Leadership

No. 444

N300

10.08.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

nigeria's most influential newspaper

Gwoza Wives Protest: Don’t Send Our Husbands To Fight With Old Weapons NEWS, PAGE 7

Why Nasarawa Lawmakers Wanted To Impeach Me – Gov Al-Makura News, PAGEs 5

Leadership Newspapers

@leadershipNGA

Obasanjo Destroyed Zoning Agreement – Adamu Ciroma NEWS, PAGE 10

Aregbesola Wins osun victory re-energises apc base, halts pdp advance as...

Results from 22 out of 30 LGs put the APC candidate clearly ahead of Omisore 5

LGA Ilesa West Ilesa East Osogbo Ife Central 39,983 9,680 Aregbesola 15,427 16,106 Omisore 5,449 5,913 11,513 24,555

Iwo Ede North Ede South Ila Orangun 20,827 15,403 11,738 10,825 15,193 10,427 7,462 7,916

Some supporters of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola jubilating in Osogbo, yesterday. photo

by REMI AKUNLEYAN

Shell Records Massive Oil Spill In Nembe Page 7 >

Chibok DAY Diary 118

Schoolgirls: Our Daughters Can't Be Suicide Bombers – Parents > Page 2

2

Sunday, August 10, 2014

chibok diary 118 DAY

chibok quotes FG’s Assurances To Rescue Girls President Goodluck Jonathan during a meeting with parents of the abducted Chibok school girls in July reassured Nigerians and the Chibok community of the government's determination to ensure that the abducted schoolgirls that are still in captivity are brought out alive.

President Goodluck Jonathan in an interview with the Washington Times in Washington, USA, where he attended the African Leaders Summit convened by US President, Barrak Obama insisted that the government knew the whereabouts of the girls.

Recent United States (US) surveillance flights over northeastern Nigeria have shown what appeared to be large groups of girls held together in remote locations.

The Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro last Thursday said he cannot tell when the abducted Chibok schoolgirls will be rescued. But assured that the federal government is considering a wide range of options in ensuring that the girls are rescued as soon as possible.

COMPILED BY MICHAEL OCHE

One of the arrowheads of BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) Group, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili and others during a rally in Lagos over the abduction of Chibok girls.

Schoolgirls: Our Daughters Can't Be Suicide Bombers – Parents

By Abdulkareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Some parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls have rejected insinuations that some of their daughters may have been the ones being used by Boko Haram to execute suicide bombings around the country.

A parent, Mr Lucky Chibok, who spoke on behalf of other parents, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that their girls are well behaved and cannot, under any influence, allow themselves to function as bombers for "wicked people" like the Boko Haram".

He said "These girls are children of God, and they did not opt to be taken by the Boko Haram terrorists or any group of extremists; they are schoolgirls, innocent and god-fearing".

"These girls have been brought up in the best homes of Christians and Muslims. In Chibok, we don't have rooms for zealots or extreme bigotry; and we believe our children cannot be used for, or turned into such bestial acts of Satan".

He, however, pointed out that if the girls eventually derailed in their decent upbringing, "then we would hold the government responsible for allowing t hem to stay this long without rescuing them, and all of us would blame the federal government for turning them into what we did not bring them up to be".

3

our stand Sunday, August 10, 2014

Hidden Cost Of Anti-terrorism Operations

T

he global civil rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has just released a report stating that it had gathered gruesome video footage, images and testimonies that served as evidence of war crimes in the forms of extrajudicial killings and other grave human rights violations. These activities were said to have been carried out by the Nigerian military deployed in the north-east against the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

These are strong allegations worthy of the military high command’s appropriate review. The involvement of the armed forces in internal security operations is auxiliary to their fundamental responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of the nation.

So, each time the military is called upon to take up such additional responsibilities, there are concerns in some quarters that they enjoy excessively full privilege to use brute force on both the antagonists and innocent citizens without being called to order by the government or restrained by the Defence Headquarters.

Almost everywhere in the world where crises warrant military intervention, more often than not, there are complaints of disrespect for human rights and international humanitarian law norms. Local and international rights groups, like Amnesty International, often do cite and

release what to them are “compelling evidence” proving that military personnel violate rules of engagement in the course of their peace-giving and peacekeeping operations.

We agree with Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s secretarygeneral, that, “A state of emergency must not give way to a state of lawlessness.” However, it should be noted that the situation in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states (and, indeed, some other parts of the country) has made military intervention absolutely necessary, without which civil authorities could be severely threatened.

Even as we observe that attacks by Boko Haram have intensified in recent months, we are not unmindful of the essence of preserving human dignity in the face of these challenges. To that extent, too, there might be collat-

Ag. Editor Auwal Sa’id Mu’azu Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards Aniebo Nwamu, Director ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director

eral damage. But to describe the military as machinery for state torture would be unfair and preposterous. It runs counter to the urgent need to end insurgency at the earliest possible time. The sect’s activities have escalated into more daring and bloody encounters. Innocent civilians, whose lives are supposed to be protected, have been helpless victims of several violent activities carried out by terrorists. The military too has to intensify its action.

Yet, military intervention in internal conflicts comes with a price. This is why military deployment to aid civil authority has always been a measure of last resort. The friction that ensues in trying to align necessary military actions with protecting the rights of ordinary people in the affected areas is what often leads to the heavy scrutiny all internal security operations are exposed to, in what ideally should be the domain of civil authority.

While military personnel deployed to counter insurgencies are duty-bound to understand that there are basic international humanitarian principles expected to be respected, we all should be aware that, in pursuit of lasting peace in troubled territories, something has to give. Cooperation, support and collective responsibility are crucial in upholding lawfulness during security operations.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser Abdulhaleem Amin Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Ademola Oladosu Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye

Leadership Holdings

Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase Business Manager Bilkisu Mohammed Rimi

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!

4 photo news

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Scenes from OSUN STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION YESTERDAY

Governor Rauf Aregbesola casting his vote during the election at Ifofin Polling Unit 1, Ward 8, in Ilesa.

PDP governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, casting his vote at the Ward 1, Unit 3, in Moore Ife East.

Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola, mother of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, being assisted by the governor’s wife, Sherifat, to cast her vote at Ifofin Polling Unit 1, Ward 8, in Ilesa yesterday.

Some foreign election observers at Ife Central during the election yesterday.

Children jubilating after the governorship election in Ilesa, Osun State, yesterday.

Voters on queue to cast their votes during the governorship election at Ward 2, Unit 005, Itaasin, Modakeke, yesterday.

Voters queuing to accredit at Ward 3, Unit 013, Iremo Ife Central during the election yesterday.

Security men on duty along the Osogbo-Ilesa Road during the governorship election in Osogbo, yesterday. PHOTOS BY REMI AKUNLEYAN AND NAN.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

LIVING TO BE 100

One health tip daily Make Fitness Fun Plenty of people engage in stop-and-start exercising they begin an activity and then lose ineterst. But the key to benefiting from exercise is consistency. It’s essential to find an activity you enjoy. This sounds like common sense, but I find many people wasting their money paying for a gym membership when they obviously dislike going there. Shop around until you find physical activities you like, whether dancing, rollerblading, jumping on a trampoline, golfing, or riding your bike.

When you like what you do day after day, you’ll have fun exercising.

Why Nasarawa Lawmakers Wanted To Impeach Me – Gov Al-Makura

By Reuben Buhari, Abuja

Nasarawa State governor Tanko Al-Makura has explained that the 20 members of the State House of Assembly attempted to impeach him purely for egocentric reasons.

According to him, the 20 members of the assembly wanted to use coercion due to their majority status to get what they couldn’t get through free and fair elections in the state.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday in Lafiya, the state capital, AlMakura said: “For 20 out of 24 legislators to wake up one morning and feel that such a person should not continue in office, not necessarily by lack of competence or inability to deliver democratic dividends to the people, but purely for egocentric reasons; just for the fact that they want to use coercion of the majority for something they have been longing for which they could not get through free and fair election, and now they want to have it through the backdoor by instituting the process of impeachment, even without the consent of their constituencies, to remove a governor that has been put in place by over a million people is an aberration.”

He added that even though the process of instituting the impeachment proceeding against him was fraught with constitutional illegalities, he decided to appear before the panel so that he could help in deepening democracy in the country.

“If you look at the process from the beginning to the end of this impeachment process, there were

a lot of infractions, serious violations in the way the legislators carried out the process of impeachment. But in spite of that, even without being served properly up to this time, according to the provisions of the law, the process did not adhere to the constitution where I have to be served in person.

“As I am talking to you, I have not been served. But I think that I should be able to help our democracy to grow by waving that away, for the time being, to appear before the panel so that I will convince my well-wishers and the entire people of this country that I have nothing to hide, and I deferred to the panel, because it is a constitutional creation.”

He further said that the issue of his not being served properly with the impeachment notice “is a matter that I told the panel that I was going to take it up at a different time and in a different forum. I am doing that not because I want to be punitive or show agony or bad blood against the members of the legislature, but as a player in the democracy we practice”.

He added that his victory at the investigation panel was a victory for not just him, but for rule of law, for the citizens of the state and all Nigerians.

“I say this because we are operating a constitutional democracy, and as leaders we are supposed to be guided by the law of the land, which is the constitution,” pointing out that not adhering to the ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEWS 5

Osun Governorship Election: Aregbesola Wins

By Kazeem Akintunde, Joshua Dada, Chibuzo Ukaibe, Osogbo; Olaolu Oladipo, Ile-Ife; and Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today declared incumbent Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of Saturday’s governorship poll in the state.

According to the INEC, Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 22 out of 30 local government areas of the state to defeat his main challenger, Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) who won in eight local government areas.

Omisore’s running mate, Obada, PDP chairman lose in their polling units Leading lights of the APC had on Thursday obtained an interlocutory injunction from an Ile-Ife high court presided over by Justice A. Abdulkarim to restrain the inspector-general of police and the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS) from tampering with their fundamental human rights pending the determination of the main suit.

Initial failure of INEC to make identification tags available for APC agents nearly disrupted the poll in over 100 polling units across the state.

Also, the early results indicate that many of the leaders of the PDP in the state lost in their polling units. They include the PDP’s candidate’s running mate Hon. Adejare Bello, former minister of state for defence Erelu Olusola Obada, and the party’s chairman Gani Ola-Oluwa.

Bello lost the election in his Ede North polling unit where his party scored 30 votes as against APC’s 130 votes.

The state chairman of PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, also lost the election in his Olorunda local government polling unit where PDP scored 95 votes as against APC’s 142 votes.

Aregbesola’s APC won the election in his Ifofin Ward 08, Ilesa East local government where he got 214 to PDP’s 11 votes, while the acting chairman of the APC in the state, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, did not lose: APC trounced the PDP with 108 to 59 votes.

Former minister of state for defence Erelu Olusola Obada lost her Ibodi, Atakumosa West local government, polling unit where PDP scored 3 votes while the APC scored 300 votes.

In Ede North where Senator Isiaka Adeleke hails from, the APC scored 640 votes as against the PDP’s 9 votes.

However, The PDP flagbearer, Senator Omisore, made a strong showing in some polling units in Ife zone: he scored 149 votes in Ife Central Ward 05, Unit 01, while

the APC scored 73 votes.

Also defecting former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola could not deliver to the APC, which scored 61 votes as against PDP that scored 125.

Nonetheless, the election was preceded by claims and reports of arrest of some members of the APC by armed security operatives who allegedly stormed their residences after nightfall.

Notwithstanding, the election was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere in many towns.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made good its promise to ensure that election materials arrived at polling units on time while voting started as scheduled in many local government areas.

Large turnout, tight security in Osogbo There was a large turnout of voters in most of the polling booths visited by LEADERSHIP Sunday early yesterday in Osogbo, Osun State.

INEC officials were at their duty post as early as 8am with security agents complementing their services.

As early as 8:25am, over 30 people had been accredited to vote at Bishop Street Unit 002 in Olorunda LGA, Osogbo.

Aregbesola expresses delight at election process Governor Aregbesola has expressed delight at the conduct of the governorship election in the state.

Aregbesola, who was accredited in Unit 1, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa, at 10:45am, said he was sure of victory in the poll.

The governor, who was accompanied by his wife Sherifat and his LGA

Aregbesola

two children, urged the people of the state to maintain the existing peace in the state.

Aregbesola walked from his Ilesa home with his party supporters, expressing happiness with the way the electorate conducted themselves.

Voters came out in large numbers while electoral officers arrived promptly for the exercise.

Omisore votes, decries high rate of thuggery, intimidation Governorship candidate of the PDP Senator Omisore cast his vote at Unit 3 in Ward 1 in Moore area of Ife East LGA about noon.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after he cast his ballot, he confirmed the arrest of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for various electoral offences.

He said, “We cannot say we have 100 per cent confidence on INEC. You cannot have 100 per cent confidence on any process that is managed by human. Even as an engineer, you cannot have 100 per cent confidence on the efficiency of a ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

AREGBESOLA

OMISORE

Ayedaade

12,801

11,255

Ayedire

7,724

7,813

Atakunmosa East

9,287

6,294

Atakunmosa West

6,928

5,142

Boripe

12,723

9,344

Boluwaduro

4,891

5,035

Egbedore

10,615

7,024

Ejigbo

17,700

12,495

Ifedayo

4,225

3982

Ifelodun

17,447

12,442

Ife North

8,603

9,841

Ife East

13,821

20,831

Ife South

7,325

12,811

Irepodun

13,134

7,386

Irewole

18,328

10,330

Isokan

9,758

10,028

Obokun

11,696

8,618

Odo Otin

11,950

12,902

Ola Oluwa

7,927

4,963

Olorunda

26,551

8,483

Oriade

12,523

10,214

Orolu

8,558

6,786

6 NEWS

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Osun Governorship Election: Aregbesola Wins

Obanikoro defends militarization in Osun The minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has defended the federal government’s decision to involve the military in the Osun State governorship election, saying that it would have resulted in bloodletting.

The minister, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, debunked the claim that he was in Osun State for the election.

According to him, soldiers were drafted to Osun to maintain peace and orderliness during the election.

“Our interest is having a free and fair election which President Jonathan and we his disciples believe in. If the military had not been drafted to Osun’s election, blood would have been flowing there.

“You, gentlemen of the press, can see me in Ibadan live and direct today (Saturday). As you too see, I am not in Osun talk less of being part of the election there,” he said.

He alleged that the APC had invaded Osun with thugs, saying that what APC was doing was in contradiction of electoral guidelines.

“They shouted ‘open the door or will we will shoot it down’. They shot at the door thinking it was a wooden door. They shot at the door several times but they could not gain entry. When you go to my house now, you will see the pellets littered around.”

He said upon their failure to gain access to him and his family, they turned on themselves, blaming one another for the failure of their mission. “They fought themselves before leaving my compound. They were saying to themselves, ‘I told you we should have come here earlier.”

On whether he reported the matter to the police, he said, “I don’t have cause to go to the police. I sent text to people who could help me out.”

He noted that he had a tip-off of an intended attack on him, adding that he instructed his wife, who is related to the minister of police affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, challenging him on what had transpired. He said masterminds of such attack deserve not to live in the same society with decent people.

He said the minister replied saying he does not deserve the kind of text message and allegation against him.

Salami said the APC would win the election as it had been a contest between the people of Osun and Omisore. “This is desperation, not democracy. They did it to me. I saw it live. With what they did yesterday (Friday) night I now know they don’t have decorum. I now know I am open for attack. If you get to my house you will see all the evidence.”

How gunmen stormed my house eve of election- Sen. Salami A chieftain of the APC, Senator Bayo Salami, yesterday narrated how he and his family narrowly escaped death at the hands of “gunmen” who stormed his residence at the GRA in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, at about 10:05pm on Friday.

The home of the former federal lawmaker is less than five minutes’ walk from a police command and directly opposite a court premises.

Salami, who represented Osun Central under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) between ‎19992003, told newsmen at his OluOde polling unit that the gunmen numbering about 15, including a lady, came in a bus and a sport utility vehicle.

He said: “They beat up my security at the gate and carried him away. They did all that, so me and my family moved into one room.

My ordeal in the hands of security agents – Lai Mohammed Meanwhile, following the Gestapo arrest, manhandling and release of APC spokesperson Alhaji Lai Mohammed and other APC members Friday night in Oshogbo, the party has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of desecrating national institutions by using it to clamp down on the opposition.

Mohammed, who alongside Mr Sunday Dare, the media aide to APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Mr Afolabi Salisu, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, was nabbed by national security officials while in Osun State Friday night, said they were lucky to be alive to recount their experience , given their encounter with the security officials.

In a statement he personally signed, the APC spokesman said their offence was not beyond the fact that he belongs to the oppo-

➔ FROM PAGE 5

machine.

We have arrested some All Progressives Congress chieftains with electoral materials. There is intimidation and high level of thuggery.

“With what I have seen, I can only pass 70 per cent confidence on INEC.”

sition; other key officials of the PDP were allowed to walk freely in Osun State, he said.

The APC spokesman said, ‘’He desecrates national institutions by wilfully using them against the opposition. This is not the democracy that many of our compatriots fought and died for. This is not the Nigeria that was envisaged by our past heroes. It is time for all concerned to step in and stop President Jonathan before he brings the country crashing down on our heads.

“Again, we call on President Jonathan to stop deceiving the world.

In one breath, this president says he is committed to credible elections and that his political ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian.

“In another, he sanctions statesponsored harassment, intimidation and even killing of ordinary Nigerians by security forces that are now the enforcement arm of the ruling party, all in the name of politics.”

He explained that they were being driven to the Government House in Oshogbo when they were stopped at a military checkpoint by men in military and DSS uniforms, all hooded and armed to the teeth with AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and other weapons.

He continued:” Since there was no curfew in Osun State and people were moving around freely, we felt it was a routine check. ‘’Suddenly, the men, some of them apparently drunk, ordered us out of the car, took our phones, pointed their assault rifles at our heads and said ‘you are under arrest’. They herded us into their bus like animals and drove away. There is no doubt that they knew who we are because I introduced myself! ‘’From our encounter with our tormentors, there is also no doubt that these were not just soldiers and DSS officials; there were also ex-militants and thugs, all clad in military and DSS uniforms but apparently lacking in any training! We also witnessed how men in military and DSS uniform fired their guns at the gate leading to the residence of Senator Isiaka Adeleke to force it open! ‘’We asked them why we were being arrested, but they ignored our question as they drove for close to one hour before veering into a compound that turned out to be the offices of the DSS. There, we met people who had been previously arrested and stripped of their clothing, many of them bloodied from the beatings to which they must have been subjected. ‘’We were herded to one side as

our tormentors marched around triumphantly, in what could well have been a scene from the Ukraine!

“We were waiting for our turn to be stripped of our apparels and taken along with those who were arrested earlier to the DSS cells when a man who is apparently a senior DSS official intervened and ordered our release. The men who arrested us, apparently unhappy at the order to set us free, rejected the order, until the man asserted his authority and even accompanied us to where we were arrestOmisore ed from.”

He said it was at this point they discovered that their driver had been badly beaten and even robbed of his personal belongings by the same security agents being paid by the taxpayers to protect the citizens. ‘’This arrest is not about Lai Mohammed, Sunday Dare or Afolabi Salisu, whoever we may be, but about the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of Nigerians, ordinary Nigerians, to move around freely, associate with any party of their choice and express their opinions without being molested or arrested.

Mohammed ‘’The way and manner we were harassed, arrested and dehuman- Army is still serving the nation? ized on Friday night show that Ni- Where else in the world is a thug gerian citizens can no longer be commanding disciplined forces? sure that the security agents they ‘’We Lai Mohammed, Sunday encounter on the roads or any- Dare and Afolabi Salisu are just where else are well-trained and fortunate to be alive. The guns highly-disciplined men and wom- pointed at our heads by drunken en in the military, police, DSS and armed men could have gone off! others that we used to know.

Since our arrest took place in the “What we have now are Jona- dark, we could have been driven than’s soldiers, policemen and DSS to an unknown destination and officials who have since stopped shot dead! This is a dangerous working for the nation but are now time for Nigeria and her democthe enforcement arm of the PDP. racy. Irrespective of the outcome ‘’Our party, the APC, has no of the Osun election, democradoubt whatsoever that the de- cy has been dealt a near-mortal pravity being exhibited under blow. 73,000 ‘security agents’, inPresident Jonathan’s watch, in cluding the military, police, DSS, the name of politics, has his im- Civil Defence, ex-militants, thugs primatur. We have no doubt that and murderers, deployed to police elections, which should be a cel- election in just one state? There is ebration of democracy, have now no better indication that we are in been turned to war because of the a militarized democracy.” desperation of President Jonathan to win re-election at all costs. We Akande condemns usage of have no doubt that the anarchic army, SSS for poll minister of state for defence and Meanwhile, former national minister of police affairs, who are chairman of the APC Chief Bisi leading the ‘troops’ in Osun as Akande has condemned the usthey did in Ekiti, are taking their age of key national institutions cue from President Jonathan. for partisan politics, saying that ‘’If those ministers can move it would spell doom for the nation. around freely in Osun and elseSpeaking with LEADERSHIP at where, why can’t other Nigerians, his Ila Orogun country home yesirrespective of the party they be- terday, Akande wondered why all long to? If a PDP hireling like Chris the security organizations in the Uba can be put in the command of country would be involved in con50 soldiers of the Nigerian Army, why should anyone still be un➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 der any illusion that the Nigerian

Why Nasarawa Lawmakers Wanted To Impeach Me – Gov Al-Makura FROM PAGE 5

constitutional laid-down rules in any impeachment process is an infraction of the constitution.

In addition, the governor said

the spontaneous reaction of the people to the attempted impeachment on him shows that he should have been the last person to have experienced an impeachment attempt.

Speaking on whether he will contest the governorship election in 2015, Al-Makura said the people of the state will decide that for him.

“I have had one or two prompt-

ings by admirers and stakeholders in the state clamouring for me to continue what we have started, but I have not made any commitment as at now, because I don’t want the issue of partaking in the

elections to be my own decision.

To have the audacity to do that will appear immodest. One would wait for the stakeholders to intimate us on whether they would want us to continue.”

NEWS 7

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Osun Governorship Election: Aregbesola Wins FROM PAGE 6

ducting an election all in a bid to arrive at a pre-determined agenda.

“It is sad what I am witnessing today. I hope you know the number of security that was deployed for this poll. And they came with a pre-determined agenda. Many of our members are being intimidated, others have been arrested, some are in hiding all because they are desperate to win.

‘I am not happy with the conduct of INEC so far. Many of the NYSC members trained for this exercise have been jettisoned and another set brought in from Abuja. We don’t even know whether they are actually NYSC members.

“In this town last night, more than 40 members of the APC including an 80-year-old man were arrested. The man was taken to Osogbo and later dropped on the road while others were driv-

en away.

“The man did not even know where he was dropped. This is political brigandage, irresponsible governance, unwarranted impunity. This is a threat to democracy. ‘”My generation is on its way out; it is you the young ones that I pity. If this election is rigged, it will be the beginning of the end for our democracy. This desperation towards 2015 is sad,” he said.

He called on INEC to allow the will of the people to prevail, adding that the APC would accept the result if it.

FG’s war on Osun people mustn’t go unchallenged – Falana Lagos lawyer and human rights activists, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) said last night that despite Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s victory

in yesterday’s governorship poll in Osun State, the war declared by the federal government on the people of the state must not go unchallenged.

In a statement he personally issued, Falana noted that an election that was fully militarised to the extent that people were arrested and detained and disenfranchised cannot be said to be credible, fair and free.

According to him, “the deployment of 73,000 armed security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigerian Prisons Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Security and Defence Corps etc. for the election by President Goodluck Jonathan was a declaration of war on the law abiding citizens of Osun State”.

He lamented similar violations

of the law that were cordoned in the recently conducted election in Ekiti state turned out to be the impunity that characterised the governorship election in Osun State yesterday.

He said, “Therefore, Governor Aregbesola as the chief security officer of Osun state must ensure that those who are responsible for the breaches of all aspects of the law and the infringements of the fundamental rights of innocent people are brought to book.

“While congratulating Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his well deserved victory in the Osun state governorship election held on August 9, 2014 the unprecedented militarization of the electoral process should not be left unchallenged”.

Giving instance of human right violations during the election, Falana said more disturbing was the deployment of snippets who were permitted to wear masks, adding

that “the criminal elements engaged in shooting sporadically into the air to intimidate the people of Osun State.

“On the eve of the election they arrested many people who did not commit any offense whatsoever. One of such illegal arrests took place at Oke Ila in Ifedayo local government where an 80-year old lawyer, Chief Dapo Fakayode and 50 other people were taken to an unknown destination.

“They were eventually traced to the compound of a retired army captain at a neighboring town where they were held incommunicado throughout the duration of the election. Through my appeal to the Police Authorities Chief Fakayode was released unconditionally after he had spent over 10 hours in illegal custody.

But the 50 others were held illegally and prevented from exercising their democratic right to vote for the candidates of their choice.

Shell Records Massive Oil Spill On Its Nembe Creek

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

A major oil spill has occurred at a Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, (SPDC), oil pipeline between the Santa-Barbara and Tego Rivers in Owuanga-Toru of Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The cause of the incident is

yet to be ascertained as at press time but the company is pushing for investigation and mitigation exercise.

Shell has confirmed the spill, which members of the affected communities described as “massive.”

“On August 6, 2014, the SPDC JV observed a leak on a section of the Nembe Creek

Trunkline (NCTL) at Owangia community, Akuku-Toru LGA in Rivers State.

“The impacted section has been shut down, preparatory to investigation into the cause of the leak and repairs. Some tools suspected to have been used for crude theft activities were recovered in the area,” Shell Nigeria spokesman, Mr. Precious

Okolobor said.

Community secretary of Owuanga-Toru Community, Alabo Fiola, who first confirmed the development said, “the oil spills suspected to have come from SPDC facilities in the area, has affected fishing and the other uses of the river.”

He attributed the spillage to the activities of vandals, while

appealing for relief materials for the affected communities.

Some members of the affected communities described the spill as massive, but, Shell said the volume of oil involved is yet to be ascertained.

Okolobor said a Joint Investigative Visit would be conducted to the area to establish the extent of damage to the pipeline.

Gwoza Wives Protest: Don’t Send Our Husbands To Fight With Old Weapons

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Angry wives of soldiers in the 7 Division of the Nigeria Army in Maiduguri yesterday staged a subtle mutiny as they stood against the deployment of their husbands to Gwoza with obsolete arms, insider military sources revealed to LEADERSHIP Sunday.

The 7 Division had wanted a fresh set of soldiers to go to Gwoza and rescue the seized town from the Boko Haram terrorists who are holding sway in that part of the state Following the sack of Gwoza by Boko Haram terrorists on Wednesday, soldiers in the Maimalari and Giwa barracks under the 7 Division had confirmed that more than 50 soldiers were given a mass burial at the Maimalari barracks yesterday afternoon.

The sight of those soldiers killed in action by Boko Haram due to what many soldiers said was “poor and obsolete equipment” had however irked many wives and wards of the soldiers who believed that their husbands and fathers were being pushed to the slaughter with faulty weapons that didn’t match the sophistication of the Boko Haram terrorists.

While the women in the barracks joined their women col-

leagues who had been turned to widows to mourn the death of their husbands, the 7 Division was said to have announced the deployment of yet another batch of soldiers to return to Gwoza.

While some of the soldiers who had demonstrated the willingness to combat the Boko Haram if given better equipment expressed their non-readiness to obey the order, hundreds of wives and children of the soldiers took to the streets of the barracks to stop such order until the authorities equipped their husbands with better arms and vehicles.

The women in Giwa barracks of the 21 Armoured Brigade, Maiduguri, barricaded the roads leading out of the barracks while some went and locked the main entrance gate of the barracks, locking out everyone. They insisted that none of their husbands or men would go out of the barracks in respect of Gwoza.

Some of the women and children were heard chanting “We no go gree o, we no go gree!”

LEADERSHIP Sunday was told that when the regimental sergeant major (RSM) and the garrison commander tried to stop them from protesting, the women turned their anger towards them even as the two officers alongside other ranked soldiers

had to take to their heels.

Though the barracks was made inaccessible to civilians at the time of the protest, which dragged up to the late evening hours, some of the angry soldiers who shared the sentiments of the women were able to brief some journalists on the development.

Showing the video and photographs of what was going on in the barracks, as captured in their camera phones, some non-commissioned ranked soldiers said “the women are right; we have no better weapons; most of our rifles are obsolete, most of our vehicles are not serviceable, yet they want to us to and face the Boko Haram who are armed with modern equipment”.

One of the soldiers, whose name and rank cannot be mentioned, for his own safety and job security, said, “Look at my rifle; even if you are not a professional, you will notice that it has long seen better days; at times when we fire they don’t respond; when we complain no one listens. Our superiors would only tell you ‘gentlemen let’s go’ without caring if we are well armed; that is why we always record massive casualty most of the time we go on operation.

Gwoza residents protest gov negligence

Members of Gwoza community in Maiduguri as well as those residing in the captured community currently under the conquest of the Boko Haram terrorists had yesterday staged a massive protest that turned out bloody.

A trigger happy police officer at the Government House Maiduguri fired some shots at the protesters that landed a 26 years old man in the intensive care unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching hospital where doctors are still battling to save him from bullet injury in his skull.

The protesters who are members of Gwoza were lamenting the plight of their displaced people, some of whom have died but not buried, and many others still held up in the mountains starving to death.

The soldiers in Gwoza had since retreated back to Maiduguri after Boko Haram gunmen had attacked them, killing scores and taking over most of their abandoned weapons.

The protesters, who stormed the streets of Maiduguri in their multitudes, defied the police order that such protest must not hold.

Most them were women who dared police officers to shoot at them until they made their way to the gate of the government house Maiduguri where attempted to enter before the police man opened fired that brought the 26 years old

Shettima

man down.

Undeterred by the near tragedy, the protesters stood their grounds for hours, until they were later allowed into the precinct of the Deputy Governor’s office where they also waited to be attended.

But when the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha, showed up to receive them, the procession went wild in anger as they accused the state government of being partial on tribal lines to send them the Deputy who is of Southern Borno when the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, was in town.

Efforts to pacify them failed, until the Deputy Governor later pleaded that he would ensure the governor attended to them if they would conduct themselves well.

8

Sunday, August 10, 2014

news across the states 9

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Okirie Commends PDP In Rivers

A frontline politician in Rivers State, Chief Chukwuma Chinwa Okirie, has commended the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state under the leadership of Bro Felix Obuah for the support the party has given to President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid.

Okirie made this known at Omoku town, the headquarters of Ogba/ Egbema / Ndoni local government area at the weekend when the party opened the campaign office of President Goodluck Jonathan in the local government area. While thanking the state chairman for his support, Okirie stated that with the support the president has received from the party in the state, there was even no need for him to come and campaign personally.

“With the tremendous support the people of the state have accorded the president, I think he should go and rest. It is even immaterial if he comes to campaign personally because the people of the state are behind him. We will give him the traditional 100 per cent votes we have always given our presidential aspirants,” he said.

He assured Rivers people that the PDP was the best option for them, stating that the state has a lot to benefit from a PDP-led administration both at the federal and state levels. He warned Rivers people against falling for the antics of the APC, especially since the party at the national level has shown disdain for Rivers people in all ramifications.

By Ejike O. Ejike, Abuja

Group Faults Bauchi APC State, Ward Congresses

A political group under the aegis of Bauchi Youth Political Awareness has condemned the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward and state congresses in Bauchi, saying the chairman of the state congress committee (SCC), Dr Almajiri Gaidam, was brought in to favour certain interests.

Speaking on behalf of the group in Abuja yesterday, Saminu Ahmed Lee noted that the composition of both the state and local government congress committees failed to comply with the guidelines as provided by the party’s constitution.

“Apart from this, the wrongful inclusion of contestants in both the ward and local government congresses was reported to Dr Almajiri Gaidam earlier enough but he still went ahead with the conduct of the congresses.

“To ensure that their agenda was distorted, contract for printing and supply of ballot papers for the congresses was awarded to a group supported by those who made Gaidam chairman of the state congress committee,” he said.

Lee added that the aggrieved members of APC in the state had earlier submitted three petitions on the matter to the national leadership of the party.

By Ekele Peter Agbo, Abuja

Delta: Man, 60, Defiles 13-year-old Girl

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A 60-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly defiling a 13-year old girl in Ogiedi-Elume town in Sapele local government area of Delta State.

The investigating police officer (IPO) of the case, Corporal Paschal, said the suspect (name

withheld) allegedly committed the offence on July 20, 2014 and that the matter has been taken to Magistrate’s Court 1 in the area. He said the offence is punishable under Section 218 of the Nigerian constitution.

Information reaching LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that the 13-year-old girl had always stopped over at the suspect’s

house for the act whenever she was sent on an errand. This continued until she could no longer bear the situation and therefore reported the case to her parents which led to the arrest of the man.

Speaking to newsmen in his office, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Sapele area, Sale Rijau, decried the rampant cases of

rape of minors in the locality and called for caution.

“I want to specially urge you journalists to carry out an aggressive campaign and sensitisation of the effects and implications of rape by the elderly on minors. There is hardly a day without one report of such case in this police station and it is bad and wicked”, he decried.

L-R: Founder of the Youth Global Forum, Mr Moses Siloko Siasia; finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; President Goodluck Jonathan and the chairman of Mainstay Global Links Water Treatment, Mr Promise Amahah at the first Nigerian Young Professionals International Summit at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN.

FG Urged To Tackle Farmers, Herdsmen Clashes

By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has called on the federal government to tackle, with all seriousness, the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria which has resulted to death of countless numbers of people, the same way insurgency is being tackled, because it involves loss of human lives.

Governor Aliyu who made this call at a one day symposium with the theme, “Farmer and herdsmen clashes: Fostering peaceful coexistence,” put together by interest groups in collaboration with Orange Shelter Foundation in Abuja,

said that there was the need for the fight against the crisis to be taken seriously, because it is mostly women and children that become victims when there are communal conflicts.

Aliyu who was the keynote speaker at the symposium which was organised to raise funds for the victims of farmers and herdsmen clashes, further added that giving the girlchild proper education and also giving women needed opportunities in the society would help to empower them and make them less victims of conflicts in future.

“Things would improve if only the government at all levels will take the responsibili-

ty of giving women the opportunity to belong in the society through rightful empowerment and other preventive measures to avert this problem.

“There has always been an existing relationship between the farmers and herdsmen.

The farmers were always looking forward to the herdsmen to stay on their farms due to the natural manure gotten from cattle. Also, the herdsmen were always looking forward that at the end of the harvest, the leftover is there for the cattle to feed on. But today, the reverse is the case. There is the need for Nigerians to go back to the old values of being our brother’s keepers,” he said.

Niger East By-election: Ex-deputy Gov Emerges PDP Candidate

By Abu Nmodu Minna

The former deputy governor of Niger State, Dr Shem Nuhu Zagbayi yesterday emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Niger East senatorial district bye-election. He defeated Hon Abdullahi Musa at the primary of the party held at the party’s secretariat in Minna.

Zagbayi defeated Musa by 372 votes as against 14 votes of Musa in the primary of about 387 delegates from 99 wards of the nine lo-

cal government areas of the senatorial district.

The Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who is also from the senatorial district, voted as one of the delegates; he admonished the delegates to vote according to their conscience.

Governor Aliyu said that he would support anybody who emerges as the candidate of his party (PDP), adding that all members of the party should ensure that they work for the good of the party in accordance with the wish of

the people.

Speaking after he was declared the winner, Zagbayi thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed on him and promised that though he was elected as the flag bearer of the party, he would not do it alone, hence would carry his cocontestants at the primary along.

He said he would involve Hon Musa in all his affairs to make sure that the people of Niger East senatorial district are given the desired leadership at the Senate if elected at the senatorial election.

Senate Panel Slams Ex-Senator Waku Over Bribe For Bill Allegation Senate Rules and Business Committee yesterday blasted former Senator Joseph Waku over his allegation that the committee takes bribe before listing any bill for consideration.

In a press statement in Abuja, chairman of the committee, Senator Ita Enang, asked Senator Waku to withdrew the allegation and name the senator who informed him of the so-called bribe for bill by the committee.

Waku who served between 1999 - 2003 claimed he was informed by a serving senator that “he could not sponsor any bill because to sponsor a bill, a senator may have to compromise the Rules and Business Committee to get it listed”.

Enang in the statement declared that as the chairman with Senate President David Mark the committee has and will always maintain the highest standard of decency and fairness to all senators and believes in the equality of all senators.

The statement read in part: “The attention of the Senate Rules and Business Committee has been drawn to a statement in a newspaper interview of Sunday credited to Sen Waku who served between 1999 - 2003 wherein he did cast aspersions and insinuations on the Rules and Business Committee of the Senate.

By Uchenna Awom, Abuja

10 news across the states

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Uduaghan’s Aide, Monarch Burnt In Auto Crash

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Special Adviser on information and communications technology (ICT), Mr Sunny Ofili, and the Obi of Issele-Uku yesterday along Asaba-Onitsha Express road were roasted to death in an auto crash which occurred few metres away from Issele-Azagba community along the expressway.

Reports said that the Obi whose name could not be immediately ascertained, and the special adviser, were heading towards Asaba after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries ahead of the local government elections slated for October 2014.

Unconfirmed sources said that the Obi and the special adviser were allegedly disillusioned in anger when the primaries results ended in selection and not in their favour.

They were said to have been heading to Asaba to lay official complaints over the alleged irregularities that heralded the primaries in Issele-Uku when the unexpected happened.

Those in the know hinted that the Obi was ill-advised and had prepared for favourable results that was invariably a failure when he allegedly got angry and drove himself in a Land Cruser SUV with the special adviser.

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Seek Legislation That Removes Age Barrier, Jonathan Tells Youths The President and Commander-InChief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has advised the Nigerian youths to push for legislation that will repeal the age stipulations in the current Nigerian constitution which places age barriers on seeking election into public offices.

The president stated this yesterday in his keynote address at a summit organised by a frontline youth organisation known as Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (FYPF) held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. This was in response to the demand for 35% affirmative action in government’s appointment by the chairman/founder of the organisation, Mr Moses Siloko Siasia.

While delivering his speech, Siasia, who commended and thanked President Jonathan for the support he has been giving to the youths since he assumed office, lamented that youths, considering their numerical strength and potentials, are denied the opportunity of contributing meaningfully to national development through denied access to public offices.

President Jonathan who did not buy the idea of affirmative action said youths who constitute about 60 percent of the population deserve even more than 35 percent space.

By Abah Adah, Abuja

A young lad carrying a basin of water from borehole provided by MDGs /CGS at Fufore, Adamawa State. Photo

by Patrick Ebi Amanama.

Identify Strangers In Your Domain – Sultan

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

As the rave of insecurity continues almost unabated in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA), Sa’ad Abubakar III has introduced a new surveillance measure to curb the menace.

The Sultan admonished district heads across the state to monitor newcomers to their domains and also report same to the relevant traditional rulers. He advised that a

monthly data of happenings within their domains be reported for further analysis.

Charging the traditional rulers to sensitise their subjects on the necessity of monitoring and supervising schools within their domains, the Sultan urged the traditional rulers to set up committees in the hamlets, villages, wards, districts and local government levels to help in routine evaluation of development in their localities.

In a communiqué signed by the

Secretary to the Sultanate Council, Alhaji Attahiru Hussaini and made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday, he urged district heads to strive towards monitoring government projects aimed at improving standard of living within their domains.

“There is the need for the district heads to set up a committee at the district, village and hamlet levels. This is with the view to take more care of government development projects in their respective domains”.

Obasanjo Destroyed PDP Zoning – Ciroma

BY MIDAT JOSEPH, Kaduna

A former minister of finance and a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Adamu Ciroma yesterday accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other PDP leaders of truncating the zoning agreement just to support President Goodluck Jonathan.

The elder statesman who disclosed this while featuring as the guest of the week on Liberty Radio monitored in Kaduna said former President Obasanjo presided over the meeting where it was agreed that power be ro-

tated between the north and south.

He however, expressed surprise at the sudden change of mind following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, adding that this insincerity on the part of leaders made him to lose interest in Nigerian politics.

He said, he lost interest in the political affairs of the country and the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the party leaders, instead of agreeing on somebody from the north to complete Yar’Adua’s term, they all ensured that Jonathan become the President and

since the leaders departed from this agreement, he said he lost interest in the politics of the country.

“I was there when the party was moving the presidency between the north and the south. And this president was there when General Obasanjo presided over the agreement in the PDP which agreed that the movement of the president from north to south should be based on two terms. President Obasanjo did his two terms on behalf of the south, and Yar’Adua was doing his first term on behalf of the north but unfortunately he died”, he said.

Ebola: FG Bans Movement of Corpses Across States

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

The federal minister of state for Health, Dr. Khalliru Alhassan has said that federal government has banned movement of dead bodies from one state of the federation to another for burial.

Speaking during the opening of the 3rd quarter meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care Delivery at Africa House in Kano yesterday, the minister

said that all dead bodies would be buried wherever they died so that the chances of transporting the problems either from within or outside would be curtailed.

“We institute a control measures, henceforth dead bodies will not be allowed to be transported from one part of the country to another” he said.

The minister added that the federal government suspended bringing corpse from outside the country, the three African coun-

tries of Sierre Leone, Liberia in particular, saying in case of any Nigerian who may died in the infected countries should be buried there, regardless of his position.

Dr. Khalliru Alhassan noted that Kano business community is at risk of contracting Ebola virus considering that they receive businessmen and women from many West African countries daily and visits their countries as well.

Nigeria’ll Benefit From Jonathan’s Participation At US-Africa Summit – Uzodimma Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma has at the weekend commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s outing at the concluded three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, saying the country will benefit immensely even as it has further enhanced the position of Nigeria in the comity of nations.

Responding to reporters’ questions at Dr Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri at the weekend, Senator Uzodimma noted that the summit had further strengthened ties between the United States and Nigeria.

He added that Jonathan’s presence at the summit had advanced the two countries shared interests in trade and investment and highlighted America’s commitment to Nigeria’s security, its democratic development and people.

According to him, the summit reflected the common ambition that the people and government of the United States share with Nigeria in a bid to leave Nigeria better for her future generations by making concrete gains in peace and security, good governance and economic development.

The Senator further said that following the extensive consultations the president had with various interest groups and investors, there were high prospects of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country which in the long run would check the unemployment and security challenges being faced by the country.

By Ejike O. Ejike, Abuja

NEWS ANALYSIS 11

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Jonathan

Obama

US-Africa Summit: Gains And Reality For Nigeria

By ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York

Many would think that the justconcluded US-Africa Summit in Washington DC was a huge waste of resources as a result of the fat delegation that went with President Goodluck Jonathan, while some would see it as a fulfillment of President Barack Obama’s electioneering promises for Africa, but little would they understand about what Nigeria stands to gain from the well-attended summit which ended last Wednesday.

Obama’s election in 2008 as the first African American President sparked huge expectations in Nigeria and the entire Africa, and there was a strong expectation that the son of a Kenyan academic who through his writings demonstrated some emotional attachments to the continent of his root would have a strong policy on Africa.

By the time his first term ended, some African academics were openly expressing their disappointment with Obama’s attitude to Africa. By 2012, the EU and China had formalised regular contact with Africa. The Chinese had established a regular annual forum for contact with Africa known as the Forum on China and Africa “China-FOCAC”. The EU-Africa regular summit had been established since 2000. Indeed, the fourth EU-African Summit in Brussels this year adopted a roadmap for Africa’s development 2014-2017. By the time Obama’s first term expired, the only major contact with Africa was the visit in 2009 to Ghana.

As the Head of Africa programme at Washington Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jennifer Cooke observed “Many other global players, including China, Malaysia, Brazil, India, Europe are making big plays in Africa’s commercial and trade domain, and the U.S. is being kind of slow to catch up to that”.

A school of thought believes that Obama’s lack of action in Africa should be understood within

the context of the reality of American economic and political situation in 2008. The country was in the midst of an economic crisis, a deep fiscal crisis, and tremendous domestic wrangles over healthcare, Iraq and Afghanistan. Apart from that, Presidential historian, Allan Lichtman said “Obama wanted to be seen as an American President rather than as an African-American President. He very much wanted to be seen as the President of all the people and not only as a president concerned with issues of particular interest to African-Americans. The belief in many quarters was that if Obama had demonstrated too much interests and concern in Africa, his problem with the conservative right would have been much more complicated. He might have had a more difficult road to re-election.

But in spite of the above factors, the African blood in Obama coupled with the need to have a safe, secured and stable Africa as an important component of a peaceful world tended to have made Obama to be thinking of an active African policy during his tenure and even after. This is reinforced by the apparent paradigm shift in global attitude towards Africa.

The international community now sees Africa as the next frontier for investors. Over the past decade, six African countries including Nigeria were among the world’s top 10 growing economies with most of them not even relying on natural resources.

Despite the global melt down, Africa grew by about 4% on average in 2013 compared to 3% for the global economy. Growth in subSaharan Africa is projected to be about 5.8% in 2014. Within a decade, Africa turned from unpromising overly risky continent into a rising one.

The coming to Washington of about 45 African leaders in response to President Obama’s invitation is the clearest evidence of Obama’s commitment to security,

peace and prosperity of the continent.

The US-Africa Summit, the first of its kind in the history of America’s relations, was a high watermark in United States relations with Nigeria and other African countries.

The summit came as an avenue for President Jonathan to clear some controversies surrounding how his administration had handled the security situation of the country, most especially the issue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

Ever before the August summit, it had been in the media severally that the United States government would be withholding its bilateral assistance from Nigeria as a result of what was termed ‘slow federal government’s response’ to the fate of the victims of terrorist attacks in the country.

The said bilateral assistance include regional security, Niger Delta issues, electoral process, infrastructure and many others.

But the summit provided an opportunity for the president to inform the US government and other US arms of government on the positive roles that his administration had played to downplay the activities of terrorists in the country.

It would be recalled that Dr Goodluck Jonathan had told the US Vice President, Mr Joe Biden, during a bilateral meeting between the duo at the White House that his government had done all it could and would still do more to secure the release of the kidnapped students.

It could easily be understood that President Jonathan’s explanations on the security issues during the summit will go a long way in making the US to rescind its decision to withhold its assistance from Nigeria. That is if there was such decision as reported in the media in the first place.

During the summit, President Obama and his Deputy assured the American government would not forsake Nigeria despite its chal-

lenges. They made mention of the fact that Nigeria is the most strategic partner of their administration in the entire African continent.

The four-day meeting which included a civil society forum with discussions on investment in health, women, food, security and power also provided a high-octane conference to stimulate trade and investments in Nigeria and its counterparts in Africa.

Another gain that Nigeria will benefit is the fact that President Jonathan and his team were brought in contact with American companies chief executives who intensively discussed investment opportunities in Nigeria.

Power Africa, a privately funded plan to bring electricity to 20 million households across sub-Saharan Africa which was pushed by the White House, is another importance that the summit has on Nigeria.

It would be recalled that six African countries have been selected for the project; Nigeria is first on the list. Companies have pledged $9 billion.

Apart from the announcement of the White House to provide more support for Africa as regards Power Africa initiative, Obama also announced to African leaders his new initiative for African youths which is currently known as the Washington Fellowship for African Young Leaders. It is designed to give 500 young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa leadership training at American universities, as well as the chance to meet with government officials, entrepreneurs and civil society members from the United States.

Out of the 500 fellows selected for participation from 50 African countries, Nigeria alone has 45 participants. They were received by the embassy two weeks ago.

Apart from this, the summit afforded discussions on peace and security where Nigeria made some important contributions to the debate.

During the summit, President Obama and his Deputy assured the American government would not forsake Nigeria despite its challenges

12

foreign

Sunday, August 10, 2014

news

Supporters of Muhammad Tahirul Qadri, Sufi cleric and leader of political party Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), chant slogans as they wave sticks during a protest in Lahore on Friday. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza.

➋ ➌

➍➊

➊ US Airstrikes Target Iraq

Militants

MOSUL, Iraq - The US unleashed airstrikes in northern Iraq against militants of the Islamic State group amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The extremists took captive hundreds of women from a religious minority, according to an Iraqi official, while thousands of other civilians fled in fear.

Many of America’s allies backed the US intervention, pledging urgent steps to assist the legions of refugees and displaced people.

Those in jeopardy included thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority whose plight trapped on a mountaintop by the militants - prompted the US to airdrop crates of food and water to them.

The extremists’ “campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities, and its grotesque and targeted acts of violence bear all the warning signs and hallmarks of genocide,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry. “For anyone who needed a wake-up call, this is it.”

Underscoring the sense of alarm, a spokesman for Iraq’s human rights ministry said hundreds of Yazidi women had been seized by the militants.

Kamil Amin said some of the women were being held in schools in Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul.

“We think that the terrorists by now consider them slaves and they have vicious plans for them,” he said.

➋ More Airstrikes As Gaza Truce Ends GAZA STRIP - Israeli airstrikes hit more than 20 targets yesterday in the Gaza Strip, as militant rocket fire continued towards Israel following the collapse of a three-day truce aimed at ending the war between Israel and Hamas.

The Islamic militants resumed their rocket attacks on Friday shortly before the 72-hour truce expired, drawing a wave of retaliatory airstrikes that killed at least five Palestinians. The fighting shattered a brief calm in the month-long war and dealt a blow to Egyptian-led efforts to secure a long-term ceasefire between the bitter enemies.

Hamas officials said the Israel airstrikes hit houses, mosques, its warehouses and training sites. A handful of rockets landed in Israel.

More than 1,900 Gazans have been killed in the four-week war, roughly three-quarters of them civilians, according to Palestinian and

United Nations officials. Israel disputes that breakdown, saying more militants have been killed. Sixtyseven people have been killed on the Israeli side, including three civilians.

The war grew out of the killing of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank in June. Israel blamed the killings on Hamas and launched a massive arrest campaign, rounding up hundreds of its members in the West Bank, as Hamas and other militants unleashed rocket fire from Gaza.

On July 8, Israel launched an air campaign on the coastal territory, sending in ground troops nine days later to target rocket launchers and cross-border tunnels built

by Hamas for attacks inside Israel.

Hamas, which violently seized control of Gaza in 2007, rejected several cease-fire offers throughout the fighting.

➌

4 Dead, 500 Arrested As Pakistani Police, Protesters Clash

LAHORE, Pakistan - Violence flared in several towns and cities in Pakistan yesterday between police and supporters of an anti-government cleric, killing at least four people and injuring scores, police and witnesses said.

Activist cleric Tahir ul-Qadri called off a large protest rally planned in Lahore today. Following a police crack down, he urged supporters to hold smaller protests in their home towns instead. “Pick up the bodies of the martyred and keep the bodies of the injured before you but protest peacefully,” Qadri said in a televised address. “The government wants a massacre in the name of a crackdown.”

The violence, which started on

Friday, exacerbated tensions ahead of the Lahore demonstration. Qadri had planned to protest against deadly clashes between his supporters and police in June. He has also condemned the government as corrupt and called for the overthrow of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

A separate protest, led by opposition politician Imran Khan, is planned for the capital on Thursday to protest alleged election irregularities. He has also called for the government to go.

The planned demonstrations have unnerved Sharif’s fledgling civilian government. The nuclear-armed nation of 180 million has a history of coups and street protests. Some members of the

ruling party fear the protesters may be getting support from elements in the powerful military, which has had a series of disagreements with the government. The military denies meddling in politics.

Security was tight in Lahore on Saturday with police manning checkpoints throughout the eastern city, the home town of both Qadri and the prime minister, and the capital of Punjab, the country’s richest province.

Around 500 Qadri supporters had been arrested, said Nabeela Ghazanfar, the provincial police spokeswoman, and more than 100 police injured. The paramilitary Rangers force patrolled the streets.

➍ Egypt Court Dissolves Muslim Brotherhood’s Political Wing CAIRO, Egypt - An Egyptian court yesterday dissolved the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political wing of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, dealing a crippling blow in the campaign to crush Egypt’s oldest Islamist movement.

Reuters reported that a court banned the Muslim Brotherhood itself in September, but that ruling did not mention its political wing, leaving open the possibility it could be allowed to run in parliamentary elections, due late this year.

Yesterday’s supreme administrative court ruling excludes the Brotherhood from formal participation in electoral politics, potentially forcing the movement underground, particularly as it has lost the sympathy of large swathes of the public. The court’s ruling called for the FJP to be dissolved and its assets seized by the state. Its decision is final and cannot be appealed, a judicial source said.

The FJP’s lawyer called the ruling political and said it was unconstitutional to deprive the defense of the right to appeal. “The legal reasons given do not justify this ruling but this is a political

decision to get rid, not just of the Freedom and Justice Party, but of all the parties that were established after the revolution of January 25, 2011,” lawyer Mahmoud Abou al-Aynayn told Reuters.

“I expect other parties to be dissolved too.” The Muslim Brotherhood, once Egypt’s oldest, best organised and most successful political movement, has seen hundreds of its members killed and thousands detained since then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi overthrew elected president and Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsi 13 months ago, following weeks of protest.

Morsi, who ruled for a year, and other Brotherhood officials were rounded up in the wake of his ousting and hundreds have been sentenced to death in mass court rulings that have drawn criticism from Western governments and human rights groups.

Sisi, who went on to win a presidential election in May, vowed during his campaign the Brotherhood would cease to exist under his rule. The FJP was established in June 2011, in the aftermath of the uprising that removed Hosni Mubarak from power after

30 years and inspired hopes for more pluralistic politics in Egypt.

It went on to win parliamentary and presidential elections, but many Egyptians became disillusioned with Morsi after he gave himself sweeping powers and mismanaged the economy, taking to the streets in protest and prompting the army move against him. But the leading lights of the 2011 uprising, many of them secular youth activists, have also found themselves on the wrong side of the new political leadership, many of them receiving long sentences for breaching a new anti-protest law by taking part in small and peaceful gatherings. The government accuses the Brotherhood of inciting violence and terrorism.

Egypt’s state and private media now portray the Brotherhood as a terrorist group and an enemy of the state. The Brotherhood maintains it is a peaceful movement but attacks by militants have risen since the army overthrew Morsi. Most of the violence has taken place in the Sinai Peninsula near the border with Israel and the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The army has responded with air and ground attacks.

13

cover story Sunday, August 10, 2014

Health workers with a dead Ebola virus victim.

F There has not been any report of Ebola outbreak in Benin Republic or even Togo...

I think, the concern to close the border will become more realistic when countries like Benin and Togo become culpable countries

ollowing reported infection of the female doctor who treated the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who brought Ebola virus into the shores of Nigeria, and the news of the death of one of the nurses who treated him, Nigerians have started heeding to the advice of maintaining hygienic lifestyle.

In Lagos, where the virus first berthed, the people have taken to the use of bitter-kola as a way of reducing the spread of the virus. This is consequential to the advice credited to a professor of pharmacology, Maurice Iwu, who posited that bitter-kola is useful in the treatment of flu.

At the popular Bariga market, the price of bitter-kola has suddenly skyrocketed. This was disclosed by Mrs Jumoke Oso, a bitter-kola seller at the market. According to her, since the rumour broke last Saturday, people have been rushing the kola, leading to high demand and price increase. She however said that they still sold at the normal price for now. This demand has led to the scarcity of the product in the market now.

Also, the elite in the state are taking to the use of hand gels which have antibiotic elements in them, making these brands of cream more expensive in the market now. Hand gels, which normally sold in some stores, seemed to have almost disappeared from the shelves with increasing demand. Normally priced within N200 and N230, the increasing demand for the product has made it almost hard to find these days. The product became scarce at the Ikeja Shopping Mall as most of the stores there did not have hand gels on their shelves.

Confusion, Apathy As Fear Of Ebola Virus Spreads Nationwide As the news of the deadly Ebola virus disease spread state governments have started massive sensitisation campaigns to curb the spread of the disease. ARONKE OLAYIWOLA, samuel abulude, BUKOLA IDOWU Lagos; Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin ; SAM EGWU, Lokoja; SOLOMON AYADO, Makurdi; ACHOR ABIMAJE,Jos; Tope Fayehun, Akure; Abubakar Salihi, Kano; Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan; JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo; Mike Ubani, Enugu; Mathias Nwogu, Umuahia; Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri, write on the measures taken by the states to forestall the scourge.

Likewise, some other stalls visited by LEADERSHIP Sunday showed that the price had increased slightly.

The development has also led to a new product called “Ebola Cleansing Hand Gel” priced at N600 and purportedly sold at the Alaba International Market in Ojo axis of Lagos. The advert for the purchase of the product floods some social media.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos for example, port health personnel have been deployed to the two arrival halls for the purpose of testing arriving passengers for signs and symptoms of the deadly virus.

Passengers, especially those coming in from West African countries, are processed first by port health personnel who carry out necessary

tests on every passenger with special devices that do not permit physical contact. Those found to be free of any signs or symptoms would proceed to the immigration area for other formalities.

A holding area has also been provided at the tarmac for suspected cases, while key cases are expected to be isolated in a designated area outside the airport for further examinations and treatments.

A customs officer who pleaded anonymity at the Seme border said, “So far, there has not been any report of Ebola outbreak in Benin Republic or even Togo. It is not even in Ghana yet. I think, the concern to close the border will become more realistic when countries like Benin and Togo become culpable countries. But for now, movement is still as usual.”

Nollywood star, Jim Ikechukwu Esomugha, popularly known as Jim Iyke, has cleared the air on his decision to leave Liberia due to the Ebola scourge. The actor made headlines recently over a post he made on Instagram about the outbreak of Ebola while he was in Liberia. “I have been screened where and when necessary along with the other passengers and I believe it is the responsibility of every citizen to be vigilant and help contain the outbreak by following the advice of the local and international medical professionals and government officials,” he added.

In its bid to curb the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Kwara State, the government has concluded arrangements to train health workers on how to recognise and manage the disease.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday on the preventive measures the government has put in place to check the spread of Ebola virus in the state, the chairman of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the state, Mrs Asiat Saka, explained that the planned training will assist health workers to identify suspected Ebola cases and know how to report to their various clinics, adding that the government was planning to procure personal preventive equipment which health workers can wear in managing cases ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14 COVER STORY

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Confusion, Apathy As Fear Of Ebola Virus Spreads Nationwide ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

We want to let you know that we have the manpower, the muscle, and our specialists have put heads together to manage the situation

notification officers in all the local government areas have been alerted and sensitised to promptly respond to the outbreak,” he said, adding that a sensitization programme had been organised for a similar purpose.

He was optimistic that the public enlightenment would prevent Ebola disease from spreading in the state, saying that its causes, modes of transmission and steps to be taken in case of outbreak, had already commenced in form of sensitization of traditional healers, religious and community members, as well as through airing of jingles and distribution of posters.

Gbedegesin highlighted the signs and symptoms of the disease to include onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, conjunctivitis, hiccups, dyspepsia followed by vomiting, diarrhoea and rash.

While assuring the people of the effective monitoring of the situation, he, however, urged them to take any suspected case to any nearby public health facility for adequate care.

A medical personnel at the University College Hospital (UCH), Mrs Rachael Fagbohun, expressed regret over the outbreak of the disease, saying that the earlier a vaccine for the cure is available, the better. She called on government at all levels and stakeholders in the health sector to do all within their purvey to curb the spread of the disease and provide a cure.

As most states of the federation are working very hard to curtail the spread of Ebola virus in their domains, the Ekiti State government is not lagging behind as well, as measures are being put in place to avert the spread. The government, non-governmental organisations and the people seemed aware of the risk involved in contracting the deadly viral disease and are taking steps to avoid it.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) embarked on Ebola virus awareness programme in the state.

At one of its sensitisation programmes held at the popular Oja-Oba in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the agency while urging the people to take their personal hygiene seriously, advised meat sellers to always cover their goods in order not to expose the buyers to the viral disease.

The commissioner for health in Ekiti state, Professor Olusola Fasubaa, while calling on the residents of the state to be vigilant and report any suspicious cases to health facility nearest to them, said a committee has been put in place by the government to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Such cases, according to him, should be reported at the Okemesi, Ifaki and Ode Ekiti general hospitals spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The commissioner, who disclosed that the committee comprised of various relevant stakeholders, said death certificate must be obtained for all corpses from the government health facilities, as security agencies have been authorised to ensure proper screening of corpses entering or leaving the state.

Fasubaa listed vomiting with or without diarrhea and bleeding with or without dehydration as some of the symptoms of the diseases.

Telephone numbers of the heads of the state health ministry, hospitals management board, director of disease control agency and permanent secretaries were released to the public in event of emergency concerning the Ebola virus outbreak.

A food seller at the Oja-Oba market in Ado-Ekiti, Mrs Feyisayo Adekunke, said she avoids body contacts with people ever since the outbreak of the disease was reported. According to her, she also shuns large gatherings to avoid undesired contacts with people.

In Osun State, the commissioner for health, Dr Temitope Ilori, said the state has not recorded any case of the dreaded Ebola virus in the state, stating that a media interaction organised by the ministry of health to sensitize the people of Osun about the virus was ongoing.

The commissioner said the press conference became imperative for people to be aware that the virus is real and endeavour to know their status, stressing that efforts are on by the Federal Government and Lagos State government to stem the tide.

She charged the people to report any case of fever that comes with bleeding for necessary action in terms of isolation or quarantine to be taken.

The commissioner stated that protective garments like gloves, face masks, aprons and other items have been provided for workers.

Meanwhile, the state broadcasting station is already sensitising the public on the symptoms of the dreaded disease and the necessary precautions.

Religious organisations are already organizing special prayer sessions to stem the trend of the spread of the virus.

Although the commissioner in charge of health has given Osun State a clean bill of health on the virus, yet medical practitioners in the state who are conscious of its penetration to Nigeria have started using the materials provided by the ministry of health such as gloves and others to prevent further spread of the infection.

In the Southeastern part of the country, the story is similar. The fear of contracting Ebola virus has become the beginning of wisdom.

Several people in the region have become wary of handshake. Not a few in the region have replaced the practice of handshake with what they describe as “knuckle” greeting, a practice whereby both sides knock each other with their hands closed.

Manifestation of a full blown Ebola virus.

But this may not be a solution to preventing the dreaded disease from spreading.

The morbid fear among residents in the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, that the dreaded disease might spread to the region has led governments in these states to come up with proactive measures to forestall any outbreak of the disease in their respective states.

In Imo state, the official position of the state government on the issue is that citizens should avoid handshakes to avoid contracting the Ebola virus.

While speaking in Owerri, the state commissioner for health, Dr Edward Ihejirika, explained that constant washing of hands after a handshake or physical contact can prevent people from being infected with the virus, while advising residents to avoid travelling to areas where the disease has been detected.

And from Ebonyi State comes the report that though no case of the outbreak of the disease has been reported in the state, the state government is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, National Emergency Response Team, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to ensure the prevention and control of the disease in the event that it spreads into the state. State commissioner for health, Dr Sunday Nwangele, announced that the government had started the reactivation of the rapid response team for effective operations.

Nwangele urged health workers to wear protective devices in the hospital environment, while the people should take precautionary measures, such as regular washing of hands, as well as avoiding contacts with wild animals.

In Enugu, the state commissioner for health, Dr George Eze, disclosed that no case of Ebola disease has been recorded, though he emphasised that measures had been put on ground to guard against the

spread of the disease. “For now, we have not established any Ebola case in Enugu State, but we are guarding against it. We want to let you know that we have the manpower, the muscle, and our specialists have put heads together to manage the situation,” he said.

“Governor Sullivan Chime has always reiterated the need for a healthy state; that is why he has empowered the ministry down the line.”

Meanwhile, the Anambra State government has described as false, the rumours that a corpse of a victim of the deadly Ebola virus was last week brought into the state from Liberia and deposited in a hospital at NkwelleEzunaka community, in Oyi local government area of the state by his family relatives.

However, Professor Allison Anadi, who is leading a medical team, said that his team would not extend its medical services to two communities in the state, MkwelleEzunaka in Oyi and Nando in Anambra East, following rumours of the spread of Ebola virus to the two communities.

Meanwhile, the state commissioner for information, Mr Tony Onyima, told LEADERSHIP Sunday through a phone interview that there was no case of Ebola virus in the state, stating that the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, had already confirmed that the state was totally free from the virus.

He however said that the state government had embarked on sensitising the people through radio and television jingles about the disease and how to avoid contracting it.

According to some of the jingles, the Ebola virus can be contracted through bodily contacts with someone who is seriously infested with it.

Also, the people are warned to observe personal hygiene by always washing their hands after shaking people and avoid sharing wears, especially with strangers.

COVER STORY 15

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Confusion, Apathy As Fear Of Ebola Virus Spreads Nationwide ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 and investigating Ebola virus in the state.

The chairman said that Kwarans would be encouraged to desist from eating bush meats, warning those that eat bats and monkeys to desist from eating them, so as to avoid contacting the disease. She advised the people to engage in frequent hand washing with soap which she noted forms parts of personal hygiene.

Meanwhile, the chairman of LUBCON Group of companies, Alh. Jani Ibrahim, had about three weeks ago kick-started the awareness campaign on Ebola virus in Ilorin, the state capital. At the awareness campaign programme, professor of epidemiology and community health science, University of Ilorin, Tanimola Akande, advised Nigerians to shun the consumption of bush meat, wash their hands regularly, while health workers should also start wearing protective kits when attending to patients. The don, who is the national president, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, said, “Ebola is a very deadly disease. We have been talking about HIV/AIDS, but Ebola is deadlier. It’s an African problem.”

Also, a one-time clinical virologist at Houston, Texas in the United States, Dr Olajide Agbede, called for efficient surveillance system that will include mounting a quarantine system for animal and human beings at the points of entry into the country, while recommending that persons, animal products, fertilizers and animal dung from countries where cases of Ebola have been reported should be screened at the point of entry into Nigeria.

Also, the Kwara State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) through a statement by the deputy chairman, Dr Kunle Olawepo, and the deputy secretary, Dr Ahmed AbdulKadir, urged the people to cultivate regular hand washing habit with soap and water, while thorough cooking of all foods, especially bush meats.

In Kogi State, the government has also embarked on sensitization of the people. The state commissioner for health, Dr Idris Omede, advised the people of the state to adhere to high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times, stressing that the people should try as much as possible to avoid bush meat.

He cautioned health personnel to take the virus with utmost care and highest level of precaution, calling on them to notify professionals immediately samples of the virus are noticed, and ensure they put on personal protective equipment (PPE).

Meanwhile, the Benue State government has activated surveillance as well as mapping out strategies to check the spread of the virus in the state.

The state governor, Gabriel Suswam, disclosed that the “minister of health requested states to take certain measures to prevent

outbreak, and we have already done that. So, by any chance if we have an incident, we can handle it without infecting those who handle the disease.”

According to Suswam, government has already started educating people on the precautionary measures, and have put in place machinery to handle cases if there is any outbreak. This is just as churches issued out notices of warning to their congregations, urging them to control their movements and be careful on how they relate with one another.

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the state has urged its members to ensure proper care in handling patients with symptoms of diseases. Its chairman, Dr Steven Hwande, advised medical personnel to watch out for patients with symptoms of fever and body rashes, saying the outbreak of the pandemic is yet to be confirmed in the state.

Plateau State government announced that it has trained 37 surveillance officers from the 17 local government areas in the state on ways of detecting the dreaded Ebola virus.

Chief epidemiologist at the ministry of health, Dr Raymond Jurit, disclosed this in Jos, the state capital. According to him, the trainees are expected to train others in their respective local government areas. He added that the state intends to train clinical officers in its major hospitals on ways to curtail the virus, but is presently constrained by the on-going strike action by medical doctors. He listed lack of testing equipment and personal protective equipment as major challenges facing the state.

Also, a medical consultant with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Pokop Wushipa Bupwatda, who is also the NMA chairman in the state, said even while on strike doctors have been humanly sympathetic to the plight of Ebola victims. According to him, despite the strike, they have resolved even at the national level to attend to people in times of emergency, like bomb blast, Ebola and other diseases that threaten human existence.

In Akure, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus in the state, the Ondo State government has rolled out its sensitisation machinery to educate the people on the dreaded disease, while selecting three centres for the treatment of the disease, known as isolated wards, in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the government will ensure that it prevents the spread of the virus in the state, adding that a sensitisation meeting with public and private health practitioners has been held on how to prevent the spread of the virus in the state.

The centres are located in each of the three senatorial districts of the state, at the Federal Medical Centre,

Minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (left) in a new greeting style during his visit to members of the House of Representatives committee on health in Abuja.

Minister of health requested states to take certain measures to prevent outbreak, and we have already done that. So, by any chance if we have an incident, we can handle it without infecting those who handle the disease

Owo; State Specialist Hospital, Akure, and General Hospital, Okitipupa. He also affirmed that enough equipment had been provided in the hospitals to curtail any occurrences.

Adeyanju said the government has also embarked on massive sensitisation programmes through mass media to ensure that all the people of the state are well informed about the Ebola scourge. “We have produced and circulated massive posters around the state, detailing facts on Ebola hemorrhagic fever and preventive measures.”

In a proactive effort to combat Ebola virus, the Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said that the state with its large population has been on red alert since the news broke out two months ago.

In a media address, Governor Kwankwaso said the state government has set up a response team committee of related medical experts and other required professionals, adding that the committee first report was received by the state government.

According to him, based on the report, the state has taken quick measures in ensuring that it gets prepared in case of Ebola virus breakout, while confirming that the government had procured the needed items to face the challenge of the Ebola breakout.

Kwankwaso said the state government has purchased 33 protective personal equipment and had set aside a medical facility for possible quarantine of victims, stating that the state government is collaborating with the federal authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Kano, and border patrol officials within the state.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Ebola response committee in the state, Dr Nasiru Mahmoud, said his committee was set up by the governor since the breakout of the Ebola virus in West Africa and Lagos. Mahmoud said the committee has carried out

activities of mobilizing the epidemic preparedness committee and sensitisation of the health workers to avoid repeating the Lagos case where a nurse and a doctor got infected with the virus. He added that the committee has identified needed working materials.

A concerned citizen, Baba Salihi, has described the virus as scary and dangerous considering the way it kills with speed and should be feared. He cautioned citizens to take the message of prevention very seriously and report cases of similar symptoms immediately to hospitals.

Also, a residence of Dorayi quarters, Bashir Bash-Kala, noted with concern that the Ebola virus can cause preposterous consequences if messages of prevention were not speedily and seriously conveyed to rural population as well as remote city parts.

A mother, Hajiya Binta Yakasai (Gwaggo), called for prayers for Allah’s protection and at the same time urged mothers to examine their children very well and report any illness to medical facilities.

Following the outbreak of the disease, Oyo State government has taken sensitization programme to religious houses, traditional healers, and community members.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Muyiwa Gbedegesin, while speaking on the preparedness of the government, added that the exercise would also be through airing of jingles and distribution of posters.

He assured the people that the government has taken some steps to ensure the prevention of an Ebola disease outbreak in the state, disclosing that the government was working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the ministries of health of neighbouring states to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

“All the disease surveillance and ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

16

sunday interview Sunday, August 10, 2014

2015: My Decision To Seek Re-election Will Be Determined By Nasarawa People – Al-Makura Recent events in Nasarawa State, where Governor Tanko AlMakura sailed through the impeachment saga that rocked the state, have been attributed to the people’s firm support for his administration, which has led to needed infrastructural developments that have brought succour to the ordinary people of the state. The governor, in this interview with Auwal Sa’ad Mu’azu and Olusegun Alaba Olufemi, narrates his experience through the impeachment saga and how he has transformed the solid mineral state into a modern state Sir, can you share with us your experience all through the impeachment saga, and how you felt coming out victorious?

I am happy for what has happened, because it has made us practice and ensure compliance to the supreme law of the land, which is the constitution

I felt elated, I was very happy, and I give glory to Allah for having guided the whole process. I consider it a victory, not just for me, but a victory for the constitution, for the rule of law, for the entire citizens of Nasarawa State, and indeed Nigerians. I say this because we are operating a constitutional democracy, and as leaders, we are supposed to be guided by the law of the land, which is the constitution.

As regarding impeachment, there is a whole section that has been dedicated to it in the constitution, and every bit of activity relating to impeachment has to be in compliance with the constitution. To do otherwise would be an infraction of the constitution and that would not be the best for our democracy. I think this is a test case of how the legislature and all stakeholders in this process of democracy have to adhere strictly to the tenets of the constitution.

And where any of us runs foul of the law, then the law should take its course.

If you look at checks from the beginning to the end of this impeachment process, there were a lot of infractions, serious violations in the way the legislators carried out the process of impeachment. But in spite of that, even without being served properly up to this time, according to the provisions of the law, the process did not adhere to the constitution, where I have to be served in person. As I am talking to you, I have not been served. But I think that I should be able to help our democracy to grow by waving that away, for the time being, to appear before the panel so that I will convince my well-wishers and the entire people of this country that I have nothing to hide, and I difer to the panel, because it is a constitutional creation. The issue of my not being served is a matter that

I told the panel that I was going to take it up at a different time and in a different forum. I am doing that not because I want to be punitive or show agony or bad blood against the members of the legislature, but as a player in the democracy we practice.

I also want to contribute in ensuring that we play the game by the rules, and any violation of the rules must be brought to the fore, so that it will serve as a deterrent against those that have propensity for impeachment to be guided by the law. I am happy for what has happened, because it has made us practice and ensure compliance to the supreme law of the land, which is the constitution. I am happy that I have come out without blemish, not only by the failure of the members of the assembly to come and make their case, but also by certain violations that rendered such charges frivolous and indefensible.

Your Excellency, the impeachment had generated a lot of interest. The people had some form of solidarity for your cause within and outside the state. What do you have to say?

That is why I said that it is a victory, not only for the rule of law and Nigeria, but a victory for those who respect the rule of law, because some of the people who are giving their support to the decision of the panel may not know what I did for the state. But probably, they may have seen the infraction perpetrated by members of the assembly, and if that is allowed to go unchecked or uncorrected by the panel, then that will instigate a gale of frivolous impeachment exercise that will create confusion in the land.

More importantly, I think the spontaneous reaction of the people, showed during the verdict and even at the beginning of the process, was that people were taken aback because they least expected that with all I have done in Na-

Al-Makura

sarawa State, with all the support I have gotten in the state, and also the circumstance of my emerging as the governor, that I should be the last person that should be faced with this punitive and uncalled for exercise.

Particularly, the people of Nasarawa State had seen no reason for this, because they know the kind of governor they have. They know the antecedent of the governor, and they know the practice of the execution of my responsibilities.

For 20 out of 24 legislators to wake up one morning and feel that such a person should not continue in office, not necessarily by lack of competence or inability to deliver democratic dividends to the people, but purely for egocentric reasons; just for the fact that they want to use a coercion of the majority for something they have been longing for which they could not get through free and fair election, and now they want to have it through the backdoor by instituting the process of impeachment, even without the consent of their constituencies, to remove a governor that has been put in place by over a million people. So, I think one can consider the support I got as well-placed.

So, what do you have to tell the people?

I would like to thank them for their patriotism and for their

sense of responsibility. I say that, because when a society becomes frivolous, punitive and without consideration for the law, then it is an invitation to confusion and anarchy, which the people of Nasarawa State are not prepared for. So, they deserve my appreciation, for being so patriotic in bringing about peace and sanity in the state.

Among all the projects you have commissioned so far, which one do you hold so dearly and feel passionate about, and why?

I think it would be all the projects, because they were well-articulated projects. They were not just speculative projects, and when I came onboard, I made a very critical and exhaustive assessment of what the needs of the state are. I discovered that there are fundamental issues that should occupy the minds of people who took over this state at the initial time.

Nasarawa State is among the last group of states that were created.

You cannot compare it to Kaduna, Kano, Lagos or Oyo State; these are about 20 years older than Nasarawa State.

When I came onboard, I felt that something was missing in the programme of events of our former leaders. I expected them to have a need assessment of the state as a young state and what they consider to be the basic needs of the

16

interview 17

Sunday, August 10, 2014

2015: My Decision To Run Will Be The People’s Will – Al-makura 15

So, they deserve my appreciation, for being so patriotic in bringing about peace and sanity in the state

state. For the 12 years that PDP had been in office, they were operating business as usual; like all states which have had all the good things going for them.

As a new state, we were supposed to have our priorities and pursue them in accordance with our mode of maturity. As a new state, certain basic amenities were absent and these basic infrastructures formed the fulcrum of any effective development. When you come to a new state and you behave as if you are in Kano State or Lagos State where these basic infrastructures are already there and the governance of the state is an addition to these values, then you will be making a mistake.

When I came onboard, my need assessment was to ensure that some of these basic infrastructures that are supposed to be the foundation for any effective development must be put in place before any other thing. I did not compete with any other state like Plateau State or Kogi State, because they are already well ahead in so many things. So, I concentrated on what I had to do for my people that will benefit the ordinary man rather than doing grandiose projects that only get your name on the pages of newspapers.

These things are physical transformation of the state through building of roads in our state capital and local government headquarters, so that they would have a look that befits their status. Before I came, there was not a single kilometre of asphalt road in Nasarawa State. Because you cannot have a state capital with no flexibility in terms of communication and road networks that a state capital is suppose to have, I embarked on the construction of about 25 kilometres of road within Lafia metropolis; at least, to upgrade the status of the state in conformity to what obtains in other state capitals. I also allocated five kilometres of roads in each of the state local government headquarters, and out of the 13 local governments about 12 of them have benefitted from the road construction. I did not stop at that, because my emergence was the sweat of the ordinary man who is so vulnerable to the kind of nonchalant attitude of governance by people who do not want to relate with the common man.

So, I embarked on rural roads across the local government areas in the state. As I am talking with you, I have constructed about 400 kilometres of rural roads that have benefitted the people that have been long forgotten, people that did not have the benefit to complain about what is a priority for their wellbeing. So, for what I did for both the cities and the rural areas, the people of the state are now happy and can move freely.

Before now, there were no taxi cabs in Lafia, the people were using commercial motorcycles, called Okada. It was as though

Al-Makura

this was the national headquarters of Okada in the country.

When you go about one kilometre on the road or for about 15 minutes, you will inhale so much carbon monoxide that is injurious to your health. But with the road construction, we have decongested traffic gridlocks in the town and provided alternative means of transformation through taxi cabs and tricycles that have actually improved the lives of the people.

Secondly, one of the major inputs in industrialisation and commercial development of any environment is power. In fact, I consider power more important than water, because we have ways of getting water one way or the other. So, I concentrated on the provision of power and the expansion of the energy sector. In my first 100 days in office, there was mini-schedule I called power in 100 days. I made sure that all the places that had their transformers packed up got them back to work. Those places that have had their connections truncated by one accident or the other, like construction works or bad weather, I tried to rectify them, because some were disconnected from power for months, while some for years. I tried to do that, because it did not have to cost me much to exchange transformers for three or five million naira that would benefit thousands of people. So, I did that across the state, and you could see immediate improvement of power supply to the people of the state and that had improved economic activities in all the areas. We have also embarked on new connections in areas that are not far from the national grid, and people are so appreciative.

We did not stop at that, we have even created an avenue for a robust power improvement in the state by liaising with PHCN and the NIPP to ensure that the 330KVA, which is the highest

power line in the country, which passes from Enugu through Makurdi to Jos, we have been able to step it down in Lafia. That will be our one-stop solution to power problem, because by the time it is commissioned virtually the whole state will benefit from it and the issue of power inadequacy will reduce drastically in the state.

Also, almost all the towns that have water supply problem, we looked at them and found means of leveraging them. Take for instance, Nasarawa Eggon which had been without pipe-borne water for the past 25years. Since 1985 when the World Bank project started, the water works was provided for them, but it was a white elephant project that had never been commissioned nor worked. When we came in, we handled it, and as I speak, Nasarawa Eggon is enjoying pipe-borne water. There are other areas that are having this peculiar difficult situation, but we have been able to intervene and the people are benefitting today.

So, these are what I consider the basic infrastructures that the people dearly need. Whatever you do in terms of development will be hinged on some of these infrastructures. I would not want to tell you more about things like land infrastructure, but that is where a lot of people had reasons to be disparaged with the previous administration, even myself when I came in, that we are living near the FCT and we have not added to the status of people living in Nasarawa State. You see, issues of land administration have certain basic things that have to be done before you get the benefits.

Our land system was analogue and primitive, no digitalisation or computer records and we are near the FCT. So, while the value of land in the FCT is very high and improves the prosperity of

people there, ours is very low in value. So, what I did was to convert our analogue land system into computerised geographic information system, and right now, our land system is about the best in the country. The surveyor general can attest to that.

The last time he visited us, he gave us that commendation.

So, these are what I consider to be the priorities of the state in order to alleviate ourselves from the shackles of underdevelopment and stagnation, and unless we have those basic infrastructures, we cannot do anything. It was after that we started building schools; you can go across the state to identify the kind of schools we have put in place. We gave them a different identity, by painting them blue. Before now, they were dilapidated; children were studying under trees. If you go from Masaka to Lafia, you will find that we have not only put the schools back into shape, we have gone ahead to build sturdy building for junior secondary and primary schools. It has changed the psyche of even the parents; we are now competing favourably with private schools.

And all that is going for free in the state. In addition, in some of our tertiary institutions, what goes on there is a cause for regret. The students will just be perambulating without hostels.

We have ensured that all our tertiary institutions have hostels for both girls and boys. So, there is a complete transformation in the educational sectors.

Finally, as we approach 2015, are you going for re-election?

I have had one or two promptings by admirers and stakeholders in the state clamouring for me to continue what we have started, but I have not made any commitment as at now, because I don’t want the issue of partaking in the elections to be my own decision. To have the audacity to do that will appear immodest. One would wait for the stakeholders to intimate us on whether they would want us to continue. It is at that time that I can make a statement on if I can continue, but I have a commitment to the people of Nasarawa State. There are issues I have put in place and want to accomplish before the end of my tenure and that is my main concern now.

If not for the security challenges and the Ombatse issue, and skirmishes by farmers and herdsmen, all my plans for the state would have been accomplished by now. But I thank Allah that I have been able to do a substantial amount of them. So, I am looking at how I can beat the deadline.

So, at the appointed time, with the conviction and support of the people; if they wish that I continue, then I cannot say no.

18

sunday politics

Politics Editor Weeklies: UCHENNA AWOM

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Taraba 2015 Guber Race: Plot To Succeed Suntai Thickens As Taraba 2015 guber race kicks off, Andrew Ojih writes on how political gladiators in the state are gearing up to succeed Governor Danbaba Suntai.

A

s the build up towards 2015 general elections gathers momentum regarding who succeeds Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state, many months ahead of the election, political activities are already gearing up contrary to the formal declaration of political activities by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In recent times, INEC released a time table on the dates for the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the country. According to the time table, the presidential and the National Assembly elections are slated for February 14 while the governorship and the state houses of assembly are fixed for February 28, 2015 respectively.

Based on the time table, zealous politicians in the state who are contending for the positions have increased the tempo of political activities despite the fact that INEC is yet to lift the ban on political campaign.

Political consultations and meetings have been going on seriously with posters of aspirants displayed and pasted at all the nooks and crannies of the capital city, Jalingo.

Taraba state which is known as ‘Nature’s Gift to the Nation’ since its creation in 1991 has three senatorial districts, namely: Taraba North, Central and Southern with each having varied local governments that make up the zone.

Since the emergence of democracy in 1999, Taraba North has produced Rev. Jolly Nyame as governor whose administration lasted for eight years. Taraba Central has produced Danbaba Suntai who will be ending his eight years tenure in 2015. Taraba South is the only zone that is yet to produce a candidate to attain the position. It is in view of this that agitations kept arising from different quarters, especially the southern district that zoning would play a key role in ascertaining who succeeds Governor Suntai by 2015.

Accordingly, the zoning arrangement assumed to be the only panacea to electing the next executive governor of the state has been considered to be effective at the People’s

Danbaba Suntai

Democratic Party (PDP) level, an arraignment analysts say is unconstitutional even though it is described by many as a ‘gentleman agreement’.

Following an understanding between Governor Suntai and some stakeholders from Taraba South, it was expected that the Southern Senatorial District of the state would produced the next governor when the tenure of Governor Suntai expires.

As at the last count however, no fewer than eight persons were said to be nursing the ambition of becoming the governor of the state in 2015 out of which only one person will fly the flag of the PDP. As the political activities continue to gather momentum therefore, the following candidates are warming up to take the mantle of leadership of the state.

Prominent among those believed to be interested in Suntai’s seat are the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, Senator Aisha Alhassan (Taraba North), Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South), David Sabo Kente, Chief Drius Ishaku, Sen. Joel Ikenya, Col. Agbu Kefas, Comrade Danladi Kifasi as well as other aspirants especially from the opposition parties who have indicated their political intentions.

Inarguably, the political calculations became glaring when people with key interest for the governorship position started building political structures. Many of them have indicated to run for the gubernatorial seat, though none have come out

Adamawa By-election: Who Will Succeed Nyako?’ > 20

to openly declare even though they are engaged in subtle horse trading and clandestine politicking.

This explains the reasons why people who are positioning themselves for recognition are already moving round Jalingo metropolis in branded vehicles of different candidates with their posters doting strategic locations in the state capital and major towns in the state.

The Acting Governor, Alh. Garba Umar who is presently in the saddle in acting capacity is the only candidate who has started embarking on building political structures for his elections in 2015.

Some political analysts argue that Umar’s desperate attempt to build his own structures has resulted into demolishing the structures put in place by his boss. The first move is the attempt to remove the current state chairman of the PDP, Mr Victor Bala Kona who is believed to have been part of Governor Suntai’s camp.

The argument is that with the PDP chairman out of his way, it would be easier for him to control the party structures and get its ticket for the governorship election.

Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to the acting governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Aaron Artimas debunked the allegation that his boss was hatching a plot to remove the state PDP chairman.

Aaron added that there was no element of truth in the accusations levelled against his boss, saying there were mere speculations and rumors.

Checks by LEADERSHIP Sunday has it that Umar has upper hand and the brightest chance to take over the leadership of the state in 2015 because of the power of incumbency he has been enjoying since Suntai was involved in plane crash.

It is generally believed that Umar, fondly called UTC has endeared himself to the people as he is passionate, caring understanding and above all, a responsible man.

His entrance into Taraba politics has changed the political structures of the state as his humanitarian services and love for the common man has placed him above other contenders.

Though, Political pundits in the state are of the view that the change of leadership in the House of Assembly would eventually lead to the acting governor becoming substantive governor thereby giving him a greater influence in the race for 2015.

POLITICS feature 19

Sunday, August 10, 2014

How Al-Makura Survived Impeachment

I

It would be recalled that the lawmakers had issued an impeachment threat to him on grounds of his hearing impairment to which citizens of the state rose in fury to his defence

n the aftermath of the 2011 general election which produced two parties heading the executive and legislative arms of government in Nasarawa State, many saw it as an avenue for a more vibrant democratic process.

Soon, however, the electorates began to realise that some fundamental issues were taken for granted, cardinal among which is the fact that the two arms of government did not have the same mission and vision for a greater Nasarawa State.

No sooner had they settled at their duty posts and commenced the acts of law making, which is supposed to add value to the lives of the citizens of the state, that the electorates realized that the assembly had sustenance of grip on political power as their sole objective.

Their actions for the past three years are indicative of this suspicion until its culmination in the impeachment move initiated against Governor Al-Makura which hits a brick wall last Tuesday for lacking in merit. Cases of their machinations to thwart AlMakura’s dogged efforts at providing good governance abound.

On Assumption of office AlMakura was the first governor in the north to implement the N18,000 minimum wage. In his efforts to check waste and corruption in the civil service, he ordered the biometric registration of public servants in the state. In the exercise, over 22,000 ghost workers gulping over N500 million were discovered.

Barring any sense of responsibility, the lawmakers declared the biometric exercise illegal and as if that was not enough, the payment of minimum wage was also declared illegal.

The House also enacted a law mandating the state chief executive to obtain permission from them before embarking on any foreign trip. It is also instructive to note that the assembly passed a resolution directing the state government to repaint the 340 blocks of classroom and 36 model schools storey buildings constructed by Al-Makura.

Other cases include rejection of a Transition Management Committee nominee for being a frequent user of facebook and limiting the tenure of local government chairmen to one year.

That being said, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Musa Ahmed Mohammed, also declared on many occasions that Al-Makura has ensured fiscal autonomy for the Assembly leaving many wondering why he has always come under impeachment threat at any given provocation.

It would be recalled that the lawmakers had issued an impeachment threat to him on grounds of his hearing impairment to which citizens of the state rose in fury to his defence.

Al-Makura

Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura last week survived an impeachment move initiated by the State House of Assembly over alleged of constitutional breach and financial recklessness.In this report, DONATUS NADI x-rays the machinations that characterised the saga and factors that led to his survival After seven other impeachment attempts, the lawmakers made true their threat by finally serving Al-Makura with impeachment notice through the Media on the July 17, 2014. The 16 count charge bother on allegations of abuse of office and financial misappropriation.

The battle to oust him on these grounds is seen more as a plot hatched by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to force their way back to power through the back door. This, in the views of the public is what informed the defection of the deputy governor, Hon. Dameshi Barau However, July 14 2014 when Al-Makura was in Rukubi, Doma local government area to receive President Goodluck Jonathan who was in the state to commission the largest rice farm in Africa, the Nasarawa Assembly, after a 12 minutes plenary resolved to serve him with an impeachment notice.

The Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Ego Maikeffi, who claimed he was denied access into Nasarawa Government House to serve the impeachment notice opted to serve it through the media on July 17 thus laying the first foundation for what is considered to be serial constitutional breaches by the state Assembly.

Consequently, at a plenary which was convened around 4am for fear of public protest, the lawmakers passed a resolution calling on the Chief Justice of the state to constitute a 7-man committee to investigate

the 16-count charges they leveled against Governor Al-Makura.

In compliance with constitutional provision, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Suleiman Dikko, constituted the panel of investigation which sets the stage for the biggest factor that determined the outcome of the impeachment exercise.

Section 188 (subsection 5) of the 1999 constitution as amended, states that the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly appoint a panel of seven persons “who in his own opinion” are of impeccable character and disinterested parties.

No sooner was the panel inaugurated than the lawmakers raised alarm over what they termed constitutional breach in the composition of the membership of the panel.

The lawmakers pointed out that two of the panel members were card carrying members of the PDP while the third person is a public servant. They said Mohammed Sabo Keana is a registered member of the PDP in Amiri Ward of Keana local government with registration number 8794402, while Alhaji Usman Galadima is registered with the same party at Angwan Rimi in Keffi local government with registration number 9880967.

The lawmakers also contested that Rev. Dr. Joel Galadima is a member of the Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare board who only last signed and collected his pay check form the board.

The inclusion of the trio on the panel, the members observed, is a grave contravention of section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as ameded) which stipulates that persons to be appointed into such panels must be of “unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation”.

There upon the stage was set for another controversial move by the state Assembly who were reported to have conducted a kangaroo sitting in a hotel suite in Karu local government directing the CJ to reconstitute the probe in the light of the aforementioned grounds.

Reacting, a legal practitioner, Chief Jibrin Okutepa, (SAN) described both the purported proceedings held in Karu, and the resolutions passed by the 19 members as non-binding on any system. He said “They have no right to question the constitution of the panel by the (CJ).

They have no powers over the CJ; if they have grievances arising from the action of the CJ in the CJ’s compliance with the provisions of Section 188, they have the option to go to court”, he explained.

Nasarawa State government also expressed its position that the Assembly cannot probate and re-probate on a matter that is before His Lordship, the Chief Judge of the state.

On the contrary, a press statement by the government signed

by Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulhamid Kwarra, pointed out that “Should the members of the state House of Assembly be aggrieved with the compliance of the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State to the provision of section 188 sub-section5, the right thing to do is for the House to go to the court of law to challenge the composition of the investigative panel”.

The state government also drew attention to the fact that the sitting of the House in Karu local government was not in conformity with any democratic requirement because no rule of the House permits the sitting of the Assembly anywhere in the state to conduct legislative affairs, adding that the sitting, “Is therefore ill-motivated, illegal and of no effect whatsoever”.

More so, the Supreme Court has made a definitive declaration that the House of Assembly can only conduct its legislative functions in legally designated place in the state capital (Balonwu vs Obi 2007 NWLR PT1008/488).

The panel however immediately swung into action barring any controversies surrounding their composition by the lawmakers by drafting their guideline of proceedings since the Assembly refused to provide one, arguably in protest.

20 POLITICS feature

T

he impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and the impromptu resignation of his deputy, Bala James Ngillari, created a new dimension to the wobbly political atmosphere in the hapless state, especially a novel but constitutional conduct of a bye-election to fill the void.

Before the fate of Nyako was finally sealed through the impeachment on July 15, 2014, no indigene of the state fathomed even in the wildest imagination that the governor will be shoved aside unceremoniously without exhausting his tenure.

The premise for their reasoning was that similar attempt to impeach the governor in the past failed.

Nyako had fought many battles since his governorship journey began, a development which could also be described as the most turbulent and controversial in the annals of Nigeria’s political history. He had in the past surmounted serial daunting hurdles and altruistic battles that was waged against his administration. Curiously, most of the battles were mainly with his party members.

It could be recalled that two of the fiercest challenges he faced were those posed with his ugly encounter with the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

However, now that Nyako has been impeached, the jostle for Nyako’s replacement may not be a simple task if critical analysis are put into consideration. The various actors and factors that may influence the coming of Nyako’s successor are barefaced.

But political analysts in the state said, the jostle by all the gubernatorial aspirants, represents one single factor among the surfeit complex factors that may determine who becomes the next occupier of the ‘Dougirei Government’ House Yola within the next two months.

Some of the silent but critical factors and personalities that may influence who succeeds Governor Nyako apart from the popular agitation by aspirants include the following: The Emergence of Dark Horses Speculations have gone viral to the effect that some unlikely persons who have been on the sidelines may be drafted by some powerful forces in the state or even the presidency to succeed Nyako. There were speculations recently that the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is in high talks with the presidency over

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Adamawa By-election: Who Will Succeed Nyako?

MOHAMMED ISMAIL takes a cursory look into political developments in Adamawa State, particularly the line-up of aspirants itching to succeed the former Governor Murtala Nyako his likely defection into the PDP with a view to foistering him as the successor of the former governor.

The Acting Governor Another factor that may influence who succeeds Nyako is the acting governor himself on whose shoulder the success of the transition process rests.

Many believe that the support of the acting governor to any of the contenders will go a long way to boosting his chances in the gubernatorial race. However, many people in the state are of the opinion that if the body language of the acting governor is anything to go by, then he is also an interested party in the race.

Former Governor Murtala Nyako In the wake of his impeachment, the former governor had filed a suit which is now before the appeal court challenging his impeachment. In the suit, he complained that his impeachment was done with scant regard to the rule of law. According to him, the process leading to his impeachment was impervious and inundated with legal loopholes.

Many of Nyako’s supporters are hopeful that the law court will upturn the impeachment.

If their wish come to fruition, it means Nyako will reclaim his mandate and conclude his tenure in office.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar is also a factor to consider on who becomes the next occupier of the Dougirei Government House. He is believed to exercise tremendous influence both on the political scene and in the economic sphere having established many industries in the state, which have given employment to thousands of people.

Apart from that, he is also believed to have the financial muscle to support any candidate and the fact that he is said to be large hearted in the area of philanthropy.

The Contenders In the PDP Bala James Ngillari The immediate past deputy governor of Adamawa who has served with Governor Murtala Nyako for seven years be-

Nyako

Atiku

fore the current hurricane “impeachment” pushed him aside.

He is a politician that represented his constituency on two previous occasions at the House of Representatives.

Hassan Tukur: He is being touted as the dark horse that may be supported by the Presidency. Tukur is the current Principal Personal Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan who is believed to have the ears of President Jonathan to clinch the coveted seat.

Dr Umar Ardo Dr Ardo was a former History lecturer at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, Dr. Ardo, is a practising politician of several years who fits any position that needs decisive action. He has courage in abundance, and always believes that with courage, anything is possible.

He has been a dogged fighter in PDP, though he lacks elites support even as his one-man approach to issues would be a serious blow to his governorship

ambition.

Buba Marwa Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) is popular among the down-trodden because wherever he goes, he promotes people- oriented programmes. Marwa’s political stints cut across every facet of human endeavour. Reports say that as the military administrator of Borno State, he made enviable marks on every sector of the state’s economy. He has vast knowledge of many spheres of life and wide connection of friends across the state.

Senator Abubakar Girei Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei was elected into the Senate to represent Adamawa Central Senatorial District between 1999- 2003 where he chaired Senate Committee on Services. He has over the years being advocating for the entrenchment of developmental projects across Adamawa state which he said led to his aspiration to contest the plum office in the state.

Being a grass root mobilizer, he has ample understanding of the problems bedeviling the masses.

Awwal D Tukur Awwal D Tukur could be aptly described as a man with political blood running in his vein being the first son of the former Governor of defunct Gongola state and immediate National Chairman of the ruling PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

His love for politics apparently made him to dump his cherished profession of Law and embrace politics on whose crest he rode to the federal House of Representatives representing Yola North, Yola South and Girei Constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP from 1999 to 2003 during which he became the Chairman House Committee on Aviation.

Ahmed Modibbo Ahmed Modibbo was a consummate educationist, a former Boss of National Teachers Institute and Universal Basic Education respectively.

One of his spouses Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani is currently the member Federal House of Representatives representing Girei, Yola North and Yola South Federal Constituency. His major strength is his wife Hajiya Aishatu Ahmed Binani who is loved by her constituency following her exceptional performances. With her by his side, it was believed that winning Adamawa Central will surely give him an edge over other contenders. His reserved nature coupled with his elitist life style is however a major stumbling block to his aspiration.

The state is agog with preparations for another round of elections as various contenders have already started flexing their muscles for the political contests

Abuja

10.08.2014

A-Z all that’s trending

Abuja is Well Structured Grace Ezeh IT Expert

Choicest Residential Areas in Abuja WHAT’S UP? Sabali Fashion Festival P30

Where’s BUZZING? Klub Vanity P31

What to buy • Pandora Hat • Classy Bag • Sleek Belt • Watch P49

Listings • Microfinance Bank, • Filling Stations • Scan and dignostics • Cretches P52

SPOTLIGHT • Kidsfunville

• Leather World • Dullion Suites • Tiggy Winklers P51

22 ABUJA A-Z/ What’s Up?

City SIGHTINGS

Sunday, August 10, 2014

What’s Up?

Music Stars

Music stars and twin brothers Mamuzee were spotted at Comedy Assembly held at 3J’s Hotel Abuja. The twins, as usual, were dressed in matching outfits of grey T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. They were spotted while entering the hotel at Utako.

Nollywood Actress

upcoming events

Sabali Fashion Festival

Sabali Fashion Festival is back! The event will be showcasing some amazing Nigerian designers who have rocked both the international and Nigerian runways. Transcorp Hilton Hotels Abuja. 5:00PM. Saturday August 16

Nigerian Teens Choice Awards 2014

Teens Voice Platform presents another edition of their annual event, Nigeria Teens Choice Awards 2014. The event will feature music performances, dance and fashion events. Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, 9:00PM. Sunday August 17

Walk for Charity

Enjoy a day out in the city by taking part in a fitness walk for charity in support of widows in Abuja. 7:00AM, Kidsfunville, River Plate Garden, Wuse 2. There will be free health checks and smoothies. Saturday August 23

Nigerian actress Empress Njamah was spotted at Comedy Assembly held at 3J Hotels. She was dressed in a beautiful black dress, stilettoes and bold silver jewellery. She was seen in the company of her friends.

Abuja Makeup Fair

Pops Concepts, the organizers of the MakeUp and Beauty Fair are back with the 4th Abuja MakeUp Fair (AMUF4) proudly sponsored by Maybelline New York, and it promises to be thrilling as the buzz is already on. The Pearl Arena, Emerald Park Area 3. 10:00 PM-7:00 PM. Saturday August 23.

The Fusion Lifestyle Family Fair!

Here is shopping event and Kids fair rolled into one, for the ultimate fun family experience! The event will feature exciting activities such as indoor games with prizes, bouncy castles, competition for the family, baby play area, rides and more. There will also be exclusive discounts from vendors. BMO Event Arena River plate park, Wuse 2. 12:PM. Sunday August 23

Animation Summer Camp

Iyin creative brings you the first ever creative animation summer camp. The camp will give the kids the opportunity to create their own cartoon characters and get familiar with animation soft wares. 9:00 AM. At 10, Bishop David Oyedepo Street, off 2nd Avenue Gwarimpa Estate. Monday August 4 – Friday 22 August.

Summer splash

Nick B

The CEO of Comedy Assembly was spotted at 3J’s Hotel. He was dressed in a blue and white traditional attire, white trousers and a black pair of shoe. He was seen talking with some of his friends.

Abuja

A-Z

Here is an exciting opportunity for kids to learn different skills during the holiday.

The event which is organised by Jewels Lights Academy will feature trainings on photography, ballet, dance, cookery, French science, art attack, spelling bee etc. 9:00 AM. Jewels Early Years Center, No.50, 34 Crescent by Kelina Hospital, 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate. Tuesday July 1 – Wednesday August 27.

Script to Screen

High Definition Academy presents an intensive course on film making and acting for adults, teens and kids. The 2014 script to screen programme will feature training sessions, short film competition and awards. 9:00 AM. Silverbird Cinema Abuja, Saturday August 2- Saturday August 30.

group EDITOR REPORTERS DESIGN

Amina Alhassan Ahman Uche Uduma,Chalya Dul IgweNgerem Michael

ACTING EDITOR Auwal Sa'id Mu'azu

FOUNDER Sam Nda-Isaiah CHAIRMAN Hajiya Ireti Kingibe GRP MANAGING DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GRP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere, Dr. Kazeem Durodoye

Abuja A-Z is published as an insert in LEADERSHIP Sunday.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of these listiings.

However please contact venues to confirm details

Where’s BUZZING/ ABUJA A-Z 23

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Where’s buzzing?

Microfinance Bank, Filling Stations

KLUB VANITY Klub Vanity at House of Cubana is quite possibly the biggest nightclub that Abuja has to offer. It’s all about rubbing elbows with Abuja’s A-list socialites at this club. As the FCT as receives huge amount of visitors on a daily basis, majority of these people want to visit Cubana, one of the best nightclubs in the city of Abuja. House of Cubana sets itself apart in service and décor. Their DJs are an eclectic mix of top professionals handpicked and purposely trained to cater for the uptown crowd.

When the night falls and the DJ takes the stage, Cubana turns into a maze of crazy characters all geared-up for a night of dancing until the early morning hours.

Plot 130 Ademola, Adetokunbo, Wuse 2

MICROFINANCE BANK FORTIS

Fortis Micro finance Bank has the goal of meeting high demand for microfinance banking services by providing flexible banking solutions to support the development of entrepreneurship and empowerment of the economically disadvantaged micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSME) and individual. Fortis provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes low-end entrepreneurs, the under banked, cooperatives and high-net-worth individuals among others.

Medife House, Plot 2135 Herbert Maculay Way, Zone 5, Wuse

ATLAS

Atlas Microfinance Bank is one of the Microfinance Banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to carry out the business of banking tot the benefit of the under banked , low income earners and the actively poor citizens of the economy and provide efficient banking, financial and

advisory services that are reliable personalised and accessible to all their customers.

Plot 1077, old Federal Secretariat Road, Durumi District

HASAL Hasal Microfinance Bank seeks to build a unique micro finance services organization focused on providing creative solutions to the business problems of micro, small and medium enterprise and to provide micro finance services in a professionally unique manner and so create wealth for their customers, employees and shareholders.

Plot1652, Ahmadu Bello Way, Gariki District ACCION MICROFINANCE BANK LIMITED

Accion Microfinance Bank Limited is driven by its passion of ensuring a brighter future for customers, Action Microfinance Bank economically empowers by providing micro-entrepreneurship and low income earners with financial services in a suitable, ethical and profitable manner.

This is in pursuit of its vision to be

the market leader in the provision of microfinance of microfinance and related financial services at world class standards. Accion microfinance bank has consistently delivered on its promises of dependability, accountability and ensuring the security of customer’s funds 16 Samuel Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gariki 2

NPF Microfinance Bank Plc NPF Microfinance Bank Plc provides banking services to both serving and retired officers and men of Nigeria Police Force. The micro finance bank also offer services to its ancillary institution and general banking public. It is a professionally managed and conservative Bank, providing a wide range of banking products and services to consumers at its various locations. Some of the services provided include retail banking, loans and advances, money market activities and financial advisory services to members of its community and customers.

Plot 1469, Ahmedu Bello Way, Garki, FCT, Abuja.

24 ABUJA A-Z/ WHERE’S BUZZING

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Eden Cakes Eden Cakes are works of art that leave behind great memories even after the last slice has been consumed.

Their cakes are not just pleasing but are also delicious. They specialise in baking and designing cakes for birthdays, anniversaries,

weddings and every special occasion.

Their cakes are decorated in high quality, glycerin free, delicious rolled fondant.

Shop 56, Bonny B Cornershop, Opp. K Close,1st Avenue , Gwarinpa Estate Abuja

FILLING STATIONS CONOIL

Conoil

Conoil is a subsidiary of Conoil Business Groups.

The oil company is organized to deliver products and services to customers in a most cost-effective and efficient way possible. In homes or businesses, on the highways or in the air, we deliver excellence and keep our customers going. Central to Conoil operations is the firm commitment to excellent service delivery and maximal customer satisfaction. This customeroriented creed serves as the philosophy guiding the day-to-day activities in the company’s strategic business groups namely.

The company has retail outlets in Abuja.

Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria

NNPC

NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the state oil corporation which was established on April 1, 1977. In addition to its exploration activities, the corporation was given powers and operational interests in refining, petrochemicals and products transportation as well as marketing.

The industry is regulated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), a department within the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. And it has mega stations and retail outlets in Abuja.

Gwarimpa, Abuja, Nigeria

TOTAL

Total

Total is a leading international oil company and a global producer of natural gas and petrochemicals. Total’s mission is to responsibly enable as many people as possible to access energy

in a world of constantly growing demand, by focusing on three basic cornerstones: ethics, safety and corporate social responsibility (CSR). As an energy company, they are also leveraging their integrated business model, which enables them to capture all of the synergies in its business base and areas of expertise. Total has business outlets spread across the country including Abuja.

Arab Road by Zeberced Quarry, Kubwa, Abuja,

ASCON

Ascon Oil is an independent marketer of petroleum products in Nigeria.

The Company began life as a marketer of petrol and diesel and has since expanded to include LPFO. The Company is also moving aggressively into the production and marketing of lubricants.

The company intends to move into the midstream sector through the establishment of full scale refinery operation. Ascon recently embarked on a very vibrant re-branding and re-construction of its entire retail outlet network. Presently, Ascon has thirty three petrol filling and service stations, strategically well located in all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria, including Abuja.

Abuja Filling Station: 86, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja

the different geographical zones in Nigeria. Oando Marketing also has two operational subsidiaries in Ghana and Togo with over 40 service stations.

This leading position is associated with its successes in the petroleum products marketing business. As the nation’s leading oil retailer with one in every five litres of petroleum products being sold or distributed

by Oando Marketing via its over 300 retail service stations and strategically located terminals, they have continuously ensured products supply and availability in Nigeria and West Africa. Oando has several sales outlets spread across the country including the FCT. Jabi-Life-Camp Road

MRS Oil Nigeria Plc

MRS Oil Nigeria Plc is a fully integrated and efficient downstream player with leading positions in the Nigeria oil industry. It is one of the largest and leading marketer of refined products, including quality gasoline, marine and aviation fuels in the downstream industry in Nigeria. MRS Oil, markets premium fuels under the MRS brand across 416 retail service stations strategically spread all over Nigeria. With their wide range of lubricants and industry expertise, they also offer premium lubricant brands - Stallion OANDO and Premier Motor Oil. Oando PLC is one of Africa’s Their lubricants have been largest integrated energy trusted to keep things solutions providers with running smoothly and a proud heritage. As reliably. The lubricants the nation’s leading oil are sold nationwide in marketing retailer, it sells their service stations and and distributes its products selected distributors. via its over three hundred MRS Oil Nigeria Plc 37, Gana retail service stations and Street, Maitama, Abuja, over five hundred industrial Nigeria. customers cutting across

ceoConfidential #124, August 10, 2014

TIMELESS TRUTHS Why meetings are ineffective >26

>30 BRAND BEGINNINGS

Porsche: The elegant speed ‘monster’ >32 HOUSEKEEPING

100 most creative people in business (1) >48 UPDATES

Sanitary purchase on the rise as Ebola epidemic threatens Lagos

• Leila Ben-Gacem Founder, Blue Fish

Ben-Gacem’s socio-economic initiative on women empowerment

26 CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

in brief ESSENTIALS

10 Questions for...

FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Nkoli Mefor MD, Chilaphin Limited

Find opportunity in a crisis “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. Ina crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognise the opportunity” John F. Kennedy, 1917-63 Known simply as JFK, the 35th President of the United States was the youngest elected to the office and was assassinated in 1963.

Entrepreneurs enjoy making a profit, and the most successful ones are able to make money out of ever-changing market opportunities.

Markets grow and decline over varying periods. If you’re on a city trading floor your opportunity might be measured in seconds; if your business is commercial property development, you’re looking at years or even decades.

Work around a problem “Sometimes the situation is only a problem because it is looked at in a certain way.

Looked at in another way, the right course of action may be so obvious that the problem no longer exists” Edward de Bono, 1933-

British physician and author, coined the term lateral thinking and advocates the structured teaching of thinking tools in schools.

Instead of problem solving, try problem shaping by revising a question so that you can move the issue forward. For example, the problem might be: “Why am I unable to find more clients for my seminar series?” Shaping the question might lead to: “Why don’t clients want to attend my seminar series?” The answers to these two questions will be very different but they lead to the same goal.

There will always be a way past your issue - you just have to choose and follow the best path.

IF YOU’LL BE...

Kenny Kunene

director, X-Concepts Pick yourself up from your ugly past While in prison, Kunene says, he earned R22 (N332) a month making tea for the prison warders at Grootvlei Prison. Also, he made money working for Gayton McKenzie “in the smuggling business”.

Upon his release in 2003, he declined numerous invitations to take part in robberies and scams, despite having only R3000 (N44,500) in his bank account. In 2004, he began to sell refurbished desks and stationery to schools to earn more cash. Later that year, he used his old contacts to arrange discounts on equipment for a partner starting a nightclub and earned a stake in the business.

Be a role model to younger ones Having lived a criminal life, Kunene realised later in life there was no gain in it. He has since devoted part of his time to help youths in the best possible way he can.

Live your life to the fullest Kunene is a party freak and owns a night club.

He drives the best cars money can buy. Cars like 911 Porsche Carrera, GTS Porsche Cayenne and a BMW 1Series.

– By Olujide Olusola

TIMELESS TRUTHS Why meetings are ineffective “Meetings are ineffective because they lack contextual structure. Too many organisations have only one kind of regular meeting, often called a staff meeting. Either once a week or twice a month, people get together for two or three hours of randomly focussed discussion about everything from strategy to tactics, from administrative to culture. Because there is no clarity around what topics are appropriate, there is no clear context for the various discussions that take place. In the end, little is decided because the participants have a hard time figuring out whether they are supposed to be debating, voting, brainstorming, weighing in or just listening” Patrick M. Lencioni, author of Death by Meeting

2. Which TV or movie character would you like to go into business with?

I will like to do business with Liz Benson because she fits into any role given to her and I like her as a person.

3. If you were to start your own political party, what would be the platform?

My major focus will be empowering farmers to eradicate poverty because a hungry man is an angry man.

4. Whom would you trade places with?

Although I will not want to trade places with anyone because they all have their good and bad side, but I have a great admiration for the late Dora Akunyili 5. It’s 8 p.m. and you are travelling alone on business. What do you do all night?

I will read all through until I get to my destination.

6. If you could time-travel, where would you be?

I will love to be in the US because of the numerous opportunities that abound there.

7. What have you learnt about yourself as you serve in that organisation?

In the course of my business, I have learnt to separate my emotions from business.

8. What have you sacrificed for success?

I have sacrificed my leisure and comfort zone to achieve my aims.

9. What do you consider your favourite achievement?

I believe in impact, and I see it as the best success anyone can achieve.

10. What is your motto?

Love, determination and above all, trust in God .

Interview by Daniel Udechukwu

group

ceoConfidential ASST. EDITOR Daniel Udechukwu CORRESPONDENT Salome Anyasodo REPORTER Olusola Olujide GRAPHICS Michael Igwe-Ngerem

1. What business do you not want to start but wish someone else would?

I wish someone would start up an ICT enlightening business. It is the current trend but highly abused due to ignorance.

ACTING EDITOR Auwal Sa'id Mu'azu

FOUNDER Sam Nda-Isaiah CHAIRMAN Hajiya Ireti Kingibe GRP MANAGING DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GRP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere, Dr. Kazeem Durodoye

A number of the articles here are sourced from diverse sources.

Feedback & enquiries ceoconfidential@leadership.ng

CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

27

popular with CEOs Compiled by Salome Anyasodo

The Recommender What are the business quotes for this week that make sense or are just humourous?

A Brief Guide Don’t know what you want to see, hear, smell taste and feel? Don’t worry we did it for you.

SEE Half Of A Yellow Sun

Nigerians in diaspora

Nigerian students in the diaspora

Living in the diaspora Living in diaspora is a movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland. It could be seen as a sense of looking for a change for the better. A major push factor in deciding to migrate is economic wellbeing not being available in the migrants’ country of origin.

Migration in this scenario heavily leads to brain drain which deprives developing countries like Nigeria of valuable personnel that end up contributing to the economies of the developed nations who in turn have been accused of poaching

Jonathan

the best and brightest highly skilled workforce from a country that desperately needs them.

In Africa, the annual amount remittances received from its diaspora is higher than the total foreign aid it gets annually.

In every continent, migrations produce fresh and clear interests. While a large number of those diaspora send resources home to assist those left behind; some others go beyond that. People in distant lands who see more than those at home should at the same time say more through

Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, “We want to raise it beyond a department in foreign affairs.

We are looking at establishing the Commission before the end of this administration.”

BIZ Lingo

Back-toback loan

Bankole

A loan in which two companies in separate countries borrow each other’s money at the same time for a specific period at an agreed upon interest rate. The purpose of this transaction is to hedge against currency fluctuations. With the advent of currency swaps, this type of transaction is no longer used very often.

Back-to-back-loan can

concrete mobilisation and involvement.

If one’s home country is doing well, it will present people in diaspora with a deep positive psychological momentum to feel good and to associate with her, but such is not the issue in most cases.

Irrespective of the gains that are associated with the initiative, government of concerned countries are encouraged to provide adequate facilities and make the environment conducive for its citizens in diaspora to return and impact positively on other citizens.

Hon Dimeji Bankole, Fomer Speaker of the House of Representatives “Nigeria’s Diaspora communities are capable of mobilising substantial investments and development capital into the country.”

also said to be a two party arrangement in which a bank advances a loan on the basis of a loan advanced by another bank in another country, usually to circumvent foreign exchange restrictions. Such arrangements typically involve parent and subsidiary firms where parent remains liable for repayment in case the subsidiary defaults.

A consultant is someone who saves his client almost enough to pay his fee. arnold glasow,

Humorist

Without customers, you do not have a business. You have a hobby. don peppers ,

Author

The plot surrounds life in the mid-tolate sixties as Igbo people struggle to establish Biafra as an independent republic. Twin sisters got caught up in the shocking violence of the Nigerian Civil War and a betrayal that threatens their family forever. An adaptation from Chimamanda’s novel Half of a Yellow Sun.

hear Minister of Works, Arch Mike Onolememen at the 18th Annual National Coference of Directors of Civil Engineering Highways (DOCE)

The conference is with the theme, ‘Funding Road Development in Nigeria: A panacea to Economic Transformation’ and will be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Works at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, in August 15, 2014.

taste Drunken noodles

There is a profound difference between information and meaning.

Warren bennis,

Academic

In Thailand the appropriately named ‘drunken noodles’ (pad kee mao) – a spicy dish with stir-fried rice noodles, meat or tofu, soy sauce, garlic, vegetables and potent chillies – packs a fiery punch to jolt you out of that daze.

FEEL Nugget rib cookoff, sparks, Nevada

Celebrate memorial day or weekend a little differently this year, with a trip to downtown Sparks, Nevada for their annual Best in the West: Nugget rib cook-off.

Facts from paper are not the same as facts from people.

The reliability of the people giving you the facts is as important as the facts themselves. harold geneen,

Businessman

SMELL Aqva Amara Bvlgari for men

Aqua Amara fragrance is filled with energy and light symbolised with its copper colour bottle. It is available in 50 and 100ml Eau de Toilette. Aqua Amara was launched in 2014. Its composition with noble ingredients makes it more luxurious, with its unique Mediterranean character.

28 CEOConfidential

CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

The ceoConfidential interview Ben-Gacem’s socioeconomic initiative on women empowerment Ben-Gacem shares how she re-channelled her energy on creating economic opportunities, especially for women in order to make them self-reliant.

INTERVIEW BY ANYASODO SALOME

BEN-GACEM IN SHORT Leila Ben-Gacem is the founder of Blue Fish, with branches in Tunis and Abu Dhabi. Blue Fish designs sustainable social impact initiatives in the field of women empowerment, artisan business development, socio-economic inclusion and youth selfemployment opportunity creation.

Ben-Gacem has designed, fund raised and implemented an initiative aimed at creating selfemployment opportunities for youth in opportunity deprived locations in the UAE. Also to her credit is a social solution Dar Ben Gacem; a boutique, hotel and a social business which generates business opportunities for microbusinesses in the old town of Tunis through tourism sector innovation.

Before switching careers to focus on her passions of unleashing human potentials, Leila held several positions with Hewlett Packard Medical Products Division.

Leila holds a Bsc degree in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University.

I love to go to places that are hardly on maps…

I wake up very early, have a cup of milk, go online to communicate and look out for reports because I am very productive in the early hours of the morning.

Then, at about 9am, I go out to interact with people – to understand their challenges, opportunities and environment – and develop more opportunities for us to seize and create partnerships. I spend a lot of my time interacting with people.

I love to go to places that are hardly on maps because that is where one finds people who are usually excluded, and they are very appreciate of very little efforts. I also focus on developing projects to improve their skills, or write proposals for fundraising, or networking to advocate for socio-economic causes.

Blue Fish...

Blue Fish was initiated in 2006. Before then, I was a biomedical engineer for Hewlett Packard for 10 years, where I did a lot of business development.

Blue Fish’s goal is to empower people through skills development and

help them convert their passion or skill into selfemployment.

My drive was frustration...

I did not want go talk much about my dreams till I achieved some results and with one achievement after the other helped me gain confidence in the market. We come from developing countries, and I had the chance to have a good background.

However, my drive was frustration because I could not comprehend why some countries produce and some consume only. And why do some export and we are not exporting much; that got me frustrated. I then thought to myself, why don’t I do it for national companies since I was doing it for multinationals? One thing led to the other and I started falling in love with the women home-based businesses, especially in the craft sector.

I think I have gained a lot of knowledge in globalising from Multinational Corporation which I tried to adapt and educate the women on how to price, cost, buy better raw materials, sell the products better and

45

Ben-gacem on FOCUS Just keep on walking.

Never look back and focus on the goal to be reached with time it’s nobbled.

I am passionate about people, heritage and culture...

My family thought I was crazy because I had a very good career, and suddenly decided to start all over. I am passionate about people, heritage and culture; and love the magic that things come together for sustainable development. I love designing projects that link the women to create economic empowerment that improves livelihood and social inclusion and national identity preservation. I help women develop their entrepreneurial skills – develop the product, the marketability of the business so that it is more sustainable and more appealing to the market – that way they help themselves, their families and improve their livelihood.

Do what you love...

Watching my calendar and working in a team is key to a balanced lifestyle.

I relax by socialising with friends and take long walks on the beach.

I love writing, sharing stories and going to eat in restaurants. To really relax after stressful days, I sometimes shutdown for a day or two just to unwind

and start all over.

Do what you love and you will be on vacation everyday. You will definitely find a way around the family and the obligations. Once you start making impact and you see the result you will want go do more and more which requires being organised.

Keep keeping on and learning...

Just keep on walking.

Never look back and focus on the goal to be reached.

Being super patient and quiet aids. As a social entrepreneur, look beyond financial impact and think of how we could improve the community around us using our business. We come from developing countries, and that need us to be more than just business owners.

Do not be obsessed about being perfect before starting. Once you are totally passionate about it, just go about and do it.

You do not have to be 100 per cent ready; go ahead and create solutions as you go.

Keep keeping on and learning; I am a student everyday. I am ready to learn new things and ready to face new challenges. I get excited when I am doing things for the first time, even if I do not know how to do it.

CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

initiatives

29

Lere Baale, lerebaale@gmail.com

Leadership Inspiration Series for Excellence (LIFE Series)

Leadership is a behaviour, not a title (II) Inspirational leaders understand that culture is not too large or small to take notice of, although it had previously been ignored for decades, and today it is the lasting asset that will surpass any leader’s tenure with the company and will drive up business results for years to come. Leading through culture is what establishes the infrastructure of a business and what creates communities within a company. Connecting with others in ones company also in turn allows employees to collaborate across boundaries for greater success that is rooted in purpose and values. One has to reach a place of inclusivity by offering people both the support they need to be effective and the overall freedom to put it into practice.

Successful organisations

hinge off of a culture of collaboration where their employees are in opposition of silos, and information and talent can share their experience and knowledge across a company.

These eight principles of inspirational leadership should successfully interact and build on one another for the best results. Leaders use these eight principles to inspire, advance and leverage the organisation to greater heights in a world that is always seeking the next competitive advantage.

Leadership is about:

An inspirational leader will establish a compelling vision for his/her team, while enlisting their creativity and zeal to develop higher goals for the organisation. daily.

•Living, sharing and scaling the right values •Leading through culture •Connecting with others •Collaborating across boundaries

How do they inspire?

Oftentimes the misconception is that inspirational leadership only stems from a person with an extraverted personality. Many leaders •Reframing and shy away from this form rethinking one’s of leadership because business position •Earning and extending they feel it will make trust to other employees them appear weak, too vulnerable, and/or not •Embracing respectable. This thought is and celebrating the furthest from the truth transparency and those leaders who •Pursuing significance feel this way are lagging in whatever you do

behind those who have clinched onto inspirational leadership.

An inspirational leader will establish a compelling vision for his/her team, while enlisting their creativity and zeal to develop higher goals for the organisation. The truth is there are a number of different approaches to exercise, but at the root of them all is empowering ones employees. Although each approach is equally valuable, it is important to hone in on multiple approaches to deliver the most effectiveness.

Can inspirational leadership be learned?

Studies have proven that leaders can make

significant gains towards inspirational leadership when they use the right approach. With an adequate career development plan, a heavy dose of selfawareness, self-regulating emotional intelligence, and compassionately candid feedback, leaders are able to improve upon the most fundamental leadership competency – inspiration.

CONCLUDED

Lere Baale is a Director of Business School Netherlands www.bsnmba.org and a Certified Strategist with Howes Consulting Group www.howesgroup.com

OTHER BIZ

CEO of a $1bn tech company steps down for the best possible reason

Schireson

The “work-life balance” question is something women in the workplace (even the Fortune 500 CEOs) get asked all the time, but male executives almost never hear it. Certainly Max Schireson, the CEO of database company MongoDB (formerly 10gen) never did. But after asking himself the same question, he decided to step down from his job, for some pretty excellent reasons described in a blog post.

Schireson has three kids, ages 14, 12, and 9. They live in Palo Alto, California, while MongoDB is based in New York, and he wants to spend more time with them. His wife’s an accomplished professional (a doctor and professor at Stanford) and his

schedule as a CEO demands a lot from her.

“I am forever in her debt for finding a way to keep the family working despite my crazy travel. I should not continue abusing that patience,” Schireson writes.

Schireson will remain vice chairman of the company, valued at over $1bn, as Dev Ittycheria takes over. He will work “full time, but ‘normal full time’ and not ‘crazy full time’” in an attempt to find a role that’s engaging and important, but allows him to fulfil the responsibilities he’s decided to take on at home. His post and decision highlights a culture of overwork and double standards for male and female leaders that aren’t challenged nearly

enough. “As a male CEO, I have been asked what kind of car I drive and what type of music I like, but never how I balance the demands of being both a dad and a CEO,” Schireson writes. Some of the details he reveals about the life of a CEO make it clear that there’s a massive trade-off expected: I am on pace to fly 300,000 miles this year, all the normal CEO travel plus commuting between Palo Alto and New York every 2-3 weeks. During that travel, I have missed a lot of family fun, perhaps more importantly, I was not with my kids when our puppy was hit by a car or when my son had (minor and successful, and of course unexpected) emergency surgery.

30 CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

situation reports Compiled by Olujide Olusola

Brand Beginnings Porsche: The elegant speed ‘monster’

T

he first Porsche built was the 356, which was released in 1948. There were 52 cars hand built by the end of 1949. Last year, the company built 151,999 cars and revenues surged 27 per cent versus the previous year. The company is shooting to sell 200,000 vehicles in 2015 or 2016. China is the second biggest market for the brand after the U.S. The Cayenne SUV was introduced in 2003 and the company was chided for eschewing its sports car roots, but the Cayenne has become Porsche’s best seller representing 54 per cent of unit vehicle sales in 2012. The 911 had the fastest sales growth, up 49 per cent, last year. he Father: Dr. Ferdinand Porsche: The history of the Porsche company began long before Ferdinand Porsche thought of starting his own auto manufacturing business. As a young engineer, he designed the first electric/gasoline hybrid -- in 1900. Over his career, he worked with Daimler, Mercedes, Daimler-Benz, Volkswagen, Auto Union, and others for nearly 50 years. His independent design firm was even responsible for the creation of the Volkswagen Beetle in 1931.

The Son: Ferry Porsche: It seems appropriate that Ferry was born while his father was at a race. As he got older, he became a draftsman and test driver at his father’s firm, but he was most instrumental in the design of the first ever Porsche, the 356 -- which Ferry worked on while his father spent 20 months in a prison in Dijon, France, as a war criminal. Ferry had also been arrested but was soon released. To keep the family firm afloat, he designed race cars and this first-ever Porsche sports car.

The 356: The first Porsche 356 had a rear-mounted, souped-up 40-horsepower Volkswagen engine and parts sourced from wherever the company could find them, this being post-War Europe. A Zurich, Switzerland, distributor ordered five of the cars, which were hand-built at the company’s headquarters in Gmund, Austria. One month after the first car left the factory, a 356 won its first race.

The model went into regular production in 1950, and in 1954, a speedster version was introduced.

The 10,000th 356 rolled off the assembly line in 1956, followed in later years by the 356B. Creating the Icon: Birth of the 911: Unlike many other car companies, the Porsche crew plodded forward with little drama, even after Ferdinand Porsche passed away in 1951 at age 76.

They found their flagship in 1963: the 911. The concept had been called the 901, but the 1964 production car was officially named the 911. It had a two-liter six-cylinder engine that put out 130 hp, far more than its predecessor. Targa, semi-automatic, high-performance, and entry-level versions followed

within the decade.

Racing Records: While sports cars for the masses were pouring out of the Porsche factory, its racecars were winning on tracks around the world. In 1951, the little 356 SL took a class victory at Le Mans, and in 1956 the 550 Spyder took its first overall victory, at the Targa Florio. The 1960s and 70s saw a run of wins at the Nurburgring 1000-km race, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the Can-Am series, and the World Championship of Makes. The 1980s saw wins for the 911 Carrera 4x4 and the 959 in the Paris-Dakar rally, Manufacturer’s Milestones: In 1984, Porsche went public. The company had been controlled by the Porsche and Piech families from the start -- Dr. Ernst Piech being Ferdinand Porsche’s son-in-law -- and they kept 50% of the shares for themselves. Production-wise, Porsche continued to crank out high-quality sports cars in very high numbers: the 911 hit the 250,000 mark in 1987. The company introduced its “Tiptronic” clutchless manual transmission in 1990, an innovation that held its own for nearly two decades before being replaced by the dual-clutch PDK system in the 2009 911 Carrera. In 1988, 50 years after designing the 356, Ferry Porsche died.

Back to Basics: The early 1990s were almost as bad for sports car manufacturers as the gas crisis of the 1970s, and Porsche was in danger of being taken over by a larger company. Dr. Wendelin Wiedekin, the former head of production, stepped in as CEO and refocused development on the can’t-miss 911.

The mid-engined Boxster was concept introduced not long after, and the front-engined models were discontinued. As a tribute to its new stability, the one millionth Porsche was built in July of 1996. In late 2008, the company made its next corporate move by buying a controlling one-third of Volkswagen’s shares.

Three Sports Cars and an SUV: Though it builds in large numbers, Porsche has four basic models on the market: The 911 Carrera, the Boxster, the Cayman, which was introduced in 2006, and the Cayenne sports SUV, which debuted in 2007. The all-new Porsche Panamera is slated to debut as a 2010 model. After decades of 9-series model names, the current roster rolls off the tongue as easily as the cars roll off the production line in Stuttgart.

Management IDEAS

Costs of complexity

The customer rules. If businesses have learnt anything in the last 50 years, it’s to stay laser-focused on the customer and their needs. Give them innovation, give them choice, right? Well, up to point. Some of those businesses have twigged that rich novelty and variety leads to complexity, and that complexity costs. Keep it simple. This is not a new idea. It’s most famous advocate, though not its first was the English Franciscan friar, William of Occam.

‘Occam’s razor’ said. Essentially, that the simplest solution was usually the best, and that was in the 14th century.

Sadly, Occam is silent on the profit implications of his principle. The more complex a business becomes, the higher the costs. Added complexity may come from many different directions, often associated with expanding the business in some way.

It may arise as a result of innovation, extending the product line, or adding new customers.

PAPAL ADVICE

6 things Pope Francis could teach any leader Here are some practices that make Pope Francis so effective: 1. Reach out to noncustomers Peter Drucker famously noted that every organisation has more noncustomers than customers, and that you can learn more from the people who aren’t buying your product than from those who are.

At 1.2 billion adherents, Pope Francis the Catholic Church has divorced and remarried what you might call a huge people could receive Holy customer base, but Francis Communion.” He knows that makes sure to reach out to such paradigm changes can non-Catholics as well, for happen only over the long instance by declaring that term, Krames says.

God has redeemed all of us, 5. Get in the field not just Catholics.

“Francis hates any members 2. Embrace risk When Francis was young, he of the clergy who sit in became very ill, and the nun offices and push paper,” Krames says. As a bishop who tended him disobeyed in Buenos Aires, Jorge the doctor’s instructions Mario Bergoglio (as he was and tripled his dose of then), would dress as a antibiotics, because she plain priest and go out at knew from experience that night to talk with people. without that higher dose he “When he became pope he would die. “He uses that as told one of his archbishops, an example of living on the ‘I can’t do that anymore, frontier,” Krames says. so you’re going to do it You can’t be an effective for me.’ He doesn’t want a leader if you’re always pristine church, he wants a playing it safe, he adds. church that’s going out in “Living on the frontier is the streets to find people something the pope has to and help them.” Likewise, do every day.”

Francis famously chose 3. Reinvent your not to move into the papal organisation apartments but to remain in “Don’t change--reinvent!” a guest suite at the Vatican, Krames advises. “Pope “to live in community with Francis is a fearless others,” according to a reformer. He has taken on Vatican representative. just about every faction of the Catholic Church in order In the same way, the most effective business leaders to make it a more inclusive are those who keep in touch religion.” with as many constituents The best leaders do the as they can. Delegating is a same, he adds. “They do necessary part of leadership, not fear change--they but don’t hand off all contact know when changing a few with lower-level employees things is not enough. They or customers. Otherwise, reinvent their organisations you may find yourself in an ever-changing global isolated and out of touch. marketplace.”

6. Listen to diverse voices 4. Be patient It’s much too easy for Though reinvention is business leaders to surround essential, “Authentic themselves with like-minded change doesn’t take weeks advisors and leave it at that, or months, it takes years,” Krames says. While that can Krames says. Francis has be comfortable and efficient, shown by his timing that he it will tend to reinforce the understands this, Krames status quo, which is not adds. “For example, it good for any organisation was almost his one-year over time. “He wants to get anniversary before he other people’s opinions.” reportedly commented that

CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

getting ahead

31

Duncan Bannatyne, Britain’s best-known entrepreneur

Mistakes Businesses Make MISTAKE 41

DIFFERENTIATE OR DIE

Refusing to admit you’re not up to the job

High-tech from Argentina?

‘Would you get an interview for your own job?’

Entrepreneurs share certain characteristics. We are all tenacious, by and large we are all optimistic and we all get bored easily. We are also, almost always, unbelievably stubborn. That can have its advantages, but it can also be extremely problematic. That stubborn streak means that some entrepreneurs refuse to face certain facts. Occasionally one of those facts is that they are just not up to the job and their business would be much better off with someone else at the helm.

It you’ve launched a business from scratch; if you’ve invested in it financially and emotionally; if your sense of identity and self-worth is tied up in the venture - it is really easy to understand why it’s difficult to walk away. Turning round to friends, family and staff and admitting you don’t have what it takes is a heartbreaking prospect, and that’s why people don’t do it. They carry on muddling through, making mistakes and missing

opportunities.

None of us see ourselves particularly clearly. We tend to be blind to our faults and overly impressed by our own talents, but if your business isn’t doing as well as you think it should be doing, you might want to look very close to home. If you realise that your business needs someone with greater experience, more financial knowledge, better people skills or sales ability, then you owe it to yourself and to the business to step aside.

A good way of assessing if you are the problem is to write a job description for the CEO of your business. What tasks and roles need to be fulfilled?

Then imagine you instruct a recruitment agency to hire your dream CEO. What skills would you want them to have? Now ask yourself this: would you get an interview for that job? And if not, who would you give an interview to?

You don’t have to leave the company to hand over the reins to a more experienced operator.

Perhaps, like me, you could

employ a chief executive and take on a chairman’s role.

Or maybe you would be more suited to a role that played to your strengths while someone better able to lead the business takes it forward. Just imagine what you could achieve if you were freed up to concentrate on the things you do best.

Even if this sounds tempting, in reality hiring someone to take on the CEO’s role - and then having to answer to them - is likely to be a complicated decision. What happens if the two of you disagree? Who would answer to whom? You would need to have a ‘conflict resolution’ plan in place before you took someone on. You would also need to agree in advance how the new boss would be assessed. Not having clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each of you is potentially as destructive to the business as you staying in your current position. continues from next week

continues Next week

While Procter & Gamble doesn’t seem too concerned about a soap that’s priced 25 to 30 per cent lower, they might get ready to unleash the news that WalMart’s soap is made by Huish Detergents, Inc. Would you trust your wash to a company called Huish? Not likely.

A French Success L’Oreal is a French cosmetic giant that uses locational heritage in a way that has produced a decade of double-digit growth.

Its secret is to use heritage as a way of conveying the allure of different cultures through its many products. Whether it’s selling Italian elegance, New York street smarts, or French beauty through its brands, L’Oreal reaches out to a vast range of people across incomes and cultures.

As BusinessWeek magazine reports, “While many companies seek to homogenise their brands to make them palatable in myriad cultures, CEO Owenjones has taken L’Oreal’s products in the opposite direction. He wants them to embody their country of origin, turning what many marketing gurus consider a narrowing factor into a marketing virtue. concluded

Business icons

Leadership lessons continues From last week

Jack Welch, former CEO, GE

Welch believes that people should be encouraged to take “big swings.”

This means that people who miss, no matter what the cost to the company, should not be reprimanded. They should be rewarded even if the goal was not achieved because they reached for it. This encourages more people to exercise their creativity and drive.

There are a number of other procedures that Welch practiced throughout his career as CEO that include globalisation and e-business. Welch

also believed being innovative and “on top of the game” by going global and entering the e-business world.

chosen mission for GE was to be the most competitive enterprise in the world by being number one or number two in every market. If a business unit Managing Business Units was not performing to its top ability, Much of what Welch learned in the managers of that section had a his career was how to make GE a chance to either fix it or sell it. If there successful, well-run company that was was not a chance for survival for the profitable each year-by a large amount. business, it was then sold.

During his time at GE, Welch came If Welch saw potential for the up with many strategies, many of business to become either number which continue as part GE’s business one or number two in its category, the environment, and some others have business was given an opportunity to been adapted. prove it could be the best.

Number 7 or Number 2 or Fix, Close, or Sell It. From 1981 to 1995, Welch’s continues next week

32 CEOConfidential

housekeeping

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Compiled by Olujide Olusola

100 most creative people in business (1)

You cannot have half of your population not working,” says Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al-Saud, CEO of Saudi Arabian luxury retailer Alfa Intl., who is bringing meaningful change to one of the world’s least-progressive cultures.

The second a woman is responsible for her own finances, she’ll want to explore more of the world for herself and become less dependent Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al-Saud, CEO, Alfa Intl Over the past two years, Princess Reema has been making bold moves toward women’s empowerment. At Riyadh’s Harvey Nichols department store, she has ousted several dozen experienced salesmen to make room for the same number of female clerks. It’s a controversial, highly unusual step in a country where women have traditionally not interacted with men outside the home at all, much less in service positions. (Women make up just 15% of the Saudi workforce, up from 5% in 1992.) Saudi traditionalists consider it a radical act.

But it was an act born of compromise. In recent years, the government has issued a series of decrees expanding job opportunities for women within retail--including banning men from working in lingerie and cosmetics shops that serve female-only clientele. Before then, stores that employed women were often closed down by the religious police, who enforce Sharia law.

New regulations allow for increased female

employment while adhering to some of the previous standards (separate break rooms and specified ratios of women to men in any given space, for instance). “Our society tends to change a bit slower than others,” Princess Reema says.

“We have to explain to people that it’s evolution, not Westernization.”

Born in Riyadh, Princess Reema grew up in Washington, D.C., where her father, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, served as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States (he is a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder). She majored in museum studies at George Washington University, and after graduation spent a few years working at L’Institut du Monde Arab in Paris and the Field Museum in Chicago, helping oversee her mother’s extensive art collection. When the collection returned to Saudi Arabia in 2008, Princess Reema came home as well. She had been planning to spend some time as a stay-at-home mom, but Alfa, which

her family partially owns, was struggling with Riyadh’s underperforming Harvey Nichols store.

She had a few ideas about how to turn it around.

“It hadn’t been renovated in a while, so we started with that,” she says. “We gutted the store and started from scratch with empty shelves.”

Soon she found herself running the entire Alfa operation.

One of the reasons the Harvey Nichols store has been so successful in integrating women is that it provides workplace accommodations that go far beyond American standards. For one thing, women still can’t legally drive in Saudi Arabia, so the company provides transportation to and from work. It’s also among the few Saudi workplaces that offer day care. “I wanted to avoid the obstacle of the mother-in-law or husband at home saying, ‘Who’s going to take care of the children?’ “ Princess Reema says. And the company lets employees make their own decisions about whether to wear a veil, a major

personal choice for Saudi women: “I will never ask a lady to cover or uncover her face.”

But solving these workplace issues has been easy compared to handling the business impact of social change. The Riyadh department store--which opened in 2000 as Harvey Nichols’s first location outside the U.K.--weathered a 42% drop in profit last year, partly because of opposition to the female sales force and partly because of loyalty to the far-more-seasoned salesmen it replaced. “The women don’t have the experience yet,” says Princess Reema. “It’s almost like throwing them to the wolves. But I buy into this. The training is the investment that we’re making in these ladies. I want women to have better opportunities.” Some Saudis are apparently still adjusting to the new face--and faces--of Harvey Nichols Riyadh, but Princess Reema seems confident that they will ultimately come around. “It’s just social perception,” she says. “And that’s going to change.”

A GIRL’S GUIDE

40

How To Take A Decent Picture

et cetera ...AND OTHER THINGS August 10, 2014

WHY SOME MEN PREFER STAY-ATHOME WIVES

Wish List

Esther SuleOkuego loves iphone 4s elite gold. p34

The Twitterati

Jeremiah Gyang talks all about love p39

34

et cetera

How I feel about...

BEING a dance instructor Frank Ande, 27 My name is Frank Wayo Ande popularly called “Frankie McAnde”. A graduate of Textile Science and Technology from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nigeria. I am from Kaduna state Nigeria; I have spent all my life in Kaduna and Lagos. I am a resident of Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria.

I am a dance and fitness instructor by morning, a creative director by noon, a ballet instructor in the afternoon, a branding and image consultant by evening, a yoga instructor by night, a karate coach for children and teenagers by weekends and an entrepreneur all through the year put together all my eccentricities to make the unique “FRANKIE BRAND”.

I am an extreme lover of the performing arts and all its elements. So amidst directing events, designing, developing and analysing concepts, overseeing a yoga/ Pilates class, instructing a high-cardio fitness class, performing a contemporary or jazz dance piece, showing a little kid a proper ballet position, adjusting the hand of a kid’s karate punch, I’d love to call myself a “Creativity Contractor”. Ultimately, in the blend of my very physical and demanding intellectual and artistic profession, I believe, stands and thrives in the spirit of excellence.

I believe that a person must earnestly pursue and live his or her dream. It’s daring and difficult most times but every time a person lives the life they love, the chase becomes worth it. I know that the courage needed for pursuing any dream is great but there’s no bargain about that level of courage. I always set my eyes on the price and move forward towards it each second of my life. The future is bright because of the growing need of art, fitness and creative ideas in the country.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

esther sule-okuego

WISH LIST

Own a bugatti veyron super sport.

That car is worth owning.

The Businesswoman reveals some of her wishes to Zanswat Bowsan

Ride in a hot air balloon - because

I think it would be easier than bungee jumping or sky diving . yea i’m a coward.

An iphone 4s elite gold.

Might as well spoil myself.

Own a yacht-

how cool is that?

Publish a book I just love the way authors play around with words.

DILEMMA

Visit a real castle, to be treated like royalty.

The closest I’ve been to seeing a castle was at Disneyland.

My Husband is Cheating Three Months into our Marriage?

In a light-hearted weekly column, we take a wry look at the problems of modern life I am still in shock. I woke up to use the bathroom and my husband’s phone was buzzing about 11pm. He was fast asleep as I picked his phone and saw nude pictures of a girl named Tolu who lives in Akure. Apparently he had been begging her to send pictures saying how much he missed her and calling her same pet names he call me. I think it is his ex. I love him so much, I think I will lose my mind. I feel like I want a

et cetera group

divorce already. I don’t think I can ever let him touch me again, or even bear to sleep on the same bed with him. How do I handle or get past this? Does anyone have a cheating husband? Does this get worse? I’m losing my mind.

Jummai from Kaduna Dear Jummai, I really feel for you, so sorry you are experiencing this but this is what a lot of women go through; unfortunately, I have seen so many of such cases, but I would advise you not to lose

your mind as it will only hasten and encourage his philandering. Calm down now and think about it. It is not so easy because of the love you have for him but is it what you have to do. If he can cheat on you so soon after saying I do, then he is not worth losing your mind over. Seriously dear, no man is worth it! Go on a trip somewhere, it helps.

Do you have a dilemma that you want help with? Write to blessing. ukemena@leadership.ng

CONTENT Zanswat Bowsan, Blessing Ukemena DESIGN Igwe-Ngerem Michael ACTING EDITOR Auwal Sa'id Mu'azu FOUNDER Sam Nda-Isaiah CHAIRMAN Hajiya Ireti Kingibe GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere, Dr Kazeem Durodoye Feedback and mails Etcetera is published as an insert in LEADERSHIP Sunday.

Please do send your pictures, stories, mails and enquiries to osezua.gloria@leadership.ng

et cetera

Sunday August 10, 2014

PEOPLE TRACKER

35

SUBTLE

Ola Anuwe is pretty in turquoise and gold

You can send your pictures to xanbowsan@yahoo.com

BRIGHT SMILE

Ify Onochie knows you’re fully dressed with a smile.

ALLURING Mrs Edeghere

DARING

Suzie Waje wears a bright yellow most people wouldnt dare.

CHEEKY

Adeleye Damilola is easy like Sunday morning

confident Somi Umogbai steps out in shimmers like a star.

ELEGANT

Pastor Comfort Adesoye is graceful in every way

36

et cetera

Sunday, August 10, 2014

PEOPLE TRACKER

COLOUR BLOCK Eve Eby matches turquoise blue and yellow perfectly

You can send your pictures to xanbowsan@yahoo.com

et cetera

Sunday, August 10, 2014

GROOVY Joy Tomon rocks in dredlocks.

STAR Linda Muhubenny isn’t just stylish she looks like a star in the making

LACEY Uju Favour looking every inch a fashionista in her black lace dress

ASSERTIVE Uche Nwobi knows that she doesn’t have to be like every other person when it comes to taste and fashion

PEOPLE TRACKER SPARKLING Dorean Disi’s leafdesigned-lace dress brings out her feminity

GENTLEMAN Chukwudi Kalu is no doubt a perfect gentleman

GORGEOUS Binta Mshelia’s striking beauty is incomparable

CHARMING Aliyyah Habib pretty young charming appearance speaks stardom

CHERRY Kathurag Chinyio happy mood is infectious

ELEGANT Fatima Gaya’s confidence makes her alluring

SWEET Mariam Mohammed has no dull moment in life

37

PERFECT-FIT Igho’s red dress and black hose with matching shoes look cool on her

LEAN-BACK-POSE Mabel Ekenyere takes the red carpet pose for the camera

38

et cetera

Sunday, August 10, 2014

iNSIDE story

WHY SOME MEN PREFER STAY-AT-HOME WIVES

By Blessing Ukemena, Abuja

M

arriage! An unkown person defined it as “the institution where the women are supposed to give up their independence and men have to worry for someone else, other than themselves every day of their lives after wedding, but it is also something that everyone looks forward to because at the end of the day it is one of the things that makes life worth living”. Another person defined “marriage as the bond between a person who never remembers anniversaries and another who never forgets them”. In the opinion of Mr James Amechi who works in oil and gas says he prefers his wife at home, “I think it’s actually pretty great if one of the parents can stay home with the kids before they’re school aged or even longer because that helps a lot. Most mothers are working now and do not have time for their children. It was not easy but I had to make my wife stop working because her first pregnancy was difficult plus I wanted her at home each time I was there and when my kids need her,” he said Bernard Idoko is an IT technician in the FCT. He is yet to get married but he would prefer a wife who would not have to answer to another man, “I definitely prefer a stay at home spouse.

My mom was a single mother who worked too much to ever watch over us. I was raised by a baby sitter which kind of sucks. To have a stay at home dad or mom, would be ideal.

However, this is only if you can afford it. I hope that I someday have a stay at home wife. If she makes more than

What they said...

Why Some Men Prefer Stay -At -Home Wives

me, I would gladly be a stay at home dad.” He said.

Stephanie Mariga has been a house wife for the past five years in the FCT, “My husband loves it but he also appreciated it when I worked when things got tight with money; and when I worked it was always my idea, not his. He’s always been the main bread-winner, though.

His face does beam when he comes home to a hot meal and clean home. It’s not that we TRY to “live in the 20s” it’s just that I don’t mind doing the domestic stuff and he doesn’t mind being the main bread-winner. It works for us.’

She said.

However there is a another section of men who do not share the same view, Jonah Bandiwe is a fashion designer and belong to that school of thought, “I wouldn’t want a

“I definitely prefer a stay at home spouse.

My mom was a single mother who worked too much to ever watch over us. I was raised by a baby sitter which kind of sucks. To have a stay at home dad or mom, would be ideal."

Bernard Idoko, IT Technician

stay at home wife. The way I see it is this. If she has never worked or hasn’t worked in a very long time and I die, how will she be able to support herself and or the kids. It would make it harder on her during the transition,” he said.

His friend Haruna Yusuf who works in the oil and gas sector and married with three children shared his story, “I had a stay at home wife. She wanted to be a stay at home wife, and I was old-fashioned enough, to not mind that she took care of the home while I earned the money, with the understanding that this was not a requirement of mine.

We seemed to agree on a lot of things: her staying at home until the kids were in elementary school at least, only two kids, before our third baby arrived. Trouble

“My husband loves it but he also appreciated it when I worked when things got tight with money; and when I worked it was always my idea, not his. He’s always been the main breadwinner, though. His face does beam when he comes home to a hot meal and clean home."

Stephanie Mariga, House Wife

was, I made all the money and she became very complacent over time. I also ran all the errands, cooked all the food, and she never lifted a finger beyond getting to kids from school (I got them to school).

Toward the end (because we are no longer together), she actively starting trashing the home (not cleaning up after herself when she made a mess with food). I am wary of arrangements these days where the woman does not contribute equally, financially if the law sees her as benefiting equally financially, I believe we both will be able to look after ourselves, agree to compensation if she looks after my kids (though they don’t need babysitting anymore), and share in our community property to the degree each of us contributed to it,” he stated.

Mariam Mariga also shared her opinion, “I was a stay-athome wife. It wasn’t what we had originally planned, but my company went through a merger and I sought being laid off. My compensation paid for over a year. My husband made good money so even without that we’d have been able to do it.

I stayed home for about four years. I did the extended breastfeeding and seriously considered becoming a lactation coach. I’m an advocate of extending nursing.

I loved being home and I think they were important years for my daughter for me to be home. I also think important years to be home will be when she’s a teenager.

However, I don’t think it has to be mom so much. Should I make enough, I’d welcome my husband being home. I loved being at home. For awhile, my husband worked out of our

home, and I especially loved that. Even though I’d been home about four years, it really wasn’t hard to find a job and get back to work. I don’t think the same is true today because of the economy, but at that point, it was fine.” She said.

Christie Usman, a chef and retired teacher spoke with Et Cetera and said “I didn’t work while my children were young.

It was a decision I took and my husband bought the idea.

I couldn’t imagine leaving my children in the hands of a nanny who barely knows her left from right. That was decades ago when gory stories of child molestation was not as much as it is now. These children need their parents.

You cannot and should not be too busy for your kids. You don’t want to imagine the level of evil in the world today.

If you are not influencing your kids, somebody else is. I am glad I stayed at home when I did. My children are the better for it. Now that that they are grown and have moved out of my house, I have time for myself and my husband. If you ask me, it is the biggest sacrifice you can give your children”.

Funny Quotes About Marriage: 1. Men have a better time than women; for one thing, they marry later; for another thing, they die earlier. –H. L. Mencken.

2. When a newly married couple smiles, everyone knows why. When a tenyear married couple smiles, everyone wonders why.

3. Love is blind but marriage is an eye-opener.

4. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.

“I had a stay at home wife. She wanted to be a stay at home wife, and I was old-fashioned enough, to not mind.Trouble was, I made all the money andshe became very complacent over time. I also ran all the errands, cooked all the food, and she never lifted a finger beyond getting to kids from school (I got them to school)”

“I didn’t work while my children were young. It was a decision I took and my husband bought the idea. I couldn’t imagine leaving my children in the hands of a nanny who barely knows her left from right."

Haruna Yusuf, Oil & Gas

Christie Usman, House Wife

We want to know what you think about our inside story above. You can have your say by emailing xanbowsan@yahoo.com

et cetera

Sunday, August 10, 2014

39

THE TWITTERATI CATCH UP WITH WHAT CELEBS HAVE BEEN TWEETING ABOUT

@ChiomaChuka

Is there any side effect/anything to be worried about with donkwa?

I seem to have redeveloped a fondness for it.

August 5 Keep eating. We will soon find out.

@jeremiahgyang

When one kind of woman loves you, then you’re in trouble. My kind, when she loves you, you’re in heaven!

August 3 Cupid definitely got this one

@ElJefe_ See kids=money Attend wedding= spray money Visit New Home= bring money Being Nigerian is expensive abeg. LOL! August 4 You think? @edomalo You can’t pray and worry at the same time.

There has to be order. You worry, THEN pray. And when you pray, stop worryingMom August 4 Mom knows best @sadeeeqabdul Money is not gonna make you happy but the absence of money can buy you an awful lot of misery July 18 This is the gospel truth @IJwhiterabbit I am one Happy Bunny August 5 -Hop away, happy one

@sidibespoke

It’s how we go back to normal after these bomb blasts that worries me.

June 14 Makes me wonder if we have learnt anything @heyDimbo Suddenly they risk using an untested drug on their own, Wow! How stupid do they really think we are?

August 4 You don’t wanna know, trust me! @chidinmaekile Ifunanya August 5 Emmm...is this the part where we sing the P Square song? @attaswitch If you have Ebola, or suspect you have, why book a flight ticket?

August 2 Because common sense is not so common. @xeenarh You know it’s coming, but still, it tears and breaks you apart when it finally happens.

August 5 Are you talking about a hurricane? @sodakas Always painful to watch Nigeria lose at table tennis or to terrorists, we will be losing for a while. Our leadership has guaranteed that.

July 28 Hard pill to swallow @elnathan On behalf of Africa, I absolve you of all moral/ethical issues in giving us your new

@ToolzO

#ToolzAsks Would you be ok with your close friends remaining friendly with your ex-boyfriend/ girlfriend?

August 5 If it doesn’t affect the economy, yes!

Ebola drugs. Just send the serum August 5 We need a cure like yesterday! @omojuwa So, an African needs 37 visas to move across Africa. Same African needs ONE visa to move in the EU. Anomaly August 5 Wisdom is profitable to direct @uchejombo Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional July 29 That’s how the cookie crumbles @BennyArk We live our lives either by what we are told to be or what we are destined to be July 26 It starts within @maryeema Beginning to think that marriage might be overrated. Seriously August 5 It is actually a beautiful thing. Re-think! @4eyedmonk PDP, who are you planning to impeach next?

August 5 It has become a joke @iam_Davido Please don’t believe the rumours. People are so jobless to make up stuff and put false words into my mouth! Did not and cannot say such things.

August 4 An idle mind is the devil’s workshop

40

et cetera

Sunday, August 10, 2014

LIFE101

A GIRL’S GUIDE

How To Take A Decent Picture

Use the flash sparingly, assess the situation- if the lighting is already great, don’t change in with auto-flash and bleach out the atmosphere. Consider the whole frame; try and put the head near the top of the photo, and fill the whole shot. A head in the centre of the picture could lead to images with large expanses of ceiling.

Just before you press the shutter take your head way from the camera and make eye contact with who you are photographing.

Humanise the interaction, it is hard for people to relate to a little metal box.

Try and have fun, relaxed atmosphere when taking a picture, even if you are nervous; make them feel like there’s nothing to panic about, leave that to your camera to do. Keep

a stream of banter going; light chitchat will lighten the mood.

When taking someone’s photo, always take a couple in each pose; if you take a few you should at least have one good one.

With digital or Polaroids you can see straight away if you have got it. And if the first one is great, people will feel good when you tell them you got it in one- they are a natural.

Take a camera everywhere; if you only pull the camera out at Christmas and special occasions or to capture a view from your window, you will never have an exciting variety of shots. Always have a camera close to hand to capture a moment. It will not only improve your skills, but it will help nervous “photophobes” to

Couch Potato

WHAT YOU CAN WATCH ON CABLE TV THIS WEEK

tODAY

Disconnect.

12:30PM on M-Net Movies Premiere

MONDAY

Grey’s Anatomy.

3:30PM on M-Net Series Showcase

TUESDAY

The Spot.

4PM on Ebony LifeTV

get used to having their picture taken and help them find their best angle.

A good place to start when finding someone’s angle is to have the person facing you, then turn their body 10 degrees to one side so that you will have a slight tilt in the body. Head should tip down ever so slightly; it is a myth that if you turn your head up it makes you look taller, it actually gives you double chins. Aim to shoot head to shoulders, or below, but tell the person how much of the body you are getting in. Don’t go too close, you don’t need to see every pore.

Be careful of hands and feet, fold them in delicately, especially on women- as due to perspective anything nearest to the camera will

WEDNESDAY

Medical Detectives.

6PM on Crime and Investigation

be largest. Don’t forget to take a picture of yourself!

A photographer is often the one person who is not photographed. Try and angle the camera so you compose the shot and then, holding the camera in same spot, twist round and stretch your arm out in front of you, holding the camera so that you are in front of you, holding the camera so that you are in the shot, too. Not only is this a great distance from which to take the photos, you will be at a three-quarter angle, which is the most flattering.

Above all, try and make it fun. You want to capture a great moment, not to frown!

Culled from The Girl’s Guide to Almost Everything

THURSDAY

CNN Tonight.

4PM on CNN

Student Counting Apples A teacher teaching Maths to sevenyear-old Laiq asked him, “If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?” Within a few seconds Laiq replied confidently, “Four!” The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer, three. She was disappointed. “Maybe the child did not listen properly.” – She thought.

She repeated, “Laiq, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”

Laiq had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy.

This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four.”

The disappointment stayed on the teacher’s face. She remembered that Laiq liked strawberries. She thought maybe he doesn’t like apples and that is making him loose focus.

This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, “If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?”

Seeing the teacher happy, young Laiq calculated on his fingers again. There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile young Laiq replied, “Three?”

The teacher now had a victorious smile.

Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, “Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?” Promptly Laiq answered, “Four!”

The teacher was aghast. “How Laiq, how?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice. In a voice that was low and hesitating young Laiq replied, “Because I already have one apple in my bag.”

SOURCE - academictips.org

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Believers Voice of Victory. 7AM on TBN

Someboy’s Watching.

12PM on Telemundo

CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

bottom lines 67.17% $20,000,000 Percentage of budget performance as revealed by the Ogun State government in the first half of 2014.

IN SHORT

At the 21th annual general meeting of Presco plc, recently in Benin City, the firm declared a turnover of N8,485, 143,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, as against N11,251,521,000 for the previous year, which led to a profit after tax of N1,293,971,000, compared with N3,549,971,000, for 2012.

The firm also proposed a right issue of one new share of 50 kobo for every 10 shares of 50 kobo each held, subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities, as preference would be given to old shareholders.

The board of directors proposed a dividends of 10 kobo per share, amounting to N100, 000,000 for shareholders’ approval, subject to withholding tax at the appropriate rate, he said further.

According to the chairman, ”Presco is poised to reap the benefits of its expansion programme of previous years.

Our performance in 2013 can be described as good.

We achieved a total fresh fruit branches production of 123,695 tons as against 125,491 tons in the previous year, as crude oil palm produced was 27,585 tons compared with 33,375 tons for the year 2012.”

The company’s turnover was N8,485,143,000 as against N11,251,000,000 the previous year, resulting in a profit after tax of N1,293,971,000, compared with 2012, which was N3,549,971,000.

COMPANY

SECRETS

Felix Rosenberg, CEO, Swiss Telecom

Amount to be spent in emergency assistance to help Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus by World Bank.

Improved efficiency spikes Ecobank’s H1 profit

Presco profit drops 63.6 per cent due to expansion

Chief executive officer, Ecobank Group, Mr Albert Kobina Essien

Ecobank’s tenacious focus on efficiency has paid off as cost-to-income ratio was down, further driving profit by 27 per cent, analysis of the financial statement shows. For the first six months of the year, Ecobank’s gross earnings rose by N175.05bn from N153.60bn the same period of the prior year

41

BoostiNG Sales

(HY) 2013.

The most diverse lender in Nigeria is unrelenting in using expansion strategy to spur growth as it has started banking operations in Mozambique, an important addition to its South Africa cluster. The improved efficiency stoked the translation of top-line performance to bottom-line growth, as profit before tax surged by 28 per cent to N41.66bn in HY 2014, compared with N32.67bn as of HY 2013.

Profit after tax also followed the same trajectory as it spiked by 15 per cent to N31.63bn, compared with N27.52bn as of HY 2013. The focal point of the lender’s ability to record impressive results is the reduction of cost-to-income ratio to 68.10 per cent in 2014, from 70.97 per cent in 2013.

Loan-to-deposits ratio increased to 70.90 per cent in HY 2014, from 66 per cent in HY 2013, signifying the aggressiveness of the lender to increasing lending. The creation of risk assets was also stellar as loans and advances surged by 28 per cent to N2trn in HY 2014, compared with N1.57 as of HY 2013.

Total customer deposit was up by 18 per cent to N2.82bn in HY 2014, compared with N2.38bn as of HY 2013. In order to boost the net worth of customers, the bank launched premier banking service, which it says will suit individual lifestyle of customers in a collaborative way that provides additional value beyond everyday banking.

Ecobank has operations in 32 African countries, more than any other lender. Total assets grew by 17 per cent to N3.81bin in the review period from N3.26bn as of HY 2013. Its share price closed at N16.50 on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, while market capitalisation was N283.8bn.

Independent consultants go one-on-one The practice development habits of independent consultants provide a great study in the collection and use of customer knowledge.

Consultants often evolve into their ‘independent; role through a series of jobs and projects, allowing them to finely tune customer and project preferences along the way.

Because of the close working arrangements these professionals have with clients, they gather a great deal of personal and business information about them.

This intelligence can be used to create compelling project quotes containing: 1. Solid situation analysisrestating customer goals and demonstrating the consultant’s competence.

2. Project approach ideas for achieving success, including phasing and timing.

3. A fee structure that provides fairly for the client and the consultant.

Independent consultants are also likely to be: 1. Clear on how many projects they can handle effectively (workload).

2. Working on projects for which they have relevant experience (niche).

3. Working with clients that they know they can truly help (good testimonials).

4. Working on making the next sale by simply doing their job well (referrals, niche)

Form alliances to enhance global reach When customers go global, companies must follow. For telecoms, however, this simple business axiom poses complex challenges. For example: should a telecom operator build its own global network, or should it lease capacity from other operators?

The problem is that the first solution is prohibitively expensive, and the second weakens the company’s control over service. So Swisscom opted for a third alternative – using a global

alliance to provide complementary services in any world market.

This decision flowed from our membership in the AT&T – Unisource alliance. Alliance members, drawn from the worldwide telecomoperator community, deliver each other’s customer traffic to its final destination. The alliance also offers global solutions – for example, international intranets and Virtual Private Networks – that no one

company would be able to offer on its own. That alliance also provides single contract, and a single point of contact, for sales and customer for multinational businesses.

For alliance members, competitive advantage comes from global reach, economies of scope and scale, common service offerings, single brand promotion, joint procurement, network standardisation, and research and development collaboration.

42 CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

hub

0.6%

Compiled by Olujide Olusola

Percentage contribution from the insurance sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product between 2012 and 2013, according to the National Insurance Commission.

N5,000,000,000 Amount paid by the federal government to Life insurance firms as premium for the insurance of its workers in the 2014 financial period.

L-R: Glo officer, Miss Omolade Odunola; coordinator, Gloworld, Mr Dimeji Amao, and, head of operations, Globacom, Mr Bisi Koleoso, during the unveiling of Globacom 3-in-1 Recharge Option Service, held at Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos recently. PHOTO: BENEDICT UWALAKA

L-R: Deputy general manager, TECNO Nigeria, Mr Chidi Okonkwo; head, public relations, Transsion Group, Mr Boukali Mounir; head, compliance monitoring and enforcement, Nigeria Communications Commission, Mr Efosa Idehen, and managing director, Jumia, Mr Jonathan Doerr, during the media launch of TECNO Phantom Z in Lagos recently.

PHOTO: GBENGA OLAJOBI

L-R: Director general, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Dikke; minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Mohammed Musa Sada; minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen, and senior special assistant to the vice president on media and publicity, Mallam Umar Sani, during the National Council on Privatisation meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja recently. PHOTO: REMI AKUNLEYAN

L-R: Executive director, finance and administrations, CoreMedia Services Limited, Mr Hakeem Yusuf; managing director/CEO, Mr Jide Adediran; public relations manager, NTA-Star TV Network Limited, Mr Anetor Irete, and head, marketing, CoreMedia, Mrs Shakirat Bello, during a world press briefing on the birth of Coretv News into the Nigerian Media Market on StarTimes Channels, held at Isheri, Ogun State recently.

PHOTO: GBENGA OLAJOBI

nikky @nikkytheminx After three years of service.

Even if there were issues, unfortunately he acted like the average Nigerian... quit as a form of blackmail.

Bill Clinton @billclinton Happy birthday @ BarackObama! They say the job of president ages you. But...well, that’s it.

fav

tweets

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump Think big. Stay focused. Be passionate. Don’t ever give up.

James Robert @JamesRobert Don’t let the world change your smile, let your smile change the world. @tonyrobbins

Tower Club Singapore, Singapore Enter the heights of unparalleled grandeur, where business and pleasure meet amidst breath-taking views of Singapore’s dynamic city skyline. Soaring above the bustling CBD, Tower Club Singapore resides in a prime central location, and brings a premier, private setting where the business elite meet, network and entertain. As a premier private business club, Tower Club Singapore brings an outstanding experience that surpasses all expectations. As bastions of society, members deserve only the very best. Tower Club lends an atmosphere of importance

and privilege to business meetings, inspiring both attendance and participation. Offering a selection of luxurious private dining and meeting rooms, Tower Club allows for seated or standing functions up to 200. Each room is gracious and accommodating in its design and purpose, with stateof-the-art audio-visual equipment available upon request. An event as special as your wedding deserves a setting just as memorable. With incredible views of the city’s dynamic business hub and harbour, Tower Club provides the stylish and sophisticated wedding you’ve always dreamed of.

net

works

CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

$51,000,000 Amount the United States government will provide to support credible elections in Nigeria in 2015 and other electoral process in the country in the next five years.

600

Number of personnel deployed by the Federal Road Safety Corps with to ensure safe travels during August 9 Osun State governorship poll.

8

Number of students to be trained from six African countries in the master’s degree programme in Natural Resources and Environmental Management by the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa.

YOUR FYI FOR INFORMATION

L-R: Marketing director, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa; managing director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya; Alhaja Ayo Omidiran; Airtel Rising Stars technical advisers, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, Garba Lawal and Mutiu Adepoju, during the finals of Airtel Rising Stars championship, held at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos, recently.

PHOTO: BENEDICT UWALAKA

Upside-down death The rituals that follow a Japanese death show the reasons certain actions are strictly taboo during life. Everything around death is done sakasa goto – upside down.

When the body has been washed by the bereaved family and its orifices stuffed with cotton, it is dressed in a yukatabira (white kimono), with the right side over the left, the opposite of how this garment is worn by the living. On its feet are place straw sandals, a taboo gift in life. The corpse is then laid out in a special room, palms over the chest as if in prayer, head pointing north or kitamakura: another no-no in the living world.

A single stick of incense is burned at the bedside, and a candlestick and flowers are arranged nearby – usually the chrysanthemums that are never given in life. A bowl that that the dead person used during life is then heaped with rice, and chopsticks are placed vertically in it – another strict taboo for the living.

After the wake and funeral, which take place over the next two days, the body is cremated in the presence of the family; two of them then put the ashes into an urn with chopsticks, starting with the bones of the feet and ending with the bones of the head, passing them in a way that should be done with food in normal life. Mourners bring gifts called koden, which are special envelopes filled with money.

L-R: Managing director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Mr Ben Langat; chief executive officer, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), Mr Dimitris Lois, and founder, Dangote Group of Industries, Alh Aliko Dangote, at CCHBC’S award presentation to Dangote Sugar Refineries as the group’s Most Improved Supplier of the Year in Athens, Greece, recently.

HOW THEY

BLEW IT

Exile continueS FROM LAST WEEK

Berezovsky denies it all, talks of dark plots and claims political motivations are behind the charges.

So, Mother Teresa he is not. But what is he? While undoubtedly intelligent, occasionally charming, and an energetic entrepreneur, he blurred the line between business and politics and set off after both - something that has considerably affected his wealth, and may end up potentially damaging his Boris Berezovsky

43

health.

One journalist referred to him as ‘ a charming Machiavellian character whose drug is political intrigue’. Sergei Markov, a political consultant, described Berezovsky as a ‘world- class provocateur ... a character from Dostoevsky because he shows how intensive the dialogue can be between the human soul and the devil’. Vladimir Putin described him as welt we can only imagine.

CONcluded

DoING Business Leadership and status with Bulgarian Bulgarian social barriers are few because of the lack of hereditary nobles. Although a wide range of people can inspire to leadership, no outstanding political or business leaders have emerged during the last decade; national pessimism and self-doubt hinder their development. In business, the future Bulgarian manger is likely to be less autocratic than Serbian or Greek top executives.

Bulgarian employees are docile in comparison with Serbs, Croats or Romanians.

44 CEOConfidential

entrepreneur 27

Sunday, August 10, 2014

$1m

Age of Ethiopian entrepreneur, who founded Feed Green Ethiopia Exports Company, an Addis Ababa-based outfit that produces and exports popular Ethiopian spice blends such as Shiro, Mitmita, Korarima and Berbere.

Worth of 29 year-old Kenyan’s company, Shades System East Africa, annual sales, according to Forbes.

SMALL BUSINESS

Ummulkhair Usman

Managing information technology

Encouraging Nigerian-made products

continues from last WEEK

For Ummulkhair Usman, CEO, Khayri’s Pride, every customer deserves getting true value for their money and that is the principle that has distinguished the company among its contemporaries in the industry. Shedding more light on the various products the company produces she said, “The business entails the production of ladies handbags, souvenir bags, tallit, purses, beddings, puffs (locally known as tim-tim), throw pillows, baby/toilet/kitchen sets, men’s shirts, ladies night gowns and Arabian gowns (Abaya), and antiseptics. Also, the company trains students on how to make the aforementioned items. We offer beauty services like body touch (gyaran jiki), facials and make-ups.

Usman revealed that breaking into the Nigerian market was a major challenge initially, but with steadfastness, staying true to her dreams and the unwavery support from family and friends, Khayri’s Pride has come to stay as a major force in the industry. According to her, “I really faced challenges as a beginner because it was hard getting to convince people that bags and a good number of items made in Nigeria have same quality as imported ones. So my customer size was relatively small from the start because people preferred foreign accessories. But with time, I was able to overcome that by making sure I produced qualitative goods so that everyone that buys always come back for more, mostly with friends and family.”

Reechoing her strength in the industry she said, “I don’t believe in producing substandard goods because I believe quality is what keeps a business going. Another thing I think makes my business going is my choice of material for the products. I take my time choosing attractive and qualitative leather for bags and other items.

Projecting into the future she said, “Even though

That waste can be minimised – at least for nonstrategic IT solutions – by partnering with an MSP (managed service provider, aka, outsourced service provider or utility computing service provider). Thanks to MSPs, which deliver computing resources over the Internet like a power utility delivers electricity, management can now focus on IT’s use and not its generation. Like other commodities, users are billed only for services they use. Bottom line: Most organisations’ core competency isn’t, and shouldn’t be, IT systems deployment and management. Today’s IT focus is on Web-based access, not assets.

Asset-based IT – owing hardware and software – is going the way of the passenger pigeon. Look at the explosion of Salesforce.com.

According to Gartner, Inc., the leading provider of research and analysis on the global IT industry, 80 per cent of large-company IT investments now go to MSPs. Why the migration? Lots of reasons.

Partnering with MSPs • reduces your IT infrastructure and deployment risks • allows you to quickly scale your IT infrastructure up or down • lowers up-front costs as well as costs associated with excess IT capacity • eliminates the need to staff up for peak demand periods • allows your IT group to concentrate fully on strategic issues concluded

HEr STORY

Khayri’s Pride has been consistent in it’s activities in providing tailoring products and rendering beauty services for the past three years, it is the projection of the company to be one of the leading fashion service providers in the fashion industry, thereby creating employment with massive impact insha Allah.”

For young and aspiring entrepreneurs she advised: “My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is that they should remain steadfast. They should be prepared to hold on to their dreams against all odds. With hard work, prayers and perseverance, they will get there someday.”

Contact Usman on Khairi01@yahoo.com

Bimbo Bolaji, MD, House of B, Kaduna How did you get to where you are today?

I started last year after quitting my job.

I wasn’t paid for months and decided to tap into my talents. I do wholesale and retails of fabrics such as Ankara, guinea brocade, Swiss materials, cotton, etc.

What have you learnt over the years?

People are different and one needs proper understanding to be able to deal with them appropriately. Also, please them and keep up the clientele.

What were the challenges you faced?

I give out my services and clothes on credit which is a means to retain and get new customers.

How did you overcome the challenges?

With patience, and trying to make my customers know that I understand the situation helps me recover my money.

What are your future projections for your business?

I want to have my own clothing line, and manufacturing of my own fabrics.

How do you intend to achieving these projections?

Through God’s grace, confidence, focus and determination.

Any advice for younger entreptrneurs?

They should remain focused and stick to their vision Contact Bolaji on 08039448010

46 CEOConfidential

tipoffs Compiled by Salome Anyasodo

SECRETS OF LONGETIVITY

Use cell phones with caution

Cell phones have her downside. New evidence suggests that heavy use of cell phones may be bad for one’s health. Children under the age of eight should not use cell phones at all.

Research indicates that mobile phone users are more prone to non-malignant tumours in the ear and brain. Various studies suggest that cell phone use may cause changes to the DNA and cognitive functions and that cancer rates are higher near cell phone antenna stations. One potential remedy: the use of wired headsets coupled with magnetic beads.

These inexpensive ferrite beads snap on to the wire near the earpiece end to reduce radio frequency radiation near the users head.

BOOKMARK

Sunday, August 10, 2014

$200,000,000 Estimated amount World Bank pledged to support Ebola fight in West African nations

John J. Murphy, Publisher:Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2013

In Run Your Business, Don’t Let It Run You, Clay Mathile presents a guide to helping businesses grow using professional management techniques. Drawing deeply from his own personal experiences running the pet food company, Iams, and founding the non-profit foundation Aileron, Mathile’s guide aims to help business owners who wish to stop working 16-hour days and start building a framework for long-term growth, family stability, and achieving their professional dreams. Centred around a “Direction, Operation, Control” approach to professional management, Mathile aims to help business owners influence the future of their organisations by moving away from day-to-day operations and focusing on the bigger picture.

Estimated percentage Nigeria may see a rise in her oil production from 2.32million barrels per day to 3.13mbpd by 2030 according to McKinsey Global Institute Report

7 worst hiring mistakes and how to avoid them Filling a position can be stressful.

Here are some things to keep in mind so that one does not hire the wrong person. We all make mistakes from time to time and some missteps have bigger consequences than others.

Hiring mistakes, for instance, can be extremely costly.

“Hiring managers make fatal errors all the time, usually when they feel pressure to hire quickly--and, as we know, rushed decisions lead to bad hires,” says Mike Del Ponte, cofounder and “chief hydration officer” of Soma, an eco-friendly water filtration system.

“Luckily, though, there are easy ways to avoid the seven most common hiring mistakes,” Del Ponte says.

Here’s his advice: Mistake 1: Over-valuing cultural fit.

“Remember that the goal is to hire the most competent employee, not the most likeable,” he says. “Cultural fit is important, but it can blind hiring managers from objectively assessing candidates.” Create a scorecard to rate candidates, so one can focus on what needs to be accomplished, not just personality.

Mistake 2: Rushing the hiring process.

“There is always urgency in filling an open position, but most hiring mistakes come from not thoroughly vetting enough candidates,” he says.

Avoid this by being realistic about hiring timelines. “Typically, you need at least six weeks to attract and vet enough high-quality candidates.”

Run Your Business, Don’t Let It Run You

33%

Mistake 3: Not asking for enough references.

Most people ask for supervisor references, but it is helpful to get references for peers and people who

worked for the candidate, Del Ponte says. “For our most recent hire, we overcame this common mistake by calling seven references to confirm the candidate was a perfect fit for the role and to understand how to support him once he was on the team.”

Mistake 4: Not having a formal process.

Lack of process can allow the hunt for candidates to go far too long or let bad candidates slip through the cracks. “Create a committee, map out your process, and give ample time for recruiting, interviewing, diligence, and negotiating,” Del Ponte says.

Ponte says.

Mistake 5: Hiring generalists.

Very few roles require a Jack of all trades, he explains. “Look for experts who have a track record of doing exactly what you want them to accomplish.” Sometimes one needs to hire generalists especially if the company is young--”but one should quickly grow out of this phase and focus on only hiring specialists,” Del

Mistake 7: Relying on job posts.

The best candidates are rarely looking for a job. “You need to work your network to get introductions to people who can accomplish your goals, even if they do not yet know they want to work for you,” says Del Ponte. “Make a list of advocates who can help you grow your candidate pool.”

RULES FOR BUSINESS

Mistake 6: Not having clarity on the role that is being filled.

If one does not have the fine details of the role, responsibilities, and milestones one desires, one is not ready to start recruiting. “Get clear first,” he says. “We made the mistake of hiring someone who was incredibly talented and accomplished, but not a good fit because we did not know specifically what we needed for the role. The mistake cost us time and money. The next time around we found the perfect candidate because we knew exactly what we needed.”

Most people in rich countries are paid more than they should be

What they tell you In a market economy, people are rewarded according to their productivity.

Bleeding-heart liberals may find it difficult to accept that a Swede gets paid fifty times what

an Indian gets paid for the same job, but that is a reflection of their relative productivities.

Attempts to reduce these differences artificially-for example, by introducing

minimum wage legislation in India –lead only to unjust and inefficient rewarding of individual talents and efforts. Only a free labour market can reward people efficiently and justly.

CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

updates Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

90

Number of American companies expected to seek trade deals with African countries and businesses participating at the US-Africa Summit.

Investing

U.S.-Africa summit garners over $17bn in investment pledges

3000

Number of workers successfully hoisted to safety

by AngloGold Ashanti after a 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit South Africa recently

$5bn

U.S. and African companies and the World Bank on Tuesday pledged more than $17 billion in investments in construction, energy and information technology projects in Africa to showcase U.S. economic interest in the fast-growing region.

Business leaders told the U.S.-Africa Business Forum they wanted to seize opportunities in Africa, home to six of the world’s 10 fastestgrowing economies, although some said they may be late to the party. “We gave it to the Europeans first and to the Chinese later, but today it’s wide open for us,” said General Electric Co Chief Executive Jeff Immelt, who on Monday announced $2bn to boost infrastructure, worker skills and access to energy.

The forum, part of a three-day summit in Washington, has allowed dozens of African heads of state to hobnob with U.S. and African executives and spotlighted projects to improve infrastructure, finance, supply chains and energy security as U.S. companies look for new markets and sources of profit.

3000

Number of workers successfully hoisted to safety by AngloGold Ashanti after a 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit South Africa last Tuesday.

Vodafone Egypt partners Ericsson to improve network quality

Vodafone Egypt has signed a three year agreement with Ericsson, a leading global communication technology company, to help manage and improve quality of its network in Cairo, Egypt’s capital city.

This comes after Vodafone announced last month that it plans to invest $1.3bn over the next three years to improve network.

The agreement between Vodafone Egypt and Ericsson is the first of its kind for Vodafone.

Mining

Glencore expresses interest in Guinea’s iron deposits

Miner and commodity trader Glencore has expressed interest in iron deposits in Guinea, a presentation obtained by Reuters shows, although the company said it had not pitched for a stake in Simandou, the country’s largest deposit.

Worth is investment Glencore is the latest mining major looking to invest in iron Coca-Cola Plc ore assets in Guinea. Most interest is focused on Simandou, has pledged in one of the world’s biggest deposits.

Any potential investors in Simandou are treading carefully, manufacturing capacity, however. sustainability initiatives Israeli-owned BSG Resources, which was stripped of its license and jobs over the next to develop part of Simandou following a Guinean corruption six years in Africa. investigation, is seeking arbitration and has threatened to sue companies that invest in its former license area.

In order to promote green energy and cut carbon emissions, South African Airways and US plane manufacturer Boeing have announced plans to develop jet fuel from a tobacco plant, known as Solaris, tobe produced by alternative jet fuel maker SkyNRG. Nairobi-based real estate development partner, Acorn Group has announced plans to invest $455m in real estate projects over the next two years.

QUAD-WRANGLE

Finance

Standard Bank, GE restate commitment to Africa’s power sector development

South African-based Standard Bank and American multinational conglomerate corporation, General Electric who partnered to boost Africa’s energy sector, have reaffirmed their joint committed in meeting the continent’s demand for power.

The two organisations reassured on their support to Africa at a power financing round-table held in Washington DC today during the on-going US Africa Leaders’ Summit.

Agriculture

Black tobacco farmers flourish in Zimbabwe

Forget, for a moment, all the problems Zimbabwe’s economy face; forget an unemployment rate of almost 80 percent which economists say heralds the demise of its economy; and never mind the ever-widening gap between the rich and poor. Out of this economic mess, in a country where various currencies are accepted as legal tender, a new breed of entrepreneurs is steadily emerging.

With domestic banks lacking the capacity to lend money for productive industries, many Zimbabweans have taken up tobacco farming to stave off the spectre of unemployment. It has become an impressive opportunity to earn the cash necessary for other investments.

City search

Can you unscramble the letters in each word to find ten world cities?

Can you discover the sixteen numbers that match all the clues below? All the numbers are whole numbers. No two numbers are the same and no number has a value less than 1.

1. A1=either D4 divided by B4 or D4 minus B4.

2. A2=B3 minus D2.

3. A3=either B2 minus C1 or B2 minus A2.

4. A4=a quarter of C4 or C4 plus D2.

5. B1=either D4 divided by D2 or D4 minus D2.

6. B2=either D4 minus A4 or D4 plus A4.

7. B3=either 20 or 21.

8. B4=either a third of D1 or a third of B1.

47

Last week’s solutions QUAD-WRANGLE 1.

2.

9. C1=either A4 minus B3 or A4 plus B3.

10. C2=either A3 divided by D2 or A3 minus D2.

11. C3=B1 plus C4.

12. C4=A2 doubled.

13. D1=C3 minus D2.

14. D2=a third of B3.

15. D3=either A1 minus C3 or A1 plus C3.

16. D4=either B3 doubled or half of C1

Name of World Cities: 1. H A H A S I G N 2. O N E R U M B L E 3. H A I L P A I D H E L P 4. A N I M A L 5. A N T I S A G O 6. N O T E D M O V I E 7. E A S I E R B O N U S 8. N I L T U B A S 9. G I N J I B E 10. P U B D A T E S

3.

4.

All the numbers are whole numbers (intro), so B3=12 and A2=4 (clues 2 and 7).

D4=48 (16). No two numbers are the same (intro), so C1=8 (9). A4=96 (4).

D2=24 (14). B2=3 (6). C4=72 (12). D3=66 (15).

C2=30 (10). A1=54 (1) B1=18 (5). B4=26 (8). D1=40 (13). C3=10 (11).

A3=50 (30).

US cities 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

SEATTLE SAN FRANCISCO DENVER CHARLESTON HOUSTON

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

DALLAS MEMPHIS CHARLOTTE CHEYENNE LOS ANGELES

48 CEOConfidential

Sunday, August 10, 2014

updates N5,000,000,000 Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

Worth of money life insurance firms have been paid by the FG as premium for the insurance of its workers in the 2014 financial period, according to reports by PUNCH.

Motoring

Ford Motor considers opening plant in Nigeria

Ford Motor, the second-largest American automaker, is considering Nigeria as an option on its plan to open new manufacturing plants on the continent.

The company is looking to expand its manufacturing plants in Africa, as it introduces new models like the Mustang sports car and predicts industry-wide auto sales will grow 40 per cent by 2020.

Jim Benintende, Ford’s head of operations in the Middle East and Africa is formulating an Africa growth strategy to increase Ford’s factories in Africa beyond its two plants in South Africa, with Nigeria being considered as an option, he revealed in a chat with Bloomberg.

However, Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgency problem is cited as a major challenge.

“It’s going to be a rocky road for a bit of time,” Benintende said. “But you’ve got to take the longterm view in places like Nigeria. It’s the biggest economy in Africa. You can’t ignore that. It’s got abundant natural resources; it’s got a burgeoning middle class. There’s a lot of real good reasons to look at Nigeria for future investment.”

Power

NERC to engage in selective electricity tariff review

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is to engage in a selective review of electricity tariff and it has spelt out conditions under which electricity distribution companies would be allowed to increase tariff.

$1bn

Value of money the federal government of Nigeria has resolved to commit to the improvement of gas infrastructure in the country, according to the MD of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Mr James Olotu.

N2

Value of dividend Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has declared for the financial year ended March 31, 2014.

9.03% Percentage rise on Diamond Bank’s half year profit due to reduced tax.

The commission said while it is still reviewing the tariff regime, the level of indebtedness of the electricity distribution companies in the course of their efforts at improving supplies would determine if a particular company would be allowed to raise its tariff or not.

The exercise would affect both the generating companies (Gencos) and distribution companies (Discos).

Retail

Sanitary purchase on the rise as Ebola epidemic threatens Lagos

Just a few weeks after the deadly Ebola epidemic hit Lagos, top online shopping company, Kaymu reports a rise in purchase of sanitary supplies by Locals of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Following the demise of Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian born American who arrived at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos on July 20 and died five days later, the awareness about the fatal virus has spread like wild fire. Further worry erupted today with news that the country’s first local case – a nurse who treated the Liberian This can be accredited to the prompt actions taken by the Lagos state government to inform Lagosians (citizens of Lagos) about the severity of the virus and the continuous coverage of the situation by local and foreign media.

According to a statement released by Kaymu, online search for hand sanitizer on the platform has increased by 130 per cent in the past week and sales of hand washes and lotions have increased significantly.

Energy The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) is set to commence customers’ enumeration exercise within its franchise area. IBEDC franchise area comprises of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and parts of Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states.

Little action has been taken to clean up pollution caused by oil production in the Niger Delta region, either by the government or Shell Oil, Amnesty International and other groups have said.

Shell starts oil production from Bonga North West deep-water project Shell’s deep-water subsidiary in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), has announced it started oil production from the first well at the Bonga North West deepwater development off the Nigerian coast on Tuesday August 5, 2014.

The Bonga project, which began producing oil and gas in 2005, was Nigeria’s first deep-water development in water depths over 1,000 metres. Bonga North West represents a significant step forward for the project.

Telecommunication

Fresh revenue stream for telcoms as enterprise market expands

Telecommunications firms operating in Nigeria and other African countries are stepping up investments in cross-border internet infrastructure in a bid to take advantage of the growing demand for enterprise communications services, analysts have said.

This new development, according to them, has become imperative considering that Africa is gradually becoming an economic hub. In view of this huge market opportunity, many global and regional firms are expanding their presence across the continent.

EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Summit

Pageantry

4th Affordable Housing Summit The Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa; August 26-28, 2014

Face of Hope Foundation’s Kiddies’ Pageant Nicon Luxury, Abuja; August 23, 2014

This tailored housing summit will feature prominent industry leaders as they discuss different strategies for building and delivering quality affordable houses in a high demand market. The 4th Affordable Housing Summit offers you an opportunity to discuss industry challenges at a deal level and network with industry stakeholders.

Attend Affordable Housing Africa conference to learn about the evolving role of the Government, private & social sectors in furthering affordable housing development projects across Africa. The major challenges remain financing projects & administering the right technologies.

The event will be addressing housing policies, urban development amongst others.

Awards

The 11th Annual Top Women Awards Emperors Palace, Johannesburg; August 14, 2014

The Top Women Awards is a collaborative platform dedicated to recognising outstanding leadership, inspiration, vision, and innovation in organisations that have stepped up and shaped women’s roles within the private and public sectors.

Where to buy/ ABUJA A-Z 49

Sunday, August 10, 2014

What to buy Accessories are extremely dominant, as they can transform simple fashion outfits into something extraordinary. In this edition, we handpicked some accessories that will complete your appearance anytime any day.

Editor’s Picks

4

1

2 1. PANDORA HAT- A hat can do amazing things for your fashion style. Since not all women wear hats, the mere fact that you’re wearing one makes you stand out from others. Available at Mango Stores Silverbird Galleria Memorial Drive, Central Business District.

5

2. CLASSY BAG –A beautiful bag is a complete showstopper. You can find a perfect bag that suits you personality at Exclusive Stores Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2.

3. SLEEK BELT-. Belts can add some personality to your outfit, especially if you need to make your dress more you.

You can pick the perfect belt that suits your taste at Mango Stores Silverbird Galleria Memorial Drive, Central Business District.

4. WATCH -There will come a day that you won’t be able to have your cellphone glued to your hand. Then you will have to depend on your wrist watch to tell time for you. Watches come in all colors, sizes and styles, you can find one that suits your taste at Sahad Supermarket, Area 11 5. BLACK SHOES – Black shoes are everyone’s best friend, because they suits almost every outfits. Invest in a pair of black shoes and you worry less about matching inconsistent shoe colours.

Head to the nearest department store and grab a set today!

6. SUN GLASSES- Well-made sunglasses do more than make you look like a movie star. They can protect your eyes from sun’s UV rays, which could lead to cataracts. Available at Exclusive Stores Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2.

3 6

50 ABUJA A-Z

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Choicest Residential Areas in Abuja STORY: U c h e U d u ma an d C h a lya Du l

Estate in Life camp

Monarch Estate Life camp

Even as house prices continue to rise in the Federal Capital Territory, residents still look out for the choicest places to live in the city.

Abuja has several sprawling districts, and choosing a neighborhood to live in the districts is dependent on a number of factors. To some, finding an exclusive area is their priority while others prefer living in the city center, which is always a bustle of upscale boutiques, sidewalk shops and open plazas, many near office complexes.

Wuse II is the hub of economic activities in Abuja. The district is dominated by myriad of shopping opportunities, glassy office towers, a magnet for international organisations, all embedded within residential areas which many find very appealing. Of course, the mainstreaming of Wuse II has driven up property values. The Bungalows and cheap apartment complexes are vanishing fast and being overtaken by magnificent pricey duplexes and mansions. House rents in this area goes for as much as between five million naira and 11 million naira per annum. The city center is unavoidably car-dependent. Most residents in the district have their own car as the popular El-Rufai buses do not ply its routes. However the neighborhoods in Wuse II unlike other districts is pedestrian-friendly, earning it one of the district’s best walkability areas.

Beyond Wuse district lies Maitama, the most exclusive residential area in Abuja. The district is the city’s suburban core and it is well on its way to becoming an island unto itself.

The Maitama neighborhood is home to a majority of the upper-class in the society, the neighborhood offers an expanding variety of luxury homes with garden and sports facilities, giving residents yet another reason to just stay

home.

For the well- heeled government officials, Asokoro is their choice residential area. The district is a high class and secured area where most serving ministers and top government officials live. Some of the landmarks in the area include Aso Rock, the nation’s seat of power.

National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and a couple of international agencies such as World Health Organisation (WHO) Office.

Majority of the residents in the capital city live in Gwarinpa District. The district has the largest estate in West Africa. The Gwarinpa Estate is preferred by many because rent in the area is not as expensive as that of Wuse II, Maitama and Asokoro. A flat goes for three million naira per year. The estate is a complete community where residents can live, work, play, and learn.

Many residents have different choices when it comes to choosing residential areas, for Mrs Rebecca Dul a Mother of two, she enjoys living in Wuse because it so easy to move about at the neighborhood. It is easy to move about in Wuse II unlike other areas in the FCT. Driving at night in the neighborhood is also easy because there are functional street lights, traffic lights and great road network.”

For Mr Idris Abu, Jabi district remains the most beautiful and quiet residential area in Abuja. He reveals, “Jabi has a nice lakefront called Jabi Lakefront, the neighborhood is a very quiet and peaceful. Jabi is very well constructed and it connects you to most parts of Abuja. The area is developing with high speed and it is a hot spot for investment. I decided to choose Jabi to stay in because the rent is affordable and the environment is peaceful and has great ambiance.”

MY ABUJA Grace Ezeh IT Expert

The very first time my feet sailed to Abuja was shortly after I was posted to the city for National Youth Service Corps in 2013.

Coming to Abuja was truly a thrilling experience for me, as I was amazed by the beauty of the capital city. Everywhere in the city is beautifully planned.

The markets and shopping centers are dynamically situated in specific areas within the city, in such a way that it doesn’t interfere with the beautiful panorama of the city.

Abuja is a beautiful city indeed.

It is a town that accommodates everybody irrespective of your tribe, religion or state. It is a land full of opportunities, little wonder people troop into the city in hordes on daily basis.

Apart from the opportunities that abound in the town, the city and its satellite towns are developing at a very rapid rate.

If ones leaves Abuja just for one week, she will be sure to find new structures when she returns.

The transportation within the Abuja metropolitan is cheap and very affordable and the security in Abuja is very encouraging. The swift response to emergency calls and the dedication of security personnel on duties, shows how fast we are catching up with other developed countries.

In conclusion, Abuja is a place to be if you are focused and determined, you will make it in whatsoever you do.

LISTINGS/ABUJA A-Z 51

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Listings Scan And Dignostics RUZ MEDICALS AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTER Ruz Medical and Diagnostic Center aims at solving problems like fibroid, medical and surgical management laparoscopic and vaginal gynea-surgeries . It also aims at giving affordable medical services to its patients as well as reduce the burden of morbidity in the community. The Ruz team seeks to increase health consciousness in our society by doing diagnostic checkups and treatment of illness at the center which will also be affordable.

31 Ubiaja Crescent, off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gariki 2

MEDICAID RADIO Medicaid Radio Diagnostic Centre is a wholly indigenous company established in 2009. The diagnostic centre is dedicated to improving the standard of diagnostic services in Nigeria. It is the first of its kind with a private facility located in the heart of the city.

The company was born out of a passion to be the forerunner in the provision of radiological and diagnostic services.

They are supported by an international team and offer advanced imaging technology at an affordable price.

2 Libreville Street, Opposite Etisalat office, off Aminu Kano Street, Wuse 2

ECHO-SCAN Echo-scan Services is a world class medical diagnostic company with offices located in major cities in Nigeria such as Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna and Asaba. As a rapidly growing medical diagnostic enterprise and currently operating as one of the most modern free standing cardiac hospitals in Nigeria. Echo-Scan provides confidential services to healthcare entrepreneurs and adding value to the healthcare business.

Plot 643, Gimbiya Street, Area11, Gariki LIFEBRIDGE MEDICAL DIAGONISTICS

Scan and dignostics, Cretches

SPOTLIGHT

Lifebridge Medical Birth and Beyond in Abuja.

Diagnostics Center is a Since inception, birth and privately owned medical beyond has continued facility with state-of-the to grow in the services art modern diagnostic it offers and diversify to equipment. The facility meet the expectations of was set up by some new mothers and families.

Nigerian and foreign Birth and Beyond has investors, out of the need always been different in to fill to the gap in medical the quality and range of diagnostic services for the services provided and its citizens. Lifebridge in their desire to give was also established individuals personalized on the tenets of value, quality and excellence care and attention to their while maintaining a high clients, respecting cultural level of integrity and and individual preferences. professionalism.

69 Kwame Nkrumah Street

15A Yauri Street, Gariki 2

Asokoro

DR HASSAN CLINIC AND Great Start Academy DIAGONISTICS Great Start Academy is a Dr Hassan’s Clinic and new British/Nigerian Diagnostics Center is a school in the Gwarinpa 65 bed facility with all Area of Abuja, offering the relevant departments crèche, pre-school and such as; fully equipped primary education for operations theaters, children from 0-11 years of gynecology theaters, labour rooms, intensive Age. They offer thorough care units, dental units education with high trauma centre, pediatrics academic standard by unit, special baby care providing a structure, safe unit, dental theatre, and stimulating learning eye clinic, ear nose and environment. Spacious throat clinic and a 24 hour classes, qualified teaching pharmacy. Their laboratory staff with good child/ services are among the teacher ration as well as best in the country, well-trained nannies and furniture and highly child minders. Some of experienced staff. their first class facilities 5,Iller Crescent, Kastina include uninterrupted Ala Street, Maitama. power supply, loads of soft DEMY HEALTH toys, fully equipped and DIAGONISTICS safe playground. More Demyhealth Diagnostics is of their facilities include fully located automated mini pool for swimming, laboratory which offers conducive class with air world class services with conditioning, a well cozy internationally certified sleep room, sick bay with laboratory equipment. professional medical They have emerged personnel and more. as one of the leading House 38 1st Avenue, medical diagnostic service Gwarinpa Estate FCT providers for people living in the FCT, because they CTL ACADEMY provide fast and accurate Center for Teaching and result with emphasis on Learning (CTL) is an sterility and comfort. international school that At Demyhealth, special offers American standards attention is paid to based on curriculum prevention of diseases and delivered from a global treatment is effective and perspective. CTL Academy less expensive. attracts families seeking Kenju Mall, Gudu Road, rigorous academics, a beside Oando Gas Station, between Games Village whole child philosophy and Prince and Princess and a warm nurturing Estate environment for their children. The school consists of a kindergarten CRETCHES and an elementary school.

The school’s programme BIRTH AND BEYOND is designed to produce Birth and Beyond was students with their own founded in 2000 by Anna unique balance of global Wong. Anna was a leader citizens, servant leader in the field of child birth and passionate scholar. education in Singapore, Plot 187, Patrick Yakowa before she established

Street Katampe Extension.

Kidsfunville Kidzfunville is an outdoor play and party place, set in a serene atmosphere within the city centre. The play area provides a platform for kids’ social interaction and active play in a safe secure and conveniently secured location.

Kidzfunville has many play areas for kids such as a an Olympic-size beach volleyball court for teenagers and adults, table tennis, slides, swings, climbers, castles, water balls, surface pool and a food court.

Riverplate Garden, Plot 174 Ahmadu Bello Way Abuja Nigeria

SPOTLIGHT

Leather World Leather World is a luxury furniture company that is driven by a vision to bring comfort and class to homes and offices. The company specialises in the retail of exquisite furniture and accessories by exploiting partnership with top five Italian luxury brands. Having built a sustainable brand with close to two decades of operating within the Nigerian furniture manufacturing industry, Leather World offers total interior solutions for the hotels, offices, residential, airports and homes.

Plot 64 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2

52 ABUJA A-Z/LISTINGS

SPOTLIGHT

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Listings MORTGAGE BANK FEDERAL MORTGAGE BANK Federal Mortgage Bank was established in 1956.

The bank operates as an effective vehicle for increasing the mobilisation of long term funds, lending volume and expansion of mortgage lending services to all segments of the Nigerian population.

13, Ikeja Close off Oyo Street, Area 2 Gariki

Dullion Suites Dullion Suites Abuja is an American style bed and breakfast boutique hotel, located in Maitama, one of Abuja’s most exclusive residential neighborhoods. They offer ten guest suites, a conference center, café and lounge. The hotel also has a well-manicured tropical garden and all you need to feel right at home. Cocktails, cuisines and comedic dinner theater are served up just for you at Dullion Jazz Cafe and club 4 Ikogosi Spring Close, off Kastina Ala Crescent, Maitama

SPOTLIGHT

Tiggy Winklers Located in a serene and secure area of Gwarinpa, Tiggy Winklers School offers a solid foundation for children from 18 months old -10yrs. The School comprises both nursery and grade Schools. The goal at Tiggy Winklers School is to instill in the child a sense of discovery and awareness as opposed to mere surface learning. The school provides a happy environment, specifically prepared to support and enhance a child’s natural development.

7 Gusau Road (War College) Gwarinpa, Abuja.

ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS ASO Savings and Loans PLC is a Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI), incorporated in Nigeria as a limited liability company in 1995. The bank is poised to be the Mortgage bank of choice in Nigeria in terms of client service, housing provision and being a platform for foreign participation in the Nigerian mortgage and real estate sectors.

The Bank is also committed to remaining a pivot for transformation of the housing market and the actualization of the Government’s Vision 20:2020 Housing Goals.

Plot 266, FMBN Building Cadastral Zone A0 Central Business District, Abuja SunTrust Savings and Loans SunTrust Savings and Loans is a mortgage bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to offer mortgage banking services in Nigeria.

The banks seeks to be a leading provider of retail and commercial mortgage finance in Nigeria by using their unique knowledge of the local real estate markets and their extensive banking experience to fulfil a simple objective; home ownership for low to middle income earners in Nigeria.

50, Kumasi Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

Platinum Mortgage Bank Ltd Platinum Mortgage

Mortgage bank, Car Rentals

Bank Limited is one of Nigeria’s leading primary Mortgage Institutions. It was incorporated in 1992 with the Corporate Affairs Commission to provide savings, loans and homes ownership services, and licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to provide Mortgage Banking Services in Nigeria. Their objective is to provide about 150,000 houses within the next five years as their contribution the present administration’s housing program for all Nigerians including Nigerians in Diaspora.

61, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro - Abuja.

Car Rentals Easy Link Transport Easy link transport is one of the prime car rental and fleet management companies in Abuja.

They have high premium vehicles to cater for the logistics of top business executives, expatriates, corporate organizations, religious bodies, academic communities, professionals and all other people who prefer to travel in style.

Their services include car rental, vehicle easing, airport transfer, tourist guide, group transport, intra and interstate transport, protocol service, round trips, escort security service and mini lease programme.

Harmonic Plaza Jabi Novo Car Rentals Novo Car Rentals Limited is one of the foremost car rental, fleet management and outsourcing service providers in Nigeria. It started as a department within Cashlink Leasing Limited, the parent company, but was in 2003 formally incorporated a limited liability company.

Over the years, the company has evolved and currently has over 800 vehicles under management in its fleet with offices both locally and within the West African sub-region.

It specializes in the provision of the following services; daily car rental

services, short / long term operational lease, provision of corporate staff bus service, provision of bus shuttle service, fleet management service and airport transfer.

The company employs cutting edge software and technology backup to enable it track every aspect of its operations and give accurate report which is analysed in conjunction with the end user to continuously seek improvement in its service offering. The company is managed by seasoned professionals who have garnered experience in several sectors of the local and international markets.

Suite B12 Tswanya Centre Mohamadu Buhari Way, Garki Ii, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria Prestige Transport and Logistics Company Prestige Transport and Logistics Company is a car rental outfit incorporated in Nigeria to provide quality and exceptional car rental and leasing service to complement the limited numbers of well-organised car rental companies in Nigeria.

They provide and deliver tailor made services to suit their esteemed clients. At Prestige Transport and Logistics, you are sure of consistency and reliability.

They have high premium vehicles to cater for the logistics of top business executives, expatriates, corporate organisations, multinationals, celebrities, religious bodies, academic communities, diplomatic bodies, government functionaries, professionals and all other people who prefer to travel in style.

Their services include car rental, vehicle easing, airport transfer, tourist guide, group transport, intra and interstate transport, protocol service, round Trips, escort security service and mini lease programme.

Suite 26A Habiba Plaza, Osun Crescent, opposite Bureau of Public Enterprise Maitama

53

Sunday, August 10, 2014

business

MainScreen. PHOTO BY www.maybank-ke.com.sg

Leveraging Technology To Advance Stock Trading

In this piece, Friday Atufe examines the impact of technology on the operations of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

T The computerisation of trading on the NSE in 1999 replaced the call over system that had been the vogue since the exchange was established in 1961

echnology, according to Wikipedia, the online free dictionary is the purposeful application of information in the design, production, and utilisation of goods and services, and in the organisation of human activities.

Technology is generally divided into five categories: Tangible, intangible, high, intermediate and low.

Under tangible, we have blueprints, models, operating manuals, prototypes while under intangible, there consultancy, problem-solving and training methods.

Under high are entirely or almost entirely automated and intelligent technology that manipulates ever finer matter and ever powerful forces; Intermediate include semi-automated partially intelligent technology that manipulates refined matter and medium level forces while under are labour-intensive technology that manipulates only coarse or gross matter and weaker forces.

Technology has become very important to the modern world. This is because we are literally surrounded by technology. Whether we are working or resting, we are always

using technology. It is used everywhere and all the time. Its use has made life easy.

The use of technology has made places that are far away become closer, pace of life has increased, communication has become rapid, make travel fast, movement easy, action quick, speed up interaction as well as life and things used to take several hours to complete, can now be done in seconds today. In essence, technology has made the world smaller and life fast.

The essence of technology Owing to the application of technology, our standard of living has increased. Our needs are met with greater ease. Technology has brought advancements in agriculture, due to which food produce has increased. Owing to the developments in engineering and architecture, building robust civil structures has been possible. Technology has boosted every industry. Businesses have grown, creating more employment opportunities. Advancements in technology have led to the evolution of newer and faster modes of transport and communication. The application of technol-

ogy has boosted research in fields ranging from genetics to extraterrestrial space.

The computer and Internet technologies are ubiquitous. They have changed every sector; be it medicine, tourism, education, entertainment or any other. Technology has touched every aspect of life, making it easier, better and different. In fact, technology has changed living.

For instance, the discovery of electricity drove all the darkness away and lit up the world. If not for the use of technology, we wouldn’t have been able to produce electric power or harness it. Today, it can be generated through various means because of technology. Heat energy (from combustion in fossil-fuel power plants, from steam in thermal power plants and from chemical reactions in nuclear power plants) is converted into mechanical energy that drives turbines connected to an electrical generator that produces electricity. Using overhead and underground cables, the electricity can then be distributed to the smallest of households in the farthest of world’s corners, thanks to technology. Taking it home to the purpose of this writeup, the Nigerian Stock Exchange blazed the trail in technological development in the Nigerian capital market in 1999 with the intro-

duction of the Automated Trading System (ATS), a development which effectively computerised the trading system of the NSE following the successful implementation of the computerisation of its Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) in 1997.

The computerisation of trading on the NSE in 1999 replaced the call over system that had been the vogue since the exchange was established in 1961. One of the immediate benefit of the computerization programme of the NSE were reduction of settlement period from about 90 days to T+3, that is the transaction of securities was completed in four days.

Others were increase in turnover, price discovery as well as remarkable growth of the new issues and the secondary market.

NSE X-Gen trading platform Owing to the successful implementation of the computerization project and the need to advance it, the NSE recently launched the ExGen trading system According to Mr Ade Bajomo, executive director Market Operations and Technology, we are trading live on X-Gen and this is a result of a focused, disciplined and inten➔ CONTINUEd ON PAGE

54

54 BUSINESS

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Leveraging Technology To Advance Stock Trading ➔ CONTINUEd from PAGE

53

sive 12-month project involving the NSE, its technical partners and the broker dealer community. We believe that the successful implementation of this modern, world-class trading technology suite is a significant development that will change the experience of doing business in not only the Nigerian capital market but in Africa.

The new trading platform is based on a number of leading technologies, including NASDAQ OMX’s XStream matching engine, and the NSE’s flexible and robust XGEN Market Database, developed by the NSE and its technical partners, and will support trading of cash equities, bonds, ETFs and derivatives (from 2014), giving wider access to real time data, improved market transparency and governance.

The platform is also enabled to run the Financial Information Exchange (FIX) protocol version 5.

These technologies have been deployed on a highly optimized low latency network (X-Net) for trading on the floor of the Exchange and remote broker-dealer offices based in Lagos and underpinned by efficient business processes.

With this development, Nigeria became the first country in West Africa to adopt this highly sophisticated trading system.

For Oscar Onyema, the CEO of the NSE, “By deploying the industry’s leading trading engine, the NSE is making it clear to the domestic and international market participants that it is dedicated to operating a high performance, low latency, robust, scalable and flexible marketplace” He said, “The Nigerian Stock Exchange has always been focused on investing in technology, but with XGEN our trading platform is now among the most advanced in the world and that further extends our leadership position in Africa.”

The Nigerian Stock Exchange has always been focused on investing in technology, but with XGEN our trading platform is now among the most advanced in the world

Development of online trading portal Coming on this heel, some discerning members of the NSE have launched online trading portal to enhance and revive interest of investors in the retail segment of the stock market.

Meristem Securities Limited, a dealing member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) which has introduced Meritrade online platform for local and international investors to maximize opportunities in the Nigerian stock market.

Meritrade is an online stock broking platform which allows users buy and sell stocks online through the Nigerian Stock Exchange from the comfort of their homes, offices, cars and even on the go. The platform defines stock broking in entirely different language and creates a world class experience, bringing the broker (electronically) to the comfort of investors’ homes and offices.

Head of stockbroking of Mer-

istem Securities, Mrs Gbadunola Sokunbi said Meritrade comes with ease and is for the benefit of the retail segment of the Nigerian capital market; thus, making Meristem contribute to the positioning of the NSE to champion the acceleration of Africa’s economic development while creating durable wealth.

The Meritrade platform will guarantee investors’ convenience as it will enable retail investors to open stockbroking account without having to walk into a stockbroking house from wherever, whenever and even on the go.

Also it will enable investors fund their accounts by making deposits without necessarily walking into a banking hall, place orders for prompt execution and receive contract note instantly.

Other benefits of the platform are real-time notification on trade execution, trade the way an investor wants, manage and take full control of investors’ investments at all times as well as explore market data and quality research reports.

The development of the new trading platform has become imperative with the NSE’s recent launch of its new trading engine, the X-Gen platform, which enables completion of trading transactions without human intervention.

Mrs Sokunbi said www.meritrade.com presents stock-trading experience in an unprecedented form, remarking that indeed it is the beginning of a new era. She enjoined investors to enjoy this fairly extensive walk-through system and its Mobile Apps. “This mobile stock trading experience is second to none in Nigeria! It is indeed a pride that Meristem has brought to the industry. The mobile app is available on Apple’s iPhone and iPad as well as other Android and Blackberry powered devices.”

The head of stockbroking encouraged investors with smart phones and other devices to take a ride into the world of endless possibilities at www.meritrade.com.

The Meritrade platform, that is, www.meritrade.com also provides users with market data and information on all quoted companies, spiced with quality research reports that will guide their safe investment decisions.

In this same vein, Capital Bancorp Plc, a dealing member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has also introduced Bancorp e-Trade, an stock trading portal as part of its strategy to revive the interest of local investors in the Nigerian stock market.

Chairman of the company, Mr Olutola Mobolurin said, “Capital Bancorp on July 23, 2013 blazed the trail in the market with the launching of the online trading platform to enable prospective investors buy and trade their shares or bonds with ease from the comfort of their homes or offices.”

For Mr Aigboje Higo, managing director and chief executive officer of Capital Bancorp said, “ the Bancorp e-Trade platform is an inven-

tive retail stockbroking online service offering, carefully crafted to provide access to stockbroking services for the busy executive and upwardly mobile young adults.”

According to him, it is a platform to encourage financial inclusion for the investing public through a user-friendly and simple online interface, adding that it is about the ease of transactions from the comfort of homes or offices as the user is only a click away via its hand held, portable tablet or the good old computer system.

Higo also said the online platform was introduced to leverage on technology and make trading in shares or bonds more inclusive in a bid to capture more of the retail segment of the market.

He listed some of the features of the portal as: displaying of balance in any currency of choice, clients can give mandate online to buy or sell, ability to place order at anytime (including outside the NSE trading hours), ability to specify dates on orders as well as ability for clients to review their portfolio balance and portfolio analysis.

The managing director said a prospective client must have access to the internet, have a functioning email address, have an active bank account (current or savings), a fair understanding of the workings of the stock market and a stockbroking account with Capital Bancorp.

Higo also said some of the benefits to the user are ease of access to portfolio position and statement, reduced cost (travelling and opportunities costs), convenience, increased transparency and access to latest stock market information among others.

Also, on the trail is Lead Securities & Investment Limited which has launched an on-line trading portal called LeadTrader which offers investor secured channel to buy and sell shares of companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Chairman of Lead Securities & Investment, Mr Abimbola Olashore said, “Lead Securities has taken advantage of the X-Gen trading platform which provides an on-line market data to vendors to upgrade its existing trading infrastructure to a world class trading portal.”

He explained that LeadTrader conformed with global best solutions for on-line, real-time trading of securities utilised by retail and institutional investors in advanced economies.

He added that the trading portal provided investors the comfort and convenience of executing their trades on-line via a range of devices as desktops, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices. “Orders submitted via LeadTrader pass through a fix compatible Order Management System (OMS) where appropriate compliance checks are in place to prevent erroneous orders going into the NSE’s trading engine.

Managing director of the company, Mr Wale Adewumi also add-

Jonathan

Okonjo-Iweala

Johnson

ed that this is a system that investors can access in knowing the transaction that was carried out on their investment on the exchange, saying investors can get live trading information.

He pointed out that the portal would give investors confidence on their investment in the capital market.

business

55

Sunday, August 10, 2014

news

L-R: First vice president of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Oluseyi Abe; president, Mr Albert Okumagba and the registrar and chief executive officer, Mr Adedeji Ajadi, at a press briefing in Lagos recently.

PHOTO BY FRIDAY ATUFE.

‘PIB Will Create Enabling Environment For Oil Industry’

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

The federal government has said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) now being considered by the National Assembly would help to create the desired environment for the nation’s oil and gas to thrive and add value to the lives of Nigerians.

The government said a clement environment for the industry had become desirous in order to make the sector a desired destination for investors where they could grow their profits and have leverage for the expansion of their businesses.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, stated this recently in Lagos at the opening ceremony of the 38th Nigerian Annual International Con-

ference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigerian Council with the theme, “Africa’s energy corridor: Opportunities for oil and gas valve maximisation through integration and global approach.’’

She said the country had set in motion modalities to arrest pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft as well as put in place legislation through the PIB. According to her, adequate provision had been made for petroleum refining operations and gas utilisation which are contained in the proposed bill to encourage investors to undertake the requisite due diligence in commencing operations in Nigeria.

She said, “The Petroleum Industry Bill under consideration by our esteemed National Assembly

provides for the restructuring and deregulation of the downstream sector to allow for competition in all segments including open access to the pipeline as well as providing a robust tariff mechanism for all players”.

Also speaking, the governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, emphasised the need for Africa to initiate a framework that would harness its energy resources, resourcefulness of its entrepreneurs as well as industrial and financial sectors.

Fashola, who was represented at the occasion by commissioner of Mineral Resources, Engr Taofeek Tijani, explained that the development would guide the development of energy projects by both public and private sector in the continent.

Rights Issue: Diamond Bank Set For Expansion OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Diamond Bank has said that the proceeds of its on-going rights issue would be used to establish new business locations across the country to increase the bank footprint.

The group managing director of the bank, Dr Alex Otti, stated this at the bank’s facts behind the figure programme on the Nigerian Stock Exchange recently.

According to the bank, a total of 8.685 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo per share are being offered to its shareholders in the ratio of three new ordinary shares

for every five ordinary shares held as at June 13, 2014 at N5.80 per share.

The rights issue which has commenced on July 30, 2014, will be closing on August 26, 2014.

Otti disclosed that the net proceeds of the rights issue would be applied towards the development of the bank’s information and communications processes.

“The fund will also be used as working capital support as well as for the expansion and refurbishment of the bank’s business locations,” he said.

He noted that Diamond Bank planned to increase its business

locations from 255 to at least 350 in Nigeria by the end of 2016. He added that the bank has been the best performing Tier 2 bank since 2012 in terms of ROE and stock market performance.

He stated that the bank would continue to drive low cost deposits by deploying cost effective delivery channels.

Speaking on the bank growth strategy, Otti said, “The bank will provide flexible access to credits, partner with development financial institutions to support SMEs and to leverage on the relationship with its UK subsidiary in providing trade finance support.”

Microsoft Announces BBM Availability On Lumia Smartphones

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos Microsoft Mobile has announced that popular mobile messaging application, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is now available for download on its Windows Phone based Lumia smartphones.

Microsoft made this announcement following BlackBerry’s recent announcement that BBM is now open to those using the windows phone platform, a move that potentially makes the messaging service more appealing to its enterprise clients.

Speaking on this new development, partnership manager, developer experience, Nokia West and Central Africa, Emmanuel Oluwatosin stated that it is a relief to finally have BBM on the Lumia smartphones, which will create more fun experiences for our customers.

“We are extremely delight-

ed about this news and we know our customers are excited as well. We finally have one more to boost our presence in the smartphone market. This will also expand various chat applications available on the Lumia smartphone for customers to stay connected with their loved ones.”

“BBM app is available for all Lumia smartphone running Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 operating system. To download the BBM app is absolutely free and easy; customers should go to the Windows Store on their Lumia smartphones, search for Blackberry Messenger and BBM Beta app and download,” he added.

The app has been tailored for Microsoft’s Live Tile user interface and users will find three sections in BBM chats, contacts and feeds which can be accessed by swiping through the app.

Sunflag, Tana Sign MoU On Mosquito Nets Production

BY Blessing Ukemena, Abuja

As government continues fight to eliminate mosquitoes and malaria in the country, Sunflag Nigeria Limited and Tana Netting, yesterday, signed memorandum of understanding, MoU, to produce long-lasting insecticidal nets.

The signing which took place in Abuja has a target establishing a world class mosquito net production facility in Nigeria in line with World Health Organisation, WHO, required standard.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, representative of Tana Netting, Rune Bosselmann, said the partnership of his company with Sunflag was to enhance local production of the nets in Nigeria, and also for his company to transfer the technology in the production of the nets.

Bosselmann said: “We are extremely proud to join forces with Sunflag. This partnership allows us to deliver on our promise to produce high quality mosquito nets locally to fight malaria, and to ensure effective use of aid funds and also provide local employment.

“TANA is looking forward to creating a world class manufacturing facility in Lagos for DAWA 2.0. We want to help making sure that aid money that is provided for the defeat of a terrible disease reaps the greatest benefit where it is intended in Africa.

“We know challenges await but are greatly comforted by the outstanding support provided to the project so far by Malaria Consor-

tium and the Support to National Malaria Control Programme (SUNMAP) funded by DFID and UK government.

“We hope this initiative will be well-received as well as supported

by Nigeria and not only see our dreams come true but also become a great pride to Nigerians.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, chief technical executive, Sunflag, Sri Ahuja, said the MoU will transfer the needed technology in the production of insecticidal treated nets in Nigeria, which will help his company to meet local demands. Ahuja disclosed that over 1 million insecticidal nets will be manufactured and sold to the public in April 2015.

However, director and head, programme management, National Malaria Elimination programme, Dr Audu Mohammed, said it was a welcome development as the MoU signed by the two companies would boost the fight against malaria in the country.

“The local production of the long-lasting insecticidal nets will boost the fight against malaria in the country, and will also create jobs for our teeming youths.

“It will enhance the access to mosquito nets by Nigerians.

We will buy mosquito nets produced by Sunflag. And it is important to state that the morbidity rate of malaria has reduced up to 50 per cent. With the savings from the cost of importation of the nets we will do more in the fight against malaria,” Mohammed stated.

56 INTERVIEW How fulfilled are you after 35 years in service?

First and foremost, I have to thank God because it is only those who are alive that can celebrate. I am celebrating not because I’m alive but because I went into the service with uncertainty 35 years ago and today, I did not only complete my tenure but also successfully by rising to the rank of Air Vice Marshal which is the highest level one can go except one becomes the head of the service. So, I can say without any kind of contradiction that I have had a great career. God has been kind to me and Nigeria has also been very good to me. For a young man with only a school certificate to have been trained to the level of a two star general, I think I have every reason to thank God.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Insurgency Will Not Disappear Overnight – Adekunle

Air Vice Marshal Gbolahan Adebola Adekunle recently retired from the Nigerian Air Force. This former chief of training and operations as well as chief of policy and planning, Air Force headquarters told KUNLE OLASANMI in this interview that the current insurgency in the country is a phase that will pass

Was going into the military a childhood dream or you just woke up one day and decided to join the force.

I would not lie to you; the fact that I had people around me who were in the military encouraged me. When I finished my school certificate examination in 1975, I was really uncertain as to what I wanted to do.

But after I moved from Lagos to Port-Harcout, where I worked with the Nigerian Air Force as a clerical officer, I was encouraged when I saw young officer pilots flying into Port-Harcourt in bright and shining uniforms with their wings and I thought it was something I should try and when the opportunity for the selection of Pilot officers came, I grabbed it with my two hands and to the glory of God, I was selected among the thousands that came for the interview.

How would you compare the military when you joined and the military of today after 35 years of service?

The military is a reflection of the society itself. The Nigeria military reflected the Nigerian society as it was then. I think I will be right to say that the present Nigerian military is a reflection of the present Nigerian society; so, they are different. Obviously, the military, today, is handling insurgency which is new or alien to our national life. Some of the best nations in the world in terms of military capabilities are finding it difficult to cope with insurgency.

Do you think the level of insecurity in the country can truncate our young democracy?

No, it cannot. What I will say about the Nigerian military even at the risk of sounding immodest is that it has adjusted to democratic setting faster than any segment of the society because we are the greatest victim of military rule. We have accepted civilian rule than most segments of the society. Insurgency will come and go although it may not disappear overnight as most Nigerians expected. After all, the circumstances that gave rise to insurgency are not as a result of the action of an individual, society or one particular government. So, it is something that we need time and patience to resolve. It is not enough to blame

that Nigeria will break up by 2015 was quoted out of context. Anyone who is smart and brilliant enough will not predict that Nigeria will break-up by 2015 given it population and responsibility to the West African sub-region. A country with so much population and so much contributions to the United Nations cannot afford to break-up. Look, it is not easy to have people speaking over 300 languages in a country with different religions and social cultural backgrounds. We may not have excelled but we have done well.

We are still a strong country because the potentials for greatness are still there. The issue of break-up or separation should not even cross our minds. Every country has it challenges and we are handling ours right now; we will overcome it. We were all here during the June 12 crisis, the country did not break-up. I spoke with a young man in the United Nations over the June 12 crisis and he told me that since your country (Nigeria) did not break-up during the June 12 crisis, I doubt if it will ever break-up. So, I hold the view that whoever predicted that Nigeria will break-up by 2015 was quoted out of context.

How healthy is the blame game between the two major political parties in the country for the fight against insurgency?

Adekunle

the present government for insurgency; it is something all of us must rise to attack frontally and minimise its impact because in reality, insurgency is something one should never wish to have in one’s territory because it hardly ever disappears completely. When I witnessed insurgency in some countries where I have had the privileges of being trained in the 90s, I simply said a prayer that God should not allow us to witness such in our country.

But here it is with us now and just as those countries are still trying to grapple with it, we are also trying to grapple with it. I believe that with sincerity of purpose, cooperation and necessary political will, we will deal with it or at least, minimize its impact in our political landscape.

Some believed that the military has not done enough to tackle insurgency in the country. Do you share this view?

I disagree with them completely because you are as good as the kind of training, experience and the equipment you have. The military is just one segment of the society and if we are to provide the military with all that they require, other segments of the society will suffer. Government has to take care of the health of the people. Housing, agriculture

and other segments of the society have to be catered for too. The military is doing its best, given the circumstance it has found itself in. But I bet you, with the benefit of hindsight, this insurgency might turn out to be a blessing, because many issues which we may have had a difficult time to convince the government to address are being addressed with speed right now.

So, what do you think could bring an end to the spate of insecurity the country is currently facing?

Well, first and foremost, we are beginning to do what we should have done before now.

The populace, the political class, the military and our international friends agree that this menace is not a problem of one part of Nigeria. We must accept it as a Nigerian problem and hopefully resolve it as a Nigerian problem. We should not even blame the military because the military lost some of its finest officers in the course of fighting insurgency.

What do you have to say about the prediction of the United States that Nigeria will break-up by 2015?

I want to believe that whoever says

Like I said earlier, insurgency is a Nigerian problem and the two political parties are part of the Nigerian society, therefore, trading blames over the insecurity is not healthy.

About 15 to 20 years ago, some of the things we argue about now are taken for granted. So, the issue of blame game should not arise and I believe it will fizzle out because right now, everybody has lost one thing or the other. I think they are just playing politics but I will advice them to rally round the Commander-in-Chief and provide him with advice.

Would you like to talk about your happiest moments?

It is difficult to really say but I will say that the moment I was selected for training in Kaduna as an Air Force officer out of the thousands in Rivers state even though I am from Lagos is my happiest moment. I was happy to have been enlisted in the Nigerian Air Force to go on a flying training and to become a pilot and of course, the day I married my wife, Dr (Mrs) Stellamaris Adekunle. It was a day of joy for me.

How about your most embarassing moment?

One was when we went for a flying course in the United Kingdom and I and one of my friends entered what was supposed to be a gay club without knowing it was a gay club.

We were shocked and embarrassed when we found out that it was a gay club because we walked in there, holding each other’s hand. People in the club thought we knew what the game was all about and they were trying to relate with us as such. By the time we understood what was going on, we ran out of the place with the speed of lightening.

The military is doing its best, given the circumstance it has found itself in. But I bet you, with the benefit of hindsight, this insurgency might turn out to be a blessing

sunday e-train 57

e-train Sunday, August 10, 2014

Entertainers Going Into Politics They have made their marks with some taking up political appointments in recent times all in an effort to diversify. However, stakeholders expect that with their showbiz background, their foray into politics will deepen the gains of the creative sector.

ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes on some of the entertainers already gunning for politics

Desmond Elliot He is one of the success stories of the Nigerian movie industry tagged the New Nollywood. Desmond Elliot is not just an accomplished actor having featured in the drama series, Everyday People, he’s becoming an accomplished movie director of repute. His movie Finding Mercy gained nominations for different awards. Desmond, a father of two sets of twins has a good diction and his good mien has endeared him to many. Recently, the AkwaIbom native threw his hat making his intention known that he is gunning for the Lagos State House of Assembly under the Labour Party. One can only wish baba ibeji meji (daddy of twins twice) a good and rewarding adventure into the murky waters of politics.

Kate Henshaw Ever radiant actress, Kate Henshaw is one personality everyone who comes across her would love to hang around. The Stronger Than Pain accomplished actress and fitness instructor has been in the industry since her decades back when she made her debut acting along with Bob Manuel-Udokwu in the movie, When The Sun Set. The mother of one is eyeing a shot at the House of Representatives under her constituency or a member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Whether this pans out for the Nigeria Got Talent (NGT) Judge is a different ball game altogether. But Kate with her acumen stands a good chance

“My people have yearned for change and they believe I can bring about these to my community and my state, Ondo.

I’m ready to engineer change and galvanise the youth towards positive change and influence my generation to give the youths a chance,” says Dabo, cultural ambassador of Ondo State.

Desmond Elliot

Kate Henshaw

9ice

Jibola Dabo

Baba Dee

KSB

in politics.

9ice When the Alapomeji Records owner signified interest in politics more than a month ago, many were miffed on the reason behind his interest.

Considering that the Afro hiphop singer is working hard to consolidate and stabilise his music career churning out hits upon hits after releasing his fourth album titled, CNN Vs GRA. The singer named Abolore Akande looks passionate about changing the status quo in our political sphere.

He wants to contest for the

House of Representative under the Ogbomoso Federal constituency.

Jibola Dabo Bearded veteran actor, Jibola Dabo in a recent interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend disclosed that his love for the people in his homeland, Ile-Oluji has given him about three decades into the motion picture industry and with his wealth of experience, he says that he is ready to pitch his political tent and aim for the House of Reps under Ile-Oluji/ Oke-Igbo Federal constituency.

Baba Dee Dare Fasasi is his real name and not many know him with that but the name Baba Dee resonates with youths and lovers of contemporary music. Baba Dee is not just a musician but a showbiz personality having giving years and waded the tough terrain of the entertainment industry. Now the honcho of Naija Ninja is ready to give a shot at politics within the Lagos State House of Assembly under the Amuwo-Odofin Constituency. Baba Dee who is on the board of Collecting Society of Nigeria, COSON has a wealth of experience in dealing with people.

We hope he succeeds at this venture.

KSB Not many believed when one of the Ogungbe scion, Kenny Saint Best indicated her interest in politics. The younger of the Ogungbe clan, Kenny is passionate about effecting change in our clime and is eyeing a legislative seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly. “My ambition is driven by an urge to impact Nigerian youths. I intend to focus on youth development and to push for more visibility for Nigerian youths in government,” Kenny was reported to have told a national newspaper recently. KSB who hails from Ago-Iwoye also noted, “I think the older citizens have been at the helm of affairs of this country for too long. They’ve to give way now and let younger Nigerians take over. There are so many skilled educated and unemployed youths in the country presently and if they are not engaged, the insecurity will continue and we’ll continue to beat about the bush.

This is the change I’m yearning for as I decide to take a political post.”

The list is increasing just as Dan D’Homorous has also shown interest in politics.

I’m ready to engineer change and galvanise the youth towards positive change and influence my generation to give the youths a chance

58 sunday e-train

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Skin Bleaching: Showbiz Personalities Most Guilty

Beauty attracts and is in the eyes of the beholder. This notion has guided generations to do everything within their power to look beautiful, presentable and alluring.

But in recent times, abuse of the usage of beauty products like Toning, whitening or even bleaching creams are being done by Nigerians and celebrities in the showbiz world who should be role models for the young generation are most guilty. SAMUEL ABULUDE and OLAYEMI SOWUMI write on this trend

H

Presently, the rate at which people especially African female celebrities bleach is alarming

as anyone seen some of our celebrities live of recent? The queen of Poko, Tonto Dikeh who has added a feather to her cap by becoming the first lady of DB Records has almost whitened out though Tonto is fair in complexion since she got into the klieg lights of the screen.

Funke Akindele of the Jenifa fame has also joined the league of fairskinned actors as if her blackness was no longer beautiful. Yours sincerely saw her at close range at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards AMVCA 2014 after collecting the ‘Best Female Comedian In a Movie’ award. The Jenifa that we knew back then when she started acting in Yoruba movies like Agbefo was a black is beautiful lady with her sexy eyes adored by her fans and men alike. Funke Akindele has a chocolate black skin but no longer has this as she has tooooned up (emphasis mine).

Foluke Daramola-Salako, the busty actress and mother of three is also a black turned fair lady courtesy of the wonder toning/bleaching cream. Rukky Sanda, name it! The list is growing as the fad to lighten up the skin is in vogue for our women though men like Derenle are also competing with them.

Cameroonian singer Reprudencia Sonkey popularly known as Dencia was in the eye of the storm lately for marketing her Whitenicious skin bleacher to Nigerians. The Director-General of National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC)Dr Paul Orhi made it known that her product was banned in Nigeria. Orhi educating entertainers on the usage and abuse of drugs and harmful substances at an event recently said that Dencia would be arrested in Nigeria if she steps her feet on our soil because of her insistence on selling the product in Nigeria which is a breach of the law.

It seems as if the career of some showbiz personalities cannot progress more than the colour of their skin and beauty. Funny enough, they seemed to look alluring now but what lessons are they teaching the younger generation? The argument is that for a naturally fairskinned lady, it is okay to tone the colour of the skin and this category seems to be the most guilty of patrons of bleaching creams.

Everybody regardless of gender,

race or age desires to have a flawless and smooth skin such that is eyed and envied by others thus, we go to lengths to achieve this while some go the extra mile to achieve their desires. A high number of people in Africa, the Caribbean and perhaps Europeans associate a lighter complexion with prosperity and high fashion. Thus, an unimaginable number of men and women in these places use virtually any product they can lay their hands on to lighten their skin tone more often than not at a high cost to their health.

Having a beautiful skin is a thing of pride and the saying that if you have it, FLAUNT IT! Has become a must do. Skin lighteners contain an active ingredient or a combination of ingredients that reduces the amount of melanin in the skin where it is applied. The most widely used ingredient in skin lighteners sold in the United States and also in Nigeria is hydroquinone.

NAFDAC has rules that control its use but more often than not Nigerians and largely our beauty stars abuse the use of this substance in creams.

It’s important to check with your doctor before using a product with hydroquinone, mercury and to follow the doctor’s directions exactly.

Presently, the rate at which people especially African female celebrities bleach is alarming. It then brings one to wonder whether it is the marketers, producers or fans that have lost taste for the black beauty therefore compelling our dear role models to turn white and strangely not mindful of their health. We are blessed with one of the best skin textures around the world that can withstand any weather condition and environment. Some see the use of bleaching as a sign of lack of self confidence, inferiority complex or not being proud of who and the way you are.

Solutions To tackle skin problems, honey is a good product because it acts as a moisturising agent. Dry skin is a common factor that contributes to an uneven skin tone and honey has antibacterial properties that can help fade age spots and acne scars. Lemon works as a natural bleaching agent for the skin and the high amount of vi-

Funke Akindele – Before (left) and now (right)

Tonto Dikeh

Rukky Sanda

tamin C in them encourages new cell growth. Also, lemons have antioxidants that are very good for skin complexion. The Aloe Vera gel is also a good product for our skin care. Above all, water is an all round medication for all sorts of health issues. Therefore, regular intake of water will go a long way

to help get the desired result in a short while.

Eating right and the intake of a lot of fruits especially those that contain Vitamin C like the Citrus family is a must to live a health life and maintain a healthy skin which we know is the largest organ of the body.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

sunday e-train 59

I’m Preaching The Gospel Through Music – G-dia Gospel songs are inspirational, soul-lifting and endearing, but ironically, this genre was not always appreciated.

In recent times however, the crave for Gospel music has increased and it’s becoming more appreciated. Godiya Dangana, aka G-dia, a 300 level English undergraduate of Nasarawa State University in this interview with ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, explains why her forthcoming album would reset the stage for the gospel music

ing in Sunday schools. And also, my brother, Emmanuel Dangana, supported me right from the scratch, he supported my ministry. My family are giving me all the support.

Though when I started they were very protective of me and want to do everything possible not to make me do something else. But after my first album and they saw the invitations I was receiving they were happy and knew that I was not that small girl of yesterday. There are things that happen in life that I have learned from. It’s not right to question God because he knows best.

Expectations

How has it been so far?

Earlier I dropped my first album In His Love around 2010 after which I have been in the studio working on another one which we are expecting to release soon.

How was the reception like...I mean the first album?

It was okay- I mean the reception was great. I also have a video for the song and it’s enjoying airplay.

What is the video In His Love all about?

Yes. I love the song because God is my protector I can do anything to gain his love.

Though the first album had eight tracks, the songs are quite inspiring.

How would you compare the sale and reception of your music, being gospel, to those by contemporary artistes?

It sold more around the north because my hit track is a Hausa song Kauna. It was a huge success.

Can you give us an insight into your new album due under another record label?

There are things that happen in life that I have learned from

It’s a 15-track album with lots of inspirational songs.

God is my inspiration. The Holy Spirit is my friend.

Sometimes I just sit and start writing. I’m inspired by my immediate environment and also my activities.

Sweet, bitter, pain or even when I’m enjoying inspires me.

So what are your hit tracks in the album?

I don’t have a special track because I live all my songs. I love Awetu so much which means ‘hope’ a Gbagyi song. The song talks about me, my life everything about me. Oh! I love the song.

So when are you launching the album and who are your features?

It will be on August 23. I have popular gospel artiste, Solomon Lange on Mai Cheto. It’s a worship song. The inspiration about the song was when I was in school; my friends were outside singing and playing.

So who is Gdia?

Gdia is from Niger State, speaks Gbagyi. From Nassarawa State university, 300 level English. I grew up singing for Sunday school. I love God so much even though I can’t love him the way he loves me, he has been a wonderful inspiration to me. I’m a happy person and love to be around people. Though sometimes I like to be alone.

What were the reactions like when you decided to go into music?

Just like I said, I grew up sing-

Yes the album launch will also have a concert where people like Solomon Lange, Steve Willis, E Daniels Gospel voice winner and other upcoming gospel artistes will be given the opportunity to showcase their talents. This is just my starting point. I don’t want people to come and go back the same. It’s not about me coming out to sing, it’s about Christ. I know I was born with a purpose and that purpose is to draw people closer to God. My expectation is that they don’t just come and go back the same; anyone who listens to my songs would be surely blessed.

Where do you see yourself as a young protective gospel artiste?

I think very big. I learnt that from my elder brother. He set a standard and goes beyond it. In all my life I’m still learning from him because I grew up with him. This is going to be my starting point; soon, I will be heard all over the world preaching the gospel through music.

I did a song with about 21 gospel artistes from the north and it’s titled Give Us The Chance. You need to listen to the song because we are gifted. It shows that we are not left behind. And the song is part of my album and it’s a unity song.

Advice

Don’t question God… keep pushing and trust yourself because God knows best. As youths we should shun violence and keep believing in the truth. We shouldn’t allow anyone to influence us into committing evil. We should be the leaders of tomorrow because the future is ours.

60 kiddies

Sunday, August 10, 2014

kiddies kingdom

SPOT the difference

By Chika mefor

08156719304 (SMS only)

The Tortoise And The Lizard Long ago when animals used to go to school, the tortoise and the lizard were best friends. Their school was located in a big park in the forest. The school was run

by Mr Lion and he was the headmaster and Mr Cheetah was the sports master. Mr Leopard, Mr Elephant and Mr Hippo were teachers. Tortoise had a smooth, clean shell over his back that all animals admired. They were always asking him for permission to touch. They asked for permission because it was the polite thing to do.

Every morning, the tortoise and the lizard turned up together for school and left together in the afternoon. Lizard lived near a beautiful river with blue water and silver fish. Tortoise lived in a large cave near the river.

One day, the lizard decided to trick his friend because he wanted to see what tortoise would do.

He asked the tortoise to climb a high hill near their home. The hill was very high and in certain places, the climbing was almost straight up. At first, the tortoise refused, telling the lizard that his kind does not climb hills or trees.

puzzle But the lizard insisted, saying if the tortoise was truly his friend he would climb the hill with him. At long last, the tortoise gave in and they started climbing. When they reached the most dangerous part of the climb, the lizard turned to the tortoise and screamed at the top of his lungs, “Snake!”

The tortoise was so scared that he let go of the side of the hill and tumbled several times to the ground far below. He fell and his shell shattered into very many small pieces. It took the cat, who was the animals’ doctor, many weeks to glue it together using a special plant from the nearby

forest. But after gluing, the shell was no longer beautiful and no one wanted to touch it.

The tortoise stopped being friends with the lizard and also stopped going to school. He started to live alone and in remote places. The animals split into two groups. One group wanted to continue with the school but the other was angry at the way the tortoise was treated, so they left.

Eventually, all animals started their own small schools for their kind. Some birds and fowls decided to live with people. The tortoise, to this day, lives alone and avoids both animals and people.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

maze

Devirah Oluwanifemi Oduola was a year old on May 11, 2014. Kiddies Kingdom wishes her long life and God’s blessings.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

zonal watch

61

NIGER STATE KWARA STATE KOGI STATE BENUE STATE NASARAWA STATE PLATEAU STATE FCT ABUJA Benue: Foundation Employs 777 Youths, Senate 2015: Benue Youths Protest Donates Crafts Materials Suswam’s Endorsement

BY SOLOMON AYADO, Makurdi acquisition training in computer,

BY SOLOMON AYADO,

of Suswam by the PDP elders.

It would be recalled There was confusion in that the PDP elders and Makurdi and other matraditional rulers in the jor towns in the Benue area led by the Ter Kwannorth-east senatorial disde, Chief Hilary Ikima trict as some youths proand his Ushongo countested the endorsement Suswam terpart, Chief Ambrose of Governor Gabriel SusIortyer had last week enwam for the senatorial seat by el- dorsed the candidature of Suswam. ders of the Peoples Democracy ParAt the moment, many members ty (PDP). of the ruling PDP and opposition The youths under the aegis of APC are agitated trying to confirm Kwande Youth Vanguard number- why the youths would suddenly deing about 257 from 20 wards of cide to challenge the decision of the Kwande and Ushongo local govern- elders on Suswam. Suswam had on ment areas had recently announced the day of his endorsement readily their collective resolve against the accepted it and declared to run for endorsement of the candidature the zone’s senatorial seat.

Makurdi

The youths had recently announced their collective resolve against the endorsement of the candidature of Suswam by the PDP elders

A non governmental organisation (NGO), SEV-AV Foundation, being floated by the wife of the Benue State governor, Mrs Yemisi Suswam has offered employment to 777 youths in the state, even as it donated assorted crafts and skills acquisition materials to the beneficiaries.

The chairperson of Northern Governors Wives Forum (NGWF), Mrs Suswam founded the NGO to nurture and empower the Benue people to enhance their full potentials and live above abject poverty.

The graduating trainees were drawn from the Vandeikya, Gboko and Makurdi centres of the foundation with various crafts and skills

welding and fabrication, tailoring and beading, as well as catering and weaving services.

Assorted brands of computers, sewing machines, cooking appliances, welding materials, fabrication machines and beading equipment were donated to the graduating youths to enable them set up small scale businesses.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Makurdi, Mrs Suswam said the essence of the initiative was to enable men, women and youths the opportunity to create wealth, enhancing a new HIV/AIDS free generation and reduce alarming unemployment rate in the state and the country at large.

Saraki Excited Over Al-Makura’s Clearance By Panel

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Heads FROM the ZONE

L-R: The APC chairman, (Kwara central), Alh. Jimoh Adesina; the special adviser (political affairs) to Kwara State government, Alh Usman Ajape, APC chairman, (Kwara north), Alh Isiaka Oniwa and APC chairman, (Kwara south), Alh Jimoh Balogun during a prayer session in Laduba, Asa LGA, for the success of APC and its leaders. PHOto by Abdullahi Olesin

➔ The former minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, has publicly declared his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

➔ The vicechancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has restated his commitment to stamping out corruption, indecent dressing and other social-vices from the university

Nasarawa: Youths Declare Support For Senator Adokwe

BY Donatus Nadi, Lafia

Youths in the southern senatorial district under the aegis of Nasarawa State Youths Network, NASTYNET, in collaboration with Nasarawa South Students Forum (NASSFO) have declared their support for Senator Suleiman Asonya Adokwe to continue in office beyond 2015.

Senator Adokwe who represents Nasarawa south senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National As-

sembly was described by the youths at a press conference as “a humble, detribalized, capable, amiable, dynamic, patient and kind person.”

At a press conference jointly addressed by the national president of NASTYNET, Ibrahim Kabiru Dallah, and national president of NASSFO, Nasiru Abdullahi, they expressed strong confidence in the ability of the senator to provide the required dividends of democracy to the people of Nasarawa south senatorial dis-

trict, irrespective of tribe or religion affiliations, even as they claimed to have been impressed with the senator’s programmes and numerous feats recorded so far in various sectors.

They stated that facts available to them have clearly shown that the senator has improved the living condition of the people of Nasarawa south senatorial district through nonstop investment in critical sectors of education, health and youths empowerment.

of instilling discipline in the students.

Ambali during a chat with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State, however, disclosed that some parents and guardians were not happy with the enforcement of dress code on students.

He said majority of the parents had visited him to complain about the institution’s enforcement of the dress code law on

students.

He said, the university under his watch, would increase the tempo and continue the enforcement of the code and other antisocial vices laws including cultism and examination malpractices.

He however noted that indecent dressing among students cannot be completely ruled out especially when new intakes are being admitted.

unilorin: VC Vows To Stamp Out Cultism, Other Vices

BY Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

The vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin,Professor Abdul Ganiyu Ambali, has restated the commitment of the institution towards the total eradication of cultism on the campus.

He said his administration would continue to wage war against cultism, indecent dressing and other social vices as a way

The chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki, has congratulated the Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, on the clean bill of health given to him by the investigative panel set-up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled Nasarawa State House of Assembly to probe him over alleged gross misconduct.

In a statement, Saraki said that Al-Makura’s appearance before the panel and his exoneration “once again shows that quality and faultless leadership cannot be taken out for political gain, using illegitimate means”.

He said, “Al-Makura must also be commended for his conduct during this hearing which was clearly nothing but a political witch-hunt aimed at, once again, subverting democracy and the will of the people by the PDP and its proxies.

“By choosing to subject himself to the rule and the process of the law, Governor Al-Makura has shown that he has nothing to hide as no stones were left unturned by the investigative panel.

“I also once again appeal to all those who are desperate for power at all cost and those whose ambition appears to be more important than the sustainability of our democracy and the peace and stability of this our great country to desist immediately from all these acts of desperation.

“I commend the courage of the people of Nasarawa for standing firm in their belief for equity and justice and in defending their mandate and saying ‘NO’ to any attempt by anyone or group to take away their mandate through the back door.

“I also commend the Nasarawa judiciary particularly the VCJ and the panel members for doing right thing despite the intimidation. You have all written your names in gold in the history books “Finally and most importantly, I urge all Nigerians and the people of Nasarawa to support Governor Al-Makura as he gets back to working for the great people of the ‘Home of Solid Minerals’ (Nasarawa State).”

62 zonal watch (North-Central)

Sunday, August 10, 2014

project report

Niger: Quest To Be Industrial Feeder Of FCT Becoming A Reality?

News Behind The News

2015: Kwara APC Denies Endorsing Any Candidate

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Aliyu Abu Nmodu, Minna

The Niger State government has always posited that it would take the advantage of the state’s nearness to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to make it an industrial spot to serve the federal capital that was designed chiefly for administrative purposes.

In the pursuit of this quest, the government came out with an industrial development action plan for Garam industrial city which shares a close border with Bwari, a suburb of the FCT. It all began when the government of Dr Muazu Babngida Aliyu came into office and paid compensation on the land for industrial cluster in the area to the tune of N300 million to acquire a large expanse of land that could accommodate the plans for the industrial cluster.

The building of the industrial city has commenced with 500 housing units in the area through the public private partnership (PPP) initiative with Gbegyi Nigeria Ltd – an indigenous developer.

The site is to be developed with inclusion of an ultra modern shopping mall, schools, banks, recreation centre, green areas and hotels as well as lighting system and provision for in door security post.

According to the commissioner for commerce, industry, cooperatives and investment, Alh Hassan Abdullahi, the government’s plan was to build an industrial cluster which has started with the construction of the housing units which have standard road Aliyu networks.

He stated that the developer has already built 300 of the 500 housing units expected to be completed by the end of this year. The commissioner said the industrial cluster would be viable not only because

Women at a mill

of its closeness to Abuja but the fact that it was along the standard rail gauge line connecting Abuja to Kaduna.

Abdullahi was optimistic that investment in the area by private individuals would never be a waste, considering the fact that the area has a good road connecting the FCT and a planned road by the Niger State government to connect the dual carriage way linking FCT with Kaduna.

He said that the state government planned to discuss with the federal ministry of transport for a rail station in the area to help the industrial growth of the area because all form of transportation is needed for the industrial plan.

The plan as he enumerated was not to only complement the Idu industrial layout of Abuja but overtaken it because the Garam industrial cluster has provision for accommodation and all the needed facilities.

The commissioner said that the Garam Industrial park would be a special economic zone that would occupy 207 hectares of land, free of all encumbrances as the survey of the site was completed and ready for any investment as being done by the private developer building the 500 housing units.

The government also has started an industrial cluster in Minna, the state capital. Already over 90 industrial clusters have been completed and ready for occupation.

The commissioner said that the desire of the state is to ensure that the industrial clusters are not just used as ware houses but for the promotion of industrialisation of the state as designed by the government.

He stated that the government has taken the lead by encouraging small and medium industrial scales in the state by installing groundnut oil milling machines, one in each of

the three senatorial districts of the state.

He said the milling machines are also to produce the local delicacy (kuli kuli) made from groundnut to encourage women cooperative society in the state for self reliance.

He said that the machines are located in Agaie, Magama and Minna, the state capital. He stated that the machines have been completely installed in Agaie and Magama, while that of Minna would soon be completed.

The commissioner attributed the breakthrough being recorded to some of the institutions that have been put in place by the government of Dr Babangida Aliyu, especially the one stop investment centre that was recently commissioned for the purpose of facilitating investment.

He stated that the one stop investment initiative was to bring different agencies and ministries together under one umbrella to meet the demand of investors and make investment easier for them.

To give the investment a legal backing, the commissioner stated that, all the necessary bills and laws have been passed into law to ensure continuity and make Niger State the needed industrial destination for the FCT. According to him, the government has acquired 10 hectares of land at Butu village for the development of “sites and services” scheme to provide service plots to the middle level markets in a safe and conducive area.

He said with the ongoing construction of Minna City Centre Shopping Mall, it is hoped that if the facilities are opened by April or May next year, the needed market would have been provided for the industrial products in the state and by then, the state would have taken full advantage of being the closet state to the Federal Capital Territory.

The developer has already built 300 of the 500 housing units expected to be completed by the end of this year

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has clarified that it has not endorsed any candidate for any of the elective offices ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The party also denied insinuations in some quarters that it had commenced campaign for the re- election bid of the state governor, Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed, contrary to regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party’s state publicity secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that, “The APC is in full compliance with all provisions of the electoral law.”

He stated that the ongoing town hall meetings in the state should not be misconstrued as electioneering campaign, stressing that it was “one of the numerous channels engaged by the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmedled administration to ensure participatory governance and democracy.”

He added that, “As directed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the town hall meeting has also been used to complement INEC’s efforts at sensitising the people of Kwara State on the forthcoming distribution of permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) and the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise which will commence on August 15, 2014 in Kwara State.

“It is laughable and gullible for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suggest that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the APC have started electioneering campaigns for 2015 elections when the APC has no candidate for the same election. The PDP is a casualty of dementia. The APC has not started any campaign for 2015 elections as the APC has no candidate for all the contestable offices in the election.

“We understand the frustrations of the deserted PDP, the opposition PDP is jittery and trembling due to the rising popularity and acceptability of the APC and the APC-led government in Kwara State as profoundly displayed by the good people of Kwara State during recent town hall meetings. ”Town hall meetings are not strange to governance and democracy all over the world. As at today, town hall meetings are organised by the state governments of Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and numerous other states; the sinking PDP should stop crying wolf.

“If anyone has violated electoral laws, the person is the national leader of the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan, whose re-election campaign billboards and posters have sprang up at strategic locations at the nation’s capital, Abuja and in major cities of Nigeria against the provisions of the electoral law. Even against public outcry, President Jonathan is yet to order his supporters to remove his campaign billboards which underscores the fact that the various campaign billboards enjoy the full backing of Mr President.”

63

Sunday, August 10, 2014

THE ELECTABLES On August 15th, 2014

The best among Nigeria’s politicians; the best among those who aspire for political and elective office; the most popular candidates; the traiblazers; Nigeria ‘s most presentable candidates and those who have the vision and sense of mission to lead.

This is a must read!

A

SPECIAL PROJECTS PUBLICATION

64

Sunday, August 10, 2014

feature 65

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Time-telling devices.

Are Wrist Watches Out Of Fad? The use of wrist watches either as ornaments to complement our dressing or strictly to keep tag of time of the day at any point may have been consigned to the old school as the trend today is for people to clutch their mobile phones which are incorporated with clocks and other modern features. ruth choji writes

T

ime seems to be running out for the wristwatch, this has prompted many to speculate that the era of the wristwatch is actually drawing to an end; this is especially common among the youths who now use their handsets as a time piece.

Watches were once favourite items for presents. There was a time when an expensive gold watch was an enduring gift, some pass it from one generation to another or bequeath it as family heirlooms.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday on the changing trends, Patricia Namiyep, a banker stated that “my blackberry is a permanent feature on my bedside. I set it as alarm clock to wake me up early in the morning. I use my wrist watch for special occasion, I don’t see it as part of my accessories anymore excerpt when I am attending a function and I want to look elegant. I think the handset is more accurate than the wrist watch and I cannot wear a cheap wristwatch. We are in a jet age where everything is digital and so, the fading of wrist watches is just an-

other sign of technology taking over from mechanical things.

Cell phones have features most wristwatches lack like Internet access, text messaging, cameras, not to mention myriad ring tones and games and you can adjust the time in different time zones. There are clocks in virtually every office, cars and home computers, so it is easy to get by without a wrist watch.

The phone had become an important part of our life. The mobile phone plays a larger role in our lives, phone provide us with varied information on the go. These days, a wristwatch is more of a statement piece than an actually useful accessory.

Abigail Ibrahim, a civil servant who hardly wears a wrist watch also stated; “my last wrist watch got damaged and since then, I have not bothered to buy another one. We have a wall clock at home where I check time and when I am outside, I just use my phone. I also notice that more people use their handset now than waste money to buy wrist watches that most times stop working after a while. Some people find it inconvenient always to consult a phone to check the time,

but for me, it is easier. I also think it is older people that like wearing wrist watches”.

But Binta Maisamari, a Nurse stated that, “it is not true because I still buy wristwatch whenever I see a nice one. My husband bought one for me recently. My friends too still use wrist watches. May be it is because I don’t attach so much attention to my phone. Most times the phone will ring and ring while I will either be busy attending to patience or doing my household chores. I look at the wall clock more than the handset. So I don’t think the wristwatch will fade easily. People still buy wall clock and put it in their living rooms. I don’t think the watch will ever go out of fashion. I also think it is cheap for one to remove her phone from her handbag, it is also considered inappropriate to pull out a phone. It’s much easier to subtly check a wristwatch. Besides if you are in the mist of people and you have a cheap handset, you will not want to bring it out for people to see, but once your watch is on your wrist, nobody will care if you are poor or rich”.

Arc Henry Davour, a watch fanatic stated; “the wrist watch can never go out of vogue because your dressing cannot be complete without the old fashion wrist watch. No respectable man would feel fully dressed without a respectable watch on his wrist. A gentlemen’s dressing is not complete with-

out good designer- wristwatches like Cartier, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, Breitling, IWC, Panerai, Zenith, and Jaeger and so on. I am aware of the phone trend, but I look at my wrist the wrist watch has many advantages compared to the cell phone because the phone can be lost or left at a Security Checkpoint, it could mess you up when you step into another country and there are some places you will go that, you will have no choice but to switch off your handsets.

Digital watches can be set with a second time zone, it rarely will need to come off for security screening and the Batteries can last for years unlike the phones that need charging every day”.

Alhaji Mamuda Mubi who used to sell wrist watches in Jos before he changed his business to handsets said; “phone has really taken the place of wrist watches because the market dropped heavily. We used to import watches from china, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and other countries. My father was a big time dealer of wrist watches and so we all learned the business from him, but when phones started, the market started dropping, some rich people still request for Luxury watches like the Rolex because it is a symbol. We import watches now based on order, sometimes they give us the money to buy it for them when we travel. But we have stopped importing wristwatches for business because the market has gone flat”.

These days, a wristwatch is more of a statement piece than an actually useful accessory

66 Christian perspective

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Pastor W.F. Kumuyi The Study Of God’s Word info@deeperlifeonline.org

The Call To A Soul-Winning Lifestyle

Luke 19:10; 1 Peter 2:21; John 4:34; 9:4; 13:17; 1 Corinthians 11:1 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Christ here reveals the purpose and pursuit of His life. God gave His Son to be our model and expects us to pattern our lives after His. Christ’s lifestyle should be the pursuit of everyone who professes faith in God. He calls the redeemed to live, walk and win souls into the kingdom the way Christ did. The call to “follow his steps” in soulwinning is the commission for a true believer and member of the church of the living God. Christ’s desire, passion, interest and goal are the things that should matter to us. Soul-winning was His consuming passion and commitment. He lived “to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” The way He lived is the way we must live. Soul-winning is the will of God and ought to be our consuming passion and daily

pursuit. We must commit and addict ourselves to accomplish it like Christ who declared: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” This declaration was borne out of necessity laid upon Him to continue to win souls in all seasons, opposed or supported. With Christ-like commitment, we need to personalize the words “I must”to acknowledge and fulfil God’s purpose of soul-winning in the places we live, work and school.

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Professing believers who neglect and abandon the task that is uppermost in the heart of Christ lose the right to command obedience of others.

Obedience to the great commission makes us earn the right to command followership. Like Christ, we must make soul-winning our lifestyle and become a model for other believers.

1.

The Command To Chris-

tian Soul-Winners Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:1518; Ezekiel 3:17-20.

Christ wants every believer who professes to love Him to obey His command to win souls.

He prefixed this command to Christ-like soul-winners with a declaration of His deity, absolute authority and power to build their confidence for prompt and complete obedience. The command to “Go” is very clear, plain, simple, universal and unique.

There is no room for relaxation, idleness or silence because “Go” connotes action, motion and motivation of every believer.

Christ-like soul-winners must preach to sinners about Christ the Saviour and their need of salvation through repentance.

The great commission also includes following up converts, baptizing them in water and integrating them into the body of Christ by “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with

you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Christ’s promised presence and power will always be with those who obey His command to win souls.

Christ’s command to “go into all the world” can be literally carried out when individual believers reach sinners they come in contact with in their ward, city, town, village, community and neighbourhood with the gospel. We can share the gospel one-on-one with people that are physically close and use communication gadgets/social media to reach those who are far away. It is important to prioritize on winning sinners to the Lord every day as we may not have a second chance to do so before they die.

Signs and wonders follow obedient believers who win souls.

The disobedient are wicked for knowing that sin is deadly but will not warn family members and others about it. They will be judged by God. ➔ TO BE CONTINUED

Bishop Matthew Daniels Insight For Living bishopmatthewdaniels@yahoo.com +234 811 189 6866

How To Be Effective In Life (1)

You can only start taping into your potential when you refuse to be satisfied with your present position and accomplishment

The first two chapters of Genesis tell the story of the unleashing of God’s creative potential. An examination of the process God used to create the universe reveals that what God speaks to is the source for what He creates; everything God created was brought forth by His spoken word. Throughout the process of creation, whatever God spoke to becomes the source from which the created thing came.

When God wanted to create stars, He spoke to the gases He created in the heavens (Genesis 1:14-15).

When He wanted fish, He spoke to the waters He had placed on earth (Genesis 1:20-21). For the creation of animals He spoke to the ground (Genesis 1:24-25).

When man was to be created God spoke to Himself, God became the source of Man: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” Genesis 1:26 When God created human beings by speaking to Himself, He intended that we should share His divine nature of creativity. You are supposed to naturally function like your source because all things have the same components and essence as the source

from which they came; And all created things are maintained by the sources from which they came.

The potentials of all things are related to the sources from which they came.

Every human being has the ability to function like God since God is our source. The potential of God that is in us is a possibility that is as vast as the universe.

These possibilities can only be released through creativity.

Creativity can be defined as the act of generating ideas into reality which has not been in existence before. Creativity can also be defined as a tendency to create ideas that can be use to solve problems, communicate with others and to even entertain others as well as ourselves.

I have come to the full realization of 10 Basic truths about life: • It is better to have never been born than to live and not fulfill the purpose for which you were given life • What lies behind you is history • What lies before you is future

•

You may not be able to of leaving your footprints in the change your past sands of the history of your gen• Your future is yet unlived eration. Release your potential ful• The present provides am- ly so that you can die effectively. ple of opportunity for you Use your life to write the speech to maximize every abilities of your death for the glory of God. that resides within you Through insight for living, you • You are the only person are being made aware of the great that should take responsi- treasure you possess, which is bility for your abilities no your potential and how you can other person can enhance it so that you can be a • Potentials are God’s invest- blessing to the world.

You can only start taping into ment in your life for the benefit of the world your potential when you refuse to • Potential must be utilized be satisfied with your present poor it will be aborted sition and accomplishment. See • Potential is the large, un- that what you have accomplished known bank of resources is no longer your potential. Rewithin waiting to be acti- leasing your potential demands vated, released and utilized. a strong willingness to move beAre you living a stillbirth life? yond the familiar into the realm I encourage you to attempt new of possibilities. The journey begins things and to make choices that when you gain understanding of can stretch your horizons. God’s the importance of potential. God ability on earth is the potential gives potential so that the world that He has placed in you and the can be made better. That is why knowledge of what you have failed potential is given to be released to use to benefit your generation, not wasted. Potential is released your contemporaries, yourself and through creativity.

Potential is the sum deposit of the next generation will judge you on the great day of accountability. what you are carrying that is yet Determine to activate, release, and to be reveal. maximize your potential for the sake of humanity. Have a dream ➔ TO BE CONTINUED

Like Christ, we must make soul-winning our lifestyle and become a model for other believers

Christian perspective 67

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Brother Gbile Akanni Living Seed trifect2000@yahoo.com +234 806 126 1907

Daniel: What Made Him Great (8)

Many Christians cannot excel today because they have exchanged their beauty for ashes.

At the end of their course, they were all brought before the king.

The king communed with them one by one, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah. Mishael and Azariah, therefore stood they before the king.

“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.’

Why? “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:1:17) This is what God can do and would do for any and every one who dared to take a stand for Him, He is the inexhaustible source of all knowledge and skills in all learning and wisdom. Note this: In all learning and wisdom: In every area of human learning, be it science, technology and computer; be it auctorial, social, Political Science, be it any field of study. God gives knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom.

You do not have to lose your stand with God before you can excel in ac-

ademics. You do not have to lower your standard of holiness before you can excel in business. Daniel was ten times better than all the astrologers and magicians in all the realms of Babylon.

Do you suppose God has changed? Do you suppose Christians standing faithfully in the word of God and with their convictions would do less for them and be termed mediocres? No! A thousand times No. The mediocrity you witness in your life today or in your career is actually because you broke faith with God! You shifted your grounds. You absented yourself from standing in His presence and on His word. You were tricked into thinking that principles of the world would work better.

Many Christians cannot excel today because they have exchanged their beauty for ashes. They left the source of all knowledge, the hidden treasure of all wisdom and knowledge (Christ Jesus) for the fig leaves of human hypotheses and went for the philosophies of mere men.

Watch this Daniel. This was a simple step he took that shot him up above all his contemporaries. He purposed to get it right, (right at

the onset), and so it went well with him all the way.

“Beware lest any man spoil you, through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwell all the fullness of the GodHead bodily.” (Col. 2:8-9) “See to it that no one carries you off as a spoil or makes you yourselves captives by his socalled philosophy and intellectualism, and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition - men’s ideas of the material (rather than the Spiritual) world - just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe, and disregarding (the teachings) Christ, the Messiah.

For in Him the whole fullness of deity (the Godhead), continues to dwell in bodily form- giving complete expression of the divine nature” (Amp) The world system seeks to rob you of a treasure. They advertise their fashion, their philosophies, and their new goods before your eyes. They keep changing, because everything about the world is un-

stable, uncertain and unreliable.

They cover the weakness, the decay with a flashy packaging just for you to drop that which is REAL and lasting’ Daniel saw it all as defilement.

He called their delicacies “a defilement” and steered clear of it. Yet, none in his own world could stand by his side. He dwarfed all else as he towered high with his God! Why would you, a modem day Christian, be so apologetic about our reigning and victorious King, as to borrow means and methods from the world system? Daniel was a man of purpose. He purposed in his heart to stand with God, so he stood! If he became so great and cut all of the Babylonian magicians and astrologers to size; if he so subdued even King Nebuchadnezzar, till the king fell on his face to acknowledge the God of Daniel and even Daniel himself, are you still amazed ...?

What is the purpose of your own heart? Are you a reed that is shaken by every wind of change? Do you have any convictions built and based on God’s word that you stand by, regardless of the changing times and slogans? Examine your heart with the Holy Spirit’s help.

Dr. Obinna Iheanyichukwu Life Discovery Series obirt@yahoo.com, dovechurchinternational@yahoo.com 08033454006

The Power To Succeed Developing the winning mentality

Confidence is an essential ingredient for success or happiness in life (mark 11:22). “Have faith in God”, Jesus said. David had it; God told Joshua to develop it.

Fear and timidity is a sense of inadequacy that interferes and robs people of the power to achieve.

Inferiority complex paralyses. It prevents one from even stepping out to attempt significant achievements . Phil 4;13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’’.

This is a statement of faith, a demonstration of courage within. God wants us to affirm to the ability He has put in us to make an impact in our generation.

There are various causes of selfdoubt or lack of confidence, these include • Emotional trauma • Negative childhood experi-

ence Others from past failures Majority are just feelings with no proven facts as to why they exist.

The power of God in your life to accomplish will lie dormant under the weight of fear and inferiority complex.

The truth is that you will not want to step out until you believe there is something you will accomplish by doing so. Inadequacy erects power barriers in our lives, inhibiting you from exercising your potentials. It paralyses you from reaching out to what is out there for you.

The greatest secret for eliminating inferiority complex or self-doubt is to fill your mind with faith. Proverbs 3:5’ says, “Trust in the lord with all thine heart’’.

When you develop tremendous faith in God, it will give you realistic • •

faith in your self . See Psalm 9;10. “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee”.

Lack of self-confidence is one of the greatest problems in the world today.

1 It makes people inwardly afraid 2 It makes someone to shrink from life 3 It makes one to suffer a deep sense of insecurity 4 It makes one to doubt their own potentials.

5 It makes one to mistrust their ability to meet responsibilities or grasp opportunities.

Read Judges chapter 7 and you will realize how fear kept majority of the people from partaking in a glorious victory. Gideon too, almost missed a great opportunity to lead that victory team due to self doubt. (Judges 7:9-11).

To develop a vague and sinister fear that something is not going to be quite right is self destructive. In time, it develops into fear or phobia. Such do not believe that they can be what they want to be. It makes people content with something less than they are capable of.

To grow in confidence, it is important to remind yourself of your assets. Attitudes are more important than facts. Don’t allow a fact to overwhelm you mentally even before you begin to deal with it.

A confident attitude or thought can overcome or modify any fact. If you constantly think of the forces that seem to be against you, they will assume a formidable strength they do not possess.

But if you mentally visualize and affirm of reaffirm your assets (like David did against Goliath) you will arise out of any difficulty.

The greatest secret for eliminating inferiority complex or self-doubt is to fill your mind with faith

68

opinion

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Ebola: A Witch Doctor’s Prescription

by Obed Minchakpu

She told me that the crave for salt therapy for Ebola is all over as the woman in the provisions shop said she sold about 10 big sachets of salt within five minutes of opening her store around 6 am

Last night was a bad one for me as I did not have a good sleep. The reason being that my phone kept ringing and interrupting my sleep. When I could not bear it any longer, I switched the phone to silence mode and slept off.

By 4 am, I woke up as usual for my morning devotion, only to find that the missed calls on my phone were too many.

What is wrong and why so many calls at night? Was there anything happening that people out there were trying to reach me? Or could there be some people out there in difficulties who needed my assistance? These were the questions that kept bothering me when I saw these missed calls.

When I was done with my morning devotion, I decided to return the calls. To my outmost shock and disbelief, the first person I called was a woman whose missed calls were five and this is what she had to say to me on picking my call: “Ah, Obed, there is this information I have for you. There is Ebola in town.

A case has just been recorded and the instruction is that drinking warm salt water and bathing with same can serve

as preventive measure against being infected by the virus. I felt I should let you know this because it would be unfair for me not to share this vital information with you,” said the woman at the other end.

“Is that all?” I asked. “Yes o!” She said and then the phone went dead.

I felt like kicking her. “This woman must be a witch,” I muttered to myself. Thank God she was not there with me. To be sincere and candid, I was very angry about this. How could someone phone me late at night for such a trash?

I returned the second call, this time to an elderly man in my neighborhood.

“Morning sir,” I said when he picked the call. “Obed, I was calling you but you did not answer your phone, what is wrong?” He asked me. “Sorry sir, I was tired and when I retired to bed last night, I decided to place my phone in silence mode because I did not want to be disturbed,” I responded.

“It’s ok, I only wanted to let you know that a case of Ebola infection has just been recorded in this town. Now listen! Take warm salt water and also add salt to your bathing water. I have just done this and that is the only way we can prevent ourselves from con-

tracting Ebola,” he told me.

“Is this a joke? Why are these people talking about salt and water being treatment for Ebola virus, and where are they getting this information from?” I asked myself. “Is this some sort of a voodoo? Are these people into some fetish rituals and are trying to lure me into it? If not why are they asking me to drink and shower with salt water, and to do this late at night”? These were the questions that kept turning in my brain.

“The devil is a liar! No, I can’t do such a thing. I will rather pray about this than sheepishly carry out some demonic instructions that could get me initiated into the devil’s cult,” I said to myself. After this second encounter, I decided not to make any further phone calls as I was very sad that in spite of the medical facilities we have, we still have persons, who out of desperation, want to adopt unorthodox measures to solve their problems.

If I thought that was the end of the unfolding drama about Ebola, I was joking, as in the morning, what I found out was more disturbing. My wife went out to buy some few items in a provisions shop in our neighborhood and the news she brought back

home was shocking. She told me that the crave for salt therapy for Ebola is all over as the woman in the provisions shop said she sold about 10 big sachets of salt within five minutes of opening her store around 6 am that morning.

I sat there quietly, not knowing what to say. I quickly brought out my iPad and logged on to Facebook. That is one place I always pick news leads from. ‘Lo and behold’, Facebook posts I saw were almost all about Ebola and salt. The posts had similar information: a phone call, and an advisory on salt therapy for the infection.

To me, this is pure deception. Why will someone think about such a deceitful thing and cause panic across the country? What do those spreading this satanic information want to achieve? A serious health challenge like the Ebola pandemic should not be used to cause panic among the people and make them part with the little they have.

This Witch Doctor’s prescription for Ebola being spread across the country must be stopped.

So, native doctors, I beg, ‘make una leave us alone o’!

Minchakpu is a member of staff of LEADERSHIP Newspapers

Ebola Virus And Immigration Border Control

by Uket Ofem

The most dreaded virus Ebola has subtly found its way into the Nigerian soil defying all attempts by the Nigerian people to stop its spread from other West African countries like Liberia, Central African Republic, among others.

The Nigerian Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has announced that Nigerian borders will not be shut down completely because of its economic nature but reiterated that adequate control and security will be stepped up to ensure that people coming into Nigeria are not Ebola virus carriers.

This obviously has necessitated the step-up and beef up of the border control services by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), to properly screen immigrants at the point of entry and emigrants at the point of departure.

There has been an enhanced automated method of border control which, of course, will be faster, efficient and sustainable. Therefore the use of the unique biometrics data of travellers to verify their identity, along with documentation and watch list checks, to automate border control in a repeatable, secure and accurate manner should be put in place now.

Accordingly, all immigration check points should be medically

equipped to conduct all inclusive and comprehensive tests of emigrants and immigrants before entry and departure to ascertain their status on the virus.

Currently, there are 1, 400 illegal routes created by unscrupulous elements to infiltrate Nigeria in illicit affairs ranging from drugs, small arms and other criminal activities, but the question is whether NIS has the capacity to mount all the illegal routes to stop these criminals from entering the country.

Apparently, for a reasonable number of years, there has not been mass recruitment into the service to boost its personnel to strengthen its operations across the country in the face of daunting challenges.

“Across the over 4,000 square kilometres coverage, we have well over 1,400 illegal routes which are not manned. The number of illegal routes is 100 times more than the number of approved routes, Paradang said”.

“In Adamawa State for instance, we have about five control posts but we have 80 illegal routes in the state through which people come into the country.”

The Immigration boss added that in Ogun State, there are 83 illegal routes and this goes round the country. “This has grave security implications for the country.”

Paradang equally said that the service required an annual recruitment of 5,000 personnel for a period of five years to carry out its duties effectively.

He added that the current 22,300 immigration officers were grossly inadequate to carry out the service’s mandate.

According to him, the mandate of the service includes issuance of passport, border patrol and other security-related duties among other functions.

He noted that apart from the shortage of manpower, the service was contending with other numerous challenges.

“We have non-demarcated, poorly-marked borders. This makes people at the border community to interrelate to the extent that stringent control is apparently difficult.

“We have some people who have their bedrooms in another country and their sitting rooms in Nigeria; the windows open to another country, so, how do you tell that person that he should not cross the border?.

“We have proposed to government that we need to add 5,000 people on an annual basis for the next five years to be able to reasonably patrol our borders.”

He stressed that we have inadequate facilities such as patrol vehicles and only two air crafts. “We

need communication gadgets and scanners because our border posts are not interconnected with the Epass system.”

He canvassed for better welfare and insurance for officers, better budgetary allocation, supply of modern border patrol aircraft as the review of the service’s policy to meet modern day challenges.

Paradang, however, said that the NIS would open 30 new control posts in 2014 to effectively monitor the borders.

Only a few weeks back, President Goodluck Jonathan launched a 64-page E-Passport against the 32- page passport that Nigeria was using in the past.

The idea is to facilitate trade and enhance effective business agreements between Nigeria based businessmen and investors across the globe, to further strengthen trade alliances for effective productivity in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has as well stated recently that it would rehabilitate its old aircraft to resume air border patrol to boost efficient border management and policing.

Mr Chukwuemeka Obua, the Public Relations Officer of the service, said this in a media chat with newsmen in Abuja.

Ofem wrote in from Abuja.

In Adamawa State for instance, we have about five control posts but we have 80 illegal routes in the state through which people come into the country

69

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Zainab Jaji Zee’s Corner zeescorner@gmail.com,Twitter. @addazee

When Africa Went to America

“I stand before you as the president of the United States and a proud American. I also stand before you as the son of a man from Africa.

The blood of Africa runs through our family. And so for us, the bonds between our countries, our continents, are deeply personal,” President Barack Obama.

The oratory of President Obama came to the fore this week at the first ever United States-Africa Summit. This summit was convened at his behest to show Africa that it is a continent that has not been forgotten by the great super power.

The British press in particular have been up in arms chastising the United States government for hosting some ‘African despots’ as they see it, and calling the dinner hosted as ‘the monsters ball’. I think their noses have been rather put out of joint by this summit as they are thinking of all the trade they will miss out on.

This summit is really to be seen as a feel good summit and one that will open the door for future interactions. A Human rights issues

were spoken about in hushed tones in committee meetings to the advantage of economics. It was time to talk trade and ignore to a certain extent some of the murkier issues that bedevil a continent of 52 countries. This meeting is unprecedented in that in all its interactions in Africa, the United States never thought it fit to engage the entire continent at once other than at the annual UN General Assembly. The Chinese and the Indians have shown that they can do business with Africa on its own terms without the flowery language and restrictive policies of the west.

Africa has been rising in the last two decades with a young, educated and technologically savvy population. The traditional colonial partners of Europe and America decided not to notice and simply allowed the focus to rest on resources that could be pillaged such as energy and raw food materials.

Well, change has certainly come. If Africa is the last economic frontier now is the time to take advantage of this relationship. President Obama

did highlight that the level of trade between his country and Brazil is equivalent to the entire African continent. Obviously things have to change.

So, is the United States late in pursuing a better economic relationship with Africa? It is said that there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.

The world has dealt with a major economic crisis in the last seven years and is still just finding its feet.

Any and all trade is welcome. The countries in Asia and more so china have decided that Africa is a good enough partner and if the western powers do not like it, then they know what to do. Vice President Joe Biden categorically stated that the United States was placing its bets on Africa and wants Africa to come together to do the same and create a strong trade and democratic partnership. President Obama further stressed that his country does not look to Africa simply for its natural resources. ‘We recognise Africa for its greatest resource which is its people and its talents and its

potential. We don’t simply want to extract minerals from the ground for our growth. We want to build partnerships that create jobs and opportunity for all our peoples; that unleash the next era of African growth.’ It is all nicely put, especially with promised investment of $33 billion.

The important thing about this summit is the question of perception. The Africa that most Americans think of is the Africa of disease and poverty; the Africa that is a country and not a continent.

Our job is to make them see a diverse continent with over 50 countries and hundreds and thousands of languages and cultures, where Africans of the next generation are so eager to forge ahead and have thrown away the cloak of colonialism. That word is no longer prominent in our vocabulary and we don’t have much of a complex about it. The United States says it is ready to see Africa as a partner in many areas, so it must remove its paranoia and move on for us to shake hands and sign deals.

Hamza Atta Isn't It Funny? hamzolo@yahoo.co.uk 08181091784

A Party-Constituted System

Whenever we thwart the will of a would-be dictator, we expand the boundaries of freedom

Our funny party system is at the heart of our political failings. Today, one is a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), tomorrow he is in the “opposition” ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the day after he is yet again a member of the PDP. One can also be a founding member of a party, only to switch lanes to another party before the blink of an eye. There are others whose party membership depends on what time of the day it is. Yet others, like Governor Okorocha, hold the title of the “most travelled decampee”, having tasted almost all possible registered political parties in the land!

Not even in football would one find the dearth of ideology as is present among our political parties. Cristiano Ronaldo cannot “decamp” to Barcelona this week only to return to Real Madrid the following week. It is not that easy because each club is founded on certain fan/community loyalties.

And this even applies to a foreign professional, who is paid.

It is lack of political awareness that is clogging our democracy. It is the reason why PDP is APC and APC is PDP. It is why both, and

all others, are failing. Ideology, a way of life, a belief system, a sense of belonging is what should make someone like Oyinlola stay in the PDP rather than to cross carpet to the APC days before the governorship election in Osun State. It is OK to argue and agree or agree to differ but parties and their constitutions must be strong enough to operate within a set of rules that all the members can respect and trust. In saner political climes, one’s membership of a party is as a result of a genuine alignment with its set of principles and beliefs.

So, those who move from one party to another are reflective of our poor political culture. The party is a brand, and brands command loyalty.

The brand has a clearly stated goal and manifesto and promises to the electorate are drawn from a list of deliverables put forward by its management. A peep into the so-called manifestos of the PDP and APC tells an appalling story – the one reads like a poor copy of the other. This is why individuals are bigger than the party. Party supremacy is a hoax in the Nigerian system because its structure is so weak that it cedes power to its members elected into public offices

as soon as elections are over. The president controls the machinery of his party at the national level; the state governors do so at that level. Smaller parties with little national presence, such as the Labour Party and APGA, concede party supremacy to their respective governors in Ondo and Anambra.

This way, we make emperors of our president and governors; power simply slips away from the hands of the people to the hands of their elected representatives, who are supposed to be servants to the people and representatives of their party’s creed.

Our politics is immature, and this is why we have turbulence in the land. But there is hope. Al-Makura’s impeachment in Nasarawa has failed; hopefully, a herald of sanity.

Whenever we thwart the will of a would-be dictator, we expand the boundaries of freedom.

However, we should not lose sight of the fact that it is not true that a governor cannot be impeached for cross carpeting. I am particularly buttressed in this view by the fact that a fundamental and qualifying step to becoming governor is that you must belong to a political party. It is part of the

laziness and apathy of the PDP and APC that they have failed/ refused to test this concept in impeachment proceedings. By the way, it is actually a travesty of justice when, in the name of immunity, allegations of a criminal act are not investigated. There are too many ironies in the provisions of our laws.

The summary of my position is that, justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. Any provision which protects potential criminals and postpones the legal process, while allowing the accused to continue to exercise functions of a state, is not only unconscionable but also inimical to the concepts of justice and democracy. It is this absurdity that makes elected officers jostle to tighten their grips on party machinery. This way, political power belongs to them, as well as the means of gaining it, so that they could operate above the law without the fear of being voted out as long as they are with the right political cohorts.

We have to be citizen activists if we wish to properly enforce our laws. “The man dies in all who fail to act in the face of injustice,” said Soyinka.

This summit is really to be seen as a feel good summit and one that will open the door for future interactions

70 sports

Sunday, August 10, 2014

sports

news

NNL: S’Court Talks Tough Ahead Plateau United Cracker

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

As the Nigeria National League (NNL) hit the home stretch at the weekend with the week 23 fixtures holding across the country, the fight for promotion and to escape a further drop to the third tier league are in top gear.

Supreme Court FC of Abuja will this afternoon go head-to-head with visiting Plateau United in a top the table cracker. The match will hold at the FIFA Goal Project, package B of Abuja Nation-

al stadium as from 4pm.

The host will be hoping to pay back after they trailed Plateau United 0-2 in Jos when both sides met during the first leg.

Speaking ahead of the match, the technical adviser of Supreme Court FC, Coach Fatai Osho who has remained optimistic of his team’s chances stated, “We are expecting a tough match against Plateau United bearing in mind that the promotion ticket is still wide open and all teams will fancy their chances of which we are

not an exception.

“We have a team that is doing very well now and the unity in the team will be the greatest undoing of any club coming to play us now. We have great respect for Plateau United but we have a group of boys that can take care of business. We are really ready for this and good to go.

“Our objective at the moment is to win our games not minding the pedigree of any team we are playing whether at home or away.”

Bite Appeal: CAS To Decide On Suárez’s Fate Next Week Barcelona striker Luis Suárez will discover next week if he must serve a four-month ban for biting an opponent, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has said.

Suárez appeared at CAS headquarters in Lausanne on Friday where his lawyers were to argue that his bite on Giorgio Chiellini took place while the striker was playing for Uruguay in the World Cup the ban should be limited to international football.

Barcelona were hoping they might have the former Liverpool player training within days if the CAS ruling lifted the controversial ban on all football-related activity. However, at the end of the hearing it was revealed that Suárez would probably have to wait another week to learn his fate.

A CAS statement read: “The court of arbitration for sport (CAS) has today heard the appeal of Luis Suárez, Barcelona and the Uruguayan FA against

FIFA. The hearing took place at the CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“The player was present and gave a statement to the Panel of CAS arbitrators: Mr Bernhard Welten, Switzerland (President); Professor Luigi Fumagalli, Italy, and Dr Marco Balmelli, Switzerland.

“At the end of the hearing, the Panel informed the parties that it will issue its decision as soon as possible, probably before the end of next week. The full arbi-

tral award, with the grounds, will follow at a later date and be published by the CAS.” Suárez’s lawyer and adviser Alejandro Balbi, who is also a member of the Uruguay FA’s (AUF) executive, admitted there was less chance of overturning the nine-match suspension, but said there is scope for the fourmonth ban to be reduced on the grounds that it infringes the player’s “fundamental rights”.

Balbi told the Uruguyan newspaper El Observador: “It would

be more logical to reduce the sanction by a few months than to reduce the ban concerning international games, because legally it’s easier to contend against the terms of the suspension that forbid him from training and from being at the club, because they violate fundamental rights.”

Barcelona paid Liverpool £75m for Suárez after he received his Fifa ban, which as it stands keeps him out until October 25.

Luis Suárez of Uruguay reacting after biting Giorgio Chiellini of Italy during their World Cup match in Brazil

Interference: FIFA Threatens To Sanction Ghana Ghana Football Association (GFA) could be banned by world football governing body(FIFA) over government interference.

FIFA in a statement to GFA on Friday warned Ghana that they risk an international ban if they should carry on with a government-ordered Commis-

sion of Enquiry of the activities of the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil.

Ghana was a subject of ridicule at the tournament when their government had to airlift $3 million to pay for the players’ entitlements, after they threatened not to play in one

of the matches.

“We would like to remind you FIFA member associations must manage their affairs independently, without any third party influence.” A FIFA statement read.

“Should any decision be rendered by the Commission against GFA officials thereby

removing them from office, it would be considered as interference in the GFA affairs and the case would be brought to FIFA’s highest instances for appropriate sanctions.

“We refer to the power that the Commission would have to remove any member of the Executive Committee or the

President of the GFA in case of adverse findings,” the letter addressed to GFA general secretary Emmanuel Gyiman read.

Nigeria was provisionally banned by FIFA after a court injunction ousted the NFF executive board from power, it was after the decision was reversed that the ban was lifted.

sports 71

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Ugbade Upbeat Ahead AYC Tie Flying Eagles assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade has said his side will be merciless against the Junior Crocodiles of Lesotho.

Eagles will clash with the Southern African foes on August 16 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna in the final qualifying round of the 2015 African Youths Championship (AYC) holding in Senegal from March 8 to 22.

The six-time African champions edged Tanzania 4-1 on aggregate while Lesotho stunned Southern African foes, Angola to

pave the way for the two-legged epic clash.

Ugbade said his side are poised to achieve a decent result in Nigeria to make the fortnight return fixture in Maseru, Lesotho a mere formality.

“Our preparations are going on wonderfully well, we’re strong and good to go against Lesotho.

“We’ll strive to end the game here in Nigeria, at least, three or four unreplied goals will do the magic.

“Then the return fixture in Le-

sotho will turn out to be a different ball game as the side will be compelled to come out which will further open them up for the killer punch.

“We’re ahead of other African nations at the moment in terms of quality, we play with information and command a sizeable number of the Golden Eaglets stars that ruled the world recently.

“Though the key ones may not be available as they’re involved in trials and pre-season train-

Rogers Cup: Williams Sisters clash In Semifinals Serena and Venus Williams will meet in the Rogers Cup semi-finals after each coming through gruelling quarter-finals in Montreal.

World number one Serena had to come from a set down to beat close friend Caroline Wozniacki - and then saw her sister follow the same path against Carla Suárez Navarro.

Serena Williams was broken in game five and lost the first set when she drilled a forehand into the net, with Wozniacki then opening up a 4-2 lead in the second and taking a 1530 advantage on the top seed’s serve.

But Williams held firm, broke twice to win the set and went on to complete a 4-6 7-5 7-5 win in two hours and 41 minutes.

“When you play someone like Caroline, you know your match might be a little longer than normal,” she said. “You go in there thinking ‘This is not going to be routine’.”

Venus then stepped on court looking to follow up her hardfought win over sixth seed Angelique Kerber on Thursday,

and there were signs of a hangover from that outing in a collapse from 4-3 up in the opening set to a set and a break down.

But she responded well by winning 10 of the next 11 games to set up a 4-6 6-2 6-3 win in two hours and 11 minutes.

“I have to play well. That’s pretty much it,” Venus said of her 25th career meeting with her sister, who leads the head-to-head

record 14-10.

“There’s no secret or science to it. I think anyone who has gotten any wins against her, they’ve pretty much played the match of their life.”

Serena added: “I definitely don’t like playing her - I think I’ve lost to her more than anyone else on the tour. (But) I definitely feel great when I see her playing so well.”

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger believes the days of Arsenal being at the mercy of the richest clubs in the world are over.

A number of former Gunners stars will be lining up against Wenger’s side in the Barclays Premier League this season, including Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Over the last two years, however, Arsenal have turned the tide, holding on to their most valuable assets while bringing in the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. “We are less vulnerable now, that is for sure,” Gunners boss Wenger said.

“In the last two years we bought Ozil and Sanchez - five years ago we would have lost Ozil and Sanchez. We have more money available to buy today than we had five years ago.

“We can compete better. For

years we have lost top players without the ability to replace them because of financial management.”

As well as Sanchez, Arsenal have spent £16million on 19-year-old defender Calum Chambers, who became the latest in a long line of players to leave Southampton this summer.

Wenger compared Arsenal’s past difficulties to the current situation at Saints, where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale have also departed in recent years.

“It is tiring to lose players whether it be to Man City or somewhere else - it is the same,” the Arsenal boss said.

“Southampton would say the same today. They are in a similar position today to where we were before in relation to the other clubs who have superior financial power.”

Ugbade

Manchester United Make £55m Bid For Di Maria

Williams sisters

The Era Of Arsenal Selling Players To Rivals Is Over – Wenger

Wenger

ings with European clubs, Taiwo Awoniyi and others will be ready for the tie.

“There is no problem as we’re prepared to raise a squad that will make Nigeria proud against Lesotho,” said the former Nigerian star and Golden Eaglets assistant coach to supersport.com.

The return leg will hold at the National Stadium in Maseru in a fortnight while the overall winners will advance to the group stage of the biennial football showpiece.

Angel Di Maria

Manchester United are believed to have gone back for Real Madrid player Angel Di Maria.

Last week Paris Saint Germain cooled reports that they want to sign the Argentine player, adding that he is too expensive.

“We discussed Angel Di Maria with Real Madrid. He was very expensive and we have stopped discussions,” PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi stated.

But United are said to have now tabled as much as £55 million in order to sign him and are willing to pay the 26-year old as much as £120,000 every week.

With the acquisition of both Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, Di Maria’s place in the Real Madrid team is not assured and the Spanish club will be hoping to cash in on him.

United have been linked with other South American players this summer: Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado and Juventus’ Arturo Vidal, but no deal has been done yet.

Ryder Cup: I Would Not Pick Woods – Azinger Former captain Paul Azinger would not pick Tiger Woods for this year’s Ryder Cup and believes the 14-time major winner will rule himself out of the contest at Gleneagles Azinger led the United States to their only victory in the 21st century at Valhalla in 2008, when Woods was ruled out through injury.

And with the former world number one again struggling for form and fitness, Azinger does not think current captain Tom Watson can afford to use one of his three wild cards on Woods on September 2. The nine automatic qualifiers are decided on Sunday.

“I don’t see how you can take an injured player who is not playing well,” Azinger told the Golf Channel. “I don’t think I would.

And also Tiger has not necessarily been the formula for success ei-

ther. I just don’t see how you can pick him at this point.

“I am guessing he will call Tom and beg out of this and say ‘I am not ready’, make Tom’s decision easier.”

The bare statistics make grim reading for Woods after the worst year of his career came to an end at the US PGA Championship.

Woods missed the cut for just the fourth time in 66 major championships as a professional at Valhalla, carding consecutive rounds of 74 and suffering more of the back problems which have blighted his campaign. The 38-year-old will not play in next week’s Wyndham Championship and cannot qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs missing out for just the second time since the post-season began in 2007 - leaving just the Ryder Cup to aim for.

AMUSEMENT PARK

I may be fat but you’re ugly–and i can lose weight — jo brand

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

10.08.14 No. 444 N300

Aniebo Nwamu

The Sunday Column aniebo@leadership.ng

O

Passengers stepped back from the bus on entering and seeing the “feverish” woman

vernight, the world turned hostile to a Nigerian called Uche OluHassan. The week that ended yesterday was quite adventurous for the trader who lives in Suleja (Niger State) but travels regularly to the far north (usually Zamfara, Katsina, Adamawa or Borno states) in search of grains, onions and at times fish which he takes to Lagos and Calabar to sell.

He has never left the shores of Nigeria and is therefore familiar only with the country of his birth. But by the time he returned from his last trip, he had felt estranged from the world he used to know.

Terrorism is not the cause – it has not affected his business much, because he knows places to avoid and when to avoid them. He used to get on well with the people he met; his sociability was perhaps responsible for his ability to speak the three major Nigerian languages fluently and a little of some other “minority” languages.

Everything changed with the official announcement that the Ebola virus disease had penetrated Nigeria. It was a new awakening when he got to Calabar on Sunday, as nobody agreed to stretch out his hands in greeting.

“Hey! Hey! Long time no see!” he shouted to a friend.

Rather than embrace Olu-Hassan as he used to do, the friend looked away -- he almost ran away. “You know the new thing in town, Olu,” his friend said. “No shaking.”

That night, as he strolled around drinking joints, the reality dawned on him. No friends or foes in sight.

The usual boisterous activities around the joints had disappeared.

“Ranka dede”, a form of greeting that is popular in Hausa culture, had been borrowed by even Calabar residents to ward off contact with other people because it involves gesticulating with the right arm only.

The next morning, he made for the airport to catch a flight to Lagos. He first joined a bus. Inside, a

Ebolaphobia – The Race For Life

young woman sat, covered in overalls. Nobody sat close to her because she was shivering as if she had a fever. At certain bus-stops, passengers stepped back from the bus on entering and seeing the “feverish” woman.

The airport was not friendlier. Everybody avoided everyone else, even inside aircraft. Once, a young man stepped on an object and fell down.

There was near-pandemonium inside the aircraft as many thought he was another Patrick Sawyerr. Calm returned only when the crew members assured them that the young man was not sick. And when the plane touched down in Lagos, about 70 minutes later, everyone walked down very carefully. No pushing. No hurrying to be the first to get out.

You would think that the WAI (War Against Indiscipline) had been relaunched.

Disgusted with it all, Olu-Hassan opted to see his doctor in Lagos. There, he had the ultimate nightmare. Spending time in a hospital environment where Ebola patients were most likely to be found constituted a risk. With the reported infection and death of health workers who had been treating Sawyerr, not many nurses and doctors were willing to work. Going to work was enough risk, they believed. In a place filled with patients, who knew what each was suffering from? Complaints of ordinary fever, headache and diarrhoea – common symptoms of malaria or typhoid fever – could be mistaken for Ebola!

In Lagos, mai suya (roasted meat sellers) were going empty-handed because there were no customers.

Bush meat and domestic meat were no more delicacies. Wherever OluHassan went – markets, hospitals, schools and drinking bars – there was Ebolaphobia.

Perhaps, the disease has been blown out of proportion. Rumours are flying. Doctors like health minister Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu have stated that Ebola is contracted only after it has manifested in a victim. For many Nigerians, however, it

is better to err on the side of caution.

No doubt, patients in hospitals are in for harder times. Self-medication may become more rampant soon.

Olu-Hassan has returned to Suleja after passing through another hell during his trip from Lagos to Abuja airport and then to Suleja. He has found that even burying the dead has become herculean: a corpse has been left to rot for three days near his compound because nobody had been willing to touch it.

“What kind of life are we leading?”

Olu-Hassan asked himself. “What is happening to our people?”

He soon found the answer: In the race for life, there is no stopping; one doesn’t get tired.

For now, bitter kola in Nigeria and Zmapp in America are presumed to be the “drugs” of choice against this disease – at least until further notice.

Prayers also help, Olu-Hassan has learned. When, therefore, he was woken up shortly after 5am on Friday by a call from his sister who lives in Aba and told to ensure his wife and children drank, and bathe with, saltwater before 6am, he did not argue with her. The original source of the message that swirled around Nigerian landscapes that early morning has yet to be traced. Some said it emanated from a traditional ruler in Kogi State. Some said it was from a salt seller. Others said it was a gimmick by the GSM companies to make money.

But Olu-Hassan was told that a charismatic Catholic priest in Enugu had given the directive because he got a revelation that a strange disease had entered the country. OluHassan remembered a portion in the Bible that says, “When I see the blood, I shall pass over you.” Before he could alert his wife to the “prophecy”, she had received the same message from four other people and had prepared the salt solution and started bathing the kids.

In a way, the week had offered a respite for a people who have for long been traumatised by acts of terror.

Ebolaphobia has eclipsed the news about the murderous gang called

0805 410 0220 (sms only)

ISIS and the bandits operating mainly in north-east Nigeria and Cameroon.

Mass hysteria like this could have good uses, however, if the originators were patriotic and ingenious.

Imagine what would have happened if the message had been: “Boko Haram terrorists have procured biological and chemical weapons that are capable of wiping out Nigeria within an hour. They have resolved to release the weapons simultaneously at midnight tomorrow in Abuja, Calabar, Kano and Lagos. Every home and every house MUST be searched before daybreak for leads. The suspects must be rounded up before daybreak and lynched, or else no life will be left in Nigeria! Please, pass this message around immediately.”

If such a message were to be “confirmed” by the SSS and the minister of health, I guess the one-day war this column once advocated would take place – a war between the good people and the evil people of this country. And it would certainly end in victory for the former.

All terrorists, armed robbers and kidnappers could be eliminated in one day. Reason: they are known by other people and they constitute an insignificant minority. What am I saying? We either fight collectively or we hang individually.

GHANA MUST GO Nigeria’s sovereignty won’t be compromised — ­ Jonathan

Tell Boko Haram!

• LEADERSHIP (ISSN 0331-328X) is published in Abuja by LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Off Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Utako District, Abuja P. O. Box 9514, Garki II, Abuja. Lagos Office: 34/36 Adegbola Street, Anifowose, Off Oba Akran, Ikeja. E-mail: info@leadership.ng, advert@leadership.ng, newsroom@leadership.ng