African Voice Newspaper Issue 616

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016 ISSUE 616

SINCE 2001

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

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UK Nigerians React to President Buhari’s Telegraph Interview SEE PAGES 4,5,7,8 & 12

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TIED MAID VISAS TIE VICTIMS TO ABUSERS Independent review links visa changes to domestic slavery

By Alan Oakley The Government is exposing thousands of women brought to the UK by wealthy Arab families to abuse. So concludes a Home Office-commissioned review of domestic worker visas, which has exposed shocking cases of slavery, violence, sexual abuse and people trafficking and led to accusations that tougher immigration controls could be responsible.

The Home Office requested the independent review, authored by barrister James Ewins, in March 2015 to investigate the state of the domestic worker visa system.

Domestic worker visa holders who accompany their employer to the UK legally must remain with that employer to fulfil the terms of the visa, which saw major changes in 2012.

This has led to strong criticism - aimed squarely at the Home Office – that workers are put in a position where they’re unable to escape abusive employers.

Continued on page 2

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Uganda sends back missing UK cars

Uganda’s Revenue Authority (URA) this week handed over 24 cars stolen in the UK to authorities for repatriation to their owners.

The vehicles, which were discovered last year when a tracking device fitted to one of them led investigators to Uganda, include an assortment of prestigious BMWs, Audis, Range Rovers & a Lincoln and are estimated to be worth sh84m.

The vehicles were formally handed over at a press conference at the URA offices in Nakawa, where URA Commissioner General Doris Akol and the British High Commissioner to Uganda Alison Blackburne jointly addressed assembled journalists.

Officials from Uganda Police, Interpol and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), APU Limited, Uganda’s National Vehicle Crime Agency as well as customs officials were also in attendance.

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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News

Universities must reach out to students from poorest neighbourhoods The entry rate for the most disadvantaged 18 year-olds has risen under the current funding system to 18.5%, the highest ever recorded according to UCAS.

The government has therefore issued new guidance to the Director of Fair Access (DFA), setting out the government’s clear ambitions for the progress universities should be making to boost social mobility and raise young people’s aspirations.

The guidance builds on the Prime Minister’s announcement of a new requirement for universities to routinely publish data on the backgrounds of their applicants to shine a light on their admissions processes.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson said: Going to university opens doors to a brighter future, but too many students are still missing out. We are asking universities to go further and faster than ever before, especially the most selective institutions. This guidance for the first time identifies the groups of

students where most attention is needed, such as white boys from the poorest homes and students with specific learning difficulties. We want to see smarter spending from universities, with more outreach into neighbourhoods with low university entry rates and much deeper partnerships with local schools.

The guidance sets out the government’s advice to the Director of Fair Access outlining the priorities for widening access and success for disadvantaged students.

All higher education providers charging tuition fees over the basic amount, currently £6,000, must have an agreement containing benchmarks proposed by the university on measures to improve access, student success and progression for disadvantaged students, which must be approved by the Director of Fair Access.

The government’s ambitions include meeting the Prime Minister’s goals of:

• doubling the proportion of university entrants from disadvantaged back-

Universities Minister Jo Johnson

grounds by the end of this Parliament from 2009 levels

• increasing the number of BME students going to university by 20% by 2020

Independent review links visa changes to domestic slavery Continued from front page

Ewins says his review found “no evidence that a tie to a single employer does anything other than increase the risk of abuse and therefore increases actual abuse.”

The review echoes the findings of NGOs and rights groups that showed domestic workers are subjected to a host of abuses, including physical and sexual violence, deprivation of food and non-payment of wages. The review recommends workers should be allowed to change employers and stay in the UK for up to two and a half years.

About 17,000 overseas ‘tied’ domestic worker visas were issued by UK authorities in 2015, the majority of which were for Filipino or sub-Sahara African domestic staff arriving in the UK from the Gulf States – namely Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Half of the total number of domestic worker visa applications received came from Saudi Arabian families and families from the UAE, states where reports of abuse of overseas domestic workers have been raising concerns and have led Uganda to issue a temporary ban on university graduates travelling to take up domestic worker positions (African Voice Issue 614).

A series of interviews, carried out as part of the Ewins review, found that domestic workers brought to Britain feared they would face deportation or arrest if they were to report incidents of abuse.

One Filipino domestic worker interviewed described how her employer made her go days without food and prevented her from sleeping. She is now fighting to remain in the UK having been positively identified as a victim of trafficking. However, upon

contacting the Filipino embassy to tell them that she was being abused by her employer, she was told that under the terms of the domestic worker visa she had to return to Saudi Arabia with him.”

None of the women interviewed were made aware of their rights under UK law.

They had not seen a contract of employment prior to a UK visa application, which forms part of the requirements to obtain a domestic worker visa. Many said they had been pressured into signing visa forms without any knowledge of what they were actually signing.

Kate Roberts, the head of policy at domestic worker rights group Kalayaan, said: “Since this visa came into force in 2012, the government has received widespread condemnation of the conditions it is imposing on thousands of vulnerable women travelling with foreign employers into the UK, often with little choice, who are given no protection or agency when they are here.”

Other campaigners say that the release of the Ewins review makes it virtually impossible for the UK government to dismiss the idea that visa restrictions imposed on domestic workers make abuse more likely. However, the government insists that rules pertaining to domestic work visas are in place to prevent workers changing jobs as a pretence for remaining in the UK. Meanwhile, the Ewins review recommends that the government starts compiling data on the number of women reporting abusive working conditions following entry to the UK. In response to the independent review, a Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is committed to stopping modern slavery in all its forms. We are working to ensure we provide all victims

of modern slavery and trafficking with the protection and support they need through the national referral mechanism (NRM), [a government process set up to identify victims of trafficking]. Anyone who reports being brought to the UK against their will for the purpose of work shall have their case considered under the NRM.” However, campaigners say that while the government pledges to eradicate the abuse of domestic workers arriving in the UK on domestic worker visas, those abused are then pressured to leave the country. Campaigners say this results in a ‘wall of silence’ and they end up entering into illegal employment to send money home to their families.

President of the Filipino Domestic Workers Association, Phoebe Dimacali, said: “Women denied the chance to continue working in the UK legally run the risk of being trafficked back to the Gulf and the cycle begins again.”

Campaigners have been deeply critical of the visa scheme since its inception, decrying it as a “kafala” for the UK and have petitioned the government to abolish it. The kafala system in the Gulf States binds foreign workers to a single employer for the duration of their stay in a country.

Commenting on the report, Izza Leghtas of Human Rights Watch said: “[A] worker who is abused by her boss is faced with two choices: to stay and live with the abuse, or run away and risk deportation. This is a terrible ‘choice’, and leaves many trapped in horrific conditions.

“Migrant workers often live as virtual prisoners, with their passports confiscated.

They work extraordinarily long hours for pitiful wages, and endure physical and demeaning psychological abuse, with no holiday or freedom of movement.”

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Forum

Nigerian Diaspora are Assets not Liabilities

African Voice spoke with Nigerians in the UK to gauge their opinions on the raging issue surrounding the interview of President Muhammadu Buhari with the Daily Telegraph newspaper UK during his recent trip. The interview, which has been interpreted in many different ways, including by opposition politicians in Nigeria, is the focus on our Forum platform this week. Here is the take of leading professionals in the UK. Send in your comment to add your voice to the discourse. Should President Buhari apologise to Nigerians Abroad?

In Feb 2016, Mr President seemed to berate Nigerians in the diaspora for leaving the country when she needed them the most in an interview with the Daily Telegraph (UK). In his usual candid manner, Mr President articulates his expectation of them by saying ‘if their countrymen misbehaved, the best thing for them is to stay at home and encourage the credibility of the nation’. While I applaud Mr President for his categorical statement, he did not acknowledge the fact that many of them were victims of rapacious regimes that

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Dr Ola Ogunyemi, Principal Lecturer in Journalism.

University of Lincoln, UK

disempowered them politically, economically and socially. Driven out by frustration and, to retain their sanity, many of them sought green pastures overseas.

Nigerians in diaspora have not only

advanced themselves professionally, but have also made immense positive contributions to the host country and to Nigeria.

For instance, they remit $21b to Nigeria annually to support family, friends and socio-economic growth, making them an alternative foreign exchange earner for Nigeria. But to encourage them to contribute to nation building, Nigeria should begin to see them as assets rather than liabilities.

In order to harness such potentials for development, the government should adopt a deliberate and planned strategy with a commitment to facilitate their participation. In recent past, nations such as Israel and Egypt launched community projects to tap into to the resources of their diaspora.

Taking a cue from such initiates will unite Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to

work towards a common purpose that will make the country great again.

By Dr Ola Ogunyemi, Principal Lecturer in Journalism. University of Lincoln, UK.

Godwin Okri, who is a Barrister and CEO at Menvo Limited said that he was bewildered at the answers given by President Buhari when asked about whether it was legitimate for Nigerians to use the migrant route to claim asylum in the UK. Even more bizarre was the President’s comment when asked about whether Nigerians have an image problem abroad.

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Godwin Okri To the first question, the President said (inter alia) “…some Nigerians have made it difficult for Europeans… to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prison..”

To the second question as to whether Nigerians have an image problem abroad, his reply was “ Certainly”.

The comment by President Buhari raises a wider question: is public relations one of the role of a President?

The answer must be in the affirmative. A President represent a people for whom he owes an obligation to defend.

To give an emphatic affirmation that Nigerians have an image problem fails to take account of hundreds of Nigerians undertaking great contribution to Britain and the world in art, science, literature, sports,etc. Many of the players in the English Premier League are Nigerian contributing to this society.

Further, it is inaccurate to say because some Nigerians are in prison, that gives a bad name, in the same way as saying that white British in cell gives Britain a bad name. There are disproportionate numbers of blacks in prison partly because of societal failings. Taking a broad brush approach, without careful consideration of different circumstances, shows lack of tact on the part of the President.

The President missed the opportunity to sell Nigeria to the international business community.

Barrister Godwin Okri is the author of investing in Property with Strategy.

Cllr. Sunny Lambe Without becoming a mouthpiece for PMB, I was impressed with almost everything he said, especially around recovery of looted Nigeria’s national wealth, fighting Boko Haram, fighting corrupt practices, exodus of Nigerian citizens abroad and their alleged joining of ISIS and other extreme terrorist groups.

The West need to put their money where

their mouth is in relation to fighting extremist groups. It requires multinational cooperation. These terrorist groups must be getting their weapons from somewhere which I’m sure not in Nigeria or Africa because there aren’t many weapon manufacturers in Africa. They must be getting finance from somewhere and keeping their money in certain institutions, probably located in the West. I agree with President Buhari’s assertion that it is a tragedy that Nigeria has stooped so low to the extent of importing mercenaries from South Africa to fight Boko Haram. I’m sure I was still in Nigeria when we had the unfortunate incident of Meitesine in the North a few decades ago. Nigeria brought the incident under control within a reasonable time. I believe if there is the will to fight extremism, with multinational cooperation and the right tools, Boko Haram situation will be brought to a logical conclusion pretty soon.

Regarding to corruption, I have full confidence in PMB’s ability to effectively deal with this cancerous national problem as well. Judging by PMB’s past record on this during his brief spell as a Military Head of State with Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon. They both brought discipline and self-respect back into the Nigeria nation and the people. I’m confident this can be done again with his strong leadership, Western and Nigerians in Diaspora support. I strongly belief he can bring sanity into the Nigeria populace again. However, it is not a fight he can win alone, after all, when these national treasure looters steal the money, they bring them into their Western bank accounts and buying expensive properties and living lavish life styles whilst their fellow citizens are risking their lives through human smugglers in order to run to some foreign countries. Can anyone steal a penny from the West and get away with it? There is a Yoruba adage that says; ‘eni gbe epo loja o jebi. Eni to gba sile gan ni ole’. We can’t just blame the national treasure looters. The West must share a greater proportion of the blame as well.

Yes, PMB is right in saying that the West must do more to help fight corruption and other fraudulent practices.

Migration of Nigerian citizens into Europe and other parts of the world is as a result of this uncontrollable treasure looting and other corrupt practices; which the West may be complicit. It is born out of desperation and hopelessness. When people like me left Nigeria in the mid-eighties, it was out of exploration and the curiosity to see what was outside Nigeria and Africa. Nigeria was still reasonably great country to live at the time. There were jobs, 24 hours electricity supply, regular water supply, good roads, etc. We could go out and come back from the night club at 5am without any security concern. Nigerians were not regarded as economic immigrants or terrorist then. I could remember we were not different from our white counterparts who

use their gap years to travel to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and African countries in search of knowledge from the University of life, as Mr. John Major, former British Prime Minister once said.

I sincerely hope that, through cooperation and partnership working, terrorism, illegal migration and human suffering including the causes of these problems can be brought under control together. So, let us appeal to our Western governments for their full cooperation in helping PMB in his efforts to Nigeria giant of Africa once more.

Cllr. Sunny Lambe is a UK Politian, Councillor with the London Borough of Southwark

Babatope Fagbolagun As a good citizen of Nigeria, I am not happy with the few Nigerians that are giving the country a bad image abroad and United Kingdom inclusive. We all know that Nigerians are industrious, hardworking and highly educated.

Most people have no choice than to look for greener pastures outside of the nation of Nigeria due to a major factor which is bad governance.

We all know how blessed our dear country is in every ramification and we know also how our Leaders ruling us in the past years have failed woefully to live up to expectation. President Buhari has been given opportunity to be part of governance before in Nigeria but we did not feel his impact and policy on things that directly affect the Nigerian populace.

We only hope he will make amends this time. If the Nigeria government is able to provide and maintain infrastructures and our Leaders stop being selfish then we can make Nigeria great again. Many of us are ready even now to come home but some who left years back are dead now due to accidents on our bad roads and other unexpected incidents not common in the western world, and also non equipped hospitals.

So Mr. President do not condemn your citizens but make Nigeria better with this rare opportunity this time and we are ready to support you to make the giant of Africa to stand and shine again!

Babatope Fagbolagun is a Nigerian based in the UK.

Forum

Yemisi Jenkins MBE My take is, there is so much negativity towards Nigeria and Nigerians because of a few bad eggs, ABLE was set up to address this, collectively and individually we can change this, not the government but you and I.

We can only achieve this, by celebrating ourselves more, rebuking those who bring us into disrepute by speaking out against them that they do not represent you and I, but they are just a tiny minority. We must ensure that those we elect to represent us in the diaspora are people who have been tried and tested with genuine interest of the community at heart and not self-centred individuals with questionable characters.

There are so many Nigerians contributing in different areas from government to private sector.We must identify them and go to the roof top and make noise about them.

Yemisi Jenkins MBE is a President of ‎Association of British-Nigerian Law Enforcement officers (ABLE)

Adebayo Adeyeye There are some Nigerians, particularly in Northern Nigeria that have genuine reasons to seek political asylum as a result of Boko Haram. A genuine claim for asylum must not be disregarded because it may be perceived that the claim for asylum is used as a disguise for economic hardship.

It is unfortunate that some have negative perceptions of Nigerian diaspora.

However, more often than not the negative actions of a few creates the assumed image of a whole group. For example, the U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump and his followers have stereotyped all Muslims as terrorist based on the actions of some.

However, I agree. The statement of President Muhammadu Buhari is valid; that the nation would benefit from the skills and knowledge of Nigerian diaspora in rebuilding the country.

Adebayo Adeyeye a UK resident.

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Health News Restricting use of police cells for mental health patients The government is banning the use of police cells as a place of safety for under 18s and ensuring they are only used for adults in exceptional circumstances.

In delivering a manifesto pledge to ensure proper provision of places of safety for people in this situation, the Home Office will take forward legislation to greatly restrict the circumstances when a police cell can be used.

The Government has been clear that police cells are a poor environment for any person experiencing a mental health crisis. They can make service users feel criminalised and exacerbate levels of distress.

This is especially true for those under the age of 18 - yet in 2014/15 more than 150 children and young people were detained in police cells.

Changes to the Mental Health Act will be made under the forthcoming Policing and Crime Bill. They include:

• Banning police cells as a “place of safety” for under-18s.

• Creating regulations to limit the circumstances in which police cells can be used a place of safety for adults.

• Reducing the maximum duration of detention for the purposes of an

assessment under the Act from 72 to 24 hours.

• Widening the current definition of a place of safety to increase local capacity and flexibility.

• Extending police officers’ powers to act quickly to detain and remove people experiencing a mental health crisis from any place other than a private dwelling (for which a warrant would still be required).

• Requiring police officers to consult health professionals before detaining someone under the Act’s provisions.

• Clarifying that assessments under the Act can take place in a private dwelling.

Karen Bradley, Minister for Preventing Abuse, Exploitation and Crime, said: The best place for people experiencing a mental health crisis is a healthcare setting, and those experiencing mental health problems should receive specialist care and support from healthcare professionals, rather than police officers.

Too often and for far too long, vulnerable people experiencing a mental health crisis who have committed no crime have found themselves in a police cell because there is nowhere else to go.

These measures will ensure a police cell is truly a place of last resort for vulnerable people

experiencing mental health crises. Nobody wins when the police are sent to look after people with mental health problems; vulnerable people don’t get the care they need and deserve, and the police can’t get on with the job they are trained to do.

Alistair Burt, Minister for Mental Health, said: Having a mental illness is not a crime, so a police cell is the last place you should be when experiencing a crisis – especially if you are a young person. I’m delighted to be delivering on our promise to end this practice for under 18s – it means families can have peace of mind that their loved ones will always be cared for in the right environment.

Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and police we have more health-based places of safety and have reduced the number of police detentions but I look forward to seeing how these measures make sure people with mental illness get the compassionate care they deserve.

A 2014 review of the sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act found people were being detained in police cells because of a lack of available health-based places of safety, whether this was due to capacity issues, staffing levels or opening hours.

In May 2015 Home Secretary Theresa May announced up to £15 million of funding to provide health-based alternatives to police cells. Additional provision will be focused on the areas of the country where use of police cells is highest.

The Government has already implemented a range of measures to improve the care people receive and to reduce the burden on police officers, including street triage, liaison and diversion, the

Alistair Burt, Minister for Mental Health

Crisis Care Concordat and an alternative place of safety pilot in Sussex for people detained under Sections 135 and 136.

These measures have contributed to an almost 50% reduction in the number of times police cells were used as a place of safety in England and Wales between 2011/12 and 2014/15, but progress is highly variable across the country with five police force areas accounting for more than half of all uses of police cells.

This change in legislation will put an end once and for all to the practice of using police cells simply because there is no suitable alternative available and ensure that all suffers of mental health, no matter where they live, are cared for in the proper environment.

NHS set out its vision 2020 for providers NHS Improvement will set out its vision for providers and the support it plans to offer the health service.

The new body in charge of improvement in the NHS will set out its vision for providers and the support it will offer the health service at its official launch.

NHS Improvement, responsible for overseeing foundation trusts, NHS trusts and independent providers, will publish the first of a series of ‘roadmaps’ from national health bodies which will help turn the Five Year Forward View into a reality.

NHS leaders in London, will also unveil how NHS Improvement will support providers to tackle the current operational and financial challenges facing the health service.

Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS Improvement, will set out how the new organisation will create the conditions for real and lasting change in the NHS. He said: “NHS Improvement will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the service, whether that is in getting a grip on the financial situation or providing stability and offering support as our NHS seeks to change and improve to meet the needs of its patients.

“Clinical expertise will be at the heart of our work. That’s why we’re setting up an 6

Improvement Faculty to advise and lead the creation of an ‘Improvement Movement’ across the NHS. This expert team will include internationally respected clinical leaders such as Lord Darzi, Don Berwick and David Fish, among others. We’ll also be establishing networks of clinical leaders across the service to work alongside our Medical and Nursing Directors.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: It is our shared ambition that the NHS becomes the world’s largest learning organisation, so that patient safety and higher quality care are both embedded at the heart of the health system.

Under the expert leadership of Jim Mackey and his executive team, NHS Improvement will ensure that providers get the support they need to provide excellent care for patients every day of the week.

Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, a NHS Improvement Non-Executive Director, said: These are challenging times for the health service. Whilst the NHS budget will rise each year, unless we reform the way we work, there will be a widening gap between the resources we have and the demands placed upon the service. There is an imperative to change the way we work to keep up with what is demanded of us.

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Forum Buhari didn’t refer to all Nigerians as criminals — Presidency Continued from page 5

preferring a solution.

“President Buhari is very aware of the problems the people of Nigeria face both at home and abroad, and he is not shying away from admitting them even as he focuses on solutions to bring them to a permanent end.”

President Muhammadu Buhari

In a press statement made available to the press on Tuesday

by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, noted that the wave of negative reactions to the President’s remarks about the reputation of Nigerians abroad was a result of incomplete understanding of President Buhari’s point.

“President Buhari was asked about the flood of migrants from Nigeria and the fraudulent applications for asylum put in by people desperate to leave their motherland at any cost, and it was this question that elicited his response,” he said, encouraging Nigerians to avail themselves of a full text of the interview, which has now been made available on the Telegraph’s website.

Mr Shehu added that it was preposterous for anyone to imagine that the president of Nigeria would describe all the citizens of the country he leads as criminals, when he himself is a Nigerian–obviously not a criminal–and when there are many Nigerians of honest living making their country proud all over the world.

“Unfortunately, there are also Nigerians giving their country a bad image abroad, and it is to those Nigerians that the President referred in his comments,” he said, adding that people may play politics and online games with the President’s comments, but the fact of the matter remains that Nigeria’s reputation abroad has been severely damaged by her own citizens.

“These Nigerians who leave their country to go and make mischief on foreign shores have given the rest of us a bad reputation that we daily struggle to overcome.”

Mr. Shehu called attention to the many efforts of President Buhari to clean up the image of Nigeria, such as the war on corruption, stating that acknowledging you have a problem is the first step to

being referred to by Mr. President? The good guys are in the majority and the few ugly ones that give us a bad name are in the extreme minority.

That is why this statement is unfortunate. However, My take is that we must learn to forgive our President, knowing that he has zero tolerance for any form of corruption and loves his country so well but is frustrated by the antics of a few.

Bimbo Roberts Folayan FIIM, (MBCS CITP) is the Executive Director, Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) and Immediate Past Chairman, (2011-2015), Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK).

Bimbo Roberts Folayan My views are slightly different from those of other people I have heard or read on this matter.

First of all, I believe the President means very well for Nigeria and for Nigerians. I suspect also, that he is deeply frustrated at what he has met on the ground. The truth is that some of our people have almost ruined our commonwealth.

The extent of the rot and of the thieving from Nigerian politicians, elites and their collaborators is mind blowing. However I believe it’s a bad mistake this statement was made openly in a foreign country like the UK where the mainstream media celebrates our failures. If anyone should say something like this at all, it cannot be Mr. President. Many people, who know me, know that when I was Chairman of a community association, I went around highlighting the good qualities within my community even though I complained bitterly about some of the attitudes of people privately.

Perhaps the most dangerous part of this statement is the danger it portends for very hardworking Nigerians in the Diaspora and for those who genuinely seek asylum and who have genuine reasons to be outside of Nigeria. For instance, Nigerians in the UK are some of the most hardworking people you can ever find in any part of the world.

Many have conquered adversity, tribalism from home, and then racism in a foreign country and have worked so hard to get to the peak of their career while others are working hard to climb to the top of the ladder. Surely, these are not the people

adopted countries. Like China and India who built their countries into fast-growing economies because they involve their people abroad to bring back the knowledge and experience they have acquired. The Nigeria government must take advantage of their citizens in Diaspora.

Finally, I would like to assure President Buhari that Nigerians in Diaspora are unrelenting in their commitment to hard work as the basis for sustainable development and good living. Our spirit of self-help and community development is also legendary and if he makes the situation better by eliminating corruption and makes funds available for developments, we are more than ready to pack our bags and return home to help him build a better country under his leadership.

Dr. Sunday Popoola is a lecturer at the Imperial College, London.

Dr. Sunday Popoola Contrary to what President Buhari said during his interview with Telegraph on the 8th February 2016, I believe that Nigerians in Diaspora, especially those in the UK are law abiding citizens and will not recourse to start fighting for a course which will not benefit them in any way whatsoever.

However we have children of Nigerian parentage who are involved in serious crimes such as drugs, human trafficking and gangs’ killings majority of who are now locked up in prison. Some of these people will not be committing these crimes in the first place to end up in prison if the situations at home are better for them.

If the amount of stolen money being discovered by President Buhari’s admiration can be return to Nigeria, then Nigeria can be great again. He can use the money to develop the desperately needed infrastructural development such as Electricity, Roads, Railways, Schools, Universities, Hospitals, Health Centres and provide proper education to move the country forward. We also need to explore the non-oil sector such as agriculture, mineral and tourism to improve revenue collection. The country can take advantage of the human and material resources available in our country so that we can stop depending on imported goods from China and India.

We have plenty of Nigerian professionals in the UK and across the world doing fantastic things for their

Sam Akowe Over many decades, Nigeria has produced leaders that were best described as dishonest. Reading through the interview, I am pleased and proud to say that, for the first time, Nigeria now has a leader, in spite of all the difficulties the country is facing, who is bold enough to speak as honestly as humanly possible.

President Buhari, in my opinion, irrespective of how many Nigerians and other nationals see him, is down to earth, honest and not afraid to talk about Nigeria’s deplorable situations without fear of offending her citizenry. Every well meaning Nigerian should stand tall in proclaiming him a genuine leader. Previously leaders could have painted over the crack walls and lie about it, with smiles on their faces.

However, I was very disappointed with his response on the question of the negative image of Nigeria in United Kingdom.

Many Nigerians, save for a few, are working hard, contributing to the growth of the British economy. They should be commended. He should defend us stoutly.

On immigration, anyone who feels threatened in his country is within their human right to seek safety anywhere in the world, Nigerians inclusive.

Sam Akowe is a youth mentor and trainer

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Comment Arts Culture

Requiem for a Hero

by Akintokunbo Adejumo “I was actually in that valley on March 28, 2015. I did not want Nigeria to slide into a theatre of war, with his fellow county men and woman dying, and many more pouring into other nations in Africa and beyond, as refugees. In fact, it became so disturbing that some interest groups in the United States began to predict indeed, many Nigerians did buy into this doomsday prophesy as they began to brace themselves for the worst.

As the President, I reminded myself that the Government I led had invested so much effort into building our country. I worked hard with my top officials to encourage Nigerians and nonNigerians to invest in our country to be able to provide jobs and improve the lives of our people” said ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, during a dinner in his honour by Cercle Diplomatique, Geneva, Switzerland recently.

In the aftermath of the March 2015 Elections, when ex-President Mr Jonathan conceded defeat to Mr Buhari, the immediate reaction of his supporters, both in his political party and outside, was to hail Mr Jonathan as an uncommon African hero, a man who loved his country so much that he did not want it to slide into anarchy, or worse, a civil war, where there will be blood on the streets, so he conceded defeat gracefully.

To these champions, they cited the fact that on previous elections where Mr Buhari had lost elections (three times before 2015), there had been violence and deaths on the streets, most notably in some parts of the north of Nigeria, allegedly instigated by the words of Mr Buhari then. Of course, there was no such violence in the southern part of the country, east and west or even the middle belt. I always concur with them that this was rather unfortunate and really, at that time, I was very much against Mr Buhari considering what appeared to be his

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

desperation to get to power.

I really cannot understand the cerebral reasons behind Mr Jonathan’s assumed heroics for conceding defeat. He ran in an election in a democratic setting; the results came and he lost, so what else should he have done? Hold on to power despite the result which showed more than 15 million Nigerians preferred Mr Buhari to the 12 million who voted for him? He must concede, of course! There is nothing heroic about it.

Yes, if he had not conceded and the country had been ripped about by violence, all blame would be on Mr Jonathan, so he really should be commended for this. It is not enough to say that at previous elections, (which were obviously rigged by the then ruling party) that Mr Buhari did not concede defeat and violence was the result, so he did not want to put Nigeria through this pain. But apparently, Mr Jonathan is still besieged by those sycophants, political jobbers and bad advisers who ensured his term in government was an absolute disaster for his own countrymen and women.

Mr Jonathan was roundly rejected and handily defeated in the polls, what choice did he really have other than to concede defeat and acknowledge the winner? Jonathan ascribing any other reason for conceding to Buhari other than his loss at the poll is saying so much about nothing.

On the other hand, with all these going around the world and saying things like this is nothing but another malaise of the

typical African ruler’s mind and notion that they must always be in power; win or lose, wanted by their people or not; a total disregard for democratic norms and values and for their own people.

What sympathy, respect or laurel does Mr Jonathan hope to gain from these statements of “heroically” conceding defeat in a democratic election, if I may ask again, because I do not see any? He’s rather making nonsense of democracy in his country and confirming to the whole world, again and again, that it is a normal thing for an African leader to refuse to relinquish power in an election. It is sad.

When citing what happened after Mr Buhari lost elections previously, Mr Jonathan’s supporters failed to remind us that Mr Buhari was not in power, but in opposition, and had no control over his supporters who took to the streets, maiming and killing, and that security of the whole country is still the responsibility of government. Here, let me say that may the souls of the innocents that lost their lives in these mindless violence, rest in peace and the Lord provide succour to the family they left behind.

How can we describe the way Mr Jonathan conceded defeat in any way as ‘heroic’, with all the ‘failed’ intrigues to scuttle the elections, the last of the intrigues being the Orubebe’s infamous act, that, by divine power of God, hit the rocks; the stupendous amount of money – mostly in American dollars, that was spent (and which we now know ended in the private pockets of his chief campaigners) ...and the ‘road’ got blocked inevitably?

There were elections in Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana and power changed hands in these countries, even Cote D’Ivoire by force; what’s so special about Mr Jonathan conceding defeat, after his six-year myopic, very mundane leadership style?

The special thing about the election is a people’s determination to elect who they desire against all odds, whether right or wrong, that’s what needs celebrating, not a very spurious and self-congratulatory “heroic” concession of defeat. This is not what Mr Jonathan needs to tell us at this time; what he needs to tell Nigerians, and indeed the world, is how his government managed to be so corrupt and incompetent that the economy of the country was on the edge of collapse.

Mr Jonathan will do well to discard this delusion of a hero, if he’s to maintain any further dignity from whatever little is left. If the people who misadvised him in six years of power are still the ones advising him, I am afraid he’s on the verge of being consigned to the dustbin of history with massive ignominy.

I would have loved for Mr Jonathan to go down in history as a different kind of hero, even super-hero; but, let us face it, his six years in office was more of zero. Many Nigerians, including me, took to the cold streets of London, and other cities like New York in 2010 to demand that Mr Jonathan assume the Presidency after the intrigues played out by the cabal of the now late Umar Yar ‘Adua; and in 2011, after promising a “breath of fresh air”, we were, including me again, conned into voting for Mr Jonathan.

The returns and promises of our faith in him are what we are experiencing today with great pains, poverty, dire economic straits, extreme corruption, insensitivity of his officials, lieutenants and acolytes, not to talk of a destruction of our moral values, dilapidation of infrastructures and a decayed socio-economic fabric.

What separates Mr Jonathan’s hero from Mr Jonathan’s villain? As things are panning out and a lot of murky details are being unearthed about Mr Jonathan’s tenure in office, isn’t he turning out to be more of a villain than a hero? How successful was his hero anyway? And are heroes such as him, if you insist on calling that, successful anyway?

Mr Jonathan should not be going about propagating that label of hero. He has no claim to gallantry based on conceding defeat in a democratic election. Let him and his followers a genuine epic reason for him to label a superman.

Since 2010, our former President went from hero to zero.

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

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Arts

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

By Edward Mirza

WEST AFRICA: WORD, SYMBOL, SONG AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY Now – February 16th, 2016

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

KINKY BOOTS Now – May 28th 2016

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

RED VELVET 23 Jan - 27 Feb 2016

Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 1833.

Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, has collapsed on stage whilst playing Othello. A young black American 10

actor has been asked to take over the role.

But as the public riot in the streets over the abolition of slavery, how will the cast, critics and audience react to the revolution taking place in the theatre?

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company has announced the full cast for Red Velvet, the third production in the inaugural Plays at the Garrick season. The production originally premiered at the Tricycle Theatre in 2012 before transferring to St Ann’s Warehouse in New York in 2014. Red Velvet is written by Lolita Chakrabarti with direction by Indhu Rubasingham and stars Adrian Lester as Ira Aldridge [read interview].

Kenneth Branagh said “Writing, direction and performance are exceptional in Red Velvet. I’m immensely proud to be presenting this work”.

The Garrick Theatre 2 Charing Cross Road London, WC2H 0HH .

THE ROLLING STONE Jan 14 - February 20, 2016

Dembe and Sam have been seeing each other for a while. They should be wondering where this is going and when to introduce each other to their families. But they’re gay and this is Uganda. The consequences of their relationship being discovered will be explosive. Especially for Dembe, whose brother goes into the pulpit each week to denounce the evils of one man loving another.

The Rolling Stone was the winner of a Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2013 and first premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, in April 2015 to critical acclaim. Chris Urch’s plays include Land of Our Fathers (Theatre503/Trafalgar Studios).

The Orange Tree Theatre1 Clarence Street, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2SA

THRILLER - LIVE Now - April 17, 2016

Thriller - Live, the spectacular concert show that celebrates the music of the world’s greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael and the Jackson 5, is celebrating its 2,000th West End performance on Thursday October 24.

Smashing all previous records at the Lyric Theatre, where it recently celebrated becoming the longest-running production in the theatre’s 125-year history, Thriller - Live first moonwalked into the West End in January 2009 after three acclaimed UK tours. It has just extended its West End booking period to Sunday 28 September, 2014 Several world tours have seen the show play to acclaim in 26 countries, including Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Singapore, South Africa, China, Sweden, Finland and Norway, Japan and Brazil.

Red Velvet, at The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden

More than 1 million people have seen the show at the Lyric Theatre and more than 2.5million people have seen the show worldwide.

Unlike other West End productions, Thriller - Live is not a rigid book musical with set songs, but is a constantly evolving music concert celebration. When Michael Jackson died, the Lyric theatre became a focus for fans from all over the world, who created a massive shrine of flowers, candles, and tributes. More than 40 books of condolence were signed in the foyer then sent to the Jackson family. A year after his death, a permanent West End memorial to Michael was unveiled in the theatre foyer. Thriller - Live brings to life on stage the distinctive high-energy dancing and pulsating sound of many of pop’s greatest hits, blending eye-popping video footage and effects together with dazzling choreography by the show’s award-winning director Gary Lloyd. The show has regularly been updated with additional songs, new visuals and choreography.

Thriller - Live was originally conceived and created by Adrian Grant, a long time associate of Michael Jackson, and author of Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary. Thriller - Live is produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music in association with Adrian Grant for Key Concerts.

Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7ES

A RAISIN IN THE SUN Jan 28 - March 26, 2016

Injustice, inequality and a housing crisis lead to family tension in Lorraine Hansberry’s landmark play, revived by the UK’s leading Black-led national touring company Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking play, the first on Broadway written by a Black woman, is to tour the UK in a new production directed by Eclipse Theatre’s Dawn Walton. This intense family drama, written on the cusp of the civil rights era, sees the Younger family await the arrival of a cheque for a life changing $10,000.

Driven to conflict as they encounter issues of inequality, housing and lack of opportunity that continue to resonate today, the play acts as a stark warning to anyone who measures happiness and personal worth in capital gain.

UK tour: 28 Jan – 13 Feb Sheffield Theatres 55 Norfolk St, www. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk | 0114 249 6000; 17 Feb – 20 Feb, New Wolsey Theatre, www.wolseytheatre.co.uk | 01473 295900, 23 – 27 Feb, Nuffield Theatre, www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk | 023 8067 1771; 2 Mar – 5 Mar, Liverpool Playhouse, www.everymanplayhouse.com | 0151 709 4776; 8 Mar – 12 Mar, Watford Palace Theatre, www. watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk | 01923 225671 ; 16 – 19 Mar, The Albany, www.thealbany. org.uk | 020 8692 4446; 22 – 26 Mar, Belgrade Theatre, www.belgrade.co.uk | 0247 6553055

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Culture

Battlefield, Young Vic Theatre Legendary director Peter Brook makes theatre that teaches audiences to be human. Now 90 years old, he brings his latest project to London from Paris, where he has been based at the Bouffes du Nord since quitting the UK more than 40 years ago. Called Battlefield, it is a 65-minute distillation of part of his 1985 11-hour epic, The Mahabharata, and revisits the ancient Sanskrit myth of the Kurukshetra War, and the struggle between the two warring families of the Kauravas and the Pandavas.

Co-created with his long-term collaborators Jean-Claude Carrière and Marie-Hélène Estienne, Battlefield is set in the aftermath of the great battle – which according to the myth lasts 18 days, and has left millions of bodies lying on the ground – so the evening begins with a vivid description of this carnage. As one of the survivors says, “Victory is a defeat.” The victor of the monumental slaughter, Yudishtira, the new Pandava king, is left with the question of how to make sense of the senselessness of war.

I particularly liked the wry humour of the fable of the worm crossing the road As Yudishtira (Jared McNeill) seeks out the old blind king, Dritarashtra (Sean O’Callaghan), he also takes council from the queen Kunti (Carole Karemera) and a handful of other sages (Ery Nzaramba).

What makes this complicated ancient family saga accessible is the parables and stories told as these tormented kings search for the way and the light. I particularly liked the wry humour of the fable of the worm crossing the road, and the story of the snake who attempts to wriggle out of responsibility for biting a child to death.

On a bare platform stage, beautifully lit

by Philippe Vialatte, the sun-baked ochres and orange tints glow while the four-strong cast are dressed in black, with red and orange scarves. A mild feeling of summer heat radiates from the set, while Toshi Tsuchitori’s drumming – at one point sublime – punctuates the story (pictured below). All the actors move with an impressively controlled stillness of being, confident and smooth as if in the grip of a kind of perfection that you rarely see in London. They speak with a gently majestic rolling delivery that gives this tale a Shakespearean dimension, and the text has the simple limpid quality of ancient parable or fable. Here the stage is a place of melody, aural, visual and textual.

Amid the stillness, there are some memorable moments, as when a bunched cloth is turned into a baby, which floats Moseslike on the river (in this case the Ganges rather than the Nile), or when a snake is tied up and releases itself, or when a woman utters the most piercing cries you have ever heard. At the same time, it’s hard to be unaware that we are being taught a lesson in religious philosophy, that behind the beauty stands Brook, and he is telling us, with his typically cool perfectionism, that to be human means to relinquish all earthly goods, and concerns, to strip ourselves bare in front of the eternity of spirit.

But although the contemporary resonances of a show about the aftermath of bloody war are immediately apparent, the message of acceptance and resignation is a bit hard to stomach. Are we really supposed to accept, to take one instant example, that the plight of Syrian refugees is just another example of the wheel of fortune and to relinquish any agony that we, or they, might feel? Yet without such contemporary echoes Battlefield is just an

Carole Karemera and Jared McNeill in ‘Battlefield’

exercise in Orientalism, a way in which a comfortably middle-class audience appreciates the ancient wisdom of India and pats

itself on its back, saying, how interesting, how broadminded we are, how exotic. And then do nothing.

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Forum Should President Buhari apologise to Nigerians Abroad?

Peter Olorunnisomo I have heard but not read PMB’s alleged brandishing of Nigerians as ‘thieves’. I read through a portion of the Press interview granted The Telegraph, UK. Perhaps the first lesson here is that The Presidency needs to give recognition to the Nigerian newsgroup in the UK by granting such interviews, at the very least on multi-press platform.

It is much easier to hold these responsible for mis-information.

It cannot also be negated that some people will seek to ‘tone’ the language of interview to suit their own purposes.

Nevertheless, I very much believe that PMB is sufficiently schooled a patriot not to utter derogatory remarks on the nation he governs.

There is certainly need, as the interview shows, that the image of Nigeria is better re-branded under the collective will and strengths of the people, and not on the sleeves of international empathy.

PMB requires a philosophy based on an ideology to strategise his rulership more effectively especially in the face of few but unbelievably resourceful opposition.

Peter Olorunnisomo is a writer, Consultant.

A Oladimeji In my view, Colin Freeman of the Telegraph set out carefully thought-out political questions for President Buhari.

There was complete honesty in the answers that our President gave in respect of all the niggling questions. He was direct in stating that he has not asked for additional military help from any quarters. He accepted that Nigerians may be finding their ways into Syria and may be involved with Isis.

The President was emphatic in rejecting a suggestion that Nigerian diaspora in the 12

UK may have engaged with Boko Haram in any way. On the migrant routes He encouraged Nigerians to stay at home and join with his administration to build the country as their services are required. His government is working towards improving the situation at home. He was honest in accepting that Nigeria’s image abroad needs improvement. The fight against corruption is part of image cleaning.

What else can an excellent leader do.

A Oladimeji, Chairman NIGERIAN COUNCIL OF ELDERS UK

Jenny Okafor “I have read various supposed original and twisted versions of the interview and can only say that the reactions are totally wrong. In my view, the misinterpretation is the mischievous hand work of some unscrupulous Nigerians who are minded to continue to damage the image of Nigeria for reasons best known to them. We must learn to be patriotic and always protect the image of Nigeria.

Additionally, in every country you have the good, the bad and the ugly and Nigeria is no exception. Therefore although the Western press is usually biased when reporting issues concerning Nigerians, it is fair to say that many of us have given them good reasons to do so. We cannot then deny the truth if we truly want to be believed. So going by what the press say about us in the UK Mr President was not wrong. Many of us have been getting ourselves into many bad things. If we want to enjoy the President and other people’s respect, then we must clean up and reclaim our image.

It is also important to note that there are many good hard working Nigerians in the UK who must be celebrated and respected for what they do and give to the British society.

Jenny Okafor is a UK based Solicitor

As the Chairman of the largest Nigerian community organisation in the U.K, CANUK, my attention has been drawn to the reaction by

Babatunde Loye a large number of diasporans to the comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari this week in an interview with the Telegraph newspaper.

President Buhari touched on a very sensitive subject in regards to various reports of criminality attributed to Nigerians abroad and the negative image it has created for us.

People have gone as far as to accuse the president of labelling all Nigerians as criminals.

I feel that the president’ comments in the interview was taken out of context. We cannot hide from that truth that the activities of a few individuals are helping to tarnish the names of Nigerians around the world, but it is up to us to continue to promote the positivity, resourcefulness and creativity of Nigerian in the diaspora in order to counteract these negative perceptions.

Yes there are some Nigerians abroad who have chosen to involve themselves in nefarious activities for cheap and quick financial gains, but at the same time the vast majority of Nigerians living abroad are Professionals, hardworking, law abiding and devoted members of the communities they inhabit.

We caution our community to not be so hasty in the condemning the president’s comments as we must undergo some soul searching on the real issues that affect our community, with criminality being one of them.

As CANUK chairman, one of my cardinal objectives has always been to help in reducing the cases of crime committed by Nigerians in the UK. With our combined efforts I truly believe we can make a positive impact in changing the perception of Nigerians in the diaspora and create a better society for all.

Babatunde Loye is the current Chairman of Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK).

That Buhari’s interview

By Tunde Oyedoyin That President Muhammadu Buhari spoke to the Daily Telegraph last week is no longer news, what it has revealed is the opportunity for the Nigerian public to better grasp an understanding of some of the issues that the country is contending with, notably, Boko Haram. Firstly, the President must be commended for his honesty in admitting that the government doesn’t know the identity of the current leadership of the terrorist organisation. That probably implies that Boko Haram is now so weak and disorganised that nobody can stand up to be claiming to be the head of the group. Survival seems to be their main priority, it seems

Another good thing about the interview is that it has also allowed Nigerians know that his nine-month old administration has reclaimed all the 14 local governments that the terror group forcefully seized during their deadly reign. If nothing, life will be gradually returning to normal in the affected areas, as the government makes its presence felt the more. Critics of his administration may be saying that Boko Haram should have long been taken out, what they fail to realise is that irrespective of the promises the All Progressives Congress, APC, made during its time in opposition, the reality is that they cannot totally undo and win the war against terror within a year.

What should be delighting us is that Boko Haram is being put on the run by a military that has been unshackled, and one whose Commander -in- Chief is all out for business. Buhari’s job is keep things that way.

Moreover, that the president has used the opportunity of being wooed by the G7 to ask for military help is smartness. Thank goodness, he didn’t go with cap in hand, saying “give us this or give us that or write off our debts, please.” All he did was to “... subsequently send Nigeria’s shopping list in terms of infrastructure destroyed.”

Having said that, Mr. President should know when to stop blaming the previous government and rather focus on his own business. He should get to grips with the art of fielding questions. As a footnote, If you’re a Nigerian, whose relation or friend is doing time in a foreign prison for doing drugs, you better know that our president doesn’t see any crime in saying that such criminals have themselves to blame.

By the way, who lied to the president that Nigerians have an image problem abroad? He shouldn’t let the British press or any foreign interviewer lead him down the route of feeding into their stereotypes about our people. Which country doesn’t have its fair share of criminals? Besides, I’m not saying that the president doesn’t read widely, what I’ll be asking him to do is to find time to read more, particularly on weekends. After all it is said that “readers are leaders.” If he makes an habit of reading for an hour every day, including on weekends, he will surely see that the number of Nigerians who occasionally drag the name of the country in the mud are so insignificant for anyone to make a career out of.

The president should, as a matter of choice, take this advice for free, when next a lazy journalist or interviewer asks such a question, he should ask the reporter “interview over.” Alternatively, ask the reporter to mention the names of three Nigerians doing great things in that country. For the records, was it not someone with Nigerian blood –Angelo Ogbonna – who headed West Ham into the next round of the FA Cup on Tuesday night?

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Australia

Third Aussie Zika victim is expectant mother

A pregnant woman in Australia has been confirmed to have contracted the Zika virus after having returned from a family vacation.

The Queensland woman is the third person to have tested positive for Zika in Australia following a child, who had returned from Samoa and a woman, who returned from a holiday in El Salvador, both diagnosed last week.

The virus has been linked to microcephaly in Brazil, where there have been nearly 4,000 cases of the condition and 1.5 million cases of the Zika virus, prompting the World Health Organisation to declare an international emergency.

The Australian government has issued a travel warning recommending that women who are pregnant or actively seeking to get pregnant postpone travel to countries affected by the Zika outbreak until the link between Zika and microcephaly is understood. That includes most of Central and South America as well as some Pacific Islands like Samoa and Tonga.

The Zika virus is believed to be the cause of a sharp rise in cases of microcephaly in Brazil

Professor Cameron Simmons from the Doherty Institute for Infection told reporters in Australia that it was possible microcephaly, an extremely rare condition that was not monitored in South America before the Zika outbreak, was not connected,

Germany

but it was also possible that the connection had not been picked up in previous outbreaks.

There were four reported cases of Zika in Queensland in 2015 (the woman who returned from El Salvador contracted the

disease before the New Year but was diagnosed last week) and seven in 2014. A spokeswoman from Australia’s Department of Health said that in all cases the virus had been contracted overseas.

The virus is transferred by the bites of Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti, the species also responsible for transmitting dengue in far north Queensland. None of the three people infected have travelled to that area. The health department will begin “enhanced testing” in Townsville, which is home to the problem mosquitos, next month.

Queensland health minister, Cameron Dick, said on Friday that the cases showed the state’s Zika detention system was working and warned it was likely more people would be infected.

“I expect that there will be more positive tests in Queensland – we need to be ready for that,” he said.

There have been 23 cases of Zika reported in Australia since 2012, all contracted overseas.

Turkey

Auschwitz former guard trial begins News agency reports foiled plot to

A 94-year-old former guard at Auschwitz went on trial in Germany on Thursday (February 11) accused of being an accessory to the murder of at least 170,000 people — the first of four such court cases that could be the last due to the very old age of the defendants.

The three men and one woman accused are all in their nineties and will be tried over the next few months, starting with Reinhold Hanning in the western German city of Detmold.

Hanning was 20 years old in 1942 when he started serving as a guard at the Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland where more than 1.1 million Jews were killed by the Nazis. Prosecutors said he voluntarily joined the armed SS at the age of 18 and participated in battles in eastern Europe during the early stages of WWII before being transferred to Auschwitz in January 1942.

Accused by the prosecutor’s office in Dortmund as well as by 38 joint plaintiffs from Hungary, Israel, Canada, Great Britain, the United States and Germany, Hanning will face the accounts of contemporary camp witnesses.

One of them is Erna de Vries, who in 1943 at the age of 23 was deported

to Auschwitz along with her mother.

Considered a “Jewish crossbreed” as her father was Protestant, she was saved from the gas chamber and transferred to a labour camp.

“I survived, but up until today I don’t know how exactly my mother was killed,” de Vries told Reuters ahead of the trial. “The last thing she said to me was, ‘You will survive and tell what happened to us.’

“I am not hateful but it somehow feels like justice to see this man, who was working there when my mother died, on trial,” die Vries added.

Investigations by Germany’s special Nazi war crimes office in Ludwigsburg show that Hanning served as a guard at Auschwitz until at least June 1944.

While Hanning admitted to his guard duties in a statement to the prosecution, he denied involvement in the mass killings. But investigators say he also served at Auschwitz’s Birkenau sub-division where about 90 percent of more than 1.2 million killings in the camp were carried out in four gas chambers.

Prosecutors maintain that the Nazis’ killing machinery hinged on people like Hanning guarding the prisoners and accuse him of expediting, or at least facilitating, the murders.

smuggle explosives into Turkey

Turkey has already taken 2.5 million refugees since Syria’s five year war began

Turkish authorities have seized luggage containing four suicide vests and up to 15 kilograms of explosives at its border with Syria, according to the country’s staterun news agency.

Anadolu Agency said four men, 10 women and 20 children were stopped near the town of Karkamis, in Gaziantep province. It wasn’t clear when they were detained, but Anadolu said that security forces had acted on a tipoff about plans to smuggle explosives across the border.

Karkamis lies across the border from the Syrian town of Jerabalus, which is currently controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Although Turkey insists it maintains an open-door policy towards those fleeing the war in Syria, the gates of this key border crossing have stayed shut tight for days.

Some 50,000 Syrians are now sleeping rough along in squalid conditions as a Turkish-backed aid group, hampered by frequent Russian air-strikes, rushes to build a camp in which to house them.

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CRIME

Man jailed for life following murder

A man who fled abroad after a fatal shooting has been sentenced today at the Old Bailey.

Denny Michael De Silva, 23 of Westbourne Park Road, W11, was found guilty and sentenced on Wednesday, 10 February, to life to serve a minimum of 27 years’ imprisonment, for the murder of 20-year-old Romario Green, who was killed by a shotgun fired from a moving car.

The court heard how on 1 July 2015, at about 22:00hrs the victim met with friends in Fishers Way in Wembley.

They encountered Denny De Silva with two other men and an argument took place.

Later, at around 00:10hrs on 2 July 2015, Romario and his group had moved to Harrow Road when De Silva, who was travelling in a Ford Focus, drove slowly past the group towards a roundabout at the junction with Watford Road.

Romario and his friends chased after the car and one of them threw a bottle at it. The vehicle drove back at speed and Romario ran into the road towards it. At this point a single shot was fired from the vehicle hitting Romario in his upper chest and throat. The vehicle made off from the scene.

Denny Michael De Silva

Police and the London Ambulance Service were called to the scene, but despite the efforts of the emergency services, Romario was pronounced dead at the scene at 00:42hrs.

A post-mortem examination gave

the cause of death as a single gunshot wound.

The Ford Focus was later recovered by police burnt out in a park in Luton, Bedfordshire. De Silva and another suspect fled the country before they were

linked to the incident by police and European arrest warrants were obtained.

On 10 August 2015, De Silva was stopped in a vehicle in Malaga, Spain and arrested. He was subsequently extradited to the UK on 21 August 2015.

On the same day, he was charged with murder, possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life and the possession of a firearm, namely a shotgun.

Detective Inspector Julie Willats, from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “I would like to pay tribute to Romario’s family who have been at court everyday and encouraged the local community to assist us with our investigation. Enquiries are ongoing in relation to locating an outstanding suspect.

“A young man lost his life and incidents such as this underline the need for the people to call-time on those illegally possessing weapons and contact the police or Crimestoppers. The information you hold may just save someone’s life.

“I hope that today’s sentence offers some comfort to Romario’s family and friends.”

Six sentenced for kidnapping, torture and blackmail at Old Bailey

A group of men involved in the kidnapping, torture and blackmail of their victim have today been jailed at the Old Bailey.

The conviction of the six men follows an investigation by the Met’s Human Trafficking and Kidnap Unit.

Detective Sergeant Tim Mustoe, from the Met’s Organised Crime Command, said: “These men subjected their victim to a violent and sadistic torture over a sustained period. I hope today’s sentences bring the victim some solace and reassure the public that the Met will relentlessly pursue those who commit crime.”

Four of the men, including two brothers had pleaded guilty in October 2015.

Darren Vassell, 35 pleaded guilty to kidnap, blackmail, two counts of false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to a total of 18 years imprisonment.

His brother, Marvin Vassell, 40 pleaded guilty to blackmail, false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for a total of 13 years and six months.

Derek Johnston, 40 pleaded guilty to kidnap, blackmail, two counts of false 14

imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.

Aaron Ellis, 22 pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for a total of nine years.

The other men were found guilty on Monday, 25 January; they are: Jamal McLaughlin, 34 was found guilty of kidnap, blackmail, false imprisonment.

He was sentenced to a total of six years imprisonment.

Carlton Rodney, 50 was found guilty of blackmail and sentenced to a total of four years.

Rodney was found not guilty of kidnap and blackmail.

On 18 June 2015, the victim, a man aged in his 30s, was taken from a barber’s shop in West London.

Darren Vassell aka ‘Biggs’; Johnston, McLaughlin and Rodney demanded money over a perceived debt and forced the victim to get inside a van they had driven to the location.

The incident was captured by a CCTV camera from a nearby convenience store.

The victim was driven around the area for several hours; during the journey, demands and threats to his life were made unless £2,500 was paid to ‘Biggs’. This was just the beginning of a three-day ordeal.

The man was eventually taken to an address on St Lukes Close in Uxbridge where his hands were bound together with electrical wires. It was here that the Vassell brothers, Johnston and Ellis began a sadistic and sustained assault. The victim was repeatedly hit around the head and body with an iron bar and a computer monitor was thrown at his head.

Ellis was responsible for heating a metal fork on a gas hob and repeatedly burning the victim’s legs. The brothers took turns stabbing and hacking the victim with kitchen knives, flaying skin from his arms. The force used was so overwhelming that it snapped the blade of a breadknife, which was later recovered from the scene.

On the morning of 20 June 2015, acting on intelligence gathered by the Human Trafficking and Kidnap Unit, armed officers from the Met’s Specialist Firearms Command entered the house and recovered the victim.

The man was taken to hospital by the

Darren Vassell - guilty

London Ambulance Service for treatment to his injuries before being discharged several days later. He is still recovering from his ordeal.

The Vassell brothers were arrested that day; Johnston was arrested on 21 June 2015 and Ellis on 24 June 2015.

Subsequent enquiries led to the arrest of McLaughlin on 26 August 2015, and Rodney the following day.

Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Super Bowl 50 – Panthers come out on top Beyoncé didn’t only upstage headline act Coldplay, fronted by Chris Martin, in Sunday’s Super Bowl half-time show; she frankly consigned the game itself to the footnotes of the many reports that naturally follow the biggest annual sporting event on the calendar.

Eventually joining Martin and Bruno Mars, who is not exactly padding either, Mrs Z’s sector would have been noteworthy enough simply for its slickness and entertainment value. Add an unexpected element of politics to the mix, and anyone who used the interval to whip up a snack, sneak a cat-nap or catch up on their social media messages missed the best bit of the whole five-hour TV event.

Even before the performance, when images of the former Destiny’s Child singer’s backing artists were posted from backstage on social media, people were picking up on the visual reference - the berets of the militant Black Panther Party, formed by Huey P Newton in 1966 and therefore, like the Super Bowl, commemorating its 50th anniversary.

The Panthers group, who eschewed the non-violence message of Dr Martin Luther King Jr in favour of a more robust form of defence against violence suffered

by Black people at the hands of police and immune by privilege civilians, was ironically founded just forty miles down the road from Super Bowl 50’s host city Santa Clara.

Sadly, the on-field Panthers were unable to capitalise on the other irony, sharing a name with the erstwhile Black activists. But then since they didn’t win, maybe the irony continues!

In case the assembled crowd and multiple millions watching on TV didn’t get the black outfits, the berets or the afro hair-dos, Beyoncé and her backing dancers raise a fist into the air at one point, mimicking the Black Panther salute last witnessed by an international TV audience watching a sports event back in 1968, when Tommie Smith and John Carlos each raised a gloved fist from the podium during the medal ceremony for the Olympic 200m final in Mexico City.

Less obvious was when the dancers created an ‘X’ formation, surely referencing a certain Malcolm Little, who adopted the letter in place of the surname he said was bestowed on his father via a White slaver.

Then there was the arrow formation – mimicking the motif that was once repeated all over the prison uniforms worn, often unjustly, by Blacks serving long sentences for crimes impartial jurists would know they could not have committed.

While not strictly part of the performance (at least that’s what Beyoncé’s

people may have to say), images later did the rounds on social media of some of the dancers displaying a hand-written a sign calling for justice for Mario Woods while in the centre of the field. Twenty-six yearold Woods was shot dead by police in San Francisco in December.

It might not be a surprise that not everyone who picked up on the Black Power references was impressed by them.

In America on Monday morning’s episode of Fox & Friends, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani criticised Beyoncé’s routine as an “attack” on police officers.

“This is football, not Hollywood, and I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us, and keep us alive,” he said.

“What we should be doing in the African-American community, and all communities, is build up respect for police officers, and focus on the fact that when something does go wrong, okay, we’ll work on that,” Guiliani continued. “But the vast majority of police officers risk their lives to keep us safe.”

Giuliani ended by asking for “decent, wholesome entertainment” for future halftime shows.

Describing Beyoncé’s half-time performance as anti-police is a stretch. But if Mr Guiliani reads the news, he should be aware that any Black person in the nation of which he seems so proud has every reason to be anti-police.

Beyoncé used the platform she had been given not to lavish praise on America nor solely to titillate the world’s bumfetishists. In there she brought attention to crucial issues in America’s Black community – a duty many before her have abdicated.

The impact that Beyoncé has had on all of America and the world beyond in

Beyoncé’s routine evoked the Civil Rights struggle of militant activist group, The Black Panthers

just a matter of a few days shows that Americans realise they have as much to be embarrassed about as the Germans or as White South Africans. The difference is that America’s racist past, as the family

of Mario Woods and countless others in recent memory will attest, is still in the process of being created. And a Donald J Trump in the White House is not about to herald a new beginning.

Beyoncé’s backing performers furtively hold up the sign that had CBS directors sphincter muscles working overtime - #CutToTheWideShot

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Gospel

SOUTH AFRICA WORKS FOR WORLD PEACE THROUGH INTERFAITH HARMONY As part of World Interfaith Harmony Week, a Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL) Scripture Dialogue took place on February 4 in Durban, South Africa; hosted at the organisation’s World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) office.

Led by Chairman Man Hee Lee, the HWPL Scripture Dialogue is an international peace symposium for leaders of various religious persuasions to come together to seek answers to certain questions within their scriptures and compare answers. WARP Office is one of the biggest projects of HWPL, which is actualizing its motto ― ‘cessation of war and creation of peace’.

Participants in the Dialogue as religious leaders were Smita Krsna Das, Senior Lecturer at the education wing of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON); Shaik Nishaat Siddiqi, representing Ansari Tariqa; Mr Leon Greenberg, National Interfaith Coordinator and Priest of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation of South Africa; Mr Pravesh Hurdeen, National Chairperson of the World Hindu Foundation; Rabbi GiJocelyn and Ken Elliott have run a clinic in Burkina Faso for four decades lad Friedman and Rabbi Hillel from them to deepen their understanding of said, “Just having people speaking the Durban Jewish Community; and other scriptures. Previously, leaders about their scripture and you being Pastor Deon Groupe of the 12 Aposof different faiths conducted a com- present - you are leaning first hand tolic Church in Christ. Young people parison of each scripture under titles from a fellow human being, hearing from several youth groups, such as such as: “Does my scripture have a them speak from the heart you do feel Avidan Ansari Youth Group, South clear history and genealogy?”, “Is my the positivity.

African Hindu Maha Sabha, Sathya “The mere fact that people are scripture from Heaven?”, and “Does Sai Baba and Netzer Durban Jewish my scripture have prophecy and ful- willing to share what they believe in Community also participated. and what they would like you to hear fillment?”

Each religious leader delivered a Having participated in the monthly from them; I think that is the most speech under the title “How is my dialogue on several occasions, Mr. positive things we can create in a foscripture being used as instrument of Pravesh Hurdeen, the National Chair- rum like this.” peace?” providing an opportunity for Shaik Nishaat Siddiqi of Ansari person of the World Hindu Foundation ­­

Are you looking for a church?

Not settled in any particular congregation?

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

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

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

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

Tariqi, who attended the dialogue for the first time, said: “As much as the society creates an image of the differences in all religions, I stand firmly to say that all religions share a lot of commonality.”

At present, HWPL is actualizing world peace through its WARP Offices all over the world. So far, 115 HWPL WARP Offices have been established in 61 countries, and more and more religious leaders have joined the peace campaign. During the World Interfaith Harmony Week, HWPL WARP Offices in the US, India, and Jordan also hosted a Scripture Dialogue.

Mr. Man Hee Lee, who leads HWPL, addressed the assembly, saying: “Inciting conflict and doing whatever one pleases is not what is from heaven. The religious leaders in the various nations that are participating in the peace work of HWPL are becoming one by comparing scriptures without religious barriers in the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Offices.”

Besides its WARP Offices, HWPL has been working together with people from every social strata to effectively and efficiently make world peace a reality. For example, HWPL is in cooperation with International Law experts to enact the implementation of the Convention on the Renunciation and Cessation of War and International Armed Conflicts; educators to designate HWPL Peace Academy for initiating and incorporating peace education into school curricula for students; and politicians to establish HWPL peace monuments and designate an HWPL Day.

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, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Africa Newsround

Burkina Faso

Uganda

Wife freed as husband’s Anti-riot gear bolstered hostage hell continues ahead of Uganda election Police in Uganda have purchased extra anti-riot gear ahead of next week’s General Election in a move critics claim is designed to intimidate opponents of long-time president Yoweri Museveni.

Jocelyn and Ken Elliott have run a clinic in Burkina Faso for four decades

Islamic extremists in northern Burkina Faso have freed an elderly Australian missionary who was kidnapped last month, although the woman’s husband remains in captivity despite efforts by officials to secure his release.

Jocelyn Elliott and her husband, surgeon Ken Elliott, were abducted following an attack in the Burkina Faso capital of Ouagadougou by suspected Islamic extremists that killed 30 people.

Al-Qaeda’s North Africa wing claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, though the group said in an audio recording Friday that it would release Jocelyn so as “not to make women involved in the war.”

Mrs Elliott was freed in neighbouring Niger, where she appeared alongside President Mahamadou Issoufou in the town of Dosso, located about 90 miles southeast of the capital, Niamey.

Issoufou worked with Burkina Faso intelligence

services to secure her release, said Abdourahmane Alilou, a spokesman for Niger’s president.

Australian media is carrying a statement from the Elliott’s’ family urging that Ken Elliott also be freed.

The statement reads: “We are trusting that the moral and guiding principles of those who have released our mother will also be applied to our elderly father who has served the community of Djibo and the Sahel for more than half his lifetime.”

The Elliotts, who are in their 80s, are originally from Perth but have lived for four decades in the town of Djibo, where they have run a medical clinic. A family spokesperson said the couple have spent their lives helping people in the West African country.

Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledged to continue working with regional governments to secure Ken Elliott’s release.

“We’re dealing with a difficult diplomatic situation andtheBurkinaFasogovernmentisworkingverywell on it and we’ll continue to stay in touch with them,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Museveni’s two major rivals, Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and secretary general of the ruling party, have both attracted large crowds and analysts say Museveni faces his toughest challenge yet in his bid to extend his 30-year tenure.

Critics have accused him of using violence by security personnel to intimidate opposition supporters, while police have drawn public ire for frequently blocking opposition gatherings or using teargas and sometimes live ammunition to disperse them.

Police spokeswoman Polly Namaye said they had bought a consignment of equipment to help them bolster security during voting.

“In the process of ensuring that we secure the election ... we have had to purchase equipment that we believe will help us in transportation, in crowd control and public order management,” Namaye said without giving specific details of the equipment that had been bought.

In recent days, pictures of water cannon trucks and armoured trucks parked at Kenya’s Mombasa seaport and with “Uganda Police” emblazoned on them have circulated on social media.

Yoweri Museveni has been president since January 1986, following the overthrow of Milton Obote

Cissy Kagaba, executive director of anticorruption coalition Uganda (ACCU), said the timing of the purchase was “suspicious.” “[The anti-riot gear] will have an intimidating effect. ... It’s going to be difficult to convince us that these things have been bought for legitimate security concerns,” she said.

Last month, police chief Kale Kayihura provoked public outrage after he was quoted in a local newspaper telling a civilian anti-crime force to prepare for “war” after the coming election.

Uganda most recent nationwide protests took place shortly after the last election in 2011 when people took to the streets to demonstrate against high consumer prices, corruption and Museveni’s long rule.

South Africa

‘Zumaville’ violates SA constitution – EFF Senior Counsel

President Jacob Zuma violated the Constitution and his oath of office over his treatment of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendations that he pay back some of the money spent on his home at Nkandla, the Constitutional Court heard on Tuesday.

“This could not be a more flagrant violation of his duty as president to protect the Constitution,” said Wim Trengove SC, presenting arguments for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

The EFF, which has at times brought Parliament to a standstill by shouting “pay back the money” at Zuma, wants the court to order that he comply with Madonsela’s report Secure in Comfort, which recommends he pay back a portion of the money not related to security upgrades to his private estate, nicknamed Zumaville. The Constitution says a president must “uphold, defend and respect the Constitution”, said Trengove.

When Zuma took his oath of office in 2009, he also vowed to defend and abide by the Constitution. And, within the Constitution, he was required to assist and support the public protector.

“He is our leader. It is his duty in the first place, not only to obey, but to uphold defend and protect the Constitution,” said Trengove, who added: “He defied the Public Protector as president of the country in order to protect his illgotten gains.”

Madonsela had ordered him to make restoration to the state, but he had defied her “to protect the wealth he had obtained unlawfully,” Trengove asserted, later adding that it was not only Zuma’s conduct at the time, but his response to Madonsela’s report also constituted a violation of the Constitution.

“All of us are bound by the Constitution, and all of us have to obey the Constitution,” Trengove said, while claiming there was also an added duty on Zuma to do so.

Refurbished at a cost to the taxpayer reputed to be in the region of R246m (£10m), Jacob Zuma’s compound just south of Nkandla boasts a bunker, a clinic, a football field, a water reservoir, a cattle culvert, three guest houses and two helipads

“These were violations by the president, despite his duty to the Constitution. That’s whitewashing’ Trengove said the public protector’s reports did not have the same status as a court, but they were still binding administrative orders. The public protector’s office

was not simply there to help people litigate – it had its own “original power”. It was not possible to simply defy an order by the public protector. If there was a dispute, it should be put to review.

He said the Speaker of the National Assembly had to make sure all reports were dealt with equally, but Speaker Baleka Mbete had declared that the public protector’s reports were not binding.

Trengove said the ad hoc committee in Parliament dealing with Nkandla gave itself power to judge Madonsela’s findings.

They overturned all her findings, and their recommendations were endorsed by Parliament, where the ANC holds a majority.

“The National Assembly violated its constitutional obligations by not holding the president and his Cabinet to account.

“They also adopted Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s report which cleared Zuma of having to pay back any money. They were supposed to hold Zuma to account.

That’s not holding to account, that’s whitewashing,” submitted Trengove.

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Nigerian News

Osun may slash cabinet, initiates moves to cut cost of governance

Faced with current economic realities in Nigeria, the state of Osun has said it has resolved to come up with new strategies that would help it navigate through the financial challenges while sustaining all its development programmes.

A communique issued at the end of a three day retreat held in Iloko Ijesa, in Oriade Local Government Area of the state, said the government was compelled to review its programmes with a view to executing its various development programmes within the context of the ongoing economic crisis in the country.

In the communique signed by the Chief-of-Staff to the Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, participants at the retreat identified the need to reduce the cost of governance, increase internally generated revenues and drive investments to the state as vital to the

continued growth of the state.

The communique said the state is on the verge of ‎unveiling what it called “a competent and capable cabinet” which is expected to be identified and inaugurated soon.

It said the in-coming executive council of the state would be expected to work in conjunction with dedicated civil servants of the state for implementation of these plans.

The communique said participants at the retreat recognized the urgent need to put in place clear action plans that would put the state on a good footing among its peers in the country despite the biting economic hardship.

Highlighting the current global economic hardship, the communique added that Osun is not alone in the economic difficulties just as participants noted that the dwindling economic fortune will affect all tiers of government, including their business partners.

From Left- First President, Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU},Professor Biodun Jeyifo, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman of the Occasion, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), Keynote Speaker, Professor Attahiru Jega, and Professor Kole Omotoso during the 70th Birthday of Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, at the International Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging greetings with Dr. Seinde Arigbede,during the 70th Birthday of the first President, Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU},Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, at International Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

The communique stated, “Osun has been at the forefront of innovation in governance and it is one of the few states in the country with commendable development statistics.

“The state has made massive investments in physical and human infrastructure in the last five years. In 2013, Osun had the lowest unemployment rate in the country and the second lowest poverty rate.

“Osun’s Youth Empowerment Model and School Feeding Scheme influenced the World Bank’s YESSO programme and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National School Feeding goal respectively,” the communique pointed out.

It noted the commitment of the Rauf Aregbesola administration to delivering on its development initiatives to the people of the state, stating that Osun will institutionalise performancedriven governance.

It stated further, “The role of humans in economic development must not be overlooked, so it is important to leverage on the human resources of the state to generate ideas, establish enterprises and create much-needed goods and services.

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“If we can get 40% of the population to be productive and generate surplus value, we will generate enough revenue to be comfortable. The aim of the Repositioning Osun for Prosperity (ROPE) initiative is to achieve increased IGR by employing creative means to widen taxpayers base and supporting enforcement action,” The communique stated.

It said that the repositioning of the state will reduce the cost of governance by strengthening the state’s public financial management system and ensure compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards.

It added that the new era that Osun is entering will increase investments in the state by attracting investors for short to medium term investments in agriculture, tourism, solid minerals, and strengthening the Public Private Partnership framework.

It also identified performance-based governance with the setting up of appropriate mechanisms and frameworks to track performance in Millennium Development Agencies and government policies as benefit of the new initiatives.

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Nigerian News

Whistle-blowers need to be protected if fight on corruption is to be won says Oloyede, Kashamu’s Solicitor

By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria

The Senate, through its one of the busiest and revered Committees, Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by the erudite and distinguished Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu representing Imo East gave audience to solicitor defending Senator Prince Buruji Kashamu who is representing Ogun East senatorial district. Mr. Ajibola Oloyede the solicitor to the distinguished Senator said whistleblowers have to be protected to succeed in the corruption fight of this new government in Nigeria.

In other climes whistle-blowers are given a pride of place as they are the ones that oil the engine of justice and expose internal conspiracy.

According to Mr Ajibola Oloyede the Solicitor to distinguished Senator Prince Buruji Kashamu, he praised the effort of whistleblower in alerting them on the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s invasion of Senator Kashamu’s apartment.

The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided his Lagos residence and attempted to abduct him for extradition to the United States.

However, Senator Kashamu stalled their attempt by hiding in his bathroom, the law court however forced NDLEA agents from the premises. The NDLEA have never been able to provide evidence or warrant to show that they possess the right under law to enter the Senator’s home lawfully.

The Solicitor urged the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to look at the case in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and allow justice to prevail.

It will be recalled that several rulings have dismissed any charges against the Senator and have indeed exonerated him of the charges. The Solicitor said “federal courts have exonerated him and no reason to extradite him because he is not a fugitive” Justice Ibrahim Buba and O.E. Abang had ruled that Senator Kashamu could not be extradited under these circumstances. Also Justice Gabriel Kolawole finally dismissed the NDLEA and Attorney General’s attempt to extradite Kashamu because it was an abuse of the court process.

Justice Kolawole said, “the suit was initiated in flagrant abuse of and disobedience to the orders made by Justices Abang and Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which have extinguished the current action by the applicant.”

“Therefore, to accede to the applicant’s request would be against the legal concept of judicial precedences and res judicata.”

“This suit is, hereby, dismissed, with no orders made as to cost against the applicant.”

The Senate’s ethics and privileges committee noted that Senator Kashamu is averse to a certain public servant somewhere who is not following the legal status of the matter.

Senator Buruji Kashamu has been doing his

Senator Buruji Kashamu

genuine and lawful business since 2003 until his foray into the murky waters of politics. And as soon as he dabbled into politics his travails started raising its ugly heads. Senator Buruji Kashamu has helped numerous people as a

grassroot mobilizer. He was more or less a votary, his devotion to his political party was second to none. Senator Kashamu is a diligent and courageous man who simply believes that God (Allah) will vindicate him.

Senator Abdullahi Adamu offers fresh graduate immediate employment

By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria

A helping hand these days is worth more than a thousand words of advice. A former governor of Nasarawa state and current Senator representing Nasarawa West, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu has offered Mr. Achilonu Nnaemeka Ignatius who hail from Ezinihitte Mbaise in Imo State a job as a computer analyst at his senate building office.

The Senator upon seeing Mr. Achilonu recounted that he first met Achilonu when he was the governor of Nasarawa state and was impressed by Achilonu’s zeal and quest for education.

According to Mr. Nnameka Achilonu, the Senator was the one that supported him through secondary school and now that he has finished serving in Cross Rivers State where he was as a Corps member, he had come to see the Senator and also thank him for the kind gesture. “I feel very happy and glad, it’s a privilege to meet the Excellency. I have been trying my best to meet him because of protocol it was challenging, it wasn’t easy but today I thank God for finally seeing him’. May God bless him and reward him abundantly”. ‘You have been assisting the less privilege. I have nothing to say than to tell you that God will continue to bless you” Mr. Achilonu said.

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Events calendar What’s On & When WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Events

Oil & Gas Graduates of GSM held a Send Forth Dinner The graduating students of Oil & Gas Management E15 Class held a befitting Send Forth Dinner at the prestigious 5 star Grange City Hotel, Tower Hill, London on Friday, 22 January 2016.

The outgoing students supported by family and friends all turned out dressed up like business leaders to celebrate their well – earned BSc (Hons) in Oil & Gas Management degree.

The proud and elated lecturers and mentors of the graduating students were in attendance led by Mr. Baba Sheba, Head of Department Oil & Gas Management at University of Plymouth – GSM, Dr. Kenneth Aidelojie PhD, Programme Leader, Oil & Gas Management, Ms AnneMarie Laffey, Module Leader Strategic Management and Mr. Bora Alpar, Module Leader Project Management.

The Special Guest Speaker, Prince Mike Abiola, Editor in Chief of African Voice, Britain’s N0.1 African Newspaper in his remarks to the graduating students enjoined them to stay connected with one another. He emphasised that networking is key to having contacts in any industry.

He assured them that the future is bright for them as they have taken the good step of having a university degree. But they must remain focussed on their dreams.

While addressing the Oil and Gas Management graduates, Abiola said, ‘Do not be discouraged by the screaming headlines you read in newspapers.

I am sure you all know that bad news do sell’.

‘You read in newspapers and hear on television every week that the industry to which most of you are hoping and looking forward to employment opportunities is faced with uncertainties as the commodity oil which was over $120 a barrel in 2012 has dipped to below $30 early this week’.

GOOD NEWS ‘The good news is that you are leaving the University armed with various skills. As graduates of Management you don’t all have to seek employment in the oil industry.

You are graduating at a good time. Graduate jobs market has improved significantly than the past few years’.

CHALLENGES He advised the graduating students that there would be challenges ahead but beneath those challenges are opportunities.

‘Be prepared to take up the challenges. Be ready to leave your comfort 20

zones. Be prepared to travel abroad if it is required of you’.

While directing some of his remarks to those over 40 years and above.

Prince Abiola said, ‘You all must not head to the employment market. Most of you should aim to be employers of labour by starting your own businesses’.

‘You must be thinkers, you must generates new ideas. You must find something unique to do to make the world around you a better place’.

START UP GRANTS ‘So aim to Become entrepreneurs. Two to three or more of you can come together to apply for government funding to set up a new enterprise. You can easily package a business plan to get start-up grants and funding’.

‘Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced government plans to increase patronage to Small and Medium size Enterprises. You can benefit a lot from that policy statement’.

‘If you remain focussed on what you want to achieve. You will be successful’.

In his closing remarks, Prince Abiola, an Alumnus of the university quoted Baba Sheba, the Head of Department, Oil & Gas Management. ‘At this level we are expecting a critical evaluation & analysis and with every analysis there must be a conclusion.

Prince Mike Abiola therefore advised the outgoing students: ‘You cannot afford to fail. You cannot afford not to excel in life. You have had the opportunity of a university education. Your family and friends are looking up to you, the continent of Africa is looking up to those of us in the Diaspora and l have the believe that you will make a difference in the world. Congratulations to all of you graduating students of Oil & Gas Management E15 Class of 2016. Good luck and God bless you all.’

The Send Forth Night was indeed an evening to be remembered as promised by the comperes of the evening, the duo of veteran actress Golda John Abiola and Oluwole Elebiju, both members of the Alumni E15 Class of 2016.

The well attended and highly successful night was organised by the following Committee Members John Oyeniran, Taiwo Olatoye, Modupeola Akinwale, Richard Akpabio, Oluwole Elebiju, Frederick Olaniyi, Babatunde Makanjuola, Yomi Sowemimo – Coker, Golda John Abiola, Adegboyega Akande and Joshua Babatunde Johnson.

From right Dr. Kenneth Aidelojie, Ms Anne-Marie Laffey, Mr. Baba Sheba, and Mr. Bora Alpar,

Organising Committee Members, Alumni E15 Class of 2016

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Africans use CHAN to stake their claim Although the fourth CAF African Nations Championship officially drew to a close on the weekend, with Congo DR winning their second title courtesy of a 3-0 victory against Mali, it seems likely that international football fans will not have seen the last of some of the players that featured in the tournament.

The squads of all 16 teams at the finals consisted only of players who belong to clubs in their respective countries – such are the rules and no foreign-based players are allowed. This, of course, restricts the pool of players from which coaches can select their squad on the one hand, but on the other, it offers an ideal opportunity for such players to show off for both international scouts and, most importantly, for their full national team futures. And with 11 of teams competing at the CHAN finals still involved in CAF’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualification campaign, it seems likely that some of those who featured in Rwanda will make a difference in their country’s World Cup qualifiers.

New and familiar stars In a Nigerian team that disappointed as they were knocked out in the group stage, Chisom Chikatara stood out. The Abia Warriors striker twice came on as a substitute and played one game over the full distance. He managed four goals, to finish joint-top scorer. No less of an African football legend than Roger Milla has predicted that much will be heard of the 21-year-old.

“He is a fantastic striker. I have been impressed with his performances, and I believe he will be great star in the future,” the

Team mates celebrate Chisom Chikatara

Cameroon World Cup star told reporters.

Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh’s predecessor Stephen Keshi was known to give talented Nigerian-based players the opportunity of playing in the senior side and if Oliseh follows suit, Chikatara should soon receive a call-up.

Zambia had one of the most experienced sides at the tournament and where unlucky to be eliminated by Guinea on penalties in the quarter-finals. Two of their standout players were goalkeeper Jacob Banda, who was unbeaten until the penalty shootout and veteran Christopher Katongo. The striker, who captained the Chipolopolo to their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2012, showed that a 33-year old can still compete at the highest level.

Katongo, who has returned to Zambia

after spells in South Africa, Germany, Denmark, Greece and China PR, could well add to the 25 matches he has played in World Cup qualifying.

Congolese call on experience Congo DR coach Florent Ibenge, who in 2014 stunned the continent when he took Vita Club to the final of the CAF Champions League, called up eight players from his former club into his CHAN side and they repaid that faith by winning the title.

Ibenge added three TP Mazembe players to the squad, two of whom – Joel Kimwaki and Jonathan Bolingi – represented their club at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan at the end of last year. Both should, unless something unforeseen occurs, feature in Ibenge’s World Cup plans, while striker Meschack Elia will also be keeping

his fingers crossed to get a call.

Like Nigeria, Uganda’s Cranes were knocked out in the group phase, but not before teenagers Farouk Miya and Timothy Awany showed that they have the class that suggests they could go far. Striker Miya has already played in the World Cup qualifiers and was his side’s hero as he scored three goals in a 4-0 aggregate victory against Togo, while Awany, who was used in a central midfield role despite being a defender, stood out with some strong tackles and ball distribution.

Yves Bissouma, who scored Mali’s winner in their semi-final against Côte d’Ivoire, received special praise from his coach Djibril Drame. “I really like him. He is my best, but I rested him at first in the semifinal. At the break I told him I would only bring him on if he scored, and that is what he did.” The 19-year-old AS Real Bamako midfielder could well receive a chance to show his capabilities in Alain Giresse Les Aigles squad, which consists almost exclusively of foreign-based players.

Other players who are likely to get look-ins for their senior national teams are Nigerian goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Moroccan Abdessalam Benjelloun, as well as Tunisians Ahmed Akaichi and Rami Jeridi.

For CAF executive member and one of the legends of the African game, Kalusha Bwalya, it does not come as a surprise that several players that featured in CHAN are in line to move quickly up the ladder. “We can see the tournament has blossomed in the right direction as teams have come with their best players to the tournament.

The level of competition is growing with each edition and many of the players will be promoted to the senior national teams.”

Ivory Coast claim CHAN 2016 third spot Ivory Coast finished third at the CHAN 2016 after beating Guinea 2-1 in Third-Place clash at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday afternoon.

The Elephants enjoyed more possession in the opening stages of the game, but Guinea threatened first through Sankhon, whose effort went inches wide of the target in the 24th minute.

Two minutes later, Guinea were awarded a penalty after Samake was brought down inside the Ivory Coast box. But keeper Cisse denied Sankhon from the spot-kick.

However, the opening goal came in the 32nd minute when Youla’s backpass was missed by Guinea goalkeeper Keita, and it ended up in the back of the net - 1-0 to Ivory Coast.

22

Four minutes later, Badie doubled Ivory Coast’s lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the Guinea box which gave Keita no chance in goal. The Elephants were leading 1-0 at half-time.

Guinea pressed Ivory Coast for the equalising goal in the opening stages of the second-half. They were awarded another penalty in the 64th minute.

Substitute Haba was brought down inside the box by Comara who was booked.

Once again Cisse pulled off a great save to deny Guinea a goal from the spot-kick.

With four minutes left on the clock, Aboubacar pulled one back for Guinea with a Gbagnon Anicet Badie of Ivory Coast turns to celebrate his goal during the 2016 CHAN decent low header. But Ivory Coast held onto Rwanda 3rd Place Playoff game between Guinea and Ivory Coast at the Amahoro their slender lead and they won 2-1 on the day. Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 07 February 2016 ©Ryan Wilkisky Guinea (0) 1 (Aboubacar 86’) Guinea XI: Keitan Bangoura, Sankhon, Ivory Coast XI: Cisse, Britto, Aka, Ivory Coast (2) 2 (Badie 36’, Youla Soumah, Samake, Sylla, Camara, Mouste, Djobo, Badie, Kangoute, Boua, N’guessan, 32’) Daouda, Youla, Aboubacar.

Diabate, Comara, Co

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Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016

Niasse settling in well, could face West Brom - Martinez New Everton attacker Oumar Niasse is in contention to make his debut in Saturday’s Premier League match at home to West Brom.

Manager Roberto Martinez has been impressed with what he has seen from the 25-year-old in training since his £13.5 million deadline-day arrival from Lokomotiv Moscow.

As a result, Martinez confirmed Niasse – the third most expensive signing in Everton history – was now an option to play at the weekend.

Asked if the match against Tony Pulis’ men would be when the Senegal international would make his Toffees bow, the Spaniard told the club’s website:

“It could be. I think he has had a really good period of work.

“Oumar is settling in really well. He is desperate to help the team, to get to know how the team plays and develop good partnerships with other players – that is very positive.

“He had one full session with the team before the Stoke game, but I thought it was Oumar Niasse probably a little bit too early.

“This week has been completely different, “He has not played competitive football he has had a really good working period and since the beginning of December and that is all he needs is a bit of good solid work before going to take a little bit of time. I am really he can compete in the team. The Premier pleased and very happy in the way that he has League is a competition that you have to be trained in the last two days.

“It was such a difficult window for him ready in order to have an impact. personally - moving from Moscow to Liverpool “It is important that Oumar gets the time and the understanding he needs but, at the is a big contrast in everything it brings to your same time, I have seen he is desperate to be work and lifestyle. Now he is well settled, back to normal, relaxed and ready to kick on.” involved.

Bench-warmers get up for the Cup

Continued from back page But it was DRC who were enjoying the bulk of the chances, with scorer Elia looking most likely to increase their lead. The Malian defence did well to hold out until the interval just a single goal behind.

The second half began much like the first had ended, with the DRC players seemingly determined not to just sit on their lead. But it took until the 67th minute for the Mali resolve to crack.

Elia latched onto a through ball from Yannick Bangala and waltzed past what remained of the Malian defence before rounding the ‘keeper and slotting home into an empty net.

Going further behind seemed to spur Mali into action, and Lassana Samake spurned a good opportunity to get them back into the game. But victory for the Leopards was assures after 80 minutes when Jonathan Bolingi’s finish from an Elia assist sealed the title.

Mali launched a spirited campaign to restore respectability in the closing 10 minutes, but DRC’s central defensive pairing of skipper Joel Kimwaki and Merveille Bope have pride too, and it was chiefly they who stifled Mail’s ambitions. Mali had scored just five goals en route to the final, so it was no real surprise that they were unable to break down a well-organised DRC back line.

DRC talisman Meshack Elia’s performance capped a tournament in which the 20-year-old bagged three awards.

The winger was named the Man of the Match for the final, and his ability to run past defenders, decision-making and reading of the game also put him above other contenders for the Man of the Competition award. He was also the tournament’s Top Scorer with four goals.

“I am so happy that I won these accolades.

I want to thank my teammates because I did not do this alone. It was a collective effort,” said the delighted Elia.

Zamalek will hire a foreign coach - Mansour In the wake of Ahmed Hossam Mido’s axing as Zamalek coach, the club’s chairman Mortada Mansour says they will hire a foreign manager.

The White Castle boss said they decided about sacking Mido after their loss to Ismaily, saying they’re looking for a foreigner in the near future.

Mansour was quoted by KingFut.com after their 2-0 loss to Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League as well as after Mido’s sacking on Tuesday.

“Zamalek will appoint a foreign manager in the near future,” Mansour said.

“The decision to sack Mido was almost taken after the Ismaily defeat; Zamalek have been playing so bad for maybe six or seven games.

“Regarding all the speculation that Hassan Shehata will be the upcoming coach, I just can’t appoint such a high-profile manager mid-way through the season - it would be unfair.

“Unlike what’s been widely rumoured that I’ve been interfering in the management’s job, I never intervened at all. I even learned of today’s starting line-up from the media.

“In all cases, we will hold an emergency meeting within an hour or so to decide who’ll be the upcoming coach.”

The White Castle will be looking for the fourth manager this season after Jesualdo Ferreira who departed for Qatari club Al Sadd SC, Marcos Paquetá and Mido.​ Zamalek next game will be against Wadi Degla in the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday, 14th of February.

Kalou hints at Côte d’Ivoire retirement Meshack Elia is presented with the Man of the Match award. He later received awards for Man of the Competition and tournament top scorer

He scored a goal against Ethiopia in DRC’s 3-0 Group B opener before netting again in their 4-2 win over Angola.

DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge said: “He is a very exceptional player that creates chances and scores goals. We are happy for him that he won these trophies. It is also good for the team as a whole.”

Meanwhile, Serge N’guessan of Ivory Coast was awarded the Goal of the Tournament for his wonder strike from the halfway line against Cameroon in the quarterfinal at Huye Stadium in Southern Rwanda.

Ivory Coast, the tournament’s second top scorers with ten goals, also had the consolation of finishing the tournament third, having defeated Guinea by two goals to one in the 3rd/4th place match Caf also named the tournament’s best XI and 10 substitutes who were outstanding throughout a three-week tournament that, unlike the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is designed exclusively for players who play in

domestic leagues. The AFCON and CHAN are played biennially in alternate years.

Best XI Goalkeeper: Ley Matampi (DR Congo) Defenders: Abdoul Karim Dante (Mali), Joel Kimwaki (DR Congo), Cheick Ibrahim Comara (Ivory Coast), Mohamed Youla (Guinea) Midfielders: Ibrahima Sory Sankhon (Guinea), Meshack Elia (DR Congo), Serge N’Guessan (Ivory Coast), Hamidou Sinayoko (Mali) Forwards: Jonathan Bolingi (DR Congo), Sekou Koita (Mali) Substitutes: Badra Ali Sangare (Ivory Coast), Djigui Diarra (Mali), Lomalisa Mutambala (DR Congo), Heritier Luvumbu (DR Congo), Daouda Camara (Guinea), Aka Essis (Ivory Coast), Ernest Sugira (Rwanda), Ahmed Akaichi (Tunisia), Elvis Chisom Chikatara (Nigeria), Christopher Katongo (Zambia)

Hertha Berlin’s Ivoirian striker Salomon Kalou has hinted he could retire from the international stage.

The 30-year-old, who earned 81 caps and scored 29 goals since making his Côte d’Ivoire debut in a friendly against Guinea in February 2007, claimed glory with the Elephants at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

He also competed at the 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, Kalou now seems ready to focus on his club career and put an end to a nine-year journey with the Elephants.

“I won the Africa Cup of Nations and played in two World Cups. But you have to think about if it is the right moment to stop,” he told BBC Sport.

“I turn 30 this year and I will start having to think about resting my body.

“Last year was a tough year - and also I was away at the African Cup of Nations - but I learned a lot. This season I am aiming to score at least 15 goals.”

23

Friday, 12 February - Thursday, 18 February 2016 ISSUE 616

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Africans use CHAN to stake their claim SEE PAGE 22

LEOPARDS MAUL FLIGHTLESS EAGLES

A delighted DR Congo squad celebrate with the African Nations Championship trophy

By Alan Oakley

DR Congo (1) 3 Mali (0) 0 (Amahoro Stadium, Rwanda) The Democratic Republic of the Congo took home the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the second time at the weekend with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Mali.

Played at the Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, Sunday’s final went as most pundits had predicted, with tournament favourites DRC opening the scoring on 29 minutes through Meshack Elia, whose curling shot from the left had Mali ‘keeper Djigui Diarra grasping at thin air.

Mali missed an early opportunity to equalise when Abdoulaye Diarra failed to react quickly enough to a Moussa Sissoko shot that rebounded towards him inches from the goal line.

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