever believe that somebody from Otuoke in Bayelsa State could be the president of this country?

and here in Nigeria we stand for office. You can see the differences in size and all that. There are also certain changes that have been made in our foreign policy objectives, in the sense that we have turned from giving monies to other countries and developed technical aid corps to be a means of addressing the needs of other less-fortunate and poorer countries in Africa and the Pacific. So, we cannot say Nigeria is not doing well. Sometimes people just want to jump-start this economy and want to just be like America overnight. It must take some time. None of those countries did that in a space of 20 years or thereabout.

Look at the period of military rule that we had. Now that we have a civilian rule, things are changing. We are beginning to have good elections, I mean unlike in the past – when, if the people did not agree on the election, they may start burning houses; but now they go to the courts. It is a new development and we will get there with focused leadership. Also, bearing in mind where President Jonathan is coming from, 20 years ago, could you ever believe that somebody from Otuoke in Bayelsa State could be the president of this country? Things are changing. They may not be changing as fast as most people would want them to. Don’t forget that some people want things to be as they are; so that they will always be in control. And when they cannot get that, they will do whatever it takes to create problem.

nations that made America a strong power. That is some of the things people must get into their heads.

Nigeria helped South Africa in its liberation struggle but did not make any gain. Why? I don’t know what you want. As an African country, that you liberated South Africa means you liberated yourself. If you look at the Nigerian constitution, it clearly states and is committed to the liberation of the black man where he is. So if Nigeria liberated South Africa, it does not mean they should lie down so that you walk on them; not at all. South Africa is a black nation. It is a brotherly affection. But it does not mean that even when you are now doing something wrong, they should keep quiet.

Nigeria, going by a current rebasing exercise, is adjudged the fastest growing economy in Africa; but that does not seem to have reflected on the standard of living of the people.

These things take time to trickle down. After all, when did we start talking of rebasing? It is just recently. Definitely, the economy is growing. It is not going as fast as most Nigerians want and we can also understand where this government started from; it was from a very low base. There are lots of unmet needs that the government will have to meet. So let us not judge this government this way, that Nigeria has not attained its full potential. It is also because for a very long time, we have been going through crisis. There was no focused leadership, no special attention made on economic growth as it should be. This government on its own has even done better. It is during this government that we are even talking about rebasing; it is during this government

that we are talking about gas overtaking oil as major source of income. So we must understand all these ramifications and not just to sit back and say we have not done well.

How would you assess Nigeria in relation to other nations?

Nigeria has done well in the period of its existence, if you look at the country’s efforts at maintaining peace and security in the international community since Independence in peace-keeping operations all over the world. Nigeria spear-headed ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) which has become a brigade for the African security architecture. We must understand that there is no country that would be great without a large population. It is of great advantage; so we have to be careful. The truth is that we have not been able to totally harness the various potentials, elements of power that we have. As soon as that is done, Nigeria will fly.

What are these elements of power?

It is the resources that we have. How have we facilitated these resources? How have we harnessed them to the benefit of the people in terms of social provisioning for the ordinary Nigerian, health service? How have we developed the sector in such a way that every Nigerian could get to a hospital and get the best treatment as he can? How have we provided shelter for the people? Geographically, we are well-placed and we have a good population. No country can just come and overwhelm us, subject and subjugate us in our country. U.S. is great not only because of its technological advancement, but also the size of the country. That is why in America they say they run for office

Are you afraid of 2015 in terms of elections and picture of emerging scenario?

I am not scared at all on the elections of 2015. We may have little conflicts here and there, but it will not totally affect the outcome of the election. Some people that are making noise, whoever they are, had led this country before. But we don’t depend on their dictates and directives to choose our president. Nigerians will decide and vote with their feet to who they want to be their president. Slowly but surely, a transformational agenda has been carried out under Jonathan. I believe that this government is one of well-intentioned people. Our interest, no matter what we think, will be better protected under one Nigeria. Size matters in international politics; population matters; but the quality of the population matters than ordinary, poor, illiterate population.

How would you advise confab members?

Nigeria is a big and complex country. They should discuss all issues. Most people believe that the 1914 amalgamation did not take into context the feelings of the various factions that make up Nigeria. If they could talk on all that, it will be better for the country to be one in which factions agree that they want to stay in Nigeria. It is the most important thing. Also, the secularity of the Nigerian state is non-negotiable.

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

Photo News

Lagos/South West grand prize winner, Awoyera Peter (left); South South/South East grand prize winner, Asoanya Jerry (second left); Ecobank Deputy Managing Director, Tony Okpanachi; and Federal Capital Territory/North grand prize winner, Aliyu Yelwa; at the presentation of prizes to winners of Ecobank Card 4 Prizes Promo grand draw in Lagos.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (middle), Zamfara State Governor, Abdullazeez Yari (right), and Ziad Karam at the commissioning of a new road in Daki Takwas, Zamfara State.

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi (right), greeting pensioners during his visit to their secretariat, in AdoEkiti.

Soji Olaleye (Left); Aramide Awosanya (second left); and Oyekunle Oyetunde, all staff of UBA, during the Lagos Artisans and Tradesmen Week in Lagos last week.

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thenichephotos@yahoo.com 0802 280 4345

Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime (fifth, left), with newly sworn-in solicitor-general and permanent secretaries at Government House, Enugu.

West African Ceramics (Size Analyst), Sachin Katare (left); Nigeria Institute of Architects Chairman (Lagos chapter), Ladipo Lewis (second left); Lagos Architects Forum, Architects Works Committee Head, Sola Olajuyigbe (third left); and West African Ceramics Marketing Manager, Surendra Kunche; at the architects forum in Lagos.

Pupils of Goldscholars Model School, Ijegun, Lagos during Children’s Day celebration on the school's premises on May 27.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (right), being presented with a N50 million cheque

by Zenith Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Amangbo, as the bank’s donation to the state's Security Trust Fund at Governor's Office, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

13

CONFAB

TheNiche

PARLIAMENT THE GRASSROOTS

INTERVIEWS

on Sunday

June 01, 2014

Politics

www.thenicheng.com

Interview: Emeka Alex Duru Editor 0805 4103 327 e.duru@thenicheng.com nwaukpala@yahoo.com Daniel Kanu Assistant Editor 0805 618 0203 kanuemperor@yahoo.com d.kanu@thenicheng.com

Boyloaf: 2015 poll will be the most challenging FROM THE STATES

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»

Anambra: New deal for Ogbunike cave

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THE GRASSROOTS

PAGE 25

» Reaping from social media revolution

Nwabueze: We'll go nowhere with confab

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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interview We'll go nowhere with confab – Nwabueze Elder statesman and constitutional lawyer, PROF. BEN NWABUEZE, in this incisive interview with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU,shares his views on the ongoing national conference; how the Igbo interest would have been enhanced; the place of the people in the constitution and democracy, among others...

ou were one of the few Nigerians who campaigned for a national dialogue. Your group, The Patriots, even had audience with President Goodluck Jonathan at Aso Rock on the issue. But you ended up not being at conference. What actually happened?

Y

I led the team of The Patriots to a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on that demand for a national conference.

That was on August 29, 2013. I wasn’t pressing for a national conference because I wanted to be there; I was pressing for it because I believe it is what Nigerians need at this point in time.

As a result of that meeting, the president set up the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC). I was in London for medicals when the committee was announced, and when I returned to the country, I released a press statement. But while in London, I had written to the president to say I was in London receiving treatment and that I would not be able to serve. When I returned, I followed up with the press statement in which I explained why I could not be a member. I gave two reasons: one was age (83). I said it would be good for younger people to have the opportunity. The second reason was ill-health. I normally go to London for treatment every year for prostate cancer, and given my age, I would not be able to travel all over the country with the committee. But I also nominated a member of The Patriots, in the person of Solomon Asemota (SAN) to substitute for me. That was at the committee stage. On the conference itself, I said I would not want to be a delegate and I gave two reasons. One is that I had played my part as a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee in 1976, set up by the Federal Military Government – the 49 wise men. It was 50 actually, except that the late Obafemi Awolowo declined.

Not only was I a member, I was a leading member of the committee and chairman of one of the sub-committees on Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. I was the chairman of that sub-committee. The late Rotimi Williams was the chairman of the main committee. I drafted what is now Chapter 2 of the 1979/1999 Constitution.

The draft of the 1979 Constitution was prepared by Williams and I. We worked on it everyday for several days and submit-

ted the final document to the Legal Committee of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). The Legal Committee was not really one of the six sub-committees of the CDC, but when we finished, Williams and I assembled all the lawyer members of the CDC to look at it. Based on that, it was passed. And then, the Federal Military Government made a decree – the Constituent Assembly Decree of 1977 – and made the chairman of the CDC, Williams, and the chairmen of the six sub-committees members of the Constituent Assembly. That was how I became a member of the Constituent Assembly. I played a key role in the Constituent Assembly. I was elected the chairman of the most important committee of the Constituent Assembly. Shehu Shagari was my secretary. He was later elected president.

These were the roles I have played over the years concerning our constitution. So, I felt that younger people should be given opportunity this time around to play their own part. I have played mine. The second reason that I gave for declining to be a delegate was that the national conference set up by the president is not the type that we demanded.

What actually did you expect?

What I am seeing now is totally different. We wanted primarily a conference that would adopt a new constitution for Nigeria which will subsequently be submitted to a referendum for approval. That was the essence of the conference we wanted. Secondly, we wanted a conference of ethnic nationalities. The conference that we have today doesn’t have the competence to adopt a constitution. Also, this conference was set up not by law enacted by the National Assembly as we had wanted. In the memorandum we submitted, we had attached with it what we called the National Conference and Referendum Bill, which we said the president should submit as an executive bill to the National Assembly, to provide the legal framework to the conference. This would cover convocation, composition, functions, powers, modus vivendi, modus operandi etc. The bill was attached to a 30-paragragh memorandum, which we sent to the

president.

Some people allege that the reason you refused to go to the conference was because you wanted to impose your views, and that because they were not accepted, you decided to back out?

My views? How can that be? Of course, people can accuse you of all sorts of things. How can I want to impose my views on the conference? Who knew my views before the conference was set up? Who rejected my views?

People accuse me of all types of things. They even said I wrote a letter to the president asking to be appointed chairman of the committee. Who saw a copy of such a letter? I never wrote such a letter to the president. It is all false. Yes, certainly I have my own ideas as to what the constitution of Nigeria should be, and that idea would have been embedded in the document we have already made public. The document is titled the Position of the Igbo nation at the proposed national conference in regards to the constitution of Nigeria. Igbo leaders of thought produced it and it has been circulated. It is available to all our delegates.

Did Ohanaeze Ndigbo buy into the document, because we heard there was disagreement along the line with the Ohanaeze leadership?

We prepared the letter and the letter was based on the letter by The Patriots to the president. It was something that everybody knew about because it provoked public discussion in the country. The Igbo leaders of thought adopted it. I invited the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Gary Igariwey, to my house in Enugu, gave him a copy of the letter and we discussed, and he was quite happy about it. He had a copy before any other Igbo leader of thought. In the meeting with the Igbo leaders of thought, he was also present. But suddenly in that meeting with the Igbo leaders of thought, he said he needed two days to consult his executive before signing. This

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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interview In the South East, Ohanaeze said they were the ones to make the selection and then selected all the 15 delegates to fill the slots. I spoke with Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State; and Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Theodore Orji of Abia State; as well as with Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State. I told them what the Yoruba did and that it appeared to be the best method; that we should share the 15 slots among our five states, giving each state three and that the states should make their own selection, taking into account the circumstances of the states. The governors agreed to convene meeting of the South East Governors’ Forum

was something he had already discussed with me. So, how could he say he needed more time for consultation again when the previous day we had the Imeobi meeting of Ohanaeze? There was so much anger, but I quieted everybody. We gave him two days and four days after he came back and said he would not sign. So the letter was changed from Ohanaeze Ndigbo to just Ndigbo. That was what happened.

Why is there always a crisis in Ohanaeze Ndigbo?

Is it only in Ohanaeze that we have crisis? There are more crises in Afenifere. They are more divided than you think. Afenifere has been split since the death of Abraham Adesanya. Maybe Ohanaeze crisis is well pronounced, but other groups have crisis too.

Would it be right to say that on this issue of national conference, the Igbo are divided?

I don’t know what you mean by divided. Divided as to whether the conference should take place or not?

Not having a common position because Ohanaeze is participating. But we are not sure the Igbo leaders of thought are in support, as we can cite your position on the conference?

You must take into account when you are discussing this, the question of selection of delegates. Fifteen slots were given to ethnic nationalities in conjunction with other socio-political organisations per

zone. The Yoruba were quite wise on this.

They decided that the best thing would be to share it.

They shared the number according to number of their states, which is six. They shared two for each state. For the remaining three slots, the body called the Yoruba Assembly decided how and who to pick.

In the South East, Ohanaeze said they were the ones to make the selection and then selected all the 15 delegates to fill the slots. I spoke with Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State; and Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Theodore Orji of Abia State; as well as with Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State. I told them what the Yoruba did and that it appeared to be the best method; that we should share the 15 slots among our five states, giving each state three and that the states should make their own selection, taking into account the circumstances of the states. The governors agreed to convene meeting of the South East Governors’ Forum. By this time, Ohanaeze had already made the selection, including themselves – the president-general and secretary-general – and sent the list to the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Pius Anyim, and he approved. But I think there is, among the delegates, one Igbo leaders of thought member, like Dozie Ikedife. So it is not that the Igbo leaders of thought did not want to participate; but it is simply because they were excluded by Igariwey and Joe Nworgu.

Is the Igbo Leaders of Thought a rival organisation to Ohanaeze Ndigbo?

No, it is not meant to be. I have said that concerning this national conference, any group could come up with ideas. In the South West, so many groups came up with ideas.

Eventually, the Yoruba Assembly had to marry all the views. We have so many socio-political organisations in Igboland with different positions. There is nothing to fear about that. We only need to marry the views along. The Igbo leaders of thought was set up just for one purpose: the national conference, to adopt the Igbo position. It is not an all-purpose organisation.

I was one of those who created Ohanaeze and I was the pioneer secretary-general and chief executive, and that was like answering president-general today. The chairman then was a traditional ruler. I was there for more than 20 years, and all these divisions we witness today were not there. It was when I left that all this started.

When you talk about the conference producing a new constitution, one gets the impression that the present constitution is faulty. What is wrong with the constitution, or is it not a matter of implementation?

The basic defect in the 1999 Constitution is that it is not anchored on the people. All over the world today, especially since the democratic revolution that began in 1959 to 1994, the whole movement in the world today is towards the democratisation of the constitution. The democracy we talk about,

we have it on two levels; at the level of the constitution, the democratisation of the constitution and democratisation of the system of government, which is what you are talking about. That is wrong with the constitution.

The basic thing is that the 1999 Constitution is not a democratic constitution. It was not adopted through the democratic process – a referendum. The cardinal value, advantage of democracy and democratisation, is that when you get the masses to participate in the making of the constitution, to participate in government itself by way of elections, you create a sense of involvement; you give to the constitution an authority that transcends everything. It produces supra-abundant force that carries everybody around it, gives it legitimacy. It legitimises the constitution, legitimises the state, legitimises the government. Referendum is simply to democratise the constitution. Our constitution is not a democratic one because it is made by the military government and imposed on us. We need to democratise the constitution.

How do you subject the outcome of this conference to a referendum that is not provided for in the constitution?

You cannot have a referendum without a law authorising it. The National Assembly members are saying that they don’t have the power to make the law authorising a referendum. It is not true. They have all the powers. They have power to make a law authorising a referendum.

Continues on page 18

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Big Issue Between 2015 and political endorsements Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, looks at endorsements by some political actors and organisations on some politicians in the run up to 2015 general elections

ven with 2015 general elections some months ahead, Nigerian politicians are not leaving anything to chance.

Among the issues that have become dominant is the regime of endorsements that seems to have become the order of the day.

From one geo-political zone to another, across board, from the presidency to the governorship level, even at the local government platform, there appears to be a gale of political endorsements all the way. It seems to have become a norm now in Nigerian politics that aspirants perhaps may need a sort of endorsement to facilitate their “imposition” and chances of victory.

For most political observers, it has become a matter of one godfather or group for endorsement or no ticket.

As the trend continues to generate greater public attention, some political observers have expressed worry on the development which they agree would impinge on the nation’s democratic growth.

Only recently, Nigerians, and particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, were rattled as former President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly endorsed the candidacy of Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, for the presidency.

Obasanjo, who made the statement after the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the take over Model Boarding Primary School, Kude, in Dutse local government area of

E

the state on behalf of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, said Lamido is more than qualified to lead Nigeria in case he decides to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Said Obasanjo: “Although he has not told me about his intention to contest, but going by his pedigree, exposure and experience, he is more than qualified to lead Nigeria. As of today, he stands shoulder to shoulder with anyone as far as the capacity to lead Nigeria is concerned. He has demonstrated that capacity here in Jigawa for all to see.”

There has been palpable tension within the PDP over the inability of its leadership to fully reconcile Jonathan and Lamido.

The pressure by Obasanjo, TheNiche learnt, is for Lamido to run next year against the possible bid of Jonathan to have a smooth victory.

The ex-president’s posture is assumed to be the abandonment of Jonathan to his fate with political consequences in 2015.

Lamido seems, for now, the only one so far who seems to be ready to vie for the ticket with Jonathan after many party faithful had taken it for granted that it would be only the president all the way. But how far the Obasanjo endorsement would go is another issue entirely.

However, while Obasanjo appeared to be dumping Jonathan, the Labour Party (LP) in the former Preident's state, Ogun, endorsed the president, pledging to work tirelessly for his victory in his re- election bid. The party, in fact, urged him to declare his

Ambode

Lamido

Jonathan

interest immediately to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Ogun LP secretary, Sunday Oginni, explained in Abeokuta that their support for Jonathan is total.

According to the party, it would be in the interest of the country if the president re-contests for a second term to enable him complete his unfinished works.

“We (LP supporters) have the freedom to support any candidate and, to us, the best president Nigeria has ever had is President Jonathan; so we will support and endorse him for 2015.

“Besides, he has been so good and magnanimous, even to the opposition. If not for him (Jonathan), Ondo State Governor (Olusegun Mimiko) Obasanjo would have been rigged out during the governorship election. Again, during the Anambra governorship poll too, he ensured free and fair election.

“Nigeria is blessed with a president who is fair to all. We must all work for him at the wards, local governments and state levels,” he noted further.

Ogun PDP, toeing the line of some other states, also made open endorsement on Jonathan’s candidacy for another term.

Similar actions resonate in other political parties. In Lagos, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; and Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, against all political permutations, have endorsed former Accountant-General of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, as the next governor.

Despite criticisms from different quarters on the action, it is doubtful if anything will change in what appears to be the decision of the party’s godfathers.

Expectedly, Lagos PDP has said the endorsement of Ambode by the duo would have no effect, as Lagosians are more than ready to kick out the APC leadership in the state.

Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Gani Taofiq, told TheNiche that the endorsement of Ambode would not have any effect because the people would resist the imposition of any candidate.

Said Taofiq: “They can go ahead to endorse anybody they want.

TheNiche on Sunday

Big Issue

June 01, 2014

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17

Oba Akiolu Tinubu

That does not mean that the person will win Lagos governorship election. The years of imposition are gone, and the people now know better. They can go ahead to endorse anybody, but it is the people that will decide as far as Lagos is concerned.”

In similar vein, Vision for New Lagos (VNL) lashed out at Akiolu, insisting that his action was a ruse, adding that he lacks the power to impose a candidate on the state.

The group, in a statement endorsed by its leader, Bambo AkinJohnson, said the assertion by Oba Akiolu was a grand illusion as, according to the VNL, the monarch was arrogating to himself the powers that he doesn’t have.

VNL said it would continue to insist that Lagos is not the property of anyone or group, but a collective heritage it is ready to protect.

An aspirant on the platform of APC in Lagos and former commissioner in the ministries of health and education, Dr. Leke Pitan, said such pronouncement negates the processes mapped out by his party to pick its governorship candidate.

In Enugu State, the endorsement of candidates by PDP stalwarts and prospective delegates ahead of the congresses for the nomination of candidates for the 2015 elections is raising dust within the party in the state.

The endorsement of candidates, especially for senatorial positions, has created tension in the state chapter of the party, with some aspirants for National Assembly positions already sourcing for alternative political parties, in case their chances in the ruling party were traded off.

Going by reports, the leadership of the party, which had been polarised on account of the endorsement of some candidates for the Enugu East and Enugu West senatorial slots, has expressed concern that the development could jeopardise the chance of the party in the coming elections.

The endorsement and counter-endorsement of Governor Sullivan Chime and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, by different groups in the five local government areas of Enugu West for the 2015 senatorial contest and a similar endorsement of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, as the sole candidate for Enugu East senatorial slot, have caused a sharp division among the party members.

Some party stakeholders, who sensed that the development could cause serious animosity among PDP faithful in the state, had cautioned the Vita Abba-led party executive to put a stop to the gale of endorsement and counter-endorsement of candidates ahead of the party congresses, to forestall intra-party feud that could lead to mass defection of the members to other parties.

In Bauchi State, the National Concerned Professionals has endorsed the governor, Isa Yuguda, to contest the presidential primaries of PDP in 2015.

A statement, signed by Dr. Muhammadu Chindo on behalf of the group, said the endorsement and call for Yuguda to contest the PDP presidential primaries is prompted “by the general quest for the furtherance of a wholesome, visionary and responsive leadership in Nigeria”.

In Kano State, the North East Youth Progressive Forum (NEYPF) has adopted the state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to contest the 2015 presidency of Nigeria.

NEYPF national co-ordinator, Mohammed Salisu, said the group endorsed the governor because he remains the solution to the current problems plaguing the country, describing him as “a man of purpose and foresight”.

Salisu said: “We unanimously adopt Engr. Kwankwaso as our presidential candidate due to his efforts and contributions made towards the total transformation of Kano as one of the highly populated states in the country. Also, his efforts in the execution of hundreds of developmental projects that have had a direct bearing on the lives of the people of Kano and Nigerians.”

The NEYPF coordinator said Kwankwaso was “a mentor of men and women, a dynamic Nigerian, an advocate of justice, a consummate administrator and master strategist”.

Some observers still believe that there is nothing wrong with political endorsement, as it has remained part of politics over the years.

Bassey Maxwell, a lawyer, told TheNiche that “there is nothing wrong with political endorsement as far as I am concerned because you cannot shy away from it, given our level of political development and culture. If the person is good, there is nothing bad for a group or a strong personality to give the person massive support to win the election.”

Vitus Okwara, accountant and president, Concerned Imo Professionals, said the development is a sad one, as it will not help in the development of the nation’s democratic process.

He observed that most people that have been endorsed were not as a result of performance, but one based on perhaps ethnicity, religion or other political bias.

Kwankwanso “What is happenning, I mean the gale of political endorsements, is not good for our democracy. Majority of those that are being endorsed have done nothing to better our democracy.

I see it as praise-singing, and that does not help our political development.

“Nobody gave the former governor of Anambra, Peter Obi, any chance when he came on board; but you can agree with me that he performed. When he came in, people saw him as an unknown quantity; he ended up being referred to as the ‘stone’. Some people are endorsing Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, and I ask: what has he done? We cannot advance Nigeria democratically through this process,” he said.

Endorsement is a normal culture in a democracy, analysts argue.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, defines political endorsement as the action of publicly declaring one’s personal or group’s support of a candidate for elected office. The action, political scientists argue, is usually based on the candidate’s pedigree or what he is considered to represent. It is, ideally, not procured nor borne of sycophancy or coercion.

In Nigeria and other developing countries, however, the fear among those kicking against the option is that, if not well handled, it has the tendency of working against growth of democracy. They also see it as having the potential of stifling opposition and, in the process, creating room for dictatorship.

A quick recall is made of the late General Sani Abacha’s ill-fated transition programme, where the then five political parties that had adopted him as their sole presidential candidate commenced with endorsing him as their presidential aspirant before his final adoption.

Abacha was to have consummated the controversial offer before he dropped dead on Monday, June 8, 1998.

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TheNiche on Sunday www.theniche.com.ng

June 01, 2014

interview

1999 Constitution not about the people – Nwabueze Continued from page 15

goose chase?

That is exactly what I am saying. We will go nowhere. This conference that we have was convened by the president entirely by virtue of his power under Section 5. It is a power he has to do something without authorisation by law. He cannot, by virtue of this power, set up a national conference to adopt a constitution that will be binding as law. It is only the National Assembly that can do that. The conference cannot take any decision that will bind you and I. Where do they get the power?

Can’t an enabling law be made now to take a retroactive effect, although the conference is already in place?

It does not need to be retroactive; make it now, as they still have about one month to go. If they make the law now, it will still be valid notwithstanding that the conference has already been established. It depends on how fast they can pass the law.

What fears do you have for Nigeria?

I have serious fears, but I still believe that Nigeria will survive as a state. Nigeria is not a nation yet. I want Nigeria to survive.

Nigeria’s problem is not insurmountable; our problems can

be solved. Ethnic nationalities hold the key to the problem of unity. You don’t solve a problem by running away from it.

Many people believe that Nigeria’s biggest problem is corruption. Do you share in that view? Also, do you still believe that the solution to Nigeria’s problem is by a revolution?

Yes, corruption is a big problem, no doubt; but do you think it is Nigeria’s biggest problem? I am not sure about that.

It is one of the big problems, but I am not sure that it is the biggest. There are problems that are more fundamental than corruption. Corruption is man-made; it is made by us, and so it is not fundamental. There are problems that are inherent in the structure of the country. The North/South divide is also another issue. People did not sit back to reflect on the enormity, sheer enormity of the North/South divide. It is one of the greatest problems that we have.

I have said that not only corruption, but other problems abound every day. Each passing day that I critically look at Nigeria, it seems to be confirmed in my belief that indeed a revolution is needed to solve this problem. It may be violent, it may be non-violent; but there has to be a revolution, perhaps non-violent, to change things. The rot is so much.

Morality no longer counts. Truth no longer has a place in this country. Now, we have something else creeping in: impunity.

It is overtaking almost everything else. Impunity is also manmade. Corruption is what it is because of impunity.

Actually, if you look at impunity, it became what it is today because of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was Obasanjo that gave impunity the frightening enormity that it acquired. Study his regime; all through the eight years, impunity reigned supreme. He would wake up one morning and sack the vice president. How can a president sack the vice president?

It is incredible when you read the story of the regime on Obasanjo for eight years and you wonder whether all these happened in a country of enlightened and civilised individuals. But it did happen.

I have taken time to chronicle some of the atrocities in two books; the rule of law under Obasanjo, how he desecrated and subverted the rule of law, how he desecrated and subverted the federal system. It is incredible what Obasanjo did. He has a few good parts; no doubt, he is a man of courage who can say, yes, this is what I want.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Features UNEP report: A vote against Shell

Akpobari (middle), Shola Ameobi (right) and Patrick Kane at London, protesting Shell's neglect of Ogoniland. Akpobari (inset) showing the impact of oil spillage.

Senior Correspondent, ISHAYA IBRAHIM, reports on the anger by activists in Nigeria and abroad over perceived Shell’s slow response to the 2011 UNEP report which indicted it for polluting Ogoniland

A

t the annual general meeting of Royal Dutch Shell recently at The Hague, The Netherlands, James Marriott, an advocate for environmental justice, asked the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben Van Beurden, a punchy question: if the pollution in Ogoniland had happened in Europe, would the company ignore it?

United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) had, in a report on August 4, 2011, indicted Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), an international oil giant, for the pollution of Ogoniland. The report thus concluded that if contaminated drinking water, land, creeks and ecosystems such as mangroves are to be brought back to full productive health in the area, the Nigerian government, and also Shell, whose oil exploration activities caused the pollution, must commit $1 billion (about N160 billion) for a clean-up of the environment.

But Beurden, while responding to Marriot’s question, said the $1 billion to implement the clean-up as recommended by UNEP, has been set aside in a “verifiable” account. He added that the company was unable to disburse the funds due to “lack of structures” to receive the money and coordinate the clean-up in Nigeria.

This response from the Shell’s boss has infuriated activists from the region, especially in Ogoniland, among whom is the national coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Celestine

Akpobari, who just returned from London where he attended a social action campaign on the UNEP report, with Super Eagles international football striker, Shola Ameobi, and Patrick Kane, an activist.

Akpobari said: “Shell has the power to do anything it wants in Nigeria, including having our people killed as it had done in the past. But are we expected to believe that it does not have the power to arrange for the clean-up of its own mess? These are double standards and lies. How many more years will the Ogoni people have to wait for something to be done about their toxic environment?”

Another activist at the event, Sarah Shoraka, who works for Platform, said: “Shell claims it needs to wait for the Nigerian government to act, but everyone knows they are in the driving seat. The Petroleum Minister was the Director of Shell Nigeria for 15 years. Ben Van Beurden says he is travelling to Nigeria in the next two weeks. He needs to get his head together with the Nigerian government to set up Ogoni Environment Restoration Authority, if he is serious about delivering the clean-up.”

For Kane, Shell’s reason on why the clean-up has been stalled is offensive. “It is frankly offensive for Shell to claim that it has the money sitting there, but is hanging on for the structures to emerge in Nigeria. Shell is guilty of over half a century of destruction of the Ogoni environment. It has a duty to make this

clean-up happen as soon as possible.”

Another environmental activist at the event, Nnimmo Bassey, who is also the Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, said: “We are surprised that it took Shell so long to indicate readiness to provide first instalment towards the clean-up of Ogoniland. As the polluter, Shell has no right to dictate what sort of account should be created for the clean-up of their massive ecological destruction of Ogoniland. The survivors of the ecological war against the Ogonis must be directly involved in the planning of the clean-up and in the management of the funds assigned for the purpose.”

Earlier, the Ogoni Solidarity Forum had threatened that if the federal government failed to compel Shell to begin the clean-up on their land before August 4, which would mark the third anniversary of the UNEP report, it would disrupt oil production in the country.

“August 4 is the third anniversary of the release of that report, and if they have not started implementing the UNEP report before that day, there will be no oil export in this country again. Don’t forget that all the oil produced in the Niger Delta pass through Ogoni to Bonny for export. We will take over the pipeline. There will be no export. They (federal government) should be prepared to dig mass grave to bury everybody. We have decided and that is the way it is going to be,” Akpobari had said.

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interview Boyloaf: 2015 poll will be the most challenging Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, popularly known as General Boyloaf, was profiled as having the most organised militant camp during the Niger Delta crisis that culminated in the declaration of amnesty by the government of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. His bombing of Shell’s Bonga Oil field was a game-changer that altered the dynamics of the Niger Delta struggle and made the government and the oil firms change strategy in addressing the Niger Delta crisis. From the creeks to becoming the Chairman of Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development, Boyloaf, in this interview, speaks, among other salient national issues, the national conference...

the on-going national conference a step in the right Isdirection?

For me, it is better for Nigerians to jaw-jaw than to warwar. To that extent, the national conference is a good step to reduce the obvious tension in the country. It is for the participants to make the best use of the conference to further the unity of the country. It is also for them to use the opportunity to prove sceptics wrong on the value of the conference to the country at this time. To answer the second part of your question, the outcome of the conference will determine if it is after all a step in the right direction.

Do you think 2015 will be like any other election?

My honest take on the 2015 election is that democracy should be further strengthened in Nigeria. The electoral space should be opened to all intended aspirants; there should be no limitation. Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) must be seen to be fair and just. Once these are in place, I feel Nigerians will have a positive perception on the election. No two elections will ever be the same, because of the dynamism of society. But this 2015 election will be the most challenging and definitive.

What is your reaction to Usman Bugaje’s statement that

there is no oil-producing state, and that oil in the Niger Delta belongs to the North? Don’t you think his statement is a prelude to genocide against our people, the Niger Deltans?

It is a laughable statement, mischievous and a statement of fallacy. People like Usman Bugaje are the problem we have in this country; such people, once they are no more in government, all they do is cause confusion, by making irresponsible statements and fan the embers of discord between the ethnic nationalities, instead of strengthening our unity. Let me ask Bugaje: if there is oil spill, like there has always been in the Niger Delta, whose livelihood is affected? Whose environment is degraded? Is it the nearby community or Bugaje’s village in Katsina that feels the impact? Nigerians are now wise and can discern.

We are not losing sleep over Bugaje’s irresponsible statement, because most Northerners do not think the way he does.

The Niger Delta struggle is now hibernating. Supposing Nigerians did not get it right at the conference, will the militants resume hostilities?

History has a way of repeating itself. But we hope and pray that the history of the violent Niger Delta struggle

does not repeat itself.

Do you think there are men of goodwill in Jonathan’s government?

Most people in government work to impress their principal. As far as goodwill is concerned, Jonathan became president on the immense goodwill of the Nigerian people. I believe it is the duty of his aides to sustain that goodwill. How well they have done; that is not for me to judge. I don’t want to comment on the people in Jonathan’s government.

How do you see President Jonathan’s attitude towards

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interview

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Boko Haram has assumed the status of an international terror organisation. The political upheavals in the Maghreb region also contributed, because arms and soldiers of fortune suddenly found a new territory to do business, having been pursued from their hitherto bases and theatre of war. Boko Haram has effectively kept our security agencies busy in the last four years or so.

a reactionary movement trying to propagate its own brand of Islam to a political mechanism with the goal of challenging the enthronement of a minority president, Boko Haram has assumed the status of an international terror organisation.

The political upheavals in the Maghreb region also contributed, because arms and soldiers of fortune suddenly found a new territory to do business, having been pursued from their hitherto bases and theatre of war. Boko Haram has effectively kept our security agencies busy in the last four years or so. The entire North East, particularly Borno and Yobe states, is dead socially and commercially; there is no growth there! Meanwhile, the other regions are in relative peace and growth; no matter how small. So whose fault is it and who is to blame? I don’t want to blame anyone, but no government will be happy to have such a crisis. So, the federal and state governments should stop blaming each other and unite to face the common enemy.

In what ways can we address Nigeria’s security challenges for sustainable peace and development?

Security is a very expensive enterprise, and it is unfortunate that politicians who are in charge of our national treasury do not understand this fact. The peace we are currently enjoying in the Niger Delta came at a great cost, both in terms of money and human lives. This is so when we have social and economic disequilibrium in the country. Government must continue to invest massively in social and economic projects that will ameliorate poverty; real projects that will not be hijacked by vested interests and politicians, like they hijacked the amnesty programme. If this is sustained for a period of about 20 years, the disequilibrium in our societies will reduce gradually to a reasonable and manageable proportion.

the amnesty programme?

President Jonathan’s attitude to the amnesty programme can best be described as warm and cordial. He is a firm believer in the ideal of the amnesty declaration and he has been implementing it diligently. Remember, he was the vice president when the declaration was proclaimed and he was part of those that brought the amnesty to life. Honestly, we cannot expect more from him than he has done so far.

What is your assessment of the security challenges, especially of Boko Haram, and how government has responded so far?

It is difficult to have a final opinion; it is a matter that is still evolving. But my personal take on Boko Haram is akin to when we wish for something, or create a scenario, when it becomes so big, it may most likely go out of the creators’ or instigators’ control, as those with other objectives and agenda may run with it and give it a life of its own. For

Do you not think Boko Haram is about politics and for Jonathan being there as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

So many people in the Niger Delta area are of this opinion, and they hold on to it very strongly. Many times I have been confronted with this question, and my response has always been ‘time will tell’.

It will be unfortunate for Nigeria if the Boko Haram nonsense does not stop now, given all the approaches already taken by government. If it outlives the Jonathan administration and suddenly loses tempo and intensity whenever power transmits to another region, that day I pray never comes; but if it does, it will be unfortunate for Nigeria, because some people will draw conclusion and may likely react.

And do we need to politicise security?

We necessarily don’t have to, but can we really draw a line between security and politics? The laws as at today place the security agencies effectively under the control of politicians whose stock-intrade is politics. Politicians see and analyse everything through the eyes of politics.

How do you advise or urge the citizens to push for peaceful co-existence and good leadership in the country?

The ongoing national conference is the best avenue for Nigerians to arrive at a national consensus. With a binding national consensus, Nigeria can start to dismantle those cleavages that divide us and strengthen those bondS that unify us as people with a common heritage spanning 100 years.

Would you compare or equate the Boko Haram struggle or crisis to that of the Niger Delta?

No. there is no basis for comparison. If there is a basis, the template used in addressing the Niger Delta debacle would have been used to address the Boko Haram madness. But as you can see, it has been tried and it failed. So they are far and wide apart.

The remains of General John Togo of the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) is still under security surveillance and guard at the Warri General Hospital. What effort are the ex-militants making to bring him home for heroic burial?

Let us put it into proper perspective, for the sake of history, events that led to the death of John Togo. He served in my camp and, after the amnesty which he took, I personally took him to Delta State Government House and got him introduced to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, his state governor. He severally complained about some unfulfilled expectations about the amnesty programme and I always tell him to be patient. But some of our boys think that the federal government has given us a blank cheque, and that, as leaders, we have unlimited access to the treasury, forgetting that the Niger Delta struggle is and was a combination of effort and resolve of people. Some of them, in violation of their amnesty oath, went back to the creeks and sought to re-open the crisis. The outcome is what it is, though unfortunate. People must know that they will be responsible for their actions. Therefore, I urge all our youths to be patient and work with their leadership and the government. The Niger Delta struggle is not a one-man struggle, and it is not a struggle that is undertaken without the blessing and support of the people and the gods. As for heroic burial, it is for the Niger Delta people to determine if he merits a heroic burial or if he is to be considered a Niger Delta hero.

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Confab Perspectives on fiscal federalism debate Apart from power devolution, no other topic at the ongoing national conference may generate as much heat as debates on fiscal federalism, which is where the issue of resource control comes in. Though the committee that dwelt on this matter had submitted its reports making far-reaching recommendations, it is not yet tabled at the plenary for general discussion. However, Assistant Editor (North), CHUKS EHIRIM, sampled opinions of some delegates on the issue Na'Abba Rafsanjani

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o alternative to internally-generated revenue – GHALI UMAR NA’ABBA (Former Speaker, House of Representatives) I cannot speak for any other person but myself.

I think it is good innovation for any state to organise and generate revenue from activities going on internally. That is all I can say on it for now.

Emphasis should be on production – EMMA UGBOAJA, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) delegate It is about production. The emphasis should be on production. The idea of people talking about sharing is totally different from what obtains where I come from. I come from a working background. We talk about work; we talk about producing; we talk about generating wealth, not just about sharing it.

You must first underline the principle of producing it before you can then go into the demographic nature of sharing it. The premise upon which people talk of sharing even what they have not seen and what they don’t intend to produce, is wrong. It is not real. One would have expected that the new Nigeria we are dreaming about should be the Nigeria that talks about producing. And as long as our emphasis is more on sharing, that cannot be the way to go. If you ask people, they will tell you they are just interested in the sharing formula. They must be encouraged to produce.

Fiscal federalism should be anchored on productivity – LANRE OGUNDIPE, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) The entire thing centres on lack of understanding. What we have been hearing from noisy neighbours is not what we can build anything on – the idea of just collecting money and going somewhere to share the loot. What we have seen in the last 15 years of democracy is just sharing of loot, not dividends of democracy.

When you talk about fiscal policy, you build it around productivity. When that one reaches a stage where you can reap the benefits accruing from it, you then start thinking of democratisation. Democratisation does not come in when you have nothing on ground. What we have seen in the last couple of years is that people say: okay, go into this and collect money and share nothing to the general public.

That is why we are saying that all these things need to be devolved. By the time it is devolved, you can now hold people accountable. Can you now hold the federal government accountable at the local government level? The answer is an emphatic no. So those are the things we are saying.

We must address issues of derivation, resource control – SAM EGU, a delegate from Kogi State from civil society background.

The principle of federalism is that the constituent units of a federation should be sufficiently autonomous in terms of allocation of political powers and fiscal powers, to deal with their local powers and development issues. And once you get that very clearly, you understand there are two elements of fiscal federalism that you need to deal with in this country.

One is what you may consider as the vertical fiscal relations between the federal government and constituent units. My take on it is that, given the mood of this country, our federal system needs to be reformed. Power needs to be devolved from the centre to the states. We require some sincerity in statutory distribution of funds between the federal government on the one hand and the states on the other, which I think should review what is available to the federal government in favour of the states while still ensuring that the federal government is strong enough to cater for the overall unity of the country.

The second element of fiscal federalism is the distribu-

tion of revenues among the sub units. Again, given the rising tide of the issue of self-determination, the need for greater autonomy and encouraging the sub units to also expand the scope of their revenue, we cannot run away from issues of derivation or resource control. My proposal is that even with the current 13 per cent for the oil-producing states, which though has already created a situation of fiscal imbalance between them and the rest of the country, in terms of what they are taking home and what the non-oil-producing states are taking home, you still require, in the name of justice and fairness, dealing National conference delegates with the peculiar challenges of the oil-producing states and communities, to increase that allocation, from 13 per cent to a minimum of 20 per cent or 25 per cent.

You also need to take additional measures to support states whose revenue fall below the national average, so that they can maintain national minimum standard because that is why, in most federal systems, you have what is called ‘grabbing age’, which is a periodic effort by the federal government to intervene in the fiscal functions of states that fall below the national average. These are the kind of things we should be doing.

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Confab

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Anoliefo

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In trying to look at fiscal federalism, we need to see how we can expand and diversify our economic activities, so that we can have sufficient income that will be distributed fairly and equitably across the country, to encourage development and ensure that laziness is also discouraged"

Urgent need to address plight of oil-producing states – HAJIA RAMATU USMAN, immediate past president of National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) There are issues that I am still learning here. You know, as a civil society person, we are more concerned with civil matters. So I don’t understand, very well, the fiscal federalism thing until it is discussed. The report of that committee has not been discussed. But if I should speak now, it will be from a layman’s point of view. I believe that in the long run, at the end of this discussion, the majority decision will be for states to control their resources and then taxes should be paid to the federal government.

Nigeria yet to practise true fiscal federalism – OBI ANOLIEFO, former House of Representatives member (19911993) We haven’t got fiscal federalism yet. One would have expected that you wait to see what the people who are responsible for that have for us and not pre-judge anything or anybody. Fiscal federalism is going to come, perhaps, between one or two committees – Devolution of Power and Restructuring of Government. So I don’t want to pre-judge any of these committees.

Some of us, who have had the opportunity to go to the oil-producing states, have seen abject poverty. Though the North is poorer, those oil-producing areas are really suffering. If I am given the opportunity, I will say that oil pipelines should go to the houses of those who live in the oil-producing areas, so that suffering would stop. We like copying from developed countries, but do not practise it when we come back home. In all the developed countries, the people who are from the oil-producing areas have pipes laid to their homes. When will the suffering of the woman stop?

So that is it. We discussed it at the plenary, but the report

of the committee is yet to be discussed. We will peruse it together when the time comes and I think a reasonable percentage will be given to the oil-producing states.

Review of allocation formula the answer – AUWAL IBRAHIM MUSA RAFSANJANI, civil society representative It is very clear that we need to do something to amend how fiscal federalism operates in Nigeria, which has not been serving any purpose for anybody. First and foremost, there is the belief that economic diversification is so important.

The way we are now, we encourage laziness in the economic investment and expansion in our economic activities. There is no industrialisation. Nothing is happening, and this is not good for any country concentrating on one economy.

Therefore, in trying to look at fiscal federalism, we need to see how we can expand and diversify our economic activities, so that we can have sufficient income that will be distributed fairly and equitably across the country, to encourage development and ensure that laziness is also discouraged.

I think we need to do everything possible to ensure that the states and local government areas receive sufficient allocations, for them to be able to build for development, because giving the federal government a large share of the country’s revenue is also what is heating up the polity at the national level.

Everybody wants to come to the federal level; nobody wants to focus on other developmental things at the states or local government levels. By so doing, we end up wasting a lot of money, and states and local governments are not receiving sufficient allocations. So I want to suggest that we look at the allocation to the federal government and also increase the allocations to the states and local governments, so that development could reach the grassroots.

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Encounter Government should create enabling environment for youths,

by Okeke UGOCHUKWU OKEKE, facilitator of Team Goodluck Nigeria, in this interview with Special Correspondent, IDU JUDE, talks on the support of his group for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election as well as the need for enabling environment for the youth in the country Okeke

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lout in Anambra politics We remain resolute and committed in doing our best to bring about the desired change in the society.

I have been committed to the cause of human capacity development and several philanthropic programmes. Supporting and engaging in real time development will remain my top priority, whether in the government circle or anywhere.

Anambra needs to be transformed. We must start from our communities to the local government areas, political zones and the state in general.

I believe that it is time for youths to take over. Anambra has population, land mass, needed resources (both human and natural) and so on. We all need to come together and build Anambra of our dream. And the only way to do it is through dialogue, which is contributing ideas, vast knowledge and material resources from everyone, no matter how big or small.

Taking Anambra to the next level The present leadership needs to concentrate on the area of security. There is no investment that thrives without adequate security in place. If the state can guarantee maximum security, investors will be willing to come and invest.

The former governor did his best, and I understand that the current governor is beginning to take steps in that regard. Once security is in place, you think of economic development. The three senatorial zones in state have their areas of strength. Anambra North, for instance, boasts of agricultural produce because of the nature of its fertile land and agrarian population. Anambra South is more into entrepreneurial or business activities. Anambra Central is more in industrial development. In Anambra North,

we have the biggest rice mill in Nigeria known as Omor Rice Mill. That rice mill needs to be resuscitated for economic gain and other attendant benefits.

Anambra remains the hub of agriculture in the South East. So, efforts must be put in place to harness the potential in this regard.

We can devote time and money, partner with other countries, to achieve more in agriculture. If we can find the right synergy in agriculture, employment rate will greatly increase and youth restiveness will reduce.

That will reflect on our economy.

Anambra has the capacity to generate over N5 billion every month, if the right things are done. To achieve economic stability, we must invest massively in agriculture more than we do in oil. People with ideas in this area can be invited to assist.

Enabling environment for the youth I am not satisfied with what is on ground in terms of employment. Every year, our youth graduate from school without hope of getting employed. I think what should be the duty of government is not giving jobs, because the rate of unemployment has grown so much; what government should concern itself more with is creating enabling environment, a conducive atmosphere, and then allow private investors to thrive. One thing that will help a private entrepreneur to succeed is power. I believe that with the calibre of men and women we have in Anambra, government should be able to build power plants that will guarantee steady power supply to complement what the federal government is doing.

Jonathan administration and South East I must tell you that I am overwhelmed assessing what the president has been able to do, especially for the South East people.

We have benefited much and I want to commend him on what he has done so far.

That is why some of us who are in support of what he is doing brought ourselves together to form Team Goodluck Nigeria. We believe that the president has done well by starting the Second Niger Bridge, upgrading of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which previous governments could not give the entire South East. We are going to ensure that he comes back to complete the project and other ones that are ongoing. His return will ensure continuity with a guarantee that he will continue his development programmes in Anambra, South East and the country at large.

Under his government, the Igbo have enjoyed so many things, including the siting of a dam at Adada in Nkpologu Town Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, to provide drinking water for the entire Nsukka people. Even in the area where there is insurgency, he has demonstrated commitment in taking development to the people of the area. Despite all his achievements, I believe there is room for improvement. That is why some of us are calling on him to come again to complete his good works.

Team Goodluck Nigeria ideology We preach sustainable development irrespective of who or where the people are.

Team Goodluck Nigeria is in the vanguard of crusading equality and corruption-free society. Team Goodluck Nigeria is saying that those who can fish should be given fishing tools to enable them do it well; those who can farm should be provided with adequate farm implements. Nigerians don’t demand much from their leaders aside the common things that can give them lease of life. Once water, light, secu-

rity and health facilities are provided, you will enjoy what you do in better way. Team Goodluck Nigeria’s programme is in line with the president’s transformation agenda, which is to empower the youths. Our policy is that the youths should be empowered at their own pace, so that those who are at the local area can enjoy what people in the city enjoy. That would ensure all-inclusive governance and will curb urban migration.

We also create awareness for eligible voters to ensure that their votes are not hijacked by unscrupulous elements.

Privatisation as panacea for epileptic power supply Privatisation is good, but I am not in support of full privatisation. Partial privatisation, to me, is better because of huge financial involvement, which installing and managing power installations require.

I believe that well-to-do individuals and corporate organisations could only partner with government in bringing an end to power problems in the country.

Gains of World Economic Forum This has opened Nigeria to the entire world, not just Africa. People complained about the need for hosting the world, about waste of resources and insecurity in the nation. But all of them found nothing to complain about shortly after the summit because there were no security embarrassment and Nigeria recorded the highest number of attendance in the history of the forum. The world has now seen the huge economic benefits in the country. Our business men and women, indeed the economy, will grow, if this door that is opened to investors starts yielding fruits. It is not for Jonathan as a person, but for everyone.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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The Grassroots

Reaping from social media revolution PASCAL OPARADA, analyses the impact of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms in awakening consciousness among Nigerians against perceived government’s actions or inactions

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uring the January 2012 petroleum subsidy removal saga, social media easily provided platform for ventilating the people’s disapproval of the controversial government action; hence, the #OccupyNigeria movement was born. The medium helped rally citizens to oppose the idea – a development that largely prevailed on the government to rescind its decision on the subsidy removal.

The campaign ended only when President Goodluck Jonathan shifted ground and met Nigerians halfway by restoring the subsidy partially. He also followed it up by deploying troops to the protest grounds, especially the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, the nexus of the protest.

Unconfirmed reports had insinuated that the president feared that if the protest had been allowed to continue, his government stood the risk of being toppled. What particularly added weight to the apprehension was the regime of the so-called Arab Spring that culminated in dismantling some dictator administrations in the Middle East including Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Muammar Gadhafi of Libya, Ben Ali of Tunisia and Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen.

Social media and the use of hashtags formed the fulcrum on which people vented their frustrations.

In apparent guard against the trend occurring within its territory, the Turkish government blocked a video-sharing site, Youtube and Twitter in the country. The case is still in court, as activists accuse the government of gagging the people and putting a lid on press freedom and freedom of expression.

The micro-blogging site, Twitter, first introduced the hashtag handle to its users in 2009. The # symbol, called a

hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a tweet. It helped categorise messages. Instead of creating new accounts for various issues, people with existing accounts can contribute to any particular issue using a hashtag that has been created for a specific purpose.

As in the case of the oil subsidy imbroglio, again Nigerians were confronted with another reason to employ the social media and, indeed, hashtag to rally one another, this time for issues of serious proportion.

The hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls, championed by former Vice President of the World Bank, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has gone viral. After various unsuccessful attempts by the government and some individuals to throw mud on the veracity of the abduction of over 200 secondary school students in Chibok, Maiduguri, North East Nigeria, Nigerians have been irrepressible in their demands to rescue the girls. Just by typing #BringBackOurGirls on any social media platform, you are immediately confronted with a deluge of information on the Chibok girls.

The campaign has put Nigeria on a pedestal never before seen.

It has exposed the frailty of the Nigerian government and the helplessness of its people. It has taken Nigeria from one that is grappling with insurgency in parts of the country to the inadequacy of its security forces to contend with the problem. It has attracted A-list celebrities who have joined the fray to press on the Nigerian government and the international community to do more to bring back the girls.

From the streets of Abuja to other major cities across the country, protesters carrying placards with the inscription: #BringBackOurGirls, have continued to resonate. T-shirts and other memorabilia have been created using the same

hashtag.

By the second week after the abduction, statistics indicated that the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag had generated over 360,000 tweets and re-tweets, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said. Within the same period, it reported that of the 160,000 tweets from users who specified a location, half came from Nigeria, followed by the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa and other countries.

From the first Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama; to United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, the demand is endless. Just last week, during America’s Billboard Music Video Awards, the red carpet was converted to a protest platform of some sorts when all the celebrities who graced the event carried the sign, #BringBackOurGirls. Penultimate Tuesday, over one million women in South Korea staged the biggest ever protest in the bid to free the girls. They all held the sign, #BringBackOurGirls. It has placed Nigeria on the map in some way.

But more than exposing insecurity, corruption and abductions in Nigeria, the hashtag has thrown open what many, including the U.S. First Lady, regarded as a threat to the girlchild education in parts of the world where extremists view the education of women as abomination. In her address, which was hinged on the Chibok girls, Mrs. Obama asked American children to appreciate the opportunity and freedom they have by “re-committing themselves to education”.

Malala Yousoufzai, who has become the face of girl-child education and was shot by the Taliban, has also lent her voice by carrying the hashtag. In one of her interviews with Christiane Amanpour of Cable News Network (CNN), Malala said what is happening in Nigeria and other parts of the world is what every government should fight against.

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From the States Anambra: New deal for Ogbunike cave Special Correspondent, CHIBUZOR NWACHUKWU, writes on tourism potential of Ogbunike cave, that Anambra State First Lady, Mrs. Ebele Obiano, seems poised to give a facelift

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o most Nigerians, three remarkable features stand the sleepy town of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State out.

Among these is the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, a flamboyant politician who rose from the position of Political Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari to the exalted position of a Senate president.

While Okadigbo reigned as Senate president, Ogbunike became a Mecca of sorts to many politicians.

Another issue that makes Ogbunike Town tick is the old girls’ mission school, St Monica’s Secondary School, Ogbunike, which apparently has produced amazons that have taken positions in the country’s hall of fame on account of their accomplishments.

Tucked behind St, Monica’s is the wonderland bestowed on the people by mother nature. This waterway complements the great Ogbunike cave, believed to have been there since creation.

A walk through the walls of St. Monica’s school bestriding the rocky valleys of the rain forest, one is welcomed by the cave, described as nature’s kindness to humanity.

The cave is located in Ifite village at the north east of Ogbunike and is buried over 15 metres beneath the mountain and has about one kilometre radius.

History has it that the cave was discovered by a certain great hunter known as Ukira from Umucheke family, Ifite village in Ogbunike. Ever since, generations dead or alive have found this natural heritage a source of spiritual re-invigoration due to the sacred-

ness of the cave. Visitors to the cave are allowed in bare-footed. There are other dos and don’ts which include exclusion of women on menstruation from entering the cave.

Though there is no known specific sanction in the event of the regulations being violated, there has always been the apprehension that something grave may happen to any likely offender.

Down the valley that houses the cave, the tourist takes a long walk down a total of 330 steps constructed by the villages to ease human traffic, while the main entrance to the cave lets the picture of a half-lighted lounge that can make for a sitting room.

The cave has about six tunnels, with pockets of rooms that are well compartmentalised like hotel rooms with spring water gushing from different spots of the rock decking. The water flows down to a little stream that joins Kisi River, a tribute of River Niger.

The stream is reported to have potency for curing any form of ailment, a plausible consideration that underscores why people frequent it, spending days to obtain spiritual solutions to their problems.

What may, however, appear to be a paradox of fate is that successive administrations in Anambra merely paid lip service to tourism and economic potential of the Ogbunike cave. This, TheNiche gathered, explains why papers generated by various committees on the cave ended up in government shelves, while it remains unattended to.

It was against this backdrop that the state’s First Lady, Ebele Obiano, appears to have taken up this pet dream of putting the Ogbunike cave in the world tourism map.

“Ogbunike cave is one that has great potential like other tourist areas in Anambra State, and it is important that we make a statement with it,” Mrs. Obiano had remarked. Supported by her husband, Governor Willie Obiano, the first lady intends to reposition the cave to add to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

To Mrs. Obiano, it is not only the Ogbunike cave that deserves government’s attention. Her interest extends to such places like the Orumba Water Falls, said to be the largest of its kind in the state.

The first lady said that the tourism attraction and potential in Anambra would go a long way in attracting investors far and wide into the area, adding that the international community would partner with the state government in that regard.

In similar vein, the Special Assistant to the Governor on IGR, Okey Anyayo, told TheNiche that the government’s policy is to improve the revenue base and profile of the state, adding that with such tourism area, Anambra would gain bountifully.

“We shall do our best in ensuring that the dream of Her Excellency in improving tourism is realised in the best

interest of the state and our people in particular,” he said.

Already, resource persons in environment and tourism have taken up the challenge of making the dream a reality, TheNiche learnt.

They are said to have visited the area and have also carried out study of what can be made out of the cave in due time.

According to the Chief Execute Officer (CEO) of Just Caesar Nig. Ltd, Caesar Obidire, about 95 per cent of this great tourist centre’s potential has not been harnessed.

“The villagers are very hospitable and kind, and they are willing to receive strangers as well as show off their God-given heritage. Some of them have even lost hope of seeing the place developed to a full tourist centre.

“We also observed that there is a very large forest that covers the entire mountain top right down to the valley extending to the Kisa River. The entrance area and the open area around the entrance lay fallow in wait for an aggressive development.

“We have already made a design of the Ogbunike Tourist Centre for the Ministry of Land and Survey, Town Planning since 2009” he said.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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From the States

Kosoko: No way for PDP in South West IDRIS KOSOKO, who represented Badagry Federal Constituency, Lagos State, in House of Representatives, speaks with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, on the recent congress of APC in the state, among other issues...

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ongress as a charade I think that is a misconception. The election was conducted and those that emerged were simply the choice of the people. By the party constitution, there are options that you may want to resolve the issue through consensus. But don’t forget that we started from the ward level to the local government level, then to the state level. Everything that happened was very clear. The delegates emerged from the wards. Part of the delegates will be officers at local government level and to the state. Within this process, there is no way you can manipulate it because it is Option A4. Once you emerge there, automatically you will become one of the state officers. But if you don’t emerge from the ward level, there is no way for you.

Our national leader, Bola Tinubu, said it during one of the stakeholders’ meetings that he would urge all the members to go and use any method that suited them, that would not cause problem for them. He said if in their elections they could reach consensus, fine; but where you failed to reach a consensus, you might go to congress. And that was what we had done. Anybody who said the congress was manipulated must be a joker and not telling the truth. Everything that we did was transparent because it is our belief that the wish of the people should always prevail and it must be done transparently too.

Plan to make you Chairman That, to me, is a non-issue.

The issue is whether one is capable to do the job, and given my pedigree, I am capable and everything was conducted to the best interest of the major-

ity. Most times, it is even better that certain positions are not given too much publicity, so that the contestants may not start coming to influence you unduly. Having been in politics for many years, I was equal to the task given to me, which I discharged to the satisfaction of the majority. That is democracy in action. Looking at my political antecedents, I did not think to be a chairman in such election would pose a problem Kosoko to me.

PDP's boast to spring a surprise For me, it is an empty boast because there is nothing that shows they are on ground. Talk is cheap; so they can talk. Unless they are deceiving themselves, when you survey all election variables, there is nothing that points to such victory. Will they use magic? In politics, especially among most Nigerian politicians, even when the person has just 300 people with other millions of people on the side of his opponent, he will still be claiming that he is a factor.

It is a tragedy of our politics. PDP should not waste their time in the South West zone because apart from our party programme that touches the lives of the people, the electorate, we also have the credibility of the people at the helm of affairs.

The Yoruba know their leaders. They know those that are honest with them. They know who can deliver and they vote for such people. PDP is suffering from desperation, but the people are now wiser. The masses are dissatisfied with the PDP politics. It is a party playing politics with the people’s lives rather than governance. PDP is jittery because they know that they will lose in more states under free and fair election.

Even with their federal might?

Of course, even with their federal power, under a free and fair election, they will lose. The days of ballot snatching and barbaric rigging are over. The people are now more sophisticated to resist it.

You can no longer use violence or intimidation because you are the ruling party. The people must be allowed to choose their leaders, those they want to represent them. Any attempt by the PDP to rig election in the South West will not be taken kindly by the people.

Insecurity in the land In my interview last year with some newspapers, I did say that whoever that must be the Minister of Defence should be a person with military background. At least, they listened to the advice. In that interview, I also noted that security issues are not things you treat on pages of newspaper; they are not what you come on screen and say government is on top of it, that Boko Haram will soon be phased out. These terror groups plan ahead, and government needs to do its job properly on the issue. The governor of Borno State was saying that the Boko Haram boys are well motivated and all that. But when you look at our military, those

that are expected to contain them, are they? Government should set its dragnet well. This is not an issue you solve by road blocks. These people know the checkpoints; they will not pass as at the time you expect them.

We should advance our technology.

We must know certain types of security gadgets that can screen metals, track sensitive objects among other things, to be mounted in some areas.

Extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe I think there are more to be done by the government and its security agents. What are the conditions of the curfew, the restrictions in certain areas? It is sad that now that we have state of emergency, we are getting more people dead.

Advice to confab delegates I am not happy with what is going on there. Look at the huge amount of money they are collecting. Some are even asking for more allowances, like transportation. If you are there and have no car, then you have no business there. If you cannot make certain sacrifices for Nigeria, then you are not worthy to be in confab.

"At least, they listened to the advice. In that interview, I also noted that security issues are not things you treat on pages of newspaper; they are not what you come on screen and say government is on top of it, that Boko Haram will soon be phased out.

These terror groups plan ahead, and government needs to do its job properly on the issue

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Parliament 'My return to NASS dicey under APC' CHARLES ODEDO, the only member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Anambra State in the House of Representatives who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in this encounter with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, speaks on his defection, the national conference and security challenge, among other issues.

Odedo

Defection from APC I resigned from the APC because I have a deep feeling that my ambition to return to the House of Representatives may not be realised in that party. I have fallen out of favour with Senator Chris Ngige who gave me the opportunity to return to the House of Representatives in this seventh Assembly. I am no longer one of his favourites. My ambition to return to the House of Representatives is very popular among my Idemili people, but a few elite want to frustrate the will of the people.

Only Idemili people can decide my fate. I am their choice.

Problem with Ngige I really do not know what my offence was, but I noticed that a clique of sycophants around Senator Ngige were no longer happy with me, as they began to constantly criticise all my actions. They employ lies, threats and blackmail to advance their agenda.

Impact of resignation on Ngige’s political machine

I do not think my exit will affect his political career in 2015.

Mind you, before my entry into politics in 2005, Ngige was already a governor. Remember also that in 2011, he was elected a senator against Dora Akunyili who was supported by even the then Governor Peter Obi. I benefitted a lot from Ngige’s goodwill and the good works he did in Anambra Central, especially in Idemili North and South.

My experience with the PDP in 2007 was a bitter one because after winning the primary election, my name was removed. I fought all the way to the Supreme Court before entering the House of Representatives in July 2008. I lost about one year and one month. I was already a member of the House of Representatives before I joined Ngige in ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) in 2011. I was to be denied the ticket of the PDP, that was why I left for the ACN where I won the election. Now that I perceive that I may not get the ticket of APC, I have to make a move in order not to allow those who want to

frustrate the will of the people by trying to deny me opportunity to serve my people have their way.

I came into the seventh Assembly on the platform of ACN (now defunct) and not the APC. ACN merged with some other parties to become the APC. So, I did not come to the House on the platform of APC. I really do not believe in the APC, as I see it as a gang-up against the president. I am returning to the PDP, my original party.

Return to PDP PDP is broad-based. With the effective leadership of Mr. President and the enthronement of internal democracy by the national chairman, I am confident that the PDP will win the 2015 general elections.

My defection has to do with the fact that APC in the South East revolves around some personalities. It is more or less a one-man show; it is almost a dictatorship and not a democracy.

State of insecurity in the country This country is under serious threat because when ordinary hardworking citizens are attacked and killed, when innocent school children are attacked and killed, when places of worship like churches and mosques are attacked at will, you will agree with me that we are in serious trouble. At the beginning of the seventh Assembly, while contributing on the debate about the legislative agenda of the seventh Assembly, I made crucial contribution; I advised that this country should focus on some critical areas because of the state of insecurity.

I raised the issue of food security; I suggested that emphasis should be given to agriculture for mass production of food to reduce hunger. Agriculture also creates employment opportunities. The insurgency is fueled by hunger and unemployment.

I have harped on the issue of employment and

security. Unemployment is the biggest problem confronting this country today. Government should focus on many areas of development that will create job. For example, agriculture and local content policies encourage local production. We should undertake mass housing projects and probably create an agency that will look at every sector of the economy. Importation of virtually everything, including things we can produce, is not good for the economy.

Also, it is crazy for us in this country to set aside up to 70 per ecnt of our budget every year for recurrent expenditure, while in most cases, the budget for capital expenditure is less than 30 per cent. Even the capital is not implemented in full; sometimes the implementation of the capital is as low as 25 per cent.

Steps must be taken to create jobs for our people.

Security of lives and property and welfare of our citizen are the primary reasons of government. The security agencies should be reorganised, especially the intelligence departments, for a proactive approach to securing lives of our citizens. The security agencies should be well-funded and exposed to foreign training, so that their capacity and efficiency will improve.

There is need for compulsory free education up to SS 3 level because development requires education. The government, as a matter of policy, should encourage integration and discourage division along ethnic and religious lines.

Potentials of national conference The people in the conference have the capacity to deliver good result to Nigerians. However, the national conference has not been given adequate time to do its job. For more effective and thorough assignment, the time for this conference should not be less than six months.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Analysis

At the mercy of Boko Haram audacity Boko Haram has upped its attacks in apparent response to the resolve by the international community to end its campaign of terror in Nigeria. Senior Correspondent, ISHAYA IBRAHIM, writes that this is possibly a last ditch effort of the group

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n May 17, West African leaders agreed that Boko Haram was a common enemy, and hence pledged to work together to wage “total war” against it. The leaders took the decision in Paris, France, following the abduction of more than 230 girls in Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The Paris meeting has the potential of changing the tide in the fight against Boko Haram. In apparent response, the terrorists started series of attacks to press home their point.

The first attack was at a drinking bar in Kano on May 18, the first in the last 14 months in that city. On that day, the terrorists loaded explosives in a car and rammed it into the bar, killing five people, including the bomb courier. The incident occurred in Sabon Gari area of the state.

On May 20, less than 48 hours after the Kano blast, Boko Haram killed another 118 people at a busy market in Jos, Plateau State – also the first in the last two years in Jos, which is more notorious for its religious and ethnic strife than Boko Haram attacks.

The ferocity of the attacks continued the following day, May 21; this time, it was in its usual operational environment – Borno State. There, 19 villagers were killed by the Islamists in Alagarno, a village near Chibok, the scene of the mass abduction. Witnesses said the sect fighters spent hours killing and looting without a response from the Nigerian military.

Perhaps, motivated by the incapacity of the Nigerian military to stop them, they took their belligerence a step further in Ashigashiya and Chinene villages, both in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. After killing scores of villagers and sacking the villages, they hoisted their flags, apparently to prove that the villages have fallen under their control.

Still feeling motivated with their conquest, the terrorists moved to Buni Yadi, an already traumatised community where 59 school boys were killed early this year. There, they attacked a security post, killing 45 security agents comprising 24 soldiers and 21 policemen.

The frequency of these attacks is coming at a time the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), France, China, Canada and Israel have deployed military assets to help locate the missing school girls. It is also coming when Nigerian neighbours – including Chad, Niger and Cameroun – have vowed to weed out Boko Haram elements operating in the fringes of their countries. So far, Cameroun has deployed more than 1,000 soldiers to secure its borders with Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the nearly 230 girls have not been found. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshall Alex Badeh, said the authorities know where the girls were being held, although he added that they could not engage the terrorists in a fight because doing so would put the girls in harm’s way.

So, what next, since the military would not engage the terrorists in a fight and President Goodluck Jonathan would also not agree to swap the girls with Boko Haram prisoners?

But Barack Obama has made good his promise to assist the Nigerian military to rescue the girls by deploying 80 soldiers for the mission, though they are stationed in Chad. Obama had said the U.S. would do everything in the short term to return the missing girls and, in the long term, help restore order in the troubled North East corner of Nigeria.

“In the short term, our goal is obviously to help the international community, and the Nigerian government, as a team, to do everything we can to recover these young ladies,” he said.

The UK has also tightened the noose against Boko Haram; supporting Nigeria’s military with intelligence-gathering equipment. Its Foreign Office Minister, Mark Simmonds, said the UK would help Nigeria survey the Sambisa forest.

“The forest area (Sambisa) where the girls are rumoured to be held is 60,000km2 (23,166 sq. miles).

It is an area of hot dry scrub forest 40 times the size of London; it is a wild territory, very difficult for land and air-based surveillance operations to take place,” he said.

The ferocity of the Boko Haram attacks in the last

couple of days could be intended to over-stretch the assets the Nigerian government and its allies may have deployed to locate the missing schoolgirls. But the incessant attacks have been fuelling anger among Nigerians who feel the government is not doing enough to checkmate the terrorists.

But an expert in conflict resolution at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Charles Dokubo, believes that the Boko Haram menace would soon be brought under control.

“This issue of terrorism is trans-national, in the sense that you can see that these terror groups have links with Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, the Al-Shabab, etc. They have all sorts of linkages; so no nation can deal with it on its strength alone.

“Also, because of the globalisation and the fast media experience where things move easily from one end to another, breaking borders and barriers, you cannot totally track terrorism down on your own,” the Badeh professor said.

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Candour's Niche

Editorial Government sponsored pilgrimages This newspaper is in full support of the resolution of the national conference calling for an enactment of legislation so that the involvement of government at all levels in sponsoring of pilgrimages should end.

Even though there is no enabling legislation backing the conference the speedy enactment of a law is imperative. The opportunity cost of the incursion of the government in pilgrimage sponsorship is horrendous. Religion is a personal issue. And should remain so.

Inadvertently (it is to be hoped) the entire proposition has become part of a vast political patronage system. The misapplication of resources involved has translated into the creation of seasonal and permanent jobs in Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem and Rome. It has not resulted in the creation of jobs at home. While shoring up the balance of payments of the pilgrims destination, it has hemorrhaged our own balance-of-payments position.

Our position continues to be camouflaged by the export of non-value-added crude oil. The question is for how long? With 70 per cent of the population trapped in poverty, it’s time to call these sorts of indulgences a day. As a columnist has observed elsewhere in this issue the political economy of what has become a business has not helped our economy. The opportunity cost of the misallocation of resources is best left to the imagination.

Inadvertently (it is to be hoped) the entire proposition has become part of a vast political patronage system. The misapplication of resources involved has translated into the creation of seasonal and permanent jobs in Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem and Rome.

For this reason, the co-chairmen of the conference committee on religious affairs deserve great kudos. Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu have overcome overriding self-interest and self-service by providing exemplary leadership to the country. We wish that others will follow their worthy example.

We are aware that such was the lucidity of their presentation that they were twice given a standing ovation for their daring, path-breaking recommendations. The nation owes them a debt of gratitude.

It is our prayer that the National Assembly will now go on and speedily do the needful. This is, after all, what ought to have been done decades ago.

Electricity: Back to the drawing board

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n a couple of days, electricity consumers will see their tariffs go up. This follows the review of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for 2014.

As usual, the consumer has no say in the matter. This is why there is widespread disenchantment with the privatisation of the power sector.

The honeymoon is now over and the hope raised that was raised that the succession to the greatly discredited “NEPA” will herald a new day has now been dashed.

If the consumer is of the opinion that the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector has brought with it a bountiful harvest he is justified to believe that electricity privatisation has proved disastrous.

For a start, the regulatory framework is (to be polite) inadequate. It is also anti-consumer protection. This is the second hike in six months. Both hikes have been disastrous. They have further impoverished the citizenry and dealt another mortal blow to the comatose “real sector.” It can hardly be otherwise.

Increasing tariffs without an improvement of services is a rip-off.

The billing system is frankly anti-consumer. The government should have insisted on a timeframe for consumers to obtain pre-paid meters. This would have had a multiplier effect. For the meter manufacturing company in Zaria could have been empowered to roll out millions of pre-paid meters generating employment in the process. This has not been done. In contradistinction in Tanzania, 82 per cent of consumers have billing based on a pre-paid metering system. Here, the billing system process is so bizarre that the conventional wisdom calls it “crazy.” Unlike in telecoms, for the overwhelming majority who do not have pre-paid meters, the billing system is pure extortion. People are paying for services they never consumed.

This can only happen in a country which does not have pro-competition and anti-trust authorities. This is a contradiction-in-terms if we are actually aspiring to operate a “market-based” economy.

The time has come to go back to the drawing board. Electricity privatisation has not met expectations. The structural arrangement is clearly defective. The issue of the efficacy of the transmission configuration and the supply of gas has to be looked at and a roadmap constructed.

With privatisation not adding any value, the government must now return to the drawing board.

Ikechukwu Amaechi ikechukwuamaechi@yahoo.com i.amaechi@thenicheng.com 0805 506 9065

Democracy, 15 years after

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igerians celebrated 15 years of the country’s return to democracy on Thursday, May 29. This is the longest time the country has had uninterrupted civil rule since independence on October 1, 1960. That in itself calls for celebration and the government would have rolled out the drums but for the security and other sundry challenges.

Some Nigerians believe there is absolutely nothing to celebrate. I beg to disagree. Some progress has been made since May 29, 1999.

We are definitely freer today than we were under military rule. We have a free press. There are no arbitrary arrests, no institutionalised torture.

No matter how bad things may seem, a civilian government is more responsive than even the most humane military junta.

Because there is more freedom, Nigerians ask more questions than ever. There are pockets of development here and there and some governors are showing that with the right calibre of leaders, the country’s huge potentials can be realised.

But despite all these, it would be disingenuous for anybody to say that this democracy is working optimally. Are Nigerians better off today than they were 15 years ago? The answer is no. Many are poorer now than they were in 1999.

The system has created pockets of billionaires in the past 15 years, and more citizens own private jets and posh cars. But many others have slipped below the poverty line. Though members of the political class who have access to the national treasury live larger than life, unemployment has skyrocketed despite claims that the economy is growing at a robust rate.

Many of those employed are actually underemployed.

With the rebasing of the economy, Nigeria may well have overtaken South Africa as the largest economy on the continent and the 26th largest in the world, but the reality on the ground is that diseases, hunger, and abject poverty have never been more in the ascendancy.

More private schools charging mind-boggling fees have been built in the past 15 years but many more children are out of school today than ever. A conservative estimate is that over 10 million Nigerian children, mostly in the North, are out of school. They roam the streets.

Healthcare infrastructure is so decrepit that medical tourism has become one of the biggest drains on the economy. Over 90 per cent of members of the bourgeoisie who have died in recent times died in foreign hospitals.

Rather than promote security of lives and property, life has become brutish and short. Except during the civil war, at no time in Nigeria’s history – pre and post colonial – has so much innocent blood been shed than in the past 15 years.

Rather than promote peace, democracy has unleashed primordial tendencies and ethnic cleavages that were in retreat or reined in by the military. The fissures that are the bane of the Nigerian state are more evident.

In the past 15 years, corruption has had a free reign than at any other time in this country.

Some may disagree. For them, the military is the worst purveyor of corruption.

To such people, Ibrahim Babangida and the late Sani Abacha elevated the vice to a totem.

While that may be true, the fact remains that what has been stolen from the system since the return of democracy, in spite of the so-called war against corruption, makes whatever happened during the inglorious military era a child’s play.

No day passes now without mention of billions, of not only naira but dollars, stolen from the system without trace and without anybody being punished for it.

The consequences of unmitigated corruption are dilapidated infrastructure, near collapse of the healthcare system, education falling into pieces, poverty, hunger, frustration and anger in the land – which, in a sense, are at the root of the low intensity war in the North East.

Fifteen years of democracy has led Nigeria to war, literally.

This is a big irony, a contradiction of sorts.

Democracy is touted as the best form of government which primary essence is to help mitigate these ills. Why is the reverse the case in Nigeria?

The worst mistake we made in 1999 was to entrust our fledgling democracy to a non-democrat and a pretender, Olusegun Obasanjo, a General who had ruled as military Head of State between 1976 and 1979.

Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. At the core of it is the inalienable right of the people to choose freely those who will superintend over the affairs of state. That is why sovereignty re-

Observations from...

Boko haram: The beginning of the end!

Boko Haram has now become a mainstream international news item. The innocent girls in its nest, over 200 of them, have provoked intense global outcry, prompting Nigerian authorities to become more pro-active in their response to the kidnap of the youngsters by the terroristgang. Boko Haram simply seized the girls as part of its psychiatric routine. The gangsters did not put into calculation the likelihood of triggering international outrage against their barbarity in planning to kidnap a bevy of over 200 students!

Now we have America, Israel, United Kingdom and a host of other countries committing resources to find and rescue the girls. Protest marches are happening in different cities across the globe.

International news media are consistently analysing the situation, using the actions and reactions of local protesters to weave statements and conclusions about the

seizure of the Nigerian girls. Quite honestly, Nigeria, with all the opportunities put at its disposal by nature, by The Creator, does not deserve what is happening to its reputation.

The world has come to our aid. But are we actually ready to cooperate? Is Nigeria really open to bonding with the rest of the world to rescue our girls? If yes is the answer, to what extent is Nigeria disposed to cooperating? News came in not long ago that a vigilante group in the North shot dead a large number of Boko Haramists!

Now, if our government should limit its cooperation to the rescue of the girls alone, it runs the risk of leaving Boko Haram in active state and allowing a new dimension to enter the conflict. When vigilante groups begin to fight Boko Haram on their own terms as they have recently done, their message will basically be that they have little or no confidence in the ability

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On the beat Oguwike Nwachuku sides with the people.

I was in Jos in 1999 at the first national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party had been formed a year earlier by tested democrats, led by former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme. But at the convention, the military oligarchy, led by Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, imposed Obasanjo as PDP Presidential candidate. Obasanjo was in Abacha’s gulag when the party was formed in 1998.

While Abubakar was in Aso Rock as Head of State, Babangida relocated to Jos, set up office in the house of Yahaya Kwande, from where the “coup” against democracy was executed. To impose Obasanjo, party rules that stipulated that a presidential candidate won the vote in his constituency were jettisoned. Obasanjo lost election even in his ward.

That was the beginning of the rot that has made it difficult for democracy to work for Nigerians. The people element, the most fundamental in a democracy, is thrown to the dogs. The will of the people is hijacked by godfathers.

The tragedy of our so-called democracy, or is it pseudo-democracy, is that votes have never counted in the choice of who governs.

Many who complain about the lacklustre administration forget that in a free and fair contest, the Umaru Yar’Adua/Goodluck Jonathan ticket of 2007 would have been a mirage. Neither aspired to govern Nigeria.

Yar’Adua had decided to take up a teaching job at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria after serving two terms as Katsina State Governor. Jonathan was getting set to contest for Bayelsa State governorship.

In a free and fair contest, neither Yar’Adua nor Jonathan would have won the PDP ticket.

But Obasanjo imposed them, and the rest, to borrow a cliche, is history.

Thus, as 2015 approaches, those seeking to occupy public office are not looking in the direction of the people, they are looking up to godfathers; and because they do not get their positions through the sovereign will of the people, they owe the people no obligation.

That is the crisis of the Nigerian state. Democracy is distorted and bastardised and therefore cannot promote public good as it does in other climes.

But the situation can be reversed and democracy can still work for the country. Nigerians must take a cue from India, the largest democracy in the world, and the seamless elections it held recently; or even South Africa; and ensure that in 2015, their voices are heard through the power of the ballot box.

It is only when leaders are accountable to the people that the dividends of democracy can be assured.

That can only happen when leaders owe their position to the sovereign right of the people, and when they look up to the people, not to

of the Nigerian military to protect their communities and families.

The conflict will become dispersed, scattered, with different armed groups fighting and killing! How much containment will government be able to bring to bear on such a situation? We must not allow such an ugly dimension to rear its very troublesome head! It is for this important reason and others that I urge the Nigerian government authorities to cooperate with foreign powers full-scale for the rescue of our daughters and for the obliteration Boko Haram i.e. its military wing.

By Satguru Maharaj Ji

oguwikeng@yahoo.com, o.nwachuku@thenicheng.com 0805 306 9019

Obasanjo’s second mediation with Boko Haram

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ewspapers were awash in the past week with the story of the meeting former President Olusegun Obasanjo held with people close to Boko Haram in the desperation to seek rapprochement that will ensure the release of the over 200 schoolgirls the sect abducted in Chibok on April 14.

The meeting, reported by AFP, took place in Obasanjo’s country home in Ota, Ogun State and signposts part of the several efforts by the Nigerian government, the international community, and individuals to get the girls out from forced imprisonment.

Reports of the meeting coincided with the intervention of Cameroon, which deployed 1,000 troops to its border with Nigeria to fight the growing insecurity threatening the cordial relationship between the two countries.

Cameroon’s Defence Ministry officials said the troops would carry out reconnaissance missions and return fire if necessary.

While these two cheery pieces of news were happening, Boko Haram struck, again in Borno and Yobe States, killing about 34, including soldiers and policemen.

The talks in Ota reportedly included relatives of senior Islamist figures and other intermediaries and focused on how to free the girls through negotiation.

“As an African father, a Nigerian father or grandfather, any of the girls could have been my daughter or granddaughter…. So I am only trying to reach out to see what can be done to secure their release,” Obasanjo told a national daily.

Since the abduction of the girls, which triggered domestic and global outrage, most people had expected Obasanjo to comment or intervene to secure their release.

A note for the new kid on the block Hearty congratulations to Godwin Emefiele who will be sitting on the hot seat at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as from tomorrow morning June 2.

The seat is really hot! There is no iota of doubt about Emefiele’s capacity. His track record speaks positive volumes. However, the eyes of those involved in productive economic activity will be fixated upon him.

For the “real sector” the need to implement policies towards achieving single digit interest rates is vital. For without this, the real sector will continue to be comatose. There is no way that they can compete against competition from abroad within the present interest rate structure. They will just be “dead-man walking.”

Unfortunately, if they cannot compete we will not be able to create new employment for the millions of youthful job speakers who need them. If millions of new jobs are not created then society will be sitting on a veritable time bomb.

Low interest rates and macro-economic stability as the path to social justice is what we expect from Mr. Emefiele. We wish him a very productive tenure in office.

Deji Bright, Lagos.

That did not happen until last week.

The expectation is based on his national and international clout, his experience on security and international politics.

In September 2011, following Boko Haram bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, Obasanjo single-handedly sought negotiation with Babakura Fuggu, an in-law to the murdered leader of the sect, Mohammed Yusufu, by visiting the family in Maiduguri.

He probably discovered that President Goodluck Jonathan did not have the lever to embark on such delicate assignment, notwithstanding that Jonathan is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Though the talks in 2011 did not stem the Boko Haram violence, and even caused the death of more family members after Obasanjo’s visit, his bravery to meet those he thought could help in resolving the riddle left an impression in the minds of some Nigerians and the international community.

Three years down the road, the same scenario has not changed, as neither Jonathan nor Vice President Namadi Sambo has the courage to meet directly or indirectly with Boko Haram.

As happened in 2011 when Obasanjo met with people to negotiate a ceasefire with Boko Haram, I will not be surprised if his latest effort is painted in political colour, thereby worsening the situation of the abducted girls.

Because he has expressed concern over Nigeria’s acceptance of foreign military personnel to help resolve domestic issues, including that of the abducted girls, I will be surprised if that does not become an issue in Aso Rock.

That he was even quoted by AFP as saying that “he is worried

that Nigeria’s prestige in Africa as a major continental power had been diminished by President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to bring in Western military help, including from the United States,” may not go down well with Jonathan’s handlers.

Obasanjo also supports a deal that will free some of the girls in exchange for Boko Haram members in custody, which again is contrary to the thinking of the government.

In ruling out a prisoner swap, Abuja sent an intermediary, Ahmad Salkida, a journalist with ties with Boko Haram, to negotiate the girls' release.

But the government seemed to have discarded this idea after Jonathan’s return from the security conference in Paris, where the attendee countries pledged to confront Boko Haram using resources at their disposal.

Rather than look for faults around Obasanjo, this government should work with him and his team of informants on Boko Haram for the common good of the girls in particular and the country at large.

Nigerians already know that Obasanjo and Jonathan have fallen out politically, but that is not what we are talking about now.

The issue on the lips of all Nigerians today, regardless of political or religious leaning, is how to bring the girls home safely.

Nigerians do not care who does it: Jonathan, Obasanjo, America, Britain, France, or any other country.

Our individual ego must be shielded now because it does not even make sense to advertise it.

We need all collaborative efforts to secure the release of the girls, and politics and other considerations should be left out.

The disclosure by Chief of De-

fence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, that security forces have located where the girls are held is heart-warming.

Anybody following the Oby Ezekwesili-led activists and pressure groups on their regular march in Abuja would have noticed the joy on their faces when Badeh made the disclosure.

“When the defence chief said that we have identified the location and the camp of these terrorists, hope was restored,” stated Abdullahi Abdulmajeed, Head of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

I must also salute the courage which Cameroon, criticised in Nigeria for providing a haven for the insuregents, has shown by deploying reinforcements to its common border with Nigeria.

What Cameroon did on May 20 is walking the talk. It encourages the effort Nigeria and its allies are making to ensure that we live in a secure environment.

However, those who argue that Obasanjo is seeking attention with his mediation talks are not friendlier to Jonathan, because those Jonathan should consider his friends now are those who can help him to overcome his challenges.

The time to flex muscles is not now, and if anybody has muscles to flex he should do so with our common enemy, Boko Haram insurgents. Because of their activities, the government, its institutions like the army, police and their officials, have been tagged incompetent by journalists in the foreign media, including CNN correspondent, Isha Sesay.

Sesay, a Sierra Leonian, has, out of a faint knowledge of Nigerian history or mischief, forgotten that her relations are living today because of the sacrifice Nigeria made through ECOMOG to save their lives.

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Ekiti and Osun elections: The lesson from Indian

AGENDA

Erasmus Ikhide, a commentator who writes from Benin City, examines the success of India’s general elections and its lessons for Nigeria’s electoral future...

N

IGERIA will continue to amuse the world as a country so abundantly blessed but so much more debased by its handlers. Being on a terminal decline in all fronts as a result of blatant ballot rigging - due largely to polls sabotage and other premeditated crises - we have remained firmly in the comity of misgoverned nations.

the highest ethnic, religious and population concentration,

Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party has formally taken over from Manmohan Singh, the incumbent, of the Indian National Congress, as India’s 14th Prime Minister, following his electoral victory a few days ago. The success of Indian’s election is unique and it is a great lesson for Nigeria’s electoral body. But the greatest lesson in all of this is for the Nigerian populace who, often times, allow ethnic and pecuniary sentiments to cloud their sense of permanent national economic development.

Apart from amplifying the sanctity of the sovereign will of the people in a democratic society, the election made the loudest statement that a people can thoroughly resolve to inflict the worst political injury on any self-dispossessed political party that gloat over the welfare of the people.

The opposition BJP defeated the ruling Congress party, winning an absolute majority of 282 out of 543 seats.

It’s truly sad that all the Africa countries, including the war-torn nations are 20 years ahead of Nigeria in terms of ballot sanctity. This is another lesson for us: If Nigeria gets its electoral process right, it will certainly and in due course get its development governance right, ultimately. It is a sine qua non, an indispensable condition or element of democratic governance that propels and transports participatory govern mentality.

The Punch Newspaper’s editorial was unequivocal about this a few days ago when it asserted thus: “Through years of persistence, the South Asian country has got to the stage of telling the world that, with painstaking planning, and commitment on the part of all the stakeholders, it is possible to hold free, fair and acceptable elections in a developing country that can compare with what obtains in advanced democracies such as Britain and the United States of America.

“Religious and caste-related violence, ever present even after the violent breakaway of Pakistan at independence, has often shaken the country to its foundations. Assassinations, riots and occasional armed insurrections have tested the ability of the diverse peoples, sects and faiths to stand firm as one nation.

Sikh separatists murdered Indira Gandhi and her son, Rajiv, who were INC leaders and prime ministers. Add to these Maoist insurgencies, violent separatist rebellion in Jammu and Kashmir, and unresolved territorial disputes with China and Pakistan and terrorism, financed and nurtured by its arch rival, Pakistan. Through it, the INC has managed to hold on to power for most of the country’s 67 years of flag independence, except for brief periods when BJP and others won slim majorities”, the editorial said.

Beyond that, the Indian election spanned through a period of one month with stone-caste perseverance and utmost determination from the huge voting population of about 814 million eligible voters, where 551 million people voted, in a country that boasts a population of over 1.2 billion. Nigeria and Nigerians can never be excused on the ground of population, ethnic or religious divide as the reasons for the failure of the democratic or electoral crisis. India - to its credit - is the largest or biggest democracy in the world with

with multiform interest groups?

The earlier we come to the realisation that corruption and blind loyalty to the appointing authority is at the heart of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s failure, the better for us rather than imagining ourselves as victims of some apocalyptic conspiracy. The truth is that no nation can be greater than the sum total of the contradictions that attend the institutions of state-becoming. If corruption and blind loyalty is ruining and plaguing INEC and the president of the country deadens his attention to it, what else can we say?

A few months ago, President Goodluck Jonathan told a bewildered nation that corruption is not Nigeria's problem, just the same way General Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian Head of State, asserted to the world, at a time, that money is not Nigeria’s problem, but how to spend it. General Gowon left a vanquished nation in dare need of his three purported ‘R’s – Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation – after the genocidal civil war.

There is need for introspection. Why has INEC not put its house in order till date if corruption was not Nigeria's problem as proclaimed by President Jonathan? Why has INEC not brought to justice the members of its staff who have been conniving with electoral predators since the beginning of the Fourth Republic? Why has INEC not overcome all the malfeasance and fix the polling infamy over a period of 15 years? Why has it not brought to justice electoral criminals who trampled on the voters’ will in every election since 1999?

Nigerians' assessments about electoral re-

demption would have been positive if all the grand positive preachments of the Commission have had the merest of good intention to right the tendentious wrongs INEC has been afflicted with. We have all agreed it’s about time we developed our own public polling industry, but the present INEC as constituted does not seem to be averse to it. It’s clear that Nigeria’s future looks bleak and completely hollowed out except INEC, in its wisdom, assuages the affronted citizens and conform to modern day conduct of elections.

Nigeria’s democracy, as chaotic and flawed as it is, gives room for transformation; it is only that INEC’s response has been disappointingly lackluster. Fifteen years down the democratic road, INEC insists in its ruddy state, even as Ekiti and Osun voters head for the polls for election that will determine the fate of the country beyond 2015. Prof Jega has a daunting task in convincing the two states that he is leading a renewed INEC that is prepared to give the electorate chances to elect those who govern them.

Granted, Nigeria’s democracy is not perfect, and neither are the leading candidates in the two states elections, the same, however, can be said for most democracies across the globe. Therefore, it is not a forgone conclusion that even though the electronic card readers were inserted into the voters cards that it would amount to flawless polls; it will only prevent massive and physically concealed fraud.

If nothing else, it is certainly worth celebrating to see INEC harken to the calls and its earlier stance to go scientific in the conduct of the country’s elections.

Prof. Jega who moonlights for INEC needs to note that the country is at a critical stage where the activities of the Commission can make or break it. INEC has to make hard choices. Any careless handling on the part of the body can easily plunge the nation into chaos.

The people of Ekiti and Osun will not condone the shuffling of psychopathic political criminals deserving of long spells in jail as Governors of their states.

The people reserve the rights to choose between rascally criminals and concrete development, experience and granite integrity. INCE has to work hard to reassure voters that the elections will be more credible; free, fair and transparent than the previous ones.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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33

The Diaspora Ngozi Uche

Nigeria’s survival trumps adherence to western notion of human rights I went to bed the other night brimming with pride over the photos of hunters from North East Nigeria who want to take on Boko Haram. Our men are rising up to defend us, I thought to myself, let them loose. Unleash them. Beside the hunters, the Boko Haram terrorists look so much like cowards. They are no match for the seasoned hunters. The terrorists hide behind their sophisticated weaponry which is where all their powers reside. There is no power in their ideology or cause. The photo of the hunters – their fellow Moslems – is a powerful repudiation of their use of Islam to justify their brutal and criminal acts.

Comments by ordinary Americans on the internet show that there is much support for the hunters, and some cite other wars in which native intelligence and prowess proved to be more valuable than high technology and a sophisticated military.

I wish men all over Nigeria will rise up and assert that they won’t allow Boko Haram or any other outlaws to enslave women and overrun Nigeria. This is not a job for the military alone. I wish the Nigerian military will find a way to use the hunters. And the hunters don’t have to wait for permission to play a role in the war. They remind me of the men who rose up to stop the killing of Easterners during the Nigerian civil war.

It would be wonderful if former Biafran soldiers and technologists could go and support the hunters. They could teach them how to make ogbunigwe (improvised explosive device) and other crude but effective weapons. Retired Nigerian soldiers should also join the fight.

Images of Nigerian activists clamouring for the return of the

‘stolen’ Chibok girls also feel me with pride. I was particularly impressed with Hafsat Abiola who looked good (like a proper Nigerian woman) and spoke well in an interview with Katie Couric.

Ms Abiola could be effective in convincing the Western media that though the Nigerian military is corrupt and has engaged in some nefarious acts, it is still our best hope for restoring order in areas overrun by criminals.

I was so outraged when I read a report in the New York Times in which they seem to show more sympathy for the Boko Haram terrorists than for their victims. Some in the United States (U.S.) portray the Nigerian military and oil companies to be more of a problem than Boko Haram. They like to revel in their moral superiority and demand strict adherence to their own rules of engagement and their notions of respect for human rights – these trumps all other considerations, including the survival of a nation. They like to root for those they consider the underdog, even if the so-called underdog is wrong. They would want the Nigerian government to read Miranda rights to captured Boko Haram terrorists, assign them lawyers, house them in Club Gitmo-like settings, gather stories about their tough childhood, take years to bring them to justice and afford them a platform to spew more contempt to their victims and spread their dangerous ideology.

Sorry, we are not as squeamish as the misguided dovish Americans when it comes to ensuring the survival of our nation and communities. We understand that there will be collateral damage and that is why everyone is warned not to associate with outlaws because when retribution comes, it is

neither precise nor merciful. We understand that no system of justice is perfect, and we won’t let the quest for perfection and the approval of Western powers stop us from ensuring the survival of Nigeria.

Here’s a sample of some of clips from the U.S. media that underscores my point that some in the West don’t just get it: “This is a youth revolt driven by enormous demographic changes in a place where Muslim women average 7.5 children each,” says Paul Lubeck, at the University of California, Santa Cruz. “It is youth anger expressing itself in the language of jihad.”

“Brutal tactics.” “Record of atrocities.” “Gross violations of human rights.” Top U.S. government officials spoke those words Thursday at a Senate hearing about Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls. But they said them about Nigeria’s government and military, not the Islamist terrorist group that burst into international consciousness with its actions last month.

Youth anger indeed, perhaps they (Boko Haramites) are bored. Or maybe they were bullied. Some reports even say the Nigerian government has repressed and oppressed the North for years.

Quick Update On My Health: The MRIs went well, revealed problems in my pelvic vertebrae; so I have to go back into the hospital for another kyphoplasty procedure. They will use cement-like putty to again shore up my two collapsed pelvic vertebrae.

I love America, but…

Aloha! Dear friends, Oh, how I love America. My late American fiance’s favourite photo of me is one in which I have fabric that looks like an American flag wrapped around my head like an African woman’s head dress. That’s the photo of me he framed and kept on his desk in his downtown Honolulu law office. I was diffident about having a photo of me – for all to see – amid heavy law books and framed copies of his certificates from Harvard and Notre Dame universities. Now I relish the gesture.

In the photograph, the stripes of the American flag can be seen on my head dress, and on my body you can see some of the stars embroidered on the bou-bou I was wearing. The image I wanted to project is that of a proud African woman who is equally (and unabashedly) proud of America.

About this time of the year – Memorial weekend – I join the rest of America in paying tribute to their military men and women. They are the ones who have played an especially significant role in making America what it is – a great country that welcomes immigrants from all parts of the world and comes to the aid of the oppressed and afflicted around the world.

During the Memorial season, I try to honour the soldiers by, at least, listening to their stories. I attend church events which honour them. Sometimes I send out e-mails reminding all to do what the Bible says: Pray for the peace and prosperity of whatever land God takes you to. He gives us wherever our feet tread upon.

I usually turn on TBN which does a good job of honouring servicemen and women. On that channel, I listen to

Dave Roever over and over again talk about his pain and suffering and how God has given him the grace to live on and to use his experience to encourage other soldiers.

Roever’s face is disfigured from the burns he received in the frontlines of the Vietnam war.

My friend, Blanca, who is from El Salvador, feels the same way about America. One year – when I was living in Hawaii – she got lots of orchid leis from her job and we went to the military cemetery and laid them at the graves of the soldiers. I think that was for Veterans’ Day. We also got to chat with family members who were visiting the graves of their departed loved ones. Two women at one graveside said they still come to the cemetery to honour their uncle who died in the Korean war.

I fell in love with America even before I came here. In my teens, I memorised Emma Lazarus’ poem inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty.

I love to celebrate Black History month too. Two years ago, my aunty and friend, Florence, and I celebrated the month in a big way. We invited African and African-American drummers to my aunt’s African store and they took turns to perform. The African-American drummer taught us to drum and to chant African songs. Many of the Africans who attended said they had never drummed before. They had to come all the way to America to touch a drum for the first time in their lives.

I also had the opportunity to speak at a church that year.

I told the largely African-American church that they are our “Josephs” sent to prepare America to receive future African immigrants. Slave trade was evil, but God has turned it around for the good of many of African ancestry. I thanked

them for the price they and their ancestors paid for the many benefits all black people enjoy today in America.

Some of our people find it difficult to show love for America, though they enjoy the many benefits of living here. Some of them don’t have much love for Nigeria either.

They are quick to join the natives who don’t appreciate their country in blaming America for everything wrong in the world. I usually ask them: Then why did you come to America? So you think America is a racist country, but you left your country where Black people are in charge and flew over several other countries where Blacks are also in charge to come here.

Yes, I sure do love America and proudly express that love whenever I can. But I love Nigeria and Africa also. So I will not allow the West to export the increasingly decadent facets of their culture to Africa without a fight. They have re-defined marriage, gender, family, conception, contraception, tolerance etc and they intend to force their new-fangled definitions upon Africa through their media, movies and development aid. Many in Nigeria, Africa and many other parts of the world would agree with some of Boko Haram’s claim that Western culture is sinful. They would disagree with them though on their means to reduce its impact on other parts of the world.

Some U.S. natives and organisations sound like they consider activists who fight for the expression of the Christian worldview in the public square to be more dangerous than Boko Haram or Al-Qaeda. They call their organisations hate groups and persecute them.

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Viewpoint

Let’s pray for our girls

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nytime the church prays, something unusual happens. And anytime the nation prays, unthinkable favour rains. Whenever we cease operating by our might and turn to God, the uncommon unfolds. Hannah prayed for a child, Rachel did the same, and God did not ignore them.

Even kings, when they drop their royalty, and kneel in humility, the unthinkable happens. Read 2 Chronicles 20. Three nations came together to wage war against Jehoshaphat. In his state of alarm and helplessness, wisdom prevailed. He called out the entire nation and proclaimed a solemn assembly. It was another way of saying: politics is over, bickering must die, let us rescue this country first before we apportion blames. He led the nation in a solemn assembly, and made a memorable proclamation. Then he went ahead to remind God of His deeds in the past for the people of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land.

He moved God to fresh conquests with a sense of history.

It was a soul-stirring spiritual appeal, emotionally rendered with a passion unexpected of a king. Jehoshaphat was as helpless as Nigeria is today. It is about two months since those innocent girls were abducted by the villains. I believe it is time for us to go on our knees and seek God’s intervention.

The manner Jehoshaphat ended that prayer still stuns Bible historians: “O our God, won’t you stop them? We have no way to protect ourselves against this mighty army. We don’t know what to do, but we are looking to you.”

He was desperate; almost incautious. There was no pretension. He needed answers quicker than you can imagine. He cried in an un-kingly manner. Though he knelt in the congregation

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of the people, he spoke as though he was alone with God in his prayer closet. Instantly, God heard him and responded.

Nigeria is facing one of its darkest moments since 1914. Terrorists are on the prowl. There is fear in the land. No one seems to be safe. The rich are already relocating, leaving the poor behind.

It is time to do the ridiculous to achieve the miraculous. Let us pray that those girls return unhurt; that sponsors of terror will sleep and not wake up; that whenever terrorists sit to assemble a bomb, it must explode and consume them; that hunger ceases in the land; that peace replaces fury; and so shall it be.

I believe God will answer when we pray because He says: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Though tribe and tongue may differ

Whoever expected the on-going national conference to be a smooth ride is neither a Nigerian nor unfamiliar with Nigerian history. My worry is that the discordant tunes seem to be getting worse. From the era of the boring debate on the president’s speech to when committees started work, it has been fireworks all the way. People pull swords of disagreements on virtually every issue.

Now that the reports have been submitted for deliberation, the worst scenarios are unfolding at the speed of sound. From the conference, a new expression has already been added to our political lexicon. When an issue cannot be resolved

at a particular sitting, it is “put in bracket”. This is another way of saying the matter has been carried forward or put in abeyance. Then a special committee with members from all parts of the country is assembled to handle it.

Some people and groups deliberately went to the conference to oppose every idea that is contrary to their mindsets. Sometimes they start opposing such ideas before seeking clarification on what they are all about. The original perception that every delegate should view Nigeria as his primary constituency was a mere mirage.

Truly, no doubt, no national conference has ever been smooth; not even the American Constitutional Convention of 1887. The only difference is that while in other countries, disagreements are based on issues; here, they are based on ethnic loyalty. For instance, delegates from the North are opposed to the removal of Land Use Act from the constitution, as one of them bluntly said, so that wealthy Southerners will not buy over the entire North. Another delegate said “our ownership of 70 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass” would cease if anybody touches the Land Use Act. I still believe this conference has potentials of success if somebody knows that though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.

Just as it happened at the Philadelphia Convention, compromise, at times, works wonders.

Political economy of pilgrimage sponsorship

On Sunday

A

few weeks ago, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Felix Ajakaye, urged government to stop spending money to sponsor people for pilgrimages. This is a position I have consistently maintained over the years. And so, when I found a religious leader share the same view, I quickly aligned my views with his and agreed with his argument that religion is a personal and private matter for each citizen, and the state should stay away from it.

It is good that the Committee on Religion at the on-going national conference, co-chaired

by Ajakaye and Nurudeen Lemu, has proposed government’s withdrawal from pilgrimage sponsorship. The committee’s report was up for debate this past week at the confab. Happily, the plenary of the confab accepted the recommendation. What I cannot understand, however, is the contention against the suggestion to scrap pilgrim welfare boards and commissions across the country, that being a natural consequence of government’s discontinuation of sponsorship. It was on that note the conference broke off last Tuesday and hopefully will consider it again in this new week and do the needful.

Religion, no doubt, is a very passionate issue

in Nigeria, and discussions around it often make adherents of concerned faiths go

sentimental and giddy. I expect this proposition to bring that out in citizens. But truth be told, we cannot continue to spend public funds whimsically in funding usually privileged citizens or their cronies for what is at best ‘religious tourism’. All those talks about supporting pilgrims to go to ‘holy lands’ to pray for the peace and progress of the country are mere appeal to sentiments and take advantage of citizen’s, sometimes mistaken, passion about their faiths.

What is pilgrimage all about anyway? It is a journey to certain places of importance to one’s faith and meant to strengthen such faith or belief. There is no compulsion to do them.

In fact, there is no evidence that someone who has gone on pilgrimage becomes a better adherent, more pious, less corrupt or a better human being than those who have not. Even in the faiths that urge adherents to go on pilgrimage, they are only required to do so if they can afford it. Relying on government sponsorship, therefore, is enough to show that the person cannot afford and should stand disqualified.

Clearly, this pilgrimage thing has become an elitist culture and status symbol. Little wonder, therefore, that Nigerians have coined for themselves titles and descriptions depicting their supposed exalted religiosity as a result of accomplishing a trip. So now we have so many

‘alhaji’ and ‘alhaja’ honorific among Nigerians than you have among citizens of countries with many more Muslims such as Malaysia and Indonesia. We also have a growing band of Christians who pride themselves with the suffix of ‘JP’ by which they mean ‘Jerusalem Pilgrim’ – and I often wonder why they don’t also have Rome Pilgrim (RP) and Athens Pilgrim (AP), since they also visit those places in the name of pilgrimage. With all these Nigerian-coined JPs, the universally-recognised description of JP (justice of the peace) is being diminished in Nigeria. I equally wonder why it doesn’t prick the highly religious consciences of some of these people that their assumed statuses are products of stolen funds, abuse of public office or trust or are attained on account of corrupt appropriation, misappropriation or misuse of public funds.

Yet the fact that the funds belong to ‘the public’ is enough attraction for many Nigerians to seek ways of benefiting from this freebie. This explains why citizens whose faith do not even demand or advice on pilgrimage as a cardinal act of faith still insist on making an event out of this, just to benefit from the freebies and thereby attain religious ‘equality’ too.

With such a setting, those in the famed

‘corridors of power’ have also devised corrupt schemes for creaming off our common wealth to sustain this folly of state-sponsored pilgrimage. They also use it to oil their wheels of political patronage and even compromise some clerics and other opinion leaders.

Nigeria is a multi-cultural and multi-religious state. There is freedom of worship. That means, there is no limit to the number of religions that can be practised or adhered to by citizens. To be sure, Nigerians are free to choose widely and outside Christianity, Islam and what is often erroneously called ‘traditional religion’.

For the state to guarantee freedom of worship, it must not only allow citizens to freely exercise such freedoms.

But it must not go to the extent of assisting some of them to exercise such freedoms. If the state is involved in Christian and Muslim pilgrimages, how does it justify failure to get involved in the pilgrimages of other religious groups? Even among the Christian and Muslim communities, some denominations and sects are involved in other or different pilgrimages to the birthplace or headquarters of their groups, even here in Nigeria, how come the state doesn’t get involved in sponsoring or supporting pilgrims to those places?

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Yahoo Yahoo pension laws

L

egislative rascality reached a new height on Monday, May 26, 2014 when the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Sam Ikon, hurriedly passed the Amended Pension Bill for ExGovernors and Ex-Deputy Governors forwarded to the House by incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio through a May 15 letter with reference number GHU/AKS/S/104/338. The law, which will commence on June 1, 2014, is, to put it mildly, a rip-off of the poor people of one of the wealthiest states in the country.

Make no mistake about it; Akpabio is not the first state chief executive to doctor a pension scheme that guarantees him and his family access to public funds after leaving the Government House. But true to his concept of doing things in an uncommon manner, the man has pulled off a stunt that makes it look as if former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, left office with a vow of poverty.

Perhaps, taking a cue from the soldiers who robbed the country blind, especially in the last 14 years of military rule, Nigerian politicians have had their hands permanently in the public till since the return of democracy in 1999. Even after they leave office, many are guaranteed a lifetime of opulence by the puppets they leave behind as successors who continue to pay royalty to them or an obscene pension law.

Back in 2007, the Lagos State House of Assembly, with Bola Ahmed Tinubu sitting as governor in Alausa, passed a law which entitles a former governor to the same salary paid to the sitting governor, plus 300 per cent of his basic salary as furniture allowance, three cars to be renewed every three years; eight policemen and two State Security Service (SSS) details. After retirement, the governor is to get entertainment, car maintenance, house maintenance, personal assistant and utility allowances all running into GSM number digits.

A similar law was passed in Kwara State in 2010 and signed by then Governor Bukola Saraki. It provides, among other things, annual basic salary for ex-governors

35

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and deputies, one residential house each for governors and deputies at any location of their choice in Kwara, and one residential house in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for any governor who concluded two consecutive terms like Saraki did. The windfall also includes 30 days annual vacation outside Nigeria with 30 days estacode and travel allowances for the governor, three cars for the governor and one pilot and two back-up cars to be replaced every three years en bloc. Free medical treatment for the governor and deputy governor and members of their immediate families; furniture allowance payable every two years en bloc and domestic staff like cook, steward, gardener and others who shall be pensionable were also added to the state’s financial burden.

Two years ago, incumbent Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, signed into law a bill that guarantees him and his deputy, Tele Ikuru, and all those before and after them 100 per cent of their basic salaries, two choice houses in any area of their choice in the state and Abuja, three cars replaceable every three years, 300 per cent funding for any furniture of their choice, 20 per cent funding for utility, 10 per cent funding for entertainment and 10 per cent of same for houses of their choice. They are also to enjoy free medical expenses for themselves and members of their immediate family, domestic staff including a cook, steward, gardener, drivers and others, all of whom shall be pensionable.

Then came Akpabio’s mother of all pension laws, which, according to him, “is to streamline and avoid excesses of finances and to be prudent in the management of our resources.” And how does the state intend to do that? By providing pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor to former governors and deputy governors. The state will also provide a former governor fund to employ a cook, chauffeurs and security guards at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month. A deputy governor will get N2.5 million for the same purpose.

Governors will also be entitled to free medical services for

themselves and their spouses at a sum not exceeding N100 million per annum and N50 million for former deputy governors. The law also provides for a befitting accommodation not below a five-bedroom maisonette in either Abuja or Akwa Ibom for a governor. Yearly accommodation allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary will be given to a deputy governor. Governor will also receive a severance gratuity of 300 per cent of annual basic salary as of the time he leaves office, among other things.

While signing the law on Wednesday, May 28, Akpabio, a lawyer by training, traced the origin of the law to his predecessor, Victor Attah, saying, “This law was made in the year 2000. It was amended in 2006 and is now amended again in 2014.”

By putting figures to almost all the benefits that would come his way after leaving office in 2015, Akpabio argued that, unlike other laws, nobody can spend extra money “because we are making sure that we cover all the loopholes of financial wastages”.

Like others before it, the amended Akwa Ibom pension law, which also covers those who served in the old Cross Rivers State, is self-serving at best and a scam at worst.

Being an act of the parliament, the poor people of the state are bound to bear the burden as demonstrated by a 2013 Lagos High Court judgment which ordered the state government to pay the retirement benefits and pension to a former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sinatu Ojikutu, as stipulated by the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pensions) Law 2007, No 11 official gazette of Lagos State.

Anti-corruption agencies may be slapping themselves in the back for busting young scammers with laptops and modems, but a mind-boggling Yahoo Yahoo is taking place in higher places. And that is not God’s will for the people of Akwa Ibom or any other state for that matter.

Intrigues about the U.S. GDP

By Ayo Badmus

I

f our “rebasing” (yes that’s the word trending) has become the subject of academic disputes about methodology, then we are not alone.

In the United States of America (U.S.), with mid-term elections looming, the state of the economy is not surprisingly the battleground.

For Barrack Obama, any positive news on the state of the economy is a welcome breather. So what then is the state of the economy?

For a start, there is a riddle about the real state of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). There are divergent views among practitioners of the dismal science. Economists claim that the drop in GDP is a minor blip.

The contention centres around whether the U.S. economy is cruising on the verge of a spurt of potentially great growth? Or does, on the contrary, a recession loom?

The U.S. economy is supposed to be enjoying robust growth. Unfortunately for the optimists, the economy actually contracted early this year, according to the commerce department. This means that, potentially, there could be a loss equivalent to 10 per cent of economic power, if this position is spread over a year. This is the first major economic contraction since 2011.

Ominously, another key measure – Gross Domestic Income (GDI) – also fell sharply after years of growth.

The Guardian of the United Kingdom has highlighted the implication.

The Guardian went on to hammer home the real immediate political implication. “It is also a political football. The growth of the economy could prove an influential data point in the mid-term U.S. elections this fall, in which the White House will want to show the economy is improving, to get more seats for the democrats. Many democrats and partisan economists, including Paul Krugman, have argued that the batch of austerity measures passed over the past three years by the U.S. Congress would hurt economic growth.”

Many economists are concluding that the GDP has been hit by a short term decline in ventures stocked by businesses during the first three months of the year. Unfortunately, inventories aren’t a total explanation.

The Guardian attributed the decline to a decrease in net exports and the effect of bad weather, both of which may have also played a part. “Enemies of austerity may also note that local government spending also dropped, contributing to that lower economic growth number.” Still intrigued?

With the mid-term elections looming large, the debate will continue to rage.

Rage they will, because Obama’s Democrats could very well lose the Senate in November. So there is everything to plan for.

It is not all gloom and doom though. Economists taking a positive look such as Paul Ashworth, Chief Economist at Capital Economics, told The Guardian that the run-down in inventories in the first quarter would lead to the bounceback in the second quarter, being even bigger because companies would be rebuilding their stocks of goods.

“The discussion is a weighty one. GDP, a measure number-crunched by the commerce department every three months, is the economic data point that policy-makers must trust to gauge the health of the U.S. economy. It takes This should be of good cheer to Obama and into account everything from goods bought and sold to business investment to trade and export.” the democrats, as a new release of figures will

be close the mid-term elections.

The figure, for the U.S., has implications worldwide. If the U.S. ships into recession, the implications will be dire for recovery everywhere else. For a negative interpretation of the figures will suggest a ship into recession. This will affect the quantum of our oil exports to the U.S.; this means that there are indications for our mono economy.

On the other hand, another report says that Britain’s economic prospects are the brightest in a decade.

With consumer optimism on a high, forecasts from the UK finds the UK economy growing at its fastest pace since 2003.

What in Nigeria we have to learn is straight-forward. This is that we must pay close attention to the methodology used in compiling statistics which are then turned into analyses.

From this perspective, the rebasing debate should therefore be more circumspect. Turning these reports into political jockeying points highlights a weakness in the institutions. This, of course, translates into a wobbly polity.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Prof. Adebayo Williams: Intellectual on the inside Let us congratulate ourselves. We pulled off a coup by teasing Professor Adebayo Williams into talking about himself. He is averse to doing so. “This is the first time I am talking at this length with anybody (about myself ). I don’t give interviews; I don’t talk about myself at all. I don’t. You would never see me on television. Never!.” Cerebral, urbane, unashamedly intellectual, MARY OGEDENGBE found the avuncular professor quite a treat…

I

ing him to even think, let alone talk, about that sad era. “Yes; there was a cousin of mine who looked very much like me and they almost killed him. They thought it was me.

But you know what? While I was studying at home, I was going everywhere. I was in Ibadan, I was in Lagos. I don’t normally talk about this, because this is the first time. I just want it to remain like that.”

Surprisingly, there are no psychological scars. Just a burning passion for justice, for Adebayo Williams is not your old-fashioned run-ofsocial order. Ironically, he ended up in, of all the-mill school drop-out. The school drop-out synplaces, the pro-Action Group megaphone, drome, we may care to recall, was quite pronounced The Nigerian Tribune. It was an exhilarating in the 1960s. There was all manner of social reasons experience. Quite a high-point. which induced the drop-out syndrome. In the case Why on earth The Nigerian Tribune, given of Williams, the reason was political. Although, it was the configuration of that time? certainly not of his own making, he was inadvertently “Of all places? Because I wanted to find out caught up in the wild vindictive politics of Nigeria’s more about Chief (Obafemi) Awolowo. I had Western Region of the 1960s. Williams senior was a suffered so much because of him. And I said prominent member of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), the party that came out of the split that I wanted to find out about this gentleman. So I started applying to The Nigerian in the region’s hitherto governing party.

Tribune, even while I was studying at home.

The rupture, as is well-known, had to put it mildly, And as soon as I dropped my pen in 1969 for very unpleasant effects. With the contrived uprising the external WAEC, I resumed the ambition “Operation Wetie” in full swing, the family house was to go to that newspaper and it yielded good burnt down and everything just collapsed. In a reflection of the bad belle of the time, the perceived “sins” of fortunes.

“By early 1970, I started work with The Nithe father was visited upon the son. For many, it was gerian Tribune, and I rose so fast that in 1971 the worst of times.

I was already the sub-editor; I was already in Hitherto, as a result of his precocious brilliance, Williams had entered secondary school the inner room of editorial writing and my colleagues who entered with me were about on a scholarship. Unfortunately, in the ensuthree steps below me by the time I was leaving tit-for-tat, young Adebayo was caught ing for the university. up in the crossfire. The scholarship was the “So I got to know and I came to the conclusion that first casualty. Quite a major one; for Williams senior was not at that moment in a position in terms of the masses’ uplift, Awolowo was right. But to help out.

I am not in support of political terrorism to coerce Life itself, John F. Kennedy wryly observed, opponents, which was what they did at that time. I “is unfair”. Nonetheless, our subject was not thought that went a bit beyond imagination. And I to be deterred. He could have justifiably hung have never looked back. I have been either an overt around the motor parks… that sort of thing. or covert. That is probably the difference between the On the contrary, he showed great character Fani-Kayodes of this world and I. and went, instead, for self-help.

“Look, in 1995 when I was going to appear “I made a vow that my colleagues would at the Awolowo Foundation event in Lagos not take their GCE O’ Level School certificate as the billed speaker, I went home to tell my ahead of me. I made another promise that if dad, and the man looked at me and started they were ever going to the university at all, crying – he couldn’t believe it,” he said. they would not get there ahead of me, and I Sadly, he did not get to meet Awolowo in was able to fulfil it. So I started training myself flesh. Quite a miss! He is full of regrets about from 1966.” this.

This shows abnormal will power, guts and His words: “There was a certain nobility of determination. It was actually a coup inducpurpose and character to Awolowo. He died It gets curiouser and curiouser as Alice was wont to observe in her trawl through wonderland. The wonder bit never ends, bringing forth with it all manner of intriguing possibilities.

It is certainly intriguing to ponder how on earth the delightfully erudite Williams attained such eminence as a scholar, journalist and novelist without going through secondary school.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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“So I got to know and I came to the conclusion that in terms of the masses’ uplift, Awolowo was right. But I am not in support of political terrorism to coerce opponents, which was what they did at that time. I thought that went a bit beyond imagination. And I have never looked back. I have been either an overt or covert.

when I was on the verge of meeting him because he was making enquiries about me because I was writing for Newswatch (magazine) and he was wondering which Williams that was. Then they told him, and he was very curious.

“It is very interesting that the core Awo caucus had actually come back for some of us who are children of those who had left. For example, they offered me the post of Secretary General of Afenifere.”

He declined the offer.

Now fast-forward the historical sequence.

Professor Williams has lived through it all. In actual fact, he has had a bird’s eye view as a participant-observer. It is quite in order to ponder how we have really come from the 1960s? The issues remain the same, as the more they appear to change, the more they remain the same.

Williams is full of regret that half a century after Independence, the nation is yet to create an effective form of government empowered to fully utilise its abundant resources.

All around him, he observes power and privileges without responsibility; “a throwback of military prefectorship.”

Observing the unfolding political drama, are we then enacting our own Italian style osweto compresso or a historic compromise between sworn enemies and hitherto contending political forces? It is tempting, if we use this analogy to see the configuration of forces leading to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a nudge in this direction.

Professor Williams has thought deeply about this scenario.

“Let me make this observation; it is only when the Yoruba faction and the Hausa/Fulani faction collaborate at the same time in this country that we would have a modicum of peace and progress. I am talking of when Awolowo was brought into the cabinet by (Yakubu) Gowon. It may be that Awolowo, thinking deeply, might have some regrets, because, culturally, there is a lot between the North and the West.

“In fact, I can say that we are culturally joined because of some geography and proximity, and we are both empirebuilders; so we know a lot of statecraft and the intrigues.

You cannot have such major nationalities in perpetual opposition to themselves and expect to have peace. But in a sense, I have always thought that (Ladoke) Akintola was a better politician, because we could see that the way forward lies in terms of pragmatic accommodation of compromise with the North,” said he.

Despite this, the avuncular professor has reasons to be weary as pivotal elections approach.

“We’d be lucky if we have a country that will have

an election, very lucky. But Nigeria has a way of handling things. U.S. Senator, John McCain, said that the Americans would have come in earlier (to help in addressing terrorism) because he didn’t think they needed to obtain permission from what he termed a practically non-existent government. I hope the country won’t be practically non-existent, if we are not very careful.”

It is his opinion that the political establishment collectively does not have the political will to affect a quick internal resolution of the crisis. “The thing about some of us is that though our minds tell us not to be optimistic, the will continues to drive us. It is what that great Italian Marxist writer, Antonio Gramsci, calls retune. He says he is always driven by optimism of the will, but pessimism of the intellect.”

The ongoing national conference does not appear to offer a way out of the log-jam. The fresh four-week extension certainly does not stimulate optimism in Prof. Williams. In his view, another historic opportunity is being lost.

“Once I saw the composition of membership, I was sceptical. Like Asiwaju, I have always said we would need a conference that will look at some of these things in a fundamental way. As a matter of fact, I also thought that

no matter what happens, the conference should not be stopped, even if it were to be a talk show, which is where I disagree with Asiwaju.

“It should not be boycott wholesale; you go there, you know that nothing is going to happen; but in case something happens, it will not be said that we weren’t there. If something dramatic is going to happen or were to happen, it ought to have been now!

You see the Chibok crisis; all these things presented them with a golden opportunity to assert. They slept through it. Because of the nature and the composition of the type of, you know, the vagabonds who are there, the few voices of patriotism are squashed in between. You have two contending forces of status quo here; the old Hausa/Fulani status quo, who are insisting that Nigeria can only be restructured on their dead bodies and they want to leave us in this structural status quo, and the new hegemony of Jonathan who wants to continue to rule Nigeria by all means and leaving us in a democratic deadlock like this. Although the two have their different aims and ambitions, they are in unity of not wanting a change; so there is nothing anybody can do.”

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Trade in second hand books spins success narratives PAGE 41

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Palladium

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$1,951.00

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Media can make or break economy, says Oke Bunmi Oke is the President of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and the representative of the industry at the national conference going on in Abuja. Aside all that, she is the Chief Operation Officer/Executive Director of 141 Worldwide, an advertising service company. She recently clocked 50 having put in 28 years in the industry.

In this interview with GODDIE OFOSE and REGINA WHENU in her office in Lagos, Oke speaks on the role of the media in building business and nation, and on how Nigeria will remain one of the most attractive markets for foreign direct investment.

Is the government making good use of the media to solve problems?

With all sense of responsibility and humility, there is a subject called crisis management. And if it wasn’t a difficult situation, it wouldn’t have to be a subject of research on its own. One unfortunate thing about any crisis is that nobody knows how they are going to act because you cannot rehearse or prepare for a crisis.

Some people are experts in crisis management because they’ve managed so many. The reaction and the time must be looked at because it’s a new problem which nobody has encountered before in the history of Nigeria.

I don’t think anybody prepares for crisis in this part of the world. Advanced nations have learnt that they need to prepare for crisis management but we are yet to learn.

There is need for a new level of communication management. Appropriate method of reaction to crisis situations and the communication strategy to han-

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dle these periods must be implemented.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) must step up its game by educating Nigerians on how to prepare for crisis management.

An average individual cannot just handle communication crisis. You need a team of professionals to do this. We do not realise how important communication management is during any challenge in the country. Foreign intervention so far, even in terms of measurement of achievement, is not much. But the difference is that they are communicating what they are doing daily.

Look at the Malaysian Airline crash.

Nothing has happened since that day, they still have not found even a bicycle spoke, but they’ve managed the emotions of the people, families of victims and everyone around the world because of adequate communication strategy. Now, people are prepared for

Continues on PAGE 40

Oke

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211.33

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Cover 'Media can make or break economy' the worst. Everybody dreads the unforeseen, but it is well managed. That has been communication management.

We are at a level in Nigeria where we’ve got to start doing things professionally. It looks like everybody can do that, but no, you need to have professionals.

How best can the government address insurgency, especially in respect of security information?

We need to be frank and match ourselves with countries that have fast-tracked development, like Dubai, which took a conscious effort. They are now marketing those countries in such a way that would make them attractive. It is driven both by the government and private sector. We must remember that there is collective effort in security in the sense that everybody must be their neighbour’s keeper.

We must not turn a blind eye when things happen. There should be a national re-orientation for citizens and the government at all levels where everybody takes up the responsibility to be informal ambassadors. If people meet, what impression would I create in their minds? You must be an informal ambassador of your country, of yourself, of your local government and of course of your state.

And until we all take up that mantle to say I must play my part, the government cannot do everything. By doing the right thing, the government can also be forced to take responsibility at their own level by the time we take up our own.

You don’t see most foreigners talk negatively about their country, yet their countries are not perfect. You see foreigners coming here on a daily basis. They were all here at the World Economic Forum, which got negative publicity because of insecurity in the country.

The government will do its best, people will come because risk is part of life, but my point is, if it was so bad there must be something good. In every situation, something good will come out of it.

That is why I say the media is power-

Continued from PAGE 39

What we are trying to do is let the government understand the need to use marketing communication services to market Nigeria for greater development, and that starts by using the mixture of both professionals and those who work in communication mix to come together and reposition Nigeria.

Without it, there is nothing we would do.

ful. The media has the power to make or break any business or country. The media should embark on a conscious campaign to rebuild Nigeria. Besides, media marketing communications also have a huge role to play. We can write the copy line, media can do the press releases; we can work with government to expose these materials. This conscious effort would produce good result for us instead of waiting for the government all the time.

How close are we to that Nigerian dream?

I have no prophetic capability, so I cannot answer that question categorically.

Many things defy the odds. When people say this is how things are done globally, you find out that it defies the odds here.

For instance, it is only in Nigeria that a 36-year-old is still referred to as youth.

You will see a man who is 75 years old, who will say he is just starting life when he should be in the departure lounge.

In all sense of responsibility, I think united we stand, divided we fall. When the house is not united, you cannot do anything. I think we should wait and let time tell, because who would have believed that Chibok was going to be a global issue.

It has brought out our humanness; it has brought out the importance of the media, the importance of digital technology, and borderless communication, and so many things.

As time goes on, many Nigerians will understand the power of social media, and by the time we get to conclusions, and it is an open discussion, Nigerians will take up the topic they agree with or don’t agree with.

Those days when you put things under the table are gone, that is why proceedings are done in the open. Everybody finds out that you are speaking not just for yourself.

Why are there no mergers and acquisitions in advertising when banking, oil and gas, manufacturing and other sectors thrive on them?

We shouldn’t take any industry in isolation of its growth chart. Just like in marketing. Look at the life cycle of advertising in Nigeria, let’s face it, a lot of the pioneer advertising have been individuals. They are entrepreneurs who have paid their dues.

Therefore if you build something, it’s unlikely that you want to let it go just like that.

It’s the sentiment.

In other countries the life cycles of the companies are different. They’ve come to a point when they realise that united we stand, divided we fall. They’ve realised that a one man-business normally dies with that person. That’s why you find out that a lot of the multinationals have passed from two or three generations to what they are today. They are not in the first generation of the owners, so to speak. The life cycle of different countries reflect on that type of thinking.

As we all get to the middle age and start moving up, the thinking is going to change.

In digital technology, we are going to see a new crop of thinking that might be totally different. Things are going to change. There are still going to be multinational and local industries that require the services of marketing communications consultants.

How has marketing communication faired in the past three decades?

I started my career in Grant advertising at 22, and if I’m going to be 50, that means one way or another I’ve been in the industry for 28 years. I only took a break, a biological break when I had my children. I have always been in media and marketing communications.

One thing I have learnt is that our industry is very much dynamic. You have to always change with the time to remain competitive. The education you have today is only going to be valid for two years, not to talk of now with digital technology. The point I’m bringing out is that I learnt two things. Always try and anticipate the need to develop yourself at any point so that you can be relevant. You must be consistent

Oke with what goes on. The body will age, but the brain does not have to age. So to keep the brain youthful, you have to keep in touch with reality. Dynamism is what determines this industry.

The second thing I discover is that if you want to play, I always like the idea of playing at the international level but with local knowledge. And that has been a personal dream. I want to be able to go to anywhere in the world and fit in. This means that I have to keep myself abreast of communication language.

The other part I also discovered is that you need very much to be a good team player to be able to evolve. I have had the opportunity to work with different people and discovered that everybody has individual skills that are harnessed when the strength is brought together. If somebody is a good copywriter and doesn’t have a product to sell, he will languish in the dark.

Is the advertising industry immune to falling standards?

We have to be careful, because standard can be misconstrued. In marketing communication, we must evolve communication plans that help to project the businesses, services and products that have a brand issue or a communication issue at hand.

Don’t forget that businesses are also evolving. When you say falling, it could be relative and that is why I find it very difficult to answer your question.

For instance, more people attend school now in Nigeria; but in terms of quality, written and spoken English, three decades ago, if somebody finished Standard Six in Nigeria, they would write very good English. Now you have people who are leaving university who cannot construct good sentences in English. And they would say more people are now getting tertiary education.

I have my personal standards, but that does not mean it is something that must come across the board. For example, I do not like to use fingers to eat food like eba and amala, and it’s not a matter of being posh. I just don’t want the thing to get stuck in my fingers because I keep long nails.

Professionalism is what I like to measure against world class standard. That is in terms of delivery, turn-around time and ability to solve problems. It doesn’t mean that the materials that come from the UK are necessarily the material that would fly here. But we can meet some certain basic standards.

What is the industry’s position at the confab?

For now, what we are trying to do is let the government understand the need to use marketing communication services to market Nigeria for greater development, and that starts by using the mixture of both professionals and those who work in communication mix to come together and reposition Nigeria. Without it, there is nothing we would do.

Whatever the government comes out with, I still believe it is critical to have an organ of government that has established marketing communication. For instance, every embassy should be a marketing outlet for Nigeria, and we must also have a unified structure there. Even our orientation campaign should be internally generated.

So there is a lot of work to be done, but professionally. Let’s borrow a leaf from what the multinationals do when they are launching a new product, they see it as a business which must bring in returns. Why can’t we see Nigeria as a business, and do everything to re-position it so that it can bring in the much-needed returns?

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41

Thinking outside the business box?

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Trade in second hand books spins success narratives

Adetola (left) and Alozie (rigth)

Nwosu

By Kelechi Mgboji Assistant Business Editor

G

ood fortune is buried beneath a dunghill, so it is said. Also, a man never strikes a breakthrough until he discovers his destiny.

Damian Nwosu perfectly illustrates these sayings in his story of how he struck fortunes dealing in used books after trading in jewelry for about four years without success.

The story of another dealer in second hand books, Blessing Alozie, who came into the business after he was laid off as a construction worker, confirms that if a bad road does not close a good one may not open.

Trade in jewelry may be the aspiration of many, considering its high net worth, but a breakthrough may just lie in wait elsewhere.

Michael Adetola has been selling second hand books for four years.

He grew up seeing his mother doing the business, joined her, and has no intention of quitting, because is it profitable.

While many scamper for funds for a large ticket business of their

dream, the likes of Nwosu and Alozie and Adetola have since come to terms with the Nigerian situation and are meeting their goals in life.

Nwosu told TheNiche how providence and a burning desire to make a change combined to facilitate his switch-over in 1995.

Motivation As for Alozie, he took to selling second hand books as a virtue of necessity. Having lost his job he decided on the business against the advice of friends and relatives that he should return to his home town.

He reasoned that going back to the village amounted to a suicide and resolved to do whatever legitimate business came his way.

Unlike Alozie and Adetola, Nwosu was motivated by his passion for books. His inability to complete secondary school did not quench the passion burning within.

One of Nwosu's friends who sold used books helped to stoke the desire. While he was aspiring to switch over his friend was planning to sell off his stock and start selling jewelry.

As musician Lucky Dube sang, the pasture is greener on the other side till you get there only

to discover that it is not quite as imagined.

Nwosu recounts: "One day this friend of mine called me and said he was no longer going to continue with the business of selling second hand books.

"He said he was going to relocate to Lagos Island to sell jewelry. I had no intention of taking over his business until a customer of his came one day looking for him to buy a stock of used Bibles he imported for sale.

“My friend was nowhere to be found. Of course he was not serious with the business. Again, he had made up his mind to quit.

"After the customer left, it occurred to me that I could buy the books and use that opportunity to explore the business. I decided to go after the man. I ran a long distance until I caught up with him and told him I was interested to buy off the books.

"He brought the stock in two cartons. We negotiated and I bought all the Bibles. Within a short period I finished selling all. My profit exceeded expectation. It was quite higher than the profit margin I was making from selling jewelry.

“That was how I began, and decided to give it a shot. It remains

profitable to date. The early stages proved quite challenging because I did not learn the ropes, but by God’s grace I continued to move along and today I must tell you frankly that I have succeeded.”

Fulfilment Will Nwosu encourage relatives and friends to go into the business?

He replied in the affirmative and gave his reasons.

"First, it is lucrative. Profit is the first objective for setting up any business otherwise the business will not survive.

"Again, it is such a business that gets you connected with net worth individuals who come to buy from you. Professionals of diverse disciplines – accountants, lawyers, doctors, engineers, name them – all come looking for certain books of importance.

"Each order of sought-after books we supply to these customers brings our relationship with them closer. That has been my desire to meet and make friends with net worth people.”

Nwosu said he has met his life's goals and aspirations, and is looking to the day he will import his stock directly from overseas.

He did not disclose his profit

margin, but admitted that "the business has empowered me to settle down here in Lagos. I am married with four children, all in private school. From the proceeds, I have also established a food stuff shop for my wife.

"I have not yet got to the level of importing books, but by God's Grace I will get there someday.”

According to him, the secret of success in the business, as with any other, is honesty, determination and promptness in meeting customers' needs.

Honesty with importers guarantees stocks, even on credit, just as determination and ability to meet demands attract and retain customers.

Speaking in the same vein, Alozie disclosed that the business is such a money spinner that his pocket has never gone dry since he started it.

He has built a house in his home town and is married with children, all of whom attend private school.

All the three second hand book dealers, who sell in the Mile 2 area of Lagos, appealed to council and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials to allow them ply their trade unmolested, like newspaper vendors; since they all contribute to the growth of knowledge.

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Financial Niche Tight monetary policy: In whose interest?

By Kelechi Mgboji Assistant Business Editor

T

omorrow, June 2, Godwin Emefiele assumes office as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor on the crest of the furore over high monetary policy rate (MPR) consistently set at 12 per cent.

The CBN Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) retained the MPR at its last meeting in Abuja, against the background of a fairly stable economy. Stakeholders across economic sectors knocked it as ill-advised and insensitive.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) sees tight monetary policy as the bane of the economy.

Importers described it as killing, stockbrokers said it stokes the long-drawn capital market meltdown and its many botched recovery attempts.

There is one central message Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in their outcry: Emefiele should discontinue the rigid monetary policy. etary policy is counter-productive.

MPR is the rate at which banks According to him, while many borrow from the CBN to cover immedicountries impacted by the 2008 global ate cash shortfalls. The higher the cost financial meltdown are working out of interbank borrowing, the higher the measures to stimulate their economies, rate at which banks grant loans to the the CBN has tightened monetary policy real sector. to stabilise exchange rate.

The CBN’s 12 per cent interest on Yusuf lamented that the manufacturloan to commercial banks led to the ing output in the first quarter of the current borrowing cost of between 20 year was dull because of the impact of per cent and 28 per cent to the manumicro and macro-economic factors. facturing sector.

His words: "The continuation of a While the CBN sees its lending rate tight monetary policy will have the as appropriate, critics counter that it is following outcomes – persistent high stifling credit expansion and will ultiinterest rate, deepening unemployment, mately cripple manufacturing. financial intermediation role of banks There is the argument that crashwill continue to be undermined, recoving interest rate to a single digit is not ery of the real economy will remain economically healthy for an import sluggish, the capacity of enterprises to dependent economy like Nigeria’s. create jobs will continue to be inhibCritics argue that with a high MPR, ited, stock market recovery will remain the economy is being taken over by slow and the capacity of banks to supforeigners who obtain funds at cheaper port the economy will remain severely cost at home and are able to invest in constrained. all sectors of the Nigerian economy “Such high cost of borrowing inmore than domestic investors. creases production cost and also makes Lagos Chamber of Commerce and made-in-Nigeria products uncompetiIndustry (LCCI) Director General, Muda tive against imported substitutes, which Yusuf, has warned that an inflexible monare generally aggressively supported with conversely lower single digit interest rates in export economies.”

Fact Sheet Bestworth Assets and Trust Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, The CBN’s 12 per Sola Adeniyi, said high interest rate means that investors will prefer fixed cent interest on loan income instruments to equities which to commercial banks is partly why the capital market has stagnated since the crash in 2008. led to the current According to Adeniyi, monetary borrowing cost of policy should not be narrowed down to stabilising the exchange rate but used between 20 per cent to stimulate the economy for growth and 28 per cent to and job creation. the manufacturing He added: "When there is high interest rate as it were, many investors tend sector. to go for fixed income instruments or While the CBN put their money in interest yielding accounts. sees its lending "So what effect does that have on the rate as appropriate, financial system? The banking sector will be more liquid and they have more critics counter that funds to lend out, regrettably, at high it is stifling credit interest rate.

“But other investment instruments expansion and will like stocks and equities suffer because ultimately cripple investors go for the instruments with manufacturing. guaranteed high returns.”

Adeniyi said Emefiele should go be-

ECONOMIC INDICATORS CBN Exchange Rates Date Currency Buying(NGN) Central(NGN) Seling(NGN) 5/30/2014 US DOLLAR 154.73 155.23 155.73 POUNDS STERLING 259.049 259.8861260.7232 EURO 210.6494211.3301212.0108 SWISS FRANC 172.5357173.0932173.6508 YEN 1.5219 1.5268 1.5317 CFA 0.3021 0.3121 0.3221 WAUA 237.6395238.4074239.1753 YUAN/RENMINBI 24.7611 24.8415 24.922 RIYAL 41.2547 41.388 41.5214 DANISH KRONA 28.2158 28.307 28.3982 SDR 238.3616239.1318239.9021 The Fixings - NIBOR, NITTY and NIFEX of May 30, 2014 Closing Market Prices of May 30, 2014

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.9500 12.4400 13.5184 14.4311

NIFEX

Emefiele yond sustaining the legacies of his predecessor, Lamido Sanusi, and determine what the CBN really wants to achieve with MPR. "Setting monetary policy rate and liquidity levels in the system can help determine a lot of things. The question is what they want to achieve with it.

Stimulate growth in the economy by encouraging investment or just stabilise exchange rate and fight inflation?

"Why are deposit money banks not lending to manufacturers? If they have fears or challenges, how can the CBN mitigate those challenges?

"What do they (CBN) need to put in place to make the banks lend more to manufacturers so that there could be more production and expansion which will create employment opportunities?

"More employment opportunities mean that more people will be employed, and the cycle continues. These are the issues the CBN monetary policy committee can address using its policy decisions. Not just fighting inflation,” Adeniyi argued.

Association of Micro-Entrepreneurs of Nigeria President, Saviour Iche, described the 12 per cent MPR as “destructive to indigenous businesses as some deposit money banks charge between 19 per cent 25 per cent interest rate on loans given to MSMEs.” According to him, tough access to credit facilities does not create room for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and it negatively affects Nigerian industrial development.

The recent annual general meeting of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) called on Abuja to reduce inflation and interest rates by formulating good monetary policies.

Isaac Agoye, Chairman of the over 600-member strong Ikeja branch of MAN, insisted that steady industrialisation, increasing employment opportunities as well as enhanced social welfare will only be possible with lower interest rate.

Stakeholders wonder whose interest MPR is serving, that of the economy or the CBN. The task before Emefiele is whether to stimulate economic growth by encouraging investment or just stabilise exchange rate and fight inflation by mopping up excess liquidity.

Bid Offer Spot($/N) 162.7425162.8425 *M: Month(s); O/N: Overnight FGN Bonds Description TTM Bid Price Price Yield 13.05 16-AUG-2016 2.21 101.45 15.10 27-APR-2017 2.91 106.50 16.00 29-JUN-2019 5.08 112.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 7.66 117.65 14.20 14-MAR-2024 9.79 107.80 10.00 23-JUL-2030 16.15 80.00 12.98 NITTY Tenor Rate (%) 1M 9.9994 2M 10.0053 3M 10.8845 6M 11.0575 9M 11.6072 12M 11.7076 *M: Month(s); Treasury Bills Maturity Date Bid Offer 28-Aug-14 10.40 10.15

Yield

Offer

12.26 12.36 12.56 12.71 12.77 80.30

101.601812.

106.653012.

112.904912.

117.956512.

108.107212.

12.93

UPMFB embraces cashless policy, expands to Abuja Umuchinemere Pro-credit Micro Finance Bank (UPMFB), based in Enugu, will on July 1 begin the implementation of the cashless policy in line with the deadline issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The bank said in a sent to TheNiche that plans are in advanced stages to extend operations to Abuja, having been registered by the CBN as a micro finance bank.

The statement, signed by the bank’s Head of Public and Media Relations, Abuchi Anueyiagu, quoted Managing Director Nnenna Ekete, as giving assurance to a joint session of investors and customers in Enugu that the bank will follow the July 1 deadline.

It plans to acquire, install and operate robust software applications that will enable customers access their funds easily and transact other financial businesses with their accounts nationwide, Ekete disclosed.

The access will include Point of Sale (PoS), ATM, mobile banking, mobile money, e-payments, debit/credit cards and e-banking.

Ekete promised that the

bank will not relent in offering efficient and quality products and services that will give customers easy access to funds to improve their quality of life.

The session was organised to enable the bank feel the pulse of customers about products and services in order to serve them better.

According to Ekete, the CBN approved UPMFB as a state microfinance bank, and is authorised to have a branch in Abuja.

The bank was established on July 22, 1995 as a Community Bank by the Enugu Diocese of the Holy Catholic Church to provide financial aid to the less privileged.

It lays claim to high ethical standards, best in class financial products and services that are innovative, socially responsible, customer focused, grassroots oriented, promoting sustainable stakeholder participation and integral human development.

Through a motion moved by investors, the session reintroduced the bank’s stock to the market and approved adjustment of its value from N2 to N3 per share.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

www.thenicheng.com

43

Personal Finance Here are rich men's secrets to building wealth

By Kelechi Mgboji Assistant Business Editor

R

ich folks do not get involved in get-rick-quick schemes to build wealth. For them, the process is slow, gradual, persistent and consistent.

People who have succeeded in business understand how to take calculated risks, make their money work for them, build up savings, and avoid mistakes that can wipe out everything in the bag.

For those who want to increase their net worth, taking risks with investments has produced a higher return. But, at the same time, caution is needed to avoid bad investments.

Insights from a poll on the wealth-building habits of rich people underscored frugal spending, calculated invest-

Fact Sheet Wealthy people generate more cash inflow and reduce cash outflow.

They focus on buying things that will hold value or appreciate in value instead of allowing expenses to eat into savings through continuous consumption.

ments and strong saving habits.

The poll, conducted by Bankrate.com, an online business reporting media based in the United States, showed that the wealthy live strictly off wages even when they are working for themselves.

Thus allowing their investment portfolios to grow.

By living within a set income level and not drawing from investment returns, portfolio builds up faster and improves income that can be withdrawn in future.

Ignore ostentations As wealth grows, the urge to live bigger may increase spending. Not getting caught up in the competition to keep up with ostentation is critical to building wealth.

It is about establishing a standard of living that brings happiness but does not make you feel that you have to go bigger the next year.

Set long-range goals In order not to derail your financial plans, set long-range goals as to where you would like to be in two years, five years, even 10 to 20 years, and make sure you avoid anything that derails the plans.

Never think that more returns from business investment is good reason to begin to buy luxury goods.

Investing habits of the rich share three major traits. They keep on diversifying portfolio and monitor with discipline the targeted asset classes against set goals. If anyone strays outside an acceptable range, assets are bought or sold to bring them back into line.

While most people do not have the time or expertise to monitor their portfolios daily, experts advise setting rebalancing parameters based on asset prices rather than a preset time period.

Develop a financial plan Experts counsel that financial plan is a must for investors in order to avoid getting caught up in a market frenzy and buying high and selling low. With a financial plan, attention is always on the big picture about targeted asset-classes which can yield impressive returns.

It is rare to see the wealthy abandon attractive an asset class worth investing in. Instead, they typically underweigh or overweigh certain asset classes, depending on the economic situation.

Maintaining a large position in fixed income, for example, is advisable now because high interest rates are making up for inflationary impact. But that does not mean one should ignore equities in preference for bonds altogether.

The rich pay attention to opportunities to shift into equities when the timing is right.

Savings habits of the rich Spending and saving go hand in hand, since whatever you do not spend is potential savings.

For wealthy people, there is a two-pronged approach to saving. They generate more cash inflow and reduce cash outflow. They focus on buying things that will hold value or appreciate in value instead of allowing expenses to eat into savings through continuous consumption.

"A lot of wealthy people, when they're on their way up, manage expenses so tightly.

Instead of living within their means, they live below their means," says an expert in personal finance.

Keep the end goal in view Set written, clear, attainable goals for yourself and review these goals often.

Decide how much you want in one year, five years and 10 years. Write it down. Decide on an amount you will save daily, weekly or monthly and start saving.

If possible, put in place automatic savings triggers, so that a portion of your earnings goes from your pay cheque into a separate savings account.

It is easier to achieve these precepts with an end goal in mind. Every time you put money toward saving, you are a step closer to achieving the goal.

Those who gain wealth believe that everything they do is ultimately done to fulfil set goals.

However, some people have to be consistently reminded about the need to save, and the more they do it, the easier it becomes.

Take calculated risks Savers, like investors, also need to understand risk if they want their money to work for them.

Savers often think they cannot afford to lose any money by investing in equities or fixed instruments like bonds and treasury bills. They do not realise that when they do not make their money work for them, they are losing.

Inflation, for example, creeps up over the years and steals from your savings if you are not earning enough to make up for it.

The disciplined, steady approach to saving, investing and spending puts you in better stead in the end.

How to make money trading forex (2) Continued from last Sunday

I

n financial markets, jargons play a key role of familiarity and comfort with a particular subject matter, especially when discussing the ‘position’ of a trade or the concept of buying to initiate a trade as either ‘buying low, and selling high’.

When a trader is buying with the prospect of closing the trade at a higher price later, the trader is said to be going ‘long’ in the trade.

Conversely, when a trader is going ‘short’ in a trade, he is selling with the goal of buying back (to cover the trade) at a lower price. The difference between the initial selling price and the price at which the trade was ‘covered’ is the trader’s profit to keep less any fees, commissions, or selling expenses.

It is important to note the interesting distinction between currencies and other markets. Because currencies are quoted with two sides (each quote references two different cur-

rencies taking opposing positions), each trade offers the trader long and short exposure in varying currencies.

For example, a trader going short EUR/AUD would be selling euros and going long Australian dollars.

If, however, the trader went long the currency pair – he would be buying euros and selling Australian dollars.

Using leverage in forex trading Leverage is a financial tool that allows an individual to increase his market exposure to a point that exceeds his actual investment. For example, a trader goes long 10,000 units of the USD/JPY with $1,000 of equity in his account.

The USD/JPY trade is equivalent to controlling $10,000. Because the trade is 10 times larger than the equity in the trader’s account, the account is said to be leveraged 10 times or 10:1.

Leverage therefore refers to using a small amount of one thing to control a larger amount of something else.

As individuals, we use leverage to

some degree in a portion of our daily lives.

For example, when you buy a house on credit, you are actually leveraging your personal balance sheet. Let’s say you wish to buy a $200,000 house but you don’t have that much cash in hand. So you put a 20 per cent down payment of $40,000 on the house and make regular payments to the bank. In this case, you are using a small amount of cash ($40,000) to control a larger asset ($200,000 house).

In the stock market, many margin accounts allow you to leverage up your purchases by a factor of 2. So if you have a $50,000 deposit into a margin account, you are allowed to control $100,000 of assets.

How to determine appropriate effective leverage To determine the amount of effective leverage used, simply divide the larger asset by the smaller instrument. So in our housing example, we divide the value of the house by the equity in the house which means the

house was levered 5 times. ($200,000 / $40,000 = 5 times) In the stock market example, our leverage is 2 times. ($100,000 / $50,000 = 2 times) There is simple formula to determine your account’s effective leverage. This formula is printed below: Total Position Size / Account Equity = Effective Leverage Example Now, let’s take a hypothetical trader and calculate his effective leverage in his forex account. Let’s assume that a trader with $10,000 equity has 3 positions open noted below: • 20,000 short the EUR/USD • 40,000 long the USD/CAD • 10,000 long AUD/JPY The trader’s total position size is 70,000. (20k + 40k + 10k) Using the formula above, the trader’s effective leverage is 7 times.

(70,000 position size / $10,000 Account Equity = 7 times) How to know how much leverage to use

There is a relationship between leverage and its impact on your forex trading account. The greater the amount of effective leverage used, the greater the swings (up and down) in your account equity. The smaller the amount of leverage used, the smaller the swings (up or down) in your account equity. In our trading courses, we frequently talk about using less than 10 times effective leverage.

Just because you have access to a higher amount of leverage in your account does not necessarily mean you want to use all or any portion of it. Think of it like an automobile or motorcycle. Just because the machine could run at speeds of 200 miles per hour, that does not mean You necessarily need to drive it that fast. You see, the faster you drive it, the more likely you are to get into an accident. Therefore, you are in greater risk of bodily injury driving at higher speeds and leverage is similar to that analogy. More leverage puts your trading account at risk.

44

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

www.thenicheng.com

Marketing Niche Haphazard rules, multiple taxation hinder OOH growth

O

By Goddie Ofose Senior Correspondent, Lagos ut of home (OOH) advertising practitioners are groaning under uncontrollable, unregulated and indiscriminate regulation as well as multiple taxation.

These factors contribute to making the medium the most expensive compared with radio, television, print and online.

The evolution of signage and advertisement agencies in states has also contributed to the slow pace of OOH. The residual list of the Nigerian Constitution empowers councils to regulate the industry, but state governments have usurped that responsibility by setting up regulatory agencies.

Among them are Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) and Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agencies (OSAA).

Some state governments go as far as outsourcing regulation to private firms to boost internally generated revenue (IGR).

Another source of problem for practitioners is the pressure to invest in modern OOH facilities. But this is hampered by their inability to access bank loans with interest raise set at 24 per cent.

Investigation showed that even when OOH agencies have all the facilities, corporate organisations delay paying fees or fail to pay altogether.

Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) President, Charles Chijide, moaned at the Exhibition and Poster Awards in Lagos that the levy government agencies impose on practitioners is unfair.

“We are not opposed to regulation and sanitisation, to the extent that such is within the limits of identifiable laws of the land. It is difficult to understand why all of a sudden most state governments look in the direction of outdoor advertising to boost IGR,” he said.

The 2013 edition of Mediafacts, a publication of MediaReachOMD on the annual media performance of media groups on billing, reported that outdoor advertising in 2012 went down by over 40 per cent, which translated into over N40 billion.

Mediafacts identified the activities of the signage agencies as the sole reason for the poor performance, and warned that it may get worse as more states and councils have introduced signage agencies along with tax regimes.

The place of outdoor advertising in marketing communication mix cannot be overemphasised. The medium increases exposure and is the most flexible compared with other formats.

“OOH is highly efficient as it helps

Chijide

Yinka Adepoju, OYSAA Chief Executive to reach a higher number of viewers, repeatedly making it the most cost effective, for it has the lowest cost per thousand,” Chijide said.

Before signage agencies, outdoor advertising was poorly regulated and littered the environment. The industry became an all comers affair, particularly in Lagos, as the OAAN lacked the initiative to solve the problem caused by the indiscriminate placement of boards.

LASAA became a blessing in disguise for the environment but a curse for practitioners, who lost billions of naira during the sanitisation process. Several boards were classified invalid and practitioners rendered jobless.

One surviving czar of the advertising profession, a first generation practitioner, Ayo Awoborode, recalled that most outdoor advertising agencies in the early years were poorly organised, had untrained staff, and were ill-equipped.

The transformation of the sector gladdens his heart, but he decries the way regulators operate.

“This is worrisome, considering the fact that it has taken a serious toll on outdoor business growth,” Awoborode said.

He criticised regulators for competing with operators, saying the duplication of roles has resulted in the dwindling fortunes of the business.

He urged stakeholders to salvage outdoor advertising from imminent

collapse.

Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Bello Kankarofi, cited a lack of communication between regulators and practitioners.

Said he: “I remember that the reform started in 2006 and was later shut down.

Noah But when the current Chairman of Council, Lolu Akinwunmi, came on board in 2009, the reform came alive again.”

LASAA Managing Director, George Noah, allayed the fears of practitioners about the plan to collaborate with other state agencies.

“I don’t think anybody should be apprehensive. I am focused on promoting and helping the business.

All we are doing is to protect this industry. I will not be involved in

jeopardising its interest. OAAN is my primary constituency,” he assured.

But OOH has become a cash cow, such that even the federal government wants to regulate it.

The hope is that practitioners will still get by, in line with the position of Senate Media and Communication Committee Chairman, Enyinnanya Abaribe, who has urged the National Assembly to make a law that ensures that the sector is not over taxed.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

www.thenicheng.com

45

Marketing Niche Civil war, insurgency dent Nigeria’s brand, laments Murray-Bruce

T

By Goddie Ofose Senior Correspondent, Lagos he civil war from 1967 to 1970, the aborted Miss World beauty pageant in 2001 and the current insurgency in the North East have been identified as three major events which have thwarted Nigeria’s effort to reposition itself as a global brand.

Silverbird Group Chairman, Ben Murray-Bruce, made the point at an Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) marketing evening in Lagos, where he delivered a paper titled “From local to global, building the Nigeria brand.”

Over the years, he recalled, Nigeria has made unsuccessful efforts to become a global brand because of the inability of the government to explore the media to win some of the battles rattling its global brand valuation.

“What is happening today in Nigeria about Boko Haram and the negative publicity it generates for us has happened three times without an appropriate way to manage the crises through the media,” Murray-Bruce lamented.

In his view, the civil war was the first of the three events that showed how Nigeria failed in the use of the media to douse the effect of propaganda on its reputation.

He said the late Biafran warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, used

Murrayy-Br B uce e (l (leftt) and Oyeyemi at the even ent nt.

the media effectively to dent Nigeria’s image and got the support of the France.

His words: “Nigeria won the war but Biafra won the battle using the media, Radio Biafra. The attack on Nigeria by the French and those who believe what Nigeria did against the Igbo was genocide really prevented the country from being

accepted across the world.

“Ojukwu used the media very well and Nigeria’s image was dented. That prolonged war got him support from Cote D’Ivoire, Mali, Gabon and others who supplied weapons for Biafra.”

Murray-Bruce also cited the Miss World beauty contest in 2001 which was stopped when the whole

world had already gathered to experience Nigeria as a destination brand.

The event, which the world could have reported and showcased the beauty of Nigeria and its potentials, turned out to be a bad press for the country.

It was to be held amid criticism from the global community over a Nigerian woman, Amina Lawal, who was sentenced to death by stoning under Sharia law for having a child out of wedlock.

“My topic is promoting your brand across the globe.

The whole world was in Nigeria and all eyes were on Nigeria. Agbani won the Miss World in South Africa and we hosted the event in Nigeria, which we spent millions of dollars to host.

“A few days to the event, over 100 world media had gathered in Nigeria.”

But Nigeria missed the opportunity to promote its brand to the world when a conflict in Kano, aggravated by a story published in THISDAY, led to opposition against the Miss World event.

On the current threat posed by Boko Haram, Murray-Bruce said this appeared to be the mother of all threats against the effort

by Abuja to build the Nigerian brand.

ADVAN President, Kola Oyeyemi, said the marketers’ evening is designed to provide an opportunity for marketing directors to deliberate on issues and concepts

that will move the marketing industry forward.

It also helps them to keep abreast of events that are changing the marketing landscape, such as technology and consumer behaviour.

“What is happening today in Nigeria about Boko Haram and the negative publicity it generates for us has happened three times without an appropriate way to manage the crises through the media,”

Al Grain raises stakes in noodles market Product of the week

By Goddie Ofose Senior Correspondent, Lagos

C

ompetition in the market for noodles is getting fiercer. Indomie, the hitherto dominant brand, has been aggressively challenged by other brands such as Honeywell Noodles, Mee Mee, and Golden Penny.

But the arrival of Al Grain has made the competition stiffer.

Al Grain, a whole grain noodles, is manufactured in the N7 billion green field plant of Al Grain

Foods Limited, Isolo, Lagos.

Economist and founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Pat Utomi, led a star cast of guests from banking, industry, government as well as Nollywood at the launch of the product at Golden Tulip Hotel, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

Al Grain Foods Chairman, Anthony Obidulu, said it is produced at the highest hygiene standards, using global best manufacturing practice.

It comes in two flavours of chicken and shrimp and beef, and “offers rich and healthy nutrition with

unique African flavour,” he said.

Al Grain is positioned for the health conscious because of its formulation and extensive use of natural ingredients, Obidulu added.

Packaged in two packs, it is intended to complement the efforts of the government in developing local content in the food industry, through investment in manufacturing and entrepreneurship.

Utomi called for greater focus by both the government and private sector in agriculture and manufacturing. He canvassed a synergy between agriculture and manufacturing as the surest route to create jobs and reduce employment.

“I do not have a particular food I crave for, but sincerely Al Grain noodle has become part of my menu. I’m a convert to Al Grain. I have been eating it for some time now. Enjoy it. Give it out as a gift.

Let’s get strong eating healthy food”, he pitched.

Among other guests were former Institute of Directors Nigeria President, Tom Awagu; First City Merchant Bank (FCMB) Vice President, Ronke Jibodu; Raft Mohammed; Mabel Nwogbo; an official of Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Sanuth Tunde; and Toyin Orumah of Bank of Industry.

Nollywood actors present included Florence Onuma, Chigozie Atuanya, Chiege Alisigwe, Benedict Johnson, Chidi Ihesie, Benita Nzeribe, Yul Edochie and Tony Umez.

46

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

www.thenicheng.com

ICT Skye Bank adopts Oracle Flexcube 12 to power operations

By Goddie Ofose Senior Correspondent

S

kye Bank has upgraded its internet banking software from Oracle Flexcube 6.2 to Oracle Flexcube 12 to power operations and pivot a new era of efficiency, convenience, speed and security.

Technology has changed the way businesses interact, which, in turn, has changed the businesses around us, reiterated Skye Bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer designate, Timothy Oguntayo.

Banks have undergone tremendous changes with the adoption of e-commerce, social media, instant messaging and self service banking.

Increasingly, Oguntayo said, “we are faced with unprecedented changes in customer behaviour and expectations as a result of advances in technology and the fierce competition in a rapidly expanding financial services landscape.”

Skye Bank Chief Information Officer, Amafonye Richard, explained that “what we are unveiling is the product of our successful upgrade of Oracle Flexcube 6.2 version which our bank had adopted for several years.

“This new software will serve as the core information technology platform for new capabilities and business growth.”

Buffeted by technology trends, there is the need for new electronic banking plat-

forms to deliver greater convenience, as new patterns of customer behaviour shape the way banks develop, market, and deliver services.

In line with the commitment of Skye Bank to service excellence through information and communications technology (ICT), it has in the past 24 months invested in high technology, Oguntayo recounted.

“Last month, we cut over to our new and improved core banking system with robust transaction processing capabilities that will enable us to provide superior service and consistent experience for our customers across all channels,” he told shareholders at the bank’s annual general meeting.

The upgrade is at the centre of IT transformation programme, a strategic decision that has far reaching implications on the bank’s future business strategies and success, he added.

Before now, Skye Bank had operated with two limited versions of Oracle Flexcube 6.2 that hardly supported new capabilities and growth.

Over the years, different point solutions were acquired or developed in-house to address gaps and deficiencies in the system. This culminated in an overly complex and costly IT infrastructure with multiple dependencies and points of failure.

Upgrading to the newest version of Oracle Flexcube is expected to address most of these challenges by helping to reduce complexity, drive

ing and information.

An independent information platform will be created to analyse and present periodic information about major brands and get feedbacks for companies to engage their markets.

“For an adequate representation of the people’s opinion on how popular a brand is, we developed a phone-based survey in association with Vconnect Global Services Ltd, a leading ICT company in West Africa, with the largest search engine on businesses in Nigeria,” Oluboyede explained.

Star grabs 2014 at Poster Award

Oguntayo productivity and support innovation and business growth.

Benefits of the new software include seamless customer experience across all channels, centralised transaction processing to eliminate retail/corporate dichotomy, improved business intelligence and product

extensibility.

“For our customers, it is a new era of seamless and pleasant experience, going forward,” Oguntayo emphasised.

The new technology provides internet and mobile banking platforms for customers to access a wide range of services anytime, anywhere.

Goddie Ofose Senior Correspondent, Lagos

S

High-Speed Downlink Packet Access-HSDPA, Code Division Multiple Access-CDMA2000 and Evolution Date Optimised-EVDO).

Technologies considered to be 4G include Long Term Evolution (LTE), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers-IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX).

3G is defined by the ITU as IMT-2000 and it is also studying IMT-Advanced as 4G. IMT is now used as the generic name for 3G and 4G. Lamenting poor broadband service, an information technology expert based in Lagos, Felix Ogedengbe, said he is “not even sure if all the brands brandishing 4G really have one because their service couldn’t stream a YouTube video without buffering.

“This is unlike 4G offered in other markets of the world.”

Search for top 50 Nigerian brands in 2014 begins Top 50 Brands Nigeria, organiser of the annual selection of 50 most popular brands, has begun the process of selecting the ones for 2014.

The criteria include corporate social responsibility, customer service delivery, vision, innovation, market acceptability and loyalty, contribution to national unity, growth and development, brand value, sustainability and healthiness.

Project Coordinator, Taiwo Oluboyede, said this year’s edition is a medium for recognition and classification of brand performance, rat-

Subscribers knock 4G advertisement claims ubscribers to newly licensed 4G operators – Swift 4GLTE, Smile 4G, Spectranet 4GLTE and Oxygen Broadband and others – have scoffed at their advertisements and coverage.

Some described the advertisements as spurious, deceitful and fraudulent.

Before the launch of the broadband companies, Nigerians relied son GSM data modem and CDMA data platforms. The new technology, though a game changer, depends on spurious claims.

4G (short for fourth generation), is a specification of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is being developed for broadband mobile capability.

It enables Internet Protocol (IP)-based voice, data and multimedia streaming at higher speeds. It also offers at least 100 Mbit/s with high mobility and up to 1GBit/s with low mobility (nomadic).

4G is an IP-based and packet-switched evolution of 3G technologies that use voice communication (such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access-WCDMA,

Quick Takes

The complaints include snail pace internet, limited coverage and unwarranted megabytes offered to subscribers while volumes are not utilised.

A Swift user, who pleaded anonymity, said a company claiming to provide unprecedented coverage in Lagos that cannot be accessed is a huge disappointment.

“I can’t imagine not being unable to access Swift service on Allen Avenue in Ikeja where my office is.

My N7,000 per month data is a complete waste.”

Instead of broadband companies focusing on strengthening their services, they are determined to run GSM out of business by offering huge data volumes to subscribers. A

N7,000 worth of data a month from a mobile operator gives 8GigaByte (GB) while Swift gives 14GB. A management employee of Oxygen Broadband, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the industry is going through infrastructure challenges, hence the difficulties experience by customers.

He added, however, that individual companies are working to ensure that subscribers enjoy seamless service like the ones experienced abroad.

In the meantime, subscribers have called on the Nigerian Communication Commission to examine the operations of the providers and ensure that customers get their money’s worth.

Star lager beer, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries, has won the “Grand Poster Award”, “Best Creative Award” and the “Grand Prix Award” at the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) Awards, held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Star carted home the “Grand Poster Award” for the best creative advertisement among all the brand winners in eight categories.

The categories included Dairy/Food/Beverages,

grand

prix

Non Alcoholic Drinks, Alcoholic Drink, Electrical/ Electronics, Public Service, Telecoms/ICT, Household and Financial Services.

Star received the “Best Creative Award” and the “Grand Prix Award” for the most innovative brand in outdoor advertising 2014.

OAAN President, Charles Chijide, said the awards were initiated to reward excellence in the cerebral work that goes into creating messages through which advertisers connect with consumers using OAAN platform.

Pepsi names Keshi, Amokachi, others as brand ambassadors Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, who masterminded Nigeria’s victory at the African Cup of Nations last year and is leading the team to the World Cup in Brazil, has been named by Pepsi as brand ambassador.

He was picked alongside Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, and full back, Elderson Echiejile, amid cheers at the event in Lagos, tagged “Pepsi Samba Party”.

Their inclusion on Pepsi’s existing list of football ambassadors (Victor Moses and Peter Osaze) creates one of the most multi-talented and iconic line ups ever.

Keshi, called the Big Boss, thanked Pepsi for being a major supporter of the beautiful game and of other sports in Nigeria.

Said he: “When I am on national duty, I make sure I put in my best, and when the going gets tough on the pitch, that’s when I dig deep and bring out something I never knew was there.

“We may be very few on the pitch of play but we realise that our team actually comprises 160 million Nigerian fans who always support and cheer us on.

Pepsi is a great brand and I am happy and honoured to be associated with it.”

Winners emerge in Oral-B Project Smile initiative Three winners have emerged in Project Smile, sponsored by Oral-B. They won in the complimentary smile makeover programme adjudged by a panel comprising a musician, a periodontist and two dental experts.

Prior to the final screening, each winner was among five nominees in a category of dental case.

The three categories were rated in descending order of severity of the case file, namely, Severe, Moderate

and Mild.

The categories were won by Tosin Adekoya (Severe), Tayo Adelekan, (Moderate) and Jaiye Johnson (Mild).

In addition to the three winners of the complementary smile makeover programme, five nominees were selected for the smile makeover treatment.

The judges expanded the scope of beneficiaries to sponsor five nominees with dental flaws.

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TheNiche on Sunday

June 01, 2014

Spotlight www.thenicheng.com

HEALTH PEOPLE CULTURE FOOD FASHION ENTERTAINMENT FAITH HEALTH

TERH AGBEDEH Assistant Life Editor t.agbedeh@thenicheng.com terhagbedeh@gmail.com TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE Woman Editor 0708 479 6140 REGINA WHENU Reporter 0706 098 3213 ADEWALE OJELEYE Photographer

ENTERTAINMENT »

PAGE 57

PAGE 62

»

HPV: The girls' date with mum

»

Rosary not for Catholics alone – Benjamin

AMAA’s impressive showing inYenagoa Censors cloud covering Half of a Yellow Sun PAGE 60

»

PAGE 62

»

0803 921 2470

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FOOD &DRINK

Regina Whenu

»

Millet meal without shingles

M

illets are a group of highly-variable smallseeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for both human food and livestock feeds.

The husked grain of millet has a slightly nutty flavour and can be eaten whole after roasting, cooking, or boiling like rice.

Millet is fast becoming a popular baby food, since the grains are rich in calcium and have a pleasant flavour. The flour is used for making mush, porridge, flat bread or chapatti. It is also used for making wine or beer.

The grain is feed for animals. The green plant is used as forage, but the quality of the straw is poor. Brooms are made from the straw. Starch from the grains is used for sizing textiles.

Millet remains a staple in the diets of about a third of the world’s population.

Rich in iron, B vitamins and calcium, millet has a mild corn flavour and is naturally gluten-free.

Sure, on first glance, you might be tempted to think that raw millet is birdseed. But these little brown beads have a really lovely and light texture when cooked. Due to the sticks and shaft that cause a sandy feel, so many have reduced or stopped the consumption of millets.

In preparing millet, also known as jero, as a paste for pap meal, it is important to follow these procedures. It is good to hand-pick shafts and stones from millet before the preparation process. For a large amount, a sieve will be appropriate.

1. Pound or grind the millet to break up the seeds in pieces.

2. Using a sieve or cheese cloth, run water into the pureed millet again to remove the chaff.

3. Soak millet overnight. Do not soak with hot water.

4. Rinse with fresh clean water.

5. Spread out in tray and leave out in sun to dry for a whole day.

6. Add blended garlic, ginger, little yaji spice and other spices 7. Sieve again to get rid of any unwanted stuff ; this is to ensure that you do not feel pebbles when having it.

8. Get the flour completely dry.

The end product will be a highlyscented dry greyish powder that can last months.

Whenever you want to make porridge, all you have to do is take some and make into a paste as you would do for pap.

There are so many ways you can use your millet in the kitchen. Millet is commonly cooked as porridge to enjoy in the morning – it is a great meal when you are tired of oatmeal, but there are many other

ways to use millet.

You can chuck raw millet into cookies, dough or quick breads for extra crunch. Millets can be used as thickeners in soups, or as a base for warm grain salads of your choice. You can also buy millet grits, which are extremely quick-cooking, and are wonderful in any preparation.

This olden grain, with its mildly sweet flavour, is tasty, soothing, non-acid, and has numerous beneficial nutrients. This readily available meal is one of the least allergenic meals.

Millet provides serotonin; a neurotransmitter which helps calm and

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Recipe of the week Mutton pepper soup

T

his meal is desirable in this rainy season. Aside the sweet peppery meaty taste of the soup, it is also good for cold

relief

Ingredients: Goat meat Onion (ground) Dry pepper (ground) Nutmeg (ground) Scent leaf Seasoning cubes Water Salt Directions: 1.Wash the meat, already cut to desired size, thoroughly.

2. Season with onion, salt and teaspoon of pepper.

3. Steam till the water is almost dried up.

4. Add the water, stir and add the ground nutmeg, the remaining pepper and the seasoning cubes.

5. Cook till meat is tender and the stock is slightly thickened.

6. Wash and shred scent leaves. Add to the boiling sauce.

7. Stir and add salt to taste.

8. Simmer for about 10 more minutes.

9. Remove from heat and serve hot.

Drink of the week

Red Bull

soothe your moods.

It helps hydrate your colon (long, coiled, tube-like organ that removes water from digested food).

Millet also digests easily.

The magnesium in millet can help reduce the effect of migraines and heart attacks. Niacin (vitamin B3) in millet can help lower (bad) cholesterol. Phosphorus in the grain helps with fat absorption, body tissue repair and creating energy – phosphorus is an essential

Red Bull is an energy drink manufactured by Austrian company, Red Bull GmbH, which was founded in 1987.

Red Bull is a regular drink that is accessible in virtually all the beverage stores around.

You can have Red Bull during lectures, at work, meetings or after workouts.

The beverage contains caffeine, B-group vitamins, sucrose, and glucose. It comes in different variants like Red Bull Original, Red Bull Sugar-free, Red Bull Cola, Red Bull Total Zero, Red Bull Red Edition, Red Bull Blue Edition, Red Bull Silver Edition and Red Bull F1 Edition.

Sugar-free is like Red Bull Original without sugar; the sugars – sucrose and glucose – have been replaced with sweeteners, which means that every sphere of life has its own variants.

Small wonder, it is prolific in taste and terrific in quality.

Don’t even search far for why it gives you wings.

Red Bull has been tagged the highest selling energy drink in the world.

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Ask Tinu

Tinu Agbabiaka

Certified relationship expert 0817 313 7189 info@pclng.org, botl@pclng.org

Dear Tinu,

Caught between mother and daughter

I am 40 years old and a Christian. My worry is that I am still single. In truth, as an introvert, my speaking ability is low. However, I desire a tolerant, funny, godly, simple and smart lady as a life partner.

I am the eldest of my siblings, some of who are married, giving grandchildren to my parents. What is wrong with me?

Recently, I met a woman, a fruitier, at a place I visit to see my friends. I have received gifts (fruits) from her. Sometimes, she sells to me. This happens from time to time. We are from the same town, but she’s married in a different state. One day, she accosted me, expressing her love for me. She said she loves my quietness. In fact, she wanted to befriend me, but her daughter had professed her love for me, asking me to marry her.

Soulmates

Email: reginawhenu@gmail.com 08028546300 (text only)

Both mother and daughter always demand money from me for things like toiletries and so on. The daughter asked me to pay her rent at her school, complaining about her dad’s financial difficulties. She goes for expensive products.

She has been pestering me to take her to

Men seeking women Wilfred, based in Lagos State, wants a beautiful woman between the ages of 35 and 45 years who is ready for a serious relationship. 09095529045.

my parents and siblings and visit her village as well. She wants us to cement our relationship. I have been shillyshallying.

In fact, I’ve been doling out money to assist the woman, even at my own detriment.

I gathered that she is a second wife – I don’t like the antics of second wives.

I am attracted to the daughter because we are of the same complexion – light skin. I want to marry a woman of the same complexion, but dark-skinned women always come to me. I know little about her character. I don’t know if we are compatible. Their constant demand for money puts me off.

A counsellor has advised me to keep clear of them. This counsellor believes they are using me to satisfy their financial need. According to her, a wife is a help-meet.

But another counsellor thinks otherwise.

She believes she is serious and, in fact, encourages me to give her money if that will make her happy. I’m confused and I’m at sixes and sevens.

Coincidentally, one of

my younger brothers is married to a relation of hers. My brother’s wife isn’t in good terms with my siblings and mother. She allegedly bewitched my brother, causing him mentally illness. My parents are estranged. I don’t want such experience.

Again, how do I know a woman fore-ordained for me?

If you don’t mind, respond. Thank you for your time and God bless you.

Bernete Dear Bernete, I apologise for not responding to your mail on time. However, I must admit that I am still as confused as I was when I first read it.

I hope I have summarised it correctly, if what you have written is that two women (mother and daughter) are interested in you.

My first response is to ask you to stay clear of married women. It doesn’t matter if they are the first, second, fourth, fifth wife and are unhappy. You have no business being with a married woman or entertaining her. You mentioned that she had given you gifts in the past. You shouldn’t accept gifts from a woman that you know is romantically interested in you,

that special girl. 08034727594.

My name is Francis, 33, based in Akwa Ibom. I am good-looking and caring. I need a tall, fair lady for a serious relationship.

08181786559.

My name is Omogbolahan, based in Lagos. I need a very beautiful and honest lady for a serious relationship.

07085562936.

I agree with the first counsellor you said advised you to stay clear of both mother and daughter. I advise you to run, run and run as much as you can.

You don’t want to get involved in a messy situation like this. Do not allow yourself to be pressured or pestered into paying anyone’s bride price.

You mentioned that you are attracted to the woman because of her complexion. Please note that complexion does not determine in anyway what a good wife or husband material will be, and you need to take a good look at the values you have and expect from someone you wish to spend the rest of your life with.

It is important that you know that eternal values are better than appearances which may/can change or be altered.

Marriage is a life-long commitment, and if you get it wrong, it becomes a life-time of misery.

If you indeed want to know who the flesh of your flesh is, then you need to move closer to God, as He will be in the position to reveal that to you.

pretty, rich medical doctor or nurse, who must be a Christian and between the ages of 25 and 33 ready for marriage. Text/call: 07061500944.

Women seeking men

Makinde, based in Lagos, is of average height and dark in complexion. I need a matured woman for serious relationship.

08171876687.

My name is Temi, 34, based in Lagos. I need an interesting, caring and God-fearing woman for a serious relationship.

08038884973.

I am Amos, 46, based in Lagos. I am a Public Relations (PR) consultant and I need a lady from 25 and 35 years for a serious relationship. 08175920340.

My name is Pedro, 29, based in Lagos. I need a lady that will love me for who I am. 07037365282.

My name is Tolu. I am tall and handsome. I need a lady from 24 years and above for a serious relationship. 08182009317.

I am Nonso, based in Lagos.

I need a caring and loving girl ready for a serious relationship. If interested, please contact me on 08109307370.

Ayoola, 21, based in Lagos, needs a beautiful girl for a serious relationship. 08096616596.

Dmajor, 35, based in Abeokuta, Ogun State, is 5.8 feet tall and a Christian. He needs a busty,

Ola, 28, based in Lagos, is a good-looking guy looking for that special beautiful woman. He is willing to make sacrifices for

if you are not ready to be in a relationship with her.

My name is Damilola, 27, based in Ibadan. I need a caring and God-fearing man for a serious relationship. He must be between 30 to 45 years. Call me on 08051589699 I am Ello, a nice-looking lady based in Lagos. I need a responsible, born-again Christian to be my friend. Call me on 08086193930

ELIGIBILITY: You must be 18 or above to use this service.You must not be married or have a record of assault, violence, sexual misconduct or harassment. SAFETY ADVICE: Arrange meetings in public places. Do not give your address until you are sure you want to continue a relationship. Walk away and don’t meet again, if you have doubts. On your first meetings, it is advised you make your own way to and from the venue. Do not accept offer of transport. Give details of your meeting with family and friends when you are seeing someone for the first time. DISCLAIMER: Acclaim Communications Limited assumes no liability for the content of, or any reply, to any Soulmates messages.

Persons advertising assume complete liability for the content of all replies or recorded messages and for any claims made against Acclaim Communications Limited as a result thereof. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold Acclaim Communications harmless from all costs, expenses, liabilities and damages from or caused by the publication placed by the advertiser or any reply to such advertisement.

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Close Up

51

Marriage, relocation slowed me down – Jennifer Eliogu Jennifer Eliogu is in a cross-continental marriage. Her husband lives in faraway Switzerland, while she lives with their children in Nigeria. She won’t talk about that, even in this interview with Assistant Editor, TERH AGBEDEH, where she dwells on her music and other businesses

Y

ou sing well, far better than some in Nollywood who ventured into singing; what prepared you for music?

Thanks for the compliment. My Anglican background helped a lot. I was in the choir and drama society back in my secondary school days. My parents both love music and I grew up listening to a lot of music of yesteryear. I did a lot of karaoke too. I knew I was going to do music eventually.

You do love songs. Is any of them inspired by a broken heart?

Yes, I do love songs. I am inspired by everything around me. I am inspired

by God. I am inspired by nature. I am inspired by experiences. I am grateful for the gift.

While abroad in Switzerland, did you try for movie roles?

No, I did not. I was contented with taking care of my little angel.

Are you working on a movie project at the moment?

Not at the moment. But as you know, I just released the video of my third single, ‘Fantasy’; so, I am busy with the promotions and I have been doing a lot of live performances at dinners, weddings, birthdays and so on. I still have a few gigs lined up.

It would seem that apart from the movies and music, you are also into business.

I have bought and sold stuff, most times on demand: cars, clothing, accessories and phones.

Would you say that getting married and travelling out affected your acting career?

Getting married and relocating slowed down my career. But looking at my priceless jewels, my children, I have no regrets.

How did the deal for the distribution of your movie, From Within, with Executive Image go?

It went well. Executive Image said the movie did well and that a lot of parents appreciated the movie because it was both entertaining and educative.

For someone who has been on both sides of the camera, which would you say is more challenging: acting or directing?

I have not directed any movie yet.

Upon your return, you chose not to act. Apart from the state of the industry then, could it also be because you were no longer the darling of Nollywood you had been before and therefore was no longer getting roles?

I produced a movie as my contribution to the growth of the industry. On my return, I found that a lot had changed; so many movies were being churned out and standards were compromised. I figured it was not enough to just sit and criticise someone else’s work. It would be great to also do something with the script I already wrote while abroad. From Within is a family story with moral lessons for the

girl child. It won the award for best child actress at the Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA) in the United Kingdom and got a review at the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA) and Legend Awards, both in the United States of America.

Are you still sorely funding your non-governmental organisation (NGO), Initiatives Development Empowerment and Absolute Stability (IDEAS)?

Yes, I am still funding my NGO with support from my family and very few friends. So far, we are doing the best we can, touching lives in our own small way.

Do you still compere functions and get paid?

I make a living from compering events.

Amaka Igwe passed on recently, how do you remember her?

Aunty Amaka’s death is a huge loss to her family and to the entire movie industry. Our story is incomplete without mentioning her enormous creative contributions to the growth of the seeming amorphous industry to what is today globally known and appreciated as Nollywood. I empathise with her family. May her gentle soul continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord.

How does living apart from your husband work out; for instance, is there a plan in place that says when he comes around, when you go visiting, or who the children stay with?

Much as I am in the public glare by virtue of my profession, I have a right to my privacy. My family is my private life and I try to protect my loved ones from public scrutiny. I will appreciate that you respect that.

I produced a movie as my contribution to the growth of the industry.

On my return, I found that a lot had changed; so many movies were being churned out and standards were compromised. I figured it was not enough to just sit and criticise someone else’s work. It would be great to also do something with the script I already wrote while abroad. From Within is a family story with moral lessons for the girl child.

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TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE

Fashion

ibilade@gmail.com t.adegboye@thenicheng.com 0708 4796140

Let’s go on flats When it comes to an evening out or a special occasion, most women opt for heels, rather than flats because they feel dressier, more feminine and sexier.

But this year, it is all about the flat shoe.

The trick is to choose the right pair according to your wardrobe.

T

here is an over-abundance of choices in the market.

From varied colours, pattern and embellishment to animal print and sparkly ones, flats are ideal for those who like to play it safe when it comes to fashion.

Loafers: Wear with long and cropped trousers, culottes, some skirts. They work best with tailored clothing and suits, but the lighter pastel shades can be worn with skirts.

They are the perfect work wardrobe staple.

Round toe ballerinas: Wear with long and cropped trousers, jeans, skirts, dresses or shorts. There are some gorgeous pumps out there; so invest in them while you can. The low front makes shorter legs look longer. If you choose a patterned or embellished pair, make them the statement in your outfit and keep your skirt or trousers simple.

Pointed ballerinas: These can be worn best with skirts to show them off fully, but also long or cropped trousers. Not ideal with skinny jeans – the skinny leg and elongated foot are not a flattering look.

Slingbacks: Wear with trousers, jeans, all length of skirts and culottes. These are also a good choice for a night out, especially in metallic, patent or a statement design. The pointed styles are dressier. Again, the low front helps elongate the leg.

For those who still like a bit of heel, you could graduate to a low kitten heel.

Any flat with ankle straps, T-bar or gladiators: Wear with trousers, jeans, skirts and dresses. But it must be bare legs only.

These look splendid on long-legged women. But on shorter legs, they will ‘chop’ them at the ankle. The short-legged should wear them with above-the-knee skirts. Dresses that are more leg on show will make the leg look longer. This is the time to keep up your heel maintenance and pedicures.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Event Adewale Ojeleye 0803 921 2470 adewaleojeleye@yahoo.com

Faces at Chude Jideonwo’s book launch Lawyer, journalist and media entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo, on Sunday, May 25, presented his book, Are We The Turning Point Generation, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos.

Chude Jideonwo (left), Femi Falana (middle) and Ali Baba

Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal (right) and Chief Executive Officer, Ignite Media, Funmi Iyanda

Former Minister of Youths and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi (right), and former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili

Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu (left), and Iheoma Obibi

Yemisi Ransome-Kuti (left) and Jimi Agbaje

Director, Red Media Africa, Adebola Williams (left) and Prof. Pat Utomi

53

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike DabiriErewa (left), and Deputy Director of Education, Lagos State, Ngozi Jideonwo

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari (left), and Tunji Olugbodi

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Faith Rosary not for Catholics alone – Benjamin Prophet Samson Mustapha Benjamin, the General Overseer of Resurrection Praise Ministries (RPM) International, Lagos, in this interview with Woman Editor, TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE, speaks about the basis of his ministry, what is sustaining the church and why he is championing ecumenism

I

t has been 14 years since you started this church, how would you describe the journey so far?

In everything in life, there are challenges. But so far, so good. It is by His grace, not by might, nor by power. You can judge for yourself from what you are seeing. We have been able to surmount many challenges. At a point, the press was a little problem for me because they didn’t understand me until 2008, when I had to explain my activities using the scriptures. Today, by His grace, I am one of the beautiful brides, if not the most beautiful.

What would you say is the basis of this ministry?

When you are a messenger, you carry a lot of messages.

But there are special messages that God does not send just anybody; instead, He raises special messengers to carry such errands. I fall into the group of those with special errands. I am a pioneer of a peculiar thing that have not existed before.

The challenges of starting a new thing were like that before the Holy Ghost baptism era; they were criticised for speaking in different tongues. When deliverance came, they also faced challenges. So it is not different from mine because I am actually the leader of the era of what I call the Pentecostal spiritual movement. This is a calling by which you don’t preach only theory – you don’t talk to people by faith; you practicalise it, and this is not common.

Substance is something that you can touch and feel. If somebody goes to a native doctor, he tells you to go and bring a white cock and white piece of cloth. He ties them with something and gives them back to you. Because you are holding that thing in your hand, you feel you are holding power. It is a transformation. So, instead of saying that you are protected by the blood of Jesus, I tell you to give me your wristwatch and I will bless it; so that anytime you wear it, God’s protection is in your hands. That is transferring faith into substance. So because it is new, others found it difficult to understand at that time. Pentecostal pastors found it difficult to accept my way of dressing. Consistency will always overcome trial. I was consistent; I kept doing what I was doing, and today, some of them copy me.

What would you attribute the explosive growth of your church to?

I attribute it to God. I grew up reading lots of Christian literature, and Bishop David Oyedepo is one person I grew up to know from my secondary school days. I respect him and will always respect him. I championed the Kaduna youth revival in 1987, and when we lacked where to fellowship, Oyedepo normally allowed us the use of his church.

Are you still in touch with him?

He is still a father to me. Sometimes, some people would get to heaven before they know how much work they had done. Oyedepo may not know the amount of work he did in me; but the seed has grown worldwide, even in diplomacy.

That is why I can be referred to as His Eminence, His Excellency, and Imperial Royal Majesty. In 2012, I was actually crowned in Washington DC. Forget the level of success I have achieved, I look up to fathers in the faith. Simplicity and humility must be there. You must recognise those who helped you to get

to where you are. Another man I respect so much is the late Benson Idahosa. Oyedepo used to bring him to Kaduna in those days, but I never had the opportunity to meet with him because it was very difficult growing up. But I have watched all his tapes and I loved him very much. He was one man I longed to be like.

What prepared you for the many roles you’ve found yourself playing now?

I am a selfless person. I look at it from the perception that as a young person, you had so many beautiful girls around, you didn’t have anything to do with them and all of a sudden, you decided you would not get married and you abstain from some other things. While I would not want to say this is the particular reason, but some sacrifices make God to give some people special assignments, attention and privileges. I am just a little over 40, but there is nothing I am looking for that I cannot get. There is no world leader I cannot meet with. I have remained Nigerian permanent attendee in the congressional black caucus of the United States of America, the highest gathering in the world. So, that has created a lot of relationships for me in the international arena. And I give God the glory for everything. So, it is not about me; it is His mercy and being faithful to the little that one is given. I also try to make excuses for people’s mistakes. If someone makes a mistake, it is not in my place to go on the altar and run him or her down. Destructive criticism is not godly. That is why I am championing the church unification programme – ecumenism.

What do you make of the division in Christendom?

The division we experience among Christians is very vast and that is what is making people take advantage of us. I expect that at this point in time, some big men that I look up to as fathers in the Lord should be able to forgive Ayo Oritsejafor for breaking away from Idahosa. But this is not so. As the president of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), he should be able to garner respect and bring Christians together. But some people still feel hurt by what he did in the past and so they will not be there for him. We should see him as the rallying point. When I speak to him, I do so as a child to a father. And I think that is one thing that is giving me the opportunity to be able to break through to all of them because when they run down my dossier and see my spiritual, diplomatic and other activities and yet I still respect them, they know I am humble.

Papa Oyedepo cannot be sitting on a chair

talking to me and I sit on a chair too. I would rather sit on the floor. The way up is down. And when you have the blessing of these kinds of people, nobody can curse or hurt you. That is why I am championing the cause of unifying the

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55

Rhapsody of Realities church. If you come here on Sundays, you find my members clutching the rosary. The rosary is not meant for the Catholics alone. Who told you that Catholics will not go to heaven?

After all, what people go to see at Jerusalem today are protected by Roman Catholics. So, I am looking for a way to bring the church together.

How do you deal with women who may be attracted to you?

I live in this compound. I don’t have any house anywhere in the world, even with my status. I am a perfect sacrifice to God. My father used to say “Benjamin is my sacrifice to God”. Even if God protects you, he says “lead us not into temptation…” You must also learn to be disciplined. I fast a lot because I want power. St. Paul said: “I put myself under subjection…” I do that a lot. When you leave here, it is just me and the security men.

How did your parents take your celibacy move?

They didn’t have any issues with it. Probably if my mother had lived longer, she might have made an issue out of it.

Why is it that your members refer to you as boy-boy (servant), while other clerics prefer to

be called ‘man of God’?

The fact that others do it that way does not mean everybody should follow the same route. I am a slave and servant of the Author and Finisher of our faith. I don’t even refer to myself as bishop of archbishop. This is the way I look at myself. I am a messenger of God. I tell my people that they are God’s property; I am only taking care of them for God, so that they can go to heaven. When I hear people say “you are too much”, I don’t take it; it is only God that is too much. It is the members that make pastors sin. And that is because the pastor is not sensitive. If a pastor is being praised and he does not return the glory to God, it may enter into his head that he would climb the altar and tell his congregation not to call God again, but his name. So, when you hear people start calling themselves “god” or that they answer prayers, it is not their fault; it is the members’ fault. That is the mistake some people make. God said: “My glory I will share with no man, neither my praise will I share with any man.”

Chris & Anita Oyakhilome Believers’ LoveWord Inc. (Christ Embassy) 0802 332 4188, 0805 246 4131, (01) 892 5724 www.christembassy.org, www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

“…He sets you upon your feet!” “…He Sets You Upon Your Feet!” …And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me (Ezekiel 2:1-2).

There’s a unique operation and manifestation of the Spirit in our lives as god’s children, which we need to be more conscious of. The prophet Ezekiel experienced this kind of mighty visitation of the Spirit, and described his experience in our opening verse. Also, read what he said in chapter one, verse twentyeight: “…This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face and I heard a voice of one that spake.”

Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord and he fell flat on his face, completely overwhelmed by His awesome presence. Now what happened next is what we read in our opening verse: The Lord said, “Get up on your feet, I want to talk to you,” and Ezekiel recounted that when He said that, the Spirit entered him and set him on his feet.

This is a special operation of the Spirit of the Lord. He came to Ezekiel, entered him and set him upon his feet. He does that for us from time to time. Though he lives in you, He’s also with you, and can set you upon your feet to do the works of God. Have you ever been in a state where you thought you were just too weak and tired to pray? Still you attempted to mumble a few words of prayer: “Father, I thank you for this day. Thank you for your grace in my life…” and

then you spoke in tongues a little. Then suddenly, you heard the Spirit say, “Get up, and pray!” It sounded rather authoritative, but you thought to yourself, “God understands that I’m really tired,” and continued mumbling weakly in tongues.

However, the next thing you knew, you sprang to your feet and began pacing the floor, speaking so hard and fast in other tongues, and you didn’t have a clue how it happened. That was the Spirit of the Lord, “setting you upon your feet!” Halleluiah.

The reason some don’t find this operation in their lives as they should is that they don’t recognize it as an operation of the Spirit, and feel they’re the ones just beinginspired by themselves to pray like that. It’s the operation of the Spirit; acknowledge that aspect of His ministry in you when it happens, and be grateful to him for setting you upon your feet, and made you alert so you could hear the words of the Lord.

Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit that you’ve given me. Through your Word, I’ve become more sensitive to His voice, yielding to His promptings within; therefore, His works, plans and purposes are accomplished through me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen Further Study: Ezekiel 3:12; Acts 8:39-40

“Papa Oyedepo cannot be sitting on a chair talking to me and I sit on a chair too. I would rather sit on the floor. The way up is down. And when you have the blessing of these kinds of people, nobody can Antoni Okoh curse or hurt you.

Sovereign Word Church, Egbeda, Lagos That is why I am 0803 302 9179, 0805 495 1469 humanhealing@yahoo.com championing the cause of unifying the church” Broken dedications to priesthood, others (2)

Recovery Line

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is ministry was backed with mighty healing revivals, which attracted people from Spain and all over the world to Ilesha and South West Nigeria where most of his meetings were held. He brought healing and deliverance to countless people in many of his meetings. Even the dead were raised on several occasions.

In fact, these healing revivals in Nigeria were reported in the Manchester Guardian (UK) of January 8, 1932.

He founded the world acclaimed Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), known for apostolic power and revival. If Babalola had heard this voice, but failed to obey or refused to heed the call of God upon his life, he would have experienced unending battles in his chosen vocation. As a steam-roller operator, the aggrieved Spirit of God would have destroyed the machine and might have eventually killed him if he had remained stubborn. That is the case of many today that are suffering because of broken dedications and failure to answer the call to serve on the altar of God.

“Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1 vs. 3-4).

When you are dedicated to the altar,

you must stay by the rules of the altar. David in 1 Chronicles 18 dedicated gold and silver

he brought from his several battles in several nations to God. Several years later, Nebuchadnezzar raided Jerusalem and brought the golden vessels from God’s temple to his country. Belshazzar, his son, unaware that the vessels had been dedicated to God, entertained himself as he and his concubines drank wine with them. As they were enjoying themselves, the Holy Spirit, aggrieved, appeared as a finger and wrote his obituary on the wall. That night, King Belshazzar died (Daniel 5 vs. 1-31).

There is this story of a young man that kept having strange dreams and revelations about his calling. He did not know it was the call of God until he got filled with the Holy Ghost.

He heard a voice saying: “I have called you.”

He responded to the voice and God used him mightily, bringing healing to sick people in the hospital and during his rural crusades and outreaches.

He preached everywhere, from street to prisons, houses to brothels, and many got delivered. Eventually, he left the faith and went deep into the world and sin. Not long after, he became paralysed on his feet, and doctors could not explain his ailment.

In his condition, he prayed and sought the face of God. One night, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him that he was paralysed because he abandoned the call of God. He then vowed that he would return to his dedication and consecration. Immediately he did that, he was restored. Today, he is in the ministry, doing very well and prosperous.

• To be continued

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KingdomRevelations Marvelous Kalu The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Ikotun, Lagos Prayer link 0704 625 7908

The reward of a servant T his is the concluding part of the series on the message, ‘This is my Servant’ which we started two weeks ago. In this edition, we shall insightfully explore possible rewards accruable to faithful servants, using Jesus’ parable of the faithful servant and the adventurous master, a typology of Christ Jesus outlined in Matthew 24: 45-47, as our biblical warrant text.

According to the Complete Christian Dictionary, “a reward is something received as a result of obedience or good service”.

It can be a gratification for hard work as well. The connotation of reward to obedience as presented by the dictionary above is supernaturally significant. This is because obedience is not only a godly virtue that drives reward, but also the underlying philosophy that guarantees reward in most circumstances of life.

The above fact is biblically justified by the following scripture: “The ordinances of the Lord are sure and together righteous.

In them there is great reward” (Ps. 19:9,11).

This implies that service in itself is an ordinance in the sight of God, considered righteous in every sense of it. So, those entrusted with the task of rendering service are consciously expressing God’s righteousness. In this direction, a servant who renders honest service to God and humanity is dispensing God’s measure of righteousness, while service is, at this level, a sacred thrust.

In the context of Matthew 24: 45-47, the reward for service hinges on diligent application of time, by the servant. The

sensitivity of the servant to the return of the master and his consciousness to the time of his master’s return are the secrets of receiving great reward from the master.

The spirit, which leads to disaster, is the spirit which says that there is plenty of time. It is the comfortable delusion of the servant in our text above, that he will have plenty time to put things right before his master returns. For him, there was no need to think of his master’s return for a long time yet. The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time, and the most dangerous day in a man’s life is when he learns that there is such word as ‘tomorrow’. In the course of service, there are definitely things which cannot be put off, for no man knows if, for him, tomorrow will ever come.

The reward for service can be lost in the event of procrastination.

The second thing to note about the servant and his service in our text is that rejection is based on failure in duty and reward is based on fidelity in duty. The servant, who fulfilled his duty faithfully, was given still a greater place; and the servant who failed in his duty was dealt with in severity. When Jesus Christ comes, can he find us employed in no better and greater task than in doing our duty? If a man is doing his duty, however simple that duty may be, on the day the master (employee) comes, there will be joy for him. For a child of God, in the day Jesus Christ returns, there will be greater joy for him. It is awfully sad to note that in recent times, our society is full of servants who care less about the presence or the return of his master, but cares much about the exit of the master from

the scene of service. This perhaps accounts for the volume of truancy (shirking and arbitrary absence from duty post), total negligence and abuse of rules of engagement experienced in both secular (public and private) and ecclesiastical services today. To such people, the obvious must happen: blessing and honour for faithful servant, while gnashing of teeth and regrets awaits the unfaithful servant.

It is important to note that the concept of diligence is a divine criterion for reward in service. By diligence, we mean; putting care and effort into what one does. The scriptures of the Old and New Testament emphatically recommends the principle of diligent as a sine qua non for progress and prosperity in life. Thus the book of Proverbs 10:4; 21:5 expressly confirms this.

In fact in “labour setting”, the diligent head always rules while laziness leads to forced labour. Apostle Paul in Hebrews 6:11 further emphasised the expediency in demonstrating diligence because it is the final realisation of the ends of service, which is the hope of every servant.

The best rule of service which elicits reward is the admonition of Peter to all Christians and by extension to the entire human race (1 Peter 1:5-8).

Only God can adequately reward us for our service in Him. Therefore, do not grow weary in serving the Lord and humanity.

Physical slavery (2) Greater Grace

Israel Oladele Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Model Parish Intl', Alakuko, Ogun State 0705 993 6738, 0803 405 2106, 0805 979 8010 meetgenesis1@yahoo.com BB PIN : 2B674CCE

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here are others who are enslaved to their work. This is also a form of physical slavery. You are engaged in a job, work or profession for the past 10 to 20 years without any meaningful achievement. They still stick to such job because they want to collect long service award in form of television or freezer. What are you still doing there? Get out of such a job and get something more tangible to do.

Change before you are changed Move before somebody moves you. Take a step of faith and move to your next level.

Were you created to be led?

Can’t you lead for others to follow?

We need to know for a certainty that whatever you refuse to change from will change from you. Act before it is too late.

Are you an apprentice? Your boss decided to keep you after your graduation because they said you are good. This got into your head and you stayed back.

You are under physical slavery.

The purpose of learning that trade is lost the moment you agree to stay after your graduation. Go out and explore. Get other people and train them just as you have been trained.

You will surely make it in Jesus name. Read the following story carefully and learn from it.

In my counselling experience as a pastor, I met with a family who told me they had a housemaid; that since she started living with them, everything about their finances changed for good. Each Christmas time that this lady or girl went on holiday to her parents, this couple would struggle to eat.

Through spiritual enquiry, they were told that this lady’s glory was the one bringing blessing them, that as long as they took good care of her and make her happy, they would be so rich and wealthy.

After they got this information, they enslaved this lady, refusing her to go and marry, even at the age of 28. Any man that came close to her was chased away. This lady thought this family loved her so much and her parents were very

happy that their daughter was living with this couple.

Unknown to them was the fact that this lady had been enslaved.

How many men or women are experiencing similar situation without knowing? May God deliver us in Jesus name?

Prayer points Every satanic chain of retrogression, be broken in Jesus name.

I break every borrowed shackles of slavery. Lord, deliver me from the chains of stubborn slave masters.

Every inherited seed of slavery in my life, jump out by fire and thunder. Lord, deliver me from every spirit of servitude in the name of Jesus.

Oh Lord, let every door shut against my deliverance be shattered into pieces.

I destroy every power subjecting my life and destiny to slavery in Jesus name.

What don’t we say of those staying with their friends or relatives and refuse to be independent because they are afraid to take up responsibility for their lives. There are still men and women who are still faulty at 40 years of age.

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Health HPV: The girls' date with mum Last week, two NGOs teamed up to enlighten girls and their mothers on the deadly HPV. Reporter, REGINA WHENU, who was at the event, writes that it was an eye opener for the participants

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he need to tame or even prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes death among girls and women has again been brought to the fore with ‘Girls Date with Mum’. The programme aims at enlightening the girl child, as she is most susceptible to the virus.

Chosen Vessels Foundation (CVF) organised the programme in collaboration with Lagos Empowerment and Resources Network (LEARN), a pet project of Lagos State first lady, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, at the Blue Roof hall of Lagos Television (LTV).

Guest speakers at the event included family physician and CVF consultant, Dr. Abiodun Abiodun; etiquette tutor, Mrs. Iyabo Ladipo; and founder of CVF, Pastor (Mrs.) Adebola Atoyebi.

Dr. Abiodun, while educating the girls and mothers about HPV, stated that the disease, which happens in almost 75 per cent countries of the world, affects both men and women.

According to her, about 500,000 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer every year, which is caused

by HPV. She also revealed that three out of four people, male and female, have HPV, with most of them being ignorant that they are infected.

There are more than 100 types of HPV, mostly transmitted through sexual intercourse and infect the genitals.

“Some sexually-transmitted HPV cause genital warts that naturally go away,” said to Dr. Abiodun.

There are low and high risk HPV, according to the expert. “Low risk HPV develops into warts. Low risk warts are very common with those who have sexual intercourse at a very early stage, and it can be caught through kissing.

While condom use is 99 per cent effective in preventing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it is just 50 per cent in the case of HPV. Low risk HPVs is not known to cause cervical cancer. It can, however, cause genital warts or very minor cell changes on the cervix.

“A wart is typically a small growth that appears on a person’s hands, feet, or mouth and looks like a solid blister or a small cauliflower. The virus causes keratin – a hard protein on the top layer of the skin – to grow too fast. They may also appear in other parts of the body.

“There are more than a dozen types of “high-risk” HPV that can cause abnormal cells to form on the cervix. These abnormal cell changes may gradually develop into cervical cancer, if not removed. Many times, these infected cells are recognised by the immune system and removed.

But sometimes, however, these infected cells are not destroyed, and a tenacious infection results. As the persistently infected cells continue to grow, they may develop alterations that promote even more cell growth, leading to the formation of a high-grade cut and, ultimately, a cancer,” Dr. Abiodun said.

As most people with HPV may not show any sign or symptom, Dr. Abiodun stated that the only test that reveals the virus is the papanicolaou (pap smear) test.

The test is used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endo-cervical canal of the female reproductive system.

Unusual findings are often followed up by more sensitive diagnostic procedures, and, if necessary, interventions that aim to prevent progression to cervical cancer.

HPV is the only virus that can be prevented through immunisation. Absti-

“You should be disciplined. Do not expose your body unduly. Putting on tight clothes shows that you are sexually available; so you should wear clothes that cover (conceal) your body. The way

Facts about HPV *Low risk HPV develops into warts. *HPV affects both men and women, and it happens in almost 75 per cent countries of the world. *About 500,000 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer every year. *HPV is the only virus that can be prevented through immunisation. *Abstinence is key in prevention.

nence is also key.

Iyabo Ladipo, who tutored the girls on etiquette, spoke on respectable and acceptable ways of behaviour, adding that every girl child should behave appropriately in public.

“As a girl, you should learn to always say ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘sorry’. Do not talk when you have food in your mouth; do not chew gum in public; do not scratch in public; do not stretch in public; do not stick your fingers in your nose and ear; do not scratch or hit your head in public; and do not cheat.

we dress should show that we respect ourselves,” she said.

Earlier, the girls also listened to an audio presentation of Dr. Myles Munroe on how to be prosperous in life, where he listed key points to success to include purpose, passion, planning, principle, people or friends.

Participants, many of whom claimed not to have heard about the virus before, were full of praises for the organisers.

While 14-year-old Damilola Ogundare revealed that she learnt, among other things, another good reason to abstain

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Consultation with Dr. Okafor Text only: 0815 156 6550 chidimuogh@yahoo.co.uk

Should we keep using condoms?

I have small white spots just under the base of my helmet. I have had sex, but had them before. I understand that they are supposedly perfectly common.

My girlfriend and I have been dating for a year and have been having sex for nearly as long. We are both responsible people and have been using condoms from the beginning. She has always questioned the small spots and visiting the internet has given us both some relief!

We are very much in love, and about three months ago, she started taking the pill, not only to ease her period pain, but for extra protection.

We have been wondering if we should still be using condoms. We both trust each other and are mutually faithful. She’s a little worried that these white spots are

infections. Are they? And also is it a good idea to stop wearing a condom?

Thank you for your prompt response.

Joshua A.

Joshua, Now, as you say, a lot of guys have tiny white ‘blobs’ on their penises. These are not anything to do with infection; so there’s no danger that you’d infect your girlfriend with anything.

Should you give up condoms? If she’s on the pill, and you’re both completely faithful to each other – as you say – then there doesn’t seem much point in continuing to use them.

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Kiddies

Arena

Temitope David- Adegboye ibilade@gmail.com t.adegboye@thenicheng.com 0708 4796140

Historical Personality

Rashidi Yekini (1963-2012)

Brain tickler What six letter word in the English language contains ten other words without re-arranging any of its letters?

The word is ‘Spared’. The ten words are: Spa, Spar, Spare, Pa, Par, Pare, Pared, Are, Re, and Red. If you got this one, you are good!

Answer: The more you have of me, the less you see. Who am I?

Darkness

Solution

Invention Escalator An escalator is a conveyor type transport device that moves people. It is a moving staircase with steps that move up or down using a conveyor belt and tracks keeping each step horizontal for the passenger.

However, the escalator began as an amusement and not as practical transport. The first patent relating to an escalator-like machine was granted in 1859 to a Massachusetts man for a steam-driven unit.

On March 15, 1892, Jesse Reno patented his moving stairs or inclined elevator as he called it. In 1895, he created a new novelty ride at Coney Island from his patented design, a moving stairway that elevated passengers on a conveyor belt at a 25 degree angle.

The escalator, as we know it, was later redesigned by Charles Seeberger in 1897, who created the name ‘escalator’ from the word ‘scala’ (Latin for steps) and ‘elevator’, which had already been invented.

Seeberger, together with the Otis Elevator Company, produced the first commercial escalator in 1899 at the Otis factory in Yonkers, New York.

Reno’s Coney Island ride success briefly made Reno into “the” escalator designer and he founded the Reno Electric Stairways and Conveyors company in 1902.

Seeberger sold his patent rights for the escalator to the Otis Elevator Company in 1910, who also bought Reno’s escalator patent in 1911. Otis then came to dominate escalator production, and combined and improved the various designs of escalators.

In the 1920s, Otis engineers, led by David Lindquist, combined and improved the Reno and Seeberger escalator designs, and created the cleated, level steps of the modern escalator in use today.

Rashidi Yekini was a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker.

Born in Kaduna, his professional career started in the Nigerian league after which he moved to Côte d’Ivoire to play for Africa Sports National.

From there, he went to Portugal and played for Vitória de Setúbal, where he experienced his most memorable years, eventually becoming the first division’s top scorer in the 1993/94 season with 21 goals.

During the previous campaign, he had netted a career-best 34 in 32 games, to help the Sadinos promote from the second level.

He won the African Footballer of the Year in 1993, the first ever from Nigeria.

In the 1994 summer, Yekini was bought by Olympiakos FC of Greece, but did not get along with teammates and left.

His career never really got back on track, not even upon a return to Setúbal, which happened after another unassuming spell in La Liga with Sporting de Gijón. He successively played with FC Zürich, Club Athlétique Bizertin and Al-Shabab Riyadh, before rejoining Africa Sports.

Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international in 58 appearances.

He was part of the Nigeria national team that participated in USA 1994 and

netted Nigeria’s first ever goal in a World Cup, in a 3-0 bashing of Bulgaria (Bulgaria eventually reached the semi-final of the competition and emerged best loser). His celebration after scoring became one of the iconic images of the tournament.

He was also part of the France 1998 FIFA World Cup squad, where he also topped the goal charts and was named best player of the tournament.

He also participated at Olympics level in Seoul 1988.

In 2003, at 39, he returned to the Nigerian championship with Julius Berger FC. In 2005, 41-year-old Yekini made a short comeback, moving alongside former national teammate, Mobi Oparaku, to Gateway United FC. He was reported to have suffered from bipolar disorder, depression and some other undisclosed neurological conditions in 2011.

He died in Ibadan on May 4, 2012, at the age 48.

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Kiddies Arena StarKid Name: Adedeji Zainab Ayomide Age: Six years School: Movet Children School Class: Basic 1 Career goal: Medical Doctor Best colour: Pink Best food: Rice and plantain

Poem A child’s evening prayer Ere on my bed my limbs I lay, God grant me grace my prayers to say: O God! preserve my mother dear In strength and health for many a year; And, O! preserve my father too, And may I pay him reverence due; And may I my best thoughts employ To be my parents’ hope and joy; And O! preserve my brothers both From evil doings and from sloth, And may we always love each other Our friends, our father, and our mother: And still, O Lord, to me impart An innocent and grateful heart, That after my great sleep I may Awake to thy eternal day! Amen

Short story Be our StarKid: Send your child's full-sized photograph and details to ibilade@gmail.com.

Triumph of Goodnews

O

nce upon a time, an orphaned boy named Goodnews had to live with his uncle because he lost his parents in a motor accident. He was only seven years old when the accident happed. But his uncle and his adopted him. But they always maltreated him. They made him do house chores beyond his age. He also ate less food than his siblings. He attended public school while his siblings attended expensive private school.

But Goodnews was always obedient to his adopted parents and studied his books well.

At school, he was always coming first in every exam. He was then given scholarship by the Lagos State government after coming overall first in the state common entrance examination. With that, he completed Oriaku Miracle his secondary and university Ojodu Junior High School, education. Today, he is an engiOjodu neer. His siblings now are traders at the Ladipo spare parts market.

Be our poet & story teller: Send your poems and stories to ibilade@ gmail.com.

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Vistas Censors cloud covering Half of a Yellow Sun The film, Half of a Yellow Sun, by the time table of the producers, should have been in Nigerian cinemas by now. In fact, the template for releasing the film is brand new and was supposed to become the standard for distributing films in Nigerian cinemas. That is not going to happen just yet. Assistant Life Editor, TERH AGBEDEH, examines the circumstances that led to this…

A scene from Half of a Yellow Sun

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he well-publicised release date for the movie, Half of a Yellow Sun, based on a novel of the same title

by Chimamanda Adichie and directed by Biyi Bandele, was April 25. This, those behind the movie, made known at a briefing after the press screening on April 11. That date was later moved to May 2. But even on that day, the sun set without the Half of a Yellow Sun opening at any cinema in the country.

What happened on that day is that Shareman Media, the Nigerian producers, and FilmOne Distribution, the Nigerian distributors, of the feature film, said: “The public release of Half of a Yellow Sun in Nigeria remains postponed due to the fact that the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has not yet certified the film.”

The statement further explained that the release date would be announced once the board certifies the film for release to the public.

The NFVCB approved 43 movies for public viewing only last week, but Half of a Yellow Sun was, again, left out.

When TheNiche approached the Acting Head of Corpo-

rate Affairs of the NFVCB, Caesar Kagho, he simply said: “Half of a Yellow Sun is still undergoing due process, and when the process is complete, it will be released."

Pressed to speak further, he told our reporter to wait for the statement the NFVCB will send out in June.

But veteran filmmaker, Eddie Ugbomah, told TheNiche that there is likelihood that Half of a Yellow Sun, which was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) late last year, may never see a cinema hall in the country.

“What happened to that film was simple arrogance. When the director of censors’ board saw the film in Canada, she told them that part of this film is very exciting, and that it is a bad memory, in bad taste; so they should expunge it. But they ignored her,” he said.

Ugbomah stated further that when the filmmakers came to Nigeria without getting censorship and clearance, they went ahead to print posters and began publicity.

“The law says they should get posters; they printed about nine different posters with no classification. They went ahead and premiered the film. They shouldn’t have pre-

miered it at all.

“So they went to the censors’ board after the film had become hot, and without waiting for the certificate of clearance, they went straight to put it on,” Ugbomah, said.

According to him, the controversial footage in the film is not more than 10 minutes.

In a passionate article published on CNN.com, the film’s director wondered why Nigerians still can’t watch the country’s biggest film.

He said in the article that when he heard that the board would be unable to issue certification to Half of a Yellow Sun in time for the film’s release date, he naturally assumed, at first, that what they were faced with “was nothing more sinister than another instance of the typical, if frustrating, culture of wilful incompetence that we’d grappled with while shooting the film in Nigeria two years ago”.

He recalled that there were times when we felt ensnared in impenetrable jungles of red tape, when they would be given the go-head by one arm of government, only to find their path blocked by another arm.

“I had no reason to assume, for instance, that the inability of the board to issue the film with a certificate might actually be a clumsy, heavy-handed ban in all, but name.

After all, when the movie had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last autumn, among Nigerians who flew into Toronto for the occasion was Patricia Bala, director-general of the Nigerian censorship board,” he wrote.

“Bala was gracious enough to tell us after the screening how much she loved the movie. At no point did she express any reservations about the contents of the film.”

Bandele explained that Half of a Yellow Sun only turned Nigeria’s civil war into fiction, and it is now nearly eight months since the censors board first saw the movie in Toronto.

He lamented that he has been assailed on Twitter, Facebook, and by email with rumours, innuendos, half-truths, and downright lies, saying that the film was submitted to the censorship board at least two weeks earlier than April 25 and concluded that whether or not the film eventually gets a ratings certificate in Nigeria, it will be seen by millions of Nigerians.

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Arts REVIEWS&PREVIEWS

Stories by TERH AGBEDEH

In Praiz of R‘n’B

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raiz’s foray into music has been generating debate in R‘n’B circles, and his recent release of ‘Mercy’, a single, has further added to the discussion.

The debate pits Praiz, whose real name is Praise Adejo, against Banky W and Darey Art-Alade. Discovered at the annual MTN Project Fame music talent show, Praiz has had a steady release of hits like ‘Jekalo’, ‘A Woman’s Need’ and ‘I Love You’.

His latest, ‘Mercy’, will give songs like ‘Jasi’ by Banky W and ‘Special Fever’ Darey Art-Alade said to be contending for the R‘n’B king title, serious competition. There is no doubt that the debate will continue.

Mercy is a fast-paced R‘n’B song based on the attraction between a boy and a girl, and how the boy is completely head-over-heels in love with the girl. It is about how Mercy has taken over the singer’s mind and he wants to show how much he loves her. It is a love song that would definitely stay on repeat at wedding receptions.

The lyrics, rendered smoothly, take on a higher octave at the chorus, making sweet melody. Mercy’s very danceable beats that will predictably rock the party and club scenes also draws the listener in.

Produced by Password, who is responsible for Darey’s ‘Style Na Style’, Davido’s ‘Gobe’,

among other popular musical works, 'Mercy' is a deviation from the style embedded in Praiz’s previous works that blend R‘n’B with copious Afrobeat rhythms and elements of soukous.

The over four-minute song draws on an appropriate dose of jazz on the piece. The backup singers’ modulation borrows from Don Jazzy’s pattern to add the classic chorister edge, while the energy infused in the whole piece boosts it as a dance party favourite in a Terry G-like manner.

The rhythm guitar riffs splashed all over the song add soukous flavour to it, reminding everyone of Praiz’s recent hit, ‘Oshey’, where he featured Congolese big hitter, Awilo Longomba.

In all, it is a brilliant mix that combines the entire element that would lift the spirit anytime.

Praiz, who says pop legend, Michael Jackson, and 2Face inspire him, also released the video for 'Mercy' less than 24 hours after the single directed by Patrick Elis. The video features heavyweights like KCee, Iyanya, new MTN ambassadors, Timaya and Sean Tizzle; as well as hot rapper, Vector, showcases the talent of Praiz in a way music lovers have never seen it before.

Praiz on the set of a video shoot

Onitsha monarch launches two books at 73

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bi of Onitsha, HRM Alfred Achebe, recently marked his 73rd birthday with the launch of two books titled His Majesty Nnamemeka Achebe: A Ten Year Milestone and Onitsha at the Millennium: Legacy, History and Transformation.

The event took place at The Civic Centre in Lagos.

Chairman of the event, Emeka Anyaoku, said May 14 has always marked memorable milestones for Achebe.

Anyaoku, a former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, further lauded the efforts of the book, the brilliant prose and rich artistic illustrations of Onitsha throughout the work.

The reviewer, a professor of History, S.J.S Cookey,

praised the books as rich and well-documented histories of the royal father and the metamorphosis of Onitsha from a native town to a modern metropolis.

“The volumes contain the intent, vision and mission of the Igwe and answers the question he asked himself when ascending the throne of his fathers, ‘Why do I aspire to lead my people?’,” he said.

Of particular interest, he said, is how Achebe, who is also chairman of Diamond Bank Plc, has resuscitated the annual Ofala festival during which he gives his annual state address announcing the achievements of the past year, current challenges and future projections to keep the indigenes abreast with the common vision.

Diamond Bank’s Group Managing Director and

Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alex Otti, said Achebe is a quintessential leader who has contributed immensely to the growth of the financial instituion.

“The entire Diamond Bank family wishes him more fruitful years ahead,” he added.

Achebe responded that he was overwhelmed by the huge turnout of friends and family to celebrate with him. He said May 14 was significant to him because aside being his birthday, he got admitted into both secondary school and the university on that date. He also ascended the throne on May 14, 2002.

"

Of particular interest, he said, is how Achebe, who is also chairman of Diamond Bank Plc, has resuscitated the annual Ofala festival during which he gives his annual state address announcing the achievements of the past year

Odia Ofeimun’s mum passes on

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he death has been announced of Madam Onomonresoa Ofeimun, mother of Odia Ofeimun, poet, scholar and public analyst.

Odia is the only male child and the first of her other children: Omono, Idowu and

Akhere.

The daughter of the oldest man in Iruekpen, Edo State and patriarch of the Anglican Church, Onomonresoa was brought up a strict Christian, but her religious persuasion didn’t stop her from eloping and marrying an

Ogun worshipper, Ehighiagbone Ofeimun, Odia’s father who was a motor mechanic and farmer. Her choice of husband and decision to marry him was said to have riled her father to no end. It was only the arrival of Odia that pacified him.

The deceased matriarch suffered a stroke in 1993 and received prompt treatment.

“She was a good woman and did not give me any heartache,” Odia said.

Mrs. Ofeimun died at 5am on the May 5. She was 85.

Madam Ofeimun

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nicheEnterta AMAA’s impressive showing in Yenagoa

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he 10th anniversary of the 2014 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held last weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, but the memories of the glamorous event continue to linger.

What with many of Nollywood stars and their counterparts from across Africa and from most places on the globe there to take part.

Just like it was said earlier in the day at a press conference with the jury to herald the awards, the AMAA has become an enduring platform for more and more people to come to Africa to celebrate the art of cinema.

But the South African producers of the film, Of Good Report, didn’t just come to the AMAA to celebrate, their plan was to conquer.

With five awards including: Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor, they swept this edition of the AMAA. The Forgotten Kingdom, also from South Africa, is the other film that came close with three awards, but nothing comes close to winning Best Picture and Best Director in one fell swoop.

And if you think this clean sweep from the South Africans is the reason AMAA founder, Ms. Piece Anyiam-Osigwe, is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the award, then there is another thing coming. Ms. Anyiam-Osigwe has in the last year been saying that she would relinquish the title of CEO, but perhaps because the hat fits her so well, no one took notice.

In her very passionate speech at the event, she said she would be focussing on growing grassroots cinema across Africa, a business which has already started in Uganda and Kenya with her partner from the 234 Media.

“For the last 10 years, I have done the show; now I am going to focus on the business,” she said.

Many will miss her and wonder why she did not name a successor.

One of the things guests would remember is the fact that the perceived sworn Nollywood enemies – Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) president, Ibinabo Fiberisima, and winner of Best Actress for her role in Apaye,

Clarion Chukwura – made fences.

While Chukwura made her passionate speech for peace in Nollywood in which she thanked her children and publicist, among others, Fiberisima was caught by the television cameras nodding. As if to indicate that the nodding was not plastic, she is said to have bought Chukwura a drink at the Port Harcourt airport where they met on their way back to Lagos. Only time will tell whether this was just a scene in the long drama or for real.

Chukwura has been quoted to have said that Fiberesima is not fit to rule the AGN. Of course, shortly before the AMAA event took place last weekend, she was heard telling someone that what she really wanted was harmony in the Nigerian film industry.

This year, too, Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke and Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde were absent at the prestigious event that also honoured Bob Manuel-Udokwu, who was there with Richard Mofe-Damijo and Kanayo O. Kanayo – all three in government.

Success does have a lot of friends, and this played out on the night of the awards when a certain Nigerian purportedly based in South Africa mounted the podium three times out of the five Of Good Report was called out for an award to claim that he co-produced the film. What really peeved the crowd was that he made long speeches at each occasion and was booed off when he came out the fourth time.

Fally Ipupa did not make it, but it is safe to say that the crowd did not miss him, with powerful performances from Timi Dakolo, Keshe, Bez Idakula, J.Martins and Flavour as well as comedians like Aproko, Funny Bone and Geebonz.

Perhaps what continues to give people concern is that, except for Bez, all the other performances were lip-synched. This is considering that the Kingsley Ogoro Academy deployed state-of-the-art equipment for the AMAA 2014 ceremony.

The late Amaka Igwe was remembered at

the ceremony with two standing ovations and a eulogy. When Ms. Anyiam-Osigwe first came out to bid the crowd to observe a one minute silence for the departed film-maker, she ended up reciting an ode in praise of Igwe and revealing that the doctors at the hospital she had been taken to were on strike or it would have been a different story.

Later, one of the presenters of the show and former AGN president, Segun Arinze, keep the guests standing for a minute silence for the late film-maker.

Three new endowed prizes were presented at the awards: the Madiba Award for a film promoting Nelson Mandela’s ideals, Women Empowerment by the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, and the Special Jury Prize in recognition of exemplary harvest of short films. Ni Sisi from Kenya, B for Boy and New Horizon both from Nigeria, won the endowed awards in that order.

It was also a night of speeches. Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Gboribiogha John Jonah, who stood in for the Governor, Seriake Dickson; Director General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Board, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown; and the Special Guest, Hollywood actor, Danny Glover; said so much has changed in the last 10 years in Bayelsa.

BBA returns in September

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ome September 7 the drama, laughter and tears will return to screens in Africa and across the world in the Big Brother Africa (BBA) reality television show.

In its ninth season, organisers have said that housemates who emerge for this edition and viewers will stay glued to their television sets as surprise after surprise unravels in the house.

“In true BBA fashion, fans of the show and potential housemates will have to wait and see how he will turn dreams of some deserving and eager youngsters into reality and transform them into household names,” said a statement from the organisers.

Entry is open to the same 14 countries with the only exception being Angola, which will be replaced by Rwanda, a new-comer.

Participating countries this year are: Botswana, Ethiopia, Gha-

na, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Entries are only open to persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and must have a valid passport. Producers are looking for persons who are entertaining and passionate about the Big Brother experience; and they have to be fluent in English.

Endemol SA is the producer of BBA and those interested in performing can look out for more information on the organiser’s website.

Clarion Chukwura

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Supreme Price coming soon T Penury in showbiz

inment

Stories by TERH AGBEDEH

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eteran actor, Lai Ashadele, was spotted recently in the Mile 12 axis of Lagos State on public transport otherwise known as danfo bus.

Ashadele was among the iconic cast of Village Headmaster, weekly tele-drama of the 1970s and 1980s that featured Dejumo Lewis, Oba Funso Adeolu (of blessed memory), Jab Adu and the late Elsie Olusola, among many others.

For what a veteran like himself contributed to this country, he should not be jumping buses in his old age.

That said, it seems like every now and then, one practitioner or another in entertainment goes cap in hand when they have an emergency. Chike Bryan comes to mind. It gladdens the heart that succour has finally come his way from no less than the presidency.

Only recently, the National President of the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN) was diagnosed with kidney failure. He had been ailing for nearly eight months, after it was detected in a Lagos hospital that his kidneys were failing.

President Goodluck Jonathan approved the sum of N10 million for his treatment, after a delegation of Nollywood artistes made a plea to him. Many others have suffered and if nothing is done quickly, perhaps in terms of creating a fund not just for emergencies for these veterans,

Awards for entertainment, creativity, others set to berth

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new reward platform called Motivational Awards will soon berth in Nigeria.

Conceptualised to reward achievement in entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, public service, entertainment and sustainable community development, it is the mission of Meljenstin Nigeria Limited, a public relations and event consultant company.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Chibuzo Patrick, said the awards serve to pay tribute to motivational individuals and business entities in Nigeria.

“We believe that if we all unite and collectively fight the multi-dimensional phenomenon of poverty through the instrumentality of support and encouragement. Nigeria will be a better place to live and do business,” he said.

He explained that there is need to begin to maximise every opportunity to encourage and empower people with merit in Nigeria.

The award ceremony is billed to take place at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Amuwo Odofin, in August.

he documentary, The Supreme Price, which is about the assassination of Kudirat Abiola as well as the ascendancy of Hafsat Abiola and her Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), is ready and coming to Nigeria soon.

Film-maker, Tunde Kelani, who said he is proud to be associated with the film, told TheNiche that the feature length documentary is produced and directed by the award-winning filmmaker, Joanna Lipper, who is also a lecturer at Harvard University in the United States of America.

The film traces the evolution of the prodemocracy movement in Nigeria and efforts to increase the participation of women in leadership roles.

Following the annulment of her father’s victory in Nigeria’s presidential election in 1993 and her mother’s assassination by agents of the military dictatorship, Hafsat faces the challenge of transforming a corrupt culture of governance into a democracy capable of serving Nigeria’s most marginalised population: women.

Lipper teaches ‘Using Film for Social Change’ in the Department of African and AfricanAmerican Studies of Hafsat Abiola Harvard. Her work as a documentary filmmaker has been supported by the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, ITVS, Britdoc Foundation, the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, Women Make Movies and Chicken & Egg Pictures.

The Supreme Price has received the Gucci Tribeca Spotlighting Women Documentary Award. Previous films Lipper produced and directed include Inside Out: Portraits of Children (1996), Growing Up Fast (1999) and Little Fugitive (2006). Lipper is the author of the nationally-acclaimed book, Growing Up Fast.

Her photography has been published and exhibited in the U.S. and elsewhere.

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Obituary Samson Adebayo A man of integrity, highly principled with strong Christian principles and family values, Samson Afolabi Adebayo, retired civil servant and the first non-expatriate executive director of Dunlop Nigeria, was buried in his hometown, Wasimi, Ijebu-Ode, last week…

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patriarch worthy of emulation, Samson Adebayo was an exemplary figure. A worthy representative of a better structured society, he grew up and made a mark in an epoch-straddling pre- and post-colonial society.

He represented an era where the essence of being was based on hardwork, thrift and discipline. An aristocratic lineage, carriage and mien helped. He was born on March 25, 1928, at Idomowo Iwade quarters, Ijebu-Ode. The aristocratic lineage came from the Adebayo Adebanjo royal family of Oba Ademolu, the second Awujale of Ijebu land, as well as the Olisa Olaboyede royal family Ijebu-Ode. In conduct and comportment, he never forgot his background through the long journey and changing scenes of life.

Christianity was deeply ingrained in Chief Adebayo’s background. His father was the first treasurer of Holy Trinity Church, Wasimi. With Christianity intertwined with education, it is not surprising that the young aristocrat had a head start. He had his primary education at Wasimi African School. From there, he proceeded to the school of choice in the area at the time IjebuOde Grammar School in 1944.

He showed great character and determination in surmounting the early loss of both parents. This did not deter him from taking on the responsibility of looking after his three younger siblings. Despite the loss, he performed brilliantly in his exams though he was overcome with grief.

Perseverance at a time of adversity paid off with the assistance of the Christian Mission Society (CMS) who provided him with a scholarship to attend the esteemed St. Andrews College, Oyo, for a four-year teachers’ training course between 1947 and 1950. After the course, he became a very diligent and inspiring teacher at several schools.

With characteristic determination, Adebayo set for himself the goal of further education. He did this within the framework of also providing for his siblings. Nevertheless, he saved up to attend University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

Prior to starting tertiary education, he had won the heart of a charming young lady – a childhood friend. The young lady, Miss Frances Adesunmola Adekoya, also qualified as a teacher.

Due to his financial commitment to his siblings and to his studies, they both decided to wait before getting married, leading to seven years of courtship. They eventually got married on July 21, 1957 at The Chapel of Resurrection, University of Ibadan. The sermon at their wedding was titled “Togetherness in Marriage” and this underpinned their beautiful marriage admired by many.

A year after the marriage in 1958, Adebayo became a civil servant when he joined the Local Government Service Board in Ibadan. This kicked off a meritocratic rise. In 1960, he was posted to the office of the Agent-General for Western Nigeria in London. Accompanying him was his wife and his then two young children.

He started off as the Recruitment Officer, but was soon pro-

moted to Principal Students Officer. At the students’ office, he was in contact with numerous Nigerians studying in the United Kingdom. His impact on several of them was considerable, with many receiving practical support from him. During this period, moved by the experience of a Nigerian he met by chance on a street in London, he single-handedly solicited the change of the UK rule to allow Nigerian students, on completion of their teacher training course, to stay and work in the UK. Returning home in 1963, he continued a fulfilling career in the civil service. He made his mark across several ministries in the Western Region. The culmination of his hardwork at a time merit still counted came when he was made Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Western State, Ibadan.

His vast experience, unimpeachable integrity and

the fact that he had obtained a distinction in Industrial Development Diploma from the prestigious Arthur D. Little Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, made him desirable to many organisations who sought to make him a non-executive director on their boards.

In the course of his life, he served in nonexecutive roles at more than 15 companies spanning the banking, real estate, printing, petroleum and manufacturing sectors. His leadership acumen was spotted via the deployment of his non-executive roles, and he was head-hunted to become the first non-expatriate executive director of Dunlop Nigeria Industries Limited. In 1974, Adebajo

retired from the civil service to take up this position.

Adebayo and his delightful wife will always be iconic figures at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral (AVMCC), where they served in different capacities in the church and were patron and patroness of several church societies.

In 2001, after shunning the many opportunities for traditional chieftaincy titles, he gladly took on the honour of Jagunmolu of Holy Trinity African Church, Wasimi, bestowed on him by his family.

Having lived an exemplary life, he passed on peacefully and will be greatly missed.

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BASKETBALL TENNIS

FLASHBACK

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May 04, 2014

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I played under tough conditions – Wie

Anxiety, injuries cost us Mexico ’83 trophy – Okoku

»

Super Eagles list: Waiting game continues

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Cover Super Eagles will deliver in Brazil – Laloko, Rufai, Ikpeba

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espite the 2-2 draw played by the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Tartan Army of Scotland in an international friendly at the Craven Cottage, Fulham, on Wednesday night, Nigerians have been assured that the team will deliver at the FIFA World Cup billed to kick off on June 12 in Brazil.

The assurances came from two ex-internationals, Peter Rufai and Victor Ikpeba, as well as a former technical director of the national teams, Kashimawo Laloko.

In separate chats with the trio, Nigerians were advised not to judge the team with the international friendly in London.

Ikpeba said: “The result of the match is not significant because we all understand what happened before and during the match.

“Scotland is not going to the World Cup. And some of the Super Eagles players played the match under tension for fear of being dropped from the team.

“However, I’m confident that the team will make Africa and Nigeria proud when the World Cup kicks off in Brazil. A quarter-final or semi-final stage will not be an over-statement for the team.”

Rufai dismissed the fear of goalkeeping problem in the team following Austin Ejide’s performance in the match, but assured that it will be taken care of.

“The team has a sound technical crew with Stephen Keshi as head. The goalkeepers’ trainer, Ike Shorunmu, is also a reliable coach as well as Daniel Amokachi. I don’t have problems with the crew.

“What happened to Ejide could have happened to any other keeper because it has been long that he has been given such assignment. But I know that he is equal to the task when the chips are down.

Keshi

Athletics We’ll build on DAWN Games records – Oladunjoye

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rincipal Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Lagos State Governor, Wale Oladunjoye, says the state will build on the records achieved by its athletes at the justconcluded Development Agenda for Western Nigerian (DAWN) Games.

Team Lagos garnered 23 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze medals in athletics at the end of the Games, with Team Ogun in distant second position with five gold, 12 silver and seven bronze medals.

“We’ll not rest on our oars, as we are preparing hard for the forthcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) billed for Calabar, Cross River State.

“Athletics is one of the events we are targeting to win good laurels at the NSF, and the only way to achieve the set aims is to build on the feat we achieved at the just-concluded DAWN Games,” said Oladunjoye.

A member of Team Lagos 4x100m (Boys) relay squad, Ikoku Onengi, who won silver medal behind Team Ogun, said improvement on their performance is non-negotiable.

“We are not going to rest, but to ensure that we do better than what we achieved at the DAWN Games.

We must thank the state’s sports-loving governor, Babatunde Fashola, for his encouragement and support,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Ruth Usoro, who was a member of the gold medal-winning 4x100m relay team for Team Lagos, enthused that the team will work harder to do well in subsequent competitions.

“We had a good outing at the DAWN Games, which contributed to our leading on the overall medals table at the end of the Games.

“But that is not all; we need to stay focused and work harder to achieve good results in subsequent competitions, especially at the forthcoming NSF in Calabar.

“We thank the state government for the well-organised DAWN Games and the success achieved by the state at the end of the Games.

“Now we must look forward to more laurels and do the state proud at the NSF later in the year,” she said.

Team Lagos garnered a total of 89 gold, 60 silver and 28 bronze medals to win the Games with a total of 177 medals, while Team Ogun placed second with a total of 77 medals (15 gold, 29 silver and 33 bronze). Team Oyo placed third with seven gold, 18 silver and 43 bronze medals, with a total of 68 medals.

All the South West states, with the exception of Ondo, participated in the one week sporting events hosted by Lagos.

Oladunjoye

“All things being equal, there is no cause for alarm on the part of the team. The players will deliver at the World Cup and I see them going beyond the preliminary stage,” he said.

In his view, Laloko called on Keshi to be objective in his selection and go for only the best 23 out of the 30 currently in camp.

He said: “Objectivity should be his guide word. If he is objective in his selection, I have no doubt that the team will go far in the competition.

“The team is blessed with experienced players, with young and determined ones who are rearing to go and play for their names.

“This will be a World Cup where Nigeria will surprise football pundits. But the players must not underrate their opponents because at the World Cup, there are no underdogs,” he said.

The Super Eagles scored a late equaliser in the encounter to level scores at 2-2.

Charlie Mulgrew's flick from a shot outside the area was deflected past Austin Ejide for their first goal.

Nigeria drew level on 41 minutes after Michael Uchebo's shot deflected off Grant Hanley into the net, after he took a pass from Reuben Gabriel.

The second half saw the Scots start as brightly as they did in the first half, and they were 2-1 up within seven minutes of the re-start.

Hutton crossed in low into the box, and it was Babatunde Odunlami who got the last touch, after Azubuike Egwueke had deflected past Ejide.

Keshi then threw on Osaze Odemwingie, Victor Moses, Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Uche Nwofor.

And it was Nwofor that got the equaliser on the dot of 90 minutes, as he put away a loose ball, as the Scots failed to clear their lines.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Golf CMCL Open: Experience, mind game gave me victory – Korblah

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geless Ghanaian golfer, Emos Korblah, has attributed his wealth of experience in the game of golf to his victory at the 16th edition of the Consolidated Management Consultant Limited (CMCL) Open Golf Championship held at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja last week.

Korblah thus ended his wait for the coveted CMCL title, as he played a bogey free back-nine and accomplished his mission with a final round score of -2 under par 70 in steady conditions.

Kingsley Oparaku played a level par 72 to finish three shots outside the lead for the second position, while Elisha Markus recovered by sinking a clutch par putt on the 18th for a share of third position with Oche Odoh, after failing to sustain his 54 holes lead.

“This is the tournament I have never won since I joined the PGA Tour. It is one I was looking for, as I have won so many tournaments and I wanted my

name to be on record.

“I think I played well on the last day, and from the point I birdied the 13th and 14th, I knew I would win the title. I’m happy to finally win it,” he said.

“I must confess that I relied on the combination of experience and mind game to seal this victory by particularly counting on Oche Odoh who played in the final group to handle Markus, Chris Okoro and Oparaku.

“From the start, I had Oche in mind. I knew he was also thinking of me. I knew he would handle those boys in the final group, while I could use my experience to make the difference later in the game.”

The victory took him to the top of the Nigerian Order of Merit (NOM) table. He was also the only player to finish with an aggregate under par score, a feat acknowledged by the event sponsor, Otunba Olusola Adekanola, who we gathered was not always encouraged to see professional players win his tournament with huge over par gross score.

Korblah

How Ikeja Golf Club thrilled kids on Children’s Day

Tennis Wheelchair players sad over World Team Cup absence

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Cross section of the participants

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espite the heavy downpour on Children’s Day (May 27), Ikeja Golf Club drilled kids on the rudiments of the game of golf, as the club celebrated the Children’s Day in partnership with the Kids Golf International (KGI).

The event, which was the second edition, lived up to expectations with the captain of the Ladies’ Section of the club, Dr. Veronica Chaka-Awatai, teaching the kids the theory and practical aspect of the game.

“Eyes on the ball and swing,” was etched on the minds of the over 110 kids that participated in the one-day event as lectured by Chaka-Awatai.

The event teed off about 7am. At the end,

prizes were presented to winners of various categories with words of encouragement from the Ladies’ Section to the kids to take keen interest in the game of golf.

In the age five category, Rotimi Balogun emerged champion with 12 scores over two holes, while Ayoola Durojaiye came second with 13 scores, followed by Feyifuwa Obifarinde placing third with 28 scores.

In the age eight category, Ibrahim Aderonbi emerged winner with 48 scores over nine holes, while Dara Adebayo came second with 41 scores over five holes. Philip Oboh placed third.

Tolu Afolayan emerged Best Learner, with Ibrahim Aderonbi winning the Best Boy trophy. Olamide Akingbo won the girls’

category.

Other winners include Stephen Adedokun who scored 109 over 18 holes to emerge champion, while Sambo Umoh with 129 scores came second. Dele Gogor of International School, University of Lagos emerging third with 133 scores.

Secretary of the Ladies’ Section, Lola Mamudu, expressed appreciation to the kids for their participation and urged them to keep playing the game, as it will take them to greater heights.

“I really enjoyed myself at the event, and I have also learnt one or two tricks of the game which I will definitely put to practice in future,” said Gogor.

igeria’s wheelchair tennis players have expressed sadness over the country’s failure to participate in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, which served off last Monday at the Nieuwe Sloot Tennis Centre in Alphen, Netherlands.

The World Team Cup is the wheelchair tennis version of the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup. Nigeria beat Morocco in March to win the African qualifiers held in Nairobi, Kenya, but the country withdrew from the tournament at the last minute.

“This is a bad development for the country because we are gradually fitting into the mainstream of the sport, and this development may give us a setback,” said Remi Basanya, who won this year’s Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) women’s singles title.

The men’s singles winner, Alex Adewale, shared her view with TheNiche.

“We’ve been complaining about lack of motivation and now we have suffered a huge blow following this withdrawal.

We would have made a mark in the tournament as a way of securing sponsorships and also getting more domestic tournaments,” lamented Adewale.

Nigeria was replaced by Romania. No concrete reason has been given by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) for the withdrawal from the tournament. Nigeria is Africa’s top-ranked nation in the event, but the gap between the country and closest rivals, Morocco, will get closer at the end of the tournament due to the withdrawal.

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Flash Back I was almost robbed of my Olympics gold – Ajunwa

Ajunwa

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hioma Ajunwa-Opara’s story is the stuff fairy tales are made of. After various set-backs in her career, the Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State-born athlete finally achieved fame at Atlanta ’96 when she became the first Nigerian to win an Olympics gold medal. To date, she remains Nigeria's only individual Olympic gold medalist.

Popularly known as Chioma Ajunwa, her moment of glory came on Friday, August 2, 1996. She sprinted down the long jump runway and took off after a few metres. When she landed in the sand pit a couple of seconds later, she had catapulted herself into folklore. Her amazing first round leap of 7.12 metres won her the women's long jump event at the Olympic Games.

Eighteen years after that historic feat, the diminutive athlete now calls the shots at the Meiran Police Station, Agege, Lagos, where she is the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

Getting her for an interview is a very difficult task, as she is either attending to her colleagues in the station or dealing with one security issue or another in the area.

TheNiche went to her duty post recently, and after a long wait, she finally managed to open up on her experience at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and other things. As she had done in the past, Ajunwa reiterated that she never thought of winning any medal at the Olympics, let alone gold; but had to thank God for the feat, as it was the Lord’s doing.

She said: “Till date, it is still a miracle to me. I never thought of it, and many did not want me to win it; but

to God be the glory.

“After I took the leap, it took sometime before the officials could raise the white flag. Then as I was walking back, looking back to see the board rotate because once it starts rotating, it means the jump has been given to you.

“I noticed one Mr. John from Kenya very curious about the jump and I saw officials discussing among themselves, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Eventually, they raised the flag and the board started rotating.

“At that moment, I didn’t see anybody to hug because I was the only Nigerian there; as a matter of fact, the only African. So, what I did was go on my knees and bowed to God. It was thereafter while on a training tour in Kenya that I met that same Mr. John who then revealed to me that the officials wanted to rob me.

When they discovered that the jump could be a winning one, they wanted to rob me of it, but he told them that if they did, he would expose them; they didn’t have any choice but to raise the flag.”

She expressed disappointments in the officials of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the government delegation for down-playing her chances of winning a medal at the Olympics, as there was no one to give her support during her event.

“When my colleagues, Mary Onyali and Falilat Ogunkoya, won their medals, the then Minister of Sports, Jim Nwobodo, came to our camp with his entourage and gave money to the winners as well as pep talks to other athletes that were yet to have their events,” she said.

Going further, she revealed: “They

called them by names and promised them goodies if they won. As they got up to go, a colleague, a hurdler who was also a Law student then, got angry and asked the minister why he did not mention my name while talking to those that were yet to do their own event, if my own event was not important. The minister then said, I should go and win first.”

At that point, she was sad and started crying, as if her event was not important while her other colleagues were encouraging her to go for the event and do her best.

To discourage her more, Ajunwa, Beatrice Otondu and May Tonbiri went to the Nigerian house on her competition day to collect the national flag that she would use after winning. But they were denied the flag.

She said: “Otondu asked for the flag that I was going to use for the victory lap, but the official we met at the place laughed at us and urged us to go for the event, that he alongside others would come for the event with the flag, which they never did.

“We knew they were all going to watch football match and so we left without getting the flag. When God did the miracle, it shocked every one of them. And after I won, there was no flag to celebrate. I had to use a flag that someone in the crowd threw at me for the victory lap.

“That is to tell you that they never believed anything good would come from the long jump event, but I thank God for His mercies.”

She also faulted the welfare package from the government that followed her gold medal performance.

It was not all gloom though, as the feat came with its blessing.

“In terms of doors, it did open doors for me and it made everybody know me and also helped me rise through the rank as a police officer.

But apart from that, there was nothing to show for it.

“Had it been it was another country that I won the first individual Olympic gold medal for, I would get cars and houses. But Nigeria gave me just N1 million, and in bits. I never knew what I used it for.

“What is the meaning of being given Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)? MON was given to everybody that went for the games. The players that won the Nations Cup in 1980 were all given houses in FESTAC. Is there any street named after Chioma Ajunwa in Abuja? Nowhere!

I thought MON comes with money, apart from the certificate and presidential handshake,” she said.

She has set up the Chioma Ajunwa Foundation (CAJ) to educate sports men and women in Nigeria on the dangers of using banned and illegal substances – a struggle she had to overcome after her 1992 four years suspension for failing drug test. Now she uses her remarkable story to help other Nigerian athletes by holding drug awareness campaigns in the country.

"I don't want them to go through what I have gone through. I want to let them know that buying things in supermarket is very dangerous.

“And if intentionally they buy anything that they know is a banned substance, and they are caught, that is the end of it. So that is why I took it upon myself to come and start educating them, going from one competition venue to another," she said.

Ajunwa-Opara also mentors

young Nigerian athletes for a better future in competitive sport, as she doesn’t want to be the only individual gold medalist in the country.

Her life has been nothing short of miracle. She originally played football for the Nigerian women's team and was a member of The Falcons during the Women's World Cup in 1991. But she was constantly benched.

Of her short-lived football career, she stated: "I've not regretted the decision (to leave football) because I've made my mark in athletics. I could have continued with football, but there was a particular coach who knew then that I was the best player in the team, but decided to keep me on the bench throughout our matches. So I left the team's camp."

She, however, did not hide God’s blessing on her, and confessed that God has been good to her and her family.

She urged people to join her to glorify God, especially for the birth of triplets in 2012, which she described as a ‘miracle’ after she married Mr. Okpara, the pastor in charge of Chapel of Destiny Restoration Church, Lagos, sometime in 2004.

“I never knew I was pregnant until it got to the seventh month. And like at Atlanta ’96, it was a miracle and not by my power.

“When I was pregnant, I asked God for so many things; the number one thing was that if this should become a reality, I promised God I would return the children to Him and give a giant offering.

“To God be the Glory, it came to pass. My babies are two boys and a girl: Joshua, Caleb and Rose,” she said.

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Football NPFL: Chukwu counsels LMC on consistency

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x-international, Christian Chukwu, has called on the League Management Company (LMC) to be consistent with its plan of action for the transformation of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) under the sponsorship of Globacom.

The legendary captain of the Super Eagles and Rangers International, told newsman in Enugu that any wavering by the body would be a betrayal of the mandate and the expectation of football fans and league stakeholders.

“The LMC is trying very well and we can see light at the end of the tunnel. So much work still needs to be done, but I want them to remain consistent, especially in the area

of enforcement of the standards and regulations which they have set.

“There will be no point setting the standards if they will not be enforced. Some of us have noticed pressures being put on them from several quarters to lower the scale.

“And it appears that when such detractors mobilise public opinion and the media against the LMC, there is the tendency for it to begin to reconsider certain actions.

“This will not augur well for us. We have been on the issue of reforming our professional league for over two decades now, and we cannot continue to be going back and fort all the time.

“Let us get it right for once and remember that nothing good comes easy,” Chukwu counselled.

Chukwu

Academy talents thank Pepsi for scholarships

Brazil 2014: Multichoice plans big for football fans

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ultichoice Nigeria has concluded plans for its DStv and GOtv subscribers to enjoy football actions across the country when the FIFA 2014 World Cup kicks off on June 12 in Brazil.

Part of the plans is to have an array of stars comprising of exinternationals and football analysts to run commentaries during the Mundial in Brazil.

Speaking during the SuperSport launch of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Campaign tagged "We are Brazil" held at The Marque, Pent House, Mega Plaza, Victoria Island on Thursday, May 29, General Manager, SuperSport, West Africa, Felix Awogu said ex-internationals such as Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Sammy Kuffour, Manchester United assistant coach, Ryan Giggs among others have been listed to thrill football fans during the Mundial.

Furthermore, General Manager, Marketing and Retention Multichoice Nigeria, Mr. Martin Mabutho pointed out that due to the late broadcast of some of the games, the DStv mobile devices and the Explorer decoder will come in handy, in ensuring viewers see all the action and do not miss out during the World Cup.

Onuh, Nelson, Laloko and Ogunnubi at the PFA Scholarship Selection exercise at Agege Stadium, Lagos.

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wo Pepsi Football Academy (PFA) players that were picked to get to the zenith of their professional careers through a two-year full scholarship to study and train at the Brooke House College, Birmingham in the United Kingdom, have expressed their appreciation to Pepsi.

Presenting the duo of Dada Ogunnubi and Morgan Onuh to the media after the final selection process at the Agege Stadium, Lagos, Director of the PFA, Dr. Kashimawo Laloko, explained that aside football talent, which is basic, academic prowess and attitude were also used to select the final two, so that the final scholars will be ambassadors that can project good image of the country and the brand.

Ogunnubi, who came from the Shagamu Centre of the PFA and plays as a centre back, and Onuh from the Lagos centre and plays in defensive midfield, leapt with excitement as their names were called out.

“I want to thank Pepsi for this sponsorship.

I was dropped once, but I came back stronger. When they saw my determination and improvement, they brought me back into the team, but I never thought I would be selected

for the scholarship,” an elated Ogunnubi said.

On his part, Onuh said his parents supported him throughout the process. “My parents gave me the go-ahead because they know the stars Pepsi Academy produced in the past and they believe I’m good enough to be one of them.”

While commenting on the UK Scholarship Scheme, consultant to the PFA, Iain Nelson, said: “I thank the Pepsi board for deeming it a priority to better the lives of young and intelligent talents, by always providing funds for this programme; 23 years now, the talents that have graduated from this academy are evident for all to see.

“The PFA youngsters at Brooke House College have been worthy ambassadors of the academy and Nigeria, on and off the field.

“Sheu Agunbiade, who will complete his scholarship in July this year, scored 40 goals this session in all competitions for his school and was unanimously chosen as the school’s player of the year,” he said.

The PFA scholarship started in 2005, and over 15 youngsters have benefited from it.

Some of the beneficiaries are plying their trade in some European leagues.

General Manager, Marketing and Retention, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho; ex-International, Peter Rufai; SuperSport Marketing Director, Nomsa Mazibuko; ex-international, Victor Ikpeba; and General Manager, SuperSport, West Africa, Felix Awogu, during the SuperSport launch of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Campaign tagged "We Are Brazil" held at The Marque, Penthouse, Mega Plaza, Victoria Island on Thursday, May 29.

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TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Football Countdown to Brazil 2014… Countdown to Brazil 2014…

Mikel dreams big with Super Eagles

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helsea FC midfielder, John Mikel Obi, is dreaming big; he wants to make an impact with the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup billed for Brazil this month.

Mikel, who started his official football career at the age of 12 when he was picked from over 3,000 young talents to play in Pepsi Football Academy (PFA), is one of the players Coach Stephen Keshi will be banking on for Nigeria’s success at the World Cup. He gained headlines for Nigeria at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland in 2003. Subsequently, he went on trial to South African club, Ajax Cape Town, before joining Lyn Oslo in Norway.

In the summer of 2005, he played for Nigeria at the FIFA World Youth Championships (WYC) held in The Netherlands. He had an excellent tour-

nament until Nigeria reached the final, where it lost 2–1 to Argentina. He won the Silver Ball after being voted the tournament's second best player.

He made his debut for Nigeria's senior team on August 17, 2005, when he came on as a second half substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over Libya. He did not play for the national team again prior to being named in the squad for the 2006 African Cup of Nations.

In Nigeria's first group game, which was against Ghana, he was an unused substitute. However, he was introduced into the second game, against Zimbabwe, early in the second half.

Within 10 minutes of coming on, he supplied the corner that resulted in Christian Obodo heading the game's opening goal, and scored Nigeria's second goal.

He made his first international start in Nigeria's final group game, in a 2–1

victory over Senegal.

Berti Vogts, manager of the Nigerian national team, dropped Mikel from the team's squad for the African Nations Cup qualifier against Niger, for failing to honour invitation to the previous match against Uganda. Mikel cited an injury, but because he did not attend an independent check by Nigerian officials, he was dropped.

This, and his refusal to play for the Nigerian Under-23 side resulted in his suspension by the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

After apologising, he was called to the national squad for the Nations Cup. During the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, he scored one goal and registered one assist, both against Benin Republic, to help Nigeria qualify for the quarter-finals against hosts Ghana, where Nigeria narrowly lost 2–1.

He had been called up for the Under-23 side in preparation of the

team's last Olympic qualifier on March 26, 2008, needing a win to qualify.

His failure to show up for any of the qualifiers, again, set off some controversy with the U-23 team coach, Samson Siasia, who dropped him from the Olympics squad amid significant furore from the media.

On June 5, 2010, he was ruled out of the World Cup due to injury. He had been struggling to shake off a knee problem after undergoing surgery in May, though there were also reports that an ankle injury was to blame for Mikel's withdrawal.

He was called up to Nigeria's 23man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He was also selected for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. And for this World Cup, Keshi has come out to say that Mikel is one of the players he will be relying on to deliver in Brazil.

Mikel

Can Nigerians bank on Enyeama’s experience

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ince 2002, Vincent Enyeama has been playing for the senior national team of Nigeria, the Super Eagles. He currently plays for Lille OSC of France who he signed for in June 2011.

He was selected for the 2002 World Cup as a cover for Ike Shorunmu, and only played one match in that tournament, keeping a clean sheet against England, and took over the spot after Shorunmu's international retirement.

Since then, he has been the first choice goalkeeper for the national team, playing in the 2004 Nations Cup, and indeed every Nations Cup till 2013, except for the 2008 edition in Ghana where he lost his position to Austin Ejide.

At the 2006 Nations Cup, he stopped three penalties in the quarter-final against Tunisia, but could not prevent a loss to Cote d'Ivoire in the semi-final.

He turned out the hero after saving Thomas Nyirenda's spotkick. Both teams had scored their previous three kicks. He put his own kick past his opposite number, Mweene, in a battle of the goalkeepers, after Mweene had scored his seconds earlier, to set up a semi-final clash with Ghana, which Nigeria lost 1–0 only to end up settling for the third place by beating Algeria by a slim 1–0 victory margin.

He justified claims as one of the best shot-stoppers in football at the moment, with a defiant display to restrict Argentina to a 1–0 win in their Group B 2010 FIFA World Cup match.

Enyeama, who was playing his 56th international game for the Super Eagles, made six fine saves, four of them from Lionel Messi, and was the major reason Nigeria

almost played a draw against the two-time world champions.

Despite the loss, he was named Man of the Match and World Player of the Week by Goal.com. Argentine coach, Diego Maradona, praised him as the reason Messi was not able to shine.

He was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 Nations Cup. As acting captain (standing in for Joseph Yobo who stayed on the bench for most of the competition), Enyeama led Nigeria to her third continental victory.

He was named to the team of the tournament as first choice goalkeeper, alongside four other Nigerian players in various positions.

During the just-concluded 2013/14 Ligue 1 season, club manager, Rene Girard, picked Enyeama as his first choice goalkeeper ahead of Steeve Elana, who had been the first choice goalkeeper when Rudi Garcia was the club manager.

With the help of his two centre backs, Marko Basa and Simon Kjaer, Enyeama kept 11 consecutive clean sheets in Ligue 1 matches during the first half of the 2013/14 season.

On December 8, 2013, he finally conceded a goal after playing 1,062 minutes of Ligue 1 football in an away match against Bordeaux, during which he was beaten by Landry N'Guemo's deflected strike in the 27th minute.

He thus came within 114 minutes of equalling Gaetan Huard's Division 1 or Ligue 1 goalkeeping record, set in 1993, of playing 1,176 minutes without conceding a goal.

With his award as the Best African Player in Ligue 1 for the 2013/14 season, Enyeama’s wealth of experience is expected to take the Super Eagles far in Group F and also in the competition in general.

Enyeama

TheNiche on Sunday June 01, 2014

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Football Emenike rearing to go E mmanuel Emenike, who plays as a striker for Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig, is known for his unstoppable pace and strong physical power in one-on-one combats, and he is expected to put that into action for the Super Eagles when the World Cup kicks off in Brazil this month.

On January 21, 2013, he scored in Nigeria's opening African Cup of Nations (AFCON) match against Burkina Faso in a 1–1 draw. He also scored the first goal in the quarter-final match between Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire which Nigeria won 2–1. On February 3, he scored a 30-yard freekick, giving Nigeria a 2–1 win over Cote d'Ivoire in the AFCON. In 2013, he became part of the third Nigerian team to win the African Cup of Nations – Nigeria's first continental victory since 1994.

His four goals proved crucial to Nigeria's progress through the tournament, and he was named to the team of the African Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament.

Emenike However, he wasn't included in the final, due to a thigh injury. He also received the Pepsi Tournament Top Scorer, with four goals, along with Ghana's Wakaso Mubarak.

In March 2013, he was left out of the squad for the World Cup qualifier, due to hamstring injury, and criticised Nigeria's coach and officials of ignoring him.

In June 2013, he wasn't included for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. After four months without being called up, he was invited for August's Mandela Cup friendly match, but did not participate due to injury.

He celebrated his absence from Eagles in September

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2013 when he played in the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Malawi – in Calabar. He scored a goal in the 2-0 win by the Super Eagles (a win which took the team to the final round of World Cup qualifiers).

He came on as a substitute three days later in a friendly match against Burkina Faso, played in Kaduna and scored the fourth goal in a 4–1 win for the Eagles.

On October 13, 2013, in the first-leg of last round of the World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia, he scored twice to give the Super Eagles a 2–1 lead going into the second-leg.

Moses to prove a point V

ictor Moses can play in a variety of positions, but in the first team games he has taken part in so far, he has mostly played as a winger.

Born in Nigeria, he represented England at Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 levels, but opted to play for the Nigeria as opposed to being fully capped for England.

He was selected to play for Nigeria against Guatemala in February 2011, but the friendly was cancelled. He later accepted a call-up in March 2011 for Nigeria's games against Ethiopia and Kenya.

However, he was ruled out of those games because his application to FIFA to switch nationality was not received on time.

It was announced on November 1, 2011, that FIFA had cleared Moses and Shola Ameobi to play for Nigeria. He was then called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 AFCON, scoring two penalties in the final group stage game against Ethiopia, which Nigeria needed to win.

For the second, the Ethiopian goalkeeper, Sisay Bancha, was given his second booking in the events leading to the penalty and was sent off. Ethiopia had already used all three substitutes; so its holding midfielder went in goal, and missed Moses' penalty.

The game ended 2–0.

He is already targeting a semi-final spot for Nigeria at the World Cup and has urged his team-mates to step up their game.

He is also confident Nigeria can make a major impression at the global showpiece, but wants the player to work as a team.

He has endured a disappointing season on loan at Liverpool where he found himself overlooked for long period, as the Merseysiders finished runners-up in the Premier League behind champions, Manchester City. But he believes his frustrations can help fire his World Cup campaign.

He is hoping to be in Coach Stephen Keshi’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup before the June 2deadline of international football governing body, FIFA.

Moses

www.thenicheng.com

01:06:2014

By David Igurube

FREE SPEECH

Change looms in sokoto

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was in Sokoto State recently in continuation of my assessment tour of some states of the federation to determine, or at least come close to determining how the states would vote in 2015. My choice of Sokoto state is understandable.

The state presents an intriguing scenario. It is a state to watch. It is the state where the political icon of the state, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, who was governor of the state from 1999 to 2007 and the incumbent governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, are practically at war over the control of the state. Bafarawa and Wamakko once worked together as governor and deputy governor respectively until they fell apart. But on completion of his tenure, Bafarawa was set to hand over to his anointed candidate. But the Obasanjo presidency, in order to shore up its support base, invaded Sokoto state. Wamakko became the beneficiary of the political invasion.

Since he emerged as governor in 2007, there has been no love lost between Wamakko and his former boss. Wamakko has been fighting spiritedly to consolidate his hold on power. Bafarawa, on his part, is working hard to regain the political control of the state. This is the scenario before us.

Before now, Wamakko was having a good laugh, having risen to power with the backing of the Presidency. He continued to enjoy that presidential support and cover until recently. Wamakko had, in a fit of miscalculation, left the party that made him- the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He joined other rebel governors who do not want President Goodluck Jonathan to return to power in 2005. This singular act of Wamakko is the beginning of his problem. It has cost him Presidential cover and he is now exposed from all flanks.

Bafarawa, as patient as ever, has been bidding his time. He has been making his calculations. Fortunately, Wamakko has paved the way for him to take over Sokoto again. As an influential politician with a large support base, Bafarawa has always had what it takes to win elections in Sokoto state. But because the presidency did not give

him a chance, things did not quite go as expected. Now, the table has turned. Wamakko, the presidential favourite, has lost favour. He is now swimming against the tide. His political survival is therefore no longer guaranteed.

As I traversed Sokoto recently, I was able to put the political situation in the state in a better perspective. It is clear to the people of the state that Wamakko is losing grounds owing to his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC as a political platform is still being tested. It is not popular yet. Besides, the manner of Wamakko's entry into it is considered by many as opportunistic. The impression out there is that Wamakko set out to reap where he did not sow. That was why he schemed to edge out Bafarawa who was a major arrowhead of the party at national level and who was, indisputably, the leader of the party in Sokoto State. Bafarawa, the people would tell you, worked very hard to ensure that APC stood in Sokoto State. How can you then wake up one morning to see a defecting Wamakko taking over Bafarawa's sweat.? That was the question. They consider such a scenario unjust and untidy. A good many of them are therefore happy with Bafarawa for being man enough and for answering his father's name instead of suffering in silence. For the people

therefore, Bafarawa's decision to join the PDP is a wise decision.

They are commending him for his foresight and the principled ones among them have vowed to swim along with him. This is the turning point we are talking about. It will bring about a change. The change is imminent. It is looming.

But in all of this, the Wamakko people are applying a certain defense mechanism. They say they are still popular and will win the 2015 elections. This is in spite of the fact that their optimism is not supported by the facts on the ground. What we hear them say now is that the presidency is gearing up to give the state to PDP. They seem to forget that Sokoto, at moment, is a PDP state. The fact that the state governor left for APC does not make the state an APC state. Apparently afraid of the looming change, some of them are saying they will resist any attempt to install a PDP governor in 2015.

However, for indecent observers, there may not be any attempt by the presidency to swing the votes in favour of the PDP. The mood of the people already supports the PDP. The people seem to be encouraged the more by their leader, Bafarawa whose strength of character is direly needed in trying times such as this.

Observers usually suspect something when situations are like this.

Blackmail can be an instrument of defense. It can be used for pur-

poses of consolation. It appears to be the latest arsenal in the hands of the APC in Sokoto. They want to cry wolf where there is none.

They started this trick sometime ago when they tried to blackmail Bafarawa for joining the PDP. They wanted Bafarawa to look bad in the eyes of the public. But that did not work because their own man, Wamakko, was equally a defector. He left PDP for APC. That alone weakened the argument of Bafarawa's opponents. Their agenda had to collapse like a pack of cards. Then they moved on to other issues.

They wanted the public to believe that Bafarawa is overbearing and wants to lead all the time.

For those who know the issues, these people are beating about the bush. They are not addressing the real factors of Sokoto politics. The real issues are as follows. There is going to be a battle of supremacy between Bafarawa and Wamakko in 2015. Each party concerned should sit back and do its home work. Each should strategise on how to win the election. From what we can see, Bafarawa and his group are working hard to carry the day. We do not see much of propaganda from their end. This is an indication of seriousness. On the contrary, the Wamakko group seems to be fixated about Bafarawa. He is their whipping boy. They see him as their problem.

They have therefore stopped at nothing to blackmail him. This does not show seriousness and focus on the side of the Wamakko group.

As the elections approach, we advise Wamakko and his group to change their approach to politics in Sokoto State. If they continue to make Bafarawa the issue, the people of Sokoto State will have no choice but to reject the APC and all it stands for at the polls. A word, they say, is enough for the wise.

As for Bafarawa and his group, we encourage them to remain focused. Those who are crying wolf will discover, sooner or later, that propaganda cannot win the heart of the people. It can only make them to become more wary of the ways of those who deceive them.

Igurube, a public policy analyst, contributed this piece from Abuja.

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