African voice newspaper issue 544

Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014 ISSUE 544

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SINCE 2001

B R I TA I N ’ S N O . 1 A F R I C A N N E W S PA P E R

My Vision for Benue State,

by Dr. Eugene Aliegba

£1.00

SEE PAGE 12 &13

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NIGERIA EBOLA ALERT SHOULD BE GLOBAL CONCERN

By Alan Oakley

Nigeria has put in an urgent request for the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp following the country’s third death from the virus that is tearing through its West African neighbours.

Information Minister Labaran Maku is awaiting a response from the US Centre for Disease Control to an official request for the as yet unapproved drug. Nigeria’s appeal follows World Health Organisation (WHO) permission for untested treatments to be administered to Ebola victims in view of the seriousness and rapid spread of the epidemic and news that Canada’s Public Health Agency would be providing the WHO with up to 1000 doses of the drug.

Controversially, ZMapp has already been administered to two doctors in Liberia and two aid workers who have been returned to America. A Spanish priest who returned to Madrid after becoming infected succumbed to the disease despite having been given

ZMapp. Critics have been quick to point out that none of the recipients of the potentially life-saving treatment has been African.

Latest figures suggest that there have been ten people infected in Nigeria so far, three of whom have since died. Another 140 people are either showing possible symptoms of have come into contact with known victims. These figures must be of major concern to the wider international community, coming as they do from Africa’s largest and most populous nation.

Flights travel from capital Abuja and former capital Lagos to major cities worldwide on a daily basis. This is in marked contrast to Liberia and Guinea from where passengers can be relatively easily monitored or denied travel.

The latest death from the Ebola virus in Nigeria at the time of writing is that of 36year-old government official Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir.

Continued on page 2

Liberian government consultant Patrick Sawyer is suspected of transporting Ebola to Nigeria

Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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John Major praises immigrants’ ‘drive’ While the current Conservative leader has been doing his best to convince the nation that he is doing his best to get immigration ‘under control’, former Prime Minister John Major has in fact praised immigrants during an inter- view with BBC Radio 4.

In the interview, with historian Paul Hennessey, Sir Major described his time growing up in Brixton, where he and his family lived amongst immigrants. He described the immigrants as ‘gutsy’ with ‘drive’ showcasing the true Conservative spirit.

‘There was a different social value placed on immigration. I saw immigration at very close quarters in the 1950s,’ he said.

They shared my house. They were my neighbours. I played with them as boys. I didn’t see people who had come here just to benefit from our social system. I saw people with guts and the drive to travel halfway across the world in many cases to better themselves and their families.”

“And I think that is a very Conservative instinct.” Sir Major’s statement comes amidst growing concerns about the number of immigrants entering the country and apparently claiming benefits. UKIP, a party that has often been described as a slightly softer version of the controversial BNP, have seen a dramatic rise in their following particularly over the last year

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi Managing Editor Alan Oakley News Editor Peter Olorunnisomo Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Milton Tella Yemi Dipeolu Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer African Voice UK Accountant Fanla Agboola London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

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African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

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News Lib-Dems suggest body-cams for Stop and Search cops

By Yemi Dipeolu

The Liberal Democrats have announced plans to tighten the rules on stop and search, in order to ‘change community relationships and increase the public’s trust in the police’.

In their pre-manifesto, which will be released in September, the Lib-Dem Home Office Minister Norman Baker will outline changes to the current Stop and Search rules, which proposes the mandatory use of body camera by armed officers and those in section 60 stop and search areas. It seeks to ‘eradicate target driven incentives which can cause the powers to be overused by the police’ In 2013, research by The Equality and Human Rights Commission found that black people are on average 6 times more likely to be stopped and search in comparison to their white counterparts, 29 times more likely in some areas.

“The Liberal Democrats want to transform community relations and restore the public’s trust in the police,” Norman Baker said.

“Far too many innocent people are subjected to stop and search, which is often based on crude stereotyping of minorities.

Black people 29 times more likely to be stopped and searched in some areas

“Stop and search has led to tension, and it’s something that cannot be ignored. Liberal Democrats in Government have been taking the lead, and believe more must be done in the next parliament.”

The announcement comes at a time when police have been criticised for their indiscriminate and at times unnecessary use of Stop and Search. In Scotland parents were outraged by the overuse of stop and search on children, where by 17.5% of stop and search instances were carried out on them.

Nigeria Ebola alert should be global concern Continued from front page

He had been in contact with Liberian government consultant Patrick Sawyer, who was the first person to die of Ebola in Nigeria on 25 July.

Sawyer had been allowed to fly from Liberia to Nigeria on official business despite having previously been put in isolation by his employer AncelorMittal, who suspected he was at high risk of contracting the disease from his sister who died in early July.

According to CCTV, Mr Sawyer appeared unwell at the airport prior to boarding his flight to Murtala Mohammed Airport; at one point apparently feeling compelled to lie face down in an airport corridor. He subsequently became so unwell during his flight that he was whisked away to First Consultant Hospital in Obalende immediately upon landing.

Shockingly, officials at the hospital say they turned down repeated requests from Sawyer’s employer to discharge him so that he could attend an ECOWAS conference in Calabar.

Unless Nigeria is granted its request for the ZMapp vaccine, one can only speculate as to the international reaction to travellers from Africa’s commercial hub. Gambia, Ivory Coast and Zambia have already banned flights from Nigeria, and Zambia has said Nigerian passengers would be quarantined for 30 days before being permitted to enter the country.

Nigerian Health worker with a patient

There were 1 800 confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola and more than 1 000 deaths as of 9 August, according to WHO statis-

Mr Patrick Sawyer and daughter

tics. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, which share a border, have been the hardest-hit countries.

Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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News

Actress Golda John celebrates twin milestones with book launch

By Alan Oakley

The great and the good from several continents convened in London to celebrate the 60th birthday and honour the 40-year career of actress Golda John Abiola last weekend.

Friends she has known for more than half a century – since her formative years in Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria – undertook the arduous 6000 mile round trip with zeal to be able to share an ephemeral but poignant reunion with “Aunty Gold”, “Sister Golda”, “Obuts” or “Mama G” to relate just a few of the affectionate sobriquets coined by those whose lives she has touched.

From those with whom she has shared time on stage and screen to those who have busied themselves behind the scenes, Golda’s professional colleagues spoke with one voice of her professionalism and dedication to her craft. That she could be relied upon to give of her best has always been beyond doubt, but guest speakers also alluded to her happy knack of being able to extract the best from those around her – a talent she displayed even before her earliest forays into acting for a living alongside seasoned professionals.

School friends from Golda’s time at Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls’ Secondary School, some of whom played opposite her in school performances, were surprisingly well represented considering the time and distance that needed to be spanned to relate their memories. Others’ associations with her are more recent but no less memorable. Eminent professors from Golda’s time at University of Lagos were also effusive about her acting prowess.

None of the foregoing should be allowed to overshadow Golda’s personal life. The theme for the evening was Loving Wife,

Top right: Golda plays Michael Jackson’s mother in the BBC Red Nose Comic Relief with British comedian Andi Osho (left) with other actors, London 2010. Below: With the cast of Family Legacy a 25 - minute home video drama funded by NHS to increase awareness and challenge taboos, superstitions and religious beliefs surrounding Sickle Cell disease.

Caring Mother, and her husband, publisher Mike Abiola, had compiled a collection of tributes and messages, including many from family members and those who clearly regard Golda as a surrogate mother/sister/aunt. These were presented to the celebrant as a book, the title of which gave the evening its theme and which was launched as part of the day’s itinerary.

Loving Wife, Caring Mother: a Collection of Tributes to a Wife to Love Forever is described in my own review as a “veritable encomium”. The book opens with a foreword by personal friend throughout Golda John’s career, Prof. Duro Oni, Professor of Theatre Arts – Department of Creative Arts & Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) at University of Lagos.

Copies will be available to order via Facebook and later on Amazon, Kindle & eBooks.

Golda as Mrs Laditi with cast members of Westway, a BBC World Service drama

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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Diamond Jubilee: Actress Golda John

Faces@the party

Dr. & Mrs Peter Ozua

From right: Sola John, Golda, Mike, Adebanke, Ajiri and Emevi

Mr & Mrs Odufunlade

From right: Chief & Mrs Bimbo Folayan, Prince Tajudeen Adeniyi and Mr & Mrs Abiola

Mr & Mrs Dele Ogun

From right: Dr. Sunday Popoola, Golda, Mike and Ms Arit Otu

Mr & Mrs Femi Okutubo and Hajia Hawa Funtua Evangelist Helen Adeleke, Mrs Babatunde, Mrs Odunowo and Sister Liz

From right: Mr & Mrs Elegbede, Mr & Mrs Mike Abiola, Mrs Oshinowo and a guest

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Barrister Tunji Bamishigbin

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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News

MoneyGram Donates 250 Tablets to Students in SA MoneyGram a leading global money transfer and payment services company, has announced the MoneyGram Foundation and the One Laptop Per Child Foundation (OLPC) are hosting a donation event at the Masibambane Junior Primary School in the Orange Farm community to distribute 250 tablets to student’s attending the school in South Africa.

The event is meant to recognize and celebrate the Masibambane students as the first South African recipients of the OLPC’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Learning Environment program.

The MoneyGram Foundation’s grant of $75,000 facilitates the initiation of the OLPC pilot program and provides access to technology to the Masibambane School as a way to support and supplement its existing curriculum. This XO tablet-based program is intended to combat social exclusion and to encourage individual empowerment amongst student users.

“The MoneyGram Foundation is a strong advocate for education worldwide and focuses on high-impact initiatives such as

Children with Principal

this one,” said Anton Luttig, Regional director for South and East Africa at MoneyGram. “We were especially intrigued and

Children with tablets

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excited by the idea that each one of the 250 tablets distributed here today will be used and reused by so many deserving students, maximizing the reach and impact of the donation.”

The XO tablet that the OLPC Masibambane Learning Environment program is centered on was developed by America’s prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and features a 7.5-inch optical multi-touch display screen. It is loaded with an array of e-learning software that both enables and tracks each child’s educational progress.

“The fact that Masibambane itself developed an overarching ICT development plan for learners and teachers is a key reason why we were attracted to this particular school,” said Mark Kaplan, executive chairman of OLPC South Africa Foundation. “As of now, only a little over 6,000 of South Africa’s more than 25,000 schools are ICT-enabled. If we are to conquer South Africa’s growing digital divide, it is vital that more South African schools and their

surrounding communities develop similar ICT educational plans and partner with sponsors like the MoneyGram Foundation and OPLC to bring that plan into action.”

Along with Anton Luttig and Mark Kaplan, other attendees of the Masibambane donation event include Gabriel Wilson, senior marketing manager of South and East Africa at MoneyGram, Peter Mureu, marketing manager of South and East Africa, and other representatives of MoneyGram International and OLPC organizations – along with members of the local community, the Department of Basic Education, and technical advisor Pendula ICT. OPLC is the world’s foremost non-profit organization dedicated to offering children in developing countries access to affordable laptops and tablets. OLPC strives to provide children worldwide with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, Linux-based, connected XO laptops. OLPC has designed hardware, content and software for collaborative and self-empowered learning.

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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African sugar producers heading into rough waters as EU quota ends

By Finnigan Wa Simbeye

Local sugar producers are heading into rough waters as the annual sugar quota which allowed them export to the European Union (EU) comes to an end in 2017.

Since 2007, the EU has been reforming its Sugar Protocol regime as part of directives by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to end its heavily subsidised European Common Agriculture Policy.

The annual EU sugar exports used to be an important hard currency earner for the country as the commodity fetched premium prices almost double the world market prices.

Euros earned from over 20,000 metric tonnes of sugar exports per annum to the EU enabled local sugar industries to expand their production by importing machinery and repair parts which played a significant role in boosting production which now stands at about 300,000 metric tonnes.

Under pressure from some members of the WTO led by the United States, which complained against preferential trade treatment between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) members, Brussels and its ACP partners have been forced to end their trade arrangement.

Crafted in June 2000 through the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, the EU/ACP trade deal succumbed to WTO censure and

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was forced to start a different arrangement known as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The new arrangement has met stiff resistance from some of the ACP members who were split in regional blocs by the European Commission (EC), which argued that it would be much more efficient to negotiate through regional blocs other than with ACP as a single bloc.

Tanzania, which started negotiating EPAs under the Southern African Development Community (SADC), decamped a few years later after South Africa ignored other SADC members and went on to sign an EPA with the EC (executive arm of the EU).

South Africa, which by any standards is a middle income economy, has a lot to trade with the EU compared to Tanzania and other smaller ACP economies, hence was obliged to decamp and seek a much more suitable group with similar characteristics. The East Africa Community (EAC) was Dar es Salaam’s ultimate choice after Kenya and Uganda, which initially wanted

to sign an EPA under Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, decamped to the sub-regional bloc.

Under the controversial EPAs, the initial idea as per WTO rules was to remove preferential trade treatment between ACP and EU countries which discriminated against other members of the global trade body’s over 140 countries.

In addition, EPAs sought to introduce trade reciprocity, which means if Brussels allowed ACP commodities entry into its market duty free, the same should be granted to EU exports into ACP markets. It spelt a disaster.

Much of the ongoing debate between the EC and EAC bloc over EPAs is mainly centred on this and other similar trade details like Singapore Issues (liberalised trade in services, etc).

Last week news came out that the EU will start exporting sugar to the Middle East and Africa come 2017. According to Reuters, the EU is expected to end sugar production quotas - currently at some 14 million tonnes per year - as part of reforms to create a freer sugar market.

Analysts said the volume of EU sugar exports after the lifting of quotas would be linked to growers’ assessments of international sugar prices relative to alternative crops such as grains, as well as production and freight costs. Some analysts said they

believed the EU had the potential to export some 2 million tonnes a year after quotas are lifted.

Although the EU expects to export mainly industrial sugar, which the country does not produce, the idea of changing its sugar regime under WTO raises enough eyebrows among Least Developed Countries (LDC), which since 2000 have opposed any new global Trade Round under Doha Process.

The LDC group is worried that EPA are meant to achieve what has stalled at WTO through the back door because, as a bloc, ACP has more than 70 members who add up to over 100 if joined by the EU’s 28 members.

With over 100 combined members, the EU/ACP trade arrangement is enough to push through stalled global free trade talks at WTO where another significant number of American and Asian countries are backing the move.

Industrial sugar from Europe will be the first product to open up the African market for heavily subsidised European sweetener with many others likely to follow.

In the long run, Africa will become a department mega shop for not only EU producers, but also other heavily subsidised American and Asian producers who will qualify for duty free exports under WTO’s non- discriminatory rules.

Kenyans are angry at news that China Road and Bridge Corporation, the engineering giant charged with building the railway link between Kenya and the rest of the East African Community, is to bring 500 Chinese labourers into the country despite high local unemployment levels.

ment.

“I strongly believe this contract is not doing any good to the nation. Instead, this contract is doing more harm for Kenya by churning out jobs meant for locals to foreigners,” said Ms Owila.

Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC), Managing Director, Atanas Maina, announced that works on the 609km railway would commence in September with the Chinese contracted company bringing in at least 500 workers.

“The contractor will bring in the workers and get additional ones locally (...) We have also commenced discussions to reduce timelines and ensure that the project is completed by 2017,” Maina was quoted as saying. He added that the first stage of the railway line construction would cost the country a whopping Sh327 billion.

The new railway link is scheduled to be completed by 2018.

Kenya rail link to create jobs . . . for Chinese workers

“While we appreciate awarding the contract to the Chinese, we would not allow such a huge number of Chinese workers coming to steal our jobs here,” Godfrey Injera told reporters in Nairobi, adding: “The 500 Chinese coming to Kenya have already taken jobs meant for our local people, this is unacceptable.”

Mavis Owila, a vegetable vendor, who said she did not condone the government’s move to allow Chinese import labour on jobs that locals could do, echoed this senti-

Friday, 9 May – Thursday, 15 May 2014

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Culture

Kizomba- A different kind of African dance When most people think about African dance, the first thing that probably pops in to their head is the image of the so-called ‘tribal dance’, of curvaceous women and topless men shaking their grass –clad booties to the beat of a drum. A quick Google search attests to this fact, with most dance companies that teach African dance focusing on the rhythmic choreography that we often associate with the form.

Rarely do we think of the couples dances that are most heavily linked to Europe and Latin America.

Kizomba, a dance that originated in Angola around 40 years ago, couldn’t be further away from this image. Although it derives from the Semba dance of the 1940s, and has roots in the rural areas of Angola or the ‘Museka’. Kizomba, along with Semba and other similar dances, stems from a group of dances known as Umbigada (bellybutton to bellybutton dances). The early colonisation of Angola by Portugal has meant that, unlike many other African countries which mostly have individualistic dances, partner dances are an integral part of Angolan culture.

Iris de Brito, award winning singer, dancer and choreographer, and founder of AfroLatino dance studio in London, describes it as a ‘fusion between Angolan Semba and French Caribbean music’. The word literally translates as ‘party’ in Kimbundu, which, as Iris wisely points out, is also the translation of the names of many popular dances, such as Salsa and Rumba.

Kizomba was the first dance that Iris learnt and, although she is trained in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance, Kizomba has always remained close to her heart. In fact her knowledge of Kizomba helped her when learning other dances such as Ballet.

‘When I had to do partner dances in ballet, I was very good at it because I had grown up doing partner dances with my family. I was already used to touching someone and accompanying someone and understanding the balance. Whereas when you’re training in ballet and going to ballet schools, and you start doing your partner work, it’s completely new if you’ve grown up in the West.

It’s harder if you’re not used to it. For me it was very normal for me to dance with guy,’ she explains.

The fact that Kizomba is a close partner dance is something that attracts Westerners to the dance. On the flip side, this has resulted in Kizomba being sexualised. ‘In the West, Kizomba has been completely sexualised, which has happened with a lot of Latin and African dances,’ she laments, adding, ‘As soon as something is touchy or close, the first thing that happens is that for people who haven’t grown up with this mentality it becomes sexualised. People want to be doing all kinds of crazy things

Batuke! Festival will be taking place from August 22nd- August 25th

Studio Afro Latino

Iris de Brito

and call it Kizomba. So now when I teach, my challenge is to teach people that this dance is not sexual. ’ In 2004, Iris opened Studio Afro-Latino to share Kizomba and its accompanying culture with the world. The group have travelled all across Europe, teaching classes and putting on various events. The classes, which she describes as extremely inclusive, attract a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, age groups and walks of life - something that is an integral part of the studio’s objective to reflect the parties that Iris experienced back home in Angola.

‘What I’ve found interesting over the last 5-10 years with this dance,’ she says ‘is that you have ,for example, a lady who is from Australia and nearly 70 and you have people who are 20-something who are at the same party, and everyone is still enjoying it!’

When describing the Wednesday night classes at 229 Portland Street, the word ‘party’ would certainly not be too far off.

The class begins with a short warm-up, after which students break off into groups depending on their level of expertise. The dance itself is a medium tempo, male-led partner dance, which, with its fancy footwork, can at first seem somewhat complicated. However, the team at Studio AfroLatino manage to make even the most reticent of newbies feel at ease. Once class is over, the dance studio transforms into a Kizomba nightclub, where you can put your new moves into practice emboldened by a few drinks.

Studio Afro-Latino doesn’t only teach weekly dance classes. Since 2010 they have put on yearly Afro-Luso dance festival Batuke!, which features workshops and performances from dancers and musicians.

They also make regular appearances at the famous Notting Hill Carnival, reflecting their hopes to make the festival more cultural, Iris says, ‘We want to take our festival to a more cultural place and for people to say if they want to know about Afro-Luso culture , I’m going to Batuke!.’ She also hopes to showcase the little known African Carnival. ‘A lot of people think that African Carnival doesn’t exist – that it’s just in the Caribbean, whereas, in Angola, Carnival is every February and is massive.

Batuke! Festival will be taking place from August 22nd- August 25th.

Photos: Kaleish Mohammed

By Yemi Dipeolu

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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Aregbesola made the dedication in his remark at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Headquarters in Osogbo, shortly after the presentation of the certificate of return to him by the supervising National Commissioner, Ambassador Mohammad Wali.

He commended INEC for conducting a largely free and fair election which he scored as high as 75 percent in performance.

Aregbesola however advised INEC to guard jealously vital electoral materials against being tampered with.

According to the governor, “I want to advise INEC to take seriously the security of election materials, they should be extra vigilant with the materials they used in election, we appeal to you to be alert and more determined to secure materials to

avoid compromised staff to tamper with the materials.

“I also want to commend other contestants who enriched the country’s democratic process, they must all come to us on how we can move forward our state. For those who are embittered, we are in no way inducing them not to chart the legal way to redress.

“We must add that while they are seeking redress in court, they can still join us on how we can give meaningful life to our people”. The governor stressed.

Aregbesola averred that no democratic mandate is inferior to the other, noting that for democracy to be meaningful, whatever honour given to the president must be extended to anyone that is democratically elected.

On the conduct of the troops drafted to the state, Aregbesola lamented that some of them acted in manner completely con-

Photo: Taofeeq Adejare

Certificate of Return: Aregbesola dedicates victory to Osun people

National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ambassador Muhammed Wali (left); presenting Certificate of Return to the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. With them are, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Secretary of the Commission, Mr .Oladipo Oladapo; Acting Director, Legal, Mr Ibrahim Bawa (3rd left) and others, at the INEC office, Osogbo, State of Osun

trary to the nation’s constitution by turning themselves into a terror gang shortly before and during the conduct of the election.

He condemned in strong terms harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrest of member, supporters and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress on the eve of the and the day of election.

He advised the security agencies to always sieve between genuine and wrong order so as to know which one to carry our and one to turn down.

Aregbesola continued: “I must commend the security agencies for their commitment to making the election a huge success and violence-free.

“However, one must not fail to mention the overzelousness of few of the security agencies, who in the name of obeying orders, ran riot and clamped down on innocent chieftains, members and supporter of our party.

“As security personnel, you constitutional role is to maintain law and order as well as protect the people of Nigerian.

“It is therefore criminal of any law enforcement agent to molest, harass or intimidate innocent people let alone killing a Nigerian.

“You must from now on develop the attitude of resisting wrong orders, which is antithetical to what constitution permits.

“Any order that is giving and which is not supported by the constitution is inimical to good governance and the rule of law.

“Therefore, whatever order that violates the constitution of Nigeria is criminal.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Osun, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje charged the

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governor to be magnanimous in victory for the benefit if the state and it’s people.

Agbaje described the August 9 election as one in which INEC was determined more than before to conduct a free, fair and credible election, saying INEC stands tall with the way the election had gone in Osun.

He admitted that the election was not completely smooth because political leaders were not to careful in their utterances, which unnecessarily heated up the polity before the election proper.

He said: “We at INEC by the judgement of international communities and observers are pleased that the Osun election is adjudged as the best in the country, though it was not completely smooth, utterances that over heated the polity among other allegations against INEC. “Not bordered on these, the commission focused on conducting a free, fair and credible election, we ensure that the distribution of election materials were done without any hiccup, so also voting and accreditation were done without any hitch.

“We will continue to do everything possible to make INEC one of the best in the world. Political leaders must shun all election vices, they must educate their people against this, there is a pressing need for unity among political leaders and others”.

The Commissioner pointed out.

He commended the people of Osun for coming out enmasse to vote for their candidate which lend credence to what INEC has stressed on people’s votes will represent the outcome of election. Culled from Vanguard Newspaper Nigeria.

Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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Africa Newsround

West Africa

Ebola shots for Africans in 2015 as US aid workers get better now According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there should be an Ebola vaccine ready for West Africa some time in 2015.

Clinical trials are due to get underway in the next few weeks and the disease’s emergency status means that subsequent phases can officially be accelerated so that a virus should become available in months instead of years.

GlaxoSmithKline will start trials next month, with the British pharmaceutical giant having initially started its own development of the vaccine in May 2013.

GlaxoSmithKline’s website states: “We are working with the US National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center (VRC) to advance development of an early stage vaccine candidate for Ebola. GSK acquired the vaccine candidate when we purchased Okairos in May 2013.

“In collaboration with VRC, we have evaluated this vaccine candidate in preclinical studies and we are now discussing with regulators advancing it to a phase I clinical trial programme later this year.”

A GlaxoSmithKline spokeswoman for said: “GSK and the VRC appreciate the very serious nature of the current Ebola outbreak, however, our vaccine candidate is at a very early stage of development Anti-Somal

and is not yet ready for use in these circumstances.”

The latest developments come as two US aid workers infected with the deadly virus appear to be responding well to an experimental treatment that had previously only been tested on monkeys. Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who were flown home to the US in a sealed tent

within a modified aircraft, were said to be improving thanks to a serum called ZMapp.

However, the administering of the drug angered authorities in West Africa as it had not been offered to them. Three of Britain’s leading Ebola experts said some of the few experimental treatments currently under study should be made available to African governments. Peter Piot, who discovered Ebola in 1976, David Heymann, the Director of the Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security and Jeremy Farrar from the Wellcome Trust, said in a joint statement that African governments should be “allowed to make informed decisions about whether or not to use these products for example to protect and treat healthcare workers who run especially high risks of infection.”

Tolbert Nyenswah, Liberia’s Assistant Health Minister, said that the missionaries’ treatments had “made our job very difficult” with dying patients and their families in Africa requesting the same drug.

D R Congo

It does seem that, with so many Africans willing to offer themselves as guinea pigs rather than face almost certain death, GlaxoSmithKline may be missing an opportunity.

Meanwhile, Guinea, where Ebola first emerged earlier this year, announced yesterday that it was closing its land borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone. More than 900 victims have died from the Ebola virus since this latest epidemic in March, the highest death-toll of any single recorded outbreak of the disease.

Riot police tried to control a demonstration in Liberia yesterday, which had taken to blocking a highway to protest the government’s delay in recovering bodies.

Residents told the Associated Press that the bodies of a number of Ebola victims had been left on the side of a road in the town of Weala for two days.

Nigeria, which has seen 13 cases of Ebola and two deaths, declared a national emergency on Friday, with President Goodluck Jonathan approving £7million to help combat the spread of the disease.

Significant oil find set to uproot communities

A digitised image of Lake Albert from the north A company owned by Israeli min- the gross domestic product (GDP) of the ing magnate Dan Gertler says it vast central African nation by 25 percent.

Armed movements, including rebel forchas discovered vast potential re- es from Uganda and its small but powerserves of oil in the strife-torn east ful southern neighbour Rwanda, have for of the Democratic Republic of decades battled in North Kivu over land and valuable minerals, in waves of ethnic Congo.

Oil of DRCongo, a subsidiary of the bloodshed.

According to the World Bank, GDP in Fleurette Group, said in a statement that seismic testing from Lake Albert, which 2013 was $30.6 billion for a nation of 67 forms part of the northeastern border with million people.

Oil of DRCongo said it planned to conUganda, indicated reserves of around three billion barrels of oil. It said exporting the duct more tests and establish exploratory oil from North Kivu province could boost wells, but warned that further develop-

Kenya

Lynch mob attacks clinic over 12-year-old’s abortion death

According to Standard Media, quick action by police officers in Bungoma town in Kenya averted an ugly scene after angry residents attempted to burn down a clinic located along the Kakamega-Bungoma road following the death of a year seven pupil suspected to have received an abortion at the facility.

ment was bound to affect people living by the shore of the lake in the restive territory.

Preparation for drilling “includes relocation of some local communities, transport to the site of the drilling equipment, installation of a base camp for staff, new supply roads, a new dock on Lake Albert and a landing strip for moving personnel and equipment,” it said in a statement. It said the enormous find on DRC territory “mirrors that of the Ugandan side” of the lake, but gave no further details.

The company highlighted efforts it has made in return to help local residents by building roads and schools and giving financial support to a medical and maternity centre. Omar Kavota, a spokesman for civil society groups in North Kivu, said the reported oil find could be “a source of opportunity to boost the level of the economy”.

But he insisted that “the wealth must be exploited in a legal way to benefit everybody”, arguing that if this failed to happen, “neighbouring states could manipulate armed groups to make this part of the coun-

try ungovernable, to stop the DRC from benefitting from its natural resources.”

Gertler, whose net worth is estimated at $2.5 billion by US business magazine Forbes, is close to DRC President Joseph Kabila, and has a wide range of interests from mining to trade, according to the Fleurette Group. He has reportedly helped create more than 20,000 jobs in the DRC after buying his first mine in the troubled country in 1997. But critics claim that he has built his fortune by acquiring mining permits in the DRC in dubious circumstances, although he has always denied this.

The country has enormous potential mineral wealth, with huge reserves of cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, silver, zinc and uranium. But the almost relentless conflict, along with pillaging, illegal mining and a lack of investment, has kept the country classified as low-income, with 70 percent of people living below the poverty line.

A crowd surrounded the Joe Medical Clinic immediately word began to spread that a pupil from Lubunda Primary School had succumbed to complications after Dr. Joseph Owola allegedly attempted an abortion. They were in the process of dousing the facility with petrol when anti-riot police officers arrived and rescued the terrified medical practitioner residents accused of being behind several such abortions.

Police took the girl’s body to Bungoma County Hospital mortuary as the doctor was also arrested and locked up at the Bungoma Police Station.

“We have arrested the doctor and now we will take him to court. Wananchi [citizens] should be patient,” said Bungoma County Police Commandant Charles Munyoli.

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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My Vision for Benue S After holding six different portfolios in the administration of Dr Suswan, the stage now beckons to erudite political scientist Dr. Eugene Tarkende Aliegba to take over the helms of affair in Benue State If experience in the political terrain, academic achievements and a youthful vision is anything to go by, then Dr Aliegba deserves to be “awarded” the governorship of Benue State come 2015. The thoroughbred academician who hails from Gwer Local government of the state has virtually trans versed all the vital portfolios in the present regime, where he has left his footprint of achievements. The 50 years old Associate Professor of Political Science has equally rose through the ranks of academics, first as Graduate Assistant, Assistant lecturer, Lecturer 11, and rising meteorically to becoming Associate Professor

in less than ten years. He has held all the positions one can think of in the Faculty of Social Sciences – Dean of Students Affairs, Deputy Dean of Social Sciences, Head of Department of Political Sciences and Head of various committees, including being a member of Senate of the Benue state University, before joining the Benue State Government in July 2007 where served as Honourable Commissioner for Education, Rural Development, Works, Housing and Sports as well as Agriculture - his last appointment before his resignation, following his willingness to contest the gubernatorial election next year in the state.

Mustapha Chike-Obi From left: Dr. Eugene Aliegba, Benue State Governorship aspirant with Mr Mike Abiola Editor in Chief of African Voice Newspaper in London

Serving in these various ministries has endeared him to the people and equipped him with the vital experience and exposure necessary for the onerous job of governor. Dr Aliegba who has visited not less than 24 countries of the world in the course of his governmental duties, said his achievements speak for themselves. At the ministry of education, he was responsible for the introduction of one model science and technical laboratory in each senatorial zone namely GSS Naka, GSSS, Anyim and GSS, Ojun as well as massive rehabilitation of school for the efficient smooth running of the basic and secondary education in the state. He also introduced and encouraged compulsory boarding in schools in the state. His streak of development spread to the rural sector where electricity and roads where extended to vast communities The welltravelled technocrat told the African Voice that he intent to transform the state with a master plan referred to as the Benue State Development Strategy. According to him, the document “is still undergoing inputs from various stakeholders and opinion groups”.

The document which focuses on six main areas namely Value Reorientation, Infrastructural Development,

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Agriculture and Industry, Social Sector focusing on youth education, culture and tourism as well as Security is intended to transform the state to another level.

In this interview with the African Voice, Dr Aliegba tells readers of his optimism in the race and his vision for the state.

African Voice - You have a herculean task considering the number of politicians gunning for the governorship seat such as Mike Aondoakaa, Dr Samuel Ortom, and Dr Gabriel Nyitse etc. What do you think are your chances of winning?

Dr Aliegba - My chances are that I have first entrusted this project unto God’s hands. I pray and ask him to look at me and the heart he has created and given me and if he so finds me fit to use to look after his people in Benue so I am prepared. Secondly, my background, training and personal disposition to things as a human being shows I am prepared for an assignment of this nature. I am by nature one who promotes and protects the interest and rights of the less privileged and I believe I can serve well. For others, I don’t talk about much since I believe the public that knows us well should be allowed to judge but I am certain my chances are bright.

Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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e State, by Dr. Aliegba African Voice - What is the relationship between you and Senator David Mark who can be regarded as a political heavyweight in the Benue political dispensation?

Dr Aliegba - The relationship I have with Senator Mark is that he is an Elder Statesman in Nigeria, number three in the nation and a top member of my party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and most importantly the number one person representing my state (Benue) at the Federal level.

I have enormous respect for him as a great politician and a good representative of our people.

African Voice - Do you have the support of the present Governor, Mr Gabriel Suswam?

led. As a member of the Benue State Executive Council for almost the entire two tenures of Governor Suswam, most if not all policies of the administration had my inputs. I will therefore continue with them and introduce new programmes and projects where there is need.

African Voice - Do you have a master plan to transform the state?

Dr Aliegba – Yes, I have a master plan.

It’s now named Benue State Development Strategy. It is a document still undergoing criticism and inputs from various stakeholders and opinion groups. It has a broad focus on six main areas namely Value Reorientation, Infrastructural Development, Agriculture and Industry, Social Sector focusing on youth education, culture and tourism etc. then Security and finally part-

“I strongly believe the Jonathan administration is doing well. As an insider I share in the pains and frustration of a leader whom a section of the country believes is occupying a seat which should be theirs hence resort not to see anything good in the administration.”

Dr Aliegba - Well, I am a foundation member of the Administration of H.E. Governor Gabriel Suswam. I was a member of the group that drew up his popular programme “Our Benue our future” and on taking office as governor, he invited me to join him in government to support him implement the agenda of the programme. After nearly seven years of stewardship I sought his permission to leave his Government and contest and indeed it will be good for a member of the Suswam administration to take over and continue so as to enhance the principle of continuity in governance which is really lacking in the Nigerian governance process. To that extent I pray and expect he should find me a good candidate that he can support. That’s all I can say on this.

African Voice - What do you intend to do differently if you are elected governor?

Dr Aliegba - The programmes I will carry out will first be built on what Governor Suswam has achieved. I served in his administration in five ministries and with the new ministries of science and technology and housing carved out of ministries I had served in makes it seven ministries that I

nering with the international community.

African Voice - How do you intend to solve the insecurity issues in the state if you are elected bearing in mind the problems between the Tivs and Fulani herdsmen?

Dr Aliegba - The security problem is caused by an old tradition of animal livestock farming which entails the Fulani moving cattle from one end of the country to another, this brings them in conflict with farmers because of the destruction to farms by the animals. But a new dimension which has developed is when armed cattle breeders forcefully and violently takeover farms and villages to grace. This became worse when much of the state especially the Tiv areas and Agatu LGA in zone C were so much affected. The Benue State Government did set up committees to look into the crisis.

One committee was led by General Atom Kpera for the Tiv areas and the one on the Idoma areas led by General Onoja. I believe that what we need to do will be to implement the approved Government white paper that will arise from this since the Atom Kpera committee has already submitted its report and a white paper committee already

Dr. Eugene Aliegba, Benue State Governorship aspirant flanked by Mr Mike Abiola and wife actress Golda John Abiola during her Diamond Jubilee celebration in London at the weekend

set up. It must be stated clearly that polices and traditions must change. Nigeria is not among the top 25 cattle owning countries in the world but top in cattle crisis. As for the general security, it is to continue to enforce security measures, on the ground enlighten our people on how to monitor their environment and also step up activities that will productively engage our youths.

African Voice - What is your assessment of the Jonathan administration and Mr President’s desire to contest the Presidential election in 2015?

Dr Aliegba - I strongly believe the Jonathan administration is doing well. As an insider I share in the pains and frustration of a lead-

er whom a section of the country believes is occupying a seat which should be theirs hence resort not to see anything good in the administration. Secondly he is operating at a time of serious security challenges hence one can generally say he has done quite well to be appreciated. He is calm, refused to be provoked and generally working hard to keep the country as one united entity.

Sectoral achievements are also numerous in infrastructure, agriculture, transportation etc. As per his desire to contest, first as a person, he has a personal right to make a decision and if he does, he gets my support. Secondly, the PDP family where he belongs will sit and consider the matter and when they so decide we the members will surely stand by it.

From left: Dr. Eugene Aliegba with Mr Mike Abiola

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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CRIME

Kidnap gang jailed for more than 76 years

A gang who kidnapped and tortured a man and blackmailed his family have been jailed for more than 76 years on Monday 4 August. During an Old Bailey trial the court heard how the victim, a 20-year-old man, had been kidnapped by the gang and held for nearly 24 hours.

He was tortured, including being burnt by an iron, and demands of £100,000 made to his family for his release or he would be killed.

Armed police, following a live kidnap operation, successfully rescued the victim.

The following three had previously been found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to falsely imprison and conspiracy to blackmail: Victor Latali 21 from East London was imprisoned for 14 years, Ryan “Rico” Ince, 20 was imprisoned for 10 years and Josh Smith 22 was imprisoned for 10 years.

At an earlier hearing the following four had pleaded guilty to the same three counts: Daniel “Soopz” Alleyne 22, were imprisoned for 11 years and four months, Aaron “Rizla” Assante 22 from Moorfield, Harlow

- imprisoned for 11 years and four months, Albertino “Albi” De-Santos Santana 21, of Sark Walk E16 - imprisoned for 11 years and four months and Enrique “Ricky” Santana 20, of Sark Walk E16 - imprisoned for eight years and eight months.

The convictions follow a successful response and investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Kidnap and Specialist Investigation Unit, part of the Serious, Organised and Economic Crime Command.

On Tuesday, 24 September 2013 the victim had gone with a friend to jump-start his car that had broken down in a car park in Beckton. Whilst there, two unknown men took the victim’s car keys and demanded £500 for their return. Not knowing if the men were armed or not the victim didn’t forcibly resist.

Instead, after the men had left, the victim contacted an associate to see if he could help identify who had taken his car keys and help him get them back.

This associate took the victim to a flat in Fords Park Road E16 where a man later identified as Ince met them.

Once inside a man later identified as Alleyne and dragged into the living room where Alleyne, and men later identified as Latali and Assante, stripped the victim of his clothes grabbed the victim. The three men then proceeded to violently assault the victim with punches, kicks, a Stanley knife and steam from an iron.

A demand of £100,000 for the victim’s release was made in a phone call to his brother with the threat that if it wasn’t paid in 20 minutes then the victim would be killed. A second phone call made 15 minutes later had the victim screaming in pain as he was burned and assaulted. Following this call the victim’s brother called police and an immediate proactive investigation was launched.

Calls to the victim’s brother continued with demands for money and the victim continued to be tortured; a hot iron was pressed on his leg and, what he was told was a gun, was held to his head, all while he was duct- taped naked to a chair. During this time men later identified as Albertino and Enrique Santana and Smith also came to the address.

Sometime between 02.00hrs and 03.00hrs on Wednesday, 25 September 2013 the victim was given some of his clothing back, a T-shirt was placed over his head and he was moved to another loca-

tion, subsequently identified as a block of flats at Claremont Close, E16.

At around 14:00hrs it is believed the occupier of the address came home to find everyone inside the property and ordered them all to leave.

Abertino and Enrique Santana, Assante and Alleyne took the victim out of the address and into a car. Armed police subsequently stopped this vehicle. The victim was recovered and officers administered first aid until he could be seen by the ambulance service.

The four men were subsequently arrested. Alberino Santana was found in possession of two phones used in the calls to the victim’s brother and a further phone used was recovered from the car stopped by police.

Ince and Latali were arrested on Wednesday, 2 October 2013 and Thursday, 3 October 2013. On Wednesday, 29 January 2014 Smith was arrested. All declined to answers questions put to them in police interview.

They were all subsequently charged.

Son “Sonny” Van Deng, 40, of Fords Park Road E16 and a 17-year-old male youth from the E16 area were found not guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to falsely imprison and conspiracy to blackmail.

A 55-year-old man was attacked at his home in Wimbledon during an attempted burglary, leaving him with what the police have described as ‘life-changing injuries’.

“The level of violence used was extreme and has left a victim seriously injured and traumatised. The fast response to the 999 call ensured that two suspects were apprehended and the victim could receive immediate first aid.

“I must stress that this appears to be an isolated incident, and such cases are thankfully rare. However, this serious attack is now subject of a meticulous enquiry whilst we work to support individuals affected by the events and the local community. Officers are currently conducting high visibility patrols and speaking to residents to answer their concerns.”

CCTV footage of the area outside the home has also been released by the police.

The victim is currently in hospital awaiting eye surgery after suffering horrendous injuries to his face as well as bruising to his body and limbs. Several of the items stolen from the home have been retrieved.

One of the suspects has been formally charged while the other remains in custody.

Anyone with information is urged to call the incident room on 020 8649 3159; Or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Burglary leaves man with life altering injuries

At around 10 pm on Monday night (August 11th), police were called to a burglaryin-progress. Three masked men forced their way into the home of a the man, one of whom proceeded to viciously attack him.

They also threatened to tie a 50-year-old woman (presumably the victim’s wife) to a chair while they stole their belongings.

A 20-year-old woman who was upstairs at the time of burglary called the police who arrived promptly to the scene and managed to arrest two of the suspects. However, one of the masked men escaped and is yet to be caught or identified. Police are appealing for anyone who might know who the third suspect is to come forward.

Detective Inspector Dan O’Sullivan of Merton Burglary Squad said: “I’m appealing to anyone who was in the area between 21:00-23:00hrs and may have heard or seen the events that night. We are also seeking information regarding a silver car the suspects may have used.

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Grave error fortifies heart of Stone

Ashanti and Angie in happier times

Angie Stone has not been having the best press as of late since filming TVOne’s reunion special of ‘R&B Divas: Atlanta’ due to her backhanded remarks towards cast mate Sylenna Johnson and the cheating scandal surrounding her manager/boyfriend Ashanti Grave.

Supposedly Stone walked off during the taping of the reunion when host Wendy Williams asked her questions regarding her relationship with Grave. She found out that Ashanti allegedly cheated on her with a staff member of the show and even claimed she had proof through text messages and cell phone records. This led to Ashanti’s dismissal as manager and a split after an 8-year courtship.

Angie’s rep, Kali Bowyer, told RumorFix, “[Angie Stone] walked away from the reality TV show R&B Divas: Atlanta due to the lack of professionalism on behalf of [the] production crew and she did not want to associate herself with that type of behaviour and tricks of the trade. She was to be the voice of reason brought on under false pretences and after speaking and consulting with [her] pastor and church, it was not something she choose to allow in her life.”

Ashanti was apparently having an affair with one of the crew members of R&B Divas: Atlanta and the messy situation came to a boiling point when Wendy Williams brought up the rumour that [Angie] and Ashanti had called it quits before the reunion. Angie, not one to air her dirty laundry, told RumorFix, “My personal relationships with — first my God — and any man is a private and respectful institution and will not be drug (sic) through the mud.”

Unfortunately for Angie, the nasty rumour appears to be true since her own rep called out the TV One employee for “crossing the line of professionalism …

Pursuing a man who is in a committed relationship is disturbing on a multitude

of levels.” However, an insider told Madame Noire that Angie is just using this one woman — whom Angie allegedly tried to physically attack at the reunion show — as a scapegoat for her boyfriend’s philandering ways.

“From what I hear, [Ashanti] has a few ‘friends.’ That’s the reality. Whether or not one of those friends was one of the people in our production crew, I don’t know.

We’ve all heard and got wind of it. Everybody in the cast and crew knows,” said the insider. In addition, the source claims that while Angie says she has proof of the affair, she has yet to show it to the company and has since gone on to find new management with Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’s Deb Antney, aka Waka Flocka Flame’s mom.

It also appears Angie is done with Ashanti; on July 9 she tweeted, “Respect yourself enough to know to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy!” According to Angie’s rep, the reality TV star isn’t going to let this scandal rock who she is.

“Stone has been in this business for some 30 plus years, and will not allow anyone to attempt to tarnish her career or reputation, bottom line!” Kali told RumorFix. Phil Thornton, executive producer of R&B Divas Atlanta, confirmed that Stone will no longer take part in the program.

“We had 2 great seasons of R&B Divas: Atlanta with Angie Stone. All good things must come to an end. I truly wish her the best with her future endeavours.

God Bless.”

But as for her other claims of unprofessionalism and being misled about her role on the show, Thornton says that’s not true at all.

“Totally false! If things were that bad, Angie would have quit after her first season on show. I was the person who initially met with Angie about joining the show. We (production) always viewed Angie as the matriarch/big sister in the cast; that never changed. We have nothing but love and respect for Angie Stone.”

Selena Gomez counting on experience for next LP Selena Gomez has asked R&B veteran Siedah Garrett to write tracks for her new album.

Siedah Garrett is a prime example of that phenomenon that everyone has heard but few have heard of. She was the female vocalist on Dennis Edwards’ 1980s hit and perennial club classic “Don’t Look Any Further”. She also sang female lead on Michael Jackson’s “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” and co-wrote his introspective “Man in the Mirror” for his follow-up album to ‘Thriller”, “Bad”. As a performer, she passed through the revolving door that is the lead singer spot for the Brand New Heavies and has sung backing vocals on stage for countless artists, including Madonna. But it is in the studio and as a writer she has realised her biggest successes.

Ms Garrett, 56, tweeted a picture with Ms Gomez and wrote: “Listening closely to @ SelenaGomez as she invites me to write new pop songs for her next album.”

What now? First of all, the 21-year-old is rumoured to be putting out a greatest hits compilation later this year with three new tracks but they have already been recorded Siedah Garrett’s writing talent is being — so this must be for the follow-up to Stars recognised by young artists Dance. Also, Siedah specialises in soulful At least we know she’s still serious about ballads, which would represent a rather music. staggering change of pace for Selena.

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Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

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Gospel

LET IT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOY

By Michael Adekoya

“Dear brothers and sisters whenever trouble or persecution comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.

For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”(James 1:2-3 NLT).

Dear Readers, James, unlike many writers in the Bible, didn’t write on how to become a Christian but on how to act like one. My friend, the kind of troubles, trials, tests, challenges or persecution that James mentioned in the Scripture are those ones that a real, true and genuine Christian suffer for Christ’s sake, not the ones that come on us because of our ignorance, gullibility, mistakes, choices or sins. Even with that, the grace of God is still available to those who genuinely repent and confess their sins.

Jam. 1:2 is an interesting verse because it has the phrase “whenever” or “when” instead of “if.” James says, “Dear brothers and sisters whenever trouble or persecution comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. What a word!

You see, some people think that life is going to be all rose petals and sunlight, especially when they become a believer of Christ and Born Again. Even, in the institution of marriage, the same opinion or belief is held.

My friend, if I confirm that, then I would be speaking from a closed Bible and an empty head. Either you are saved or you are still lost, either you are black or white, young or old, life guarantees one thing – difficulty!

Temptation, testing or trial time is inevitable, variable and valuable. There will be trials, temptations, tests, challenges, misunderstandings, abuse, betrayal, accusations, pressure, stress, mistreatment, troubles or disappointments on the way to your destination (your Promised Land) or fulfilment of your destiny in life. You need to know that, otherwise the devil will mess up your life, your relationship or divine assignment!

My friend, listen! When you become a Christian, you do not become immune to these things. Trials are a part of life, but how we behave in response to what we might be going through is what causes an unbelieving world…unbelievers around us… to sit up and take notice. You can tell the size of a Christian by what it takes to stop him or her

Embrace the joy of the Lordchurch

to give up or surrender to the devil through pressure, stress, troubles, trials, challenges or tests. James says, count it joy when you are faced with all these things because they would produce patience, perseverance, endurance and living faith in you. Did you hear that?

My friend, you just have to open yourself up to accountability on this issue. If you are married, ask your spouse to answer these questions. If you are single, ask a trusted friend. If you are a Spiritual leader, please ask your congregation. And the question is, “How would you rate the way I have responded to trials in my life since you know me on a scale of 1-10?” If you score 1, it means that you have been thankful for the opportunity to learn patience and 10 means you have been resentful for every speed bump your vehicle of life has to pass over.

When you do this accountability test, you will be surprised of the new things you have learnt about yourself and those things you need to work on as you proceed this year?

­­

Are you looking for a church?

Not settled in any particular congregation?

Perhaps now is the time to pray about it If you are not yet saved try one of the following: Jubilee International Churchmeets at 2,30pm on Sundays at Kings Avenue School, Park Hill. London SW4. Part of Jubilee International Churches Worldwide. For information, you may call (020)8697 3354 New Wine Christian Church- 11am holds meeting at Ringcross Tennants Club, Lough Road, Holloway, N7. a member of the Icthus Fellowship

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Worldwide. For more information call 020 7609 959 or 07957 757 663.

Praise Tabernacle- 10:30am holds meetings at 620 Western Avenue (A40), Park Royal Business Centre, opposite Warner Bros. Cinema Complex, W3. part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. For information you may call 020 8993 3010 New Life Christian Centre 10.30am & 6.00pm. meetings at Cairo New Road, Croydon. The church has

James says, “Blessed is the man or woman who perseveres under trial, temptation or test, because when he or she has stood the test, he will receive the crown…” Jam. 1:12.

My friend, without pain and problems, what real joy is there in progress? If it costs nothing, it means nothing. Learning to overcome temptation, adversity, troubled relationship and failure is an inevitable part of achieving success in life. Listen! The only way to the Promised Land is through the wilderness “God’s killing field.” It is a place where the things that will cause us to stumble in our walk with God are permitted to die. If you are in the wilderness now, take heart. Walk through it knowing fully well that God is the only one who can get you through it.

My friend, whenever trouble or persecution, disappointment or abandonment, trial or test, tribulation or persecution comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.

Not all troubles are from the devil! Sometimes God will lead you into the wilderness,

a Bible school, primary, is involved in extensive mission work in Eastern Europe, Italy and India. For information you may call 020 8680 7671 Ruach Ministries - holds meeting at 9am, 11am and 6pm. For information you may call 020 8678 6888 International Central Gospel Church - Battersea Chapel, holds meetings on Sundays from 2.00pm. . For information you may call 020 8684 4934 Jesus Arena International- Sunday service at 11.00am at Broadwater Farm Centre, Adams Road N17 The Bible Life Church UK- They meet on Sunday mornings at 2.30pm at St Giles Centre, Camberwell

especially if He’s been trying to get our attention or talk to you about the call He’s placed on your life which you haven’t had time to listen. Sometimes He may allow certain troubles in your relationship to test your faith. He can allow problem to happen in order to strip your spouse of his or her pride.

He can permit certain moment in your life to strip you of self-sufficiency so that you can be brought to the place of total dependence on Him. If this where you are today, count it all joy.

My friend, anything less than God will let you down. So, for every predicament you face today, God has sufficient grace to carry you through. For every need you have, He has a supernatural supply. For every problem, He has a definite answer. For every hurt, He has a cure. Jeremiah, the Prophet, says, “…there is nothing too difficult or hard for You, O Lord! Jer 32:17. Did you hear that? Listen! God is waiting for an opportunity to show you what only Him can do. If you know that, then, whenever trial, trouble, pains or test comes your way, count it as an opportunity for joy in the Lord. As you drive toward your destiny, you’ll hit potholes, take wrong decisions, make wrong choice, take wrong turns and occasionally forget to check the radiator. But the Good News is that Jesus is the Way and He never fails. Therefore, count it all joy!

I pray that there shall be performance of everything which the Lord God has promised or spoken concerning you in Jesus name. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. Psa 30:5. My friend, God is there for you in the dark places and we all go through dark places. No matter what you are going through now, let joy rise up within you and rejoice in the Lord.

Don’t stop until you see the morning…until Satan and his agents are totally defeated and destroyed...until there is restoration or reconciliation, revival or resurrection of all things...Amen! Remain blessed!

Church Street, London SE5 Christ Apostolic church (Full Gospel & Pentecostal) Surrey Docks District 163 Ilderton Rd South Bermondsey London SE16 2UT. Tel. 020 7252 2086.

Time of worship: Sunday English service 9- 11.30am. Yoruba service 11.30 -2.30pm. Prophetic counselling: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12noon- 5pm, Saturday only 5- 7pm.

Holy Cross Church InternationalSunday 10.am- 1 pm at Crown House 71-73 Nathan Way London SE28 0BQ Tel: 07904 234 126, 07809 381 886 Times of service:Bible study: Thursdays 8pm. Night Vigil: Friday Forth-

nightly 12am Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners’ Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at 1 Churchill Close, Green Street, Green Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1QE meets Sunday 7.30am, 9.15am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm.

For details call: 01322 292097 Christ Apostolic Church Gravesend, St Aidan’s Church, St Aidan’s Way, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 4AG Tel: 01474 355 841, 07956 38 38 70 Time of worship: Wednesday Bible study: 7:30pm to 9:00pm Friday, Night Vigil: 9pm to 11pm Sunday Worship: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

Friday, 15 August – Thursday, 21 August 2014

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Indonesia

Daughter of music legend suspected in brutal matricide A 19-year-old daughter and her 21-year-old boyfriend are under arrest in Indonesia after the body of the girl’s mother was found stuffed inside a suitcase at an expensive Bali holiday resort.

Chicago teen Heather Mack and boyfriend Tommy Schaefer called a taxi to their hotel at the St Regis Resort in Nusa Dua on Tuesday (August 12). After lading the large suitcase into the boot and asking the driver to wait while they check out, hotel CCTV shows them fleeing through a back door. After about two hours, the driver approached hotel security who noticed blood on the outside of the suitcase and sent him to the local police station where 62-yearold Sheila von Wiese-Mack’s battered body was discovered wrapped in a bed sheet.

Heather Mack and Tommy Schaefer were tracked down sleeping at another hotel several hours later and arrested.

Both claimed they had been ambushed by an armed gang from whom they managed to escape, but not before they had killed Mrs von Wiese-Mack. Police said security cameras at the $500 per night hotel recorded Schaefer and his girlfriend’s mother arguing the night before, but no motive for murder has yet been established.

An autopsy showed Mrs von Wiese-Mack suffered several blunt force trauma injuries to her head and several defence wounds suggesting she fought to protect herself before eventually succumbing.

Sheila von Wiese-Mack was the widow of well-known Chicago jazz and classical composer/arranger James L ‘Maestro’ Mack, who worked with such luminaries as Ramsey Lewis, Tyrone Davis and Jerry Butler. He died of a pulmonary embolism in 2006 while on holiday with his wife and Heather Mack and her boyfriend allegedly fled the St Regis resort after loading her Heather in Greece. mother’s body into a cab

Cuba

Suspicion surrounds first new church in 50 years

Hurricane Sandy decimated much of Santiago de Cuba in 2012, including the city’s largest church

Cuba is reportedly set to approve the construction of a Catholic church on the island for the first time since the 1959 Revolution banned public religious activity as antithetical to Marxism.

The island’s Communist government has approved a permit for the building of a Catholic church building in Santiago de Cuba, second largest city to Havana. Demand for a new facility increased after Hurricane Sandy destroyed San Pedrito’s, then Santiago’s main place of worship, along with seven others.

“Catholics have been hearing Mass in the street since Hurricane Sandy destroyed their previous church, a termite-eaten wooden structure with a leaking tin roof,” wrote Katherine Backler of Roman Catholic weekly, The Tablet.

According to Ms Backler, Catholic residents of Santiago have begun planning the building project. Their main materials will

be recycled from destroyed buildings. Metal beams initially used years ago to build a stage for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI will be a key component in the new structure. The beams have been sitting in an empty lot since 2012, when the Pope arrived on Cuban soil.

About 57 percent of Cuba’s population is Christian. A common complaint among Cuban Christians is that of constant government surveillance and infiltration. Catholics continue to be the objects of persecution in communist Cuba. Members of one particular group of faithful Catholics - the Ladies in White, an anti-communist group comprised of the female relatives of political prisoners - are arrested at Sunday mass on almost a weekly basis. More than one hundred women dressed in white were arrested in July in one of the largest government crackdowns as they walked out of Sunday mass, praying for the victims of the March 13 tugboat massacre in which the Cuban government killed 37 men, women and children at-

tempting to escape the island by drowning them in a makeshift marine vessel.

Some have commented on the growing influence the Roman Catholic Church is having on the Communist country, especially since long-serving dictator Fidel Castro stepped down from power and his brother Raul took his place. Last summer, the Brookings Institute featured a panel of experts in an event titled “The Role of the Catholic Church in Cuba Today.” The panellists were Orlando Márquez Hidalgo, editor and director of the Havana Archdiocese publication Palabra Nueva (or New Word), Eusebio Mujal-Leon, associate professor at Georgetown University, and Tom Quigley, former foreign policy advisor on Latin America and the Caribbean for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Over the last two decades, the Catholic Church has come to occupy a unique space within Cuban society and has developed a growing dialogue with the Cuban state,” reads a description of the event on Brookings’ website, which goes on: “Actively interested in the ongoing economic reform process, the Archdiocese of Havana promotes debate regarding the role of the state and citizens in the economy and facilitates graduate training in business studies.”

Others are more critical of the recent move by the government to allow for a church to be built, noting that the state remains repressive overall. Pedro L. Rodriguez, executive director for the Miami, Florida-based Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, believes it is “a public relations scam directed to project Raul Castro as a true reformer.”

“The Cuban government, it’s mainly interested in attracting investors and [giving] the impression that the Cuban government, it’s evolving into a less totalitarian experi-

ment,” said Rodriguez, adding: “Unfortunately, the Cuban Catholic Church has been very passive in regards to confronting, peacefully of course, the government.”

According to Rodriguez, there have been thousands of documented arrests over the past couple years of dissidents in the country.

“These dissidents are usually arrested for a short period, two to three days, and then released 15 or 20 kilometres from their homes so they have to find their own means of transportation or simply walk back home,” he says.

This climate of repressiveness has also been noted by Amnesty International. In a press release from last September, Amnesty Special Adviser Javier Zúñiga noted the anti-dissent laws of the Communist state.

“The Cuban authorities seem to be using every trick in the book to punish those who dare to speak up about human rights,” said Zúñiga. “They are even using a law that punishes potential offences on account of ‘antisocial behaviour’ to imprison political dissidents, independent journalists and government critics.”

Dionisio Garcia Ibanez, the archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, told the BBC in a recent interview that he had a positive outlook for the permit. “I think it’s not only about improving attitudes to the Catholic Church, but to churches in general,” said Ibanez, adding: “I think there’s a better understanding of religious affairs, so we hope it won’t only be this church that we build. We hope there’ll be more.”

Construction for the new church building will be privately funded in part via St. Lawrence Parish in Tampa, Florida, many of whose members are Cuban exiles and their offspring.

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African artist Nollywood News Travelmusic

Actress Benita Nzeribe’s London Birthday & World Premiere St. Mary

A - list Nollywood actors were in London last weekend for the World Premiere of the movie St Mary. The roll call includes Zack Orji, Benita Nzeribe, Frank Dallas and Keppy Ekpeyong. The crew was led by the Executive Producer, Mr. Darlington Agha.

Produced by Obi Osotule and directed by Matthias Obahiagbon, St Mary follows the story of Tejiri, who uncovers a massive web of conspiracy on human trafficking and crime on board St. Mary, an oil vessel bound for Amsterdam.

Benita Nzeribe also celebrated her birthday with a lavish dinner at J5 Restaurant and Bar, party at LeBourgeious. Images coursey of Daniel

Sync.

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Fashion

African designers storm London Olympia Leading African designers showcased Models wearing the latest Africa inspired fashions at Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) held at the Olympia last weekend.

The show offered catwalk shows from leading edge designers and boutique stalls filled with affordable African fashion. Top designers showcasing collections on the catwalk include British designer, Ade Bakare from Nigeria and Adama Paris from Senegal. A new name to watch is emerging designer, Tsholo from Botswana, gaining a following for her non-conformist fashion approach. Other catwalk shows featured designers such as Sylvia Owuri (Uganda), Vaishali Morjaria (Kenya) and Pear (Thailand).

Ronke Ademiluyi, the show’s founder, said: “Africa Fashion Week London was born out of a passion and desire for change, to provide a much needed platform for emerging and established designers to showcase African inspired fashion to the world. We’ve chosen Olympia London as the venue for 2014 because we think it has the prestige and the location to attract the right audience for our brand vision; including influential fashion buyers, writers and trend commentators.”

Anna Golden, Commercial Director for Olympia London, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Africa Fashion Week to Olympia West. It’s our most stylish and contemporary space and the perfect ‘blank canvas’ for a fashion show.

Photos: Daniel Sync

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AFCON fixture reshuffle amid Ebola fears

African football fans express their concerns over Ebola outbreak

By Alan Oakley The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has asked Sierra Leone and Guinea to play Africa Cup of Nations home matches scheduled for next month in neutral nations as the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola spreads.

CAF also wrote to its other member-associations to inform them of its decision to ask the two countries to relocate their home games in the AFCON qualifiers. Reiterating World Health Organization (WHO) advice, the letter states that the move was “a preventative measure to avoid mass gatherings that could facilitate the spread of the virus”.

The continental football governing body also said the measure would remain in place until mid-September. It means at least the first two rounds of matches, scheduled for September 5th and September 6th and September 10th, will be affected.

Sierra Leone’s September 10th match against the Democratic Republic of Congo will be played in Ghana, the association said in a statement on its website. The site for Guinea’s game on September 5th versus Togo hasn’t been determined. The Ghana Football Association said in a separate on Wednesday that it hasn’t yet approved hosting the match.

The ban on matches in the Ebola-affected nations of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea will be reassessed in mid-Septem22

ber, the association said. It follows advice from the World Health Organization. The Geneva-based WHO has described the West African outbreak as an international public-health emergency.

Sierra Leone had already said it was not hosting matches until further notice, and it had asked Ghana if it can host its Group D matches there. Liberia cancelled all soccerrelated activities last month, including the President’s Cup tournament, and postponed the start of the local league.

Meanwhile, CAF has also moved to allay fears surrounding away fixtures. “Each federation whose country is affected by the virus must ensure their delegations travelling abroad can be examined before departure.

“Each national association receiving delegations must communicate the necessary information delivered by health authorities to ensure the reception of teams… and if necessary to provide additional checks at arrival points,’’ it said. Sierra Leone is due to play Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Cameroon in the last round of qualifying.

Guinea’s group also includes Ghana and Uganda.

The qualifying competition runs from early September to mid-November. The qualifying competition will decide the 15 teams to join hosts Morocco at the African Nations Cup finals next January and February.

Ebola has killed more than 1,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since December and may shave off as much as 2

percentage points from economic growth, New York-based risk adviser Teneo Intelligence said in a note today.

Three people have also now died of the virus in Nigeria, the continent’s biggest economy. The Rwanda Football Federation, FERWAFA, has written to CAF to change the venue of a match scheduled to take place in Nigeria, saying it is worried about the threat of Ebola in the country.

FERWAFA president, Vincent Nzamwita,

Sierra Leone Team

expressed concern that players and staff would be uncomfortable sharing facilities with counterparts who may have come into contact with the virus.

Rwanda is scheduled to play their AFCON qualifier against the Super Eagles in Calabar on September 6th. The other two teams in Group A alongside Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Rwanda’s Amavubi are South Africa and Sudan.

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Maigari stands down from NFF presidency The impeached Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) president, Aminu Maigari, has officially resigned from his post, according to Premium Times.

According to an anonymous source, Mr. Maigari submitted his resignation letter to the NFF scribe, Musa Amadu, on Wednesday morning in Abuja.

“I can confirm to you that Aminu Maigari has submitted his resignation letter and the board has accepted it. I can also further tell you the Federation forwarded a copy of the letter to FIFA immediately for necessary actions,” the source said.

Spokesperson for the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajiire told reporters that it is true that Mr. Maigari sent in his resignation letter. “ I can only tell you that something like that happened today but I have not been officially briefed. I didn’t see the text of the letter,” Olajiire said.

Maigari Aminu (Nigeria’s Football Federation President)

Mr. Maigari had been controversially peached by the Executive Board of NFF, after which FIFA then queried NFF on the procedure that led to his

imthe the im-

peachment. It is not clear if the impeachment was reversed before Mr. Maigari sent in his resignation letter.

Fifa Ranking - Nigeria Moves to 34th

The Super Eagles’ performance and eventual qualification for the Round of 16 at the just-concluded World Cup in Brazil has impacted on the July FIFA ranking as Nigeria now occupies the 34th position.

In the rankings table released by the world football governing body on Thursday, Nigeria garnered 660 points and moved up 10 spots as against June’s 631 points at 44th position.

Although Nigeria may not have been too convincing at the 2014 World Cup, their performance is still good enough to earn them a lift.

The African champions now place third in Africa behind Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire.

Algeria who is now ranked Africa’s best team has 874 points to occupy the 24th position in the world, while Cote d’Ivoire has 850 points for 25th place in the world.

However, another African representative at the World Cup, Ghana, slipped down by one spot to 38th in the world and fifth in Africa, behind Egypt who remained static with 645 points.

On the global scene, four-time world champions Germanyreaped the reward of their triumph at the World Cup. They nowlead the table for the first time in 20 years with 1,724 points.

World Cup runners-up Argentina are now second with 1,606 points, while third-place finishers Netherlands have moved 12 positions up the table and are now third in the world with 1,496 points.

Also, all the eight teams which dropped out of the World Cup at the quarter-finals stage have climbed up the ranking.

Victorious Super Eagles

Colombia is now fourth, up by four spots, and Belgium fifth, up by six spots.

France is now 10th, up by seven spots, and Costa Rica is now 16th, up by 12 spots making it the central Americans’ highestever ranking.

If the winners have gained, the less successful teams on the other hand are left counting the cost of failure in their rankings.

Former champions Spain have fallen from the top spot to eighth place, while Portugal is now 11th, down by seven spots, and Italy is 14th, down by five spots.

England is now placed 20th, down by 10 spots, while 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil

have dropped four places to the seventh position.

According to the world governing body, the results of 111 international “A” matches have been taken into account for the current edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

“Sixty-four out of these matches were played at the World Cup in Brazil, 46 were friendlies and one was a CONCACAF continental qualifier.

“The total number of international “A” matches taken into account so far this year is now 362,” the FIFA Media Office said in a statement. Courtesy: NAN

Kenya appoint Williamson new coach

Bobby Williamson

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have appointed Gor Mahia FC coach and ex-Uganda Cranes trainer Bobby Williamson as new boss of the Harambee Stars. Scottish Williamson takes over from Belgian Adel Amrouche who was sacked about three days ago after failing to lead Kenya into the final round of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015.

Lesotho eliminated Kenya from the race to Morocco 1-0 over two legs.

Kenya’s most capped player with 105 games and Harambee Stars skipper for 13 years, Musa “Otero” Otieno has been named assistant. With another former Kenya international Simon Mulama appointed team manager.

“We reached the decision to appoint the trio because of their vast experience and knowledge of the game. Williamson has many years of experience in-charge of Uganda while Musa Otieno and Simon Mulama served the country diligently over the years. We will give them all the support as we look forward to forgetting the disappointment of not qualifying for the group stages for Afcon 2015,” FKF President Sam Nyamweya told Cafonline.com.

Nyamweya said Williamson and his new technical staff’s first assignment would be to prepare the team for the annual Cecafa senior challenge cup to be hosted in Ethiopia from November.

Bobby Williamson won the Kenyan premier league with Gor Mahia in his maiden 2013 season and was also instrumental in ensuring Uganda won the regional Cecafa Seniior challenge cup 4 times under his reign.

Musa Otieno was a player at South African PSL side Santos for 13 years where he also served on the club’s technical bench before he returned home in this year and worked as a football pundit with Supersport tv.

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AFCON fixture reshuffle amid Ebola fears

SEE PAGE 22

Ghanaian star Atsu joins Everton on loan

Christian Atsu

By Agency Reporter

Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu has signed a season-long loan with Premier League outfit Everton.

The 22-year-old, who is currently on the books of London club Chelsea, spent last season on loan in the Eredivisie with Vitesse Arnhem, and after not falling into Jose Mourinho’s plans at Stamford Bridge this season, was sent out on another loan spell, this time at Goodison Park.

This will be Atsu’s first stint in England, and the former Porto player revealed his delight at being able finally ply his trade in the Premier League.

“I’m very happy to be joining Everton because it’s a great club, which likes to play football, and it’s a great pleasure to be here,” he told evertontv.

“Playing in the Premier League has always been a dream for me and I have achieved that dream.

“This is the biggest level for me to play at.

I know that it’s a very competitive league and I believe with hard work we’re going to be successful this season.”

Manager Roberto Martinez was delighted with his new recruit, who he feels brings a lot to the team even at such a young age.

“He’s a player who fits in with the culture and the way we want to play,” said the Spanish coach.

“He’s a very gifted technical footballer and he’s got the right personality and character to fit in with the group, which is vital.

“For Christian, at 22, to already have played in a World Cup, to have been able to adapt into Portuguese football and into the league in Holland is a really good accumulation of experiences that will be very beneficial, especially with us playing in the Europa League this season.”

Atsu was part of the Black Stars squad that featured at the Fifa World Cup in Bra-

zil this year. He has featured for his country on 24 occasions, scoring 5 goals.

Atsu said: “I am very happy and I am proud to be an Everton player. Since I came here I have been happy with the coach and also with the fans on Twitter. It’s a great moment.”

Flying winger Atsu, who played for his country at this summer’s World Cup, thinks Everton will suit his style of play. He said he had “possibilities” to sign for other clubs but wanted to join the Blues.

“This is a really good move for me because Everton play good football, they are a hard working team and they also have a good coach with fantastic fans. I am really happy.”

He added: “Roberto (Martinez) played an important role in me coming here. But I also made the decision to come here because they are a good club.

“I want to help the team, enjoy myself and play football.”

Asked about his long-term future at Chelsea, Atsu said: “I can’t tell you the future.

“I don’t know how long it will take to get back to Chelsea but right now I am really focused on Everton and at the end of the season we will see.”

“Looking at the players Chelsea have, my game time would be not much. So Everton is a really good club and I am here to work hard and help the team.

“I had possibilities to go elsewhere but I chose Everton.”

African Voice Newspaper is published by African Voice Communications. Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP. Tel: 020 3737 3077 Registered at the British Library as a newspaper. ISSN 1475-2166.Email: africanvoicenews@googlemail.com