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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015 ISSUE 610
SINCE 2001
£1.00 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 Plans to transform Nigeria usurped by health care across Angola as top African London unveiled oil producer
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BARCLAYS CONSIDERS SCALING BACK AFRICA OPS By Alan Oakley
In a move that could break an almost 100-year history with the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent, Barclays plc could consider selling some or all of its banking operations in Africa, according to a report in the Financial Times this week.
The bank’s newly appointed chief executive, Jes Staley, is reportedly looking at how its large Africa business fits strategically with the rest of the group. Mr Staley’s review comes after investor confidence in South Africa was shaken by President Jacob Zuma’s decision to change his finance minister three times in less than a week at a time when the economy is under severe stress. The rand crashed to all-time lows against leading currencies last week. While it partly recovered this week after Mr Zuma reversed his appointment of a relatively unknown MP as finance minister, it is still down 25 per cent against the pound over the past year. The devaluation of the South African rand against the British pound has
American Jes Staley succeeds Antony Jenkins as Barclays’ chief executive
reduced the recent contribution of the African business to the overall banking group’s profits. For 2014, Barclay’s
earned a return on equity of 9.3% from its African operations which was lower than its target of 11%.
Continued on page 2
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Have You News Got News New measures to help tackle homelessness For Us Newsdesk: 020 3737 3077
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UK Minister for Africa visits Uganda
James Duddridge, British Minister for Africa, visited Uganda on 15 December 2015 at the start of a three day regional visit. Mr Duddridge met with President Museveni and Foreign Minister Kutesa and was also able to spend time with British businesses who are investing in Uganda.
Mr Duddridge gave an update on preparations for the deployment of UK forces as part of the UN’s peacekeeping operations in Somalia and South Sudan. The Minister raised the UK’s ongoing concerns over the damaging political and security situation in Burundi. Speaking at the end of the visit the Minister said: Spending time in Uganda has given me a greater appreciation than ever of the strength of our partnership. From business to peacekeeping, and from providing support to refugees to our strong personal links, the UK-Uganda relationship has never been stronger.
A radical new package of measures to help tackle homelessness and ensure there is a strong safety net in place for the most vulnerable people in society has been announced on 17 December 2015 by Communities Minister Marcus Jones.
Marcus Jones said: We are committed to helping the most vulnerable people in our society. The protection of the Homelessness Prevention Grant in the Local Government Finance Settlement shows our continued commitment to tackling homelessness. Statutory homelessness acceptances are now less than half the 2003 to 2004 peak but we are determined to ensure that anybody who needs help gets it. We have made over £500 million available since 2010, which has prevented nearly a million people becoming homeless. We are committed to build on this over the next four years and work with the sector to do all we can to prevent homelessness. Today’s announcement of the protection of the Homelessness Prevention Grant, builds on the Spending Review commitment of £139 million over the next 4 years for central government funding to tackle homelessness. On top of this investment, today the Communities Minister confirmed that he will work with homelessness organisations and across government departments to explore options, including
Communities Minister Marcus Jones
legislation, to prevent more people from facing a homelessness crisis in the first place. In addition the government has today announced a new £5 million fund that will help 25 councils facing the greatest pressure in temporary accommodation. Communities Minister Marcus Jones continued: Time spent in temporary accommodation ensures no family is without a roof over their head. And the number of households living in temporary accommodation is still significantly lower now than the peak in 2005, but we recognise that many councils still face significant challenges. This funding will help alleviate some of the immediate pressures and allow those councils that most need it the breathing space to innovate and focus on prevent-
ing people becoming homeless in the first place. The government is also giving local authorities more control and flexibility over homelessness budgets by devolving the funding for managing temporary accommodation. From 2017 to 2018 £10 million extra a year is being allocated to areas under the most pressure, to give them more flexibility and choice in how they respond. The Department of Health will shortly be announcing the successful bids for the £40 million Homeless Change and Platform for Life programmes.Across the country this money will be used to refurbish hostel accommodation and to help young people into housing, training and education to help them break the cycle of homelessness and move towards independence.
Barclays considers scaling back Africa ops Continued from front page
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 Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer Edward Mirza Accountant Fanla Agboola Chief Correspondent, Nigeria Olubunmi Omoogun 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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Apart from operating Absa, a South African bank it bought in 2005, Barclays owns 62% of the Johannesburg stock exchange listed Barclays Africa Group Limited. The UK bank could exit Africa by either selling BAGL shares on the stock exchange or by considering bids from local rivals such as FirstRand, Standard Bank or Nedbank. Barclays had planned to rebrand the Absa branch network under its own colours after increasing its stake in the Johannesburglisted entity from 55.5 per cent by merging its African activities three years ago. But the rebranding was recently shelved. Talks broke down recently over a deal for Barclays to sell its Egyptian and Zimbabwean operations to its South African-listed subsidiary, raising questions about the future of its operations in those two countries. Duncan Mavin, Bloomberg Gadfly finance columnist and former Europe Financial Editor for The Wall Street Journal, thinks some peripheral African units could be in the firing line given Staley’s remit to turn Barclays into a leaner, more focused entity, but believes it is unlikely Barclays would exit its South African business, which accounts for the bulk of its business on the continent. Africa makes an important contribution to earnings. In the third quarter, African banking delivered a return on tangible equity of 13.3 percent, up slightly on the previous year, and above the 11.4 percent figure for the core bank, those
The former banker at JP Morgan and hedge fund manager took over the helm at Barclays on December 1st
operations Barclays plans to keep long-term. By contrast, the investment bank delivered a measly 5.5 percent return. “Africa produces about 15 percent of the bank’s pretax profit. As recently as July, Chairman John McFarlane said he was ‘biased’ to make South Africa part of the bank’s ‘solid core’. That doesn’t sound like a retrenchment is on the cards,” wrote Mavin. But the recent slump in commodity and oil prices coupled with the China slowdown has weighed down the African economy.
The International Monetary Fund forecast sub-Saharan Africa to grow at 3.75% this year, marking the lowest levels since 2009. And to add to its woes, South Africa’s credit rating was downgraded by Fitch in December to one notch above sub-investment grade apart from downgrading the country’s four big banks, including Absa. Standard & Poor’s too cut the country’s outlook to negative, increasing the risk that it could fall to junk status.
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
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News
£1 million available for young people suffering from mental illness Health, education and social care providers are invited to apply for funding to support projects that will help improve the lives of children and young people (up to 16 years old) affected by mental illness.
Applications can be made to the Children’s and Young People’s mental Health Innovation Fund which aims to encourage innovation in the development of mental health services to children and young people. £1million funding has been awarded to Health Education England (HEE) from the Department of Health (DH) to distribute to organisations proposing care innovations that put young patients at the centre of mental health services. Professor Lisa Bayliss-Pratt, Director of Nursing and Deputy Director of Education and Quality said: “I am excited by this innovative fund as it will provide a wonderful opportunity for organisations - be they NHS or private providers, commissioners, researchers or those working in social care settings, to introduce and enhance services to transform the lives of
Minister for Mental Health Alistair Burt
children and young people and their families through a variety of local innovative schemes. “The launch comes on the back of our recent commitment and backing to establishing a firm strategic direction for nurse development and training. All endorsed by
New Plug-in grant will treble number of greener cars on Britain’s roads The government has on 17 December 2015 announced a longterm extension to the Plug-in Car Grant, backed by a £400 million package to treble the number of ultra low emission vehicles on Britain’s roads.
The grant will continue well beyond the latest guarantee of February 2016 until at least the end of March 2018 and will mean more than 100,000 people will benefit over the coming years – double the number who have already claimed the grant since 2011. It means from next March, buyers of the greenest cars can save up to £4,500 off the overall purchase price. Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “The UK is a world leader in the uptake of low emission vehicles and the Plug-in Car Grant has been key to that success. Extending the grant in a sustainable way ensures more than 100,000 people will benefit from financial support when purchasing these cheap-to-run and green cars. We are determined to keep Britain at the forefront of the technology, increasing our support for plugin vehicles to £600 million over the next five years to cut emissions, create jobs and support our cutting-edge industries.” Jim Wright, Nissan GB Managing Director, said: “Today’s decision by government has reaffirmed their commitment to the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles. With 4
government support and Nissan’s investment of over £420m into electric vehicles in the UK, our British made Nissan LEAF has increased in popularity with many UK customers already enjoying the benefits of zero emission and low cost driving. This announcement, together with ongoing infrastructure developments, should see the growth and wider deployment of this technology continue.” The grant was created in 2011 to encourage sales of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) and has been instrumental in the UK becoming the biggest ULEV market in the EU, and the fourth largest in the world. Some 50,000 people have already benefited from the grant. From 1 March 2016, two grant rates will be available to ensure the funding is sustainable and focus financial support on the greenest vehicles. ‘Category 1’ vehicles with a zero emission range of over 70 miles will benefit from a grant of £4500. ‘Category 2 and 3’ vehicles with a shorter zero emission range – such as plug-in hybrid vehicles with a petrol or diesel engine – will receive £2500. The new grant levels reflect strong growth in the sector with sales of ULEVs doubling over the past year. Motorists also have a wider choice of 29 ULEVs on the market – five times as many as when the Plug-in Car Grant was launched.
the recommendations from the Shape of Caring review, which of course includes important areas of mental health and learning disability nursing. “This additional funding means that children, young people and their families can get the tailored support they need
through the delivery of improved, more accessible mental health and wellbeing services to ensure they are not only wellsupported, but thrive, which will transform the care and lives of many across the country. ” Minister for Mental Health Alistair Burt said: “Children and young people’s mental health is a priority for me. “From making services more accessible to young people, to trialling brand new apps or online services, this fund is an opportunity for NHS services to develop new approaches that work for children and young people. “We are investing £1.4 billion over this Parliament in children’s mental health – that’s one of the largest investments the sector has ever seen. Every local area in this country has developed a plan to transform their offer to children and young people and are working together to make things better.” To apply for funding or for further information on the scheme, applicants should visit https://hee.nhs.uk/our-work/hospitalsprimary-community-care/mental-healthlearning-disability/mental-health/childrenadolescent-mental-health-services-camhs-0 The deadline for receipt of applications is 17:00 Friday 15 January 2016.
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Health News
Plans to transform health care across London unveiled Ground-breaking plans that will set in motion the radical transformation of health and social care services across London were revealed today Tuesday 15 December 2015 by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Outlining the first steps towards reshaping healthcare across London, the Chancellor signed a health devolution agreement with the capital’s health and civic leaders which will allow it to begin the process of taking control of its own affairs. The agreement, signed today at Great Ormond Street Hospital, will begin with five devolution pilots to be launched across London. The London boroughs of Haringey, Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge, North Central London (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington), Lewisham and Hackney. The Chancellor and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt signed the agreement with “London Partners” including all of London’s Clinical Commissioning Groups
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(CCGs), local authorities (LAs), the Greater London Authority and national bodies including NHS England, Health Education England, NHS Improvement and Public Health England. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: Today’s agreement is another crucial step in our devolution revolution and is the start of us handing over valuable healthcare power to local leaders in London. This deal means that not only will the people of London have more control over decisions that affect their lives, it will also lead to better, more joined up health care in the capital for Londoners. The agreement’s intention is to pilot new ways of working across London’s large and complex health economy with the longer term aim for further devolution of London’s healthcare out of Whitehall and into the hands of local leaders. The agreement aims to radically reshape healthcare provision across the city, in line with the aspirations of the NHS Five Year Forward View while addressing inequalities in health outcomes. As part of the overall agreement London Partners have agreed to look at the
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt
vast NHS estate in London and increase incentives for trusts to make better use of property. It has also committed to looking at how flexibilities in existing planning and licensing powers could contribute to public health goals and will be given input on government decisions about relief funding for struggling healthcare providers in London. While on the visit, the Chancellor and Health Secretary announced a new £800 million boost to biomedical research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The new funding, which will be provided over five years from April 2017 when the competition has concluded, will be allocated across the full spectrum of health research including dementia, genomics, cardiovascular, asthma, cancer, nutrition and obesity. It follows a similar scheme launched by the Prime Minister in 2011, which saw institutions including Great Ormond Street benefit. The Great Ormond Street Hospital NIHR Biomedical Research Centre is currently the only one of its kind specialising in paediatrics. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: There is a huge amount of good practice and innovation in London health and care services this exciting new deal will help improve services even further for Londoners. The pilot areas we have announced today will be trailblazers as we move towards a fully integrated health and care service by 2020. By empowering more places in the capital to make the best decisions for themselves we will improve patient experience, and help keep people well for longer. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: As we’ve shown through transport, policing and planning, devolution is already working in London and this agreement paves the way for a revolution in how health and social care are delivered across the capital. With our city’s population continuing to grow, it is essential that we have a health service better equipped to manage its own
resources so that it can become even more responsive to the needs of Londoners. Simon Stevens, NHS England Chief Executive said: In London’s NHS we’ve got some of the best health services anywhere on the planet - but also some of the most pressurised. London is the world’s most dynamic and diverse city – Why shouldn’t it be the healthiest? Today the NHS and London local government commit to testing better prevention for our children’s health, to new ways of joining up care for older people, and to shared action to free up unused buildings and land to reinvest in the modern primary care that our fast growing city clearly needs. Mayor Jules Pipe, Chair of London Councils says: This agreement promises to be the beginning of a real partnership between all public services concerned with the health of Londoners. It marks the culmination of much hard work between the boroughs, local clinicians in the CCGs, the NHS, Public Health England and the GLA. Through greater integration of our services we intend to deliver better outcomes for Londoners to support them in living healthier, independent lives. This agreement provides a strong joint framework for us to deliver that agenda together. Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England, said: There is a clear vision for how Londoners can lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives and this agreement will accelerate the pace of change in London’s boroughs. Where we live is often the biggest determinant of our health and devolution offers a new opportunity to embed prevention at the core of everything we do so that we close gaps in life expectancy and years lived in good health between those with the most and the least in our society. This is a chance for local health leadership to shape the physical environment to encourage healthy decisions, and break the cycle of inequality, poor health and unemployment.
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Nigeria usurped by Angola as top African oil producer Nigeria’s crude oil production fell by 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, losing Africa’s most populous nation its status as the continent’s top oil producer to Angola, latest data from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has shown.
Nigeria recorded the biggest drop in output in November among its peers in OPEC, followed by Saudi Arabia, the group’s biggest producer. OPEC, in its latest monthly oil market report, put crude oil production from Nigeria at 1.607 million bpd in November based on direct communication, down from 1.812 million bpd in October. Angola also saw its oil output drop to 1.722 million bpd last month from 1.762 million bpd in October. Meanwhile, the oil cartel will hold urgent talks, if crude prices don’t recover by February, according to OPEC president and Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
“It is expected that the upward trend in oil prices will be seen by February next year. If it does not happen, it is clear that OPEC will need to have a very urgent meeting,” Interfax quoted the OPEC president as saying. On December 4, OPEC decided to keep the current output level of around 31.5 million barrels per day despite oversupply on the global oil market. On Monday, Brent and WTI benchmarks sank to lows not seen since 2009. Brent crude fell below $37 a barrel while the US benchmark WTI dropped to below $35 per barrel. Crude prices rebounded slightly in early trading Tuesday with Brent trading at $37.73 and WTI at $36.18 per barrel as of 8.36am GMT. OPEC produced 31.7 million barrels per day in November. It is the highest output in over three years and 1.7 million barrels per day over its former production limit. Less affluent OPEC states like Algeria, Angola, Nigeria and Venezuela have been calling for production cuts in order to increase crude prices. But OPEC’s biggest producer Saudi Arabia
is refusing to cut crude output in order to defend its market share. Riyadh is hoping to squeeze out its competitors, primarily the US and Russia. In a move that some see as Moscow calling Riyadh’s bluff, Russia’s Finance Ministry announced this week that it is drawing up plans based on the price of oil as low as $30 a barrel until 2022. “That scenario would have devastating implications for OPEC,” according to Russia’s Deputy Finance Minister Maxim Oreshkin. In a related development, the Secretary General of OPEC, Abdullah al-Badri, has said that global crude oil prices could witness a rebound within one year. Reuters reported that most analysts however do not expect oil prices to regain the $100 mark until 2017 or later, arguing that producers will continue to pump out more crude than the market can consume. But speaking at the first OPECIndia Energy Dialogue in New Delhi this week, Badri said he had seen six price cycles in the oil business, adding that the current low price would not continue. “I have been in the oil business all my life. I saw six cycles - I saw very high prices, I saw low prices, and this is one of them. This will not continue,” Badri said. “In a few months or a year or so this will change,” he added. He said OPEC does not have a target price but was looking for a fair value that means “member countries can have a decent income and also where we can invest to 8
(provide) more supply to the consumers”. The world is already producing up to 2 million bpd more oil than it consumes, with OPEC pumping at near-record levels in an attempt to drive higher-cost producers such as US shale oil drillers out of the market. Its strategy appears to some extent to be working. Non-OPEC annual supply growth shrank to below 300,000bpd in November from 2.2 million bpd at the start of the year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Oil output could decline in the next two to three years as low prices have resulted in a planned $130 billion in investment being cut this year, Badri said, adding that non-OPEC supplies are set to decline by about 400,000 bpd next year. OPEC, at its last meeting failed to agree on an output ceiling, raising the stakes in a battle for market share that began at the end of 2014. Another big supplier, Iran, has been clear that it aims to raise its output by at least 1 million bpd - about one per cent of global supply, after sanctions against it are lifted next year. OPEC is determined to keep pumping oil vigorously despite the financial strain even on the policy’s chief architect, Saudi Arabia, alarming weaker members of the cartel who fear prices may slump towards $20 a barrel. But Badri said even if the United States government begins to allow more exports of crude, prices will not be weakened further and OPEC can continue to produce at current rates.
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Theatre, Shows and Musicals
Arts Culture
By Edward Mirza
WEST AFRICA: WORD, ROBIN HOOD SYMBOL, SONG AT THE Dec 5 - Jan 23, 2016 Join Theatre Royal Stratford East this BRITISH LIBRARY Christmas for lots of laughter, brand new Now – February 16th, 2016 songs and a sack full of festive fun in this An exhibition of literature and music – from the great African empires of the Middle Ages to the cultural dynamism of West Africa today. Fascinating stories from the region’s 17 nations show how West Africans have harnessed the power of words to build societies, drive political movements, sustain religious belief and fight injustice. Beautiful manuscripts, historic film and sound recordings, books, photographs, and woven and printed textiles offer a unique insight into a profound and engaging literary culture with centuries-old written heritage existing alongside ancient oral traditions. Hear the myth of the founding of ancient Mali in recorded performance. See the influence of religion through colourful fabric and a saddlebag Qur’an. Celebrate writers and artists including Africa’s first Nobel prize winner, Wole Soyinka, and internationally acclaimed musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti. British Library, 96, Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
dazzling new version of the classic tale brought to you by our Olivier Awardnominated team. Robin Hood, the prince of thieves is on a mission! Join him and his swashbuckling merry band of men as they get robbin’ the rich to feed the poor. Along the way they must undertake a quest to save good King Richard and the poor people of StratEastHam from the evil Prince John who is plotting to steal the crown. Will Robin and his motley crew save the day? Or will the feisty and fearless Maid Marion (and her devoted Nurse) get there first? And just what is the secret Marion is hiding? The perfect Christmas treat for children of all ages, this action-packed panto features a whole host of magical surprises and plenty of joining in… oh yes it does! Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN .
KINKY BOOTS Now – May 28th 2015
Pantomimes immediately welcome you into the spirit of Christmas. With catchy songs, brightly-coloured sets, and always a ‘happily ever after’, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the merriment of the festivities. They tend to follow the same structure; a story teller who invites you into the tale at the start, a handsome hero who wins the princess’ (or princess type character’s) heart, a comedy figure usually laden with sweets to throw and a ‘baddy’, who inevitably brings in the ‘boos’. This is a Panto with no star line up, something that we have become rather accustomed to. We look forward to seeing our favourite Eastenders star as Captain Hook or the woman behind the bar at The Rovers as thee Wicked Witch. However, Hammersmith’s unique Panto not only has no star, but it also has few of the conventions you would normally associate with a classic Pantomime. After all, we no longer want to see the helpless, blonde princess fall madly in love with the 6-foot tall, handsome and personality-less prince, while size 6 dancers twirl around him. Instead, the Lyric has chosen to present us with a strong-minded Cinderella full of attitude and sass, dancers of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and height, and a wicked stepmother in a wheelchair. However, these changes were not by any means overpowering because the show still retained all the magic and originality that we all know and love. Krystal Dockery played Cinderella with
The UK première of Kinky Boots, Broadway’s huge-hearted, high-heeled hit opens at London’s Adelphi Theatre on 15 September 2015, with previews from 21 August. With a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), and songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, this joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind. Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos. The Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2R 0NS
CINDERELLA Nov 21 - Jan 3, 2015
Kinky Boots Cast - Killian Donnelly (Charlie), Matt Henry (Lola), Amy Lennox (Lauren) - photo credit Matt Crockett mounds of enthusiasm, oodles of energy and a huge smile to top it all off with. With an updated style, confident attitude and glitter converse instead of those old glass slippers; she is the modern fairy-tale princess. Prince Charming was played by Karl Queensborough and he too was full of energy and style. The pair had great chemistry not to mention some wonderfully recognisable singing duets from the current charts. Lovable and bubbly Debra Michaels played Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, who opened the show to a jazzy and sparkly rendition of Fleur East’s ‘Uptown Funk’. Peter Caulfield and Matt Sutton were the two ugly stepsisters, Booty and Licious. This hilarious duo bounced off one another’s energy spectacularly. Sutton’s Booty was hilariously manly and slightly aggressive, which worked in perfect contrast with Caulfield’s more naive and effeminate Licious. An aptly-named Samuel Buttery played the adorable and jolly character of Buttons. With his merry demeanour and sweetie-throwing, he was the closest character to his classic counterpart. He was wonderfully entertaining for the children, throwing goodies, playing the innocent fool and getting everyone shouting out all the classics, like “he’s behind you!”. the Lyric Theatre, Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL
NINE LIVES BY ZODWA NYONI NATIONAL TOUR Now - Jan 2016 Presented by Leeds Studio in association with West Yorkshire Playhouse Fleeing from his home in Zimbabwe where a fresh wave of homophobia threatens his life, Ishmael has sought sanctuary in the UK. Dispersed to Leeds, Ishmael waits to hear his fate, he waits for a new life to begin amongst strangers. Strangers who don’t trust him and don’t want him there. But not everyone is bad… can he find a place to call home again? Some of us wanted to stop being afraid. Some of us wanted to find ourselves. Some of us wanted to belong. Zodwa Nyoni (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Channel 4 Writer in Residence 2014) threads together humour and humanity to tell the real personal story behind asylum headlines. 16 November 2015 Waterside Arts Centre, Trafford 19 November 2015 Arc Stockton, Stockton on Tees 10 December 2015 Brighton, Brighton January 2016 Arcola, London
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
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Comment
The Revelations of the Damned By Akintokunbo Adejumo “Unemployment, underdevelopment and poverty everywhere in the land. Our people are living like animals; we cannot even rear our children” – Source Unknown.
“Quite frankly, the war against Corruption is not strictly about me; it is about building a country for our children and forthcoming generations can live in peace and prosperity. All around the country, you see dilapidated infrastructure, poor healthcare, collapsed education, lack of public utilities, decayed social services, etc. These are all products of corruption because those entrusted to deliver these to the people have pocketed the money”. – President Muhammadu Buhari, 11.12.2015 I am a very simple writer; I write from the mind, untrained, unfettered, not under obligation to or paid by anybody or newspaper, and thereby free of baggage and garbage. It is indeed very difficult (or how else can we say it?), to sympathise with former President Goodluck Jonathan, trying to absolve him of any complicity in the alleged (yes, alleged for now) unbelievable, mind-boggling, brazen, raping and looting of the country’s treasury that they said went unchecked during his six year tenure; insisting that because he relinquished power without a fuss when he lost the last Elections, then he’s an uncommon Hero; that he was a good and decent man, but all admitted that he was not good leader and President. All these displays of sympathy are intended to appeal and convince us that Mr Jonathan should be absolved of any crime perpetrated under his now almost discredited government of mediocrity, nepotism, religious and tribal bigotry, deceit, deception and undisguised hypocrisy and deliberately hoodwinking of the Nigerian people. How the people who allegedly participated and benefitted illegally under this ignoble regime could think they could continue to rape the country, yet conceal their crime for so long and further continuously consolidate these frauds without detection at some point in time is beyond the imagination. The crime and corruption are so massive, unfettered and unmanageable (even as a criminal concern) that there was no possible way the “shit will not hit the fan” sooner rather than later. But due to their singular mediocre minds, suffused with greed, selfishness 10
and idiocy, these alleged looters never ever gave a thought that their deeds will ever be revealed. This proved to me that the PDP never expected Jonathan to lose the election in March 2015. They were so confident they will still be in power, and thereby able to conceal and continue the massive looting of the country’s treasury, resources and assets. Some, however foresaw the days of Revelation, and thought that by jumping ship - from PDP to APC - they will be able to enjoy some form of immunity, or at least, protection from the revelations that will eventually burst out. Some saw the handwriting on the wall, but still decided to ignore the signs. Even now, the person that should engage our sympathy is President Buhari. He is in deep trouble, if he does not know it. If all these revelations are true, then PMB’s government has a real problem on its hands. He has to see all these through to their logical conclusions – no sacred cows or untouchables because of political, religious and regional affiliations or loyalty. He must ensure fast, free and fair prosecutions, and if and when convicted, long jail terms for the perpetrators of such huge scams and frauds on Nigerians, depriving us of so many things, causing thousands, if not millions of unnecessary deaths directly and indirectly. It is getting more open and messier by the day, even more than the Halliburton Scandal and Independent Power Project scam of the Obasanjo days, probably because then, it was a PDP government doing themselves in. (They did not know it then, but they were setting themselves up for implosion and disgrace) But as it is, if all these revelations prove to be true, then our main concern should be our compromised, irresponsible and very corrupt judiciary; our greedy, morally bankrupt and ignoble attorneys and our stupid democracy that favour powerful corrupt politicians and bastardise the Rule of Law, as well as the parochial and misguided partisan Nigerians that are holding hypocritical and sycophantic briefs for these corrupt, shameless, remorseless and nonchalant politicians’ misdemeanour and delinquency. However, the problem is still very much caused by us, Nigerians. The outrage against Jonathan, Dasuki and the rest of these “exclusive sharers of our commonwealth” is our collective responsibility. Nigerians should be marching towards Aso Rock to demand full accountability and justice, and if Buhari fails to act on our demands, he should be pushed out of the way. Unfortunately, folks see it through the prism of party politics, but it’s bigger than that. Before writing this piece, I have already been accused of basing my statements on speculations thus making everything baseless. For how long shall we continue to shy away from the revelations and continue to call them speculations? Even if the level of crime is not as massive as is being revealed isn’t the fact that such crimes
President Muhammadu Buhari
are committed by so few a people heinous enough to be looked at dispassionately and condemned roundly by all? Now, it is important to delineate revelations and speculations. Over the past few weeks, it has become the norm of some sections of the society to denounce these revelations as mere unproven speculations; but I am not surprised at such incoherent pronouncement from my people; I have always said we are our own problems. Even if the scale of the revelations are not as massive as we are reading and come with touches of hyperbolic sensationalism, the fact remains that massive amount of the country’s money was distributed illegally, with impunity, total disregard for the rules of governance and with utter unaccountability amongst some chosen elite in both government, the PDP party, the media and business communities, including some who are now even in the ruling party, the President’s party, APC. Nevertheless, as I wrote in two previous articles, “A People Beyond Redemption” and “A Peoples’ Aversion to the Truth is their Undoing”, the African mind is so politically primordial that it always blind people from fairness and truth. And this has summed up the kind of mixed horde we have in Nigeria. For a person, schooled and educated to a degree level, to call the unfolding revelation, confession, and admission by the looters themselves to be “speculations” just confirms my suspicions about our people’s attitude to corruption, and understanding of it from a moral viewpoint. But then, didn’t our former President himself say stealing of public funds is not corruption? Does it mean if a person is from my clan, or he is of the same faith with me, or we belong to the same political party, as far as these sets of people are concerned, that person can never do wrong? The pitiable thing is that majority of these unsolicited “pocket lawyers” and devil’s advocates suffered greatly as a result of action and inaction of the same person they are defending. Unfortunately some (and again, repetitively, these are the educated and supposedly enlightened and sophisticated mem-
bers of the society) of us are blind, guided by political, tribal, self-seeking and religious nonsense, who enthusiastically allow themselves to be used as injudicious missiles. One would think that every sane and sensible Nigerian will fall behind the present government in its anti-corruption campaign. But you just check out social media and the number of Nigerians carrying brief for the thieves and criminals being prosecuted is just unreal. What one cannot understand is the glee with which these set of Nigerians embrace every setback or hindrance that comes the way of the current regime in cleansing the corrupt system. That to me is unpardonable and is the sign of sick minds. Can you imagine a man jumping for joy and clapping enthusiastically every time that fireman trying to put out his burning house, with his family trapped inside, and are struggling to control the flame? Well that is exactly the behaviour of those Nigerians that do not wish the current government well in its bid to stem the rot of the past years”. What is even more shocking and disturbing should be the revelation that national budget is being shared like groundnuts in the market under the guise of funding to disengage insurgency and terrorism and the head of the same government claimed ignorance of approving the release of the funds. All the beneficiaries of the bonanza of doling out the funds were ex-President Jonathan’s allies; and one would like to know how that was accounted for in the nation’s books, or maybe we do not have books anymore? Where are the checks and balances put in place by the Constitution, the statutes books, legislations, rules and regulations, etc.? Where are the Auditor and Accountant Generals? Yet, these individuals, educated, widely-travelled and men/women of the world are worshipped as heroes nationally by Nigerians. What kind of criminal racket are we operating here in this country, Nigeria, that we call government? The political class in Nigeria has sought office not because of the desire to change the economic situation through dedicated, sincere and committed service but it has been mainly for their personal development. Their primary path to financial success has been through primitive and rapacious accumulation of wealth through stealing of public funds. It is so deep that the fight over fiscal federalism is nothing but for personal aggrandisement. Yet the fight is so strong and intensive one that we may think that is for the good of the commonwealth. No, it is not, as we ae all seeing and experiencing in our daily lives as the unfortunate victims of these criminals, or as the late great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti dubbed them several decades ago, Vagabonds in Power (VIP).
Continued on page 18
Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
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News
Club 87 celebrates in style
Club 87 a UK leading socio-philanthropic club celebrates the season of giving and sharing with friends and family members at the Holiday Inn, London Bloomsbury on Saturday 12 December 2015.
The colourful and stylish End of Year Dinner Dance Party afforded the organisation the opportunity to raise funds for a good cause. This time, Club 87 members
and their guests participated in a fascinating raffle draw/fund raising for breast cancer awareness. The high point of the celebration which attracted movers and shakers of the community was the Presidential awards which was given out to some outstanding members by the current President, Dr. Henry Okosun. Guests wined and dined, they also danced till the early hours as melodious music was supplied by DJ Omo White.
Club87 Award -Entrepreneurship Kato Enterprise
Club87 Man of Year Dr Cyril Evbuomwan
Chairman of the occasion Dr Ovuefe Efiotor & daughter
Club87 members & guests
Club87 Merit Award for Mrs Philomena Rowland
Club87 Merit Award & Enriching Women’s lives Mrs Cordelia Okosun
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
News
Emiratis have the hump with Trump UAE
The image and name of American presidential hopeful Donald Trump disappeared last week from much of a Dubai golf course and housing development amid the uproar over his comments about banning Muslims from travelling to the United States. The disappearance of Trump’s branding from the multi-billion-dollar development on the outskirts of Dubai comes as concerns over his comments grow in the Middle East, a region in which the businessman long has sought money-making opportunities. Some of his deals appear to be in jeopardy, with the company behind the Trump Towers in Istanbul now saying it is “assessing” its partnership with the Republican presidential front-runner. In Dubai, Trump had a deal with Damac Properties to license his name and image for a housing project and two golf courses for an undisclosed sum. A billboard once showing Trump golfing had been at Damac’s Akoya development, as well as an image of Trump’s daughter Ivanka. On Friday, all that remained was the board’s brown background, though another billboard declaring the development “The
Republican nomination front-runner Trump has enraged his Arab business partners with his commentsairstrike on Dec. 2
Beverly Hills of Dubai” still stood nearby. Also, pieces of letters that appeared to spell out Trump’s name had been pulled down from a stone wall and left lying on the sandy ground. His name was still on at least one other stone wall at the property, which was being patrolled by private secu-
rity guards and police. Damac Properties has declined to comment on the removal of Trump’s name and billboard from the property. It earlier said it “would not comment further on Mr. Trump’s personal or political agenda, nor comment on the internal American politi-
Ethiopia
cal debate scene.” Damac shares have fallen in the wake of Trump’s comments, losing more than 15 per cent over the past week in trading on the Dubai Financial Market. Trump increasingly has used such a licensing model in recent years, lending out his name to others around the world rather than developing big real estate projects himself. Fellow developers have praised Trump as a pioneer of what they call a nearly risk-free business. But some of his rhetoric about Islam on the campaign trail including his call to monitor mosques and his proposal this week to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the US has led to increased wariness in the Arab world. Earlier this week, Dubai-based Landmark Group pulled all Trump home decor products at its 180 Lifestyle stores over his comments. Late Thursday, Bulent Kural, the general manager of Trump Towers in Istanbul, said his company “regrets and condemns” Trump’s call to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. The towers are another project for which Trump licensed his brand. “We are assessing the legal dimension of our relationship with the Trump brand,” a statement from Kural said.
South Africa
Students killed in Addis Rapist given 10 life expansion protest sentences
Eleventh and twelfth grade students were among the protesters allegedly killed during clashes with police in Ethiopia last week, as student-led protests against the government’s master plan to expand Addis Ababa, the East African nation’s capital, have turned deadly and spread to more than 50 towns.
Activists say security forces killed at least seven people during rallies in the last week, while an opposition leader told reporters that 10 people were killed. Meanwhile, according to Al Jazeera as of December 8, authorities had reported only three deaths. Over the last five days, authorities have now confirmed a total of five deaths, while activists have put the total as high as 25. Oromo Federalist Congress general secretary Bekele Nega told reporters there had been approximately 150 people injured and more than 500 detained. Police were also injured during clashes, according to the media outlet. 12
A rapist who assaulted 10 girls aged between 15 and 17 has been handed separate life sentences for each attack.
Ethiopians in Calgary, Italy protest recent student deaths in the Oromia region of the Horn of Africa nation
With minimal news coverage of the demonstrations, the number and cause of deaths is varied and difficult to verify. Press freedom is all but non-existent in the East African country that has proved crucial to the West’s opposition to al Shabaab, the home-grown Somali militant group allied with al Qaeda. Prime
Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, the ruling coalition since 1991, run the country with a heavy hand. This past May’s election has been widely criticized as a sham by human rights groups; Desalegn “won” with a reported 100 percent of the vote.
Police spokesperson Peter Kareli said Ramohapi Elias Ntholeng, 47, raped the girls between 2011 and 2014. “In 2011, [Ntholeng] was released on parole when he was serving a life sentence for raping another young girl, but 6 months after his release, he started raping girls again,” said Kareli. He lured girls to a secluded area by saying police were looking for them and then raped them, he said. He was arrested again, after the sister of one of the victims almost fell victim to his ruse. “The victim’s sister alerted the community who apprehended him and handed him over to the police,” Kareli said.
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
France
Le Pen defiant after regional poll rout
France’s ultra-Right-Wing Front Nationale is claiming established parties ganged up to prevent them gaining a foothold in regional elections. Leader Marine Le Pen is nevertheless vowing that nothing will stop her party’s rise ahead of the presidential campaign.
Right of centre Les Republicains, led by Nicolas Sarkozy, won seven of the regions and President Francois Hollande’s Socialist party won five, with the National Front trailing in third position despite its barnstorming result in last week’s first round of voting. In the vital second round, the numbers of voters increased more than 10 per cent, particularly in the areas where the National Front had won six regions in the first round, indicating many people were motivated to block the far Right. To avoid splitting the vote, the Socialists had tactically withdrawn from the NordPas-de-Calais-Picardie region contested by Ms Le Pen and the Provence-AlpesCote region, where her niece Marionne Marechal-Le Pen was standing. Left-wing supporters were urged to vote for Mr Sarkozy’s centre-right party. The tactics were so effective that Conservative insurance salesman Xavier Bertrand beat Ms Le Pen 57-43 per cent. Ms MarechalLe Pen suffered a similar fate, attracting about 45 per cent of the vote. Ms Marechal-Le Pen, who is already a member of the French parliament, said of her opponents: “There are victories that shame the victors.”
Marine Le Pen believes nothing can stop the rise of her Front Nationale ahead of 2017’s Presidential Election
Ms Le Pen, who has moderated the party of its most extreme elements since taking over from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, was undeterred, saying the failure to win a region would not stop the National Front contesting the national election in 2017. She pointed to the 6.9 million votes the party had attracted, up from 6.4 million in the 2012 national elections, and insisted her party was now the primary opposition force. She said National Front voters had seen through the “indecent slogans and campaigns of slander and defamation that
were decided upon in the gilded palaces of the Republic,” she added. “Nothing can stop us now. Election after election, the rise of the nationalist tide is inescapable. “By tripling the number of our regional councillors, the National Front will from now on be the primary opposition force in most of France’s regional councils.” She claimed the Socialist party had been “eradicated’’ and future elections would be fought on a two-party system, because mainstream parties would have to join forc-
es again to overcome the National Front. “The first round (of regional elections) left us believing in a three-party system. We are now going into a two-party system,” she said. “Now the split isn’t between Left and Right, but between those who favour globalisation and the patriots.” Mr Bertrand, her direct rival in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie region, hailed the result as stopping the National Front in its tracks. He had pitched an anti-British campaign, blaming the cross-Channel neighbours for the social issues surrounding 6000 migrants camped in the sand-hills in Calais. Others were not so triumphant. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls denied the far Right had been defeated. “Far from it,’’ he said. The National Front was hoping victory in several regions would provide a springboard for the party to dominate the 2017 presidential election. With the country on a knife-edge following the deaths of 130 people in the November 13 terror attacks on Paris, and worries about unemployment, the lead-up to the general election will be fought on security and migration. Mr Sarkozy immediately addressed the issues on which the National Front had campaigned — security, migration, the EU and unemployment. “We must now take the time to debate the fundamentals of great questions that are of anguish to the French,’’ the former president said.
Egypt
‘No evidence’ terrorists caused Sharm plane crash Egypt’s investigation into the Russian plane crash over the nation’s Central Sinai has indicated it was not downed as an act of terror.
Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said in a statement to Ahram Online: “The investigative committee completed on Sunday the preliminary report on the [Russian] plane crash. “The technical investigative committee has so far not found any evidence indicating criminal or terrorist activity in the downing of the plane.” The statement added that a copy of the report has been sent to authorised international experts taking part in the probe, including from Russia, Ireland, and France, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). On 17 November, Russia asserted for the first time that a homemade bomb containing up to 1 kilogram of TNT blew apart the Airbus A321, which took off from the
All of the 224 on board the Metrojet Airbus A321-200 were killed
Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh en route to Russia’s St Petersburg. Since the 31 October crash, which claimed the lives of all 224 aboard, Egypt insisted that its full investigation must be
completed to definitively determine the cause of the crash. The Egyptian government has dismissed statements made by the US and Britain backing the Russian assertion of a terrorist attack, saying
that only an official probe can draw such a finding. He added that the committee is “continuing its work,” saying that the preliminary conclusion will be verified with more detailed information in later phases of the probe. Quashing theories that the bomb was planted on the plane in Turkey, El-Muqqadam affirmed that black box recordings of the passenger jet indicated that the aircraft’s route for five days prior to the crash remained confined to flights between Egyptian and Russian airports only. Several countries have suspended flights to Sharm El-Sheikh or Egypt altogether over security fears, prompting concerns that the country’s already-troubled tourism industry could face a huge drop. Russia has also banned incoming flights by Egypt’s state-owned airline EgyptAir over concerns of the company’s implemented security measures on the back of the disaster. 13
Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
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CRIME Brothers guilty of murder six years after victim dies
Two brothers serving 35 years for a brutal attack have today been convicted of murder from behind bars after their victim died.
Derrell Callender, 26 and Dwight Callender, 28, both of no fixed address, were each jailed in December 2009 for two counts of attempted murder in New Cross on Tuesday, 21 April 2009. One of their victims - Johnson Ndjoli died from his injuries on Tuesday, 5 January 2010 and the Callender brothers were brought back before the courts. A trial began in May at the Old Bailey and resulted in a hung jury. A retrial today ended with the brothers being convicted of murder. They will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 16 December. Detective Sergeant Paul Davis, investigating officer, said: “Johnson suffered horrific crush injuries during the attack that would have left him dependent on specialist medical care for the rest of his life. He sadly lost his battle for life the month after the Callender brothers were convicted of trying to kill him and his friend. “The conduct of these defendants is in stark contrast to the dignity and restraint
Dwight Callender
shown by Johnson’s family during what has been a lengthy and difficult legal process. “It is only right the Callenders were prosecuted for murder and I am pleased a jury has today found them guilty.” On 21 April 2009, police were called shortly after 16:00hrs to reports of shots fired in Sanford Street near the junction with Bawtree Road, New Cross SE14. The two victims, Johnson aged 18 and a 19-year-old, had earlier been involved in a confrontation with Derrell Callender.
Derrell Callender
Callender then called upon his older brother Dwight to help him take revenge. Dwight Callender collected him in a hired white Fiat Ducato and they drove back to the area. Shots were fired at the two victims by associates of the Callenders and they made off into Sanford Street. The brothers then appeared in their van and drove it towards them at speed, intentionally crushing Johnson against railings, causing devastating brain injuries. The van was then used to again deliberately
run over the 19-year-old. He was knocked unconscious but suffered no lasting injuries. As Johnson lay unconscious and bleeding on the pavement he was shot in the buttocks and stabbed in the neck by other males. The van had made off from the scene. Officers quickly identified Dwight Callender as the driver of the van and his brother as the passenger, who actively picked out their targets in the street. The badly damaged van was found two days later burning close to the scene. The brothers were found guilty by a unanimous decision of two counts of attempted murder on 30 November 2009. For the attempted murder of Johnson they were each sentenced on 1 December 2009 to 25 years’ imprisonment. For the attempted murder of the 19-year-old, the Callenders were each jailed for 10 years, the terms to be served consecutively. The investigation was carried out by the Met’s Trident (South) shootings team and the case reopened after Johnson’s death. A post-mortem examination revealed he died of respiratory failure and head and chest injuries.
Courier fraud conviction A group of nine men have been convicted in connection with one of the biggest courier fraud investigations carried out by British police.
Three men were found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud and one man was found guilty of money laundering today, 10 December at the Old Bailey. Five others had already pleaded guilty to either conspiracy to commit fraud or money laundering offences; all as a result of 10-month investigation by detectives from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15). The group was involved in what was described as an ‘industrial-scale’ conspiracy to commit fraud by targeting elderly and vulnerable adults in courier fraudstyle scams with around 140 offences identified by police, and over £1 million defrauded or attempted to be defrauded from their victims. The scam involved various members of the group working together to gain the trust of their victims and persuading them to hand over cash to their ‘couriers’ whom the victims believed were working for the police on secret investigations. In one of the cases, a 76-year-old woman from Poole, Dorset, was targeted by 14
Makzhumi Abukar
the group and defrauded her of just over £135,000. In another, a 94-year-old man from north west London had £130,000 stolen after handing it over to the fraudsters. The investigation into the group was launched in December 2014 by detectives from the National Terrorism Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU - part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command), after SO15 detectives carrying out a separate counter terrorism (CT) investigation
noticed irregular bank transfers for large sums to an individual, who was later identified as having travelled to Syria. When specialist officers from the NTFIU investigated further, they linked the payments to other members of the group. Through their enquiries, officers began to link together several courier fraud offences across the country and they discovered 16 telephone lines the group was using to carry out the frauds. When they analysed the phone lines, officers found that a total of 5,695 calls had been made to 3,774 different numbers across the UK. At the centre of the scam was Makzhumi Abukar, who officers identified as the main organiser and coordinator, directing the frauds from his north London address. Abukar, along with Achmed Abdulaziz Ahmed and Sakaria Aden were linked to the majority of the frauds identified, with the other men linked to some, but not all of the frauds. Between March and June 2015 officers arrested a number of suspects, which culminated in the nine convictions above. Commander Richard Walton, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) said:
“This callous group of criminals stole vast sums of money from extremely vulnerable and elderly people from across the country. Their despicable actions have had a terrible and devastating impact on their victims with some losing their life savings. The targeting of vulnerable men and women in their 80s and 90s is quite simply beyond belief. “This was a scam on a huge national scale detected by specialist financial investigators who have stopped the targeting of even more victims. Our investigation remains on-going and we will continue to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in this fraud. “We uncovered this fraud after a separate terrorist investigation found suspicious payments into a bank account of an individual who is now believed to have travelled to Syria. “I urge the public to look at our crime prevention advice on this issue. Police or banks will never ask to collect your bank cards, will never ask for your PIN and will never ask for money, so if you get one of these calls, please hang up and either use another line to call and report it to police or wait at least five minutes for your line to clear before calling 999.”
Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
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Sounds of Diaspora People of America
Kanye go away now, please?
Usually in introductions to news concerning a celebrity, we reporters prefix the subject’s name with their profession somewhere early on in the piece. Admittedly, a few of these people enjoy such fame that they have earned exemption from this convention; but I am about to impart news concerning a certain Kim Kardashian and have suddenly realised I have no idea what she does.
I know she was already famous before she married Kanye West – himself more notable a celebrity than his talent deserves – but which endeavour earned her this fame is hard to discern. The best I have come up with is that the young lady has co-starred in a ‘special interest’ movie with a scarcely more significant celebrity rejoicing under the sobriquet Ray J. With a name so brief, I feel I should know who this Ray J is. I don’t . . . and the part of my brain that controls my curiosity appears to be paralysed by my overactive apathy gland. Be that as it may, I have to announce that the twin-headed entity known to imaginative gossip columnists as Kimye are celebrating the birth of their second child.
The West’s enjoyed a joke at their first child’s expense, naming the poor thing North – and it had the desired effect because we all laughed, sympathised and wrote about them lots. We speculated this next newborn might be forced to suffer being called South or maybe Wild in order to earn the couple more column inches. But no, this time it is not just their child – this time a son – they will undoubtedly upset but whole faiths because West Junior is to be called Saint. I have little more to say on the subject. I am not a fan of Kanye West and his antics, and I have already been sucked too far into his agenda by mentioning his name a second time. However, I will say it is my fervent hope that no clergyman anywhere in the world will play any part in christening Saint West, but money talks – and nowhere is its voice louder than in the US of A. Mr West is the self-proclaimed world’s best at every discipline he applies himself to, so I suspect it is his megalomania that has masterminded the spontaneous canonization of his progeny and not his wife, who seems bereft of the cognitive faculty to mastermind a fart despite the visual eloquence of her posterior. Nevertheless I remain confident he will stop short of deifying his next baby, if only because to do so would present a challenge to his own status.
Kimye with their daughter, North West, who appears to already be plotting her revenge in her Pampers
Bey wants “iconic dramatic” film roles
Beyonce
Beyoncé is getting her act together. “She wants to land leading roles in movies and has been taking classes in New York and L.A. for the past year,” an insider reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly.
And the 34-year-old, who earned a Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Golden Globe nod for 2006’s Dreamgirls, is moving past musicals. “Bey’s looking for an iconic dramatic role,” adds the source, who notes she turned down NBC’s The
Wiz Live! “She wants to make a film that’s socially relevant to African American rights.” The “7/11” singer opened up about her hesitations to Cosmopolitan in 2006. “I took a risk with acting,” she said. “It was scary because it was different for me.” But the offers continue to roll in, says a source: “She’s always being given scripts to read!” Still, the 20-time Grammy winner isn’t leaving music behind entirely. “Beyoncé’s also recording a new album!” adds the pal. “She’s writing and working with a bunch of producers right now.” 15
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Gospel
ARE YOU A POWER HOUSE ?
By Michael Adekoya
Habakkuk says, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour” Hab. 3:17-18
My friend, if you are a seasoned air traveller, there are chances that you will be familiar with the term “holding pattern.” Holding Pattern is simply when your plane is unable to land because of unfavourable ground conditions. Generally, the pilot will announce that he’s been told to maintain a “holding pattern” pending an update from the control tower. It happens regularly, so planes have to carry enough fuel (power) to stay airborne till they can land safely. Does this sound familiar to you?
The Bible says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong; be strong…let your heart take courage” (Psa 27:14). My friend, a time will come in your life time, if you haven’t experience it, when God will put you in a holding pattern. When God puts you in a holding pattern, it is not just a question of having enough faith to receive His promise, it is also a matter of having enough “spiritual staying power to stay airborne until the promise comes to pass without bitterness or compromise; without grumbling, worrying or complaining; without weariness or weakness; without giving in or giving up; without exercising impatience or anger. In this day and age, you need to carry enough spiritual fuel (spiritual power and strength, spiritual oil of joy) to handle delays and wait for clearance. After God had delayed Noah long enough to accomplish His purpose, “…He sent a wind…” (Gen 8:1).My friend, we all go through holding pattern - waiting period when it will seem like God has forsaken us, abandoned us or keep silence on our matter. Is that where you are today? Are you thinking the enemy is winning? What you need at your waiting period is the wind. Speaking of the Holy Spirit, the Bible says, “…a sound came from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind…” (Acts 2:2). Did you hear that? Anytime the wind comes from the presence of
God, it will blow away all hindrances or obstacles. It will rekindle faith in you, energize you and remind you of God’s promise. It will demolish the spirit of fear, impatience, worry, hurry, complaints, anxiety; even the spirit of bitterness, heaviness, weariness or discouragement that makes people wants to quit or give up. My friend, what has God promised you? Are you still standing on the promise or you have walked away from it due to past experiences? What are you trusting Him for? What’s God calling you to? Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t happen, or that God has forgotten you or changed His mind. God’s Qatar word is His bond just as our words should be our bond. When He made a promise to Abraham, He fulfilled it. He promised Hannah of a male child and He did it. He never fails. If He promises it, He’ll do it! That’s why you must hold on more firmly to the promise you have received or the truths you have heard, so that you’ll not be carried away (Heb 2:1). You’re a work-in-progress in God’s hand! Wait! You’ll come out shining like gold. My friend, you should believe that God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it or see it. Films are developed into pictures in the dark room! Listen! “Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.” (Eccl 3:1) There are seasons in your spiritual, physical, marital or financial life too. Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter). You may say, “Michael, you don’t understand. What about this problem,
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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(PART 3)
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
betrayal of trust, loneliness, addiction, pain, bitterness and hurt I’m facing and would like to be removed fast?” Listen! It’s fine to pray for a sudden miracle, but don’t be disappointed if the answer comes through a gradual change. Over time, a slow, steady stream of water will erode the hardest rock and turn giant boulders into pebbles. Over time, a little sprout can turn into a giant redwood tree towering 350 feet tall. What is the point of Hannah giving birth to Samuel when Eli was still in position? You don’t need to help God or force things to happen. The timing may not be right for Him to get the ultimate glory and for you to get the ultimate benefit. Wait! “Let patience have her perfect work in you, so that you may be matured and equipped wanting nothing” (James 1:4). Impatience is a sign of immaturity. My friend, while you are waiting, God is working. I pray that God will give you the spiritual staying strength and power to wait with patience. You may say, “But Michael, it is easy for you to say this. I’m frustrated. When will it be?” My friend, that salvation of your loved one, that deliverance from bondage, that victory, that healing, that husband, that wife, that child, that solution; that job, contract, or book; that promotion, restitution, revival or restoration; that favour, prosperity or blessing…the list goes on…is coming. It will come at the appointed and set time. Wait with patience! But in the meantime, ask God to give you the power to love God and people, power to forgive yourself and others, power to resist temptation, power to over-
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
come sin, power to live a holy life, power to obey God, power to serve Him, power of faith, power to pray with expectation, power to wait without fainting or wavering. My friend, I don’t know what you’re going through now but I like to tell you that, even in the times of frustration and waiting, God is still thinking about you. He is working everything out for your good (read Psa 8:4, Rom 8:28). His delays are not denials. What you need to do while you are waiting is this – “Rejoice in the Lord!” Begin to praise and worship the Lord everyday as from today for what He’s done, for what’s doing now that will manifest soon and for what He will continue to do because His absolute will shall come through for you before the end of this year in Jesus name. The Lord will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy in Jesus name. I pray that your expectations shall not be cut off in Jesus name. “But Michael, it is not easy!” Is that your response? My friend, that is why you need the Holy Spirit – the power of God. He will comfort you, help you, stabilize you, energise you; He will put faith, hope and courage in you. He will help you to wait! Strength will rise in you as you wait upon the Lord! He will open every closed doors; even new doors! I can testify to that. “Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago. Behold, I AM doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isa 43:18-19). Did you hear that? That’s what He is saying to you now! God is doing a new thing in your life. It is now time to forget any past betrayal, disappointment, divorce, rejection, abandonment, defeat, failure, frustration or mistake. Instead ask God for the spiritual staying strength, power, courage, hope and patience to wait for His promise on your life, family, church, ministry, business, community, city and nation. “Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.” (Hab 2:3). 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, Surrey Docks District, Solution Centre, 47-47 High Street, Swancombe, Kent, DA10 0DA Tel: 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
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Africa Newsround
South Africa
Zuma names 3 finance ministers in a week Yielding to widening criticism of his leadership over South Africa’s ailing economy, President Jacob Zuma has removed a little-known lawmaker as finance minister just days after naming him to the post.
In a written announcement Sunday night, Mr. Zuma, who hours earlier had defiantly dismissed his critics before crowds of supporters, also reappointed as finance minister Pravin Gordhan, whose tenure in that position from 2009 to 2014 has been widely praised. The abrupt announcement followed a weekend of intensifying calls, including from high-profile members of Mr. Zuma’s governing African National Congress and the party’s traditional allies, that Mr. Zuma reconsider his appointment of David van Rooyen as finance minister on Thursday. The selection of Mr. van Rooyen, an A.N.C. lawmaker who has no experience in finance and was an unknown political figure nationally, led to a sudden drop in the rand, South Africa’s currency, and added to doubts among investors and credit rating agencies about the soundness of South Africa’s financial management. The decision to replace Nhlanhla Nene with Mr. van Rooyen set off an avalanche of criticism that appeared to take Mr. Zuma by surprise. Over the weekend, amid individual calls that Mr. Zuma resign, groups of leading academics, church leaders, politicians and labor leaders sent open letters to the president questioning his judgment and his stewardship over the economy. The appointment of Mr. van Rooyen to one of the government’s most important positions was particularly reckless, they said, because South Africa was already reeling from the worldwide drop in the price of commodities and nearly slipped into a recession recently. The South African Council of Churches called last week’s appointment “bordering on
David Van Rooyen was appointed and sacked within days
financially irresponsible,” and it said the move would “undoubtedly affect all South Africans‚ but the poor are likely to be hit hardest by the possible turn of events.” On Sunday, speaking to crowds of A.N.C. supporters, Mr. Zuma dismissed the criticism as coming from “people who talk a lot on TV,” according to the local news media. But later that night, Mr. Zuma’s office released a statement announcing the removal of Mr. van Rooyen. “I have received many representations to reconsider my decision,” Mr. Zuma said. “As a democratic government, we emphasize the importance of listening to the people and to respond to their views.” The reappointment of Mr. Gordhan, who Mr. Zuma said would promote “fiscal discipline and prudence,” calmed investors on Monday morning
and led to a partial recovery of the rand. But critics said the damage to South Africa’s reputation, and to Mr. Zuma, would be lasting. “President Zuma has been playing Russian roulette with our economy and future as a country over the past five days,” the Democratic Alliance, the country’s main opposition party, said in a statement. The second-biggest opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, said: “The country has had three finance ministers in one week. If anyone still does not think we are in a banana republic, they cannot be helped.” Mr. Zuma, who is serving his second and last term in office, has overseen a government that has grown increasingly corrupt and has fueled widespread dissatisfaction in South Africa, including among many of the A.N.C.’s most loyal
supporters. Accused by critics of cronyism, Mr. Zuma has appointed allies with little experience to important positions in government and at state enterprises. The recent reshuffling of finance ministers is believed to be related to a clash with the powerful chairwoman of South African Airways, the troubled national carrier. The airline’s chairwoman, Dudu Myeni, has been pushing for the purchase of 10 aircraft, a move that was opposed by Mr. Nene, who served as finance minister until last week. Critics accused Mr. Zuma of abruptly removing Mr. Nene, who earned high praise during his year and a half as finance minister, and trying to replace him with the unknown Mr. van Rooyen as a way to facilitate the purchase of the aircraft. At a news conference Monday afternoon, Mr. Gordhan hinted strongly that he would not budge from his predecessor’s opposition to the aircraft purchase. Without naming any individual, he said some officials treat state enterprises “as if it’s a personal toy from which you can extract money when you feel like it,” and he called for “a bit of national reflection” about the management of national resources. Ms. Myeni was appointed to the board of South Africa Airways in 2009, and she eventually became chairwoman, even though she had no experience working in the airline industry. Ms. Myeni, who also heads the Jacob G. Zuma Foundation, is regarded as very close to Mr. Zuma. Over the weekend, as Mr. Zuma defended his initial appointment as finance minister and denied that it was linked to the airline’s management, he also directly addressed longstanding accusations that he had named Ms. Myeni to oversee the airline because they have been romantically involved. “Her relationship with the president is purely professional, and is based on the running of the foundation,” Mr. Zuma’s office said. “Rumours about a romance and a child are baseless and are designed to cast aspersions on the president.”
Zimbabwe
MP charged for First Lady ‘insult’ A senior Zanu PF legislator has been bailed to appear in court next year for insulting Zimbabwe’s First Lady.
MP for Gokwe-Nembudziya, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, was arrested in Victoria Falls after the close of the party’s national conference following comments he allegedly made to fellow Zanu PF member Jimayi Muduvuri about Grace Mugabe. Wadyajena reportedly called Muduvuri foolish for driving a car with a poster of Mrs Mugabe with the inscription: ‘Munhu wese kunamhamha’. Prosecutor Listen Nare told the court that the lawmaker “used abusive or insulting language” against a party member who
MP for Gokwe-Nembudziya, Justice Mayor Wadyajena
had a portrait of Grace Mugabe, and a slogan calling on party members to rally behind her,
emblazoned on his car. Wadyajena was quoted in court papers
as having told Muduvuri: “You are a fool as well as that mother of yours.” The first lady is referred to as “mother” by the ruling party supporters. Wadyajena has been linked to a faction of Zanu-PF loyal to the vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is seen as Mugabe’s heir, while Muduvuri, a businessman, is seen as belonging to a group in the party opposed to Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed Africa’s oldest leader. Mugabe, 91, has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 and has avoided naming a successor. His party has been riven by infighting between factions jostling to succeed him. Wadyajena was granted $800 bail and ordered to report to a local police station once every week until he goes on trial on January 5.
17
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Nigerian News
Excellence In Academic Pursuit Is Achievable Through Dedication -Aregbesola The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called on Nigerian youths and students not to see excellence in academic performance and better life accomplishment as mysterious but a result of determination and deep commitment.
The governor stated this while receiving the 2015 best graduating student of the University of Ibadan, Dr. Sodiq Olayinka, at the Government House in Osogbo. Sodiq Olayinka who emerged the best student at the university of Ibadan having clinched all the Departmental and Faculty awards and prices before emerging overall best student, was accompanied by the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Olayinka, a graduate of the Department of Vertinary Medicine hails from Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government area of Osun, the twenty three year old set a new record of eight distinctions, a feat that has never been achieved in the sixty seven years existence of the University of Ibadan. Aregbesola described Dr.Olayinka as a shinning and worthy example worthy of a role model for any serious minded student anywhere in the world. “You are a brand new academic giant and setting a record in the life of the existence of the University of Ibadan, eight distinctions is an indication that nothing is impossible for a determined personality.
“Dr. Sodiq Olayinka Olamide’s rare feat is by all intent an inspiration to all students in Iragbiji his home town, state of Osun and Nigeria, as well as an encouragement to people who are desirous of emulating your new record,” he stressed. Aregbesola noted that the emergency of the 2015 best graduating student who hails from Iragbiji has proved to the whole world that distinctions, success and academic Excellence are not limited to a place or environment. Also speaking, the Chief of Staff to the Governor Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola said the feat of Dr. Olayinka is an example of what a disciplined child should be. Oyetola who is also from Iragbiji said, “Your recognition and feat of the 2015 best graduating student of the University of Ibadan came at a time when some students have gone astray at tender age, some disgracefully impregnated putting a stop to their academic pursuit, I congratulate you.” In his remarks the Aragbiji of Iragbiji Oba Abdul Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi applauded the progressive steps of Governor Aregbesola in all sectors assuring that posterity will place him on the positive side of history. The honoree who expressed appreciation to the governor for receiving him and for the honour assured of his readiness to contribute his own quota to the development of the state of Osun. He encouraged his colleagues that with determination, prayers and fear of God the sky is the beginning for serious minded people.
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd left); his Deputy, Mrs. Titi LaoyeTomori (3rd right), Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (left), Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi (2nd left), Overall Best Graduating Student of University of Ibadan, Dr. Olayinka Olamide Sodiq (middle), his parents, Prince Olayinka Abimbola (2nd right) and Alhaja Olayinka Mujidat (right), during a courtesy call to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2 left); his Deputy, Mrs. Titi LaoyeTomori (right), Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi (left) and Overall Best Graduating Student of University of Ibadan, Dr. Olayinka Olamide Sodiq (2nd right), during a courtesy call to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun
The Revelations of the Damned Continued from page 10
The scale of this primitive acquisition of wealth can only be comprehended from the littering of the national landscape with failed projects, moribund development, a collapsed and prostrate economy as evidenced in dilapidated and decayed infrastructure, poor healthcare, collapsed education, lack of public utilities, decayed social services, chaotic way of life, insecurity of lives and properties, uncertainly of daily bread, etc. These are all products of the prevalent and virulent corruption that has enveloped and strangled the country and its people because those entrusted to deliver these to the people have betrayed our trust and have pocketed the money. Of more concern should be the human effects - poverty, distress, hopelessness, 18
sufferings, diseases, hunger and deaths that we see and experience every day; yet some people still hang on to the belief that the current government is lying about the looting of this country over the past sisteen, and even more, years; or that the exercise to flush out looters is based on vindictiveness and witch-hunting and slanted towards members of the last government and party. Well.............................? Do they care? Until several lots of them are handed long jail sentences (or maybe even executed) this spectacle will continue. The hydraheaded corruption is not a beast to be tackled with soft gloves; let some high profile corrupt politicians, ex-governors, legislators, and their parasitic sycophantic rich tag-along businessmen (AGIP) who derive their wealth by preying on government
contracts and largess to flaunt their ill-gotten gains in the face of their fellowmen and fellow women go to thirty years at Agodi or Kuje prisons, with the hardest of labour, and observe the effect and change on Nigerians. So, dear compatriots, please look around you and perceive the chaos, the despondency, the desperation, the poverty and hopelessness on the faces of our people and tell the man in Aba, Maiduguri, Asaba, Ugep, Ado-Ekiti, Ilorin, Makurdi, Owerri, Ede, etc. that NOBODY is responsible, nobody can be held culpable for their unfortunate plight in a rich country like ours; that the people, rulers that forced or rig their way into power, are elected, selected, appointed and entrusted with managing their wealth and welfare for the past
sixteen, thirty or fifty years cannot or should not be probed and jailed for their roles in the looting and raping of their country. A word of caution to the current administration: Buhari must not be distracted from his anti-corruption stance and bout, however he must also not allow himself and his government to be swamped and grounded in the mire of the corruption fight. Corruption will always fight back a hundred times more viciously than the ones after it, and will do everything to stay ahead of the game. He should concentrate of governance and put reliable, sincere, seasoned and equally vicious anti-corruption people in place to engage in this fight for him and Nigeria. It is indeed the Season of Revelation of the Damned!!!!
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Nigerian News
Senator Kabir Marafa spits fire! By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria
The dust raised on the issue of assigning committees to Senators is yet to abate. A Zamfara state Senator, Senator Kabir Marafa has again urged the Senate to seriously look into the legality of committees that were formed by the senate.
According to Marafa, ‘we don’t have any committee legally, no committee can function legally. The committees are in violation of our order 1, order 3 (2) 1-4, order 97 (1-57) and order 100’. Speaking in his office on Wednesday, Senator Kabir Marafa the Zamfara state Senator stressed that order 110’. ‘As far as I’m concerned there is a need to follow steps to address the senate is in material breach of the the violations. Saying that ‘nobody has constitution of the Federal Republic of the right or authority to increase sen- Nigeria section 60 that gives power to ate committees without recourse to the National Assembly to regulate it own procedures’. ‘ I don’t see how as a
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that I will descend so low to break my own rules all in the name of service. If tomorrow we have a President that decides to reduce the states in Nigeria from 36 to 12 or raise them to 50, who
will call him to order?’ ‘It is incumbent on the senate to respect Nigeria laws first before calling someone else to order’. He recalled that he raised issues of legality on the floor of the senate when the committees were formed early last month. ‘I will not succumb to the tyranny of the majority’ ‘its just like committing error in the supreme court. If you have errors in the lower court it can be rectified in the supreme court, after supreme court that’s it. Senate is the apex and highest law making chamber in Nigeria, therefore we can’t afford to get it wrong’. Nigerians have the right to say that they have to do it right. We have to respect out laws of the land first then we can call all other people to do the same but when we can not do that we lose the moral right to call anybody to order’ they said our order 100 says the Senate President should form committees in consultation with the selection committee subject to the approval of the Senate. The Senator said if those issues of legality are resolved, he will commence work immediately in his committee.
Rose of Sharon By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria
There are 8 women in the current 8th senate. 8 women 8th senate. The numbers of women compared to the numbers of men are narrow. Women would need to show more interest in the senate and political parties should make the process easier for women to emerge. Senators Rose Oko Okoji, Biodun Olujimi, wife of governor emeritus, Oluremi Tinubu, Monsurat Sunmonu, Garba Binta Masi, Ekwunife Uche, Stella Oduah and Fatimat Raji Rasaki. Credits to them all.
Chairing one sensitive committee is Senator Rose Oko Okoji. A former lecturer and from a state with entertainment tourism due to the Tinapa monument and sport/cultural tourism with Obudu cattle ranch in my mind, where long distance runners all over the world converge to test
Senator Oko Okoji
their mights. Oko Okoji heads the senate Diaspora Committee, a committee many Nigerians abroad look up to to push the needed Bills to champion their cause. Nigeria’s Diaspora is an asset that can not be ignored. Successive governments have taken issues on Nigerians in diaspora with levity but today Nigerians abroad are excited due to the people in government today. The current government must quickly fashion out means to carry the diaspora along with government plans and intentions. Senator Rose Oko has sprang into action by raising concerns about the British government’s cruel intention to deport 29,000 Nigerians in UK. A move Nigerians are glad with Senator Oko with. Her passionate stance was swift and enough to draw international attention to the ill conceived decision on the side of the British government. Nigerians in Diaspora should be rest assured that with people like Senator Oko, all issues such as Diaspora voting must be given special attention to enable them perform their civic duties. For Senator Oko Okoji, Its all roses!
19
Events calendar What’s On & When WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK
Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Events
17th GAB Awards rewards excellence in London Nine distinguished sons and daughters of Africa were honoured at the 17th Annual Gathering of Africa’s Best (GAB) Awards which took place at the Hilton London Canary Wharf recently.
Highlights of this year’s GAB Awards included “Special Recognition Awards for contributions to the promotion of the positive image of Africa and Africans around the world through Governance” to Senator (Prince) Lanre Tejuoso - Chairman of Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Health and the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Also honoured for their individual contributions in their kingdom were: HRM Oba Bakare Ajibade Agoro - The Ranodu of Imota, Lagos State and HRM Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja - Kalejaiye II Aladeshoyin of Odo-Noforija Kingdom, Noforija, Epe. Awards for Excellence for contributions to the promotion of the positive
image of Africa and Africans around the world, were also presented to: Eucharia Ihenacho Obih (Community Development), Rukayat Basaru (Community Development), Isaac Oyekunle Adegbite (Visual Arts), Wambui Njau (Community Cohesion), Kaft Trendz (Fashion), Shoggy Tosh (Entertainment), and Sidumiso Moyo (Media). GAB Awards Founder / CEO - ‘Femi Okutubo explained that: “The Trumpet Newspaper, concerned with the negative stories about Africa and Africans which was not a true reflection of the community and the continent; had earlier started The Trumpet Newspaper in 1995 as a way of promoting the positive image of Africa and Africans. “In 1999, we took steps beyond the objectives of The Trumpet Newspaper, by establishing the GAB Awards to not only promote, but reward, excellence among those who promoting the positive image of Africa and Africans. It is open to Africans and Friends of Africa.”
Wambui Njau (centre) was presented her GAB Award by Mr & Mrs Paul Olubunmi of PK Sales and Lettings
The Nigeria High Commission presented a donation to the GAB Awards
Alhaji and Mrs Afolabi presenting GAB Award to Rukayat Basaru a.k.a Ade Beauty
Senator Lanre Tejuoso receives his award from GAB Founder - Femi Okutubo
GAB Award recipient (2nd left) - Eucharia Obi poses with from left - Cllr Doris Jiagge, Cllr Ekechi, Cllr Anna Mbachu and Otunba Ade Adesina
Cllr Sade Sobanjo-Etti presented the GAB Award to the Lagos State Council of Obas which received by Oba Fatai Agoro and Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja.
20
Miss Dami Okutubo and Mr Adewale Okutubo present GAB Award to Mr Isaac Adegbite of Adesons Productions
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Glo - CAF Awards: Nominees Revealed The top 10 nominees for the two categories; African Player of the Year 2015 and African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) 2015.
The winner will be decided by votes of the Coaches or Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF. African Player of the Year André Ayew (Ghana & Swansea) Aymen Abdennour (Tunisia & Valencia) Mudather Eltaib Ibrahim ‘Karika’ (Sudan & El Hilal) Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund) Sadio Mané (Senegal & Southampton) Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint Germain) Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria & Valencia) Yacine Brahimi ( Algeria & Porto) Yaya Touré (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester City) The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has released the nominees for the other categories for the 2015 Glo-CAF Awards. The categories are; Women Player of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, Most
Glo - CA Awards: Aubameyang, Ayew, Toure in top three The top three contenders for the
2015 African Player of the Year have been revealed.
Yaya Toure
Promising Talent, Coach of the Year, Referee of the Year, African Legend, National Team of the Year, Women National Team of the Year, Club of the Year, Platinum Award. The list was unveiled at a press conference attended by CAF Excutive member Anjorin Moucharafou and Glo representatives on Monday, 14 December 2015 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The winners will be decided by votes from the CAF Footbal land Media Committees except Legend and Platinum awards, which are not subject to vote while Referee of the Year Award will be decided by the votes of CAF Refereeing Committee. The winners will be announced at the Glo-CAF Awards Gala scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria.
They are; Andre Ayew (Ghana/ Swansea City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/ Borussia Dortmund) and Yaya Toure (Cote d”Ivoire/ Manchester City). The trio was unveiled at a press conference attended by CAF Excutive member Anjorin Moucharafou and Glo representatives on Monday, 14 December 2015 in Abuja, Nigeria. For the African Player of the Year Based in Africa, the top three finalists are; Baghdad Boundjah (Algeria/: Etoile du Sahel), Mbwana Aly Samata (Tanzania/ TP Mazembe) and Robert Kidiaba (DR Congo/ TP Mazembe) . The winner to be decided by votes from Head Coaches or Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF will be announced at the Glo-CAF Awards Gala on 7 January 2016.
Mahrez insists he is staying a Fox U23 AFCON hero heads for Premier League deal
Mahrez netted his 11th goal of the season in Monday night’s win over struggling Chelsea
“If they lose a player like me, Vardy or In form Algeria winger Riyad Kanté, it can penalise the team. I prefer to Mahrez has ruled out a move from continue until the end of the season.” Leicester City during the January Table leaders Leicester have been the transfer window. biggest surprise so far this season in the
The 24-year-old, who helped the Foxes get back at the top of the Premier League table with his 11th goal of the season during their 2-1 win over Chelsea at King Power Stadium on Monday, insisted he will remain at the club until the end of the campaign. “The best for me would be to stay. I am not going to leave in January, it won’t be good for my team if I leave,” Mahrez told French radio RMC. 22
Premier League, which does not however prevent the Algeria international from keeping his feet on the ground. “We are on top, but it doesn’t mean anything. The big guys will wake up at some point,” Mahrez insisted. “We won’t be champions! We don’t have broad enough shoulders. The other squads have more depth. They will take over at some point.”
Victor Osimhen
Fresh from helping Nigeria’s Super Eaglets secure this year’s U23 Africa Cup of Nations, U17 star Victor Osimhen has arrived in England, where he is expected to seal a deal with a top Premier League side, according to officials.
A source close to the striker said: “Everything has been agreed with an EPL
club and only a crazy deal from Real Madrid will scuttle (sic) this.” Osimhen, who netted a recordbreaking 10 goals when Nigeria won their fifth U17 World Cup in Chile, has been linked with several top European clubs. London clubs Spurs and Arsenal are thought to have shown interest but neither club will confirm a deal has been struck.
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Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015
Ayew can win African Player of the Year - Akenten Head of the Ghana FA technical directorate Francis Oti Akenten believes Andre Ayew stands a chance of winning the 2015 African Footballer of the Year.
Yaya Touré warns PSG must be wary of ‘wounded’ Chelsea By Staff Reporter
The Swansea City star has made the final
three-man shortlist for the award to be announced on January 7th in Abuja, Nigeria.
His competition comes from Manchester City and Ivory Coast star Yaya Touré and
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund and Gabon.
The bookmakers have tipped Touré to
defend his title but Akenten says Ayew is
Beleauguered coach Jose Mourinho
also a leading contender.
Manchester City star midfielder Yaya Touré has warned French giants Paris Saint-Germain to beware a struggling Chelsea side as PSG are set to face the Blues in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
“If you are playing for a club like Man
City and I am playing for Swansea it be-
comes a bit more difficult that they will leave the Man City player and then pick
somebody of that nature at that level,” he told Joy Sports.
“But that notwithstanding, things keep
changing like football be it as dynamic as
The season of José Mourinho’s men
it is.
reached a new low on Monday after a
“It can also go in your favour even if you
2-1 defeat to Premier League leaders
are playing in a small club. It works, once
Leicester City at King Power Stadium,
you’ve been shortlisted into the top three
with Chelsea now lying only three points
definitely it is going to work for him.
above the relegation zone.
“Looking at this year and last year, I
Meanwhile, PSG have almost wrapped
think Ayew has done a lot of work. Even
up their fourth consecutive crown in
scoring on his debut.
“He has done a lot of work that that
Andre Ayew got off to a great start to the season, scoring on his Premier League debut for Swansea in a draw against reigning champions Chelsea
could earn him the award.”
Siasia celebrates “miracle” win Continued from back page Nigeria had already secured an Olympics spot by making it to the final. Rio 2016 will give the team an opportunity to consolidate a proud Olympics record. They made Olympic football history in 1996 by becoming the first non-European or South American team to win the gold medal. They also took the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, the so-called ‘Dream Team V’ led by Austin Eguavoen, failed to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics after crashing out in the group stages of the 2011 U23 continental championship in Morocco. Last weekend’s U23 success rounds off a superb 2015 for Nigerian football, having secured the U17 world title and the U20 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite the U23’s success, however, coach Samson Siasia was disappointed
with his squad’s preparation. “From how we prepared, we did not deserve to win anything. It was just a miracle we won,” lamented the coach. “We had to manage everything, from kits to what have you, for the past one year.” He added: “Motivating the boys was not easy at all, it was tough but thank God we survived it.” Siasia’s so-called Dream Team VI were criticised after the first two games of the tournament for letting a two goals lead slip in the second half after a convincing first half. Consequently the coach was selective in crediting those behind his team’s triumph. “I dedicate the victory at the U23 championship to God and well-meaning Nigerians who were praying for us to succeed,
but not the wicked ones who wanted me and the team to fail,” he said. In the 3rd/4th place play-off South Africa took the remaining Olympic spot with a 3-1 penalties win over hosts Senegal, whose early form in the tournament deserted them in the latter stages. The South Africans had goalie Jody February to thank after he supplemented his penalty save from Moussa Wague in normal time with three more in the shoot-out after the match finished goalless. Phakamani Mahlambi hit the winning spot-kick to send South Africa’s men to Rio. It will be the first time that both the South Africa men’s and women’s football teams have qualified for an Olympics.
the French Ligue 1, enjoying a 17-point lead over second-placed Angers after 18 games.
However, Yaya is adamant that Chel-
sea will get out of trouble and be able to cause the French heavyweights some problems.
“I don’t like to talk too much about my
opponents, but it is obvious that we are
not seeing the true face of Chelsea right
now,” the Côte d’Ivoire international told francefootball.fr.
“They are too much of a shadow of
themselves. They have too many problems to be able to show their true colours.
“But as they have great players and a
great coach, it would be a mistake to write them off.
“Be careful, beware the wounded beast.
It won’t be as easy for PSG as many people think.”
Paris Saint-Germain will host the Blues
on 16 February 2016 before travelling to Stamford Bridge on 9 March 2016.
23
Friday, 18 December - Thursday, 24 December 2015 ISSUE 610
WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK
Ayew can win African Player of the Year - Akenten
SEE PAGE 22
EAGLETS TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY Nigeria’s triumphant U23s lift coach Samson Siasia atop their shoulders after Saturday’s defeat of Algeria
Siasia celebrates “miracle” win By Alan Oakley
Nigeria’s Super Eaglets secured the U23 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday with a 2 – 1 victory over a stubborn Algerian eleven.
Nigeria opened the scoring thanks to a 14th minute penalty converted by captain Etebo Oghenekaro. But Algeria were able to even things up on the half-hour when Oduduwa Segun Tope scored an own-goal. Ten minutes later, with half-time looming, Nigeria took what proved to be a decisive lead when hero Etebo scored again to break Algerian hearts.
The plucky North Africans came out on the front foot in the second period and should have levelled the match after 68 minutes when USM Alger’s Zinedine Ferhat had his penalty saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Emmanuel.
Continued on page 23
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