Cocoa: Another Income Generator In Need Of Attention By Ugochukwu Onyeocha
Pa Oluyemi can’t believe his new found luck. The 67 year old cocoa merchant from Ondo State
has been smiling to the bank of late as his business has once again become lucrative. He did narrate to the correspondent that he almost sold off his cocoa farm at some point when business
was bad but recently, his cocoa has continued to attract buyers from all parts of the country mostly from established beverage companies and the old man is now unable to hide his joy.
Since 1926
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The ever increasing domestic and worldwide consumption of chocolate bars and other cocoa products would be among the drivers of cocoa sales domestically and would also contribute
www.dailytimes.com.ng. AUGUST 11 - 17, 2014
‘APC Has Failed Lagosians’ P8
H
ow is your party preparing for the 2015 general elections? The Lagos State PDP is well prepared more than ever be-
fore. We are satisfied with the progress we have made in our preparations. Our preparation will however continue and improve till it culminates into our victory in all the elections, from
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AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
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Presidency Rues Losing Osun Elections Ugochukwu Onyeocha u.onyeocha@folio holdingsgroup.com
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he Presidency on Sunday stated that it was painful that the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) lost the Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State to its arch rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufa’i Alkali,
revealed this while conducting a facility tour on Goodluck 2 Goodluck (G2G) 2015 Project national headquarters in Abuja. He said. “Today we would have celebrated Osun victory. It is however, a very painful day for us because the PDP candidate and the party had completed their home work and we know the people of Osun are tired of what is happening in the state, but here we are. “I hope the APC, which is in the habit of complaining of having security agencies in ensuring enabling environment for elec-
tion and is consistent in controversy and rejecting election results, will reject this Osun state gubernatorial election result.” He however commended Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies for the roles they played in delivering a credible election in Osun. Speaking on the groups canvassing for the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015, the Special Adviser said “Since assumption of office, we inherited 3,000 Goodluck Support groups, some have been existing and
some are new, and we felt it is only those that are serious, and that we know each and every one of them, in faces, not only on papers, know what they can do and how we can collaborate with them. The national coordinator of G2G and former governorship candidate of PDP in Edo state, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd.) vowed that President Jonathan would return in 2015. “Our target is 50 million volunteers to mobilise so as to ensure that President Jonathan wins in 2015,” he said.
Saraki Seeks Probe Of Opposition Leaders Arrest
Ugochukwu Onyeocha u.onyeocha@folio holdingsgroup.com
S No Political Undertone In Creation Of New LCDAs- Fayemi
BUgochukwu Onyeocha u.onyeocha@folio holdingsgroup.com
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do-EkitiEkiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Sunday took a swipe at critics of the newly created 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) saying that the creations of the LCDAs had no political under tone, insisting that the agitation for additional councils by the people of the state pre- dated the creation of the state. Fayemi equally said workers had no say in the process that led to the creation of the new councils, urging any worker with political ambition to resign and face politics. The governor apparently responding to the leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Gov-
ernment Employees (NULGE), which had directed members to shun posting by the state government to the new councils, said his administration had fulfilled all the needful based on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Fayemi, who featured in the Yoruba edition of the monthly programme ‘Gomino S’alaye ‘ in Ado-Ekiti, said his administration had only heeded the agitation by the wide spectrum of the people of the state asking for the creation of more councils in the state. According to him, “Even when Ekiti was still part of the old Ondo State, many of our communities had pushed for either splitting or creation of additional local governments in their respective constituencies. In what we have done so far we followed due process.”
On the directive of NULGE officials to it members, Fayemi, said worker had no business in the process of creating new councils and advised workers interested in politics to leave the civil service for full time politics. According to him, “all that is required by law had been followed in the process of creating new council and any aggrieved individual or group can also challenge the action through legitimate means.” The governor also described as naive the allegation that his administration was planning to withdraw N10million from the state’s coffers to finance the new councils saying Ekiti does not have such huge fund, saying “anybody who wants to be governor must have a lot of patience and shock absorber to absolve lies and unfounded allegations from some members of the public.”
enator Bukola Saraki has demanded a thorough probe of the arrest of opposition leaders in Nigeria with particular interest to the just concluded governorship elections in Osun State.. The former Kwara State governor and chieftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) said the trend was
disturbing and alarming and further questioned the motive of security agents who illegally arrested opposition leaders. “We must begin to investigate the new trend of arresting opposition leaders prior to elections. This is unconstitutional,” he wrote on his Twitter account. He then quizzed the security operatives whom many have accused of being partisan during the just concluded Osun gubernatorial election. “What were the specific functions of the various armed agencies that were deployed in Osun State?”
Saraki who is presently representing Kwara Central at the senate said the intimidation and illegal detention must stop in Nigeria. “Even though APC won Osun Gubernatorial election, we must ask questions on the illegal detention of party leaders and intimidation of members,” he tweeted. Governor Rauf Aregbesola was re-elected governor of Osun early Sunday. He defeated Peoples Democratic Party candidate Senator Iyiola Omisore by 394,684 votes against 292,747
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
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Justice Commissioner worried over awaiting trial inmates of Minna Prisons By Pita Chikwem, Minna
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iger State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse has warned that there was no need to keep someone for years where at the end of the trial
the person is not found guilty. He disclosed this over the weekend when he visited two prisons in Minna to find out the conditions of the prisons, particularly the inmates. Barr. Wuse said by virtue of the Nigerian constitution and criminal process in the country,
one was presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, adding that the number of prisoners awaiting trails were not good enough for the system. According to him, “I was surprised there was such large number despite the bail process that was in place, we are going to dis-
cuss with the judicial arm to ensure that those to be granted bail are granted.” He also disclosed that his ministry will look at the awaiting issue which is critical and find a lasting solution to it, “it was not enough to send someone to prison and there is need for the follow-up
to know if the person’s behaviour has been corrected” “We are considering the issue of prerogative of mercy which is a constitutional provision, empowering the governor to look at the issue and see how they can decongest the prisons.” Earlier, the Deputy comptroller
of Prison Minna, Umaru Tanko Chiri told the commissioner that they have 271 inmates, out of which 40 were convicted and 231 were awaiting trials. He commended the effort of the ministry in trying to decongest the prison which will make their work easier.
APC to PDP: Stop Harassing Us With Thugs, Security By Pita Chikwem,Minna
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he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sponsoring thugs to attack its members and using security agents to harass the party officials just few weeks to Niger East Senatorial bye-election. The APC state publicity secretary, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa made these claims in Minna on Sunday in a press conference adding that thugs sponsored by PDP had attacked the legal adviser to his party on Saturday after an ambush in Paikoro area of the state. “After our party primaries on Thursday, our delegates from Rafi local government were stopped at Pandogeri and asked all of them to be shouting PDP while they were being beaten by the thugs hired by PDP. We have just conducted primaries and not gone for the main byeelection and we are witnessing
this type of development. This is the desperation of the ruling party to clinch the senatorial seat by hook or crook”, he said. However, in a swift reaction, the state deputy chairman of PDP, Barrister Tanko Beji described the APC claims as unfounded and that the party should have turned the criminals that attacked its members to the police for proper investigation. Beji said “nobody is above the law and if the legal adviser is attacked he should as a law officer report to the police and lead police to arrest the criminals instead of blaming PDP. I think APC is confused and it is chasing shadows instead of settling down to serious campaign for the election”. The deputy chairman explained that security agencies in the state have been inviting all party leadership including those of PDP towards ensuring that there was no breakdown of law during the poll. “The state chairman of PDP,
the secretary and I were invited yesterday and we went to the SSS and police headquarters. Maybe we should say it is the APC that instigated our invitation”, he said. Jonathan had accused PDP of planning to rob APC of votes adding that, “days before the election the ruling party has started harassing and intimidating us. We are no longer safe in Niger state and we are crying out for people to know the situation”. “We will fight against rigging by PDP in all the wards, the polling units and protect our votes”, he said adding that the military should stay away from the bye-election.
Renowned Historian, Ade Ajayi Passes On By Lara Adejoro
l.adejoro@folioholding sgroup.com minent historian and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Ade Ajayi, has passed on. Professor Ajayi was said to have died at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, on Saturday. Ajayi was born on 26 May 1929 in Ikole-Ekiti, Ekiti
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Statein Ikole-Ekiti. After studying History at the University of Ibadan, he traveled abroad in 1952 and studied at Leicester University, under the tutelage of Professor Jack Simmons, a brilliant Oxford-trained historian. After graduation, he was a research fellow at the Institute of Historical Research, London from 1957-1958. He later returned to Nigeria and joined the history department of the Uni-
versity of Ibadan. In 1964, he was made Dean of Arts at the University and later promoted a deputy Vice Chancellor. After his stint as deputy Vice Chancellor, he was made the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos in 1972. In 1993, Ajayi was awarded the “Distinguished Africanist Award” by the African Studies Association. In 1994, he became an Honorary Fellow of SOAS.
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AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
news
ICPC Boss Flays Corruption In Procurement Ugochukwu Onyeocha u.onyeocha@folio holdingsgroup.com
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he Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, has identified the procurement of contracts as one major area that breeds corrupt practices which could be hard to detect and investigate. The ICPC boss who was represented by a senior employee from Abuja, Olugbenga Ogunlana, made this statement on over the weekend in Lagos during the final phase of a two-day awareness programme organised by the Association
of Certified Fraud Examiners, Abuja chapter. He said, “Procurement, which represents a substantial percentage of the economy, is an area that has long been recognised as being particularly vulnerable to corruption. It translates into a huge amount of money that provides seemingly endless opportunity and temptation for corruption. “Unnecessary complexity of bidding documents or terms of reference are used to create confusion to hide corrupt behaviour and make monitoring difficult. Almost 90 per cent or more of government’s annual capital budget is spent by the ministries, departments and agencies of government on pro-
curement of goods, works and services. In the process, goods or services that are needed are overestimated to favour a particular provider.” Speaking on the theme of the programme, ‘Preventing and Detecting Contract and Procurement Fraud in Nigeria’, the President of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Ishilli, said ACFE would expose improprieties associated with procurement process to salvage the country’s economy. Ishilli said, “The essence of organising this programme is to create awareness that the major challenges we have been facing in this country is corruption which is prominently traced to procurement process. As fraud
examiners, we intend to expose some of these activities and their effects on the nation’s economy. Therefore, we are partnering with organisations such as ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by providing them with useful information on corrupt practices in the procurement process at both private and public sectors.” In his lecture, Prof. Wilson Herbert, from Bingham University, Nasarawa State, noted that combating procurement crimes in public and private sectors required a forensic accounting which covers “litigation support, expert witnessing and fraud examination.”
Dickson Sets Up 103 Surveillance Centres To Tackle Ebola By Lara Adejoro
l.adejoro@folioholding sgroup.com
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enoaga- As efforts continue to checkmate the further spread of the dreaded Ebola virus, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has set up 103 surveillance centres and inaugurated an 18-member committee to check Ebola outbreak in the state. The 103 surveillance sites cut across all the local government areas in the state. In a statement on Sunday by
the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel IworisoMarkson, the governor also called on the people of the state to imbibe the culture of personal hygiene, noting that it would assist in the prevention and the spread of the deadly virus. Dickson assured the people that there was no cause for alarm, since the state has not recorded any reported case of the virus. He stressed that in the event of any outbreak, the state government had the capacity to deal with it. According to the governor, in view of the high fatality rate as-
sociated with the scourge, there is the need to treat it as a national security issue, saying the government will provide all the support that the committee requires to function optimally. Dickson, who called on the people, particularly community and opinion leaders to be watchful for suspected patients with the Ebola symptoms, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the urgent steps taken to check the spread of the dreaded disease. He, however, advised the people against ingesting any unorthodox substances, like drinking
Leadership Remains Nigeria’s Major Challenge- Okorocha Ugochukwu Onyeocha u.onyeocha@folio holdingsgroup.com
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werri- Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has reiterated that challenges facing the nation’s democracy are basically those of leadership without vision and passion. Okorocha stated this while declaring open the 34th National Conference of Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria with the theme: ‘Dealing with the Times
and Seasons’, at the International Convention Centre, Owerri. The governor, who stressed that it was time for Nigerians to seek leaders with vision rather than engage in the myopic ideology of choosing leaders on the basis of region, religion or party affiliations, maintained that nationhood and democracy must be protected Rating Nigeria poorly, given the national and human resources the country is endowed with, he called for deliberate collaboration from every sector to move the nation forward and pointed
out that the numerous challenges facing the country would be a thing of the past if all hands will be on deck in building the unity of Nigeria. In a keynote address, Dr. Steve Ogan called for reality check, especially on the stability and survival of Nigeria and on the corruption index in the country, saying “Nigeria now ranks 144 out of 173 corrupt nations and that corruption “is a monster that will tear the nation apart if not checked”. Ogan told lawyers that as ministers of God on assignment, they
should always use their office and position to the glory of God, bearing in mind the times and the seasons they are in. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Imo State, Chukwuma Chukwu Ume, said though law practice is a profession but called on Christian lawyers to see it as a vocation, urging them to use their position to advocate for the poor, the weak and the persecuted, pointing out the need for them to set aside resources and efforts in doing pro bono cases as show of gratitude to God.
and bathing with salt water, as two people had already died and others hospitalised from such practices. In his remarks, Chairman of the 18-member Bayelsa State Task Force on Ebola Virus, Dr. Ayebatonye Owei, highlighted measures taken, including mass sensitisation of the people and public enlightenment campaign in the rural areas. He said the Federal Medical Centre and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital had been designated as centres with isolation wards prepared for the management of the disease.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
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africa
African Culture- South Africa- Zulu By Iyanu-Oni Orisan
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he Zulus are the largest group in South Africa from the Northern Nguni tribe which includes Xhosa and Swati people, the Swatis have now occupied Swaziland lead by King Mswati the third. In the twelve years that he was King the Zulu nation became the mightiest military force in Southern Africa. Shaka was killed by his half bother Dingane kaSenzangakhona who stabbed him to death. People have always won-
dered about the lifestyle and the formation of the Zulu clan. This is a South African clan that made its mark when it overcame an army of 2500 men well armed from England. The army was equipped with those days cannons and muskets, but to their surprise appeared 20, 000 Zulu clan soldiers who destroyed them. It is in the Zulu culture for women to cover their heads, for it is a symbol of respect to those around her. This Zulu hats are so distinct that whenever you see a zulu woman wearing this, you know she is married.
European Culture- Switzerland
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witzerland lies at the crossroads of several major European cultures. Three of the continent’s major languages, German, French and Italian, are national languages of Switzerland, along with Romansh, spoken by a small minority. Therefore Swiss culture is characterised by diversity, which is reflected in a wide range of traditional customs. The 26 cantons also account for the large cultural diversity.
Holiday Destination Kenya
L
ooking for a holiday destination for your holidays this summer? Kenya holds some of Africas most beautiful national parks; Nairobi National Park which is in the capital of the country,Tsavo West and East National Park. Mombasa has some of the most beautiful beaches with hotels that appeal to travelers
in search of sand, sun and surf. Swakopmund- A coastal town that draws a huge number of holiday makers from all over the world. Diani beach – the sparkling white sands and lush greenery of diani invites you to relax. Try riding on a camel ride for that tourist experience. Watamu Kenya – The delightful village of watamu is lined with sandy white beaches and hotels dedicated to sustainable tourism.
The alphorn, or the alpenhorn, is a trumpet-like musical instrument made of wood. It is thought to have the perfect form for a musical wind instrument. The use of the alphorn which is seen mainly in mountainous regions, can be very popular in some areas, and like yodeling or the accordion, it has become an emblem of traditional Swiss music. Most visitors to the country see them as a chocolate snacking, cheese eating, alphorn blowing and yodelling nation
that is ruled by perfectionism, and timed by precision watches; a law-abiding nation that takes seriousness very serious and sleeps with guns under their pillow in well-ordered and efficient Switzerland The influence of so many different cultures makes it sometimes hard to tell. Switzerland was inhabited by the Celt’s in the West, the Helvetii (the most powerful Celtic tribe) in the North and the Raetians - a stubborn Roman alpine tribe - in the
East. Switzerland’s culture is shaped by all of them and the many different languages spoken in our small country make the mix even more interesting. Switzerland is amongst the world leaders in technology, trade (every second franc is earned in export) and finance. Most businesses are small to medium-size, and although the Swiss company Nestlé is the world’s biggest food company, 97% of its workforce resides outside of Switzerland.
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
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news
El-Zakzaky Ignores Military On Zaria Shooting Probe Ugochukwu Onyeocha u.onyeocha@folio holdingsgroup.com
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aria- A top notch military probe panel investigating the recent remote and immediate causes of the recent
clash between members of the Shiite Islamic sect and soldiers in Zaria allegedly met an unexpected brickwall in Zaria at the weekend. The incident occurred when members of the committee visited the leader of the religious group, Sheikh Ibrahim
DSS Parades Six Kidnappers In Ebonyi
By Lara Adejoro
l.adejoro@folioholding sgroup.com
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BAKALIKI— Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Ebonyi State Command over the weekend paraded six persons suspected to be kidnappers. The suspected kidnappers were those who allegedly abducted and killed former Coordinator of Okposi Development Centre in Ohaozara Local Government Area, Mr. Ihebunandu Okorie, in March. The state Director of DSS, Mr. L. B. Baba, while parading the suspects at the headquarters of the DSS, said they abducted the council boss on March 16, 2014 at the Presbyterian Church, Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area and later killed him at Nguzu Edda forest. He gave the names of the suspects as Ebere, 32; Odichimma, 30; Chukwudi, 32; Amos, 23; Peter, 30 and Adamu, saying some of the suspects also engaged in drug peddling, taking cocaine from Brazil to some other West African countries. Items recovered from the gang include three AK-47 rifles, 16 magazines, Honda IV Tech car with number plate, LAGOS FST 254 AE and ash colour Toyota Picnic with number plate LAGOS JJJ 777 PU used by the gang as mobile armoury.
Baba said one of the suspects, Ebere, a notorious cocaine dealer from Edda in Ebonyi State, was arrested in Abia State when he wanted to collect the ransom, adding that he owned two AK-47 rifles, while Odichimma from Abia State was arrested in Asaba, Delta State in April and owned one AK-47 rifle. The director also stated that Chukwudi from Umuozo in Abia State was arrested in April in a Lagos hotel where he fled to after the kidnap of late Okorie while Amos, who is from Ebonyi, the same town with the deceased, brought the business and involved other suspects. He was arrested in Ajegunle, also in Lagos. He further stated that Peter, from Enugu Ukwu in Anambra State, a panel beater who constructed the compartment under the Toyota Picnic van used by the gang for movement of arms and ammunition, bulk cash and cocaine was arrested in August while Adamu from Kogi State contacted one of the suspects demanding an AK-47 rifle to rob a company in Port Harcourt. The DSS boss further stated that the suspects had also featured in other kidnap and robbery operations including the kidnap of one Obaleye in Ilesa, Osun State in December 2013 where ransom of N28.6 million was paid before the release of the victim while they robbed a bank in February 2014 where they stole over N5 million.
El-Zakzaky, who allegedly rebuffed the team and instead sent junior religious personages led by the secretary of the sect to talk with them. Inside sources disclosed in a telephone interview that Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky may have refused to see the group because the religious leader was deeply mourning the death of his followers, including his children who were allegedly killed by stray bullets when the Army recently tried to break the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria’s street protest in Zaria, Kaduna State. The source also stated that although the latest incident was the second time the group would shun probe teams sent to their leader, it was obviously displeased with the statement last week by the Defence Headquarters, which allegedly showed that the military has already reached conclusions about the clash as it accepted parts of the preliminary investigation into
El-Zakzaky
the matter that allegedly absolved soldiers of blame. A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, on the matter, said although a preliminary inquest into the matter submitted a report absolving soldiers of blame, the Defence Headquarters decided to institute a higher inquiry into the clash to be double sure that the contents of the report from the
unit inquiry was accurate. Olukolade in the statement said: “Although the report of the preliminary investigation at the unit level has vehemently contradicted some of the issues raised by the leader of the group, especially on the allegations of extra judicial killings, the higher headquarters is conducting additional investigation on the incident to ascertain the accuracy of the claims in the preliminary reports from the unit level. “In spite of the preliminary findings, the importance placed on respect for human rights in military operations, activities and interactions (with civilians), prompted the additional steps presently being taken to ascertain the true situation. “Accordingly, the higher level of military inquiry is to unmask the remote causes of the incident and to identify anyone found culpable.” It was gathered that the Shiite leader has successfully reined in
his restive members who have been calling for revenge or retaliation and military authorities have equally commended the calm situation in Zaria after the initial tension over soldiers on routine patrol’s clash with the Shiite members. Some members of the group stated that the clash occurred when the sect members embarked on a procession to mark the annual “Quds Day” celebration and also used the occasion to protest Israeli military operations in Gaza, which started on July 8, 2014 and has claimed several lives. Olukolade justified the dispatch of senior military officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident by saying that “it was necessary that sufficient information was obtained beginning from the unit level and other reliable sources at the location to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.”
Group Flays Media Ban On Onyebuchi’s Impeachment Probe Ugochukwu Onyeocha u.onyeocha@folio holdingsgroup.com
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NUGU — A civil rights group, Enugu Rescue Group (ERG), has risen to condemn the decision of the seven-man panel set up to probe the Deputy Governor,
Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, to bar journalists from coverage of its proceedings. The group also criticised the persistent mopping up of newspapers and magazines deemed to be critical of the state government in Enugu, the state capital. The group, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Martin Okenwa, said:
“ERG is concerned that both anti-democratic actions are being perpetrated at the behest of the Enugu State Government with public resources. ERG considers the constant “mopping” of national dailies as gross violation of the letters and spirit of the Freedom of Information, FOI Act, and especially Section 39 (1) of the 1999
Constitution, which upholds the right of citizens to “hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.” The group wondered why impeachment proceedings that were broadcast live on televisions in other states, such as Nasarawa, had become a secret business in Enugu.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
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politics
2015: Zoning Controversies Divide Abia South Ugochukwu Onyeocha
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ith the conclusion of the Osun governorship elections on Saturday, August 9, 2014, all eyes would be fixed on the big one which is undoubtedly the 2015 general elections. Never in the history of Nigeria has any elections generated such controversy and apt followership like the forthcoming 2015 general elections. Infact, for many, that election is key to the unity and stability of the country. One of the fascinating points of the forthcoming 2015 elections is the fact that a lot of governors would be bidding the state house goodbye as they are no longer eligible to contest for the office of governors having spent the maximum two terms in office. However, while these governors make last minute arrangements on what to do beyond the government house, one issue that has continued to generate much heat in the build up to the elections is the issue of zoning. The issue of zoning of the gubernatorial seats in the states has thrown up complex political intrigues as the race to 2015 inches closer. While some states have been able to resolve the problems amicably, other states have not been so lucky in doing so. As a matter of fact, some regions have threatened to bring about disorder if certain terms are not met. The issue of zoning in Nigeria has always been fundamental to peace and development. One would recall the problems that has characterised the nation since 2011 can be traced to the issue of zoning with one region feeling cheated and has continued to unleash terror ever since. Zoning is key to the preservation of peace in any state and certain terms must not be compromised in the general interest of all. The case of Abia State is very interesting indeed. Like every other state, Abia is di-
vided into three senatorial districts namely Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. Each senatorial district on the basis of fairness is expected at some point to produce a governor for the state but recent events seems to suggest that the unwritten gentleman’s agreement of zoning might be in serious jeopardy come 2015. Since the creation of Abia State in 1991, the Bende section has produced the two governors that have served the state since 1999: Chief Orji Kalu and the incumbent, Chief TA Orji (Ochendo). By the unwritten but well-acknowledged “Abia Charter of Equity”, well-meaning Abians who are committed to justice and unity of the state seem to have unanimously agreed that it is now the turn of the former Aba Province (the Ukwa-Ngwa people) to produce the next governor of Abia State. As a matter of fact, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Governor Orji, went to Aba on February 3, 2014 and officially declared that the next governor of Abia State will come from the old Aba Province, home of the UkwaNgwas. He said Abia will stay true to its zoning formula. “That being
the case”, he pledged: “I reiterate that the next governor shall come from the Ukwa-Ngwa … this is the time for the freedom of Ukwa-Ngwa people because they are the only group yet to govern the state”. The Governor added a very useful piece of advice: “Just go and organise yourselves for this cause. I would not like to have
problems among you. Organise yourselves”. The Governor gave this wise counsel in view of the fact that the Ukwa-Ngwa people of Abia State, with their nine out of 17 local government areas, have failed to “grab” the governorship (as the North and Umuahia area of Central were able to do) due mainly to infighting, petti-
ness, divisions, pull-him-down syndrome and politics of mutual exclusion which their political elite have always played. For anyone who knows the history of the state and the Ngwa region, it is easy to point out that the greatest problem of the Ngwa man is his brother. The Ngwa person has always been his own greatest political enemy. Sadly, these tendencies are already in play in Ukwa-Ngwaland. It comes in two forms. The first is that the political interests in the Abia South Senatorial Zone have been claiming that the governorship was zoned to them. In other words, they would have it that the people of the three local government areas in Abia Central, who are also of the Ukwa-Ngwa stock, are no longer eligible to vie for governor since Governor Orji is from Umuahia (Bende) clan of Abia Central. Isiala Ngwa is said to be the cradle and ancestral homeland of all Ngwa people. It does not make sense to exclude them from the privilege reserved for all Ukwa and Ngwa people simply because of the political convenience of lumping them with Umuahia people in the same senatorial zone. It will
reduce them to a perpetually marginalised artificial minority in Ngwa politics. Since the zoning formula is to give the entire Ukwa and Ngwa people the opportunity to present the next governor of Abia State, the ploy to exclude the Ngwa people in Abia Central will create a new crisis point in the state if allowed to stand. I will explain shortly. It is necessary to point out that never in the history of the state have one witnessed the huge number of aspirants from an area. The issue of zoning coupled with the promise of the incumbent to hand over to a governor from the region has plunged the region into a major crisis as many individuals have sprung up without having to consider what is best for the zone and for the state at large. While efforts have been made by traditional rulers and well meaning citizens from within and outside the zone to persuade the people to be united at all fronts, the “pull him syndrome” and “I must rule” factor has continually divided the zone making it possible for aspirants from other zones to aspire to snatch this lifelong opportunity given to the people of the zone. Another issue that seems to be generating crisis in the search for governor in the area is the resolve of the Ngwa people to exclude the people of Ukwa from producing the next governor. Certain individuals and groups have vowed to do all within their power to truncate the aspiration of sons from Ukwa clan. However, it is expected that all stakeholders in the zone would come together and produce a common front that would take the state and the zone into a higher level of development than what is currently on ground. The politics of “pull him down” must be jettisoned and the best candidate brought forward so that the state can witness a higher level of growth and development. While this is being worked upon, all stakeholders must bear in mind that the people must come first above all forms of greed and personal interest.
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AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
politics
APC Has Failed To Deliver Dividends Of Democracy To Lagosians –Gani
As the 2015 general elections approach, political parties have began to strategise and talk tough. Mr Taofik Gani is the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos State. In this interview, he expressed optimism that the PDP is strategising to end the 16 years rule of the APC in Lagos State baring in mind that the PDP is yet to record a win in Lagos since the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.
By Ugochukwu Onyeocha
H
ow is your party preparing for the 2015 general elections? The Lagos State PDP is well prepared more than ever before. We are satisfied with the progress we have made in our preparations. Our preparation will however continue and improve till it culminates into our victory in all the elections, from House of Assembly, House of Reps; Senate, Governor and to Presidential elections. Do you think your party is strong enough considering the various factions? Point of correction, there is no faction in Lagos PDP. All who were used as moles to always cause acrimony in the system have been demobilised and most have left the Party to their paymasters. We now have a membership that can be trusted. We shall no doubt expect betrayal. Even Jesus was betrayed. We shall however reduce that to a minimal level as we go into elections. What we have now is healthy competition amongst the various interests and aspirants. There is the jostle for popularity and this has increased activities in the Party. This is acceptable in ordinary Politics especially in a large political party as PDP. There are no factions at all in the Party. Ditto any life threatening bickering. All that, are things of the Past in Lagos PDP. This is one area that the State Chairman, Tunji Shelle, has left an indelible imprint. He must be commended for promoting, Fairness, Justice and Equity in the Party. His Leadership has turned around PDP in Lagos State. Mixed reactions greeted the outcome of the Ekiti State
governorship elections. Do you think your party can repeat the feat recorded by Mr Ayodele Fayose? Before the landslide victory in Ekiti, Lagos was the surest for PDP to win. The certainty has not changed. This is because the APC is being rejected in Lagos State as a result of their own undoing. They lost Ekiti because of same reason; they run a government with no human face. There is high handedness, arrogance and secrecy. Ask people in Alimosho, Ago, Okota and many areas of Lagos and they will tell you they can’t wait for the elections to vote out APC. The people are agitated and ready. Governor Fayemi was warned to improve his governance before the election but he chose to be arrogant and confident in the Power of incumbency, now he is regretting it. Same way Governor Fashola will lead APC to Political perdition in Lagos State. He is not only destroying his government, but also his Party. He has been very arrogant and harsh in his Policies for over seven years, but now that they suffered defeat in Ekiti and because election is near, he is now faking humility and even has made subtle moves to relax some of his obnoxious policies, like in the areas of transportation, education and human rights abuse. This is laughable and indeed coming too late. Lagosians cannot be fooled again. APC remains rejected. Our areas of campaign will remain in our kitty until when the campaign proper starts. We are convinced that Lagosians will agree with our criticism of APC and vote out the Party. We will thus equal the record achieved in Ekiti State. What are the qualities the next governor must possess? First is to be God-fearing.
We believe this is lacking in Fashola. Second is to be close to the people. We will not reel out other attributes so that APC does not use that as template. You will find all the qualities in our eventual candidate. Why do you think the local government elections have not been conducted? They cannot conduct the Local Government elections because they will be further exposed as weak in electoral value. They only make noise and rig Local government elections. They enjoyed the exclusive control of the local Government because PDP boycotted the Local Government elections as a result of Constitutional issues. When we eventually participated in 2011, we jolted APC. We won in several Local Government Areas, but they imposed themselves on the people, especially in such Local Government Areas as Badagry, Agbado-Okeodo, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Eredo, Epe, Ikorodu, Oshodi and Lagos Mainland. They conspired with LASIEC to announce results of elections conducted far away in Badagry, Epe, etc; as against the results announced by the returning Officers posted to those Areas. We believe strongly that the LASIEC officials must have compromised. We avoided Street Protests but rather approached the tribunals. The Tribunals returned some of our victories, but Fashola compelled and influenced the Appeal tribunal to deny us the victories. The APC and state government undermined the judicial process to deny PDP of any Local Government Control. They have both murdered Democracy and Justice in Lagos State. Fashola is now avoiding any Local Government election because we will be better prepared to protect our votes. Defeat will also expose them as
Gani
unpopular before the next Governorship elections. Your party is threatening to capture the Southwest. Do you think this is feasible? Not capture, but we will win southwest. It is more than feasible. APC as AC and ACN never won any elections in Southwest. They got all the supports from the Court of Appeal which turned the Courts to ballot boxes. He gave them all the Judiciary support to steal southwest from PDP. Now they have been there and the people have seen how repulsive they can be. They have come out worse in acceptance. They have lost Ondo, Ekiti. They will lose all south west
states, especially Lagos State.
made meticulously.
Will your party be zoning the governorship seat as the APC has done? The Zoning theory is a bait by APC. We will not be caught up in that. They have the burden to Zone as they have disappointed the People and are rejected in Lagos West and Lagos Central. PDP will give to Lagosians, the best man for the Job, irrespective of the Zone. We are interested in credibility, Sincerity and ability to deliver actual dividends of democracy in Lagos State. This is without prejudice to the eventual decision of the Party’s leadership on Zoning. Such decision will be
How is your response to the agitation for a Christian governor by some Christians? Another bait. Lagosians don’t play politics of religion. APC is fielding a Christian and so they want to promote the agitation. We have all it takes to diffuse such negative politicking in our system. Our leaders and researchers are already working to know the true expectation of Lagos voters on religious consideration. We will thus satisfy the majority wish. PDP is not a party of religious bigots. Lagosians want good governance and that will be our target for our Candidate.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
9
politics
2015 Elections: Matters Arising BY Ugochukwu Onyeocha
A
s Nigerians get prepared for the forthcoming 2015 general elections, the old question of the place of ideas in politics has again come into focus. It is sad and ridiculing that Nigerians in this current political dispensation have jettisoned critical issues that determine the nation’s political development and instead of debating issues that should define the election like the candidates’ ideas, track record, ability to perform and other sensitive issues, the discussion is rather about the unwarranted militarisation of the electoral atmosphere, the dangerous use of religion as a yardstick for selection and voting and ethnicity as the criteria for qualification. Recently, the main opposition party in the country, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has come under widespread criticism which has even led to the decamping of some of its chieftains over unconfirmed reports that it intends to field a muslim-muslim ticket for the 2015 presidential elections. Many Nigerians have labeled the party an Islamic party and also the sponsors of the dreaded Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram over this, the question remains, should the religious background of a candidate be the criteria for his selection? The late radical economist,
Professor Bade Onimode, once remarked that the root of Nigeria’s underdevelopment “is the notion that rigorous thinking was not essential to policy.” The ability to creatively fashion out steps on how to improve upon the current gains of democracy on ground and harness the rich deposit of human and natural resources is key to the factors that should make up a candidate or leader. In other words, regardless of what the conservative cynic may say, politics cannot do without ideas. The issue of religion has been overhyped in our political circle to the point where it has become hugely diversionary. Many persons now celebrate mediocrity on the platform of religion instead of looking at the key issues that affect or promote growth and development. The battle is no longer left a thing for the elderly; a look at prominent pages on the social media will shock you. Youths who are expected to be leaders of our nations’ tomorrow have become consumed in this religious war to the point wherein no single topic is spared the religious colouration. One incident that aptly captures the current state of the political climate in the country was the death of the former governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa who died in a helicopter crash on the 15th of December, 2012. While many grieved the sudden death of the
governor and General Azazi, reports that thousands of Muslim faithfuls in the state partied and celebrated over the death of the Christian governor was really shameful and embarrassing. For the death of a governor to be celebrated not because he was tyrannical but because he was a Christian is pitiable but sadly that is the true picture we are faced with in the country. The issue in Taraba is not far fetched from what was obtained in Kaduna. Religious affiliations are not known to bring about progress anywhere in the world and sadly, it won’t begin here in Nigeria. The factors that must bring about peace and development must be brought to the fore and not religious affiliation. For the candidates that would contest at all tiers of government, their ability to deliver must be the focal point instead of highlighting their ethnic and religious background. It is laughable that Nigerians still celebrate religion over performance and ethnicity over ability. A candidate should not be measured by religion but by the potency of political ideas in action. Nigeria certainly do not need religious bigots either they be Christians or Muslims but progressive politicians with ideas that will bring about development and would improve the lot of the people. Being a progressive is not about dropping the umbrella for
the broom as most people think. A progressive is simply one who believes that the purpose of politics should be the advancement of human progress. It is therefore sad that a group of governors consider themselves as progressives because they are under the same political platform. At such a forum, positive ideas are not really exchanged because they all seem to have the same ideas which is the same given to them from the leadership of the party. Rather, it should be all about ideas irrespective of the political, religious and ethnic differences. The embrace of positive ideas should be the chain that binds them together. Progressives in government must learn to develop their own ideas for if they fail to do so they would be under the influence of ideas that could be inimical to the fundamental interests of the people. Progressive ideas must be all encompassing. Every candidate must formulate ideas that will positively affect all sectors including education, infrastructure, job creation, social protection etc within a space of four years. Conscience, Integrity and character must be the watchword of every candidate and whoever it is that emerges must be able to show this in his previous encounters in leadership whether at public or private level. The idea of giving one without a good track record any
political position because he/ she is nominated on party, ethnic or religious grounds must be jettisoned if performance is the yardstick for appointment. To say that Nigeria is in dire need of progressives as we march towards the next elec-
tions is pretty stating the obvious. However, it is imperative that the nation must look forward to candidates with ideas and support them to bring about the desired development she heartily craves for.
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
10
business
By Ugochukwu Onyeocha
P
a Oluyemi can’t believe his new found luck. The 67 year old cocoa merchant from Ondo State has been smiling to the bank of late as his business has once again become lucrative. He did narrate to the correspondent that he almost sold off his cocoa farm at some point when business was bad but recently, his cocoa has continued to attract buyers from all parts of the country mostly from established beverage companies and the old man is now unable to hide his joy. The ever increasing domestic and worldwide consumption of chocolate bars and other cocoa products would be among the drivers of cocoa sales domestically and would also contribute some quota to international demand of the product. The demand for cocoa has witnessed a massive increase in recent years from customers as most beverage companies and chocolate bar manufacturing companies have continued to witness profits rise astronomically. According to Bridgat, an international market research outfit, the rising demand for chocolate bars in Nigeria shot up its official import by 98.9 percent between 2008 and 2013. This is apart from the portfolio imports of many Nigerians who buy chocolates when they travel and bring in for friends and family. It is not in doubt that Nigeria would benefit from an increasing global demand of cocoa if it sustains production of quality cocoa. As part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the current administration, cocoa plantations are being revamped, old trees are being replaced with high yielding cocoa hybrids that give farmers five times the yields they currently obtain. This was made known by Akinwunmi Adesina, minister of agriculture and rural development, recently, who stated that over the past two years, the ministry had distributed 1.1 million pods or 39 million seedlings, free of charge to farmers, enough to plant 40,000 hectares of new cocoa fields. “Foreign exchange earnings from our cocoa exports has grown from $900 million in 2012, to $1.2 billion in 2013,
Cocoa: Another Income Generator In Need Of Attention unable to stock if electricity is unavailable. Currently, Cadbury and Nestle’s imported chocolate bars dominate the Nigerian market and are expected to continue leading in the next five years, except chocolate bars produced within the country make strong entry into the market with aggressive marketing and massive support from the government, according to industry watchers. The analysts also note that the opportunity is now opened to indigenous producers of chocolates and the prospects are bright because the raw materials – the cocoa pods are abundantly available, but would they seize it? Recent reports show that Nigeria, which currently produces 350,000 metric tons of cocoa annually, ranks third in the world after Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana. As efforts are being made to sustain the current tempo of local production, emphasis should be made to increase the number of cocoa farms and encouragement given to local farmers in order to witness more revenue for the country and creation of more job opportunities.
and we expect to reach $1.5 billion in 2014,” the minister said, saying “the cocoa revolution in Nigeria is receiving global attention, as Hershey, one of the largest chocolate companies in the world, has invested $20 million to procure cocoa from over 20,000 certified cocoa farmers in Nigeria. Nigeria has also launched into local manufacturing of Nigerian chocolates through a strategic partnership with a US-based company.” According to Euromonitor, another international market research outfit, the increased demand for chocolate bars in Nigeria is due to growing number of expatriate population as a result of high levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria within the period and use
of expatriates in the construction industry. Euromonitor also notes that growing disposable income and westernisation of a segment of Nigeria’s population (middle class) are also key factors driving strong growth of chocolate confectionery in Nigeria. In response to rising demand for chocolate bars, some indigenous Nigerian cocoa processing companies, which currently produce cocoa powder for beverage purposes, already have plans on ground to capture part of this growing market. Adesoji Badejo, an industry watcher with several years of work in the cocoa industry, affirms the fact that there is a considerable market for chocolate bars in the country that is
worthy of domestic investment. Apart from official import figures, he also points out that Nigerians usually purchase large quantities of chocolate bars to give out to people at home when they travel abroad. According to Euromonitor, chocolate demand in the country is forecast to record an annual growth rate of 9 percent between now and 2018, as chocolate demand continues to grow in line with incomes, expatriates presence, and the growth of modern retail channels. It however hints that this growth rate in chocolate bars market would be boosted or weakened depending on electricity supply, which will enable more retailers to stock chocolate bars if available but
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
11
business
Do You and Your Team Have the Capacity to Grow Your Business? By Joel Osebor
T
he passion and drive to start a business is on its increase daily. Individuals are charged up with great ideas which would pass for a great business. Growing great businesses overtime has been discovered to go beyond great ideas and passion. Investors are very sensitive to the type and kind of business they want to put their money. Their interest in investing in any business idea goes beyond the idea and passion level. The capacity of the entrepreneur and the proposed management team has been researched to be a key fundamental to the funding and success of a business. A little step further, is the ability of the entrepreneur and his or her team to concretely lay hold on the CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS in the industry and market the business is interested in. A common difference between organizations that succeeds in their trade and those who do not is that successful organizations figure out the
factors critical to succeeding in their particular industry, and then assemble individuals who can execute on these critical success factors. Most organizations struggle in their operations and drive for success because they have not identify these critical success factors or do not have individuals capable of delivering on them. The competitive nature of the business environment and the market forces that threatens business growth should necessitate the need for every business to: Identify the critical success factors specific to their particular industry Assemble a team that can execute on these factors To gain the knowledge of the critical success factors specific to a particular industry, you need to learn from the experiences of those who have discovered what works right within that industry. There are two key questions you must ask: 1. Which few decisions or activities are the ones that, if you get wrong, will almost always have severely negative effects on company performance,
even when other things are done well? 2. Which decisions or activities, done right, will almost deliver disproportionately positive effects on performance, even if other things are done less well, or even poorly? In Real Estate for example, location, network and peace of mind (trust) are key to the outcome and success of the business. Agriculture; nearness to market and preservation of the produce guarantee the success of the business. In consulting where our organization compete; customer satisfaction, network, strategic alliance, timely delivery, price sensitivity are key success factors. To identify the critical success factors of your industry, ask the two questions above from about 20 successful entrepreneurs in your industry. You will get answers that are close to what you are looking for on the critical success factors in your industry. Another helpful tip is to: “ASK THE CUSTOMERS WHAT THEY REALLY WANT”. Your target audience seriously does have a need. It is a hallmark of achievement if
you and your team can engage the market to know what they need, how they want it and the long time value and benefit accrued. Entrepreneurs can no longer assume for the customers or clients. A little research and indirect conversation can give us the “touch point” we need to design a winning product and service for our target market. After identifying the critical success factors in your industry, execution becomes paramount! Even investors decision to invest in your idea or company depends on your ability and your team’s ability to execute on the critical success factors. This is the best – maybe the only – protection they have for their money. They dig into the management team by looking at: •Their experience, by assessing how well they understand their industry and their customers •Their leadership capabilities – especially those handling the most important functions such as the CEO, Sales & Marketing, Operations etc •The possibility of their delivering on the critical success
factors It is important to note that in assembling a capable and viable team, entrepreneurs should surround themselves with individuals who can fill in roles they are deficient, people smarter than them if possible and those who have entrepreneurial drive – people who need little or no supervision to ensure you deliver on your goals and objectives. Entrepreneurs should fill their team with people who are different from them – diverse teams generally perform better than look-alikes John Mullins’ book on The New Business Road has proffered SEVEN DOMAINS OF ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES to analyze Markets, Industries and Personal Aspirations for being in business. He has recommended the following when assessing your industry critical success factors and your team’s ability to execute on them: 1. What are the critical success factors in your industry? 2. What support can you provide to show that you have identified them correctly 3. Can you demonstrate – in
past deeds, not mere words – that your team taken together can execute on each and every one of the Critical Success Factors? 4. Have you identified which Critical Success Factors your team is not well prepared to meet, for which you need help in filling out your team? 5. What risks, if any, do answers to the above questions add to your risk list? How might you mitigate them? The need to understand and have mastery your industry Critical Success Factors cannot be overestimated. It is important that whoever you want to bring on board to support the growth of your business must have the competencies within and around the critical success factors of your industry. A quick research work you must do this month: “WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS IN YOUR INDUSTRY’? Answers to this may just be the turning point you have longed for in your pursuit to grow that business or start a viable one. Do have a successful business week ahead!
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
12
people
I didn’t date Eldee –Aramide Young, stunning and energetic, Aramide Sarumoh walks into the interview room and the once rowdy environ went silent like a graveyard. That’s what her presence commands… she’s alluring! Settling down to the interview after an off record chat, she exudes confidence too much for a girl her age. She spoke in this interview about life, career and growing up among other things. By Opeoluwani Akintayo
W
hat was growing up like for you? I grew up in Jos. As the only girl, I enjoyed a lot of favours from my parents. I also remember that my dad used to listen to a lot of blues and jazz. That must have influenced your adventure into music? Yes music started quite early for me. I also started writing my own songs at the age of 12 and as time went on, I gained confidence to sing my own songs. So, music had always been part of my life. I bet you didn’t know you would do professional music On the contrary, I did know I would end up doing music professionally. So at what point did you decide it was time to come out? It was about three years ago when I moved down to Lagos. I decided it was time to go professional and really take it as a career. So I started working hard and hanging around people that would help influence and direct my path in the industry. Did your parents like it when you told them you were going professional? My parents have always been very supportive of my career. My father bought my first guitar and my brothers as well supported me financially. Also, my songs writing especially when I need to translate into Yoruba my family is always there to help. They even encouraged me to move down to Lagos. You must have been scared leaving your family back in Jos as a young girl I have a lot of friends and family here in Lagos. Initially I felt lonely because I had to leave home and friends I grew up with but, I had to adjust really fast. It’s been wonderful ever since.
So you now squat with friends? No. I live with my extended family. What have you been trying your hands on lately? I released a song titled ‘Feeling The Feeling’ and the video as well. I’m also working on my album and will be putting out a lot of songs very soon. Can you give some scoop from the new album? What I can say is that the album will contain songs about love and reality. Why sing about love all of the time? You must be having a good time loving some special dude Everyone has different experiences with love- good, bad and the ugly. Meanwhile it’s not just love songs, there are also ballads, mid tempo and up tempo songs. Besides, I also love to sing about other people’s experiences. So which of the love experiences have you had? I really don’t want to talk about it. Why? Some guys have broken your heart in Lagos already or was it back in Jos? Please, I don’t want to talk about my love life. People thought you were dating Eldee Really, I have never heard of that before. Yes, you are a beautiful girl any guy wants to have This so funny and sounding really strange to me. Anyway, thanks for saying I’m beautiful. So your relationship with Eldee was just business? It’s strictly business and nothing more. Please, I didn’t date Eldee! So how did Eldee sign you on his label? I can’t answer that question
Why? That is because I’m no longer there. When and why did you leave? I don’t want to talk about it because I don’t want to remember some things. Anyway, my contract expired so I left. Then you must have left angrily to be talking like this I left sometimes this year. So if your contract expired naturally and there was no beef, why don’t you want to talk about it? I just don’t want to talk about it. So after Trybes Records, what next? I’ve been doing a lot of work. And like I said earlier, I just dropped the video for my song, Feeling The Feeling. I’m working on a lot of collabos too. Why did you cut your hair? I wanted it to grow naturally. You were tired of wearing permed hair? Yes. I wanted something different with my hair too. Your boyfriend must be lucky to have a beautiful girl like you Thank you. He must be feeling jealous with all the attention you get from other guys He understands that work is work. You appear to love work so much and marriage isn’t on your mind at the moment That’s not true. You never can tell, marriage might just happen anytime. So you’re planning your wedding already? I didn’t say anything like that. So are you signed to a new label now? Not yet.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
13
people
Ibasaa Ijegun Egba:
Community Close to Nature, Far From Modernity By Funmi Salome Johnson
S
urrounded by water, Ibasaa Ijegun-Egba in Oriade local government council, Lagos State, aptly qualifies for a community behind the times. Located in an island whose population is conservatively estimated at 100,000 people, its peculiar location gives it a natural ambience good for a getaway. Unfortunately, however, it would seem that just as nature favoured it, it also turned around to conspire against its development such that it has remained a backstreet community, years on. Otherwise, how else would one explain fact that rather than their serene habitats bring about development, it has become reason modernity seemed to have moved two steps backward away from its inhabitants? In Ijegun-Egba, a name derived from a tree called Egba, which is said to be in surplus supply in the community, social and basic amenities are unavailable even as poverty gnaws at the people ceaselessly. Interestingly, not even its patches of greenery and amazing landscapes that are alluring as they are therapeutic could retract the community’s seeming alliance with hardship. But the people, mostly fishermen, would yet give up hoping and trying. Indeed, the community’s case can be described as pathetic particu-
larly as very little in terms of improved living standards can be attributed to its aquatic splendour and pure innocence of their surroundings. In an interview, Alhaji Olori Musiliu Ajose Adedeji Agbojojoye, popularly called Haji Fresh lamented the absence of government’s presence in the community saying that while things moved in a laser speed elsewhere, the community has continued to suffer the tragic fate of motion, no movement. “Ibasaa Ijegun- Egba is an old community that has been in existence since the last five centuries. Our fore-fathers were the ones who first settled here. I have been living here before we were born,” he says. Also fielding questions, Otunba Taiyelolu Agoro, a chief of the land, said the residents of the community crave the better life but shocked that successive governments in Lagos State have looked away from them as they were outcasts. “We go out every day to other parts of Lagos and when we return to our abode, we cannot but wonder why our case is different from others. In the last six years, we have not had power supply; no potable water. What looked like a borehole in the community was badly handled. Although the commissioner for Rural and Urban Development, Honourable Cornelius Ojelabi, had promised that the min-
istry will reconstruct the facility, but like several other promises in the past, that has been a mirage. We need a link bridge to the outside world. The only way to access in and out of here is by boat and we do not have any health center around here, and this is a major challenge that we are facing in this community. We will really love the government to do something about the situation” he says. Curiously, in a state that prides itself as the centre for excellence, IjegunEgba calls for emergency. While the people await government intervention, residents are re-creating their lives. There are emerging drinking joints where amid squalor residents give their lives a lift after a hard day’s job. Although only a few have chilled drinks to taste, in its absence alcoholic drinks brewed naturally such as palm wine and burukutu, a locally made drink made from guinea corn, are in reckless abandon. The traditional ruler of Ibasaa Ijegun-Egba community, Chief Yisa Adagun, the Odofin of Ibasaa/Ijegun- Egba, further explained the plights of the people, saying darkness is almost becoming a signature of residents of the community. “We depend on generators and lanterns for those who cannot afford generators. We want to believe that the government is working on the power supply matter. While we appreciate
what the government has done so far, we hope they will not stop until they restore the standard life in our community by providing some, if not all, basic amenities. We cannot say that government has not been trying for us, but we are still far away from where we would want to be. As it is, it is beyond us as a community. Recently, the Lagos State governor visited our community to commission a jetty. We are happy and we appreciate the effort. Even the issue of school buildings, which we have been complaining about since last year is starting to get response from the government. Government has commenced work on school block structure and we are happy and appreciative all that, but we need more. We need a healthcare facility, badly. It is an emergency for us. We have lost people we could ordinarily have saved if we had a health facility, to death. Several times when there is an emergency, no matter the time of day, we have no place to go. We cross the waters at greater risk before we can avail ourselves of medical service from a hospital or health center. It is a big challenge for us and we are using this opportunity to say thank you to the Lagos state government and at the same time remind Governor Babatunde Fashola to please, never forget us,” he says. According to the regent, an access
bridge will do a lot in solving the problems of the community. “If only that government can invest in the riverine communities, they are good places and will become a place where good commercial activities can take place. After all, places like Victoria Island, Lagos Island and all those other islands are islands just like here. You can imagine if there were no access bridges like Third Mainland Bridge and the Eko Bridge. How would we have been crossing to those Islands that are now big men areas? If only the government can invest in riverine communities, it will be a better place for us all to live and then investments would be attracted. Of course, it will bring about job opportunities for everyone,” he says. Daily Times investigation revealed that apart from fishing which are vocations taken up mostly by men, IjegunEgba women earn a living knitting mats and smoking fishes, which they hawk in neighbouring communities across the waters. Although there are some who engage in other businesses like video and VCD rentals, recharge cards and handsets accessories and chargers, many too, are into fashion designing. A man, Baba Tailor, apparently the most popular tailor in the community who also enjoys almost a star status, shared his experience doing business in the community.
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
14
technology
Here Comes Xiaomi
… More for the Lovers of China Made Phones
By Olatunji Makanjuola
F
or years coming, we have known the best playing phone brands from China to be the likes of Samsung, Lenovo and Huawei amongst others, but now in the super-popular country has emerged the mobile market player Xiaomi as the new favourite. According to a report from Canalys, Xiaomi has risen to the king of the Chinese market in only a year, now holding 14 percent of the market share. Starting out as a lowly device maker, the brand is looking into other parts of Asia and even beyond. The company was founded just four years ago by Lei Jun. In the past year, Xiaomi only held 5 percent rank of China’s second-quarter smartphone shipments and at the first quarter of this year, the brand had reached 10.7 percent of the market share, while Samsung and Lenovo held 18.3 and 11 percent respectively. Today’s figures put Xiaomi at 14 percent while Samsung, Lenovo and Yulong each hold 12 percent. The figures represent 15 million smartphones, a 240% progress covering the same period last year. The brand’s performance shows that
Xiaomi has advanced from a niche player in China to a major challenger in its market of origin. Xiaomi’s success is largely thanks to a well-rounded and very tightly executed strategy, said Chris Jones, vice president and principal analyst. It offers very affordably priced phones, but it has focused on sales from apps, games and themes to increase profits. Peculiarly, Xiaomi has a nature of weekly updating its software called MIUI, thereby offering its users new and customizable features based on their feedback, a routine followed with targeted and skillful marketing. New releases are made every Friday.
Potentials for Growth
The privately-held company is well known in China with its rabid fan-base, but is hardly known outside of its country. 97% of Xiaomi’s mobile phones are sold within China, and even then its success at home makes the brand the fifth-largest smartphone maker in the world, behind Samsung, Apple, Huawei and Lenovo. “While smartphone penetration rates are nearing the saturation point in North American and other mature markets, regions like China, India and Bra-
zil will continue to see dramatic growth over the next several years,” Colin Gibbs, an analyst at Gigaom Research, told the E-Commerce Times. Despite the opportunities in emerging regions like China, Xiaomi’s swift rise to the top is still surprising to analysts who noted that Xiaomi is quietly missing one component which most of its competitors offer, and that is 4G network enabled phones. Canalys’ Jones said “Xiaomi does not have a 4G phone in its portfolio -- so it is months behind its Chinese competitors such as Yulong, Lenovo and ZTE, whose low-cost 4G phones are selling well”... “so Xiaomi generated huge demand for non-4G phones at a time when mobile operators try to move consumers to 4G phones”. Even so, experts say the brand still does need to deliver 4G products in China if it is to retain its pace.
In Business
One thing of note in the company’s success is its business model of relatively low-priced smartphones which are sold solely online. Xiaomi phones, which are sometimes criticized as Apple knockoffs, typically sell at around $130 – one-third the price of Apple’s
devices. Canalys analyst Jessica Kwee says “Its aggressive pricing model will certainly resonate beyond China, but the challenge it faces in scaling its model for success on a global stage should not be underestimated,” and “That said, Xiaomi does have the potential to be a disruptive force beyond China and international vendors should take note.” Sources hint that the company actually makes its profits through content, add-ons, apps, games and services rather than from the sales of the devices themselves. The company is also known for its creative marketing which have earned it a mass of loyal customers, furthermore, in customer relations, Xiaomi software engineers speak directly to consumers, which helps them directly understand the feedback which they use to update the company’s software.
Here And Onwards…
Having conquered China, Xiaomi plans to exploit on its success and expand into international markets - aiming to get into Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Thailand and Turkey amongst other countries by the end of the year. The brand has already begun making flash sales in India while it is also working
on certifying its products in Brazil. In the quest to enter into new markets and keep its momentum, Xiaomi will need to adopt the right marketing strategy for each new one. Experts also note that the company needs to ensure that its devices keep up with current market trends and consumer demands considering its solely 3G based products. “Xiaomi’s business will have to evolve quickly in China, as 4G networks continue to be deployed and data consumption ramps up,” Gigaom’s Gibbs said, “but the company has already established itself as a highprofile provider of smartphones and mobile services, and it has a chance to build on that momentum by expanding to markets such as Russia, Mexico and perhaps Brazil.” Also in its growth quest, the company has been amassing tech experts to build its corporate value of over $10 billion. Reports have it that the company poached Hugo Barra, a former Google executive in order to realize its ambition of becoming a global player. Courtesy: Money.cnn.com Technewsworld.com
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
15
health
By Lara Adejoro
A
mid the spread of Ebola in West African countries, one slogan that reigns supreme in Nigeria is ‘don’t touch me.’ However, experts say it is beyond that, but everyone must cultivate the culture of personal and environmental hygiene not minding the number of times. According to a professor of virology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, Professor Sunday Omilabu, consistent hand-washing is key. “There has been a lot of release of what people should do. People need to embrace hand washing, that’s crucial. With that, we will be able to remove the source of infection. We need to cultivate the culture of hand washing especially if we want to eat, we should wash our hands with soap and water, no matter the number of times. In our shops, we need to wash our hands, even after the exchange of money especially now that we have Ebola.” He said, there is yet to be a licensed vaccine. Speaking on the consumption of bitter kola as cure for Ebola, the professor said, “That is what I heard. Though, they are still working on it until we see the outcome on the cure using bitter kola.” Meanwhile, Nigerians have been lamenting poor responses to the help lines provided by the Ministry of Health on Ebola. While rumours claiming that bathing with salt could cure Ebola, many Nigerians who spoke with Daily Times said, efforts to confirm from the help lines were abortive. Mr Anyanwu Deca said, “My mother called me at 05:11am last Friday to tell me about the salt water therapy, as antidote for Ebola. My first reaction as soon the line went dead was to call the Ebola hotlines. The first one was switched off. The second was perpetually busy; the third was not going through. I didn’t bother with the fourth. You will ask if these people know what a hotline is.” A woman who identified herself as Mrs Juliet Adams said, “When we got to know about the help lines, I tried the numbers and none were going
Personal Hygiene, Cure For Ebola
•••As Nigerians Lament Poor Ebola Hotlines Response
We need to cultivate the culture of hand washing especially if we want to eat, we should wash our hands with soap and water, no matter the number of times. In our shops, we need to wash our hands, even after the exchange of money especially now that we have Ebola through.” When Daily Times tried some of the numbers, they were either switched off or not available. However, when one of the lines (08023210923) went through, the recipient said, “Have you tried other lines
and they are not going through? So, it is my number that is going through now. These people will not kill me. What have you called for?” While our reporter tried explaining the reason for calling, he switched off. Ebola is highly contagious;
being transmitted via contact with body fluids such as blood, saliva, semen or body discharges. Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from the eyes and gums, and internal bleeding that can lead to organ failure.
The Lagos state government also warned that people should avoid unnecessary hand shake, coming in contact with blood, vomits, urine, sweat, faeces or diarrhea or eating of an infected bush meat. Ebola has killed over 700 people across Guinea, Liberia
and Sierra Leone since its outbreak in February.
Sanitizers Are Now Scarce As Prices Go Up
As panic on the spread of Ebola disease spreads, Lagos residents have complained that the prices of sanitizers have gone up. A resident, Lauretta Agumuo said, “I found it difficult to get sanitizers in my area at Surulere. I’ve visited three major supermarkets at major busstops, yet, they said, they don’t have. I had to pay double when I finally got one. Dettol hand sanitizer that used to sell for N200 now sells for N350. It’s not funny,” she said.
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
16
health
Ringing In The Ears? Drink Coffee
A
new study suggests that women who consumed high amount of caffeine are less likely to have tinnitus, which is a steady ringing or buzzing in the ear. The study included more than 65,000 American women, aged between 30 and 44, who did not have tinnitus in 1991 and were followed for 18 years. During that time, nearly 5,300 cases of tinnitus were reported among the women. Women who consumed less than 150 milligrams (mg) a day of caffeine (found in about one-and-a-half 8-ounce cups
of coffee) were 15 percent more likely to develop tinnitus than those who consumed 450 mg to 599 mg a day of caffeine, the investigators found. Most of the caffeine consumed by the women was from coffee, according to the study in the August issue of the American Journal of Medicine. It’s unclear why higher caffeine intake may reduce the risk of tinnitus, said study senior author Dr. Gary Curhan, a physician-researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
“We know that caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, and previous research has demonstrated that caffeine has a direct effect on the inner ear in both bench science and animal studies,” he said in a hospital news release. The association between caffeine intake and tinnitus seen in the study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. Further research is needed before any firm conclusions can be made about whether increasing caffeine intake would improve people’s tinnitus symptoms, the study authors said.
Birth control Pills May Make Women’s Eggs ‘Look Old’
T
aking birth control pills may make women’s eggs “look old” in a sense, at least based on two tests of fertility, a new study has found. In younger women taking the pill, hormone levels associated with their ability to make mature, healthy eggs, are more akin to those of older women, according to the study. Women on the pill also have fewer
Ebola: Bayelsa Sets Up 103 Surveillance Centres
T
he Bayelsa State Government says, it has set up 103 surveillance sites in all the local government areas as part of measures to check any outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the state. The Government has also called on the people of the state to imbibe the culture of personal hygiene, noting that it would assist in the prevention and the spread of the deadly virus. Making this known at the end of the maiden meeting of an 18-member task force on Ebola at the weekend, Governor Seriake Dickson assured the
people that there was no cause for alarm, since the state has not recorded any reported case of the virus, stressing that in the event of any outbreak, the state government has the capacity to deal with it. In his remarks, the Chairman of the 18-member Bayelsa State Task Force on Ebola Virus, Dr. Ayebatonye Owei, highlighted measures taken to include, mass sensitization of the people, public enlightenment campaign in the rural areas, Federal Medical Centre and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital designated as centres, with isolation wards prepared for the
management of the disease. In addition, help lines that are toll free have been introduced (09033107050), (09033148929), (08117168685) and (07010008755) as well as made arrangement for the procurement of tents and protective equipment for health personnel. Also, the committee intends to map out a programme to train medical personnel on the management of Ebola, produce materials to be distributed to crowded places such as marketplaces and churches as well as direct all private health institutions on the need to have isolated wards for the disease.
structures in their ovaries that can mature into viable eggs. However, the new results didn’t imply that the birth control pill prematurely ages women’s eggs, the researchers said. Instead, the findings suggest the pill obscures a woman’s underlying reproductive status, so tests that are typically done to assess women’s fertility shouldn’t be done on women taking the pill, said Dr. Lubna
Pal, director of the menopause and polycystic ovarian syndrome programs at Yale University in Connecticut. “Women should not be freaking out that they are losing their eggs” if they’re taking birth control, said Pal, who was not involved in the study. “These [tests] are yardsticks that should be applied only in the context of fertility assessments.”
Inmates’ Wish to Sue Bostwana Government
T
wo of about 100 inmates serving time in Bostwana have cried out recently on how the government has denied them of AIDS treatment. The pair, from Zimbabwe, are both serving 10-year prison sentences for armed robbery. They shot to fame after filing a court case challenging the Botswana government’s policy of denying AIDS treatment to foreign inmates. Both men have been living with HIV/AIDS for several years and have no access to anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs). Tapela says that after receiving being sentenced to a decade behind bars, his girlfriend informed him that she had been diagnosed with HIV and advised him to go for a test, which turned out to be positive.
Piye could not explain the circumstances that led to his infection. But another prisoner, George Vingaso, who is not party to the case, said that after he was extradited from South Africa’s North West province and convicted of car theft in Botswana, he was denied ARV treatment, though he was receiving it in South Africa. Tapela and Piye hope that their legal battle against the Botswana government might change the policy that denies foreign prisoners access to ARVs. The government only provides non-citizen prisoners with treatment for opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis. Foreign inmates are expected to finance their own HIV/ AIDS treatment, according to
the Botswana government’s HIV/AIDS policy guide. The prisoners say the government has denied them “the right to life” and are fighting to have “freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment, discrimination, and inequality”. “Prisoners, particularly foreign prisoners, are a vulnerable group who usually have no means to access life-saving medication if the government does not supply it,” Cindy Kelemi, executive director of the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) said. “These prisoners face great suffering and even death if the government continues to deny them ARVs.” The nongovernmental human rights support group is also listed as a litigant in the case.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
17
sports
Keshi to Resume As
Adeyemi Joins Cardiff
C
ardiff City have confirmed the signing of midfielder Tom Adeyemi from Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee. Adeyemi, 22, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Cardiff City Stadium after passing a medical Sky Sports reports. The former Norwich man will help fill the void in midfield by Jordon Mutch’s departure to Queens Park Rangers and the expected exit of Gary Medel. Adeyemi Adeyemi told Cardiff’s official website, “From the outside us get the season off to a great looking in, Cardiff City has a start.” very strong squad that will chalBluebirds boss Ole Gunnar lenge for a quick return to the Solskjaer was equally delighted Premier League this season. to have completed the deal. “I took no persuading from He said, “I’ve been keeping the manager to come here. It an eye on Tom’s progress for was a fantastic opportunity for a very long time. A few years me to work with somebody like ago, my Manchester United him and to play for a club like reserve side played against NorCardiff City. I’m very pleased wich’s first team and Tom was that everything has been com- their standout player. He scored pleted ahead of the season and a great goal that day and stood now I can focus on fighting for out as a fine talent, even at that a place in the side and helping young age.”
Arsenal Draw Besiktas in Champions League Qualifying Round
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rsenal must beat Turkish team Besiktas in order to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League this season. The Gunners, who finished fourth in the Premier League last term, were paired with Besiktas during the fancy Uefa draw in Nyon this morning. Arsene Wenger has an excellent record of guiding his team into Europe’s elite club competition, and despite the fact Germany World Cup winning trio Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski won’t be fit in the time to play, he’ll be confident of victory. Arsenal play the first leg of the clash on the 19/20 of August, with the return leg the
week after on the 26/27. Meanwhile, Arsenal have allegedly entered in to talks with Paris Saint-Germain to sign their 19-year-old central midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The player has reportedly turned down a new deal with the French side and Arsenal, who have been scouting him since 2013, are reportedly ready to swoop for the player. With Manchester United and Chelsea both said to be interested in the French player’s signature it is believed that Arsene Wenger could be the key in luring him to the Emirates for a sum of around £8million. Currently earning £8,000 per week with PSG, even Arsenal would be able to significantly increase his wages.
Nigeria Coach Next Week
T
Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi
he Nigeria Football Federation has moved to conclude an agreement with Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for his contract renewal as the Super Eagles manager. Going by the decision of the NFF Executive Committee on Thursday in Abuja, Keshi may resume at his post in less than a fortnight from now. The NFF is speeding up the
process of the negotiations ahead of the country’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda in the first week of September. Keshi has already expressed his desire to continue as the manager of the Eagles in response to the offer made to him by the Federation. The NFF said, “Having received a written expression of in-
terest from Mr. Stephen Keshi to continue as head coach of senior national team, Super Eagles, the Executive Committee mandated the Secretariat to reach out to Mr. Keshi to conclude the details of his contract and signing by next week, so that he can resume work ahead of the fast-approaching 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.” Keshi took charge of the Ea-
gles in November 2011 and during his two and a half years as manager. He won the 2013 African cup and reached the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil before his contract ran out in July with that competition. Keshi had announced that he had offers from several countries with South Africa as top on the list.
Celtic Reinstated To Champions League
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eltic have been reinstated to the Champions League after Legia Warsaw were punished for fielding an ineligible player. Legia won the third qualifying round tie 6-1 on aggregate, but brought on Bartosz Bereszynski in the second leg, while he was supposed to be suspended. As a result Celtic were handed a 3-0 ‘walkover’ win for the second leg, taking them through on away goals. Celtic will play Maribor of Slovenia in the play-offs later this month. And Legia Warsaw have been drawn to play Aktobe of Kazakhstan in the Europa League
play-off. “It is very strange, I have to say that,” said Celtic manager, Ronny Deila, whose Norwegian countryman Henning Berg is in charge of Legia. “First of all I feel very sorry for Legia, and my friends from Norway. It is tough to think of that and now we are in the Champions League. “Legia played well against us, they put in good performances, but this is nothing to do with Celtic. It is about UEFA. “It is not my business. It is a club thing and a UEFA thing. “It is a tough decision and I really feel sorry for Legia but we have to go into the game and prepare
for Maribor. “The players want to play in the Champions League. It looks like we have been given another chance and I think it will be no problem to get the players up for the game.” Legia have five days to appeal and have asked for UEFA’s reasoning. The Polish champions, who now take Celtic’s place in the Europa League play-offs, won the first leg 4-1 and the second 2-0. The disciplinary board of UEFA confirmed that Bereszynski has also been hit with a further one-game suspension. He was sent off in Legia’s final Europa League tie last season
against Apollon Limassol and received a three-match ban. He missed the club’s twolegged tie against St Patrick’s Athletic in the second qualifying round and the 4-1 first-leg victory over Celtic. However, it has emerged that Bereszynski was not registered in Legia’s squad for the ties against the Dublin side and therefore the matches did not count towards his suspension. Legia official Dominik Ebebenge said: “This is unjust and completely disproportionate. “There have been similar cases in the past which have not punished in this way. This was just a basic human error.
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
18
sports
Nigerian Emerges ‘Man of the Match’ Despite Falconets Disappointing Draw Stories By: sodiq adekunle
H
ead coach of Nigeria U-20 women team, the Falconets, Peter Dedevbo, says he will re-strategise to put the team ahead of their opponents, after the team’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Mexico at the ongoing FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup. Dedevbo says he will work on the team tactics from ball control, passes to finishing, saying the game against Mexico “was like every other match. “At times in some matches what we expect to see or whenever your strategies do not work out for you, you feel a bit disappointed. There is no problem because it happens like that in most first matches at every competition. The players gave in their best.” The coach noted that the Mexican side were good too.
“I did not expect them to be this strong. They have given me the opportunity to see some lapses in my team, which I am going to work on. I am not satisfied with a draw. I wanted a win to put the team on top of group C,” he stated. Scorer of Nigeria’s only goal Osarenoma Igbinovia, said her first goal for the Falconets came as a result of teamwork. “My team mates assisted me to get the goal. The coach also encouraged us to score from the blind side and that was what I did.” Asisat Oshoala, who emerged as player of the match, said it was not a good day for her, as she missed many scoring chances. “It was disappointing. I could have converted the chances I got, but that is football. I promise a better performance next time.”
Drogba Quits International Football
I
vory Coast striker Didier Drogba has announced his retirement from international football Friday – after 12 years playing for his nation. The 36-year-old – who is the Ivory Coast’s all-time record goalscorer with 65 goals in 104 appearances – revealed the news in a statement released on his social network accounts. He did not give a reason for the decision. “It is with much sadness that I have decided to retire from international football,” the statement on Drogba’s official Twitter account read. “These past 12 years in the national team have been full of emotions. From my first call up to my last match I have always tried to give my best for my country.” He added: “I am very proud to have been captain of this team for 8 years and to have contributed to placing my country on the world stage of football taking part in 3 World Cups and 2 African Cup of Nations finals.” Drogba also thanked the fans, who he dedicated his international goals to, and expressed his gratitude to his teammates and the side’s new
Drogba
manager, Herve Renard, in the statement. Drogba recently signed a one-year contract with Premier League side Chelsea – two years after he left the club – following his departure from Turkish giants Galatasaray at the end of last season. Despite the African Cup of Nations taking place next year, it is believed that the striker made the decision to put a halt to his international career to try and prolong his chances of playing top-level football with The Blues.
From Track to Prison
The Unending Murder Trial of S’African Athlete, Oscar Pistorius
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he joy of every athlete is to get on track to perform. SODIQ ADEKUNLE examines the murder trial of South African athlete, Oscar Pistorius and the possibilities of his returning to the tracks. Prosecutors have twisted the facts to discredit South African athlete, Oscar Pistorius in his murder trial, his lawyer has said in closing remarks. Barry Roux said the double amputee should have faced a lesser charge of culpable homicide over the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius denies prosecution claims that he deliberately shot Steenkamp. But Roux conceded that he should be found guilty of negligence for discharging a firearm in a restaurant. The Olympic athlete pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition. In the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year, he says he mistook his girlfriend - a model and law graduate - for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door in his home in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria. At the end of the session, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa adjourned the trial until September 11when she will deliver her verdict. She and her assessors have 4,000 pages of evidence to consider. The prosecution tried to characterise Pistorius as a “hothead” who intentionally killed Steenkamp after an argument. His defence team portrayed him as having a heightened response to perceived danger due to his disability and background. In court yesterday, Roux said growing up with a disability conditioned Pistorius always to confront danger because he could not flee. He described it as a “slow burn” of insecurities and compared it to an abused woman shooting her abuser. Barry Roux tore into testi-
Pistorius
mony given by some of Oscar Pistorius’ neighbours during his rebuttal of the prosecution’s case. The Stipps couple said they heard a woman’s screams shortly before hearing gunshots, which goes against Pistorius’ version that Reeva Steenkamp did not scream at any point before she died. The defence lawyer spent a lot of time discrediting their evidence, describing it as “unreliable”. He also made a compelling argument to show police tampering with the crime scene. The minute-by-minute timeline presented by the defence also seemed detrimental to the prosecution’s assertion that there was an argument before the
shooting. But the fact that Steenkamp was killed is not disputed, so now the judge must decide if it was murder or culpable homicide. Roux urged her to evaluate Pistorius as a reasonable man and then consider his actions in the light of his disability and anxiety disorder. Roux also dealt with phone data evidence on the night of the shooting to show that the timeline of events fits the defence’s argument that Pistorius fired the shots at the toilet door first on his stumps. Realising he had shot Steenkamp by mistake, the defence says Pistorius put on his prosthetics and used a cricket bat to
knock down the door at 03.17 local time - five minutes after he says shots were fired. The prosecution alleges that the noises heard at 03:17 were the shots being fired. Roux said analysis of the evidence showed there was anxious high-pitched screaming followed by shouts of “help, help, help” between the two sounds, which near neighbours say were made by a man, not a woman as other witnesses testified. Earlier, the defence said that there had been “no respect for the crime scene”, saying the state’s case was discredited as Pistorius’ house was tampered with inadvertently, with a fan and duvet being moved. Roux also hit back at the “baker’s dozen” of inconsistencies noted by state prosecutor, Gerrie Nel on Thursday. In his closing statement, Nel argued the athlete “cannot escape” a murder conviction, accusing him of being a “deceitful witness” who told the court a “snowball of lies”. He said the athlete’s lawyers had presented two lines of defence that “can never be reconciled”. Pistorius said he had fired both involuntarily and also out of fear, Nel argued, insisting the court had to choose only one of his defences. Last month, a psychiatric report said Pistorius had posttraumatic stress disorder, but no mental illness that could prevent him being held criminally responsible for his actions. If found guilty of murder, the 27-year-old, who went on trial on March 3, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if convicted - receive about 15 years in prison. For the first time since the trial began in March, the fathers of Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp appeared in court for the closing arguments.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
leisure
Movie Review
19
It’s
m e r a H ime! T
A
lthough Harem pants dates way back, but today, they can be seen anywhere from the runway to the workplace. They are designed for both the business-like chic and those who like to go casual. The term “harem pant” has now been generalized to describe any pant with a generally low dropping crotch seam (Nguyen): ranging from MC Hammer’s overly-baggy “parachute pants” to a slimmer fit more accustomed to today’s skinny jean youth. They also come in different size and shapes.
Hercules
I
n Brett Ratner’s adaptation of Steve Moore’s 2008 graphic novel, Hercules, as played by Dwayne Johnson, is a worldweary mercenary who allow others to believe and perhaps embellish his heroic tales. Travelling with a Magnificent Seven-style band of warriors who are lured by riches to defend the beleaguered kingdom of Lord Cotys (John Hurt), the mighty man is still haunted by nightmares of the three-headed Cerberus, and he mourns the murder of his wife and children though there are those who whisper that he himself killed them. When Johnson is wearing the head of the slayed Nemean lion in battle, walloping enemies with his tree-
trunk sized club, and heaving charging horses to the ground with remarkable ease, he’s in his Rock comfort zone. But as a tortured hero hampered by self-doubt, Johnson labours. He’s aiming for the gravitas of Russell Crowe in Gladiator and Gerard Butler in 300, but he races through the moments where Hercules has to be vulnerable or jaded. And since he’s the lone person in B.C. Thrace, a city-state populated by Ian McShane, Joseph Fiennes, and Rufus Sewell who didn’t go to British boarding school, his careful enunciation sounds especially out of place. Hercules might seem like the perfect role for The Rock, but the movie really needs a better Dwayne Johnson-C
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
20
leisure
Weird MC Breaks Silence on Osun State Appointment Rumour
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ince the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola started campaigning for reelection; Weird MC has been actively involved in his campaign
as she constantly travels to Osun State, including canvassing for votes on his behalf via social media. Her political activities got fans talking that the lady of
songs might be on her way to getting a political appointment in Aregbesola’s cabinet should he be re-elected.
N
Finally Nollywood Produces
‘Ebola’ Movie!
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ust like the Ghanaian entertainment industry and businessmen took advantage of Castro’s disappearance, Nollywood has also cashed in on the Ebola outbreak in Africa. A new movie titled ‘EBOLA: The Blood On African Soil 1&2’ is out with the poster
circulating all over the internet. The movie poster shows a man carrying his young daughter who appears to have contacted the disease in his hands while hurrying for help. Pundits say this move by Nollywood is insensitive, especially at a time when Africa is battling to curb the disease.
igeria’s first Telenovela drama series titled ‘Taste of Love’ has made its debut on Nigerian TV with Blossom Chukwujekwu as “Kelechi Pepple ” and Makida Moka as “Hadiza Musa-Phillips”. The Telenovela drama series “Taste of Love” is a story full of love, betrayal, pain, joy, intrigues and the many turns of destiny. It is the first of its kind to be made and produced in Nigeria. The story tales around three major families; the Musa-Phillips’, Pepples’ & Rhodes’ families, while bad blood reigns between these families, Kelechi and Hadiza fall head over heels in love and must ride the tides of opposition to allow their love blossom. Taste of Love’dates back to the Military Era of the 90’s in the History of Nigeria. It depicts the Friendship, Betrayal & Hatred amongst Rival Sugar Cane Plantation Families. Produced by Micromedia Marketing Limited, it was shot in Ilorin, Ibadan & Lagos and set to start airing on Terrestrial, Cable, Satellite, Digital and Mobile TV in October 2014.
Now that Aregbesola has been re-elected, insinuations got stronger. But instead of Weird to either
say a “yes” or a “no”, her response to the rumour was simply short and simple... “Heehee all these appointment
rumours”, she tweeted. Since she didn’t either agree or debunk the rumour, we might just get the surprise of our lives soon!
Taste of Love:
Nigeria’s First Telenovela Debuts!
Gbenga Adeyinka Mourns Father-In-Law
I
t’s a mixture of joy and sadness for ace Comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka at the moment as he’s busy jubilating over the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on his re-election. However in the middle of this
jubilation, the comedian got the sad news of the passing away of his father-in-law, Prince Abiodun Adeyemi. Prince Abiodun Adeyemi was born in 1927. He died yesterday at the age of 87. May his soul rest in peace.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
21
metro (lagos)
How Close Are You To Your Mom? By Joy Ekeke
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Commercial Bus ‘Danfo’ Drivers and Their Cheap Alcohol By Joy Ekeke
T
he Lagos commercial bus drivers, with the proliferation of small sachets and bottles of different brands of alcohol in most of the motor parks, have reasons to be notorious for their short temperedness and uncivilised behavior. Motor parks in the Lagos metropolis are popular haven for sellers of all kinds of local gin, known as ogogoro and various concoctions mixed with gins, which drivers take with relish. They come in different names like Opa Ehin, Paraga, Alomo. Some of these drinks are often mixed and consumed together or added with cigarettes. The hawkers of these drinks thus contribute to the increase of cases of drunk driving and road rage by commercial motorists. At the Ojelegba Park, Adeleye Ogunola gives a slightly different reason for the amount of alcohol he takes while at the steering. ‘’ I take four shots of local herbs with Ogogoro before I start
my first trip to Orile bus-stop and it doesn’t affect my driving because it makes me stronger for the day’s job. Speaking with Daily Times, a commercial bus driver plying Mile 2 Oshodi road says “I take two sachets of Regal Gin which keep me awake when am struck in traffic. “It is a sure thing for me to take gin and cigarettes in the morning because of the early morning rush hours. Says Akin Oyeola . Before starting the morning run, Dapo Ogun said, I can’t do
without Opa Ehin (local herb) steeped in local gin, it keeps me going because most bus passengers shout at me anyhow and for me to shout back at them I need to take the local gin in the morning so I can be stronger and smart for the day’s work. Bola James who spoke with Daily Times said, I make quick glance at the driver if he’s not operating under the influence of alcohol because they drive anyhow most especially when they are drunk Recounting her experience of
one of the commercial bus drivers along Oshodi road. “I was scared when I discovered that the driver of the commercial bus I boarded had slept off on the wheel, the driver who hit another commercial bus at his front, this was when we noticed he had slept off on the steering and we discovered that he was completely drunk.” She said. Mr. John Victor said, most of these sellers are drawn to motor parks because the commercial motor drivers constitute the greater part of buyers of this alcohol. I have noticed commercial bus drivers plying Oshodi, Orile, Mile2, Ojota, Mile 12 , Ojelegba to Lagos Island most often operate under the influence of alcohol and they behave like touts and their mode of dressing portray them as drug addicts Adding that, Governor Fashola Babatunde, has reiterated the need for commercial drivers to desist from taking alcohol, drugs or other related substance before getting behind the wheel but they still go to sellers of the herbal drugs steeped in alcohol. Victor said.
daughter is a mother’s gender partner, her close ally in the family arrangement. She is an extension of herself. The mother is usually the first role model of a daughter. She is her biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships. While speaking with Chukwu Ifeoma, she disclosed to Daily Times, ‘My mother is my world’. I talk to her almost about everything although there are some few things I keep to myself not because I am not comfortable telling her but I just feel she doesn’t need to know absolutely everything,” She added that sometimes as expected, her mother takes her out for a treat. “My mother and I go out to shop or go to the movies together. We also eat out and play games together. These are times I cherish so much” Also speaking with Daily Times Angela Sunday said, “I absolutely love my mother. I am one of the lucky girls who have a close and personal relationship with her mum. I am not afraid to tell my mum anything. If I have any challenge in my work place I tell my mum, be it emotional, spiritual, physical pains, I still don’t hide anything from her.” However, for Nneka Chika, the story is not the same as she and her mother live like rivals in the house. “I am not particularly close to my mother because we are always at luger heads with each other. We are always arguing about one thing or the other. It is so bad that we can’t stand to be in the same room with each other without having one misunderstanding or the other. Whenever I am faced with any challenge in life, I will prefer to go tell my friends about it than telling my mother,” she said. Aminat Babalola also has a similar response in spite of being the only girl in her family.
Her words: “I’m just wondering because even as the only girl in the family, I still don’t get along well with my mother. I stopped getting along with my mother when I was 17 years old. Situation changes as times goes by because she is impossible to get along with. Most times I get solution to my problems from strangers. She is just so judgmental and self-centered,” she said. According to Josephine Ferraro, a US based psychotherapist, mother-daughter relationships during their 20s gets a little better because daughters are no longer teenagers,. She however stated that this is dependent on level of maturity of the child. By the time the girl is in her 30s, she has started to come of age and are coming into their own with regard to career and family. Under ideal circumstances, they are less emotionally and financially dependent on their mothers. Josephine Ferraro, further noted that mother /daughter relationships tend to get better in their 40s and beyond. She attributed this to many reasons such as traditional roles of daughters to care for their elderly parents. “For better or worse, it has been the daughter’s responsibility to take care of elderly parents. During this time, daughters and mothers start to come to terms with the fact that mothers are aging and have more years behind them than ahead. How well they deal with this is often dependent upon how well their relationship has developed until this point. This is also often a time when mothers and daughters let go of old resentments in light of the fact that mothers are elderly at this point and time might be short for reconciliation. Under most circumstances, daughters often develop a different perspective of what’s important, especially if they now have their own children and they understand better what their mothers went through with them,” she said.
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relationships
What Then Is Marriage? By: Ngozi Ndubisi
I
t’s the dream and aspiration of most people to marry and live happily ever after. The rude shock is that, most marriages today, end either in, separation, divorce, one spouse killing the other or both agreeing to cohabit for the sake of the children with a blind eye to any extra marital activity. My daughter came home from school the other day disillusioned and declared “I think marriage is over rated and a waste of time, emotion, energy and every other thing.” Why? Her best friend (BF) just caught her dad kissing another lady at the theater. Many other youngsters are of the same opinion saying their parents as well as other married couples around them are
quickly becoming unhappy, disillusioned, bitter, and whatever word you can come up with. But does this now mean marriage is a gamble in which many lose out and only a few are lucky enough to have a good workable relationship? NO! What then is a Happy Marriage? A ‘Happy Marriage’ is the coming together of TWO unselfish, friendly and physically attracted man and woman to (be friends first, grow to love each other) live, procreate (if they want to) and remain doting through thick and thin. To achieve bliss in your marriage, you must understand this, that a friend calls “the triune love ingredients” this I will try to explain with what my husband calls the “circles of love”. These are the 3 levels of love
that should exist in every marriage. Let’s purse for a moment and think again why the wedding band is a continuous circle: • Like arms that embrace, it is a circle of love that gives and comes back round again. • Made of precious metals; purified by the heat of many fires: Symbolizing the wealth that resides inside each of you and the purity of your love that should stand through thick and thin. •It symbolizes inherent wholeness and unity of the couple, giving them the strength to happily honouring all their commitments to one other. •It reminds that marriage is not a destination but a journey, with no beginning and no ending, just a moment to moment opportunity to love and be
loved to the best of your ability. How, look at your own wedding ring and know that; as it has been fashioned from one of the earth’s most precious materials, so may your love, nourish and (sustained by God’s love) be the most precious and durable values you share with your spouse. Like it’s been said over and over again there is no such thing as “perfect” couple, imperfect couple who have unselfishly committed to loving and making each other happy. This kind of marriage can only be achieved if you are both blind to each other’s short comings with love and understanding. In other words, what you can change to achieve blissful married life is your perspective. To help further here are some ‘Top Common Complains on the side of the Man and the Woman’.
Men’s complaints about women •
Nag, nag and nagging
•
Bringing up things he’s done in the distant past
•
Being stubborn and refusing to give in
•
Being too hot or too cold
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Being too critical
•
The silent treatment
Women’s complaints about men •
Forgetting important dates, like birthdays or
anniversaries
•
Not paying compliments
•
Unrepentantly keeping irritant and bad habits
•
Staring at other women
•
Being stubborn and refusing sound suggestions
Next time, we will address these complaints one by one.
What’s your complaint about your spouse? Send your answer and enquiry to ngozindubisi@yhoo.com
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
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relationships
Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff: Wedding Planning Doesn’t Have To Be That “Serious” By Stella Anokam, NaijaGlamWedding.com
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ictures don’t lie – if you stress too much while planning your wedding, it will tell in your photos. We often see brides looking stressed in their wedding pictures, as if they had not slept for weeks. Wedding planning doesn’t have to be like that. Here are 4 simple tips you can implement today, to start having fun and looking rested while planning your wedding. Photo Credit: Obi Nwokedi Photography http://photographybyobi.co.uk
1. KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid
Don’t get obsessed over your wedding. Embrace the most important things. The secret of planning a successful wedding is: starting early and involving helpful people – and also knowing how to delegate part of the wedding to-dos. Don’t get bogged down with teeny-weeny details. Once you notice that wedding planning is becoming too much of a chore and taking over your life, it’s an indication that it’s time to let go and let a professional or other people in (to help finish up or execute your plans). That’s when you should delegate more. Push out a lot more wedding planning work out - or simply hire a wedding planner. Thankfully, it’s cheaper to have a hired hand
complete the rest of the work. In reality, “perfect” doesn’t exist in any wedding, no matter how high-profile or how careful the bride was.
2. Celebrate the Two of You
Make out time to celebrate your relationship. Most brides get carried away with the gazillion things to do during wedding planning that they totally sideline their fiancé. Guess what? A good number of divorce started before the wedding day - because the bride got consumed in ‘perfecting’ her big day and totally ignored her partner. Common, quit being a bridezilla, it’s his day too! Make communication a top priority. Don’t make every day and every discussion about the wedding - set aside a day of the week when you should take a break from everything wedding planning - just for the two of you to spend quality time together. Go on a date night out, find time for weekend getaways. Spend time talking about your life together – not always about the wedding. Don’t ruin your lifetime relationship just for an event that will last only a day. And set the rules upfront - no wedding talk. In fact, I’ve heard some couples tell how they put a monetary fine on anyone who mentions the “W” word on their ‘just the two of us’ day.
3. Don’t Neglect Your Fiancé: In-
volve Him Too
Your wedding planning period can be a time of stronger bonding between the two of you, and it all lies in your (the bride’s) hands. While most guys won’t want to get into the nitty-gritty of the wedding planning, they would appreciate your consulting them about major decisions before finalizing with your mom or a vendor. This can be something like the traditional wedding attire colour combo - he doesn’t have go with you to all the shops but you can share your findings with him and hear what he thinks would be the best colour for the two of you. These days, we are seeing more men getting more involved in their wedding planning. Involve him in key decision making such as the venue location and choice. Some of your wedding tasks can be a bonding time too - such as asking him to accompany you to food tasting at the vendors. Finally, encourage him own some of the ‘manly part’ of the wedding planning - such as: finding the DJ, venue, arranging for drinks, commissioning someone to create your wedding website and so on.
4. Avoid Arguments: Understand Your Differences Early On
It’s funny that most couples start out planning their weddings without ever sitting down to ask themselves where they agree or disagree. No wonder why fights between couples are high during
their wedding planning - lots of things to disagree on and many expectations that were faced with disappointments. Most couples even fight to the extent of calling off their weddings - before the wedding happens. To avoid this, don’t assume that your ideas about how your wedding should look and feel is exactly the same as your partner’s. Most brides are guilty of this - they simply go on putting things in place the way they like, in the name of “afterall, ít’s my wedding”. Remember that without him, there’d be no wedding. Before you start planning your wedding, sit down with your fiancé and each fill out the couples pre-wedding planning quiz’ on NaijaGlamWedding.com - that will help you both gather your individual ideas and make necessary compromises about how the wedding should look and feel. After that, you can streamline your ideas to come up with one single idea about every aspect of your wedding. That way, everyone is on the same page and the likelihood of pre-wedding fights would be slim.
About the Authour
Stella Anokam is the editor of NaijaGlamWedding.com blog where she gives away free wedding planning templates and writes articles on practical wedding planning tips that wow guests and won’t break your bank but instead wow your guests. Follow her on Facebook.com/naijaglamwedding and Twitter.com/naijaglamWED.
AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
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arts & culture Nigeria And Interracial Marriages
H
ave you heard of the word “Half Caste”? If you are a Nigerian, it is a common word that flies around when a child with mixed parentage passes by. Every Secondary school graduate can remember referring to someone as half caste, mulato, akata, ajebo, butti etc. In South Africa, half caste is called “colored”. Although, interracial marriages were banned during the apartheid. The average Nigerian reduces everything in life to wealth. Traditionally, there is the mentality of also attaching the colored skin to wealthy. Nigerians don’t necessary love a white folk but will let it slide because of his perceived wealth from his skin color. Actually your kid will enjoy a privileged status just for being mixed. But the bottom line is that you must have enough cash to look wealthy. Interracial marriage can convey a relationship between a Black and an Asian, a White and an Asian, a Hispanic and an Asian, a White and a Hispanic, etc. Attitudes towards Interracial marriages have changed dramatically, in just the last generation. In the United States it was just 43 years ago when interracial marriage was made fully legal in all 50 states. Interracial marriages in the U.S. have climbed to 4.8 million (1 in 12 marriages) in 2010 as a steady flow of new Asian and Hispanic immigrants expands the pool of prospective spouses. Blacks are now substantially more likely than before to marry whites. In 2010, 15% of new marriages were interracial. In 2010, 25% of Asians, 25% of Hispanics, 17.1% of blacks, and 9.4% of whites married interracially. Of the 275,500 new interracial marriages in 2010, 43% were white-Hispanic couples, 14.4% were white-Asian, 11.9% were white-black, and the remainders were other combinations. Today, in many countries, interracial marriage is commonplace and most don’t even give it a second thought. According to the UK 2001 census, black British males were around 50% more likely than black females to marry outside their race. British Chinese women (30%) were twice as likely as their male counterparts (15%) to marry someone from a different ethnic group. As of 2001, 2% of all marriages in the United Kingdom are inter-ethnic. In 1948, an international incident was created when the British government took exception to the “difficult problem” of the marriage of SeretseKhama, kgosi (king) of the Baman-
gwato people of what was then the British Bechuanaland Protectorate, to an English woman, Ruth Williams, whom he had met while studying law in London. The interracial marriage sparked a furore among both the tribal elders of theBamangwato and the apartheid government of South Africa. The latter objected to the idea of an interracial couple ruling just across their northern border, and exerted pressure to have Khama removed from his chieftainship. Britain’s Labour government, then heavily in debt from World War II, could not afford to lose cheap South African gold and uranium supplies. They also feared South Africa might take direct action against Bechuanaland, through economic sanctions or amilitary incursion. The British government began a parliamentary enquiry into Khama’s fitness for the chieftainship. Though the investigation reported that he was eminently fit for the rule of Bechuanaland, “but for his unfortunate marriage, the government ordered the report suppressed.(It would remain so for thirty years). It exiled Khama and his wife from
Bechuanaland in 1951. It was many years before the couple was allowed to live in Africa, and several more years before Khama became president of what is now Botswana. Their son Ian Khama is the president of that country. Marriage is sacred in Africa and beyond, because it solidifies relationship that enrich communities and nations by bringing forth new life and new hope. African cultures celebrate the coming of the rains, the first harvest and the birth of a child. Marriage in Africa comes with its own myths and good memories. They have a way of doing it. That’s a story for another day. Oftentimes, couples in interracial marriages face barriers that most married couples of the same race are not exposed to. Interracial marriages are often influenced by external factors that can create dissonance and disagreement in relationships. Different races endure vastly diverse moral, ethical and value foundations that influence their perceptions of individual, family and societal lifestyle. When these foundations are operating alongside the foundation of different cultural roots, as in interracial mar-
riages, problems and disagreement oftentimes occur. However, interracial marriages are not always intercultural marriages, as in some countries, such as theUnited States, people of different races can share the same cultural background. The most common external factors influencing interracial relationships and marriages are the acceptance of the family and the society in which the couple lives. Sometimes, the families of the partners display rejection, resistance, hostility and lack of acceptance for their kin’s partner. Specific issues regarding the family; including generational gaps in ideology, and how the wedding will be held; which ties into how tradition will or will not be practiced. Many interracial couples report conflict arising over issues of how to carry out child raising and religious worship as well. Dealing with racism from outside sources is also a common area of potential conflict. It is still a form of stigma seeing an interracial black and an oyinbo wife entering a commercial bus. The not surprising thing is that all eyes would be on them. It is a taboo,
that they are poor. Interracial couples may possess differing communication styles. Individuals from a high context culture are not verbally explicit in their communication behaviors. These cultures typically consist of eastern world countries where collectivism and relational harmony underlie communication behavior. By contrast, individuals from a low context culture use direct obvious communication styles to convey information. In situations where marriage occurs between two people from differing communication contextual backgrounds, conflict may arise from relational challenges posed by the underlying assumptions of high/low context cultures. Challenges posed by differing communication styles are common among intercultural marriage couples. The longer the two individuals have existed in the current culture the less likely this is to pose an issue. If one or more partners within the marriage is relatively new to the dominant culture the likelihood for conflict to unfold on these bases increases. Interracial couples tend to face hardships most within-culture relationships do not. Various resources which focus on conflict resolution of intercultural differences in marriage relationships have become available in the media. Specialised counseling and support groups have also become available to these couples. Conflict resolution and mediation of the infrastructural issues faced by intercultural couples leads to a broader understanding of culture and communication. And the concept of racial literacy was developed by sociologist France Winddance Twine to describe the ways in which these families teach their children about race and its impact. So my question goes thus, when you see an interracial couple walking down the street holding hands, what goes through your mind? To think of the various battles and challenges they are going through would mainly change your mind to the way you may have been thinking while abusing a “half caste”. These interracial couples have broken a barrier that most of us would only dream of crossing. Getting close and interviewing some of them is mind blowing. Although, lately, there has been a trend of young un-grown guys getting married to old women all for the sake of getting away to greener pastures abroad. Asides this, there is true love in interracial marriages.
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
events
‘Nigeria Our Heritage Project: Celebrating Our Own’ By Ugochukwu Onyeocha
I
t was perhaps the biggest celebration of Nigerian art and culture in the United States of America as President Goodluck Jonathan led thousands of invited guests during the US-Africa Summit hosted by President Barack Obama for selected African leaders at the J. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert hall in Washington D.C, to launch the international edition of the ‘Nigeria: Our Heritage Project’ an initiative geared towards a global positive perception management project for the country. The event which was hosted by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and National Orientation brought together thousands of Nigerians, Africans and Americans to the Center to listen to an extravaganza of Nigerian cultural and traditional musical performances and also witnessed keynote speakers harping on the need of Nigerians and the world in general to desist from seeing the nation in a negative light. The platform was created by the ‘Nigeria: Our Heritage Project’, a private initiative put together to create and sustain a global positive perception management framework for Nigeria as the foremost African icon through a strategic exposition of her rich heritage and uncommon attributes to attract trust, confidence and better appreciation by all. While welcoming all invited guests to the epoch making occasion, the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke espoused the compelling need to change Nigeria’s narrative with a view to checking and ultimately changing the wrong perception internationally, regionally and internally. Musical performances by Tosin Martins, CEO of Mavin Records Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Flavour, Inyanya, Davido, the velvet-voiced Abiodun Koya, spiced up the event and got the audience excited and on their feet as the artistes kept on dishing out hits after hits from their repertoire of songs.
The performances were interspersed with powerful and insightful speeches by Mr. Igho Sanomi, the Chairman, National Heritage Council and Endowment of Arts; Prof. Ade Adefuye, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America and Nigeria’s soul sister, US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who gave a moving remark on the greatness that awaits Nigeria in the coming years with the direction being charted by Nigeria: Our Heritage Project. The elegant dance steps of members of the National Troupe complemented the performances greatly. The appearance of 6-year old Adaure Imana (not real name) and the dexterous display of Akaba Umoighe (not real name) that blew the audience away with his (Igbo) flute, sent the audience to a rapturous applause. Nollywood diva, Rita Dominic-Nwaturuocha’s appearance on stage also sent the audience into another round of excitement as they kept asking for more.
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events
‘Nigeria Our Heritage Project:
DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014
events
Celebrating Our Own’
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AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES
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opinions
Let’s Think & Talk
Female Suicide Bombers and the Chibok Girls Quagmire
By Alex O. Atawa Akpodiete
I
t is quickly approaching four (4) months since over 250 teenage girls were abducted by the deadly terrorist group Boko Haram. The exact figure of the remaining girls seems to fluctuate after some supposedly escaped. Also, the hoopla over the failed visit of the parents of the girls to the presidency has simmered down as they eventually honoured the letter from President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR. The past week has witnessed five explosions by four different female suicide bombers and one attempted explosion by a female suicide bomber. News reports had it in the last week of the month of July as follows: ”College students in the northern Nigerian city of Kano were reading a campus notice board, seeing what postgraduation public service job they would be assigned to, when a girl in their midst blew herself up. The horrific attack Wednesday at Kano State Polytechnic killed six people and injured at least seven others at the college. It was the fourth female suicide bombing in northern Nigeria since Sunday, when a 15-year-old blew herself up. Two others did the same on Monday, at a trade show and petrol station. In a separate incident, police arrested a 10-year-old girl wearing a suicide belt.” Initially, terrorists wanted to shock the conscience of Nigerians by using a young bomb in the attempted killing of Sheik Bauchi in Kaduna. After that, they graduated to use of female suicide bombers, with the last being the 10-yr old girl that was arrested. The history of suicide bombings go back to Ignaty Grinevitsky, who wrote in his diary the night before he killed himself and Russian Emperor Tsar Alexander II, on March 17 1881 “It is my lot to die young, I shall not see our victory, I shall not live one day, one hour in the bright season of our triumphs, but I believe that with my death I shall do all that it is my duty to do, and no one in the world can demand more of
me.’ In recent times, we remember the Japanese kamikaze pilots of World War II. These pilots flew their planes into enemy territories knowing fully well that they will not return alive. The modern day suicide bombing where the bomber straps bombs to his body or carries it in his car that will be detonated with him inside, dates back to the Iran-Iraq war but has been perfected by the terrorist group Hamas. My research shows that “The origins of modern Istishhadi attacks lie among the Shia in Iran during the Iran–Iraq War of 1980–1988. Mohammed Hossein Fahmideh, a 13-year-old boy who fought in the war, is said to be the first Muslim to have participated in such an attack in contemporary history. He strapped rocket-propelled grenades to his chest and blew himself up under an Iraqi tank in November 1980. Ayatollah Khomeini declared Fahmideh a national hero.” Assuming the bombings were for religious reasons, we understand that the male suicide bombers expect to get to heaven where twelve virgins will be waiting for them. What are the female suicide bombers expecting to receive in the afterlife? It cannot be twelve male virgins. This buttresses the point that these killings are not religiously motivated. Religion is just a warped excuse for their actions. My Muslims friends tell me that Islam does not sanction these heinous killings. In fact, suicide is prohibited under classic Islamic law. This explains why Islamic militants prefer the term “martyrdom operations” which is an amendment of Istishhadi, the Arabic word for “martyrdom” or heroic death. Since I am not an Islamic scholar, I referred to Scholars such as Shaykh Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti, Ayatollah al-Udhma Yousof al-Sanei, Bernard Lewis and Noah Feldman who opine that “martyrdom in Islam typically refers to another person killing a Muslim warrior, not the warrior killing himself.” They all condemn suicide bombings. Yes,
group Boko Haram launched its first suicide bombing on 16 June 2011 when it attacked the police headquarters in Abuja. A few months later a bomber rammed his car into the UN building killing 23 people. Since then there have been at least 29 suicide attacks in northern Nigeria. “ Most deadly suicide attacks since 1981 Incident D a t e Number of people killed 1 Al-Qaeda attack on World Trade Centre and Pentagon 11/9/2001 2,955 2 Hezbollah bombing of US and French military bases in Lebanon 23/10/1983 320 3 Co-ordinated bombings of the Yazidi communities in Northern Iraq, masterminded by Al Qaeda 14/08/2007 250 (later revised to an estimated 500)
I am aware of those that promote it, but they apparently are in the minority. Can an analogy be made with the Holy crusades of the Middle Ages sanctioned by Pope Claremont of the Roman Catholic Church, where supposed Christians engaged in the conquests of many nations under the cross or banner of Christianity? When Prophet Moses met with God at Mount Sinai, one of the Ten Commandments that God wrote on the two tablets of stones prohibited killing. (Ex. 31 & 34). Specifically, Christians and Jews are commanded that “You shall not murder.” (Ex. 20:13). New Nigeria Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba The aptness of the analogy is
that born-again Christians will disavow any killings in name of Jesus Christ. We can comparatively look at Verse 4:29 of the Qur’an which states: “O you who believe! Do not consume your wealth in the wrong way-rather through trade mutually agreed to, and do not kill yourselves. Surely God is Merciful toward you.” Additionally, European Council for Fatwa and Research use the Quran’ic verse Al-Anam 6:151, which commands “And take not life, which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law.” The twist to the female suicide bombers is the threat by the leader of Boko Haram that the abducted Chibok girls who were Christians have been forcibly
converted to Islam. There is justifiable fear that the Chibok girls could be used as suicide bombers after their conversion as a way to further ensnare the President and propagate the views of these hate mongers. While some of us are optimistically hopeful about the fate of the abducted girls, we cannot help but remember the prognosis of the ex-president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and pray against it. An international watch group headed by Henry Dodd has this to say about Nigeria in August 2013. “The next hotspots to emerge as centres for suicide violence may be Nigeria and Syria as the allure of suicide bombings appears to spread. The Nigerian militant
4 Al Qaeda attacks on Tanzanian and Kenyan embassies 07/08/1998 224 5 Bombings outside nightclubs in Bali carried out by Jemaah Islamiyah 12/10/2002 202 (Source: University of Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism). Courtesy: Henry Dodd. http://aoav.org.uk/2013/a-shorthistory-of-suicide-bombings/. Retrieved 2014-08-04. While the government is strategically planning the rescue of the Chibok girls with all deliberate speed, there is daily a renewed urgency to the situation. As I continue to argue, we need a combined effort to solve the insurgency problems facing our beloved Nigeria. Think about it. *Rev. Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst writes from Asaba. He is also an aspirant for Udu/Ughelli North/Ughelli South Federal Constituency in Delta State. Contact him on 08138391661 or Profatawa@ gmail.com,