Leadership

No. 441

N300

20.07.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

nigeria's most influential newspaper

US Firm Under Fire Over PR Contract With Jonathan’s Govt

Impeachment: Traditional Rulers Avert Another Clash In Nasarawa

Bomb Threats: Abuja Residents Living In Perpetual Fear

NEWS, PAGE 5

NEWS, PAGE 9

cover stOry, PAGEs 13 & 14

‘Confab Convened To Extend Jonathan’s Tenure’ Secretariat denies hidden agenda

5

Boko Haram Takes Over Damboa, Hoists Flags, Targets Other Villages

BY Abdulkareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Gunmen of the Boko Haram sect have now hoisted flags in Damboa after days of sustained attacks that caused residents to flee and security officials dislodged Over 100 people, including women and children, were killed during an early morning attack on Friday.

More were later killed on the evening of the same day while bereaved locals were busy burying their dead.

An official of the Human Rights Watch who spoke off the record confirmed the hoisting of flags in DamGov Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (left) presenting bags of rice and cash to the needy in Sokoto yesterday. photo by nan

ramadan timing day 23

abuja - magrib: 7.00/alfijir:5.02

> Moreon Page 4

➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Chibok DAY Diary 97

‘It Is Criminal Keeping Nigerians In The Dark On Rescue Efforts’,

> Page 2

2

Sunday, July 20, 2014

chibok diary 90

DAY

CHIBOK TWEETS @Karo_Orovboni

You can hire a foreign PR firm, your business.

It's wrong and evil for them to peddle falsehood, especially on #BringBackOurGirls

@rescueourgirls 96 days and the girls are still missing. World Citizens need to step forward, take further action #bringbackourgirls

@obyezeks #BringBackOurGirls is not adversarial. Let those who have decided to fight now enter the ring with our almighty father. Let God arise IJN!

@trueNija If in 96 days we are still demanding #BringBackOurGirls Now & Alive, then the government have failed the people of Nigeria'

@Ayourb 29m When I hear #BringBackOurGirls has been politicized & I see stupidity aplenty. Why not the FG do it's job & see if #BBOG won't disband?

COMPILED BY MICHAEL OCHE

Chibok: 'It Is Criminal Keeping Nigerians In The Dark On Rescue Efforts'

BY KAREEM HARUNA, Maiduguri

A civil society organisation in Borno State has yesterday called on the federal government to update Nigerians on every effort being made in rescuing the abducted 219 Chibok schoolgirls, just as it expressed fears that the issue might be swept under the carpet.

The group said it is criminal keeping the country and its concerned citizens out of the picture of what the military has been doing in the past three months concerning the said rescue efforts.

While speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday in Maiduguri yesterday, Ambassador Ahmed Shehu, who is the Borno State coordinator of the Peace Ambassadors, as well as the northeast coordinator of the Youth Federation for Peace, said they are not happy in Borno State with the attitude the federal government is putting up towards the rescue of these girls.

Though President Goodluck Jonathan had on Monday, when the Palestinian teenage education activist, Malala Yousafzani, visited him, assured that the abducted girls would be rescued soon, Shehu said Nigerians have begun to suspect attempts to sweep the issue of the abducted Chibok girls under the carpet “Honestly, we are not happy with the kind of response government is according the issue of getting these girls rescued,” said Shehu. “As the days of the girls in captivity continued to increase, so is the commitment of government waning. It is almost 60 days now, yet government is not giving us periodic update on efforts made

Ban Ki-moon To Address BringBackOurGirls Campaigners Via SKYPE To mark the 100th day since the Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, would, on July 22, speak to the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners, via SKYPE. Online medium, Premium Times reports that Mr Ki-moon is one of the international figures who have shown concern for the girls kidnapped in Chibok. He said he hoped the girls would be found before July 22.

The #BringBackOurGirls campaigners have constantly sustained protests, urging the Nigerian government to do more to rescue the girls alive.

The protesters have also helped keep the girls in the memories of many.

On April 14, 2014, over 250 girls were abducted from their hostels in a Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. Over 200 of the teenage girls are still with the Boko Haram since then.

A cross-section of BringBackOurGirls Campaigners

so far, so that we can continue to remain hopeful for their release.

“We as citizens deserve to be given updates as events unfold. We don’t deserve to be kept in the dark over this matter,” he lamented.

The Peace Ambassadors’ coordinator said instead of the federal government furnishing Nigerians with knowledge about what it is doing to help the girls gain freedom, it would rather come up with confused information each time it eventually decided to make statements.

“People in the Presidency are

confusing us with contradicting information each time they chose to speak. There is no coordination at all.

While the federal government is saying one thing, the military would be saying another thing differently. Just imagine the Chief of Defence Staff telling the world that he has information about where the girls are being held, but up till date nothing has been done to rescue them.

“We need information, we need to be updated as citizens, and not to be kept in the dark,” Shehu said.

3

our stand Sunday, July 20, 2014

Expose The Moles In The Military

T

heophilus Danjuma, a retired army general and a former defence minister, might have had a nostalgic feeling of his days as a young officer when he urged President Goodluck Jonathan to lead him and his Committee on Victim Support Fund to Sambisa forest to bring back the girls held there by the Boko Haram group. For him, it is a shame that the war against the insurgents has taken this long. But the military thinks differently, blaming the obviously embarrassing situation on factors other than the institution’s near-ineffectiveness.

Reacting to Danjuma’s remarks, a serving general gave a long list of reasons the military has so far failed to live up to the public’s expectation. He said that the military is bogged down by desertion, hostility of some of the communities in the frontline in the north-east of the country, activities of the political elite sympathetic to the insurgents, dearth of infrastructure like good roads, lack of mobility on the part of the troops, undue criticism as well as the peculiarity of the operations.

Any military officer, by training, ought to know that operations, however defined, are not tea parties. There will always be challenges. A good soldier is trained to remove any and every obstacle on the way to his objective. Every military situation makes no room for excuses. The above-listed impediments are always there, including the activities of moles, and it is the duty of soldiers to expose and deal with them.

General Danjuma is a soldier of the old school who has fought wars, knows what is involved and is not given to grandstanding. He is definitely not happy that those he left behind, those he handed the baton over to in the military, are manufacturing excuses instead of doing what

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

they are trained to do.

No doubt, the years of military incursion into the nation’s politics have taken their toll on the can-do spirit of the typical Nigerian soldier. He has so got used to guest houses that camps in the bush have become nightmarish. Having stayed so long in glittering lights, darkness has become scary. It is unfortunate that some Nigerian soldiers now choose the operations they want to be part of. That is why they are deserting. They have become so comfortable that they no longer remember the oath they took on the very day they enlisted. That is why they find it an act of gallantry to fight civilians, burn their buses and their confidence too.

That is why host communities in their areas of operation are hostile to them. Who needs an army that will turn against one at the snap of the finger?

To move forward in this fight, the military should expose the moles among them.

Much as we urge the government to encourage our gallant troops to do more, we also admonish the soldiers to be real soldiers and take the insurgents head on. All the good people of this nation are behind them.

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 NEWS

Sunday, July 20, 2014

I Will Never Withdraw My Memo – Nyako

By MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola

Embattled former governor of Adamawa State Murtala Nyako has vowed never to withdraw the memo he addressed to the northern governors despite alleged intimidation and threats of arrest being planned against him.

Nyako, who made the disclosure through his spokesman Malam Ahmad Sajoh, while adding that he will never go back to the PDP, said information at his disposal showed that the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party were the main architects of his removal from office.

This is because Nyako, had on July 4 exonerated the Presidency from the impeachment initiated by the lawmakers in the state shortly after his return to the state from Abuja.

He had then blamed some senior Abuja based citizens of the state for his political travails, saying they wanted

to distract him from serving the people of the state.

Sajoh, however, said “Information now available and subsequent actions that were taken by the Presidency and the PDP national headquarters and other persons very close to the President must definitely make anyone change his position with regards to whether the Presidency was involved or not. But of course, at the time he made the statement, he made it, believing that it was an Adamawa internal affair. But with the turn of events and the things that happened at the time of the impeachment till date, one will not say the same thing today.”

While adding that he has no regret over his decision while in office, Sajoh said, “As a retired officer of the Nigerian Armed forces and gentleman and as a credible person, he has no regret dumping the PDP and he has no intention of returning to the party,” Sajoh said, adding that Nyako

stands by the memo he wrote to the northern governors.

“We believe that he made the statement based on the information available to him as a retired Admiral in the Nigerian Navy; having a very sound military background, having been the person that had the privilege of setting up the intelligence unit of the Nigerian Navy and being a person that knows exactly what security issues are concerned, he weighed all the options before making that statement. And I can tell you that even on his death-bed, he stands by that statement.”

Meanwhile, contrary to speculations that the embattled former governor might have slipped out of the country through the backdoor to avoid arrest by security agents, sources said he followed due process before leaving the country.

The testimony came against the backdrop of speculations that the Federal Government may soon declare the former governor wanted as efforts

ramadan timing Day 23 to locate his whereabouts by security agencies to answer charges of graft and treason against him proved abortive.

In the wake of impeachment proceedings against Nyako, the presidency has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation to compile charges of treason against Nyako so that he can be tried when finally impeached following a memo he sent to the northern governors accusing President Jonathan’s government of responsible for carrying out genocide against northerners.

The source who craved anonymity said the former governor left the country on board a British Airways to London on Wednesday en route London. The source said after he finished his engagement in London, he will then proceed to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s lesser Hajj before proceeding to Germany where he will receive medical attention before returning to the country.

Pregnant Woman Raped As Robbers Shot New Couple

By KOLA EKE-OGIUGO, ASABA

Two members of a notorious armed robbery gang are currently in police net for raping a six-month old pregnant woman after robbing their apartment along Anwai road, Asaba, Delta state.

It was learnt that the suspects also attacked a man and robbed him of his handset including other valuables on the same road, after beating up another male victim including a lady who was also allegedly raped at gun point.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, said that the incident occurred on Friday evening, adding that

the pregnant woman was receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Asaba.

She said that the suspect upon interrogation confessed to the crime adding that on completion of investigation, they will be charged to court.

Also, dare-devil armed robbers yesterday in the early hours along Benin-Asaba expressway held travellers including traders going to Onitsha market to ransom.

They carted away an estimated sum of N1.6 million, killed a lorry motor boy and shot a newly wedded couple.

Eye witness said that the rampaging robbers blocked the road between Otulu and Onitsha Ugbo communities with big woods thereby

catching travellers unaware.

It was gathered that while the robbery lasted, the robbers who were said to be operating with sophisticated weapons kept shooting sporadically to scare their victims before men of the anti-robbery squad moved into the scene to engage them.

Unfortunately, some of the robbers escaped with one of the vehicles with bullet wounds while others ran into the bush and abandoned the second vehicle by the road side.

DSP Kalu confirmed that the robbery was bloody saying that they carted away huge sum of money from the travellers.

Some residents who spoke

to LEADERSHIP Sunday on condition of anonymity lamented the frequent robbery activities along the Benin Asaba express way and called on the security agents and the state government to redouble their efforts towards ensuring that those behind the frequent robbery activities on that ever-busy expressway are brought to book.

Speaking further, DSP Kalu disclosed that over ten robbery suspects operating between Agbor community and Edo were killed in the last two weeks adding that 21 others were currently helping the police in their investigation at the state CID headquarter in Asaba.

Osun Election: NLC Urges Politicians To Promote Peaceful Conduct

By JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Ahead of the August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun State, the political class and other stakeholders have been enjoined to watch their utterances and promote peaceful conduct during the poll.

The Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), comrade Issa Aremu, gave this advice in a key-note address in Osogbo during the sensitization workshop for political parties, gubernatorial

candidates and stakeholders.

He noted that the nation’s democracy can only be deepened and sustained through credible elections which can only flow from good democratic conduct of the political class.

According to him, “There is no short cut to democracy.

Democracy is a long process which demands peaceful conduct before, during and after election. We should realize that this election is between Nigerians. If we want to develop Nigeria, national interest must

be promoted and protected by all of us”, the labour activist told the gathering.

The Guest Speaker, Prof.

Kayode Soremekun of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state, said there was the need for politicians to abide by the rules, regulations and code of conduct guiding the electoral process.

“We need a common ground in which we must all agree, a consensus of values and interests across the political

divide. I was impressed by the conduct of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state and that of Mr. Ayo Fayose, when the result was released.

“Other politicians should learn from this display of patriotism. We should also realize that Nigeria, as an important member of the International Community, cannot afford to disappoint the confidence repose on us.

We should thread the path of peace and shun all violence in the electoral process”, the University teacher said.

Towns

Magrib

Abuja

7.00

Alfijr 5.02

Aba

6.56

5.03

Abakaliki

6.53

5.04

Abeokuta

7.10

5.21

Akure

7.03

5.13

Ankpa

6.57

5.07

Argungu

7.12

5.11

Auchi

7.02

5.11

Awka

7.03

5.06

Azare

6.50

4.49

Bama

6.39

4.35

Bauchi

6.51

4.54

Benin

7.05

5.12

Bichi

6.58

4.57

Bida

7.05

5.07

Birnin Gwari

7.04

5.05

B/Kebbi Gwandu

7.13

5.11

Biu

6.42

4.42

Calabar

6.50

5.02

Damaturu

6.42

4.41

Daura/Kazaure

7.01

4.42

Dutse

6.52

4.54

Enugu

6.54

5.04

Funtua/Malumfashi

7.02

5.00

Gembu

6.47

4.48

Gombe

6.45

4.46

Gusau

7.01

5.03

Gwadabawa

7.12

5.04

Hadejia

6.50

4.49

Ibadan

7.14

5.16

Ife

7.09

5.13

Ilesha Baruba

7.11

5.12

Ilorin

7.07

5.14

Jalingo

6.42

4.46

Jere/Suleija

6.59

5.01

Jos

6.56

4.55

Kabba

7.04

5.07

Kafanchan

6.58

4.58

Keffi/Nasarawa

6.58

4.58

Kaiama

7.13

5.15

Kafin Maiyaki

6.58

4.55

Kaduna

6.57

5.01

Kano

6.53

4.56

Katsina

7.01

4.58

Kontagora

7.07

5.10

Lafia

6.53

4.58

Lagos

7.12

5.19

Lokoja

6.57

5.10

Maiduguri

6.35

4.39

Makurdi

6.54

4.57

Minna

7.01

5.08

Missau

6.47

4.48

Monguno

6.38

4.31

Mubi

6.37

4.38

Nguru

6.47

4.46

Ningi

6.51

4.53

Okene

7.07

5.08

Ogbomosho

7.12

5.16

Onitsha

7.00

5.11

Oyo

7.14

5.18

Port Harcourt

6.59

5.15

Potiskum

6.45

4.44

Saki

7.06

5.18

Shagamu

7.07

5.24

Sokoto

7.07

5.09

Umuahia

6.58

5.03

Warri

6.57

5.18

Wukari

5.45

4.58

Wurno

7.11

5.04

Yenagoa

6.39

4.41

Yola

6.36

4.41

Zaria

6.58

5.02

Cotonnou-Benin

7.16

5.21

Ndjamena-Chad

6.27

4.28

Niamey-Niger

7.22

5.20

Zinder – Niger

6.59

4.47

Younde-Cameroun

6.40

4.47

Garoua – Cameroun

6.34

4.40

(Source: Timing Committee, Islamic Research and Timing Organisation Kaduna)

Recommended DU’A for Day 23 Pray an 8 Raka’ah Salaat, In every Raka’ah recite Surah Al-Fatiha and any other Surah.

Then say: ALLAHUMMAGH SILNEE FEEHI MINADHDHUNUUBI WA TAHHIR NEE MINAL ‘UYUUBI WAMTAHIN QALBEE FEEHI BI TAQWIL-QULUUBI YAA MUQEELA ATHIRAL-MUDHNIBEEN! Meaning: O Allah, on this day, wash away my sins, purify me from all flaws, examine my heart with (for) the piety of the hearts, O One who overlooks the shortcomings of the sinners!

Compiled by Al-Amin Ciroma

NEWS 5

Sunday, July 20, 2014

LIVING TO BE 100

One health tip daily Greener Grass May Not Be Better Weed killers contain chemicals that are toxic to our nervous systems and have even been confirmed to cause cancer. If you want to live a long life, stop using chemical herbicides and artificial fertilizers on your lawns. Instead, fertilize with organic compost or manure, pull weeds regularly, and reseed areas that are overgrown. Do not cut the grass too short, as this will expose the root system and leave the grass vulnerable to disease. Also avoid lingering on the golf course too long, especially under a hot sun: extreme heat can strengthen herbicides’ noxious effects.

US Firm Under Fire Over PR Contract With Jonathan’s Govt

By ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York with agency report

The Washington public affairs firm Levick is coming under fire for its contract with the government of Nigeria led by President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to The Hill, a hashtag campaign called “SomeoneTellLevick” is presently being used to attack the Washington-based public relations firm for its controversial $1.2 million deal to represent President Jonathan, who has been criticized for not doing enough to find the more than 200 girls kidnapped in his country by the extremist group Boko Haram.

The report said that a former education minister and World Bank vice president for Africa, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, was among those taking issue with Levick and the controversial public relations deal.

“How can Levick earn filthy income on the back of innocent women that have stood every day for 78 days demanding #BringBackOurGirls?” Ezekwesili, who is one of the main organizers of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign in Nigeria, was quoted to have said on Twitter yesterday.

The anti-Levick campaign has resulted in more than 5,000 individual tweets, according to Twitter analytics website Topsy, most appearing to originate in Nigeria. In addition, there are also more than 6,000 tweets mentioning Levick’s handle, @Levick, on Twitter in the last two days.

When the news about the public relations deal which the firm actually signed in Nigeria was first reported, Levick told the press that

Jonathan

‘Confab Convened To Extend Jonathan’s Tenure’

By Muazu Elazeh and Bode Gbadebo, Katsina

The National Conference convened by President Goodluck Jonathan is riddled with hidden agenda among which is tenure elongation for the president, former inspector-general of police Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie has revealed.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP Sunday yesterday, Coomassie, who is the chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said the confab, which will soon be concluded, is a sham and has not provided solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the nation.

The former police boss stressed that the hidden agenda at the confab was to cajole delegates into endorsing a single six-year term for the president beginning from the incumbent. He however added that the elongation plan was rejected by northern delegates.

“At one stage, one or two individuals were coming around to ask that we support and approve a six-year tenure with immediate effect for the president, and we asked why? Why not the two four-year tenure?” he said Coomassie, who also doubles as a co-chairman of the Northern Delegates Forum (NDF) at the confab, emphatically said: “We saw there were hidden agenda. Of course there were, and one of them is elongation of tenure for the president.”

Speaking on the resolutions of the confab which are slated for adoption on August 4, 2014, when delegates reconvene, Coomassie said the exercise never

Coomassie

addressed burning national issues and so had no solutions to the nation’s challenges.

Asked if reports of the confab contained things that would reposition Nigeria, the retired police boss and Sardauna of Katsina said: “We just touched them on the surface. We didn’t go deep. We only talked about things that divided us more than things that bind us together.”

Continuing, he said: “But what I’m telling you is that the way the whole thing was handled was a sham. It was not based on due process; it was not based on legality. We are not a constitutional conference. This national conference is just a ploy to remove the heat of politics and even insurgency from Jonathan. Why not constitute it properly? Why not call for election and constitute officers, give them powers, call for national conference, and is three months or four months enough to come up with solutions to all our problems? It is not meant to

achieve anything.”

He stated that the three old regions of the North, South and East went to the confab with different agenda, saying that the agenda of the North was for the peace and stability of Nigeria.

In addition, the retired police commissioner said even though the confab was geared toward ensuring more peace within the country, some recommendations went against the interest of the north.

“They were against the north because of the method adopted, which of course we contested. The consensus and the voting system were contrary to the rules and regulations. For example, they want to scrap local government from the country. And this is to the disadvantage of northern Nigeria. They want to create 18 more states. What are they going to do with 18 more states in this country? Right-thinking persons know that it is not desirable.”

Also speaking on the seemingly endless insurgency in some parts of the north, the former IGP attributed the menace to the laxity on the part of the government and insisted that the government must buckle up to ensure an end to the raging insurgency.

He said the war on terror was taking longer than necessary because the security agencies lacked the necessary intelligence to prosecute the war.

“A policeman can only succeed if he has authentic intelligence to work on to prepare his operations.

If he doesn’t have it, he will not win anything. He will go and fum➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Boko Haram Takes Over Damboa, Hoists Flags, Targets Other Villages

it was performing more than just public relations work for Jonathan, adding that it was also part- ➔ FROM FRONT PAGE nering with a high-profile human rights lawyer to provide legal ad- boa, even as he said the casualty vice on how best to combat Boko toll may be higher.

“The town has been taken over Haram, which kidnapped an estiby the insurgents and the casumated 270 girls in April.

“As the world witnesses the bru- alty may be much more than we tality of Boko Haram, and its cow- have already,” said the HRW ofardly tactics of using children as ficial. “We have it officially that pawns in their terrorist campaign, the insurgents had hoisted their Levick’s only mission is assisting flags in Damboa now.”

Villagers of Dile, Huyum, Lasthe government of Nigeria with its number one priority — the rescue sa, Murtavu, Rimirgo and four of the girls and combating terror- other villages in Askira Uba loism,” the firm then said in a state- cal government area are presently fleeing into Uba town en masse ment.

According to reports, the following a threat letter reporthashtag campaign has drawn edly sent to them by Boko Harpushback from other Twitter us- am terrorists.

A member of the vigilante ers who have praised the Jonathan administration and defend- group received an alert from a ed Levick for signing the public colleague from Uba asking for relations deal. Some of the mes- help.

“The people are fleeing in resages from both sides are politicalsponse to a letter purportedly ly charged, as the country is set for sent to those villages that they elections in February.

would also be attacked. So, about nine major villages are now on the run”, said Gava A top security official in Maiduguri, who would not want to be named because it was not his job to brief the press, confirmed the hoisting of flags by Boko Haram in Damboa.

“Of course, they hoisted their flags there and we have made all the relevant reports to the authorities. There, also, was an air strike around the area last night which had recorded some degree of success. I can assure you that the game is changing because the military is making a tactical mobilization that will soon bring this to an end.

“The military is acquiring the best of equipment to tackle this situation and the engagement would be handled as a full-scale war because, whether we like it or not, we are in war and we have to

treat it as such. The Nigeria military is up to the task, if given all the moral and material support to fight the war,” said the security officer.

The hoisting of flags by Boko Haram in Damboa town, 85km south of Maiduguri, is the closest the insurgents have come near the capital city of Maiduguri in recent times.

However, when LEADERSHIP Sunday asked the director of defence information, General Chris Olukolade, through a text message, whether the military was aware of the hoisting of the flag, he replied “no please”. Likewise, the Borno State police public relations officer, Gideon Jubrin, when contacted said, “Honestly, we have not heard anything official about any flag being hoisted in Damboa, but as soon as we get anything, we will definitely let you know.”

6 NEWS

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Hajj: Katsina Pays N1.1bn To NAHCON

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

Katsina state Pilgrims Welfare Board has paid one Billion, one hundred million naira (N1.1 Bn) to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as part payment for the 2014 hajj fares.

Executive Director of the Board, Alhaji Ahmad Hassan who disclosed this yesterday,

while briefing newsmen on the announcement of 2014 hajj fare said the amount represented 50% part payment of total Hajj seats allocated to the state.

Hassan who said NAHCON allocated 4,439 seats to the state for the 2014 hajj rites listed approved fares for the state to include N689,061 as minimum fare attracting $750 Basic Travelling

Allowance and N726,561 as medium fare with $1000 Basic Travelling Allowance.

He said the maximum fare for intending pilgrims from Katsina state would cost the sum of N805,561 with Basic Travelling Allowance of $1,500.

He noted that allocation of seats to the 34 council areas of the state and balloting for in-

tending pilgrims has been done successfully assuring that mandatory classes and vaccination of intending pilgrims will commenced immediately after Ramadan.

Hassan said the Board had secured accommodation for intending pilgrims at Makka and Madina and insisted that the general / pregnancy screening for intend-

ing female pilgrims had been successfully done all over the state.

He urged intending pilgrims to “settle whatever balance is due on time to enable the Board Pay the NAHCON the remaining 50% of the fares” so as to guarantee the state’s allocation even as he lauded the state government for providing all the necessary support.

5,000 To Benefit From NDDC Free Agric Sector Transformation Yields Benefits Healthcare Programme In Ondo

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

By Tope Fayehun, Akure

No fewer than five thousand people in the riverine area of Ondo State are to benefit from the coming Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) free health programme.

The state’s representative on the governing council of NDDC, Barr. Amuwa Benson who disclosed this while fielding questions from reporters in Akure at the weekend said the programme would kick-off before the end of this month.

Amuwa said the programme was organized purposely for the people in the coastal area of the state as a pay-back measure for their immense contributions to the economy of the nation.

According to him, Igbekebo and Zion-Pepe have been chosen as centres for the programme which is the second of its kind to be organized by the commission in the area.

He said the exercise was part of the commission’s responsibility to the oil producing communities in the state adding that whoever does not benefit from the exercise would be given priority in subsequent ones.

He said the free health programme was at the expense of the commission and it will cover distribution of free eye glasses, surgeries and other ailments.

Amuwa explained that the

Coomassie Mimiko

commission decided to choose Igbekebo and Zion-Pepe as centres for the programme so that the people in the remote and catchment areas can benefit from it.

He said necessary arrangement that will facilitate the success of the programme had been put in place.

“It is responsibility of the commission to bring qualitative health services to the doorstep of the people in the mandate area and that is why the commission has chosen Igbekebo and Zion-Pepe as meeting points for the programme.

Our target covers those with minor and severe ailments because health is wealth,” Amuwa said.

‘Confab Convened To Extend Jonathan’s Tenure’ ➔ FROM PAGE 5

ble and mess up himself.

“Why is the intelligence not available? you may ask. Whose fault? But they said they have spent so much money running into trillions of naira on intelligence on insurgency. Where is the money?” he asked.

Coomassie insisted that the solution to the raging insurgency lies with the government which he said “must really sit up and get all the facts available to sit down with experts and analyze”.

When contacted last night on the allegation, the Confab As-

sistant Secretary, Media and Communications, James Akpadem, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that he cannot comment on an issue related to the Presidency, saying that he was not aware of any hidden agenda. ‘’Contact the presidential spokesman, because what you are saying did not happen or tabled on the floor of the confab,’’ he said.

However, attempt to get the reaction of President Goodluck Jonathan through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati was not successful, as he didn’t respond to a text message sent to him nor answer a call put through to his phone.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina has said farmers and small scale processors have a net income worth of N407 billion from the current transformation in the rice sub-sector.

Speaking at the weekend with Journalist, the Minister asserted that with the new drive towards rice transformation, Nigeria does not have any business importing rice This according to him, is because every state in Nigeria can produce rice due to the arable land across the nation. In his words” farmers and small scale processors have a net income worth N407 billion from the current transformation in the rice sub-sector. This is even as government has increased the area of cultivation in rice by 1.9

million hectares, “farmers in Nigeria are getting 5 to 6 tons per hectare yield with the new variety of rice introduced recently in the country “he said Adesina maintained that the importation status on rice has continued to go down. “When we started, only 10 states grow rice, but now, 22 states are growing rice. The total gross of value of rice added to the domestic economy over the last 3 years was about N750 billion”,he stressed “You can see that we are creating value to the domestic economy because we are engaging people to work, we are also increasing the GPD of those states” he said.

The minister also revealed that importers now get the empty bags of imported rice, give it to the Nigerian rice millers to fill it with rice, and then they will sell

it at the cost of the foreign rice.

Speaking on the new rice policy, Adesina said that the policy which raised tariff on imported rice was done to give Nigerian farmers a fighting chance to increase their production. Asserting that the new rice policy which has been relaxed gave rise to the establishment of small scale millers all over the country adding that it really increased production.

Commenting on mechanization, Adesina said that initially, government used to import tractors, but now, the private sector have established a N20 billion 200 agricultural equipment hiring centres across the federation. “The idea behind the establishment according to the minister was that the private sectors will bring in the tractors, while the government will provide mechanization service support.”

Gunmen Kill 6 In Borno Villages

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Boko Haram gunmen on sustained attacks of villages had yesterday killed at least six locals in a Gwoza village, officials said.

The villages of Saha and Bulabuli-Pegin Barawa in Gwoza local government area were attacked in the early hours of yesterday by gunmen whom local witnesses said came in Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles armed with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs.

“It was God that spared our lives yesterday morning, because three of our neighbours were shot dead, while the other

three family members were also killed by slitting their throats, after tying their hands to the backs”, Pirda Tada a survivor who spoke to newsmen on phone from the area said.

“Some houses were also torched with the petrol-bombs they came with on motorcycles, chanting God is great in Arabic, before pursuing our people fleeing for safety.”

The police has not confirmed the attack officially but sources within Borno state police command said the report was brought before the Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawan Tanko.

Shettima

One-year-old Feared Dead In Alleged Enugu Explosion

By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu

There was panic at Eke Ozi market in Igboeze North Local Government area of Enugu State following the suspected death of a oneyear-old baby in an explosion that occurred at the weekend.

But, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu said it was false alarm.

He insisted that there was no explosion and advised people to stop spreading rumours.

A source alleged that the incident occurred few meters to the divisional police headquarters at Ogrute.

He added that market women and traders ran for safety following the alleged explosion.

According to unconfirmed reports, the baby was trampled upon, while hoodlums had a field day looting shops, during the stampede, which lasted for some while.

It was further gathered that

Commercial activities had resumed in the market as at the time of filling this report but several traders were seen lamenting their loss.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY learnt that the people of the area had been apprehensive, since the reports that some people suspected to belong to the Boko Haram sect were arrested at Obolo Afor community by the police last month.

Ezike and Obolo Afor are border towns between Benue and Enugu states.

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Gunmen Kill Ex-commissioner’s Aide, Others In Bayelsa

By KOLA EKE-OGIUGO, Asaba

Armed men yesterday threw the fold of Brass and Nembe indigenes of Delta State into mournin following a violent attack on a passenger boat along the Ogbia and Nembe waterways in which two persons including an aide to the former information commissioner in the state were shot dead.

Also shot but not dead was a House of Assembly aspirant from Brass, Mr. Alfred Belemote. His

mobile police escort and boat driver also survived the attack.

The deceased aide, who goes by the name Awotimigha Iyabi, was in his early 40s and had served the former Commissioner, Chief Nathan Egba as Personal Assistant.

He is married with four kids.

Leadership Sunday gathered that the gunmen, numbering about six and armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked the speed boat conveying the deceased and four others from Nembe Area of the

State.

According to eyewitness account, the gunmen on Friday were operating along the waterway and dispossessing boat passengers of valuables and money. It was gathered that the boat conveying the deceased ran into the robbers who fired several shots at them.

While some persons claim the armed men were suspected pirates, others claimed the gunmen were laying ambush for the boat conveying the deceased and his friend,

Alfred, who is a popular contenders for the State House of Assembly election.

It was gathered that the gunmen had stopped one of the speed boats in the convoy used by the aspiring law maker and were reportedly heard shouting, “He is not here; it is the second boat.”

It was at that point that they sighted the second boat and opened fire. The Mobile policeman attached to the aspirant put up a good fight by shooting back but the fire power

of the gunmen over powered him.

Confirming the incident, the former commissioner who led journalists and friends of the deceased on a condolence visit to the wife expressed shock at the attack and described the deceased as a “non-violent man and gentle”.

Contacted on the development, the Spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe said though details of the incident were not immediately available, he confirmed the incident.

No Crack In PDP – Mu’azu The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, yesterday said that there was no rift within the National Working Committee (NWC) under his leadership, accusing opponents of the party of sponsoring mischievous reports to derail the party in its quest to win the Osun State governorship election.

Mu’azu, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on ICT, Mr. Akin Oyegoke, was responding to inquiries over rumours that he is brutal in managing party affairs.

The party will, barring any last minute changes, have its mid term convention after the Rammadan fast which will see to the ratification of Mu’azu as chairman of the party.

However, Mu’azu, in his statement said, “The rumour is the hand work of the opposition to distract us from campaigning in Osun State and to also change our focus in our quest to regain all the losses of the PDP. You can see the numerous achievements the PDP has recorded so far since I assumed office as chairman, and, I want to promise you one thing, we will not stop, we will not be deterred but will continue to work for the interest of all Nigerians.”

The PDP National Chairman also enumerated the gains of the party both internally and externally and advised the opposition to change their tactics and follow the line of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is focused and determined to transform Nigeria. “Our party is moving from strength to strength as you can see. The PDP is the only political party still standing strong, has never changed its name, has remained one and the only party with a viable national spread. Before I came in as chairman, some aggrieved party members left the party for one or two reasons, but now, the story has changed.

“We welcomed them back into the party and I wish to call on all our members to remain united and prepare for the general elections in 2015. Look at our victory in Ekiti State where the sitting governor congratulated our candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose and accept defeat because of the overwhelming support Ekiti people gave to

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

Rev Father Lawrence Anyembuyu, presenting prizes to winners of the quiz competition he organised for his Alma mater, recently in Aloce, Nasarawa State. photo by Ogoh Joseph

Police, Students Clash In Ibadan

Emir Cautions Politicians On Conduct

by Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

The Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umaru Farouk Bahago, has advised Politicians to be patient in the conduct of their affairs even as the defunct ANPP governorship candidate in 2007 and 2011, Barrister David Umaru formerly accepted to contest the Niger East Senatorial byeelection.

The Emir spoke yesterday in his palace in Minna when Barr Umaru led some of his supporters to his palace on a visit preceding his acceptance to contest the forthcoming bye election following the death of Senator Dahiru Aweisu Kuta last month.

According to the royal Father, “In politics, there is a need for patience; politicians should be patient with each other because with patience, every thing is possible”.

He prayed for the success of David Umaru Movement while advising members of the team to be honest in the conduct of their affairs and make sure they have honest intentions devoid of pretence.

In the meantime, the senatorial aspirant has formerly accepted the call on him to contest the bye –election saying that the acceptance of the call was in response to the people’s call.

He stated that there has been pressure on him since the death of Senator Dahiru Aweisu Kuta to contest for the bye –election hence he has decided to run for the senate only for the sake of service to the people.

The Federal College of Agriculture, Adabeji, Apata, Ibadan was thrown into chaos yesterday following violent clash between the police and some students because of the arrest of one Boluwatife, a student.

It was gathered that the students clashed with police in front of the school leading to a huge logjam on both ends of the Ibadan/Abeokuta motorway as a result of the commotion in the school premises. Eyewitnesses said the students were demanding for the release of one of them who was arrested by the police.

Trouble started when some stu-

dents of the institution mounted a road block along the road leading to one of their hostels begging for money from motorists in preparation for Bora Week celebration.

The hostel, it was learnt is located some kilometres away from the school.

One of the students who prefered anonymity said the police approached the group on the road to put a stop to the act which unfortunately led to the arrest of one of them.

“I am a member of the school’s ‘Man O War’ and we were having our morning training when some students ran into the school from Bora hostel.

“They said that the police arrested Boluwatife alias ‘Active’. He is aspiring for a students’ union position in the school. They said some students ran away when they saw the police but Bolu did not run away leading to his arrest and detention,” he said.

The student added that around 9.30am several students were mobilised and went to the Apata Police Station to secure the release of Boluwatife but they were told to come back at 10am.

“We told them that it was almost 10am and that we preferred to wait but they forcefully sent us out of the station. This led to the students’ fury”, he said.

Flood Claims Lecturer In Osun

By JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Tragedy struck in Ede, headquarters of Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State yesterday when torrential rain claimed a polytechnic lecturer.

The 45 year old man identified as Adeniyi Adebowale died in a flood that ravaged Oke Gada area of the ancient town.

The flood which also vandalized many property in the town was said to be as a result of a downpour that lasted for several hours between Friday and Saturday morning.

The victim was said to be a Se-

nior Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara state before his untimely death.

It was gathered that the lecturer was returning from Offa to Ede his home town in order to spend the weekend with his family when he ran into the flood.

A reliable source at the scene of the ugly incident said Adebowale was driving in his Toyota Camry car when he plunged into a swampy area with heavy water after which the water submerged the car.

The deceased who was said to be living with his family members at

Oke-Gada area had almost driven into his residence located at 4040 avenue before the incident happened.

Report has it that the deceased communicated with his wife, Mrs Sade Adebowale few minutes before the incident happened.

It was also learnt that he could not find people to rescue him immediately his car was submerged in the flood.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Olubukola Oyawoye who said she had visited the scene of the incident and the family of the deceased warned residents of the state against blocking drainages with debris.

By Abu Nmodu , Minna

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Insurgency: Sufferings Of Victims Can No Longer Be Ignored – PDP Women Leader

BY Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

The national women leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Kema Chikwe, has said the sufferings of victims of insurgency in the north east can no longer be ignored.

She stated this at the launch of the “Show Them Love” Disaster Relief Initiative for victims of the north east insurgency at the PDP Legacy House, Abuja.

Items which were donated to victims in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states include bags of rice, clothes, beverages, among others estimated at millions of naira.

She noted that the initiative signals the official launch the PDP women’s wing humanitarian relief programme for victims of insurgency in north east Nigeria termed “Show Them Love”.

She said, “Since 2009, the north east has become the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency. This

situation has contributed to mass displacements as civilians, out of desperation, escape the insurgency. The consequences of this horrendous act of terrorism abound: mass displacements, homelessness and the destruction of the livelihoods of our brothers and sisters in the north east.

“Earlier, we had organised prayers for the kidnapped Chibok girls and visited the victims of the Nyanya bomb blast in hospitals in and around Abuja. The sufferings of these innocent Nigerians can no longer be ignored. It is pertinent for us to provide support to the victims of terrorism in these communities with the objective of alleviating the sufferings and hardship of our brothers and sisters. It is clear that in terrorist scenarios, the main victims tend to be the women and children. As the national woman leader of the PDP, I find myself perpetually sad by the dire circumstances of the women folk in these region”.

10 Million People To Die From Tobacco Consumption By 2015 – CISLAC

By Blessing Ukemena, Abuja

The director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi has said that about 10 million people may die from tobacco if the rising consumption trend is not controlled.

Mr Oluwafemi who made this call in Abuja lamented the high rate of smoking in Nigeria due to weak control measures.

According to him, tobacco is the only legally available product which kills more than half of its users and as speculated by Scientists, it is a major threat to public health.

“Tobacco currently kills about 6 million people annually and if the current trend continues, that figure will climb to 10 million a year by 2015. This is not the only adverse effects of tobacco on the nation as recent statistics has shown that the cost of tobacco smoking to the Nigerian economy in terms of losses to medical treatments is at US$591 million annually. More so, a recent survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health revealed that over 250,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer every year which also is a result of tobacco consumption,” he said.

Emphasizing the need for a na-

tional tobacco control bill, the subregional coordinator, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, West Africa, Mrs Hilda Ochefu narrated the efforts of tobacco manufacturing companies to exploit such nations as Nigeria and Indonesia due to weak tobacco control bill.

“Over the years, there have been stringent laws in the western part of the world. Due to the nature of these laws on the tobacco manufacturing companies, they are presently looking for new countries as Nigeria and even Indonesia as new playgrounds. This is because in these countries, it is either that there are no laws at all regulating them or there is weak implementation of existing laws.

This is what we are strongly kicking against.

“We want to save our teens from being initiated as new consumers of tobacco because when these children become used to its consumption, they will become lifetime smokers. Thus, in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, we want to ensure strong tobacco laws that will reduce its consumption,” she stated.

The coalition of civil societies in Nigeria has therefore called for the passage of a tobacco control bill to control deathsm tobacco.

Ogoh Joseph of LEADERSHIP Group posed with his bride shortly after their wedding at God’s Grace World Outreach Centre, Gwagwalada, Abuja, recently.

Removal Of APC Governors Will Not Stop Party Winning 2015 Election – Radda

By Michael Oche, Abuja

The national welfare officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dikko Radda has said that the removal of Nyako and plots to impeach other APC governors will not deter the party from winning the 2015 elections, saying that Nigerians are already tired of the PDP-led government and are determined to enforce change in 2015.

Dikko who also spoke on the plan

by President Goodluck Jonathan to borrow an external loan of $1bn said the president is only seeking money to fund his 2015 campaign.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, he said in the last few years, the federal government has not justified the trillions of naira

budgeted for security.

He said, “I don’t believe they are requesting any money for security because in the last few years, the federal government has budgeted over N1 trillion for security annually but instead of the security situation to improve, it is getting worse.

I think Jonathan is just requesting money for election in 2015.

Also speaking on the impeachment of Nyako, he said, “There are clearly the hands of the federal government in the impeachment saga of APC governors. And what I am trying to say clearly is whatever they will do, the Nigerian people are ready. What they did in Adamawa and got away with, the people of Nasarawa will not allow them.

He said what is happening is not

Impeachment: Traditional Rulers Avert Crisis In Nasarawa

By Donatus Nadi, Lafia

Nasarawa State Coucil of Chiefs has averted what would have thrown the state into another round of violence following its resolution to appeal to members of APC and PDP in the state to shelve any rally for or against the ongoing impeachment move by the state assembly.

The chairman of APC, Mr. Philip Shekwo stated this in Lafia yesterday, noting that given the sensitivity of the issue and the

volatile atmosphere in the state the emirs have prevailed on contending parties in the state to stay action on any demonstration in the interest of peace.

LEADERSHIP Sunday also reports that the council of chiefs also appealed to APC governors who scheduled to pay a solidarity visit to Governor Almakura within the week to shelve their visit as it is capable of heightening the already tense atmosphere in the state. When contacted, however, the Public Relations Offi-

YOWICAN Urges Youth To Participate In 2015 Elections

By Igho Oyoyo, Yenagoa

The Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) has called on Christian youths across the country to actively participate in the 2015 general elections. According to the group, people rejoice when the righteous rules.

The president of YOWICAN, Dr Simon Dolly who was an Awardee

at a special convocation and award of honours at the Agape Christian Theological Seminary in Abuja made this call while speaking with journalists.

According to Dolly, there are a lot potentials in the youth population which have not been harnessed due to their ‘seat at home syndrome’. He noted that with youth participation in political

good for Nigeria’s democracy and every Nigerian should stand up and “resist any act of impunity by the PDP-led federal government”.

Speaking further, he said, “And if you are talking of impeachment because of corruption, there is no government in Nigeria that was leveled with corruption that this present government. We have seen the aviation scandal, nothing was done. We have also seen the missing $20 billion and nobody is saying anything.

“Their plan is to control 24 states before the 2015 elections. But they must know that the Nigerian people are tired of the PDP-led government. Nobody wants to continue in the state of insecurity and high level corruption in the country.”

affairs, they would redeem power from the old generation.

His words, “I want to encourage our youths in particular to participate in the forthcoming election.

They said we are the leaders of tomorrow but today our tomorrow is being threatened. So, we should come out and actively participate so that we can take our place.

“Thank God the national confer-

ence has reduced the age to be voted for to 25; so, if you are 25 years old, you can come out for a state assembly. I want to urge the youths to come out and fill these gaps.

“The challenge is that, our leaders do not have plan for the youths and there is no success without a successor. That is why they use and dump us after election. So, I want the youths to come out and

cer (PRO) of the PDP, Mr. Mark Neto, said the his party has no intention of staging any solidarity rally.

He said PDP supporters in the state are only eagerly waiting for Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura to open up and clear the air on the charges levelled against him by the state Assembly.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO) Ismaila Numan said he was yet to be briefed on the proposed rally by both parties.

take this power from them because power is not given, it is taken.”

Also, Chief Samuel Pukat, a House of Representatives aspirant from Plateau State noted that Christians perceived politics as business for pagans; a dirty game that the faithful must not be associated with and that was why their fates to some extent are being decided by the ungodly.

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Boko Haram: US To Impose Tougher Sanctions

BY ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New Jersey

Bearing in mind that previous sanctions by the United States and United Nations against Boko Haram were not able to prevent terrorism in Nigeria, the American government may, any moment from now, impose tougher sanctions on the terrorist group, its leaders and those behind its deadly operations in northern Nigeria.

Making this known in Newark during a BringBackOurGirls rally which was organised by Nigerians in the region at the weekend, Congressman, Donald Payne Jnr, said that what is happening in Nigeria now was just a tip of an iceberg, which was also indicative of the further dangers that the sect could still pose in Nigeria if the

United States did not impose tougher sanctions on the terrorists.

He stated further that decisive actions should be taken urgently against the sect if the Nigerian government and the international community really want to show that they were ready to combat terrorism and kidnapping in the country.

Congressman Payne added that it was time President Goodluck Jonathan used his full presidential power to ensure that a total end was brought to the existence of the terrorist group and its affiliates in Nigeria. “If care is not taken, they will extend their attacks to other neighbouring nations, and for this reason, the US government will put a heavy pressure on the Nigerian government to take the lead

in the fight against terrorism” he noted.

In his speech at the rally which was anchored by Dr Anthony Afolo, the General Secretary of NIDO in New Jersey, Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said that the American government would not allow the terrorists to truncate the democracy being enjoyed by Nigeria, adding that further sanctions would be sought for apart from the sanction that the United Nations imposed on Boko Haram in May, 2014.

“It is the responsibility of the Nigerian government to create a safe and secure place for its citizens. Nigeria should take the lead in the fight against extremists even if the US is

going to help”, said Senator Menendez who was represented by his Special Adviser on Health and Women Issues, Ms. Magda Schaler- Haynes.

Also speaking, the Mayor of Newark, Mr. Ras Baraka, said that the international community should encourage Nigeria to arrest and prosecute any politician that utters any statement that has the tendency of causing crisis in any part of the country henceforth.

The Mayor who was represented at the rally by his deputy, Hon. Ugochukwu Nwokoro, however, pleaded with members of the terrorist group to stop the tactic of using innocent students to get back at the federal government.

Earlier in his keynote address, Chairman of NIDO’s Board of Direc-

tor for Government Affairs worldwide, Dr. Akin Awofolaju, described the insurgence in Nigeria as a deplorable situation, adding that Boko Haram’s decision to go against western education was uncalled for.

Awofolaju however, urged the international community to continue offering its strong support to the Nigerian government in a quest to end the insurgency in the country.

The representative of Rep. Smith Royce, Chairman of the Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gregory Simpkins, promised that there would be an urgent arrangement to ensure that all the victims of terrorist attacks in Nigeria were properly re-integrated into the system.

Insurgency: Cleric Charges Nigerians On Prayer, Repentance

A Palestinian relative carries the body of a kid during the funeral of eight members of Abu Jarad family who were killed overnight in an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza strip yesterday. photo AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD

Lamido Blames Politicians For Animosity, Division Among Nigerians Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has faulted politicians for promoting division and deep animosity among Nigerians in their desperation to get power.

He made the assertion while speaking at a Ramadan breakfast with Journalists and some of his colleagues with whom he served together as members of the National Assembly between 1979 and 1982.

He said it was unfortunate that politicians of today are ever ready to sacrifice the country for their parochial personal interest which, he said, is a very dangerous game for the country’s existence as a single entity.

Lamido noted that in an ideal society, politics is a platform in which good people exhibit their patriotism, selfless commitment and sacrifice to make their society happy for the benefit of all.

“Today, politics has been turned into a business venture instead of selfless service to humanity and the country, and this is what has thrown political leaders and the entire people of the country into confusion and uncertainty”.

By Muh’d Zangina Kura, Dutse

Victims Support Fund: CAN Calls For Fairness In Disbursement

BY George Agba and Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday urged those who will be directly involved in the disbursement of the Boko Haram Victims Support Funds to be fair, just and to have the fear of God so as to equitably distribute the funds to those affected by terrorist activities in the country.

It commended President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up the Victims

Support Fund Committee chaired by Lt General Theophilus Danjuma, saying such a bold and courageous step will care for the victims of insurgency in the northern part of the country.

In a statement he personally issued, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor lauded the quality of persons nominated to serve on the special fund. He wished the members well in the task of raising and disbursing funds to the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the north.

Recalling that it had for long been

the conviction of CAN that victims of the senseless killings and wanton destruction of property should be given some `life line’ in whatever name it could be called, Oritsejafor said the Christian body was happy that the president has heeded its call and responded appropriately.

Calling for fairness and equity in the disbursement of the fund to victims, the CAN president said, “It is my hope that funds realized from the various donations and contributions will be judiciously used for the good of those affected in the crisis”.

Building Collapse: COREN Inaugurates Task Force To End Quackery

by Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has set up a task force for the production of the Nigerian Concrete Mix Design Manual to provide direction for the construction industry and put an end to quackery in Nigeria.

COREN President, Engr.

Kashim Ali, while inaugurating the task force in Abuja, said the issue of building collapse in Nigeria has been a major subject of discussion in the public domain over the recent past, stressing that various reasons have been put up by inter-

est groups with the aim of identifying the cause and the solution to the menace.

According to him, as the regulator of engineering practice in Nigeria, COREN had always insisted that quackery was responsible for building collapses. This position, he said was borne out of investigations into such cases in the past.

“In the attempt to provide direction for the construction industry at this time, COREN has noted that there is no approved document to guide engineers in the design and production of concrete mixes for various applications. A number of manuals and

guidelines are being used by different groups including the academia.

“These manuals are very good, having been produced by reputable organizations in many parts of the world. COREN feels that the time has come for a manual to be developed that can be recommended for use by the Nigerian construction industry.

“In getting to work on this manual, we are not going to reinvent the wheel. Many reliable manuals currently exist and we will not mind even if one of them is selected for domestication, bearing in mind our peculiar circumstances,” he said.

Apparently worried by the spate of insecurity and incessant killings across the country, Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, who is the chief executive officer (CEO) of a non-government organisation known as Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) based in Kaduna, has advocated fervent prayers and genuine repentance as a sure way for God to intervene and deliver the country from the current insecurity bedevilling her.

Reverend Yunusa stated this during a prayer session organized by the CSW-N for God to intervene in the security situation of the country and particularly for a change of hearts on the part of the insurgents and their sponsors whose activities has led to the death of many in the country.

According to the Christian cleric, it has become imperative to resort to prayers for God to intervene in the security situation of the country, in view of several other security measures put in place by relevant government security agencies which have so far not yielded the desired result of bringing the insecurity to an end.

He however reiterated that the prayers were not only for the insurgents to have a change of heart, but also for the leadership of the country for the release of the abducted Chibok girls and also for the peace and stability of the nation, just as he added that it was also for the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.

According to him, the objective of the CSW-N is to, among others, promote religious freedom through evidence/issue-based advocacy to enhance peaceful coexistence and to also promote religious tolerance in communities through meditation and trust/ confidence building.

“It is also to support victims of religious discrimination/ violence and vulnerable persons, strengthen the capacity of community members for effective functioning of community peace groups to ensure coexistence.”

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

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You deserve

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

cover story

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Jabi motor park, Abuja

Bomb Threats: Abuja Residents Living In Perpetual Fear

Following renewed threats by insurgents to attack the transport sector and some other public places in Abuja, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are now caged in their various places of abode, apprehensive of places they freely visited before the Nyanya and Wuse 2 bomb blasts.

CHIKA OKEKE, Ruth Choji, Michael Oche and blessing Ukemena write

B It is the responsibility of the government to provide security for its citizenry, especially when traders pay taxes and rents to the FCTA and local governments

efore the twin bomb blasts that rocked Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, and another that shook the EMAB Plaza in Wuse 2, a highbrow section of the city, life in the federal capital had been nothing but fun and excitement.

Even the night life had been visited with much funfare that usually lingered till dawn. But all these changed when the outlawed Boko Haram sect decided to refocus its dreadful acts at the mega city.

The alleged threat by the sect that it would attack Ambeez Shopping Plaza in Abuja has created yet another panic that is grounding the city to a halt, as a purported threat letter warns that lady’s handbags, cars and other suspicious baggages should be treated with ultimate caution.

When LEADERSHIP Sunday visited the popular Jabi motor park, touts were seen scouting for passengers, while security agents carried out surveillance within the park. One of the chairmen at the motor park, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the insurgents were targeting everybody and not just motor parks, insisting that efforts made by the union to government to upgrade the park

always met stiff resistance.

“Don’t say motor parks are the target, because they are targeting everybody. If I’m in a holdup now, I’m usually scared. So, we pray that these bad people will not remember this park. We have been talking to the press for the past two years concerning the state of Jabi Motor Park, but nothing has changed. We want action first. So, I don’t have anything to say to you,” he said.

At the Life Camp/Jabi/Airport Road motor park, located at the Airport Junction, LEADERSHIP Sunday also observed that the park had already been fenced, while the drivers barricaded the park with used tyres to prevent unauthorised vehicles that are not used for commercial purpose from driving inside the park.

At the Garki market, the security guards were spotted conducting stop-and-search routine with scanners on vehicles entering the market. Due to the presence of automated machine at the gates, motorists are also required to place their pass card on the machine after undergoing security checks before gaining access inside the market. For customers and traders on foot, they were searched thoroughly at the gate, and compelled

to pass through the entrance gate while entering the market and follow the exit gate while leaving.

Other security guards were also on ground inside the market to direct customers on how to park their vehicles at designated parking lots.

Dwindling commercial activities Responding on how the crisis has affected the business activities in the city, the National President of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Barrister Ken Ukoha, expressed regret that commercial and economic activities were currently dwindling, saying that markets were gradually becoming testing grounds for insurgents’ bombs. “We are more concerned with the fact that commercial and economic activities are dwindling at a time when the country has just taken over as the largest economy in Africa, a position that would have jolted Nigerians to work and commit themselves to further development of the nation,” he said, while appealing to the FCT Administration to urgently facilitate the installations of CCTV cameras and other security gadgets in all the markets in the city, noting that it is the responsibility of the government to provide security for its citizenry, especially when traders pay taxes and rents to the FCTA and local governments as enshrined in the laws.

Ukoha stated that about 197 traders were killed, while 137 were injured in separate attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in Abuja, Borno and Plateau states within the last four months, which does not

include victims of incessant open attacks on traders in Zamfara, Bornu, Abuja, Gombe, Kano and Kaduna.

However, the chairman of NANTS FCT chapter, Prince Edozie Ugwu, urged the federal government to provide necessary security gadgets needed for the protection of lives and investments of traders across various markets and plazas in the FCT, insisting that security gadgets that were installed in the Federal Secretariat complex were not provided by the civil servants. “The government should assist traders by providing the necessary security gadgets needed for the protection of our lives and investments in various markets and plazas. Despite the fact that bomb detectors in various places like the federal secretariat complex were not purchased by the civil servants, it beats our imagination to hear that government agencies are asking traders to provide security gadgets in various markets, even when we have always paid our taxes and rents as at when due,” he lamented.

Fears of FCT Residents Abuja residents have been traumatised in the face of reoccurring bombings. Within a space of two months, over 100 people have been reportedly killed in bomb blasts that have rocked the federal capital.

And after repeated bomb attacks in the Federal Capital Territory, residents are beginning to discard the illusion of safety and ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

PHOTO BY informationng.com

14 COVER STORY

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Bomb Threats: Abuja Residents Living In Perpetual Fear ➔ FROM PAGE 13 are coming to terms with the fact that the country’s capital may not be as safe as they had imagined.

Also, not a few are considering relocating from the once impregnable seat of power or are under pressure from loved ones to do so.

The latest blast at Emab plaza has become a tipping point of sorts, shattering illusions of safety in the city, and forcing some residents to ponder on their continued stay in Abuja.

Military checkpoints have emerged on all the entry points into the federal capital city, creating more apprehension in commuters as they wonder if these checkpoints also portend some evil omen. Motorists now look at one another with suspicion. When they are grounded in a traffic jam, like the one caused by military checkpoints that have surfaced along the Abuja/Keffi expressway, drivers honk incessantly, anxious to get out of the gridlock for fear of bomb explosion.

And while it is no longer news that the bulk of the FCT population live along the Mararaba/ Nyanya axis, the twin bomb blasts at Nyanya that killed scores of people and left many wounded have led to agonising military checkpoints along the ever busy expressway. This is even as motorists and other road users fear that an attack in the holdup caused by military men who have reduced the threelane expressway to one lane at the Abuja/Nasarawa border point due to checkpoint barricading could be unthinkable.

Abu Ibrahim, a trader who lives in Nyanya Area C, stated that, “I am really scare, because these insurgents don’t issue empty threats. Nigerians took what they said for granted, that they would storm Abuja, and they did with the Nyanya bombings. So, I have decided not always avoid holdups. I have also decided to be using commercial motorcycles instead of buses. My family members have also been moved to Kano until things get better here.”

Gambo Innocent is a civil servant, and to him, “Since I heard the threat report, I have decided to be leaving home as early as 5:00am to avoid the holdup. I also leave town late, so that I will not be caught up in anyone. We now live in fear. I have stopped my wife from going to the market frequently like she used to before now. We used to go out once in awhile with our friends to relax in the night, but the insecurity has stopped that.”

Mrs Ngozi Uwachukwu, a housewife and mother of five in Nyanya, said, “life has become difficult in the FCT. We don’t go to the market anyhow these days. I go very early or late in the evenings. I also try as much as possible to avoid crowded places. The only place I go that has crowd is the church, and I thank God that they have also set up a tight security measure in our church.”

When LEADERSHIP Sunday visited her church, the resident pas-

NANTS during a peaceful demonstration over the senseless killings of traders in markets across the country. PHOTO BY CHIKA OKEKE

tor, Chris Danyil, said, “We have set up barricades round the church using drums filled with sand and stones. We also bought handcontrolled security gadgets that we use to search people and their bags before they enter the church.

We also ensure that members park their cars round the church, while men stand watching during the service.”

A retired assistant commissioner of police, Ishaku Thomas, who spoke on the fresh threat, said, “I know it is scary and Nigerians think government is not doing anything about it; but it would have been worst. Government is working very hard to contain the situation, and that is how they got the new threat Intel. They cannot just reveal what they are doing. Nigerians must also help government by informing security personnel of any suspicious movement close to them. These terrorists are not ghost, they live among the people, they eat with people, and they relate with people. If we can get enough security Intel, they can be stopped. I also know that government has been working on getting the latest technology that will help in this fight against terrorism.”

Malam Garba Abubakar, who drives a taxi in the FCT also agreed that the new security alert has affected the way the city was. According to him, “Whenever we pick passengers now, they will beg us not to follow any route that has lots of holdup. Some will even volunteer to add more money for you to avoid places with holdup. Some people have also stopped entering commercial vehicles or standing at car parks because of the threat. I have also stopped parking anywhere that has more than 10 vehicles, because anything can happen. Most taxi drivers now don’t like parking in the parks or garages because of the fear of Boko Haram, since we don’t know them and we think they could also be some of our members.”

Nnaji Johnson is a security expert who opined that, “Government can avert further disaster when they dismantle these checkpoints. I live in Abacha Road and

I know the stress these checking points cost us everyday. The military can do other things than just standing by the roadside and monitoring vehicles. Government should install security gadgets. They are being sold everywhere in the world. These gadgets can detect bombs miles away, instead of this holdup the soldiers are causing. I thought by now the military should have been investing on high-tech tracking equipment that should have been fixed on major roads in the FCT or other sensitive places like Nyanya and Mararaba.”

Continuing, he said, “The terrorists don’t import or move round with the bombs, they make them locally in their rooms. What we need is Intel. Most of the bombs they used were those controlled by using mobile phones. It is a simple modification that requires the use of phone fixed to an electrical firing circuit to initiate the explosive charge, and when somebody within the vicinity answers a call or makes one, they automatically detonate the bomb.

“Checkpoints should be mounted after they have got good intelligence like what they announced over the weekend. Not that after the terrorists have attacked, you will now push soldiers to go and block all the roads and make life difficult for the very people you claim to be protecting.”

Sam Jatua, a businessman at Wuse market, stated that the situation gets bad each day as checkpoints are springing up everywhere around the FCT. “I don’t know how long this will continue, but ever since the EMAB Plaza bomb blast, the traffic leading to Wuse market has been terrible.

When bringing goods to the market, you have to leave early. People are not coming to Wuse market as before, because of the fear of bomb blast now.”

Tony Onumele, a property consultant, was a witness to the EMAB bomb blast, and stated that he would soon be moving out of the FCT towards the year ending. “I was there and I saw those who got burnt in the blast; one of them was burning on top of the

I was there and I saw those who got burnt in the blast; one of them was burning on top of the bonnet of his Toyota Camry car.

He was eventually burnt beyond recognition

bonnet of his Toyota Camry car.

He was eventually burnt beyond recognition. I have never seen so much pain before, and I do not ever want to see such again. I don’t know where he has been taken to.”

Mrs Tonia Adetoju is a teacher and she stated that she lost her sister in the EMAB Plaza bomb blast. “My husband and I have decided that as soon as this school session is over, we are going to relocate out of Abuja. I think all this is happening because of the upcoming elections. We are so worried that things will only get worse in the FCT until after the presidential election,” she said.

Malam Haurna Isah is a businessman and said, “I am grateful that I am not a civil servant. I can move to another city, and my child is still very young. So, changing school for my son will not be a problem. Abuja has become a bombing zone. I cannot afford to expose my family to all the problems in this city. I have already sent them to Kogi State and I will be joining them soon.”

Sylvester Okoduwa is a civil servant living in the Nyanya axis, who stated that, “I’m presently working my transfer to Lagos. I do not wish to be in Abuja during the elections, because it is not safe here.

The security agencies are doing a lot, but the truth is that those masterminds of the bombings are just unpredictable. We are not safe in the city anymore, and the holdup is getting worse.”

As a safety measure, people like Mrs Okoye Ngozi have earmarked some areas as no-go. “The situation in Abuja now is terrible,” she said.

“I have been avoiding some places for a while now. Places like busstops, markets and big shops; just anywhere there is crowd. But in the end, it is still prayers that will save us all.”

Another resident, Nkechi Madueke said, “We will be leaving soon. We have made all arrangements to leave Abuja for the east.

It is obvious that the city is no longer safe. We have moved some of our belongings there. My husband is just waiting to complete his house which is almost ready.

Then, we can leave.”

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sunday interview Sunday, July 20, 2014

I’m A Product Of The People’s Struggle – Aregbesola Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has vowed that what happened in Ekiti during the last governorship election will not repeat itself in Osun State when the people of the state go to the polls on August 9. In this interview with newsmen, Aregbesola also spoke on other sundry national issues. Kazeem Akintunde was there for LEADERSHIP Sunday How prepared are you for the coming election, in order to ensure that there is no repeat performance of what happened in Ekiti?

You can go to the schools to assess what the children are eating, to be sure if it is worth what we are saying or not

Firstly, I want you to know that I don’t even think about it and that is the interesting part of it. In the statement I made after the Ekiti election, I reflected that a genuine democrat must be willing and ready to embrace defeat, as he or she will embrace victory, provided the election is transparent, credible, free and fair. The real issue is not about you as a candidate, but the quality of the electoral processes.

Once the quality is good and high, whatever the people decide is final, because they decide who represents or governs them.

Democratic choices are expected to be correct, good and right, but it is not always so. To answer the question; long before I assumed this office, I prepared so well for the office in a way that, going by the normal run, I should not be working as hard as I’m working now for re-election. A commentator said something to that effect that I was one of the politicians that began my campaign from day one. That is because from the day I entered this office, I started my campaign. How many governors walk the streets with their citizens? I have been doing that since the first month in office. How many governors create interactive forum in Nigeria before me? There is none.

I am the first governor that devote almost 10 hours with the citizens on a quarterly basis. The people ask any question in “no hold barred” atmosphere. The Ogbeni till daybreak is involved in all rounds of engagement, because we take feedbacks from

the social media. The Gbangba Dekun, for example, is a monthly community interactive forum, where the governor sits with all stakeholders in the community to ask or make inquiries on any issue. This is the picture of direct engagement we are having with the people that no state government in Nigeria had ever attempted. We also have a carnival-like procession in walk-tolive, where we just walk round the communities. It is so engaging and popular, to the extent that everybody wants to be with the governor. Hardly is there any community in this state that I have not visited personally. In terms of physical and social services, this is the first government that will say that it has affected lives positively, irrespective of party affiliation. I feed 300,000 pupils every school day at the cost of N3.6 billion a year; I have been doing it since 2012; and so far, the state government has spent N7.2 billion on that. You can go to the schools to assess what the children are eating, to be sure if it is worth what we are saying or not.

As a result of that, tens of thousands are equally engaged providing different items. From this alone, close to 1 million people are directly impacted from this O’meal programme. We equally have the second batch of O’Yes cadets; the first batch comprising 20,000 had gone, the 2nd batch of 20,000 is on, and they are from homes. They work two or three days per week and have the remaining days left for them to see what they can do to earn a living, because they are taught entrepreneurial training, but they are paid N10,000 monthly

Aregbesola

as cadets. On this scheme alone, this administration has spent N9 billion. I tell people what this type of scheme means for national government. You can’t say I don’t have 18 friends who I can give half a billion naira contract to; this is irrespective of whether they execute it or not. I would have still given it out, but the maximum amount of that investment that will stay here will be less than 50 per cent. Of course, you will have the project here, but there would still be capital flight because we are talking about direct impact on the economy. O’Yes has changed that paradigm as 100 per cent of that N9 billion is in the economy of the state. The programme has huge economic benefits to the state. That scheme directly injected N9 billion into the economy, which has no means of going out, because a man earning N10,000 has no business travelling to Ibadan with that amount, except you promise to double it for him. The simple reason is that if it will not yield anything more for him, he won’t go there.

Let me say that every bit of the money is better spent here. Every O‘Yes cadet has a smart card and the issue of anyone handling or tampering with their money does not arise. We are one of the few governments that develop a meaningful programme as Elderly Citizens Care.

Is your administration in good terms with the teachers, civil servants, Okada riders and students who constitute the bulk of voters?

I will answer it in this form; most people don’t even know how to assess relationships. They assess it from the complain they get from dissatisfied section of a critical lot, but that cannot be.

It’s impossible for human beings to exist without conflict. The Yoruba people have an idiomatic way of expressing it; they say “teeth and tongue fight, but they still stay together”. A sociologist in Human Science would not therefore base his assessment of any sector on when there is disagreement. Let us look at what we have done and then situate our relationship within it, even though some people for whatever reason do not just like you. I was telling someone that what should concern him should not be about those who are opposed to him, especially as election approaches. When you are still far from it, you may be bothered so that you can make it up, because no matter what you do, that is their attitude. You just stay put.

From the newspapers, there are not less than 20 parties seeking power democratically. If you have 60 per cent, that does not mean you don’t have opposition.

The 40 per cent who do not want to see you, may cut your head if you are careless. If you have 60 per cent, you are home and dry.

On students...

Let us start with the students.

We met a condition when we came in. Students were given a bursary of N3,000, and they won’t even get the bursary on time, which, to me, was full of scam. They brought it to me to

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16 interview

Sunday, July 20, 2014

I’m A Product Of The People’s Struggle – Aregbesola 15

sign, and I said, “Why do I have to sign N3,000 for anybody? It’s best if we don’t give this bursary, or we give it meaningfully”. We therefore raised the bursary to N10,000 for all students, except for Medical and Law students who are given N20,000, while our indigenes in law school get N100,000. The school authorities give the money to students in their system. I don’t see how such students will hate us in the majority; I can’t see it. Whoever now hates us has something else against us, not for the fact that we have not done the needful. The increase wasn’t solicited; we did it out of our own understanding of the reality of what the students were going through. There was a clamour for reduction of fees; we reduced the fees from a huge amount to something that was comparably affordable. Also, we have been investing in developing the institutions much more than any administration has done in the history of this state. It’s true we have some challenges with the lecturers, but it’s not peculiar to us.

On Okada (commercial motorcycle) riders...

The akara seller knows that I feed her child everyday.

I identify with them on a daily basis in their struggle to live, and they understand that everything we do is to make live easy for them

For Okada riders, they have no problem with us. They may want us to do things for them as we have done to some other groups, but it is not as if they said, “compared to others, these are the problems”. The roads here are appreciated even by those who use legs. Has any government succeeded in constructing 200 kilometres of road in all nooks and crannies of the state? There is no part of this state that we have not constructed a new road and it’s not just any road, but roads with concrete drainages with stone base and thick asphaltic cover. When I got to campaign grounds, I said our roads had tribal marks. In all, we had roads with marks, but now, we have special roads. When we complete some of them, they will be a sort of tourism attraction on their own.

On civil servants...

Before we came in, civil servants never knew that salary could be paid before the end of the month. For seven and half years, salaries were never paid here before month end. But from the day I assumed office, we changed that. Before the year ended, when I assumed office, I paid 10 per cent of their basic as 13th month, and paid December salary before the end of that year. They were dazed. Since that day up until December 2013, I pay salary on or before the 25th of every month. Since January 2014 however, we ran into trouble of which we explained to everybody six months before then.

In July 2013, the federal government began a squeeze that they

knew nobody believed in. They said 400,000 barrels of crude oil were being stolen everyday. We didn’t know problem was coming. Instead of collecting N4.6 billion, they gave this government N2.6 billion, which translates into 40 per cent reduction.

We thought it would be temporary because after that month, they said the stolen crude had reduced to 200,000 barrels per day. When the oil being lost reduce, would you still expect 40 per cent cut? From that July till now, the maximum allocation this state has ever received is N3.2 billion, which was in November 2013. I am not making up anything, but simply saying the truth. Now, you may want to know how I was able to run the state until December 2013. Let me say that my people are called Osomalo - they are very deft in the management of money and I took this from them. I had been saving through the Omoluwabi Conservation Fund in which 10 per cent of all allocation must just go and rest. So, I had money in reserve which was a buildup for my refusal to form a cabinet for 10 months. Whereas my income fell to N2.6 billion at the lowest and N3.4 billion at the highest for a month, my statutory expenditures which are expenditures that I have no control over once we have agreed on it had to be settled. These include salary and pension to the tune of N3.6 billion every month. Between July and December, I augmented my income with N5.4 billion. All in the hope that this thing would go, but it didn’t go. It has not gone as we speak; it is even worse. Before, when you get your allocation, you will cash it by the 15th of every month, that was why they were paying salaries on the 15th of the month before we came in. That used to be the practice.

But now, because you want to squeeze the opposition government, they even squeeze themselves. Nobody gets the reduced allocation earlier than the 26th of the following month. But before now, I wasn’t waiting for their money, I just pay on or before the 25th. When we wanted to introduce the digital automation, it was difficult to do crossover, because it would get to the 1st or 2nd of the following month; not because the money was not there; we had arranged with a bank to pay because we have money with them. To make up for the deficit in what I received and what I must pay, I spent extra N5.4 billion. However, I told you earlier that I gave 10 per cent of basic salary for 13th month salary; the second year, I gave 25 per cent; the third year, I gave 50 per cent; the fourth year, I gave 100 per cent.

So, December of 2013, I gave every worker in the employment of Osun State Government 100 per

Aregbesola

cent of their basic salary as extra income, which I paid before the end of the year. Ordinarily, why should any worker say I am not friendly with them?

On teachers...

Our teachers in the state are now well-motivated, such that you cannot distinguished between them and bank workers. Before now, when you see a teacher in Osun, you will know. They were so depressed, unmotivated with the absence of facilities.

Our teachers now wear corporate looks with proper motivation. It is not that there won’t be some of them who, for whatever reason, don’t like us, but they are in the minority. Don’t subscribe to the things you hear that, “teachers don’t like him”; I don’t believe that. We did independent, scientific opinion polls in the state; you need to see how people responded to us everywhere; people just swarm around me. I have never being in a place where my presence does not generate euphoria. You don’t get such reception if people have problem with you. I don’t really believe I have any problem with any critical sector. There is nothing that they have done to deride us. There is no household in this state that does not feel our impact. We are talking about how to make education the central focus of our administration, because I am no longer thinking of now, but we want to create a new sets of Nigerians on which a new society would be born, and we can’t do it on what is there now. We are the first government in Nigeria to give free uniform to all students. This is also the first government that will say that you don’t need to buy textbooks for your children in high schools. One of the attractions is that it reduces the cost of books. With that number and with what it costs us

to procure the e-book, which is N200 million for 53 books, if you divide that amount by 53, you will get the cost of each book on that basis. If you now divide the outcome with 150,000, do you know that the cost of the book will be N25.16 each? Opon Imo should be celebrated by all, because it reduces the capital outlay on books.

Are you prepared for a possible shutdown of the state few days to the election?

You see, I came here from the street, and it is easy for me to go back to the street. My real home is on the street; whoever will hold me on the street should try. I laugh when they talk about me, because they don’t know I am from the street.

What is your perception about the term, “stomach infrastructure”?

To those people who are elite and are therefore separated from the people, this term may make a new meaning to them. I am a product of the popular force – the people – and I am part and parcel of them. I emanated from them and a product of their struggles. What is now known as “stomach infrastructure” is what we know as interaction, engagement, living with the people, and meeting their aspirations and needs. That is what we have been doing from the very beginning of this administration; I feed their children with meals everyday. The akara seller knows that I feed her child everyday. I identify with them on a daily basis in their struggle to live, and they understand that everything we do is to make live easy for them.

My administration does not suffer alienation from the people; it is one and same with the people, and that is the basis of our confidence in their ever ready support at all times.

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sunday politics

Politics Editor Weeklies: uchenna awom

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Impeachment As Weapon Against Opposition Impeachment is not new in Nigeria’s political lexicon, but its application as it affects governors has been spare. At the moment, however, the wind appears to be blowing across the political landscape of the nation. The question is whether it is now being expressly deployed as an instrument of political witch-hunt against opponents of the president, or is an attempt by the people to call erring elected officials to order. UCHENNA AWOM writes that after all, the impeachment gale was ignited by the state governors who are now at the receiving end

I

t would seem as though that the 2015 political showdown has begun and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may have kick-started dispensing its arsenal to shoot its way back to power.

Yet there may be other discerning theories, which could suggest very strongly that the acknowledged messianic disposition of the state governors are up for serious public challenge. Either way the current gale of impeachment is interpreted, the fact remains that the current democracy is going through a speedy metamorphoses. So it will be foolhardy to locate the rising gale only on the door steps of the governing party, while isolating other acts that could genuinely ignite impeachment of an elected official.

This is because the framers of the impeachment weapon could not have been wittingly wrong.

There must be something Germaine that prompted political scholars of old to propound such political theory, perhaps to check the excesses of welders of political power, particularly those who entrusted with such power courtesy of the people’s mandate.

So even the country’s political actors would not be spared of the wrath of these men of ages, whose wisdom created a precedent whereby political wars between the three arms of government are settled without firing a single gunshot.

Through conscious efforts, these ancient political players that straddled Europe and America introduced impeachment as a mechanism for bringing charges against an official of the state with a view to removing the person from office if found guilty.

Unfortunately, like the application and practice of other aspects of presidential and parliamentary democracy in Nigeria, the usage of the inherent impeachment powers has become a threat to the institutions it was meant to protect.

Quite regrettably, an understanding of successful and failed impeachments since 1999 have confirmed the argument that the impeachments across the land have established that political actors are bereft of proper understanding of

Musa

Alamesiagha

the meaning and purpose of removing a public official from office.

There are instances where state governors have blatantly deployed impeachment in a most gruesome manner to remove speakers of state House of Assembly that exhibits some level of independent mindedness, which ordinarily should work to enhance good governance through the application of the doc-

Adamawa Impeachment: How Betrayal Made Nyako A Political Orphan > 20

trine of separation of powers.

Ditto, they have in a most bizarre manner caused the impeachment of their deputies. Examples, was the several attempts to remove the then Deputy Governor of Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. The move was engineered by the state governor less than three months after their swearing in in 1999. The man survived three impeachment. That perhaps kick started the gale of impeachment in this dispensation, which later forced him to resign to contest against Governor Orji Kalu on the platform of the All Nigeria Political Party (ANPP). The same Kalu was to further cause the impeachment of Abaribe’s successor, Dr. China Nwafor who was to die shortly as a result of its trauma.

It was the same case for Chris Ekpenyong of Akwa Ibom state, who was eventually removed ignominiously on the strength of Governor Victor Atta,s insistence. Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu it could be recalled also gingered the removal of his female deputy Mrs Akerele Bucknor in their first term in office. Most recent cases abound across the country, like the case of Agbaso in Imo State, which was allegedly orchestrated by governor Rochas Okorocha less than a year in office. It was the same case in Taraba State where the recuperating Governor Danbaba Suntai powered the impeachment of his deputy. Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state even engineered the fastest impeachment of his deputy governor, Insima Ekere in 2012. It was the same scenario in Bauchi State, Zamfara et al.

Ironically, impeachment becomes anathema only when a governor is impeached no matter how right such action could have been.

That is to say that the state chief executives are also culprits in the same game that could consume them in a major power play.

Infact, the State governors who seem to be at the receiving end presently, are the architect of the unfortunate bastardization of the impeachment process rather than the Presidency as currently being alleged.

So there is total complicit of all the political actors in Nigeria in the abuse of impeachment, which suppose to be the only weapon available to the people in the constitution. The danger of the frequent deployment of impeachment is in its willful politicization by the actors. It gets bad that even a guilty actor deploys political rhetorics to waive its essence aside, besides it has become also a weapon that could be deployed by the most im➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

18 politics

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Impeachment As Weapon Against Opposition ➔ FROM PAGE 17

pugned ruler in the absence brute force of arms to remove an opponent.

But then, there are begging instances where the welders of the impeachment power have failed to deploy it even in the obvious cases of abuse of office. The lawmakers at every level of government are the custodians of this element of power, so their failure to deploy it when necessary have subjected impeachment to several abuse. It is now an instrument of bazaar, a bargaining chip for ruthless agrandisment available for high bids.

The Genesis in Nigeria Balarabe Musa of Kaduna State The impeachment of Alhaji Balarabe Musa as the second republic governor of Kaduna State heralded the gale of impeachments in the country. Since then, impeachment has become a political tool for witch-hunting of enemies or as an instrument of intimidation used to coerce stubborn governors to the negotiation table for political gains.

Though some political analysts believe that Musa’s impeachment then had some inherent elements that made it look genuine, but even at that, he was simply shoved aside by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) dominated State House of Assembly, fiercely deployed by the then dreaded ‘Kaduna Mafia’ that would not brood the very populists Talakawa Politics of Mallam Aminu Kano of blessed memory, because of power play. His impeachment then was not related to any misappropriation of funds or any other form of fraudulent tendencies. His major sin then, was that Gov Musa ruled that state for almost two years without constituting his cabinet, even at that, it was still the state lawmakers that frustrated his efforts to appoint commissioners of his choice.

With allegations of financial misconduct and murder levelled against him, the then Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, found himself fighting both seen and unseen enemies in a bitter political war that became comic at a stage.

Dieprieye Alamesiagha During his time, the story of misappropriation of public funds by elected officials had assumed an alarming rate and allegations of financial recklessness. So, it was upon this allegation that former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alameyesigha’s impeachment was premised. But in a country where corruption is endemic and on its way to becoming, institutionalized, only the man without sin can cast the first stone.

As governor of Bayelsa State at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis and the offshore/onshore dichotomy agitation, Alameyesigha was popular as a result of the mediatory roles he played. His was close to the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo who held sway at Aso Rock that time.

However, Alameyesigha who was referred to as the GovernorGeneral of Ijaw’s nation suddenly parted ways with former President Obasanjo and that signaled the beginning of his end as governor.

Obasanjo who is known for his vindictive tendency and display of imperial powers as President armed Alamieyesigha to claim that

his impeachment was midwifed by the then presidency. Such was not doubted and of course the various roles played by the Federal Government in that saga also corroborated the former governor’s stance.

To the chagrin of the world, the FG meddled in the affairs of the state by deploying its financial and institutional might to ensure Alamieyesigha’s removal.

Many, who kicked against the FG’s role, maintained that their grouse was not informed by the manner of financial allegations against Alameyiesigha, but that the powers that be Abuja midwived the process and ensured that Bayelsa State House of Assembly impeached the governor by all means in Yenagoa under heavy security.

That episode, however, laid the foundation for subsequent usage of the federal might to remove or intimidate any state governor, who did not dance to the presidency’s tune on many issues.

Joshua Dariye Chief Joshua Dariye was enmeshed in endless controversy as governor of Plateau State. He was always in the news for the wrong reasons. It was however hard to prove that he was responsible for the wrong things ascribed to him.

That notwithstanding, Dariye’s political grave that time was dug when he was arrested for money laundering in Britain. The unfortunate incident made him an easy prey for the then presidency that had earlier sacked him in an unconstitutional manner.

Banking on allegations of financial impropriety against the governor, the House of Assembly embarked on impeaching Dariye.

While few members of the Plateau State House of Assembly were intent on having him impeached, others in the majority and stakeholders in the state were vehemently opposed to the move.

But in a manner depicting the disregard for the rule of law, which hallmarked that era, a fiveman House of Assembly group impeached Dariye on November 13, 2006. But for the support of the FG, the sack would not have been possible given that the number of those who impeached the Plateau governor fell short of the constitutional requirement. After a series of appeals he was reinstated as governor in May before the end of his tenure Peter Obi Ironically, then Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi who was elected on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) became a victim of impeachment shortly after hosting the then President Obasanjo during a state visit. Analysts posits that Obi may not have known that Obasanjo came to predict his (Obi) exit from Government House.

In his usual jocular manner, the former president had told Obi to forget re-election in 2007 if he did not join the PDP because he (Obasanjo) would not support a non-PDP member. And true to Obasanjo’s postulations, a day af-

ter the visit, Obi was impeached on November 2, 2006, after seven months in office.

The lawmakers had reportedly met with representatives of Obasanjo in Asaba , Delta State and then accompanied to Awka by heavy security provided by the police Mobile Unit. The House of Assembly members arrived Awka at at 5:00 am and began sitting afterwards. They received the report of a panel of investigation set up to investigate the governor and, after deliberating for about an hour, decided to impeach the governor, Peter Obi. Although Obi was eventually returned to office courtesy of the judiciary,but analysts believe that his ouster would not have materialsed without the support of the PDP-led federal government.

Rashidi Ladoja To observers, the removal of Rashidi Ladoja as governor of Oyo State was most comical. It was brazenly in active connivance of the federal might and in connection to Obasanjo’s third term agenda, which Ladoja, an ally of the then embattled Vice President Abubakar Atiku, opposed.

While the law required 20 legislators to carry out the impeachment, 18 lawmakers met over the recommendations of a panel of inquiry and impeached the governor.

The December 7, 2006, reinstatement of Ladoja by the Supreme Court reaffirmed the general notion that he was impeached through hooliganism, political rascality, killing and maiming among others.

Consider this quote; “Collecting N65 million as security vote every month. You know that governors don’t account for security vote. He was to give me N15 million of that every month. He reneged. Later it was reduced to N10 million. Yet he did not give me,” the late Chief Lamidi Adebibu complained about Ladoja, who he reportedly made governor.

Dismissing Adedibu’s claims, Ladoja denied reaching any agreement with the octogenarian.

He said: ‘’We did not reach any agreement about sharing money.

When he asked me about his own share, I asked him under which account should I put it… The understanding of both of us of what governance is supposed to be differs.

The difference is that I see governance as service while he sees it as business.’’

With the claim and counter claim setting the stage for Ladoja’s eventual impeachment.

Ayo Fayose With allegations of financial misconduct and murder levelled against him, the then Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, found himself fighting both seen and unseen enemies in a bitter political war that became comic at a stage.

Today Fayose is back as governor of the same state wherein he was hounded out of office via impeachment.

Fayose, a former ally of Obasan-

jo, fell out with the former president, making Obasanjo to deploy the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against him.

The impeachment of Fayose and his deputy, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, on October 6, 2006, precipitated crisis, particularly with the assumption of office by the state speaker, Friday Aderemi.

However, it was said that the failure to heed the instruction of the presidency to impeach only Fayose and spare the deputy, Olujimi propelled Obasanjo to declare that there was a breakdown of law and order in the state and subsequently declared a state of emergency, and appointed Brig-Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd) as the sole administrator of the state on October 19, 2006.

Now it is Gov. Nyako Well, the hasty impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, who was a maddening critic of the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, has thrown up more confusing question in the Nigeria political environment. On one hand is the fact that some of the governors, including those who are candidates for impeachment, are difficult to defend on account of the misrule alleged against them by the electorate through their lawmakers. On the other hand is the fact that Nigerians also know that the Goodluck Jonathan presidency is believed to be covertly manipulating the impeachment processes for malevolent political ends.

Perhaps, the foregoing are the divergent schools of thought.

Nonetheless, analyst posits that for the Fourth Republic not to be endangered, the electorate and their legislators will have to strike a delicate balance to separate reality from illusion, and distil truth from falsehood.

Governor Nyako, who defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) with four other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors last year, was impeached in a process that lasted barely one week. The process and his eventual impeachment threw up fears in opposition ranks, suggesting that his impeachment presages similar plans deliberately aimed at a number of vulnerable APC states, including Nasarawa – which is ongoing – Rivers, Edo and Kano, among others.

The growing fear is that the PDP, if truly they are responsible for the current gale of impeachment may not stop anytime some. Political observers of the emerging scenario are quick to conjecture that the resort to impeachment, falls within a critical sphere in an overall strategy to secure re-election for President Jonathan.

The observers opine that in order to guarantee a second term, the president’s strategists estimate that a few APC states, especially those previously under PDP control, will have to be reclaimed before the next general elections, and if possible, before he throws his hat into the ring a second time. ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

politics 19

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Underlying Motives Behind Al-makura’s Impeachment Following the impeachment plot on Governor Tanko Almakura by Nasarawa state assembly dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over sundry allegations, analysts are of the opinion that the issues are politically motivated. Donatus Nadi writes on the intrigues playing out in the state.

I

t is hardly believable that the pomp and hysterical jubilation of Nasarawa people following the emergence of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura’s victory at the 2011 poll would come to a crashing end at the hands of the very PDP that was massively voted out of office for inertia by the electorates.

This is the eighth time the state assembly has threatened Governor Al-makura with impeachment but only now has reached the point of serving a notice on him to that effect. Many questions come to mind as to the timing and motive behind this move.

From conspiracy theorists to informed political sources, diverse reasons are being adduced, most of which point to the fact that the PDP is more concerned with maintaining grip on power at any cost than governance and the collective prosperity of Nigerians.

The public court in Nasarawa state is of the judgment that Almakura is a victim of Goodluck Jonathan and PDP’s new strategy for self-perpetuation at the helm of affairs. This is for the simple reason that if the principles of good governance are measured by the delivery of democracy dividends, then the outrage that greeted this move by the assembly is justified.

From inception of his administration in 2011, Al-makura made it clear that plundering public purse for personal gains would not be tolerated and that disposition sets the tone for his running battle with the assembly over the issue of financial patronage as had been the tradition.

Although the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Musa Ahmed Mohammed had on many occasions testified that Al-makura has ensured fiscal autonomy for the state assembly, the lawmakers are disenchanted with the governor’s consistent refusal to oblige them any fiscal privilege other than what is

statutorily theirs. It is believed that the previous occasions they threatened him with impeachment, the primary motive was bargaining for some financial patronage.

On several occasions, the public rose spontaneously to the governor’s defence who is widely viewed as the messiah saving the state from the twelve wasteful years of PDP’s misrule.

Two shades of opinion that have now come to the fore however are that the presidency perfected the defection of the deputy governor to the PDP as a way of easing the governor out for fear of facing him at the polls due to his soaring popularity coming on the heel of his achievements.

Persuaded to carry out this onerous task to reclaim the state for the PDP so as to ensure Jonathan’s re-election did not come without a prize as the lawmakers were said to have been given N30 million each with a promise of automatic return ticket if they pull it off.

Although Al-makura was said to have given them N10million each two days before their resolution to impeach him, it was not enough to sway them. The lawmakers are reaping bountifully from both sides with each trying to save or perpetuate themselves in office.

It noteworthy that all the 16 charges leveled against Governor Al-makura border on financial misappropriation. For example, he is accused of misappropriating over N2 billion from the Joint Account Fund, over N3billion from Local Government Joint Account and diversion and misappropriation of Sure-P funds. Other allegations include falsification of financial report for the year 2012 and diversion of over N350 million funds meant for flood.

Laudable and morally upright as this may sound if proven to be true, what bothers the Nasarawa electorates is the veiled insincerity behind this glossy display of pious grand-

Al-Makura

standing by the assembly.

An informed source who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday was of the belief that the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, is taking advantage of his closeness to the president to mastermind the removal of Al-makura to pave way for him to realize his long desired ambition of becoming the governor of the state.

The source who pleaded anonymity also disclosed that part of the grand plan is to force the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dameshi Barau, to resign so that the speaker acts for a period of three months during which the presidency is expected to perfect the election of either Maku or Senator Solomon Ewuga as governor.

Investigations also reveal that in the event that Maku and Ewuga proof difficult to sell, the former governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma would be brought into the race to fly the party’s flag. This is more so due the stigma which an Eggon man is associated with after visiting mayhem on several ethnic communities in the state.

Senator Ewuga is said to be disposed to this option because it would serve as a form of extending a hand of fellowship to the Alagos after the brutal massacre of their kinsmen by the Ombatse militia.

With the impeachment notice having claimed three lives already

in a standoff between Gwandara and Eggon youths who are both rooting for one of theirs, more is still expected as a backlash to this move which many in the state consider hypocritical and ignoble.

In the interim, however, four constituencies have indicated readiness to initiate moves towards recalling their members from the assembly, Francis Orogu, PDP-Keana, Anthony Obande, PDP-Doma South, Mohammed Okpede, Doma Central are on danger list.

One peculiar and disturbing dimension is the refusal of the lawmakers to heed to the counsel of royal fathers in the state. Hon. Orogu, who is unarguably the face of the impeachment was said to have turned down all pleas by the Osana of Keana HRH, Sen Emmanuel Elayo. Even the emir of Lafia appealed to him in the same vein but the former labour leader refused to reconsider his position.

Many in the state, however, are of the belief that the lawmakers would eventually reconsider their moves in the interest of peace. Some are also of the opinion that since Al-makura has given the impression of an impeccable manager of resources as demanded by the APC code of conduct, he should rather avail himself for scrutiny rather than buying time on the matter giving the impression of his culpability on the issues raised.

Impeachment As Weapon Against Opposition ➔ FROM PAGE 18

Also Al-Makura Nasarawa State not known for deep political animosity is heated now. It is a state with a legislature controlled by the PDP. They have begun the process of impeaching its governor. Like Adamawa’s Governor Nyako, who was removed posthaste in spite of his aides enacting a series of fancy but tortuous footwork, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of the APC is not expected to survive the ordeal.

Epilogue Expectedly, the impeachment drive is presented to the public either as punishment for executive malfeasances or strictly local politics in which the presidency has no hand, but only passing and amusing interest.

The essence of the whole thing is that the country is back to a major political power play in which all the actors are culprits. The danger is that it is hard to know when genuine scenario has been created. But the truth is that, the victim gover-

nors should not wholly run away from the begging questions posed by the lawmakers, because not all of them may be borne out of political persecution.

There may be truth in all the allegations being leveled that could come back to hunt an impeached governor in later years when political camps changes. For now it is easy to run to public opinion as cover, when the contrary is the case. Allegations being leveled, especially some that are backed with documentary evidence needs to be either debunked, disproved or ap-

proved. The victim governor would definitely loose nothing by appearing before the panel no matter how fathom, to tear the documents or evidences to shreds.

Even if such efforts fails to save him, posterity would at least record that the victim governor was confident enough to defend such allegations when he was summoned by a statutory instrument of state to do so. Running away or shunning the panels is in itself a denigration of the constitution and in any way an acceptance of guilt. The public need to know the truth.

From conspiracy theorists to informed political sources, diverse reasons are being adduced, most of which point to the fact that the PDP is more concerned with maintaining grip on power at any cost

20 politics

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Adamawa Impeachment: How Betrayal Made Nyako A Political Orphan Was the former governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako a political orphan which eventually led to his impeachment? Was he abandoned by the same forces that hitherto sustained him in power? What was the role of his party in the twilight of his administration? MOHAMMED ISMIL writes.

T

he meeting convened by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun on Wednesday last week to discuss issues surrounding the impromptu removal of Governor Murtala Nyako came belatedly as the governor who was on the firing line of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP has been left on his own as the impeachment saga lasted.

The impeachment has raised many questions in the minds of Nigerians over the concerns of APC to its members who are in trouble as the party did not do anything substantial enough to save Governor Murtala Nyako’s job.

Because of the lackluster attitude of the party to the concerns of its members, the PDP had a field day as the impeachment saga in Adamawa lasted as the shortest exercise in the history of Nigeria’s contemporary politics.

The embattled governor had during the impeachment brouhaha cried out while speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa that the process embarked upon by the state lawmakers was not constitutional adding that he would call for President Jonathan’s intervention when the need arises.

The statement of the embattled governor was a pointer to the fact that all was not well as his story seemed to suggest that he was not getting the needed support and backing of his party, the APC which entailed his move to the presidency as a last resort to prevent the impeachment dagger around his neck.

As if the failure of the national leadership of his party was not enough, the party at the state level also failed to rally round the governor as the impeachment plot against him thickens.

Most of the party stalwarts who occupy positions and other juicy political offices through Nyako’s influence played double standards as they allegedly worked clandestinely to concede the party structures to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar with whom Nyako has had long drawn political rivalry.

Ironically, the APC government led by Nyako was in control of all the 21 local governments and 36 area administrations in the state with members of the National Assembly. But despite that, they did virtually nothing to rescue the governor from sinking.

In the same vein, efforts made by two chieftains of the party from the state namely former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Nuhu Ribadu could not yield any positive result due to what many said was the lack of commitment on their parts as they were likely to benefit

from his fall.

Political pundits opined that the impeachment move against the governor has provided Atiku Abubakar an ample opportunity to avenge the lethal political blow Nyako dealt on him even as the former Vice President when he played the “spoiler role” in the defeat suffered by Atiku during the last PDP presidential primaries where Nyako drummed support for President Goodluck Jonathan against Atiku who hails from the same state with him.

Analysts have described the relationship between the duo as a cosmetic one as a fallout of the recent APC congresses where Atiku played a second fiddle even as Nyako was again alleged to have denied him the chance of rooting his structure.

In the same vein, the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who is believed to be nursing political ambition was allegedly not comfortable with Nyako’s influence as the former governor was touted to be secretly supporting the ambition of his first child to succeed him.

It was also believed that the governor did not get any assistance from his political appointees whom many said were only in the system for the benefit they could derive and as such, when the governor was muddled up in the impeachment saga, none of them supported him, no wonder, the governor had to face the impeachment travails alone.

As if that was not enough, immediately after the impeachment sailed through, all the commissioners that served under Nyako started jostling for political offices in what many political pundits tagged mother of all betrayals.

Few minute after Fintiri, the Speaker of the state assembly was sworn as the Acting Governor of the State, the 21 Council Chairmen put in place by ousted Governor Nyako and their counterparts in the 36 Development Areas paid Fintiri a solidarity visit where they declared loyalty to the new administration.

But even the Acting Chief Judge of the state who was appointed by Nyako allegedly betrayed him as the Spokesman of the governor accused him of playing double standards on the issue of the impeachment against the governor.

But the worst betrayal was said to have come from the five wise men popularly called, “five snakes” in Adamawa parlance who were said to have cornered most of the juicy contracts and patronages of the government over the years and were said to be stupendously rich even beyond the state government

Nyako

but betrayed him when he needed their support most.

They were said to be behind the actions and inactions of the state government through which they ensured the looting of the state treasury beyond comprehension.

Earlier, the spokesman of governor Murtala Nyako Mallam Ahmad Sajoh had written a solemn article which portrayed the activities of many government officials and APC members who ditched the governor at the 11th hour as treacherous.

He said, “Events of the past few days have tasked all of us to limits.

Our faith has been tested to breaking points. Only very few people had the courage to face the anxieties of the moment with dignity and honour.

“Quite a number of people failed the test of faith during these turbulent days. We have had cases of people who lost faith and as a result vacillated from one level to the other. Others outrightly betrayed whatever trusts the system reposed in them. It was a period of great test. Betrayals were rampant and blame trading became a major pre-occupation. Everyone became a victim of his own failings.

Few people had sufficient faith to stand and be counted. The term honour lost meaning. Most people became victims of their own lack of faith. How the whole saga will end is only known to God, but the victims of it will be many.”

He added that, “Those who lost faith, honour, dignity and courage will be the greatest losers. Some people have already taken sides.

Some have shifted loyalty. A number of those who traditionally sit on the fence in matters of this nature have lost even the moral courage to remain neutral.

“They have shifted loyalties and created new allegiances. It needed a lot of courage to keep faith with

...immediately after the impeachment sailed through, all the commissioners that served under Nyako started jostling for political offices in what many political pundits tagged mother of all betrayals

what is right under the circumstances. Some lily-livered individuals have even found it necessary to come to me and “advise” me or is it warn me to tread carefully. Some reached out to people close to me.

I felt sad. Why will anyone think I am of the same stuff as they are?

Faith, dignity, honour and courage are the last virtues that will depart from me.

“And that will be on my death bed and not when I am alive and with all my faculties intact. I have faith in the fact that whatever happens to me is predestined by God Almighty. I have faith in the fact that God Almighty will always vindicate the just. I have faith in the fact that dignity, honour and courage have only black or white hues.

There are no shades of grey. If you dilute dignity with even a drop of debauchery, then it becomes indignity. If you mix honour with a pinch of dishonor, you loose the right to be honourable. Likewise any vacillation in courage is cowardice.”

He continued, “A number of people claim that they were either offended by what was written or said. I felt pity for such people.

They do not understand the essence of human existence. Benjamin Franklin, one of the former Presidents of the United States of America once said, ‘If all printers were not to print any thing till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little to print’.

I have made it a habit to just pen what I believe to be the truth under the circumstances regardless of whether some one feels hurt or not. After all, the Hausas will tell you that “Gaskiya rigar kaya” meaning, ‘the truth is a gown of thorns’.

“During these few days, I have noticed that highly respected persons have preferred to rely on their emotions rather than reasons. So many people have been subdued by inducements, while others by fear. It was a period that tested our abilities to breaking point.

How to handle such situations, how to wiggle out of such tight corners and how to keep afloat in the drowning sea of deception and subterfuge was a major concern for many.

“Each of us was required to fall back to their faith, but it failed them. A lot more needed to remember their dignity and honour, but these virtues departed them. Some people needed courage to withstand the rampaging site of defeat, but courage departed the Lily-livered.

However, the courageous will always snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. And victory may not always be in the manner expected.

Victory may come in a manner least expected. It can even come in the form of a defeat, but deep down it is victory. Some times, even the victory we seem to claim may come in with the seeds of our defeat. The Trojans had it in the form of a Greek gift. The courageous are always victorious no matter the outcome of a struggle”.

Abuja

20.07.2014

A-Z ALL THAT’S TRENDING

Abuja Is Beautiful Christiana Nwagboso CIVIL SERVANT

National Stadium: Home of The Eagles The 60, 491 seater ultra-modern multipurpose sports arena serves as home of the Nigerian national football team, and also a great sightseeing venue for tourists.

WHAT’S UP? The Africa Clean Energy Summit P30

WHERE’S BUZZING? Signature P31

WHAT TO BUY • Food Processor • Handheld Vacuum Cleaner • Blender • Juice Extractor P49

LISTINGS • Pharmacy

• Ice creams • Schools • Dental Clinics P52

SPOTLIGHT • • • •

Baytown Lounge Zankli Mrdical Centre Blue Uber Lounge The Bank P51

22 ABUJA A-Z/ WHAT’S UP?

City SIGHTINGS

Sunday, July 20, 2014

What’s Up?

upcoming events The Africa Clean Energy Summit

The Africa Clean Energy Summit is positioned to be one of the world’s foremost annual climate solution events in Africa, dedicated to advancing green cities, energy efficiency and clean technologies in Africa. 5:30 PM at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, 1 Aguiyi Ironsi Street. Monday, July 21, 2014 at 9:00 AM- Thursday, July 24

Singer

Singer and song writer, Enetimi Alfred Odom, popularly known as Timaya, was spotted at Hennessy and Moet Party at Avatar Lounge.

He was wearing a brown leather jacket over a black - T shirt and black jeans.

Rapper

Comedy Night

Eden Parks and Gardens brings you a special night set aside to make you laugh with the best comedy by several renowned and upcoming comedians.

7: 00 PM . EDEN PARK AND GARDENS OPP CHIDA HOTEL UTAKO. Sunday July 27.

Lirpa Lounge and Karokee bring you an evening of non-stop music till day break.

The evening will feature music performances and dance by different artistes.

7:00PM, LIRPA LOUNGE AND KAROKE BAR, HOUSE 12, 322 ROAD, 3RD AVENUE, CORNER SHOP, GWARINPA. Sunday July 27

Animation Summer Camp

Iyin creative brings you the first ever creative animation summer camp.

Brings you something different for your kids this holiday, tagged Iyin 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

Comedian

Popular comedian Gandoki was spotted at Henessy and Moet party at Avatar lounge in Wuse II. He was wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans.

He was seen discussing with his friends.

A-Z

The Video Fashion NG brings an evening of confident Styles, for designers in the Nigerian fashion industry and beyond to showcase their designs. Red carpet begins 4:00 PM, AT 3J’S HOTEL JABI ABUJA. Saturday July 26.

Battle of Vocals

Rapper Eedris Abulkareem was spotted at Wuse II. He was walking into Avatar Lounge. He was wearing a white t-shirt over white knickers and sneakers.

Abuja

Video Fashion Show NG

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.

Atlanta Summer Tour

Still wondering what will keep your kids busy during the holiday? Atlanta Summer Tour might be the answer. Here is an opportunity for kids between the ages of 10 and 18 to visit Atlanta in America. The Tour date, THURSDAY JULY 31ST – SATURDAY AUGUST 9, ORGANISED BY ROSEBUD PACKAGE TOURS SUITE C14, CHEMBIAN PLAZA 4TH Avenue Gwarinpa.

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. SILVERBED CINEMA ABUJA, Saturday August 2- Saturday August 30.

group EDITOR REPORTERS DESIGN

Amina Alhassan Ahman Zanswat Bowsan, 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, July 20, 2014

Where’s buzzing?

Pharmacy, Ice cream

SIGNATURE Signature is a full service restaurant and lounge.

They are located in Wuse II, Abuja. Their restaurant serves mouthwatering dishes to their customers.

They provide Africa cuisine, continental and international dishes. Signature also has a lounge that is luxuriously decorated with furniture to suit their customers taste and style. They also have an enclosed bush bar, an open air showground event center and a spa. Signature Spa combines the latest techniques in skincare and body treatment with the use of quality products. The spa offers several packages to their customers. These packages include the great escape, sugar and spice, simple pleasures, the great escape deluxe, couple’s special, ultimate escape, and birthday package.

38 Lingu Crescent Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II , Abuja.

Ice cream YogurBerry YogurBerry is a fresh yogurt shop with branches in Abuja.

YougurBerry is a combination of words Yogurt and Berry, which comes from the mixture of delicious frozen yogurt and fresh fruit. Originating from a small town in 2004, it has grown into 50 outlets in Korea only within 3 years of period.

Now YogurBerry is making a whole new trend in the ice cream industry by expanding itself worldwide including USA, Korea, China, Malaysia, Brazil, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Sudan, Macau and the United Arab Emirates. The Secret of YogurBerry yogurt ice cream comes from its freshness made at each outlet.

2 Bangui Street, off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT Red Berry Yogurt Craving for something sweet? Red Berries Yogurt might be might all you need. Red Berries Yogurt is one of the favourite yogurt places in Abuja which offers

different flavours of yogurt and excellent toppings, to go with the yogurt. The shop which is strategically situated in Wuse II has a great ambience which most of their customers find soothing and exciting. Apart from their yourguts, they also offer great smoothies and Parfait.

81 Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, By Sofa Lounge, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt was founded upon the ideas of providing high-quality, healthy frozen yogurt, and giving control back to our customers through a modern self-serve concept.

They combined these two ideas in Southern California when they began their great adventure in 2008, and have since become the largest self-serve frozen yogurt brand in the world! People can find independently owned and operated Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt stores throughout the United States and in more than 25 additional countries including Australia, Canada and Malaysia, with many more to come.

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt has developed over 100 flavours and

recipes for both naturally “tart” and traditional “creamy” flavors.

With plenty of flavours and fresh toppings, the possibilities are both endless and yummy.

112 Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II Hatlab Shops Hatlab seeks to become the preferred one stop-shop for traditional Italian ice cream and complimentary products in Nigeria. One most important aspects of Hatlab ice cream is that it is made fresh daily in their store. To combat the age-old problem of supply and demand, we have invested in and created the most up-to-date gelato production facility. Their ice cream shop allows them to create and produce fresh authentic Italian ice cream daily. Hatlab imports all its ingredients from Italy with the exception of milk and sugar to enable them stay consistent, authentic and to replicate the feel of ice cream shops in Italy.

Hatlab Place, plot 1952 Sokode Crescent, off Dalaba street, off Michael Opara street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

24 ABUJA A-Z/ WHERE’S BUZZING

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Chloe’s Cupcake Heaven Chloe’s Cupcake Heaven specializes in baking up the sweetest treats and custom cakes for any occasion customer’s satisfaction is a priority. They pay attention to detail while using the best and most natural ingredients to produce their home-baked goods. Bringing a taste of heavenly deliciousness to their customers remains our number one priority. Desserts at Chole’s Cupcake Heaven

are baked fresh every day from scratch in their shop kitchen in small batches, to ensure they are served at their best. Their low-fat ice-cream is made daily from scratch using the freshest and most natural ingredients without compromising on the taste and creaminess of the ice cream.

Plot 35 Ademola Adetokumbo crescent, wuse II

Pharmacy

H-Medix Pharmaceutical

Malbo Pharmacy & Stores Ltd

Pyramid Pharmacy Limited

H-Medix Pharmaceutical H-Medix Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a fully indigenous pharmaceutical outfit with several years of service delivery to their customers. Registered in Nigeria with Corporate Affairs Commission on the 14th of May, 2002, they commenced business with Certificate of Registration number RC. 477291 in the same year. Over the years, the pharmacy has been into sales, marketing, and after sales servicing of quality medical equipment, drugs, instrumentation and allied products. H-Medix committed to providing high quality products and services at competitive prices. They apply a very strict selective procedure, and they make all efforts for clients to pay the best prices for goods and services in the markets they operate in.

48, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Wuse II Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Alpha Pharmacy and Stores is one of the most trusted names in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry, with a goal to help all Nigerians attain perfect health of body and mind. the pharmacy started in1985, and over the years it has grown from modest beginnings to becoming a strategically positioned multiple branch network of Pharmacies for retail business, as well as depots and medical representative personnel for their wholesale and distribution network.

The pharmaceutical store currently has five retail

stores spreading over related to health and the east, west, north and wellness such as weight south of Nigeria. The store management, sexual is known nationwide as health and feminine the rare ethical stockist, hygiene. They also stock who would always go medical and diagnostic the extra mile to provide equipment, variety critical, ‘specialist’ products of toiletries, beauty nationwide. Its Abuja outlet products, mother and is strategically located at baby items, including Efab Shopping Mall. other items required for A01 & A11, Efab Shopping your daily needs.

Mall, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Abuja Suite A3, Rukayyat Plaza Plot 93 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Dependable Pharmacy Jabi- Abuja This is Dependable Pharmacy is a good combination Pyramid Pharmacy store for pharmaceutical Limited and household needs. The Pyramid Pharmacy Limited shop has a professional was incorporated in and qualified pharmacist 1997 for the purpose of who is in charge of providing high quality its pharmaceutical pharmaceutical services department. The pharmacy offer services such as free to meet up with the wide blood pressure check, gap in the health sector and free blood glucose in Nigeria and also to level check. The pharmacy provide the much needed has one aim, which is to community service in its improve the wellbeing immediate environment. of people around Kado Supply of high quality Lifecamp. pharmaceutical products C28, Gwarinpa Modern including hospital Market, Kado Lifecamp, consumables and Kado, Abuja, Nigeria. equipment to various Malbo Pharmacy & organizations including Stores Ltd government agencies are Malbo Pharmacy and Stores also one of the primary is one of the first online goals of the company. pharmaceutical stores in The company started Nigeria. the pharmacy as a small retail outlet was set up to their but has over the years customers, the delight recorded a modest growth and convenience of Online undertaking a wide range Pharmacy Services (OPS).

At MalboPharmacy.Com, of businesses in the customers are offered country. At present the the opportunity to fill-up pharmacy utilizes the their doctor’s prescription expertise of indigenous through the offerings technical and managerial of a broad spectrum of staff on a permanent Over The Counter (OTC) basis and possess a and Prescription Only modest number of Medicine (POM - subject pharmacists. to regulation). Apart from medications, the also offer Dabo Mall, 73, Ladoke wide range of products Akintola Boulevard Garki II

CEOConfidential #121, July 20, 2014

POPULAR WITH CEOS

ERADICATING FAKE DRUGS >27

>31 MISTAKES BUSINESSES MAKE

MISTAKE 39:THINKING MARKETS WILL NEVER CHANGE >41 BOOSTING SALES

BIG BUSINESS INSPIRES BIG IDEAS >46 TIPOFFS

5 LESSONS BUSINESS LEADERS CAN LEARN FROM GERMAN SOCCER

• Brian Kuwik

Senior vice president, Accion

KUWIK’S COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL INCLUSION

26 CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

in brief ESSENTIALS

10 Questions for...

FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Isaac Okpanachi CEO ZICFLO NIG LTD

Embrace problems “When you confront a problem you begin to solve it”

Rudy Giuliani, 1944Major of New York City at the time of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade centre on September 11, 2001. Named as Time magazine ‘Person of the Year’ in 2001.2, he was given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II. Everyone enjoys games and puzzles that tax our intellect and make us think.

You are taught to solve problems every day, from what to have for breakfast to managing a route home through rush-hour traffic.

Solving business problems is no different , except for the fact that you have no previous point of reference or experiences to help you. For example, if you haven’t faced an employee’s resignation before, it feels a much bigger issue than it actually is.

When faced with a new situation or problem, gather information, research the different choices and make a decision.

When things get tough, keep going “I wanted to be an editor or a journalist, I wasn’t really interested in being an entrepreneur, but I soon found I had to an entrepreneur in order to keep my magazine going” Richard Branson, 1950-

British entrepreneur whose first successful business venture was at age 16, best known for his Virgin brand encompassing more than 200 companies worldwide.

The difficulties of starting your own business put many people off from the start and so they don’t do it. A little bit of fear can help by giving you clarity of thought and willingness to succeed in adversity, but you need to be able to conquer your fear of failure to ensure business success.

Whatever your natural temperament, you have to become an entrepreneur when you start a new venture. You have to overcome stumbling blocks and seemingly insurmountable problems by using entrepreneurial skills and attitudes.

In times of adversity, focus on the core issues and be persistent.

IF YOU’LL BE...

Joseph Safra

Chairman, Safra Group Let your family successes rub on you Having been born into a wealthy family with a rich history in banking that originated with caravan trade between Aleppo, Alexandria and Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire, the Safra family decided to move to Brazil in 1952 to expand their successes. With each member of the family moving out independently and being successful, the onus also fell on Safra to toe the lines of the others and come out equally successful. He founded Banco Safra in 1955 and today it is reportedly the 6th largest private bank in Brazil. He remains the chairman of the Safra Group, offering banking services throughout Europe, North and South America.

Expand your business. Don’t stay stagnant In 2012, Safra purchased Bank Sarasin, a private bank based in Switzerland for only $2bn. He then merged it with a bank in Bahamas and his other European Holdings to establish Bank J. Safra Sarasin. He recently acquired the remaining shares of Safra Group companies from his brother Moise Safra.

In 2013, his family acquired more than a dozen properties in the U.S., primarily in New York City and owns a portfolio of commercial real estate in Brazil as well.

– By Olujide Olusola

TIMELESS TRUTHS Try not to make decisions for others “As a leader, I try not to make decisions for others. Sure, being a dictator is often the fastest way to get things done. But it is not a process that allows an organisation to sustain growth.

I want the people in my organisation to learn the lessons that come with making decisions: that everything is a compromise, that nothing is ever completely logical, but that you can deal with things through a logical decision-making process.

Pamea Lopker, founder and president, QAD

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?

Travel agency business has been my age-long dream but I would prefer someone else do it because I have a fortune in my current business.

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

Hmmm. RMD in the Nigerian home movies. I see him to be someone who’s very professional.

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

Any one that can guarantee the welfare of Nigerians and would not serve the interest of few rich men.

4. Whom would you trade places with?

Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic.

5. It’s 8 p.m. and you are travelling alone on business. What do you do all night?

In fact, I really need to cross all my Ts and dot all my Is against tomorrow. I also have to get some time to sleep so I can wake up agile in the morning and be able to accomplish my mission for the business trip.

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

I would have been in the United States. Who knows, by now, I would have been far better than what I am now.

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

I have learnt that sometime when things get so rough and tough, if I stay on it without getting discouraged; I make a great headway in no distant time.

8. What have you sacrificed for success?

So many things: pleasure of being with friends sometimes, having to wake up early and sleeping late, etc.

9. What do you consider your favourite achievement?

Ability to persevere even in the face of daunting challenges.

10. What is your motto?

Life is a trust from God; we will all give accounts someday!

Interview by Daniel Udechukwu

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, July 20, 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 Clerks

DG, NAFDAC, Paul Orhii

Counterfeited drugs being set ablazed

Eradicating fake drugs In Africa’s most populous country of some 170 million people, countless products have a prettily packaged and cheaper imitation for sale.

Medicines are no exception.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that the trade in counterfeit and sub-standard drugs is worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually in Nigeria and about US $32bn worldwide.

The problems of fake drug proliferation in Nigeria have affected the credibility of the Healthcare system and can exert very harmful effects on the consumer resulting to illness; disability and even death and anyone can be a victim. Some of the incidences have resulted in death even among children because most times the consumers do not know the quality of what they

Read

are buying or taking. This makes it imperative that there is need to intensify effort in fake drug eradication.

Globally, the business is worth about $75bn annually. That is the quantity of fake drugs circulating internationally; it is more globalised and with the former hard drug barons now entering the business, it has become more militarised.

It is now more dangerous fighting counterfeit drugs and are more sophisticated.

The director general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii has not hidden his disdain for merchants of fake drugs whom he often tagged: “Merchants of death.”

NAFDAC is fully empowered to regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement,

Ian Read, CEO, Pfizer “The problem is much more wide spread than one would think, our company confirmed more than 50 fakes of its drugs in at least 101 countries just last year.”

BIZ Lingo

Bench warrant

Obi

An order issued by a judge for an absent defendant to be arrested and brought before a court. It is a process that is initiated by the court procedure in order to attach or arrest a person. Also, it is an order that a judge, or group of judges, issues directly to the police with the purpose of directing a person’s arrest.

A bench warrant is used for attachment or arrest in a case of contempt, which is the wilful

distribution, sale and use of drugs in order to ensure that safe and quality drugs are available to the public.

As NAFDAC tasks itself dutifully in fighting fake drugs, more challenges come up from unscrupulous drug dealer. However, there has been a steady drop in the number of fake medicines on the streets of Nigeria, according to the NAFDAC survey sponsored by the WHO and the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID). This is to ensure that drugs are made available to the people by working within the confines of the law of the land and Nigeria can be seen as making the attempt of the health related MDG’s which cannot be achievable if there are no good quality or safe drugs.

Nnamdi Obi, CEO, Embassy Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Limited, “Fake drugs business is a billion of dollars international business which perpetrators are not ready to let go unless checkmated through concerted efforts of government, relevant agencies, and the people.” disregard or disobedience of an authority such as the court. A bench warrant is also issued when an indictment, which is a written accusation of a person’s guilt for an act or omission, is handed down. A third instance where a bench warrant is issued is to obtain a witness who disobeys a subpoena, which is a command to appear at a specified time and place to present testimony upon a certain matter.

The prerequisites for growth are the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.

Bruce Mau,

Founder, Bruce Mau Design

If you do not like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less.

Gen. Eric Shinseki,

U.S. Army Chief of Staff

Ethics and religion must stay at home when we go to work. cardinal Achille silvestrini,

Author

The hysterical look at life behind a convenience store counter has gone on to develop a cult following, despite the frugal budget of $27,575. Clerks really is the story of your average slacker working-class stiff.

And this is why this is a great business movie: the majority of people in business that you will have to win over could care less about making it to the corner office; most are interested in their paycheck.

hear MD, LNG Nigeria, Babs Omotowa; CEO/FCIPM, Sunday Adeyemi, at the 46th Annual Conference, Abuja

With the theme: “Switched On,” the conference features talks on Youth Empowerment & Employability, The Security Terrain & the Implication for Business, HR Metrics and Analytics for Value Creation, among others. The event holds at the Abuja International Conference Centre, (ICC Abuja), from October 14-16, 2014.

taste Chicago, Illinois

Doubling as a food and music festival, Taste of Chicago brings together the city’s top restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks for a five-day feast. Since 1980, Grant Park along the city’s picturesque lakefront has played host to the world’s largest outdoor food festival.

FEEL Salmon festival, Cordova, Alaska

There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than a trip to Alaska for the annual Copper River Wild!

Salmon Festival. And there’s never a dull moment during the Taste of Cordova Salmon Cook-Off when amateur cooks pit their recipes against each other to be named King of Salmon.

SMELL Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgement. mulla nasreddin,

Middle-eastern folk hero

Baby Phat golden goddess

Baby Phat Golden Goddess by Kimora Lee Simmons is a Oriental Vanilla fragrance for women. Baby Phat Golden Goddess was launched in 2006.

Top note is champagne; middle notes are syringa, lily and orchid; base notes are patchouli, caramel, vanilla flower and vetiver.

28 CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

The CEOConfidential interview

CEOConfidential

Kuwik’s commitment to financial inclusion Kuwik has played active roles in governance and provided strategic and financial advice for startups. Helping low income earners to reduce costs to fufil their economic potential is what drives him. INTERVIEW BY ANYASODO SALOME

KUWIK IN SHORT Brian Kuwik leads and manages Accions operations and relationships with partners in Africa. He is the senior vice president and regional head, Africa, Accion. He recently served as resident advisor and senior manager for Accion partners in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Haiti and supported the design and start-up of new institutions in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.

Kuwik sits on the board of partners’ banks, plays an active role in governance and provides strategic and financial advice.

He holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Washington and a B.A in International Development from American University. Before joining Accion in 2001, Kuwik worked with Small Entreprise Foundation in rural South Africa and was a Fulbright researcher in Cameroon.

I spend most of my morning focusing on my activities...

I wake up early and prepare for the day. I ensure my kids are ready for school; I drive them their (school) and head to the office. I spend most of my morning focusing on activities in the office. Later in the day, I focus more on coordinating and collaborating with our team, especially with the head office in the United States. Usually, I travel a third to half of my time for board meetings.

I meet with investing banks and micro-finance banks we have around the region [I travel to]. I also ensure I meet with various committees, and management of the banks to better understand what they are doing.

Accion...

Accion is a global nonprofit organisation, focused on improving financial inclusion around the world. Based in Cameroon and Central Africa, Accion has been around since 1961 in Brazil. It was set up by new graduates from the universities in the United States and over the past 53 years, it has gone from community work to micro-financing and inclusion. Fourteen years ago, Accion started

working in Africa and has invested in several micro finance banks, other types of technology, and service companies. Also, Accion contributes to improving financial inclusion.

I am very passionate about financial inclusion...

I have been living and working in Africa and Haiti for the last 20 years. I am very passionate about financial inclusion. I ensure that low and middle income earners have little access to full range of quality financial services, and that they themselves are able to build and manage their own financial capabilities, which is an important element.

Furthermore, helping them make informed decisions not just about access but about how to use the services. This is because if one is just providing access to a service and does not feel interested or use it on a regular basis, then they are not fully included into the formal financial system which enables them to reduce their own cost especially for low income earners who have very high cost when it comes to transacting and managing day to day activities.

Just providing the service or product in

itself is not so exciting, but when one sees the individuals take their own initiative and are able to use the service to fulfil their own potential, that is really what I am most passionate about and it is actually more exciting.

We operate in countries with very challenging terrains...

As a non-profit organisation, we operate in countries with very challenging terrains and have a double bottom line as we ensure that there are both financial and social returns, because our philosophy is to generate financial returns that are sustainable, and show other private investors that the business of financial inclusion is very viable.

I learn something new by observing and listening...

We have had success through determination and we have persevered through very difficult times. The most important thing is being able to listen to clients and learn from their experiences on how they use informal financial mechanisms as well as the formal banking sector to realise their goals. Every day, I learn something new by observing and listening to them.

At times, one may not be able to achieve work-life

balance on a daily basis...

It is important to have a work-life balance. At times, one may not be able to achieve it on a daily basis. Having a personal faith is an important foundation for remaining centred and focused as it helps in other areas, especially to know how to prioritise family, work and achieving that balance. And what helps me in my faith. I also love to play football with my boys or checkers, go dancing with my wife and have family dates.

Always think of what happens next...

The key thing is to always think of what happens next and not just thinking about today. As CEO’s and leaders, one has to think ahead. What is going to happen tomorrow and what are the risks ahead? How can they be overcome? What does one want to achieve in overcoming those risks in general? What is the end goal of all these? What is the short-term objective apart from the long-term already set aside that guides through what is done? These and many more are questions leaders should always ask.

KUWIK ON LEADERSHIP As a leader, one has to think ahead. What is going to happen tomorrow and what are the risks ahead? How can they be overcome?

45

CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

initiatives

29

Lere Baale, lerebaale@gmail.com

Leadership Inspiration Series for Excellence (LIFE Series)

Developing Africa’s next generation of transformational leaders (II) Africa’s economic, political, and technological transformation is attracting companies and executives alike from the West. This is causing an unprecedented demand for talent management, revealing a shortage of well-trained local leadership talent, and highlighting the region’s need for executive education and development focused on global leadership competencies. Various Governmental Ministries of Education and Establishment will need to start the training of various cadres of University students and government staff on leadership in order to develop in them world class leadership competencies that can be used to take full advantage of Africa’s attractive and growing business environment instead of relying on expatriates for almost every role.

The lack of leadership talent in Africa was first noted in the late 1980s when Western firms set up operations in Africa to take advantage of the low-cost labour force and growing business opportunities.

These companies relied heavily on expatriates and African returnees (African natives educated in the West) to fill management roles.

Surprisingly, this reliance on expats continues today,

OTHER BIZ

Buffet

even though companies recognize that expats are expensive and don’t always grasp regional cultural norms well enough to lead the local workforce effectively. And although returnees are less expensive and more culturally attuned, their effectiveness can be hampered by negative perceptions of local workers sceptical of their Western education and resentful of their higher salaries. With the stakes in Africa higher than ever before, companies are beginning to acknowledge the need for executive education focused on developing the specific competencies necessary for effective global leadership.

Although this lack of local leadership talent is not stopping companies from relocating to Africa, it is causing a move away from traditional Western hierarchical organisational structure. According to an Economist Intelligence Unit survey, 78 per cent of 572 global executives said they plan to establish more cross-border teams by 2015.

This new organisational model is causing a shift toward an internationalised, mobile talent market. These fundamental changes in organisational structure and talent management strategies are creating new paradoxical challenges for global leaders that should inform companies’ leadership

‘The lack of leadership talent in Africa was first noted in the late 1980s when Western firms set up operations in Africa to take advantage of the low-cost labour force and growing business opportunities’ development programs.

First, as workforces become more globally integrated, they become larger and more disparate. That means a leader must be able to gain the cooperation of non-reports, making the competency of influence essential to success in a global assignment.

Second, companies must build a global brand that attracts customers and talent from all over the world while effectively managing local operations. That means leaders must be able to understand the culture(s) of their workforce, employer, and target customer, and act accordingly.

Third, even as companies seek to build a contingent and agile workforce, companies must engender loyalty among their workforce. That means global leaders must be able build a corporate culture of trust in spite of culture and diversity and the increased uncertainty that is common in emerging markets.

In an effort to meet the growing demand for leadership talent, South Africa and Nigeria are positioning themselves as continental executive

leadership development hubs.

The leadership programs offered are as varied as the literature on global leadership. Topics include cross-cultural understanding and boundary-spanning; strategic thinking; and interpersonal and social intelligence, flexibility, and capacity. Although all these topics are important, the successful global leadership curriculum will begin with experiences that enhance self-awareness. Increasing self-awareness can have significant impact on a leader’s effectiveness in any assignment, but especially in a global one.

A proven approach to developing self-awareness in executive leaders according to Mussel-white and Chow is a three-dimensional strategy of assessment, action-learning, and coaching.

Assessment equals awareness Self- and multi-rater assessment can identify unique mental models and personal and cultural preferences. Gaining awareness about how we are similar to and different from others mentally and

culturally can provide insight into the blind spots between our intentions and our behaviours. For most executives, directly addressing these blind spots can be the fastest route to improving personal effectiveness. Simulation can be the best way to practice these new behaviours until they feel “natural.”

Action Learning equals deep understanding Experiential action learning provides a risk-free and realistic environment in which a leader can clearly and quickly experience the relationship between behaviours and consequences. By compressing the learning horizon—which, according to Peter Senge, is the interval of time between our behaviour and understanding the consequences of our behaviour—action learning brings about understanding via a steep learning curve.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

Buffett donates $2.8bn, breaks personal giving record Warren Buffett has bested his own personal philanthropy record once again, donating $2.8bn to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and several other charities as part of his annual giving pledge. The gifts given top last year’s $2.6bn donation.

The Berkshire Hathaway CEO’s latest gift of more than 21.7m shares of Berkshire Hathaway class B stock valued at $128.98 per share, decreases his personal fortune from $65.9bn down to $63.1bn. He slips one spot on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people,

moving into 4th behind clothing and real estate magnate Amancio Ortega.

This years gift includes 16.59m shares worth $2.1bn for the Gates Foundation, the philanthropy operation of the world’s second-richest man Bill Gates ($79bn), which focuses on causes like ending world poverty, aiding U.S. schools and improving birth control technology.

He also gave away $215m to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, an organisation named for his late wife that provides scholarships for

education. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation and the NoVo Foundation run by his children Howard, Susan and Peter, respectively , each received gifts worth $150m.

Buffett and Gates, longtime partners in giving, are the world’s most generous philanthropists as well as the leading advocates of giving to other fellow billionaires. Buffett, who has pledged to give away 99% of his fortune, has given away nearly $23bn so far.

Gates leads all givers with $28bn.

30 CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

situation reports Compiled by Olujide Olusola

Brand Beginnings Winning brands from 2014 FIFA World Cup

Beats by Dre created online buzz with its ‘The Game Before The Game’ campaign

The world’s biggest sporting event ended on Sunday, but for those brands, sponsors and companies who invested millions of dollars in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the internal conversation of whether or not their investment contributed to their organization’s bottom line will be ongoing for the coming weeks.

Even prior to the first match in mid-June, ambush marketers utilized the Internet and social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter to generate buzz around their individual campaigns. Electronics and headphones company, Beats by Dre, captured the world’s attention with its five-minute clip highlighting footballers’ pre-match routine. The spot featured Brazil’s Neymar along with other well-known players and celebrities, including ESPN’s Stuart Scott, United States men’s national team soccer member Jozy Altidore, tennis star Serena Williams and newly-acquired Cleveland Cavalier, LeBron James.

If Beats by Dre had been a FIFA sponsor, its fiveminute clip might have turned into a 30-second commercial piece due to the official partnership totaling millions of dollars. At the same time, Beats’ use of top-tier talent for its creative would have been significant less.

While Mingey said it is “too early to tell” if there exists a dilution of official FIFA sponsorship by nonsponsors, it is certainly at the forefront of marketers’ conversations when they’re considering investing significant dollars to gain official sponsorship status of a mega event.

“The proliferation of social media by non-sponsors — particularly on the recent World Cup stage — is going to make a lot of us scratch our head and take a deeper look,” Mingey said. “One will be left to wonder in the very near future if it will take a significant change in policy or legislation to better protect the official rights of the partners. Without it, it’s likely that the value of a well-executed ambush marketing campaign will only become more attractive.”

Despite the presence of ambush marketers, official sponsors still capitalized on their partnership with FIFA. Brands like Anheuser-Busch InBev and adidas were present both on the pitch as well as online. As Mingey noted, AB InBev matched the sideboards

around each stadium to the national beer brands of the teams playing.

For example, if United States was playing, ‘Budweiser’ signage could be seen close to the pitch. During Brazil matches, the company pushed Brahma, the national beer. While viewed as a minor detail, it is the forethought and the subsequent execution that then makes individuals, like Mingey, tip their “marketing cap” to AB InBev. “They were very much acting with their finger on the pulse making sure the side boards were reflecting the most appropriate national beer for the global viewing audience, particularly the audience in that home nation,” he added.

Through its social media marketing efforts and the ‘All In Or Nothing’ campaign, adidas became the most talked about brand related to the 2014 FIFA World Cup as its social media followers increased by 5.8 million across all major platforms. Its strategic and deliberate creation of planned and reactive content helped drive the brand’s conversation online.

“This World Cup has been an outstanding success for adidas and clearly underlines our position as the world’s leading football brand,” said adidas Group CEO Herbert Hainer.

Additionally, KT Tape, which served as the official kinesiology therapeutic tape supplier for the U.S. men’s national team, saw an uptick in 4-5 percent sales growth during the month-long spectacle, according to President John McKay. Besides official sponsors and ambush marketers, there were ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ on the athlete side as well. Uruguay’s Luis Suarez perhaps made the most noise at the World Cup — and for the wrong reasons.

“What price did Suarez pay for the bite?” asked Mingey, a question on everyone else’s mind as well.

In Uruguay’s final group match against Italy, Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini, which ultimately resulted in a nine-match international ban and a four-month suspension.

“Suarez is one of the world’s top players who might have met his final strike from a marketing perspective,” said Mingey, who noted that 888 Poker had already cut ties with Barcelona’s newest striker.

“He is an incredible talent on the pitch but marketers will have to think long and hard about associating their brand with his image and personality and what type of baggage could be associated with him.”

Added Cristiano Junqueira, Director of Planning at Saravah, a Brazil-based content and branding design firm: “I believe that any brand should be aware that, in the heat of such an important match, any athlete has the chance to lose his mind one day — as Suarez did. Once Suarez is an idol, I believe he will probably be hurt in the short-term, especially if we imagine that the future achievements in his career will probably make this episode less significant to his image in the long-term.

Management IDEAS

Core competence

A core competence is something you do better than anyone else.

Indeed, the large companies at which this theory is directed should be doing it to world-class standards.

It produces a core product or an efficiency, which is not an end product, but is a vital component of a range of end products. Being world class at making a rather ordinary component, something that many others produce will not bestow competitive advantage. So core

competencies open the way to many different markets. And as companies think about how to exploit these competencies, they are more likely to come up with innovations.

A core competence makes a disproportionate contribution to customer value and must be judged relative to the competition. It should be something your competitors wish they had. It is not about outspending your rivals in research and development.

ADVICE

Five lessons business executives must learn from Stephen Keshi The most important stakeholder in any business are the customers and in football the fans, but fans do not win games, managers do and when the team loses, they bear the brunt, most of the time alone. It is therefore important to have the right character to ensure a balance in your relationship as a manager with the management of the team, fans and the players.

It’s a tough job, but when done right and tactics gotten straight, voila! The team enjoys success and everyone is happy.

Always seek to maximise potential When Keshi took over the Super Eagles in 2011, the team he inherited had seemingly come to the end of their time with the national team. With his team in place, Keshi ensured that everyone made up for an obvious lack of stellar quality with commitment.

Simply put, he squeezed out every drop of the ability and barely 18 months after first taking the job, he delivered a first AFCON title in 19 years. Like Keshi, many entrepreneurs and business persons are faced with some deficiencies in their teams. While there can be no substitute for competence, the Keshi example has proven that getting the most out of a team can deliver exemplary results. One person might not be good enough but when complimented by others, the team can not only prevail but can accomplish.

Play to your strengths A consistent rhetoric when describing Keshi’s team was that they were ‘difficult to beat’. Keshi never tried to imitate Spain’s tikitaka or Dutch Total Football. He played to his strengths and as a consequence, he won-and lost- on his own terms. Playing to your strengths will always be a better alternative as opposed to being the second best of an imitation.

Attempting to be another company or start-up means unconsciously playing a game of catch-up. Instead, building a business on the pillars of the strength of your team is the best way to go.

Manage difficult relationships Keshi’s love-hate relationship with his employers, the Nigerian Football Federation is public knowledge. Almost every step of the way, the NFF second guessed Keshi and questioned his decisions- sometimes openly.

The truth is that the NFF will probably behave the same way with any other boss but Keshi deserves immense credit for managing what was, without question, a hardly conducive work environment. In business, people skills are key and excellent relationships within and outside companies and businesses go a

Stephen Keshi long way in ensuring critical success. Managing them well can yield many great results and managing those relationships is a skill that must be perfected over the years.

Optimise positions of strength After winning the AFCON in February 2013, Keshi announced his resignation from the post.

He was later reinstated but only after being convinced and given much needed reassurances by none other than the President of Nigeria. Keshi probably did not want to resign but his calculated risk ensured that his hand was stronger and his political capital at an all time high. Calculated risks such as this are part and parcel of business but executing them poorly or at the wrong time can see fingers burned. To strengthen your hand in a deal, maximise the moment when you’re in a position of power.

Do it right and you will be even stronger.

Manage expectations Somehow, Stephen Keshi has perfected the method of underpromising but over delivering.

Starting with the 2013 AFCON when he took a team of 23, sixteen of whom were debutants to the tournament only to return with the title. And then months later with a debut Nigeria performance at the CHAN tourney when he took a team of local based Eagles all the way to the semi-finals of a tournament they had tried and failed to qualify for the event in all previous occasions. And then to the World Cup in South Africa when he became the first African manager to lead a team to the Round of 16.

All these achievements pale when compared to more illustrious names in football but, in terms of Nigerian football, Keshi is a resounding success mainly because he managed expectations excellently. For people in leading business positions, underpromising and over-delivering is a win-win because more often than not, the sole way to achieve this is to get a focused team working with a uniform goal in mind, undeterred by the weight of expectations from the public.

CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

getting ahead

31

Duncan Bannatyne, Britain’s best-known entrepreneur

Mistakes Businesses Make MISTAKE 39

DIFFERENTIATE OR DIE

Thinking markets will never change

DDB tries to double back

‘You become set in your ways’ You set up your business.

You find a regular supply of customers. You establish great relationships with your suppliers.

Your revenue easily outstrips your costs. All you have to do form now on to enjoy a very nice income is to maintain the status quo. Easy.

Losing touch with reality For a few years it might well be easy, but then – so slowly it might take you years to realise it – your customers begin to tail off and your profits start a gentle slide. It doesn’t matter too much because you’re still in profit and your income hasn’t dropped sharply enough to spur you into making changes.

What happens next is … nothing.

You become set in your ways. You think you know your business and your industry; after all, you’ve been doing it for decades.

And then, finally, you dip into the red and are forced to acknowledge that maybe you need to ‘move with the times’. Christ, you say to yourself, the fact that I’m even saying something like ‘move with the times’ must mean I’m past it.

Then you tell yourself that you’re not going to give up without a fight. You’re going to re-launch,

BUSINESS ICONS

up your game an reclaim your lost customers.

Now, one of the two things may happen. Either you: a) pick yourself up and go and hunt down your old customers and find that they have discovered a business to replace yours (and they wouldn’t go back to you because they think you’re so dated); or b) your business has been so poorly run for so long that you don’t have the funds in the bank to re-launch, or too tired and bitter to take it on.

Consequently, one way or another, your once-successful business goes down the pan.

This may sound like an exaggerated scenario, but I bet you could walk down any high street in Britain and spot a business that fits this particular bill. It might be a gentlemen’s outfitters that’s lucky to sell a couple of dressing gowns in the run-up to Christmas or a few tweeted hats when the grouse season starts, or a bookshop that feels like a library rather than a place you can discuss the latest thriller with a mate, or a nationwide chain that never seems to stock anything you will

Doyle Dane was founded in 1949. DDB capitalised on its fiftieth anniversary as a way to burnish its reputation and stand out from myriad competition.

As reported in the New York TIMES, agency head Keith Reinhard stated, “We are trying to reclaim the Bernbach legacy. The Doyle Dane heritage represents a brand equity we should leverage.”

While trying to double back on that heritage is a nice idea, it won’t cover up the basic problem that this heritage belongs to a name that’s long gone. As one of the creative alumni said in that same article, “A horrible mistake was made when they changed the name after the merger. It was like changing the name of Coca-Cola.”

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

It’s too late, Keith. Bill Bernbach’s heritage has been buried with his agency’s name.

Leadership lessons CONTINUES FROM LAST WEEK

Jack Welch, former CEO, GE

DDB Worldwide Communications is a large advertising agency that is the successor agency to Doyle Dane Bernbach, the organisation that many claim invented modern advertising.

like any more.

Britain’s high streets are full of visible examples of businesses failing their markets. And if look up at the businesses that operate above those shops, or on industrial estates or in financial districts, you will find businesses that also in a terminal decline.

Imagine, for example, a logistics company that hadn’t let its clients track deliveries online, or a wholesaler that didn’t take credit cards.

In the 1990s, one of the greatest British brands nearly hit the buffers. Marks and Spencer (M&S) had thought that there would always be a market for its dependable range of unfussy clothing, but its customers thought differently. M&S’s clothes began to look dated and the fact that they didn’t take credit cards other than their own expensive charge card – which seems utterly unbelievable now – meant that they were turning away customers who might otherwise have bought something. Profits slumped, the share price plummeted and the business was nearly taken over.

20-70-70 Plan. Welch strongly believes in differentiation-treating Company Values. Welch also looks people differently based on their at managers in terms of their values performance. He asked his managers and whether they match those of to separate everyone into the top 20 the company. If managers’ values per cent, the middle 70 per cent, and don’t match up, they should be let go the bottom 10 per cent, and then act immediately, no matter what their on that. He suggests that most of the performance is like. If managers’ values do match but their performance effort and rewards should go into the top 20 per cent performers while not is suffering, they should be mentored or moved around and given additional neglecting the middle 70 per cent. This middle group is the chances. majority and is very much needed.

All GE employees had wallet-sized Managing this group is about training, value cards that they carried around positive feedback, and thoughtful goal with them.

setting.

The bottom 10 per cent should be fired immediately. Welch believes these people can go on to successful careers at other companies, but in a top company, you need top performers.

Welch is relentless about this. Pay highest wages, but have lowest wage costs-pay for good people; dump the ones you don’t need. This process, although painful, was made easier at GE, which could afford to pay very good severance packages.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

32 CEOConfidential

housekeeping

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Compiled by Olujide Olusola

The world’s most liked technology CEOs

Jeff Weiner Jeffrey “Jeff ” Weiner is an American businessman. He is the chief executive officer of LinkedIn, a business-related social networking website.

He started with LinkedIn in December 2008 as Interim President. You can follow him at Linkedin @JeffWeiner.

Marc Benioff Marc Russell Benioff is the founder, chairman and CEO of salesforce.com, a cloud computing company. Benioff started salesforce.com in March 1999 in a rented San Francisco apartment and defined its mission as The End of Software You can follow Marc Benioff on Twitter @ Benioff and on LinkedIn.

Paul Jacobs Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Executive Chairman at Qualcomm Incorporated, a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services.

Jerry M. Kennelly

Brad D. Smith, Brad Smith became Intuit’s president and chief executive officer in January 2008. Before being named CEO, Smith was senior vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Small Business Division You can follow Brad Smith on LinkedIn and on Twitter @IntuitBrad.

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is an American computer programmer, Internet entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is best known as one of five cofounders of the social networking website Facebook You can follow Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook.

Before being named CEO in August 2011, Tim was Apple’s Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-toend management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. You can follow Brad Smith on Tim Cook on Twitter @tim_cook.

Lawrence “Larry” Page is an American business magnate and computer scientist who is the co-founder of Google, alongside Sergey Brin. On April 4, 2011, Page succeeded Eric Schmidt as the chief executive officer of Google. You can follow Larry Page on google. com/+LarryPage.

Frank D’Souza

Tim Cook John J. Donahoe

Chairman and CEO of Riverbed Technology, prior to founding Riverbed, Kennelly spent six years at Inktomi Corporation, an infrastructure software company, where he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.

He Kennelly currently serves on the board of directors of Nimble Storage.

Larry Page

John Donahoe II is president and CEO of eBay Inc.. In March 2005 he was hired as president of eBay Marketplaces. His role was to focus on eBay’s core business, which accounts for a large percentage of the company’s revenuesyou can follow John Donahoe on LinkedIn and on Twitter @ Donahoe_John.

He is among the youngest Chief Executive Officers in the software services sector.

Francisco D’Souza, who goes by Frank, is the CEO of Cognizant and was part of the team that founded the NASDAQ-100 company in 1994. In 2007, at the age of 38, he took over from Lakshmi Narayanan, who was promoted to Vice Chairman You can follow Frank D’Souza on LinkedIn.

40

A GIRL’S GUIDE

HOW TO COPE WITH BEING BROKE

et cetera ...AND OTHER THINGS July 20, 2014

NUDITY IS A WRONG FASHION SENSE

Wish List

Amina Mohammed loves Chanel Grand Extrait Collection

P34

The Twitterati

Seun Kuti tweets on motivation P39

Photo: winknpout.files.wordpress.com

34

et cetera

How I feel about...

BEING PSYCHOLOGIST EVANGELINE UDENYI, 24 As a child, I grew up believing that I could do whatever I want, that I could be my dream. So I went off dreaming of being an astronaut, at some other time it was to be a professional player of video games and I ended my childhood career fantasies with being a Chemical Engineer.

This was born because I felt challenged when I was told that women could not be Chemical Engineers. So, I took the challenge and started learning things about being a chemical Engineer.

As I grew up, I realised my desires, likes and thoughts towards a career began to change and go a direction totally different from what I had dreamt about as a child. I was confronted with a challenge, the line of thought that asks if it was profitable. My uncles then will ask me, “What are the job opportunities for this line of career?” This was the slowly fading age where “professional jobs” such as being a doctor or an Engineer where still the preferred line for anyone. Since I had the backing of my parents I went ahead to do what I loved.

After it all, I became a Psychologist. I loved and still love two things: understanding people (Psychology) and writing.

My love for these two things has caused me the greatest Joy. When I speak to people, either giving a causal advice or counsel or my professional opinion about a case, it gives me the greatest joy. When Individuals working on a strategy call me to give my advice on a project or a line of action they are about to take, I do not see it as work, you can call it, a serious hobby. Also, my educational understanding about Human Beings has helped my writing greatly, I love to write to inspire and motivate people to become all they can be, and also to give people a different perspective about life and people because I truly believe that knowing some of these things will greatly change the way we relate to others and invariably make our family experience, work experience and friendships better than they are. The final step for me is to properly develop and build on what I do, it’s not enough that I love what I do. I strive to be excellent in it.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

AMINA MOHAMMED

WISH LIST

Mercedes GLK 2014: I love Mercedes Benz

Cartier bracelet: I love the yellow gold with diamonds.

The civil servant reveals some of her wishes to Zanswat Bowsan

A diamond ring: The Tiffany Embrace engagement ring is all I want $10,000,000: Yes I want it all

Piaget emperador temple wrist watch

DILEMMA

Chanel grand extrait collection: I can only imagine how good I will feel

DO I TELL HIM MY REAL AGE?

In a light-hearted weekly column, we take a wry look at the problems of modern life Goodday, I like the way you answer questions on your column because they are quite hilarious.

I am a 36 years old lady and i am quite financillay comfortable. I have been praying for marriage and i recently meet a really good man who wants to marry me. Because i have a small stature i lied at the begining of our relationship that i was 28. i honestly did not think that he was going to be serious. we have gone for introductions and guilt has been killing me because of the fact that he does not know my

et cetera group

real age. He told me he was 30 years old and i think it may be a problem if he does not find out now buti am also afraid to lose him. How do I tell him my real age?

Emelda from Abuja Dear Emelda, Babe, only insecure ladies lie about their age. you should know that age is just a number even though our society does not think so,, what ladies do these days is to ignore the question entirely until you trust the person enough to tell him your age. With people like you corruption will never end in this country. Anyways, the deed is done but you can still save face by

telling him the truth now. I mean as you finish reading this. Pick up the phone and call him, tell him you were not sure he was serious about you and you want to be clean.

If he really loves you then your age should not be an issue, that also depends on if you are a humble person as you know Nigerian man are likely to cheat on wives who are not submissive. take note and cheers

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

CONTENT Ehinome Osezua, 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 July 20, 2014

PEOPLE TRACKER

EFFORTLESS

looking good is easy for Hauwa

35

CHARISMATIC

Hafsa Agwari poses for the camera

You can send your pictures to ehiosezua@ymail.com

CALM BEAUTIFUL

Fatima Malmud

Blessing Mbonu looks striking in her pink and purple outfit

DEMURE Karima looks lovely in her traditional attire

CLASSIC

Linda Nwachukwu looks stylish in her sleeveless dress

CHIC

Ada Nnaji rocks her green barret beautifully

CHARMING

Mercy Eziugwu is in high spirits

36

et cetera

et cetera

Sunday, July 20, 2014

PEOPLE TRACKER

GORGEOUS Zainab Tukur

HAPPY Amina Sulaiman poses for the camera

YELLOW Esther Urum looks good in her yellow dress

READY Rahinatu is ready to step out

PLUM Nafisa makes a statement with her traditinal attire

You can send your pictures to ehiosezua@ymail.com

FASHIONABLE Zainab Alhasan’s lovely necklace complements her outfit

PEOPLE TRACKER RESERVED Asma’u Shangalo cherishes her space

FINE Maryam says easy does it

STRIKING Sha’awa’s head gear is striking

SHOWY Sumayya Ibrahim is confident to face the camera

SUPERB Zainab has an amazing aura

SWEET Rashida’s smile can melt hearts

TRENDY Amaka Ezeanochie looks trendy in her blue jean

SIMPLE Fauziyya is at ease ELEGANT Blessing takes a quick shot with Jenkins after an event SIMPLY GORGEOUS for Chibuonu Ezennabike

37

PRETTY Chimetem Ikeh looks simple and sweet

38

et cetera

Sunday, July 20, 2014

INSIDE STORY

NUDITY IS A WRONG FASHION SENSE

BY BLESSING UKEMENA, Abuja

E

ntertainment celebrities the world over seem to be in a nudity contest.

Every week there seem to be one celebrity or the other on the cover of magazine showing off parts of their bodies.

Famous celebrities like Rihanna and Lady Gaga have been recently over taken by Miley Cirus in Nudity. Others that enjoy the nude fame are Christina Aguilera, Kim Kardashian, Katty Perry and Linsay Lohan. Nuidity has become such an appealing trend that Jennifer Aniston once posed nude on a magazine cover. More worrisome is the reality that African who are known to be conservative, beginning to throw all cautions to the wind, to join in the nudity contest.

Nigerian gospel artiste, Mahheda has been making waves this year, because of her tendency to post nude and semi nude pictures on her instagram account. She is also known for her controversial make semi-nude music videos.

Although, Maheeda was said to be into prostitution before she found the Lord and went into music.

She has one daughter and does not believe that her nude pictures or videos will have any negative effect on her daughter.

Jennifer Aniston explored the world of free love and nudity with Paul Rudd in the film “Wanderlust.” She has been quoted as saying being nudity in movies is liberating. Other Nigerian stars like With the like Dencia, actress Afrocandy, model Ify Jones, Iyanya, Peter Okoye of Psquare and others leading the trend, celebs have found a way to take advantage of every opportunity to show off some skin, be it on the red carpets or on Instagram photos. This trend has gotten many the much-needed attention that they desire in their careers as musicians, actors or models. It starts with a little show of cleavage and then other major body parts begin to follow in the

What they said...

Nudity Is A Wrong Fashion Sense

raunchiest of photos Ken Kwanga, a Film Director had this to say on the nudity trend, “Maybe they feel that it will increase their popularity, mostly the female stars. Altogether it is very appalling what they post on the internet these days. It

the Federal Capital Territory, said “I cannot understand why some of our celebrities will allow the world to see their private parts.

Especially the women. In the African culture the man can do anything and get away with it but not the woman, each act of hers

of America, CFDA awards in a near naked dress. It is said that she has a perfume called Nude. Quite ironically she was given a style icon award at that ceremony. Magret Jatau, who is a photographer and a female activist made some comments about

seems that the best way to get to their fans but there are lot of entertainers that are making waves without being so scandalous about their bodies. As a man I would not subscribe to such behaviour. If you do that people get a bad image when they think of you and a good name is better than bad reputation” he said The question of ‘why’ Africans have resorted to nudity has been unanswered, however, Mr Femi Olugbade, a fashion designer in

is recorded in the mind of people for a long time. I think those that indulge in nudity have a risky mindset, a mindset that does not consider the consequences of their actions. As a fashion designer I would not encourage nudity for any gender.”

Looking beyond Africa, the world’s media are still talking about 26 year old Rihanna, who caused a world stir earlier this month, when she attended the Council of Fashion Designers

that, “She has always been a very daring woman but to turn up to an awards ceremony looking so brazenly intimidating in that dress! How could she possibly eschew society’s norms of how a woman should dress at such an event and look so defiantly sexy?

Why isn’t she wearing a bra?

And they gave her a style award?

And when she is accosted and raped she would start to say it sexual violence? The world must really be coming to an end. Even

“Maybe they feel that it will increase their popularity, mostly the female stars.

Altogether it is very appalling what they post on the internet these days. It seems that the best way to get to their fans but there are lot of entertainers that are making waves without being so scandalous about their bodies."

Ken Kwanga, Film Director

“I cannot understand why some of our celebrities will allow the world to see their private parts. Especially the women. In the African culture the man can do anything and get away with it but not the woman, each act of hers is recorded in the mind of people for a long time.”

Mr Femi Olugbade, fashion designer

“People that dress nude are so out there, there mind is not limited to what most of us think about.

The internet is now awash with people who want to get cheap popularity by posting nude pictures of themselves. Rihanna for example is living her life and don’t care what the world thinks of what she does. it seems that excess fabric so often gets in the way for her.''

though I am a feminist this is one of those things that women should not do, nudity is a wrong fashion sense” she said.

Kadija Hassan is a blogger and stated her opinion on nudity, “People that dress nude are so out there, there mind is not limited to what most of us think about. The internet is now awash with people who want to get cheap popularity by posting nude pictures of themselves.

Rihanna for example is living her life and don’t care what the world thinks of what she does.

She smokes cannabis publicly, dances like a serpent and doesn’t believe in the concept of layering clothing – it seems that excess fabric so often gets in the way for her. Miley Cyrus has turned out to be so different from the Disney princess I used to love.

She is hell bent on contradicting the good girl image we had of her. I know she will have a rethink by the time she is 30 years old” she said.

Most actresses and musicians believe that going nude will help their career and to an extent it actually does but is it worth it?

Micheal Ojibade is an upcoming artiste in the FCT and says that nudity is the famous way of life, “When you’re a celebrity, posing naked is completely acceptable - as long as it’s done in a way that can be considered ‘arty way.

Nigerian just don’t know how do it. Christina Aguilera did it in her Lotus album, Lady Gaga does it like all the time and gets commendations. We just have to know How to do it. But I also think that if you have the real stuff as a talent then the world will recognise you without seeing your body. So many actresses and musicians are doing it these days. Chioma Chukwuka is one actress I love because you can rarely see her act a nude or semi nude role in a movie. There are some other just like her Joke Silver, Genevie, Omotola so nudity is just cheap but it great too,” he said.

“When you’re a celebrity, posing naked is completely acceptable - as long as it’s done in a way that can be considered ‘arty way. Nigerian just don’t know how do it. Christina Aguilera did it in her Lotus album, Lady Gaga does it like all the time and gets commendations. We just have to know How to do it. But I also think that if you have the real stuff as a talent then the world will recognise you without seeing your body."

Kadija Hassan, blogger

We want to know what you think about our inside story above. You can have your say by emailing osezua.gloria@leadership.ng

Micheal Ojibade, Artiste

et cetera

Sunday, July 20, 2014 @chrisattoh

THE TWITTERATI CATCH UP WITH WHAT CELEBS HAVE BEEN TWEETING ABOUT

Changing the World/ Excited about Fatherhood/ Doing what I love

July 11

Congratulations Chris

@JuliusAgwu1

“This morning Scolari’s wife poked him and said: “wake up it’s 8!” he jumped up and shouted, “WHAT!!!????? THEY SCORED AGAIN?” Lol

July 8

Very funny

@yemialadee

MAN WILL DISAPPOINT YOU; GOD WILL NOT... #Beautiful weather. #thankful. #KingOfQueens

Tuesday, July 15

Even you still disappoint yourself, so judge not the others

39

bank today again I am grateful. Your son, Holymallam.

Tuesday, July 15 His mercies are forever

@iamMajidmichel

If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib.

If you try to suppress it, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head/neck and die!

Wednesday, July 9

Majid are you now a practicing doctor?

@iamMajidmichel

When you’re happy, you enjoy the music.

But, when you’re sad, you understand the lyrics.

Friday, July 4

Yes, because it’s when you’re sober you pay attention to detail most

@obyezeks

On a day of deep pondering on how so low our Governance Values have sunk, I hate shopping with these ladies... they will WE still muster HOPE to DEMAND: pick and choose and choose. Can’t u just settle #BringBackOurGirls Now & Alive!!! on one?

Thursday, July 10 Thursday, June 24 Still a nightmare, but more lives have gone after the girls. It should If you were a lady you probably might know why be #GivesUsSeecurity

@johndumelo1

@realmikeezu

At Canada’s Wonderland and I must say, “Seriously some of the rides here are scary o”.

Abi I carry plenty thinking and wahala come from Naija? I dey fear

Thursday, July 10

Try ease up a little and enjoy your life

@RealSeunKuti Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible. #NigeriaHeals Tuesday, July 15

May our leaders listen to your advice

@ik_osakioduwa

Farting under the covers while wifey is sleeping. #SillyThingsICantDoWithout (It’s earned me so many punches/kicks but I can’t stop :-)

Tuesday, July 15 Good for you

@Bouquiofficial

AMERICAN Child: mum can we go watch Transformers...African mum: transformer ko NEPA NI...

Friday, July 4

Bouqui you are truly Nigerian

@holymallam

Good morning Lord, thank u for making me eligible to withdraw from your mercy

@ik_osakioduwa #IUsedTo think politician were the smartest and most educated people in the country. hahahhahahahahahaha. Kai! Boy was I wrong Sunday, July 11

You are not alone on this, many feel same way

@Joselyn_Dumas I believe beauty comes from within.

When you have a beautiful heart it shows on your face! Good morning fam #StayBeautiful#beEpic Tuesday, July 15

You are certainly right about this

@yvonneokoro Let the Brazilian hair jokes begin – No wonder girls that wear Brazilian hair have no goal...well maybe 1…

Friday, July 8 Really, so do you wear one?

@ALIBABAGCFR

No wonder una mouth no dey heavy una to ask for 4 vip tickets... “basketmouth can we have one free table?”

Why you no carry table waka come? [SIC] Tuesday, July 5 Careful not to burn bridges

40

et cetera

Sunday, July 20, 2014

LIFE101

A GIRL’S GUIDE

HOW TO COPE WITH BEING BROKE Like dear St. Francis of Assisi, I am wedded to poverty, but in my case, the marriage is not a success.

There will be times when, through no fault of your own, you are poor.

Flat broke. It happens to the best of us. The best way to cope with this is are to tighten the belt and get your financial organization into play.

If you are aware that you are about to reach danger levels, perhaps take a step before you hit a crisis point. But if it sneaks up on you by surprise, here are the easiest way to deal with it.

List all your outgoing expenses (bills, meals out, in shopping travel and forth.)

Write down all your monthly incoming funds.

Do they add up? Are you in profit? Do you break even?

Good grief, Is it time to start baby-sitting again?

Are there any outstanding payments owed to you and can you cover all your out goings and account for them all?

Is there anyone who could lend you some money? I know Shakespeare said,” Neither a borrower or a lender be,” but desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Are there favours you could call in or anyone who owes you? Family member? Friend? Could you have a yard sale? Are there any trinket or any past fashion triumphs that you could bear to part with or sell on eBay? Stay in and cut back on your spending.

Get friends to take pity

on you and take you outthis will also shed light on who your real friends are.

The poverty week would also be a good week to accept any work lunches, dinner parties (providing transport included), and blind dates (dinner only obviously: things are not that desperate).

Go to the library to browse and borrow, rather than buy. You don’t feel want to get cabin fever, so go window- shoppingthere is no fee to try stuff on- and put the perfect little black dress on hold.

If you have to make

Couch Potato

WHAT YOU CAN WATCH ON CABLE TV THIS WEEK

TODAY

MONDAY

The Tourist 8:00PM on e.tv

The African Energy Report 8:30 PM on Bloomberg

purchase, make the shopping trips budget sensitive. Therapy is always helpful in times of depression, and retail is one of the most effective drugs. Set yourself challenge to get the perfect thing for under $20, and if you fail, spring clean and delve deeper into your wardrobe. After all, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston have made the Gap look like couture. If they can do it, why can you? Get creative and do some revamping. The same could apply to the kitchen;

TUESDAY

Puncture 8:00PM on M-Net Movies Stars

WEDNESDAY

Blue Bloods 8:00PM on M-Net Series Zone

baked potatoes a la that jar of something that was lurking in the cupboard could be exciting, a dash of mustard will bring spice to your baked beans, as well as numb the taste buds. The possibilities are endless.

Turn off your cell phone from a day while you think about dilemma.

Limit visits to danger zones, e.g. the malls.

In extreme poverty – stricken moments, remove your credit cards from your wallets.

Culled from The Girl’s Guide to Almost Everything

THURSDAY

Trisha 5:20PM on Sony

THE LOSER WHO NEVER GAVE UP! When he was a little boy his uncle called him “Sparky,” after a comic-strip horse named Spark Plug. School was all but impossible for Sparky.

He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He flunked physics in high school, getting a grade of zero. He also flunked Latin, algebra and English.

And his record in sports wasn’t any better. Though he did manage to make the school’s golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the season. Oh, there was a consolation match; he lost that too.

Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward socially. It wasn’t that the other students disliked him; it’s just that no one really cared all that much.

In fact, Sparky was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside of school hours. There’s no way to tell how he might have done at dating.

He never once asked a girl out in high school.

He was too afraid of being turned down… or perhaps laughed at. Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates… everyone knew it. So he learned to live with it. He made up his mind early that if things were meant to work out, they would.

Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.

One thing was important to Sparky, however, drawing. He was proud of his artwork. No one else appreciated it. But that didn’t seem to matter to him. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the yearbook. The editors rejected the concept. Despite this brushoff, Sparky was convinced of his ability. He even decided to become an artist.

So, after completing high school, Sparky wrote Walt Disney Studios. They asked for samples of his artwork. Despite careful preparation, it too was rejected. One more confirmation that he was a loser.

But Sparky still didn’t give up. Instead, he decided to tell his own life’s story in cartoons. The main character would be a little boy who symbolized the perpetual loser and chronic underachiever.

You know him well. Because Sparky’s cartoon character went on to become a cultural phenomenon of sorts. People readily identified with this “lovable loser.” He reminded people of the painful and embarrassing moments from their own past, of their pain and their shared humanity.

The character soon became famous worldwide: “Charlie Brown.” And Sparky, the boy whose many failures never kept him from trying, whose work was rejected again and again… is the highly successful cartoonist Charles Schultz. His cartoon strip, “Peanuts,” continues to inspire books, T-shirts and Christmas specials, reminding us, as someone once commented, that life somehow finds a way for all of us, even the losers.

Sparky’s story reminds us of a very important principle in life. We all face difficulty and discouragement from time to time. We also have a choice in how we handle it. If we’re persistent, if we hold fast to our faith, if we continue to develop the unique talents God has given us, who knows what can happen? We may end up with an insight and an ability to inspire that comes only through hardship. In the end, there are no “losers” with God. Some winners just take longer to develop!

By CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, SOURCE - academictips.org

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

The Nanny Express 10:00PM on M-Net Movies Family

Legally Blondes 12:20PM on Studio Universal

CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

bottom lines 2

18,000

Nigeria’s position on the rating of sovereign wealth funds in the world. This follows the improved rating of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as a sovereign wealth fund by the Linaburg-Maduell transparency index.

Continental Reinsurance premium income rises by 28 per cent to N15.9bn IN SHORT Shoprite’s annual profit rises 10.5 per cent Retailer Shoprite Holdings increased its turnover over the past year, growing 10.5 per cent to about R102.2bn ($9.55bn). The group increased its total turnover for the 12 months to June 2014, compared with the corresponding 12 months of 2013.

Growth on a like-for-like basis was 5.1 per cent. Shoprite saw an improved turnover growth of 11.4 per cent in the second half of the year, compared with 9.7 per cent in the first half.

The continued pressure on consumers’ disposable income reflects in the slowdown in sales in the supermarket division, the largest division in the group, which grew sales by 8.7 per cent.

The turnover of the 169 supermarkets the group operates outside South Africa’s borders rose by 26.8 per cent, compared to the 2013 reporting period. Taken at constant currencies, these operations grew by 16.2 per cent.

The furniture division grew turnover by 12.2 per cent, even though the highly competitive market conditions remained unchanged. The company said last August it could double the number of stores across the fast-growing Africa continent in next four years with the bulk of new outlets in oil-rich Angola and Nigeria.

COMPANY

SECRETS

Flemming Lindelov, president and CEO, Carlsberg Group

Managing director, Continental Reinsurance, Femi Oyetunji

Reinsurance firm, Continental Reinsurance plc said its gross premium increased by 28 per cent to N15.86bn in 2013 from N12.40bn in 2012 financial period. The non-life and life businesses grew by 32 per cent and 11 per cent respectively, while total comprehensive income grew by 19 per cent to N2.09bn in 2013 from N1.75bn in 2012.

Commenting on the company’s results, the Managing Director, Continental Re, Femi Oyetunji, said, “It is to the great credit of our management team and to the entirety of our staff that the company continues to grow its market share in key markets while adhering to prudent underwriting practices.

The substantial growth in our non-life and life business is also a result of the company’s five-year growth strategy assisted by the economic growth in many African countries.”

Continental Re said it has recommended a cash dividend of 11 kobo per share for the 2013 financial year, a 10 per cent increase from the previous financial year. Its profit before tax rose by five per cent to N2.23bn in 2013 from N2.13bn in previous year, while profit after tax stood at N 1.75bn which was higher than last year’s figure of N1.73bn.

Retrocession premium during the period under review was N1.69bn reflecting a retrocession ratio of 10.6 per cent, which is lower than the previous period of 12.5 per cent. The firm’s loss ratio remained unchanged for both years at 47 per cent.

Net acquisition expenses ratio during the year was 29 per cent, which was marginally higher than last year’s figure of 28 per cent.

Management and administrative expenses increased by 16 per cent from N1.65bn in 2012 to N1.91bn in 2013, partly due to the recognition of one-time costs related to retiring and departing employees.

Underwriting profit increased by 25 per cent from N1.35bn in 2012 to N1.68bn in 2013, mainly due to a higher growth in premium than the increase in combined costs. The 2013 underwriting profit ratio as a percentage of gross premium income remained at 11 per cent.

Investment income in 2013 was N1.61bn, which was higher than previous year’s figure of N1.46bn by 10 per cent due to an improvement in the investment climate.

Total comprehensive income grew by 19 per cent from N1.75bn in 2012 to N2.09bn in 2013.

“The success of Continental Re’s geographical expansion strategy, as confirmed by our performance in 2013, has helped to further deepen penetration in our markets as well as spreading risks,” Oyetunji stated. He said Continental Reinsurance is determined to drive sustained growth and profitability and is optimistic of better performance in 2014.

Number of jobs to be cut by Microsoft amounting to 14 per cent of its workforce.

BoostiNG Sales Big business inspires big ideas

No matter how huge big business gets, the little guy always seem to find a way to carve out a niche. In fact, the niche often evolves out of a gap left in the market by the big boys or out of a surplus of demand created by the big boy’s marketing machines.

In an effort to see what you can learn about promotions from the big boys, you are challenged to consider some market information: 1.

Major retailers invest heavily in market intelligence before selecting building sites.

Other retailers are content to follow them into markets.

2.

Big brands produce expensive commercials (think of the Super Bowl). Their entrepreneurial counterparts co-op that momentum to catapult their own business.

3.

Big business has lots of departments and entrepreneurs have lots of hats.

If you are a smaller business taking on a big company you will think bigger by simply keeping it in your sights.

Following the leader is not such a bad idea as long as the leader is going someplace you want to go, too. Allow yourself to be inspired, not oppressed.

The best international brands are glocal In recent years a number of management thinkers have urged multinationals to structure their operations with characteristics that are both global and local – sometimes compressed into the buzzword ‘glocal’. The surfacing of this term in the management literature, and the advocacy of ‘thinking globally but acting locally’ by prominent CEOs like ABB’s Percy Barnevik, testifies to the prospect of a big change in the perceptions

and organisational approaches of multinationals. However, the truth is that while the phrasing may be new, going ‘glocal’ isn’t a new concept. Its fundamental ideas have been practiced by a handful of companies for several generations.

One of these is Carlsberg, which not only has a glocal organisation but, more importantly, a longstanding glocal culture.

Glocal companies possess the skills to be international in range

41

and scope, while maintaining local relatedness to markets.

Most reached this point after a long evolutionary process of experimentation and adaptation.

As a result, they now have a significant competitive advantage at a time when some of their rivals are just starting down this pathway. Glocal players have the resources and infrastructure to fight either defensively or offensively.

42 CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

hub

41

Compiled by Olujide Olusola

Number of firms currently bidding to supply embedded power to Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Disco).

$618,000,000

Worth of bonds with maturities ranging between three and 20 years sold at auction recently by the Debt Management Office.

L-R: Minister of trade and investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga; chairman, Bank of Industry, Alhaji AbdulSamad Rabiu, and managing director, Bank of Industry, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, at the inauguration of the board of directors of Bank of Industry Limited held in Abuja recently. PHOTO: REMI AKUNLEYAN

L-R: Managing director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Jibril Aku; Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, and country head, Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Olukorede ‘Demola-Adeniyi, at the launch of Ecobank Premier Banking in Lagos recently.

L-R: Head, corporate communication, High Value Events and Sponsorship, Ebi Atawodi; chairperson, panel of judges, Sarah Ladipo, and chief executive officer, Etisalat, Matthew Willsher, during Etisalat prize for literature press conference, held at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

PHOTO: BENEDICT UWALAKA.

L-R: Executive director, business development, Bank of Industry (BOI), Waheed Olagunju; managing director/chief executive officer, Rasheed Adejare Olaoluwa, and executive director, operations of the bank, Mohammed Alkali, during the bank’s press conference, held in Lagos recently.

PHOTO: BENEDICT UWALAKA

Bukola Saraki @bukolasaraki APC will sign a contract with Nigerians. If we fail to tackle unemployment, insecurity & improve standard of living in 2015-2019 VOTE US OUT.

better than that!

Tony O. Elumelu, CON @TonyOElumelu We should stay strong and continue to be productive.

Both for self and mankind at large!

fav

tweets

Bruce Van Horn @BruceVH Just because someone threw you into Lake Inferior doesn’t mean you have to keep swimming in it. Get out. You’re

Richard Branson @richardbranson Surround yourself with great people who share your vision and you won’t go far wrong.

Melbourne Savage Club, Australia Established in 1894, the Melbourne Savage Club is one of Australia’s oldest and most atmospheric private members clubs. The clubhouse is an historic 19th century mansion right in the heart of Melbourne. The club’s name reflects the desire of the founders to encourage a flowering of Bohemian tradition, like the London Savage Club, by taking the name of Richard Savage, a freespirited 17th century English poet.

These origins are expressed today through club members who engage in a broad range of interests across the arts,

literature, science and sport. A diverse mix of academics and artists, lawyers and judges, businessmen and journalists is to be found behind the clubhouse’s scarlet doors, enjoying one another’s company amid classic décor and furnishings, fine art and exotic artefacts.

Hospitable rooms provide a rare ambience for the many member performances showcasing their musical, theatrical and artistic talents, and for wonderfully eccentric social occasions. Membership is offered to gentlemen only, based upon the criteria of good fellowship and shared interests.

net

works

CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

N9, 650,000,000 Gross premium income of Niger Insurance as released in its 2013 audited financial statement.

13

Number of companies fined N23.3m for failing to file their financial statements within the stipulated period.

43

2050

Projected year the federal government has said that it will reduce hunger in the country and ensure that over 250 million Nigerians get access to food.

YOUR FYI FOR INFORMATION

L-R: Chief operating officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Ms Adebisi Awoniyi; director, Consumer Protection Directorate, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Malam Adamu Abdullahi; managing director, Karamba Marketing Solutions Limited, Dr Daniel Young, and chief executive officer (BASL), Mr Christopher Penninck, at the inauguration of multimillion naira escalators

by BASL at the Murtala Muhammed Airport II (MMA2), Lagos recently.

Emotional

Like many African peoples, the Warumungu Aboriginals of northeast Australia believe in expressing their grief. At their funerals they scream, gash their thighs to the muscle, and bloody their heads with knives. For the Sikhs of India and elsewhere, by contrast, a big show of emotion at the funeral – or Antam Sanskar – is discouraged. Death is, after all, only the progression of the soul on its journey from God, through the created universe, and back to God. Sikhs usually cremate their loved ones and do not erect monuments.

DoING Business Leadership and status with Slovenes

L-R: Head, Relationship Management, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mrs Anita Dele-Dickson; principal partner, StarBright Consulting Ltd, Mr Emmanuel Olu-Ayeni; medical director, Tabita Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr Chito Nwana; and chief executive officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Dr Demola Sogunle, at a pre-retirement seminar organised by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited in Port Harcourt recently. PHOTO: BENEDICT UWALAKA

HOW THEY

BLEW IT

Boris Berezovsky

Exile FROM LAST WEEK

In 2007, a Moscow court found Berezovsky guilty of massive embezzlement while running Aeroflot, and sentenced him to six years in jail. Berezovsky called the accusations ‘a farce’ and again denied it.

Also in 2007, Berezovsky told the British Guardian newspaper that he was plotting the violent overthrow of Putin. ‘We need to use force to change this regime,’ he said.

‘It isn’t possible to change this regime through democratic means. There can be no change without force, pressure.’ Asked if he was effectively fomenting a revolution, he said, ‘You are absolutely correct’. What a

statement!

That, it is fair to say, went down like a ton of Chechen lead balloons in Moscow. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s chief spokesperson, said at the time: In accordance with our legislation [his remarks are] being treated as a crime. It will cause some questions from the British authorities to Mr Berezovsky.

We want to believe that official London will never grant asylum to someone who wants to use force to change the regime in Russia.

The British authorities kept schtum, at least publicly, and refused to hand over Berezovsky.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

Often in their history, Slovenes have been denied the right to rule themselves. After World War II leadership was invested in Belgrade and practiced according to rank in the Communists Party. Since 1992, Slovene leaders have arisen among non-Communist coalition politicians, characterised more by pragmatism than idealism or rhetoric: in business and academia, qualifications set standards; orderliness in society is seen as important; and there is little of the flamboyance displayed by Serbian and even Croatian leaders.

Gradually Western European-style democracy is taking hold.

Like Germans and Czechs, Slovenes accord status according to level of education. Slovenes have succeeded better than most ex-communist peoples in casting off former party officials. This took time, but the regime is certainly becoming increasingly meritocratic as time passes. Although few women have reached top executive levels, the equality of the sexes is well-established in comparison with the other former Yugoslav cultures.

44 CEOConfidential

entrepreneur 93.6% Percentage rise in Oando’s Canada unit stake, according to a statement by the company.

SMALL BUSINESS Loss prevention continues from last WEEK

Physical security. An alarm system not only scares off bad guys, its electronic access codes record who enters the building around the clock. Review systemgenerated reports occasionally and follow up on comings and goings: “Hey, Sandy, are you really working so hard that you need to enter the building at 2:26 AM?” Alarms should sound when back doors are opened without keys, and building keys should be impossible to duplicate by anyone other than authorised locksmiths. Also, use clear trash bags – a favourite trick of the dark trade is to conceal company property in the trash only to double back later and retrieve it.

Get insured. Catching a thief doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll catch up with your stolen goods.

Popular products like electronics, computer equipment, and power tools get fenced fast on the street.

Get an insurance policy that reimburses for theft and fraud.

Guard against retail losses. You may have a great product, great marketing, and great locations.

But you’re still going down if your product disappears and your cash and cheques don’t make it to the bank. According to the most recent National Security Retail Survey, conducted by the University of Florida, the causes if inventory shrinkage broke down this way: 47 per cent was due to employee theft, 32 per cent to shoplifting, 15 per cent to administrative error, and 6 per cent to vendor theft. ( inform vendors up front about your inspection process.) concluded

His STORY

Sunday, July 20, 2014

87,800

Number of new cars, the sports car manufacturer, Porsche said it had handed over to customers in the last six months.

Elizabeth Ojelua

Working with her hands Elizabeth Ojelua is the up-and-coming Nigerian entrepreneur behind shoemaking start-up SureLift Tranx. The company – officially launched at the end of 2010 and employing eight people – is still in its early stages but has been developing a name for itself in Nigeria’s fashion industry for its boutique, handmade shoe and handbag designs, according to a recent report by Howwemadeitinafrica.com.

Speaking on what informed her going into that line of business she said: “What actually inspired me is my creativity and the fact that I have always loved to work with my hands. I learnt bead making and some other skills after I graduated from school and before I found a job. I started to make the beads but couldn’t sell them because a lot of people, even my friends and family, were already making beads too. I couldn’t sell my beads, but it got me thinking and I finally arrived at the concept of putting the beads on easy-to-wear slippers.

“A lot of people loved the concept but complained about the finish because I initially used roadside shoemakers to help me fix my beautiful knitted beads onto the slippers. But their finishing was poor. So I was encouraged to learn the skill…. And just like that I found my passion in shoemaking.

Today I still make shoes with my hands and train people and groups to do the same.”

Ojelua who described her customers as, “middle and upper class men and women; people with a taste for quality and unique products in a variety of designs,” explained that lack of power supply is her challenge. According to her, “Power supply is a big issue but we are overcoming that by using a generator.

“Another challenge is the constant non-availability of some materials, sometimes when demand is high on a particular product design I have to tell the clients we may have to alter the materials.”

The multi-talented entrepreneur outlined her

strength as, “The ability to keep on learning, creative thinking and planning, and, of course, being very friendly.”

She called on government to help improve business terrain for entrepreneurs. According to her: “Grants and loans should be made more readily available to them and, of course, the power supply should be more regular. Also, more forums should be organised for them on entrepreneurial matters to help them improve their business and achieve faster growth.”

For aspiring entrepreneurs she advised: “Put God first, follow your passion only, and be consistent in giving your best. The sky is your starting place and together we will improve our world.”

Akinyemi Akinseye, managing director, Tritan Autoworks How did you get to where you are today?

The main focus of the business was to address the problems encountered by Nigerians in getting expert advice and genuine spare parts with good value for money.

What have you learnt over the years?

I feel the most important strategy for any business owner is readiness to sell himself/herself before selling a product or a service.

What were the challenges you faced?

For most start-up companies, securing investment and employing qualified staff is always a challenge.

How did you overcome the challenges?

I focused on the realistic and affordable things which have assured customer satisfaction with our mission to grow steadily.

What are your future projections for your business?

To be a recognised quality service provider in the automobile service industry in Nigeria and the West African

sub region.

How do you intend to achieving these projections?

Our operations are largely focused on customer retention; we are largely investing in customer care solutions and techniques.

Any advice for younger entreptrneurs?

You have to believe in yourself and be passionate about what you do.

Contact Akinseye on 01-4549974

46 CEOConfidential

tipoffs Compiled by Salome Anyasodo

SECRETS OF LONGETIVITY

Wellbeing booster: People

Just as we seek to create a healthy, positive, flowing environment in our bodies and our homes, building a human community with similar characteristics will benefit our lives. Being surrounded by family, friends and associates who are loving, uplifting and helpful to your well-being can add years to your life. A negative, depressing social environment, on the other hand, can sap the pleasures from life and rob of the former situation, congratulation!

Do everything you can to sustain it. If you are in negative surroundings take whatever steps are necessary-only you can identify them for particular case-to extricate yourself and develop a more life-affirming situation.

BOOKMARK

Successful Acquisitions

David Braun, Publisher:AMACOM, 2013.

About three-quarters of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) fail to yield the positive outcomes the initiating companies expected. The failure rate is so high because most M&As are reactive, often impulse buys that occur when one company learns another company is for sale, rather than proactive, prompted by a company’s considered decision to strategically expand through acquisition. In Successful Acquisitions, M&A expert David Braun provides a roadmap executives can follow to make the right deals for strategic growth.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

$300,000,000 Estimated amount of investment Nigeria Diaspora Bond attracts from investors as debuts before the end of the year according to Debt Management Office (DMO)

18. 69% Estimated percentage Niger Insurance net premium income spikes by

5 lessons business leaders can learn from German soccer the leader as coach, not director, or is it directed from the top? If the latter, one will never get the best efforts from teammates or enable them to develop fully.

Last Sunday, Germany became the champion of the soccer world, winning the World Cup for the fourth time, defeating a rugged Argentina team with Lionel Messi as its star. Germany’s surge through the tournament -- undefeated in seven games with only a tie with Ghana. It was the result of 14-year rebuilding programme that began in 2000 when soccer was at a low point in Germany’s vaunted history.

Here are five lessons that business leaders can learn from the German soccer experience that apply to running business.

2 -Develop a broadly-based cadre of emerging stars for the long-term They deserve credit for producing such great players as Thomas Müller (24), Mesut Özil (25), Toni Kroos (25), Jérôme Boateng (25), Mats Hummels (25), and Benedikt Höwedes (26) as well as Götze and Schürrle. Business leaders need to think less about immediate succession plans and more about long-term development of outstanding future leaders. That takes intense work with young leaders in their twenties and thirties who will have the breadth and depth of leadership experiences to be prepared for top-level assignments.

company’s most challenging divisions.

4 -As the coach, position players in their “sweet spot” on the field The key to leading a business organisation or team is very similar to soccer: the leader needs to ensure that the players are positioned on the field in their optimal positions, where their strengths can be maximised and their weaknesses not exposed. That is what Germany’s Löw did in starting three forwards, while keeping his rock-solid defenders in place. Midway through the tournament he made a key tactical move to get Captain Philipp Lahm back to his “sweet spot” at left defense, moving Bastian Schweinsteiger to centre midfield, which strengthened both positions.

Business leaders need to ensure they get their key leaders into the right positions so their strengths can be fully utilised.

5 -In building for the long-term, one must win today’s game Business leaders often complain about the pressures of quarterly earnings reports while they are investing for the long-term. Every great soccer coach knows one has to win today’s game to have a shot at building for the long-term. As well as Germany has done in developing its cadre of talented players, it still had to beat Argentina to establish its success. Had it lost in a shootout. It is the same for companies: performance matters. But the key is not to win a single tournament or have a great year; it is to sustain that performance year-after-year. As in soccer, that is hard to do with new competitors constantly nipping at ones heels.

Most important of all, it is essential to invest in people for the long-term, and to know how to use an aging star like Klose and when to trust a young star like Götze.

1 -The team is more important than any individual This maxim was evident throughout the tournament as Germany prevailed over such extraordinary individuals as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, holding both scoreless. The German victory was definitely a team effort, thanks to the coaching of Joachim Löw, who took over in 2006. Germany was such a well-unified team that FIFA could not single out one player as MVP, so it gave the award to a disappointed Lionel Messi. Is your organisation truly a team effort, with

3 -Rely on veterans, but give emerging stars their chance to shine Unlike Klinsmann who dropped Landon Donovan, America’s alltime leading scorer at age 32, Löw moved 36-year-old Miroslav Klose, Germany’s all-time leading scorer into the starting lineup, for the final two games. He responded with the winning goal against Brazil, making him the leading goal scorer in World Cup history. Yet when Germany desperately needed a goal with the clock ticking down, Löw called on young Götze, who responded with the goal that won the Cup. All too often, business leaders fail to take risks on their best young leaders by giving them the big opportunity to step up in the most challenging situations.

An exception is former Novartis CEO Dan Vasella, who promoted two leaders in their thirties to run the

ABOUT CAPITALISM

There is no such thing as a free market

What they tell you Markets need to be free. When the government interfere to dictate what market participants can or cannot do, resources cannot flow to their most efficient use. If people cannot do the things that they find most profitable, they lose the incentive to invest and innovate.

Thus, if the government puts a cap on house rents, landlords lose the incentive to maintain their properties or build new ones. Or, if

the government restricts the kinds of financial products that can be sold, two contracting parties that may both have benefitted from innovative transactions that fulfil their idiosyncratic needs cannot reap the potential gains of free contract.

People must be left ‘free to choose’, as the title of free-market visionary Milton Friedman’s famous book goes.

What they do not tell you The free market does not exist.

Every market has some rules and boundaries that restrict freedom of choice. A market looks free only because we so unconditionally accept its underlying restrictions that we fail to see. It is a political definition.

Government is always involved and those free-marketeers are politically motivated as anyone. Understanding the myth that there is such a as an objectively defined ‘free market’ is the first step towards understanding capitalism.

CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

updates

10.5%

Percentage rise in profit of retailer Shoprite Holdings over the past year.

Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

TECHNOLOGY

Ivory Coast stallholders turn to digital marketplace

$78.8m

Value of fresh investment Chinese multinational digital pay-TV company, StarTimes Media has launched.

$164m Ebay and Alibaba may be the world’s biggest online marketplaces, but not in Africa.

Few have access to them or have even heard of them. Instead, Kaymu, whose website declares it the “number one marketplace in emerging countries”, is rapidly cornering the market.

It is the brainchild of e-commerce group, Africa Internet Holding, backed by Rocket Internet, the incubator founded by the German Samwer brothers famous for making millions by cloning digital businesses.

Launched just two years ago Kaymu now has operations in 25 countries and 15 of them are in Africa.

While there are other e-commerce sites in Ivory Coast - such as Jumia, Africa’s answer to Amazon, as well as Wasiri and Sigata - Kaymu is the first person-to-person marketplace open to individuals rather than just shops.

Its Ivory Coast operation launched at the start of this year, and many locals are beginning to cotton on to the potential benefits.

2017

The year Kenya is expected to join the league of oil producing countries in sub Saharan Africa.

IBM to start selling Apple iPhones and iPads

It’s like Burger King selling the Big Mac sort of.

Get ready for iPhones and iPads preloaded with specialized business IBM software.

Apple (AAPL, Tech30) and IBM (IBM, Tech30) last Tuesday announced a partnership to leverage each company’s strengths.

Starting this fall, Apple is delivering devices exclusively to IBM, which “Big Blue” will then prep with industry-specific apps for business customers.

TELECOMMUNICATION

Airtel’s ‘Roam And Home’ service to shrink roaming cost by 90%

Airtel Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s largest mobile network operator, has announced the introduction of a unique roaming package, titled ‘Airtel Roam and Home’, that it says will provide affordable services to travellers who roam, offering free incoming calls and up to 90 per cent discount on the roaming tariff.

Value of final Airtel NG say the new package is consistent with its vision instalment Africa to be the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians, Railways, a subsidiary empowering telecoms consumers to roam at a discounted rate of Qalaa Holdings, on 28 selected networks in 26 countries. has completed the According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, drawdown.

Maurice Newa, the network through the package, seek to create unique and exciting experience for its customers who travel for business, trade, holiday, leisure, pilgrimage, festivities or other important activities.

Africa has surpassed the Middle East as the oil-and-gas producing region that attracts the second-highest number of the best-paid staff, international advisory firm Von Essen Group said.

EgyptAir, one of Egypt’s major carriers, is set to launch a new direct flight between Cairo and New Delhi, it emerged last Tuesday, as the troubled North African country gradually returns to business.

QUAD-WRANGLE

ENERGY

BP finalises $10bn deal for Egypt’s gas fields exploration

Multinational oil and gas giant, British Petroleum (BP) has struck a deal with Egypt to invest $10 billion in gas fields exploration, which are estimated to hold 5 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.

The North African Country’s Prime Minister, Ibrahim Mahlab, last Tuesday, announced the finalization of the investment deal that will see work begin in gas fields capable of producing 20 per cent of Egypt’s total daily gas output.

TECHNOLOGY

Yahoo 2Q earnings, revenue fall amid ad slump

Yahoo Inc. said last Tuesday that its second-quarter earnings and revenue declined, as the company struggled again with display advertising sales.

Both fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, as did revenue forecast for the current quarter, causing the limping Internet icon’s stock to fall in extended trading.

Before the forecast was revealed during a conference call with analysts, Yahoo’s stock rose as the company announced that Alibaba Group agreed to reduce the number of shares Yahoo is required to sell in the Chinese e-commerce company in an initial public offering of stock this year. Yahoo, which holds a 23 per cent stake in Alibaba, now has to sell only 140 million shares in the IPO, down from 208 million earlier.

CITY SEARCH

Can you unscramble the letters 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=B3 minus D1.

2. A2=either B4 minus D1 or B4 plus D1.

3. A3=either D1 plus A4 or a third of D1.

4. A4=either 35 or 36.

5. B1=either D2 plus C4 or A1 divided by C4 6. B2=A4 minus C4.

7. B3=D3 minus B2.

8. B4=B1 plus D1.

47

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS QUAD-WRANGLE 1.

2.

9. C1=either D4 plus B2 or D4 minus B2.

10. C2=either A2 minus B1 or A2 plus B1.

11. C3=either C1 minus D1 or C1 plus D1.

12. C4=a fifth of A4.

13. D1=either B2 plus C4 or B2 minus C4.

14. D2=either C3 minus A3 or C3 minus B2.

15. D3=either A3 minus B2 or A3 plus A4.

16. D4=either A1 minus C4 or A1 plus C4.

Name of world cities: 1. N E A R C R A B 2. E V I N C E 3. N E W P A R T 4. A C A T C U L T 5. P A I R S 6. N O V A C U R V E 7. A V E N G E 8. R I P E T A R O 9. H A S T E N 10. S E R I O U S B E A N

3.

4.

All the numbers are whole numbers (intro), so B3=21 and D2=7 (clues 7 and 14).

A2=14 (2). C4=28 (12). No two numbers are the same (intro), so A4=35 (4).

C1=56 (9). D4=42 (16). B2=77 (6). A3=63 (3).

C2=9 (10). B1=6 (5). C3=34 (11).

D1=27 (13). B4=2 (8). A1=40 (1). D3=74 (15).

EUROPEAN CITIES 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

SHANGHAI MELBOURNE PHILADELPHA MANILA SANTIAGO

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

MONTEVIDEO BUENOS AIRES ISTANBUL BEIJING BUDAPEST

48 CEOConfidential

Sunday, July 20, 2014

updates N100,000,000,000 Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

Finance

Bank transfers jump on CBN’s cashless policy

Value of interbank transfers, captured through the Nigerian Inter- Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), jumped from N51bn monthly in January 2012 to over N1.5trn as at June 2014, helped by the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), according to BusinessDay. In volume, NIBSS transfers rose from 87,000 transactions a month in January 2012 to 3.1 million transactions a month as at June 2014.

According to recent figures from the CBN, volume of Point of Sale (PoS) transactions increased astronomically from less than 2000 monthly as at January 2012 to 1.6 million per month in June 2014 while transactions in value moved up from N38m per month in 2012 to N24bn monthly.

Licensed payment terminal service providers licensed to increase PoS terminal penetration increased from 5 to 10 with over 150,000 PoS terminals across the country as at last month.

The CBN said its target is to increase the PoS terminals to at least 350,000 by 2015.

Health

SLNI offers free health services to community

Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI), an indigenous and non-profit voluntary organisation based in Abuja has offered free health services to the community of Piwoyi, a rural settlement within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a press release signed and made available to CEO Confidential by the founder/CEO of the organisation, Hauwa Abbas, free malaria

Worth of Leadway Assurance Company Limited asset base at the end of 2013 financial year, according to BusinessDay.

69.8 % Percentage by which the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) exceeded the 2014 government monthly tax revenue target in the month of May.

30

Number of beneficiaries the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Oyo State government has so far disbursed the N192m out of N1bn under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Fund scheme.

testing services, deworming for children, nets distribution, and vitamins were distributed to pregnant women.

According to Abbas, “Two hundred and twenty five people were tested and received their malaria test results; 20 people tested positive for malaria parasite, and were given malaria drugs for immediate treatment.” She added, “Two hundred and twenty people received nets, 100 children were dewormed and received vitamin C, 100 female condoms were distributed for family planning and 98 pregnant women received folic acid and vitamin C to help prevent serious birth defects in unborn babies.”

Energy

Nigerian firm finds new oil, doubling reserves at field in OPL 274

Sahara Group’s upstream affiliate, Enageed Resources, has completed the third well of a three-well onshore drilling programme in Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 274 and has demobilised its drilling rig, HPEB-187.

Sahara Group, a privately owned Nigerian energy company headquartered in Lagos and with offices in Geneva, Dubai, Number of transport Singapore, Abuja, Abidjan and Accra, on Tuesday announced operators in Lagos State the results of drilling and testing in the Edo State block, where it holds a 100 per cent working interest. that are yet to comply “Today marks an historic occasion for Sahara Group, for its with the certification of upstream division and for the nation. Success was achieved in commercial passengers doubling our certified 2P reserves in the Oki-Oziengbe South operators. field and making a new commercial discovery with the Oluegi-1 exploration well,” Tonye Cole, Sahara’s chief executive officer and managing director, said.

30,000 Growth prospects, a for the rent-toown and buy-to-let property markets in Nigeria have been significantly high in the past 6-12 months, following an encouraging and positive outlook for the country’s mortgage market within the same period.

Nigerite, Nigeria’s premier roofing materials manufacturing company, has taken the country’s building material market up the ladder with the unveiling of its new product known as four-feet-by-four-feet Klassik Ceil.

Economy

Inflation rises to 8.2 per cent in JuneThe Nigeria’s consumer inflation rose for the fourth straight month to 8.2 per cent in June, from 8 per cent in May, driven by higher food prices, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said last Wednesday.

Food inflation, which is the biggest contributor to the headline index, rose 9.8 per cent year-on-year in June, up from 9.7 per cent the previous month.

Finance

Manufacturing sector now Nigeria’s major economic driver, says Rencap

United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has launched an international payment card for salary account holders, enabling them to get a credit advance ahead of their pay-day.

The payment solution dubbed “U-Advance Card” is designed for staff of reputable organisations and High Net-worth individuals (HNIs) who receive regular monthly salary.

UBA’s innovation is coming at a time when the number of high-networth individuals is set to increase in Nigeria and Africa in general.

According to a recent report by the New World Wealth, Nigeria is home to at least 15,700 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) as at 2013, and the number will increase by 47 per cent to 23,000 in 2017.

EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Expo

Conference

Seminar

Archibuilt Expo 2014 Abuja, Nigeria; August 19-23, 2014

Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition Eko Hotel, Eti Osa, Lagos; August 5 – 7, 2014

APR 2014 Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria; July 21-22, 2014

The Archibuilt Exposition is a forum that provides participant and organisers alike an extensive opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with industry professionals and end-users in the built environment. The programme is opened to the general public as well as professionals such as architects, engineers, surveyors, town planners and developers amongst others within the industry.

The Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers will take place on the above date at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. The conference will cover areas like Education For Keeping Skills Up To Date, Improving Expertise and Learning New Techniques.

The Abuja Petroleum Roundtable (APR) set for the above date with the theme: ‘New Investment Windows and Opportunities in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Value Chains’ will have in attendance major stakeholders in the industry.

So, if your business is in oil and gas or you want to connect with the key players, you can’t afford to be absent in the event.

Where to buy/ ABUJA A-Z 49

Sunday, July 20, 2014

What to buy Time, they say is money and spending a whole day at home doing chores is not ‘money wise’.

In this edition, we bring you some appliances that can get your chores done more efficiently and faster.

Editor’s Picks

4

1

2

3

1. Food processor- Food processor is a functional and stylish addition to any kitchen. It offers the chef at heart multiple options for food preparation. You can chop, slice, shred, mix and puree just about anything you put in the bowl within seconds. Available at Grand Square Plot 270, Mohammadu Buhari Way, Central Area.

2. Handheld Vacuum Cleaner- With a hand held vacuum cleaner, you won’t have to struggle with a hose or any heavy weights, so you’re free to concentrate on where you’re vacuuming. The best part is that this cleaner sucks up dirt trapped into carpets within few seconds. Available at Grand Square Plot 270, Mohammadu Buhari Way, Central Area 3. Blender-Blenders is a must have time saving kitchen too. You can save yourself the stress of walking down to your local mill whenever you want to grind your food, by having a blender at home! Available at Cool World Electrical shop Plot 234, Samuel Ademulegun Street, Central Business District, 4. Kenwood Juice Extractor - Juice extractor are perfect for processing fruits and vegetables such as carrots, oranges, apples, water melon, pineapple etc. in just seconds. The juice extractors feature a powerful motor and wide shaft that let you process whole vegetables and fruits fast leaving you with healthy juices any time. Available at Next Cash and Carry, Mabushi.

5. LG 1400 RPM Washing Machine – This washing machine has many practical solutions to suit fast-paced family life. The drum within this appliance rotates in alternating directions to minimise creasing of your laundry. Available at Spar Park and Shop, Guru Plaza, 740, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja 6. Tumble dryer- A tumble dryer is a godsend if you are a large household processing a number of washing loads in a week. The latest sensor technology on many models reduces drying times for greater energy. Available at Electro Mart Retail Stores, Aminukano Crescent, Wuse II.

5

6

50 ABUJA A-Z

Sunday, July 20, 2014

National Stadium: Home of The Eagles STORY: U C H E U D U MA

spectators

Eagles during training at stadium

National Stadium Abuja is one of the most magnificent architectural landmarks in the FCT. The exquisite stadium which was constructed in 2003, was built to host the 8th All African Games. The 60, 491 seater ultramodern multipurpose sports arena serves as home of the Nigerian national football team, and also a great sightseeing venue for tourists.

The exquisite National Stadium in Abuja was constructed to replace the National Stadium Lagos which was built in 1972, and no longer fit to be Nigeria’s number one stadium. Apart from being a tourist focus, the stadium also serves as centre for various social, cultural, religious event. The multi-purpose sports hub has a handful of facilities embedded in it, such as a cricket stadium, Baseball and softball complex, tennis court, 3000 capacity indoor sports hall, 2000 capacity gymnasium, 2000 capacity swimming pool and 3000 capacity hockey stadium.

Other facilities in the prestigious sports complex include modern turnstiles, two scoreboards and floodlights, a standby power supply system, helipad, 4000 vehicle capacity public parking lot and an artificial lake. The stadium was constructed to meet international safety standards and has facilities such as closed circuit security cameras and also crowd control steel fencing.

All facilities within the stadium are designed and engineered in compliance with the requirements of international sport associations, particularly the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Although big football events take place in the stadium once in a while, a lot of lowkey activities take place during weekends.

Different sporting groups use the stadium for training and other sporting events. A visit to the National Stadium on a Saturday morning shows that the stadium, which may look

deserted on the outside, has a lot going on inside it.

At one part of the stadium, football enthusiasts were seen playing football. At another smaller stadium, another group of people were seen playing tennis. At another section of the magnificent stadium, about 3,000 school children were seen having a sports clinic. Sound systems were strategically mounted at different parts of the stadium.

One of the children, Blessing Moses who was seen at the stadium revealed her excitement for being at stadium. “This is my first time of coming to the national stadium, my school was invited to attend a sports clinic and it has been a worthwhile experience. I like the stadium because it is very big and there is enough space for any type of game one wants to play here.

We don’t have a stadium that is as big as this in my school, so being here means a lot to me.”

Another sports enthusiast, Chike Erokwu, revealed that he brings in school children from different schools in Abuja to have a sports clinic at the stadium once in a while, so as to help the children keep fit. He revealed, “We at Big Mike Foundation believe in sponsoring and supporting the Nigerian children. We are here to empower the children, teach them the right values and how to be leaders through sports.

We have Big Mike FC, the club sponsor who helps talents. If we see someone that has talent but doesn’t have backing, we are here for them to help them promote their talent.”

Apart from the All African Games, the stadium has hosted important football matches, such as World Cup qualifiers between Nigeria and other countries. The complex has also given the country confidence to bid for various upcoming international events. The Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) had in 2007 given the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) the provisional hosting rights of the 2007 World Youth Championship because of the facilities the stadium has.

MY ABUJA

Christiana Nwagboso CIVIL SERVANT

Coming to Abuja few years back was a very exciting experience for me. It was my first time of coming to the northern part of Nigeria, secretly I prayed that it will be finer than Lagos because I was born and raised in Lagos.

I really desired a new place, most importantly a finer place.

When I finally arrived Abuja, right from the Airport I noticed that Abuja is very organized. I noticed the difference between the Abuja Airport and Lagos airport. I must say, Abuja Airport is finer than the one we have in Lagos. With that observation, I was encouraged to explore the other parts of the city.

Luckily for me, my accommodation was in Wuse II the hub of the city. I must say I was thrilled to notice that the town is clean. The streets are cleaned regularly, the flowers cut whenever it grows. I also observed that there are no dirty gutters in Abuja, Most importantly, there are several relaxation centres where one can go to and unwind. Abuja has several world-class clubs, and beautiful gardens where people can visit and unwind after a hard day at work. In fact at the rate Abuja is developing, I believe that in the nearest future the entertainment centres we have in the city will compete with the ones we have in the UK and Dubai.

LISTINGS/ABUJA A-Z 51

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Listings DENTAL CLINICS BETHEL DENTAL CLINIC, Bethel Dental Clinic, was set up in 2006 by a group of young, dynamic dental surgeons and therapist who offer services in surgical, restorative and preventive and orthodontic dentistry to private and corporate patients. Their facilities is carefully structured to meet the growing dental awareness, while keeping track of the ever-changing medical technology and standards worldwide.

Their services include oral surgery treatment, restorative treatment prosthetic treatment and orthodontic treatment are competitively priced. The clinic is registered with Private Health Establishment’s Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Nwaora Plaza, No 3, Dar Salaam Street, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja NIGERIAN TURKISH NIZAMIYE HOSPITAL Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital, is one of the most important constituents of Abuja health care system.

The hospital provides a high quality health care service in all medical specialties including dental care. The hospital was established in 2013. Since then, it has dedicated itself to serve its patients with the most advanced diagnostic and treatment methods. Its services include tartar cleaning, dental cleaning, root treatment, embedded teeth operations, filling, and porcelain and crowns treatment, filling of milk teeth, dental X-ray, Fissure cover application and post care application.

Plot 113 Sector S. Cadastral Zone, Lifecamp Abuja KINGS CARE HOSPITAL At King’s Care Dental Clinic, a full range of personalized, quality

Dental Clinics, Schools

dental services is delivered in a pleasing, hygienic and relaxing environment primed to meet your every dental need. The clinic offers up-to-date dental services, both as private dentistry and as NHIS. Their comprehensive dental services include dental examination and diagnosis with intra-oral camera and X-ray. The clinic also offers scaling and polishing, dental whitening, pediatric dentistry and advanced dentistry implant. Most importantly, these services are expertly handled by well trained professionals in a hygienic and aesthetically pleasing environment.

Their services are available Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 8pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm.

Plot 2181 Ibb Way Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Capital ZANKLI CLINIC Zankli Medical Centre is one of the leading private hospitals in Abuja with a vision to renders the best healthcare services, which can compete with any first class rated hospital anywhere in the world. The hospital which is located in Utako district of Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria was established in Abuja in 1997. The hospital provides excellent care in various specialties of Medicine and Surgery including dentistry.

It has approximately 180 members of staff committed to delivering high-quality clinical care using systems and procedures that are safe and effective, both for staff and patients.

Plot 1021, B5 Shehu Yar’adua Way, Opp Federal Ministry of Works, Utako SMILE DENTAL CLINIC Smile Dental Group offers comprehensive dental and laboratory services.

The clinic was first clinic opened in 1989, in Kaduna and since then, it has risen to establish other well equipped clinics in various sites in Abuja, Nigeria. Some of their services include implantsinhabitational sedation, digital radiography, and oral surgery. Their consultants are specialists in their fields

SPOTLIGHT

with decades of current and relevant experience. Each of their associate dentists have clocked several years’ experience, and all their staff are also engaged in continuous professional development Suite C2 [Ground Floor] Orji Uzor Kalu House 1st Avenue Central Business District Abuja – Nigeria

SCHOOLS PACE-SETTER ACADEMY ABUJA Pace setter academy is one of the prime secondary schools in Abuja. Their cocurricular activities seek to develop the psychomotor aspect of a child which are specially designed for the physical and mental development and wellbeing of their students. They include a wide range of sporting activities, clubs and societies: voluntary organisations, art and culture and more. The school which is situated at Wuse has state of the art facilities such as, fully air conditioned classrooms, fully equipped language studio and laboratories, and beautifully well landscaped picnic area for picnic needs. The school also has facilities such as sound proof stand-by power plant as well as modern safety measures which make the school conducive for teaching and learning.

50 Lome Crescent, Zone 7 Wuse, Abuja GREAT START ACADEMY Great Start Academy is a new British/Nigerian school in the Gwarinpa Area of Abuja, offering crèche, pre-school and primary education for children from 0-11 years of Age. They offer thorough education with high academic standard by providing a structure, safe and stimulating learning environment. Spacious classes, qualified teaching staff with good child/ teacher ration as well as well-trained nannies and child minders. Some of their first class facilities include uninterrupted power supply, loads of soft toys, fully equipped and safe playground. More of their facilities include mini pool for swimming, conducive class with air conditioning, a well cozy sleep room, sick bay with professional medical personnel and more.

House 38 1st Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate FCT

Baytown Lounge Baytown Lounge is a garden style lounge located in Gudu, Abuja. The lounge serves delicious grilled fish and chicken, along with your snail, nkwobi, serving up continental and local dishes. The party never stops at Baytown Lounge. At Baytown Lounge, the week kicks off with the karaoke night on Monday, in-house DJ entertainment on Tuesday, ladies night on Wednesday.

On Sunday the Baytown live band treats you to a live musical performance. The live band features a couple of guys with harmonica from Texas America who will trill you to old school rhythm and blues. You can also order for your food if for any reason you cannot go to the lounge and it will be delivered to you.

8 Oladipo Diya Sreet, Gudu, Abuja

SPOTLIGHT

Zankli Medical Centre Zankli Medical Centre is a 45 bed hospital located in Utako district of Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. It was established in Abuja in 1997 and over the years growing over the years to one of the leading private hospitals in Nigeria. It is a group practice which provides excellent care in various specialties of Medicine and Surgery. It has approximately 180 members of staff committed to delivering high-quality clinical care using systems and procedures that are safe and effective, both for staff and patients. There are 45 beds for in-patient admission with trained nurses in attendance.

Plot 1021, B5 Shehu Yar’adua Way, Utako, Abuja

52 ABUJA A-Z/LISTINGS

SPOTLIGHT

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Listings SCHOOLS

Blue Uber Lounge Blue Uber Lounge otherwise known as the karaoke is located in the highbrow area of Ministers hill, Maitama, Abjua. The lounge and bar is beautifully decorated to suit the exquisite taste of the people in the area. It is a five room lounge and each room has its own theme.

The bar has variety of drinks you can pick from and the room can seat up to a hundred people.

4 Oyi River Crescent off IBB Boulevard Ministers Hill, Maitama, Abuja

SPOTLIGHT

The Bank The Bank Abuja is a high profile, luxury and executive lounge in Abuja. Come and experience art lovers, fashionistas and other intellectuals at this grand lounge that offers you the best when it comes to socialising and expanding your network. The lounge is well lit, spacious and well decorated. The air conditionings constantly keep you cool. The sitting arrangement allows for your privacy and allows you to show off if you want to. There is an upstairs siting arrangement that speaks class and is reserved for VIP members.

80, Aminu Kano Crescent , Wuse 2, Abuja

Schools

individual child. They provide a broad based, balanced and enriched curriculum that enables every child realize their full potential. In addition to the curriculum, The Hillside School offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and school programmes aimed at developing the total child..

The Hillside School, 69A Road, Gwarinpa,

CONCEPT SCHOOLS Concept Schools is a management company that reshapes education through the use of the Concept Schools Design. Their mission is to create or help to create effective schools, with the common goal of exceptional student learning through clearly defined standards and innovative school CRADLE TO CRAYON designs and educational BRITISH SCHOOL approaches. The Abuja Cradle to Crayon/Springhall school is strategically British School is one located at Gwarinpa, for of the prime schools in easy accessibility and Abuja. The school provides conducive environment children with a high quality for learning. The school of education, delivered has some of the best through the British facilities which make National Curriculum it one of the premier and the exciting and schools in Abuja. Some innovative IPC curriculum of their facilities include by hardworking and a well-equipped science committed staff. The laboratory, well equipped school is committed to computer laboratory, nurturing their students facilities for sports and academically, physically, games. More remarkable emotionally and socially. is the school’s excursion Some of the facilities and educational trips in the school include, within and outside Nigeria bright, safe, welcoming, for their students. stimulating classrooms, Citec Villas, 4 Avenue, age appropriate and Gwarinpa Estate educational toys, games, and books. The school THE HILLSIDE SCHOOL also has spacious fenced The Hillside School aims outdoor playground with to create a first class swings, slides, sandbox, academic institution play-house and more, dedicated to raising manipulative toys (Lego, well rounded and God etc.) Other facilities in the fearing children. The school include adequate school was established in library stocked with books, 2004, to provide ample fully equipped I.C.T. opportunities for every Lab, above the ground child in their care to swimming pool, CCTV develop academic and monitors and full aircritical thinking skills. conditioning.

The Hillside School is an 37 Lake Chad Crescent, early years, primary and Maitama. secondary school with a tradition of hard work and excellence in academics and life skills. Their motto is knowledge, wisdom and humanity (cognitio, sapientia, humanitas).

The Hillside School at the nursery and primary level aim to provide a happy stimulating learning environment that caters for the needs of each

FAMAKS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS Famak International School, is one of the leading schools in Abuja which aims to provide an excellent, well balanced education in a secure, stimulating, and caring learning environment, encouraging every child

to reach their best and to develop into an independent individual with a deep respect for others, equipped to take their learning with enthusiasm and confidence. The Abuja school is located in the developed, very secure and easy to access district of Asokoro in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The 3 storey school building has been designed to cater for 500 pre-primary and primary school pupils. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) classes are located on the ground floor while the upper floors are host to the Year 1 – 6 classrooms.

All classrooms are air conditioned and equipped with modern technology including interactive whiteboards and computer systems.

Plot 8, Adekunle Fajuyi Close, Off Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

THE UNIQUE BLOSSOM SCHOOLS The Unique Blossom Schools started off with the Crèche section in September 2004 in Area 3, Abuja.

It later moved to its permanent site at Plot 2251, Tangayika Street, off IBB Boulevard, behind Indian High Commission, Maitama-Abuja, on the 8th of May 2007. The school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that promote qualitative teaching and learning.

We have a fully equipped scientific Laboratory, Home Economic Laboratory, cozy library with relevant and upto-date books, spacious playground and worldclass play items; conducive classrooms, furniture for the different levels, etc. The ultimate aim of their facilities is for the wholesome development of their pupils and staff.

Plot 2251, Tangayika Street, Behind Indian High Commission, Off Ibrahim Babagida Boulevard, Maitama, Abuja.

53

Sunday, July 20, 2014

business

Foreign and local currencies being exchanged in the open. PHOTO BY naija.com

Why CBN Insists On Bureaux de Change Recapitalisation Bureaux de Change in the country are having a tough time now, as they have to raise N70 million before the end of July in order to keep their licenses. Their political affiliations seem not to move the Central Bank of Nigeria, which has only extended the deadline by a few days and added interest on the cautionary deposit. Bukola Idowu examines the reasons behind the has move by CBN

The apex bank had extended the deadline from the initial July 15 to July 31, giving the BDCs 36 days to recapitalise

With 11 days to the end of the deadline given to bureau de change in the country to recapitalise or have their licences withdrawn by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), deliberations are still on-going between the apex bank and the BDCs. While the BDCs want the CBN to shift ground on the timeframe given to them to recapitalise and reduce the new capital base and cancel the mandatory cautionary deposit, many analysts believe that as the first major decision of the new CBN governor who assumed office last month, there should be no going back.

The CBN had on June 23 issued new regulatory requirement for BDC operations in the country, increasing their capital base by 250 per cent from N10 million to N35 million. Also, the mandatory cau-

tionary non-interest deposit was pegged at N35 million from the initial N1 million, giving them a 21day ultimatum to comply or have their licences withdrawn.

However, amidst the various outcries from the BDC operators and pressures from the National Assembly which had summoned the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the apex bank had extended the deadline from the initial July 15 to July 31, giving the BDCs 36 days to recapitalise. Also, the apex bank said the cautionary deposit which initially meant to be non-interest would now attract an interest at the current savings deposit rate.

The BDCs on the other hand, under the auspices of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators in Nigeria (ABCON), last week rejected the new terms of the CBN, call-

ing for the reduction of the capital base to N15 million, a one year timeframe to recapitalise and the cancellation of the mandatory cautionary deposit.

The Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 17 of 1995 and the BOFI Act of 1991 empowers the CBN to license and regulate Bureaux de Change (BDC) operations in Nigeria. The major objectives include to provide access to foreign exchange to small-scale end-users – for instance those requiring below $5,000 for Basic Transport Allowance (BTA) for short trips abroad like holidays, official purposes etc.

It would also serve as tools for the management of exchange rate while assisting in the fight against illegal financial activities; facilitate economic activities; and Provide economic data for policy decisions. But rather than achieve these goals, the BDCs have turned to money milling machines of some sort to the operators and beneficiaries of their often illicit acts.

All over the world, BDCs play a crucial part in the economy, satisfying the foreign exchange needs of tourists and small end-users of foreign currency. Traditionally and as obtained all over the world, BDCs source their foreign currency from

tourists, vacationers as well as from banks, but this changed in Nigeria as in 2006, the CBN began to sell foreign exchange to BDCs directly.

In 2006, the CBN introduced the Wholesale Dutch Auction (WDAS) to achieve the convergence of the official exchange rate and the interbank exchange rate. But while the interbank rate declined and converged with the official exchange rate at N130 per dollar, the parallel market exchange rate rose from N142 per dollar on February 20, when WDAS was introduced to N152 per dollar on March 26.

To correct this anomaly, the CBN under Professor Charles Soludo, introduced the policy titled, “Further Measures To Liberalise the Foreign Exchange Market.” The aim of the policy was to address the widening gap between the official exchange rate and the parallel market rate.

With the gap or premium between the official/interbank exchange rate and the parallel market rate having widened to N20 from N10, the apex bank intervened by increasing supply of foreign exchange in the parallel market and at the same time reduce demand in the market.

To achieve the former, the CBN ➔ CONTINUEd ON PAGE

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54 BUSINESS

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Why CBN Insists On Bureaux de Change Recapitalisation ➔ CONTINUEd from PAGE

The move by the regulator clearly shows that it’s resolved to defend the naira at all course

53

admitted BDCs into the official market through direct dollar sale, and also allowed them to act as brokers in the interbank market.

To achieve the later, the CBN removed restrictions on foreign exchange purchases by widening the scope of transactions that can be funded by official foreign exchange.

The effect was phenomenal, as in the first month of implementation, the parallel market exchange rate dropped to N142 per dollar and by July 13, 2006, it converged with the official and interbank rates at N130 per dollar. Thus for the first time in the history of the nation’s foreign exchange market the elusive parallel market was arrested and the influence of the parallel market especially the black market was whittled down. Currently, Nigeria is the only country in the world whose central bank sells foreign exchange to BDCs. As BDCs had access to more foreign exchange, the number of BDCs increased from about 74 in 2004 to over 3,000 with many applications still pending with the CBN. With this huge number, effective monitoring of their activities became a herculean task. The rent seeking BDCs increased in number and foreign currency were being hawked on the streets.

It became a common sight in commercial hubs and airports to see individuals calling out to passersby and travelers, “dollar, pounds”, “you wan buy dollar or sell dollar”. Some of these roadside BDCs are even involved in the selling of counterfeit foreign currencies as many unsuspecting Nigerians had fallen to their tricks.

This modus operandi is a flouting of the 2002 revised guidelines for BDCs as released by the CBN which stipulated that BDCs sight the passport of anyone who offers to sell foreign exchange and for travelers who intends to buy foreign currency, the guideline stipulates that “purchases of foreign currencies by intending travelers shall be supported by a validly issued and genuine ticket (duly completed Form A, a Current Passport with valid visa), and the amount shall be endorsed on the passport. In such cases a photocopy of the ticket and relevant pages of the passport shall be kept by the bureaux de change.

BDCs according to the CBN have become sources of foreign exchange for money laundering by corrupt politicians and government officials. In several cases, large sums of foreign currencies seized by the immigration have been traced back to BDCs. Last year, the former CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had cautioned on the dollarisation of the economy, listing BDCs as part of the problem.

According to him, the BDCs who were getting $50,000 from the twice weekly dollar sales of the CBN as well as buying from banks, could not account for the foreign currencies, many of which he said goes to money laundering. The eventuality of this he explained is scarcity of foreign currency which puts more pressure on the naira. “If someone

Jonathan

Okonjo-Iweala

Emefiele

is in money laundering, his demand for dollars is completely inelastic. He can do N180/$1, he can pay N200/$1, he can pay N250/$1 and he is not going to stop. I am saying this because these are everyday challenges we deal with in monetary policy,” he explained.

CBN’s Concerns The Emefiele-led CBN had also worried over an avalanche of rentseeking operators only interested in widening margins and profits from the foreign exchange market, regardless of prevailing official and interbank rates. According

to the CBN, the steady creation of artificial scarcity in the market by BDCs has led to the continuous depletion of the country’s foreign reserves which had declined to a two year low of $36 billion in May. The CBN was also particular on the high number of operators, as data from the apex bank showed that there are about 3,208 BDCs in operation as at May 2014, another set of 1,417 are currently awaiting approvals while 252 additional applications were received between May 30 and June 22, 2014. Meanwhile, out of 120 BDCs that the CBN sampled based on volume of purchase from banks, about 101, representing 84 per cent were in breach of the objectives and provisions of the Guidelines.

There was equally weak and ineffective operational structure, resulting in the sub-sector completely abandoning the objectives for its establishment in line with the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 17 of 1995 and the BOFI Act of 1991.

CBN noted that while several BDCS use the same addresses, majority of them could not be located and had no accounting records. Majority of them also relocated without approval; while most of them do not have sales documents, contrary to regulatory rules. It was also gathered that a high percentage of the BDCs sell well over the approved maximum two per cent margin allowed by the guidelines as some of the operators were caught in clear cases of sharp practices.

This had led to the recapitalisation exercise which according to the apex bank will ensure an emergence of well-capitalised and structured entities that can effectively perform the roles of Bureau de Change in the economy. The CBN also anticipates some sort of partnership between BDCs and renowned companies engaged in inward and outward money transfers in Nigeria as well as Creation of robust and sustainable business franchises that are not dependent on rent-seeking activities but are properly situated to compete in the foreign exchange market, and deliver superior values and returns.

Arguments Against The Policy Criticisms have continued to rail the recapitalisation especially from the operators of BDCs as well as politicians, particularly members of the legislative. Days after the CBN issued the circular, the National Assembly had summoned the CBN governor and called for the suspension of the policy. The Association of Bureau de Change Operators in Nigeria (ABCON) have also been vocal on why the policy should be amended.

According to the acting president of the association, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the new policy will force out many BDCs as they would not be able to get funds to recapitalise thereby leading to job loss for thousands. He noted that directly, over 35,000 individuals will be rendered jobless while there is expected to be millions of indirect job loss.

He is also particularly against the mandatory cautionary depos-

it which he said, “should be eliminated as there is no justification for such deposit. BDCs are not deposit taking organisations, we operate on cash and carry basis. We pay for CBN dollars two days in advance. So there is no need for such deposits.”

He said that ABCON also rejects the decision of the apex bank to limit the weekly dollar sale to BDCs that meet the new requirements by July 31, saying it will bring back the activities of black market and incidence of fake currency in circulation, which the BDCs were able to abolish as a result of their involvement as monetary tool of the CBN in 2006 during the tenure of the former CBN governor.

“The policy will give the banks the opportunity to hijack the weekly dollar sales to BDCs. Before CBN started selling dollars to BDCs in 2006, banks were not interested in BDC business. But as soon as the dollar sale started, they saw it as an avenue to make cheap profit, and pressurised the CBN to categorise the sub-sector into Class “A” and Class “B” BDCs,” Gwadabe said.

Some analysts had also raised concerns over the timeframe given to the BDCs to raise capital as well as the amount involved. According to the director general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, Professor Akpan Ekpo, there is need to sanitise the BDC end of the foreign exchange market “but my worry is that the amount involved is too high. There is nothing wrong with the increase but I believe that it should have been done gradually, or they should have been given more time to either recapitalise or form mergers.”

A Step In The Right Direction On the other hand, the CBN have also gotten pats on the back for the recapitalisation of the BDCs. According to head of research at Sterling Capital Limited, Sewa Wusu, the move is one that is well over due for the foreign exchange markets particularly the BDC end, saying as elections are fast approaching, BDCs may come in handy for politicians who want to launder funds.

He stressed the need for the CBN to closely monitor the activities of the BDCs as part of moves to stabilise the economy. “What the central bank is trying to do is to monitor and ascertain the legitimate demand in the BDC segment so that they will not be spending so much in defending the naira.

“The premium between the BDC and official rate is still very wide and the CBN wants to bridge the gap and curtail the excesses of operators. Also, the CBN is being proactive in monitoring money laundering ahead of the 2015 elections,” Wusu said.

He noted that the move by the regulator clearly shows that it’s resolved to defend the naira at all course, saying that the depletion of the country’s forex reserves calls for serious concern by all stakeholders. The foreign reserves have in the past month gradually gained strength, recording over $1.3 billion rise in one month to $38.3 billion.

business Sunday, July 20, 2014

news

L-R: Head, stockbroking operations, Capital Bancorp Plc, Mrs Opeyemi Ayoola; chairman, Mr Olutola Mobolurin; managing director, Mr Aigboje Higo and head, human resources, Mrs Tosin Olojo, during a press conference on the activities of the company in Lagos recently. PHOTO BY CBP

Lafarge Notifies NSE Of Merger With Holcim

By Friday Atufe, Lagos

Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that its parent company, Lafarge SA (France) and Holcim Ltd (a company organised under the laws of Switzerland) has announced the formal signing of the combination agreement, marking the conclusion of the merger terms they announced on April 7, 2014.

The company said, the combination remained conditional upon the required regulatory and other customary consultations and approvals, adding that the closing of the planned merger is expected in the first half of 2015.

The merger is aimed at creating the most balanced and diversified portfolio in the industry, operation in 90 countries and creating superior value for its stakeholders.

Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc further informs that this combination agreement and closing of the planned merger will not impact the direct shareholding of Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc.

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

Director-general of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Dikki has lauded Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) over post privitisation transformation of human capital in the company.

Dikki gave the commendation during the post-monitoring exercise to IKEDC in Lagos where he said that eight months after official handing over of the power sector to the private sector, IKEDC has shown tremendous improvement in areas of customer service delivery and equipment upgrading.

According to him, “I am indeed impressed with the transformation witnessed at the IKEDC after eight months of handing over to private sector.

“It is also a symbol of change

that indicated operational difference from government owned company to private sector driven. Within eight months of taking over the DISCO, the quality of service and effective goal driven has been established which makes it business driven.”

He expressed delight that all abandoned projects have been brought into operational use, adding that such transformation will go a long way in boosting the power.

Dikki said that the post privatisation monitoring exercise aims at identifying areas where government can render support to the DISCOs adding that, “Government still owns 40 per cent stake in the business; this is to ascertain where the sector is today and to ensure adequate provision from government in enhancing the operation of the DISCO.”

He said that Mr President has been at the vanguard of ensuring that the private sector strive in the country to become the engine of economy move in Nigeria.

“As a policy in putting by BPE to access what is on ground in ensuing effective improvement of power supply to the masses.

“Government has tremendous achieving effective and adequate privatisation of the power sector which has never happened in the history of the country.

“We are here and we are happy with what we are seeing Ikeja DISCO is a clear example of the privatisation process.

“Ikeja has shown good initiative towards effective customer service delivery and prompts response to complaints which has detached from the past when the disco was in the hand of the government,” he said.

It could be recalled that Lafarge Wapco is on the verge of merging its Nigerian and South African operations in a bid to create a new company to be known as Lafarge Africa Plc. The new company will consolidate all Lafarge’s shares in its businesses in Nigeria (AshakaCem, UniCem and Atlas) and South Africa to Lafarge Wapco.

The consolidation transaction will be concluded through a cash consideration of N32.4 billion ($200 million) and the insurance of 1.4 billion Lafarge Africa shares to the Lafarge Group making Lafarge Africa Plc to have a market capitalisation of N486 billion ($3 billion) and would be the sixth largest Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) listed company.

Already, shareholders of the company had at their AGM in Lagos last week approved N100 billion fresh capital for the company to enable it consolidate its business in Africa.

The N100 billion fresh capital will be raised through a public offer of debt and equity in the domestic and international capital market.

IGD Launches Global Image Laundering To Attract FDI To Africa

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

BPE Lauds IKEDC Over Transformation Process

55

The Initiative for Global Development (IGD) will be releasing a series of videos featuring experts and senior business executives to change perceptions about investing in Africa.

The IGD is working with its partners in the initiative to feature experts and senior executives from top African and American businesses to address negative perception of investing in Africa.

The video series covers important topics on the subject of investing in Africa such as, why negative perceptions exist, real risks versus perceived risks, dealing with corruption in Africa and leveraging African entrepreneurs and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

IGD said that Africa presents a wealth of opportunities, boasting valuable resources and a growing population pointing that as it promotes and encourages investments in Africa, efforts must be made by the continent to also con-

front commonly-held misconceptions and assumptions regarding the investment environment in Africa.

IGD observed that these misconceptions dissuade new companies’ market entry resulting in stifled economic growth, stagnated community and social development. IGD’s President and chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Mima Nedelcovych, channeled his four decades of his working experience in business across most of Africa’s 54 countries when he explains that, “IGD understands that to drive poverty reduction through business investment, it is critical that we directly address and help to overcome these misconceptions, focusing instead on Africa’s lesser-known success stories as a continent with considerable economic and human potential.”

The campaign to change perceptions is especially timely as the US prepares to welcome African leaders to the US-Africa Leaders Summit in August.

classified as new generation agencies where Adisa’s Noah’s Ark falls within and old generation that TBWA/Concept could actually wear the toga.

It was obvious that Nwosu will win but after both contestants’ presentations members began to have a change of heart. Nwosu too was becoming very apprehensive too.

Adisa hope of winning the election was beginning to grow. However, the election day drama, which led to Nwosu landslide over Adisa – 35 against 15 votes ensure that the

status quo is maintained.

With the determination to build the creative industry and attract government trust, Nwosu said if anybody wants to build reputation, get value he or she has to show some skills and prove that he has some capability. “This will open doors. We need more business coming to us and one of the strong things my administration has promised to do and I hope to accomplish it is to embark on a strong campaign for the government on pro bono”.

Nwosu Emerges New AAAN President

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

The 41st annual general meeting of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) may have come and gone but the intrigues that characterised the emergence of the chief executive officer of TBWA advertising, Kelechi Nwosu, will linger on.

Nwosu’s landslide over the managing director of Noah’s Ark, Lanre Adisa, was a shock to many as the 41st election of the association was actually termed the ‘real’ election.

Nwosu who was elected president of the 41-year old AAAN has promised to consolidate on the achievements of the body, push APCON reforms and deepen the association’s relationship with government.

Nwosu whose vision for the association revolves around professionalism, value and respect believes that as the market becomes more dynamic, the association needs to be on a good stead to do more business with government.

Prior to the nerve racking contest, the AGM commenced with

international seminar with the theme: Political advertising, perception building and voters’ education.

The paper was delivered by Bill Clinton’s political adviser, Craig Smith. The well attended seminar has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Attahiru Jega and other prominent Nigerians such as former Zenith Bank Chairman, Sir Steve Omojafor in attendance.

The manifestoes’ evening saw serious politicking, between those

56 feature

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Some suspected pickpockets.

PHOTO BY cindywockner.com

The New Face Of Pickpocketing In Lagos Pickpockets in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State, seem to have designed their method of operation to the extent their victims wonder if the experience was a fairytale or dream.

In this write-up, MATTHEW DIKE examines pickpockets’ modus operandi

P

The most daring are those that could be tagged robbers, who would intimidate victims and collect their cash and other valuables before taking to their heels

ickpocketing is not a new crime in Nigeria. It has been in existence for a very long period. In the 70s a place like Tafawa Balewa Square otherwise known as Race Course, in Lagos Island was the den of pick pockets. Then some passengers boarding Lagos State Transport Corporation buses plying Race Course - Palm Grove - Oshodi - Cappa (the last bus stop) Route usually hid their money and other valuables in their pants, bras, stockings and other funny places.

In 1979 I and some other young secondary school students who patronised the State buses because the transport fare was relatively cheap (just 15 kobo) from Race Course to Cappa.

Though commuters at Oshodi, Yaba, Oyingbo, Ajegunle, Mile Two, Ojota, Iyana Ipaja, among other places in Lagos were not left out as pickpockets also operated in their areas. Some had lost their pay packets and wept.

The pickpockets could be two, three, or more, depending on the gang. Their illegal escapades became so rampant at Race Course that we (students) began to monitor their activities.

Each time somebody screamed that they had dispossessed them of their money either in the afternoon, evening or night, students would chase the hoodlums and anyone apprehended would be beaten black and blue.

Students usually alert the would-be victims if they noticed some of the pickpockets trying to carry out their act.

The pickpockets one day in 1979 when I was still a young student, connived with their colleagues who operated in other areas in Lagos to come to Race Course and deal with us.

As their modus operandi was usually to use one of their col-

leagues in crime to block the entrance of the buses as if they were struggling to board the bus because the buses were not enough to contain the commuters at same time. People scrambled to board the available vehicles and in the process the pickpockets would steal their money and other valuables.

So on that fateful day in 1979 my colleagues from different secondary schools were monitoring the pickpockets because there was no bus and commuters were stranded that afternoon, including us.

When a bus finally arrived, we knew the hoodlums would strike but unknown to us they had mapped out a plan against us.

Suddenly one man screamed that a pickpocket has stolen his money. Three other men around said the students should join them to chase the thief who was pretending to escape. We ignorantly chased the hoodlum towards NET building now called NITEL. Suddenly the pickpockets we were chasing turned around and began to call us thieves. We were sandwiched as they attacked us with sticks. We were shocked to know that the three men urging us to join in the chase were also pickpockets.

Some soldiers came to our rescue and two of the hoodlums were arrested. After explanation, (trust Nigerian soldiers) they gave them the beating of their lives.

After the incident, students who usually board the bus at Race Course decided to attack any of the hoodlums during their various operations and that led to the reduction of pickpockets at Race Course.

Students who usually board the State bus we called ‘Funky Train’ because of the number of passengers and lots of strange occurrences or funny things that happen in such vehicles became their prey while they ours.

The method the pickpockets adopted was to slyly dip their hands into the victim’s pocket and remove whatever they can in his possession usually while rushing to board the bus. Some also use razor blade to cut victims pockets or handbags.

They usually held newspapers to cover their hands to block people from seeing them.

It was common to hear victims scream if he or she noticed that the money in their pockets or purse was gone.

There are other methods of pickpocketing. One is called ‘Ogbe ko gbe’. Meaning: Dried or not dried.

Pickpockets in this category would steal any cloth they find hanging out on a line whether dry or not.

Another are the modern ones who would snatch handsets or purse during traffic grid locks. They may be two in number. While one would be at the off-side door talking to the driver, the other standing close to the driver’s door would use the opportunity to steal from the driver.

Those others who operate on motorcycles snatch people’s bags and speed of, while the most daring are those that could be tagged robbers, who would intimidate victims and collect their cash and other valuables before taking to their heels.

These cases have become very rampant in Lagos.

A victim who lost N100,000 to such hoodlums, Mama Agnes said she was returning from work but she arrived Mile Two area, two boys came to her and ordered her to surrender her hand bag and she did.

Mama Agnes told LEADERSHIP Sunday: “My brother this is the third time hoodlums would snatch her money. The first one was in December 1982 at Oshodi when I was boarding a bus to Orile. They stole the money and I couldn’t buy Christmas clothes for my three children because I’m a widow. The second was in 2001 when hoodlums operating on Okada snatched my purse containing N21,000 along Kirikiri Road Olodi- Apapa. The last was January this year when the hoodlums collected my N100, 000,” she said.

Why and how some pickpockets

step up to become armed robbers Most armed robbers or pickpockets would say the devil led them into the act. Some would claim that they are orpans and because they are abjectly poor they had to join a gang to survive.

Some would blame it on peer group, saying their friends introduced them into the act.

What baffles most people in Lagos is how the hoodlums know themselves. The pickpockets popular called ‘awala boys and girls’ have a way of walking and behaving, especially in Ajegunle area of Lagos State. Their dressings are usually very different and even their movements.

The girls usually wear very short knickers which a responsible girl will not wear in public. They usually fixed eyelashes, walk like exhibitionists while their men tend to walk with a slant or bend. They like jeans trousers, and they are ‘in love with’ Indian hemp. They are big spenders in parties (among the poor).

Lagos State police command recently arrested three suspected armed robbers after a tenant connived with them to rob their neighbours in Ajegunle area of the metropolis.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, led by the officer in charge, SP Abba Kyari arrested the three man-gang on June 15, 2014.

The three suspects are Bode Oladejo, 22, Christian Opene, 26, and Matthew Nwachie, 20.

The tenant, Opene who resides at Turner Eradiri Street, Ajegunle had some misunderstandings with his neighbour, Godwin Perebor, after the caretaker allegedly showered hot water on him.

Opene was said to have gone to invite the gang to rob the whole residents.

The complainant and victim Perebor was robbed on June 14, along with two other ladies in the house at about 3am while Opone was outside the compound.

He allegedly escaped from the scene with the gang who had been dispossessing the victims of their cash and ATM cards.

They carted away N295,000, a purse, two ATM cards and a company ID card.

57

nollywood Sunday, July 20, 2014

Nollywood Development: State Govts To The Rescue

T

he Nigerian Film industry otherwise globally referred to as Nollywood has no doubt brought glory to Nigeria in diverse ways. Aside helping to foster the continuing image laundering attempt of government by projecting Nigerian languages and cultures to the world, the industry is globally recognised as the largest in the world after USA and India.

In terms of commercial viability, there is also no disputing the fact that Nollywood is commercial friendly hence continuing endorsement of the actors as brand ambassadors by many corporate bodies.

Even as this industry continues to grow with the practitioners also receiving unending recognitions both nationally and internationally, one major challenge the practitioners have decried over the years, is the failure of government to associate with them even despite the fact that the industry is a revenue earner for the country and also a job creator for thousands of Nigerians.

All that began to change recently with financial interventions from the Federal Government for the industry, not to mention the appointments of one or two of the practitioners too in some relevant departments at the Federal level.

L - R: Movie Cast/Crew Larry Briggs, Nkiru Sylvanus, Afe Olumowe(Director), Betty Njoku-Olumowe

While the aforementioned is encouraging, the industry has never failed to show that it needs more support.

Come the state governments which started giving appointments to movie stars in their states, at least to show their support for this creative ones and for the practitioners to have a voice in the state.

One of the most popular was that of enormously talented actress, Nkiruka Sylvanus who

was appointed Special Adviser to the Imo State Government on Public Affairs, under the administration of His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

And in view of her contribution to the industry before and after her appointment and after leaving the office, the government of Imo State came all out to support the beautiful actress Nkiru Sylvanus during the highly-talked about premiere of

Ruth Kadiri Presents Matters Arising Fast rising Nollywood actress and storywriter, Ruth Kadiri has just completed work on her new movie titled ‘Matters Arising’. The movie is a romantic comedy that features Ghanaian actor Majid Michel.

Matters Arising which has a village setting and shot in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria, is about a married thrift collector, who does not live up to his responsibilities, he is always found wanting. He is soon forced to face the consequence of his ways. According to Ruth, it is a movie that seeks to bring happiness to movie lovers and at the same time teach people that it is more honourable to own up to their responsibilities.

With this movie, Ruth Kadiri has placed herself on the list of female movie producers in the industry such as Uche Jombo, Omoni Oboli, Funke Akindele, Stephanie Okereke Linus and Rukky Sanda.

According to the actresscum-producer, “the movie is just one of the things I have in store for my fans; they should expect a lot more from me. This

Ruth

movie is generally to make people laugh, and at the same time teach them a thing or two about responsibility. Majid and the production crew really outdid themselves in this movie and I know that it would also make a difference in the quality of movies produced in the industry.”

Ruth Kadiri who has an Or-

dinary National Diploma (OND) in Business Administration from the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Mass communication from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is a Nigerian actress that got into the movie industry a few years back as a story writer and has written a lot of blockbuster movies.

She has starred in several movies alongside established names in the industry. Movies she has featured in include My Rich Boyfriend, Heart of a Fighter, Ladies Gang, Strange Acts, Breath of Love, Burning Tears and Sincerity amongst others. She has worked with stars like Mercy Johnson, Majid Michel, Ramsey Nouah, and Uche Jombo.

Ruth Kadiri who would be taking Matters Arising to the cinemas soon, said she is looking forward to taking the movie to the cinemas. “It is not often you see a movie with a local/village setting going to the cinemas, so I am looking forward to the challenges.”

her new film titled “The Voice” at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Lagos.

The premiere had in attendance, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madu-

mere who represented the Governor; including top Nollywood stars including Chika Ike, Monalisa Chinda, Comedian Koffi, Ifeoma Ejenabor,Anita Joseph, Kenneth Okolie, Larry Briggs, Betty Njokwu and many others.

All eyes were on Nkiru Sylvanus as she premiered the firstof-its-kind Nigerian thriller/adventure film which is a true life story.

Many guests who saw the film, which will debut in DVD in coming days, agreed that “The Voice” is about one of the indepth Nigerian films they’ve seen in a long time as they were glued to the edge of their seats throughout the screening.

Even the deputy governor while delivering the message of the governor after seeing the film, could not hide his excitement. He confessed that indeed the achievement of the actress on a job such as this, is the reason the Imo State government continues to take the lead in supporting the creative industry and creative minds in Nigeria irrespective of where they come from.

Uche Jombo’s Almost Perfect Gets A Boost Environ Health Drink, a healthy soft drink has partnered one of Nigeria’s foremost movie producers, Uche Jombo on a new movie project titled “Almost Perfect.”

Almost Perfect is a story about a married woman, who is the breadwinner of the family. She wants her husband to get a job to support the family; she knows things would go on perfectly with him working.

However, a major twist emerged when the husband eventually got the job. It was a twist that threatened the foundation of the marriage. Will the marriage survive?

That is one question Almost Perfect has the answer to. The movie features Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot, Ken Erics, Daniel K. Daniel, Michelle Dede and Peggy Ovire.

According to the Brand Communications Manager of Eviron Health Drink, Miss Lilian Mmuoemenam, “Eviron partners with Uche Jombo because of the similarities between the two brands.

“Uche Jombo is known for producing premium advocacy movies that addresses prominent issues affecting the physical and psychological wellbeing of individuals in the society. Similarly, Eviron health drink is concerned with promoting the need for Nigerians to imbibe the lifestyle of living healthy whilst having fun.”

Eviron health drink is a non-

alcoholic, caffeine free soft drink which contains vitamins and essential health ingredients that help protect the liver from harmful substances and also boost performance of bodily functions. It is suitable for consumption by both the young and old at anytime and occasion and can also serve as a mixer with beer and brandy/whisky.

According to the producer of the movie, Uche Jombo “Almost Perfect is a movie that addresses salient marital issues. The movie is a message to married people to be partners in every way in order to face the challenges of a marriage and not to leave the burden to only one person. Eviron health drink is a product that advocates for a fun healthy lifestyle so as to stay sound and productive and that is why they have partnered with us on this project. Almost perfect is for the whole family and for young people as well.”

Uche Jombo, who holds a PGD in Mathematics, started out as an actress and has moved on to become one of the best and most creative producers in Nollywood.

She has produced 16 movies so far. Almost Perfect is directed by Nollywood actor turned director, Desmond Elliot. The movie is scheduled for release later this year or early next year.

58 sunday e-train

e-train

Sunday, July 20, 2014

How Celebrities Evolve Through Reality Shows

The concept of reality shows is one of the ideologies currently making waves in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

ADERIBIGBE TOLULOPE analyses some Nigerian celebrities who gained recognition using their parents’ influence, while many others battled it out in shows like the Maltina Danceall, Big Brother Nigeria, Gulder Ultimate Search, MTN Project Fame and so on Timi

Some of the prominent winners of the reality shows made it into the limelight were they are making waves today. They include: Timi Timi Dakolo (born in Ghana on January 20, 1981) is a Nigerian singer and song writer. He is the winner of the first season of Idols West Africa (2007) who beat runner-up, Omawumi Megbele getting 63 per cent of the votes to clinch the ultimate price With his victory, he took home many prizes including a recording contract with Sony BMG. On January 1, 2008 (New Year’s Day), Timi Dakolo was shot at the lobby of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt. He had gone to the hotel to attend a church service in the company of his friends.

Timi Dakolo released his first single comprising three songs in October 2009. In 2011, he released the song “There’s a Cry”, Heaven Please from his ablum, Beautiful Noise and Iyawo Mi in 2014. He has earned international recognition due to his songs genre.

Iyanya Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk (born October 31, 1986), is a singer, songwriter, and performer best known for winning the 2008 MTN Project Fame West Africa as well as for his song Kukere. He is the co-owner of Made Men Music Group, a record label home to artists such as Emma Nyra, Tekno, Selebobo and Baci. Iyanya sings in English and Efik. He released his debut studio album, My Story, in 2011. It was supported by the singles “No Time” and “Love Truly”. Iyanya vs. Desire, his second studio album, contained the singles Kukere, Ur Waist, Flavour, Sexy Mama, and Jombolo. He won the Artist of the Year award at the 2013 The Headies.

Tonto Tonto Charity Dikeh, also known as Tonto Dike (born June 9, 1985) is a Nigerian actress and singer from Rivers State. Dikeh, is from a family of seven.

In 2005 she competed in a reality TV show called The Next Movie Star; she was the first runner up.

Then she ventured into Nigerian movie industry with several movies like Pounds and Dollars, Blackberry Babes Re-loaded, Battle of Queens and Throne of War to her credit. After acting several movies, Tonto decided to try her hands in music and she debuted by releasing a singles Hi and Itz Ova ft Snypa. On June 13, 2014, Pop star D’banj, unveiled Tonto under the artistes with his record label DB Records.

O.C O.C. Ukeje was born on July 15, 1981. He is arguably the biggest Nigerian actor to have emerged from a reality TV show. O.C. Ukeje began his career in acting from his first year at the University of Lagos, where he played a lead role in a stage play. He was a stage actor for four years before attempting and winning the reality TV show for actors, Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO).

He began a full career with a merger of stage and screen performances. His first screen appearance was in White Waters in 2008 alongside star actresses Joke Silva and Rita Dominic. O.C Ukeje has since become a seasoned actor with appearances in movies like Comrade, Confusion Na Wa, Half of a Yellow Sun, Black November amongst others.

Chidimma

Uti

Uti Uti Nwachukwu was born on August 3, 1982. He is one celebrity who has participated in multiple reality TV shows.

He first participated at the celebrated Next Movie Star before contesting at the highly watched Big Brother Africa reality TV show in 2008. Uti has since become a celebrity as he co-hosts the popular African Magic programme, Jara and becoming a major events host across all sectors in Nigeria.

Omawumi Omawumi Megbele (born April 13, 1982) is a Nigerian singersongwriter and actress. She gained

Omawumi

attention as the 2007 runner-up on West African Idols, her sophomore album, The Lasso of Truth, was reported to be a commercial success in Nigeria. With her singles like If U Ask Me, Megeble have made serious waves through the media.

She graduated from Ambrose Ali University with a Law degree.

Omawumi started her acting career when she played a minor role in the 2009 edition of the V-Monologues, a play that reflects the negative issues affecting women in Nigeria. She also starred in the musical play Olurombi. She had a minor role in the movie Inale. In 2011, she starred in Return of Jenifa, then House of Gold (2013).

Darey: Dare (pronounced Da-Ray) Art Alade was born in Lagos. He is probably the first Nigerian celebrity to rise to fame on the back of a reality TV show after he participated at the 2004 edition of Project Fame Academy and emerged third in the contest. The awardwinning musician and song writer is the son of iconic Nigerian entertainer, Art Alade.

Darey’s career is not just limited to being a musician; he has over the past decade been a disc jockey, TV presenter, entertainment consultant, voice-over artiste and performing/recording artist and event host.

Amarachi Amarachi Uyanne was born on July 17, 2004. She won the 1st edition of Nigeria’s Got Talent due to her extraordinary dance skills.

She took a dive into the music industry with her 1st single Amarachi’s Dance and Get Down has put her name on the lips of several people.

Chidimma Chidimma Ekile is of eastern Nigeria Descent and the fifth out of six siblings.

She grew up under strict Christian parents and became very involved in the church choir from a tender age of ten. She attended primary and secondary schools in Ketu,Lagos.

In 2009, she discovered MTN Project Fame West Africa music reality TV show on television.

Then a close friend encouraged her to go for the Lagos auditions of the third edition on September 26, 2011.

Her first single is titled Jankoliko! and features Nigerian music veteran Sound Sultan. Her consistency has continued with songs like Emi Ni Baller, Oh Baby among others.

An entertainment writer and critic, Anthony Ada Abraham said most prominent reality show organisers failure to follow up on success pursuits of the artistes they produce is the real reason some of the discovered talents disappear into the thin air.

sunday e-train 59

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Attacks On Public Places: Abuja Nightlife Dwindles Insurgency in Nigeria has brought about lots of negative things, including the loss of life and property. SAMUEL AJUWA writes that nightlife in Abuja and entertainment in general is also grossly affected by the growing insecurity in the land

T

Though different locations have different stands on the insecurity bedevilling the Federal Capital City, Abuja nightlife is business as usual

he move intended to curb security challenges, however, could not stop fun seekers from hanging out late at night as several relaxation spots in the FCT were always jam-packed.

The hustle and bustle of night life in the city of Abuja has waned down a little especially at the Wuse II axis following bomb explosions that rocked the EMAB plaza witnessed in the Federal Capital Territory recently.

Also to the earlier pronouncement made by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which stated that nightclubs, pubs, cinemas and also viewing centres must end their activities by 10pm, but they have tried another strategy to outdo one another by bringing innovations to their services such as cocktails, comedians and dancers in order to win and retain more customers.

LEADERSHIP Sunday investigation revealed that as usual, the patronage at the Eden Garden has not reduced even as the raining season continues.

Mr Mike Adigba, is one of those who love eating fish at Eden Garden, this is what he said: “I can’t because of the continued bombardment of the country by the insane Boko Haram stop enjoying my life. I don’t know when I will die because no where is safe.

We are just living by the grace of God. “If I continue to think that they will bomb here and there, maybe one day it will be in my house, God forbid. Nigeria is not safe but our security agent are only there protecting the rich. I love my country, I love my life and I love rocking.

So why should I be afraid of death when I know that today in Nigeria, anything can happen. You can see cars packed outside even with the

rain,” he explained.

The relaxation spots which cut across gardens and parks, nightclubs, eateries, hotels, brothels, among others provide an avenue for clients to unwind and socialise with pals and business partners after the day’s hassles.

The thrills and frills associated with nightlife have been cut short as the recent bomb explosion in Abuja have forced many to refrain from keeping late nights.

Aminu Usman [not real name] who spoke in Hausa insisted that his business as a suya vendor has reduced because people who come to patronise him are scared of the insecurity caused by the dreaded Boko Haram. So the patronage is as low as dew drops.

“There is no day that I don’t go home with at least N5,000. But now If I see N2,000, I always thank God because those who pack big cars has refused to come around as they believe we hausas are Boko Haram.” he said.

But that’s not the case at the Jabi Masalachi axis where those who do ‘washing and setting’ [prostitution] as they are called continue to wax stronger even with the insecurity.

Though some complained due to the insecurity, some said it is business as usual.

People within and outside the community still troop in in their numbers to patronise them while the little Shekpe joints around welcome those who love the taste of locally brewed herb mixture with whisky which is believed to cure various ailment like waist pain, back pain, weakness of the body and others.

When E-train reporter disguised as a customer at the local hotel to woo one of the girls, this was the conversation that ensued between them.

Reporter: How market?

Sex worker: Market no dey because customers no dey too come. E be like say na because of Boko Haram that’s why market no dey come like before. But as you dey now, I know say better don come.

Reporter: Na how much for sharp sharp?

Sex worker : You be fine guy nah.

Just buy me drink first. Then we go talk inside.

After the drinks she was so tipsy that he left. This is what happens to some of the girls when men come to patronise at night to have fun with them at the hotel even as the insecurity persists.

The price according to another prostitute has reduced because people no longer want to have sex with them and those who are interested pay very little between N2,000 and N5,000.

Speaking to the CEO of Caribbean lounge in Wuse II, he said that the security threats and alerts have made most people scared of going to have fun at night, in his words: “Yes for sure, some people are scared of clubbing at night but most clubs have arranged for internal security and that is helping to build back the confidence of our customers,” he explained.

Also, the Entertainment Manager, Rita Lori Hotel, Garki 2, Abuja Mr Philip Joe said that the bombings and threats of more bombings have really affected the sales and customer patronage in recent times.

When asked if the Ramadan Fasting is also a factor affecting the patronage of fun seekers, he exclaimed “no ooo! The insecurity in Abuja is the major cause of the low sales and patronage and I pray that the insecurity in the country would be put to an end as soon as possible because it is affecting both the hotel, musicians and the commercial sex workers,” he added.

Meanwhile the CEO of Xtacy Night Club in Wuse II, Mr Val said the fun continues even with the insecurity because the insecurity has not in anyway affected customers patronage at his Night club. He also insisted that people’s patronage of the club has increased everyday as they used to.

A visit to Bakes Excellence Resorts, once acclaimed number one spot in Abuja, few customers were on hand as it looked deserted. Blake is a resort with a live band and a night club known as mercury night club, [Mercury Night] the spot enjoys the patronage of majority of fun seekers in Abuja and it’s environs but with the recent upsurge in insurgency in the country the reverse is the case, the live band performs day in day out but it has been deserted by most of its numerous customers.

According to the entertainment manager of the resort, Kaycee Kline, he said even on Fridays and Saturdays that usually enjoy more patronage has fallen drastically in terms of patrons and sales the resort and the musicians seriously but they are hoping that normalcy will be restored in the FCT and the Resorts soon.

Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent that is always busy is now looking scanty and like a ‘ghost ville, ‘people don’t come around to patronise the area like usual because they are scared of all the threats posed by security agencies and nobody knows where the next bomb might explode.

Those who are used to flexing in the city would know the ever busy Gimbiya Street ,Area 11 Abuja and Lagos Street in Garki are deserted with less than 20 per cent of the number of people that usually flood the areas.

Most security men and bouncers in most of these night clubs said they are at the receiving end because whenever they scan cars, people or check vehicle boots they are usually scared because anything can happen as they don’t know who is who. Most of them even said they would have called it quits but due to lack of job opportunities in the country they don’t have a choice than to continue with the job they have at hand because they have families to fend for.

Though different locations have different stands on the insecurity bedevilling the Federal Capital City, Abuja nightlife is business as usual.

60 KIDDIES

Sunday, July 20, 2014

kiddies kingdom

JOKE

BY CHIKA MEFOR

08156719304 (SMS ONLY)

Ihuoma And The Prince Continued from last week One day, he was walking down to his hide out, a place he likes to go and think about his life, when he saw Ihuoma heading to the stream. He knew then that she was the one he wanted to marry. He asked Ihuoma of her father’s name and there and then asked her to marry him. Ihuoma told him that she would if her family consents to it. She never knew she was consenting to marrying the prince of her village.

Prince Nduka ran all the way home to tell his parents that he had seen the girl he wanted to marry. When they heard that he wanted to marry the daughter of a pauper, they were angry.

“Why won’t you marry Ngozi, the daughter of Mazi Obi? They asked. “She is a beautiful girl and will make you a good wife,” they pointed out.

“I don’t want to marry Ngozi.

Ihuoma is the one for me,” the prince replied.

The news of the prince’s choice spread in the village like a wild fire. While the girls couldn’t fathom why the prince wanted to marry Ihuoma, the men in the village knew what the prince has

seen. Beyond her tattered clothes, Ihuoma was a beauty to behold.

“Chei! I wanted to go and ask for her hand in marriage. Now the Prince has blocked me,” Azu, the village town crier told everyone that cared to listen.

It was unheard of in the village that a prince would descend so low as to want to marry the daughter of a pauper. “You don’t place a square peg on a round hole,” they kept saying. “It is quite demeaning.” Ngozi who had thought she would be the new addition to the royal family was not happy at all.

She tried everything in her power to convince the prince that she was the one for him but all these fell on deaf ears. There was a crisis in the land.

Back in Ihuoma’s house, there was also crisis. Everybody in the village was regarding the family with hatred because their daughter has attracted the prince. Ihuoma’s father and her mother were also at loggerhead and the father blaming the daughter for bringing hatred upon them while the mother was asking him to ease up on their daughter for none of the problem was her fault. Ihuoma on her part tried to explain to her parents that she didn’t even know that he was a prince when she met him.

Prince Nduka shut everyone up when he declared that he would marry Ihuoma or no one. The King and the Queen had to agree. When they finally met with Ihuoma, they saw that they had nothing to worry about; she was the best anyone would have for a daughter-in-law.

The marriage ceremony was held in the palace. It was a wedding to reckon with, the talk of the town for so many years. They lived a happy family thereafter.

PUZZLE

Concluded

MAZE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Maryam Abdul-Rauf just completed her nursery school at Bamthik Int’l School, Kaduna. She was promoted to Primary 1. Kiddies Kingdom wishes her long life and a successful academic career.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

zonal watch

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NIGER STATE KWARA STATE KOGI STATE BENUE STATE NASARAWA STATE PLATEAU STATE FCT ABUJA

KOGI: Wada Commissions New Rice Mill

PLATEAU : Community Challenges Dissolution Of Chiefdom

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

The governor has no power to suspend a chiefdom created by a law of the Plateau State House of Assembly

The people of Bogghom chiefdom in Kanam local government area of Plateau State have gone to court challenging the dissolution of their chiefdom

by Governor Jonah Jang. Jang They want the court to compel Governor Jang to respect the orders of the court which has made declarations to the effect that the governor has no power to suspend a chiefdom created by a law of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

The immediate past governor of the state, Chief Joshua Dariye, had

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

created a couple of new chiefdoms for most communities of the state. One of the new chiefdoms created in 2005 and gazetted included that of the Bogghom chiefdom in Kanam local government area.

But as soon as Governor Jang assumed office as governor, he announced a suspension of all the new chiefdoms as well as their paramount rulers across the state without recourse to the Plateau State House of Assembly.

The Bogghom development association, prays the court to restore the suspended chiefdoms and their rulers.

The Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada has commissioned the Olam Nigeria’s 210,000 metric ton integrated rice mill and 3,000 hectare commercial rice farm, Rukubi, Doma local government area.

Speaking at the ceremony, Wada noted that the federal government’s master plan to provide power and other necessary infrastructure to export crop processing zones in the country was a development that would aid food production.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Yomi

HEADS

Awoniyi, disclosed that the efforts by the federal government in assisting to provide infrastructures to ECPZ will encourage large development farms, provide food and jobs.

Wada disclosed that his administration, aside from cultivating large hectares of rice farms, has gone into the production of crops in which the state has comparative advantage.

The governor lauded the support it had enjoyed from the federal government in its drive to become a food basket of the nation, calling for collaborative efforts that would enable government realise its objectives.

KWARA: Lawmaker Sponsors 10 Bills Passed Into Law Within 2 Days

FROM THE ZONE

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

➔ Ahmad, the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary breaks legislative record by having 10 bills he sponsored passed into law within two days

The chairman, LUBCON Group of Companies, Ilorin, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim (left), presenting enlightenment documents on Ebola Virus to Professor Tanimola Akande during a public lecture organised by LUBCON on the virus in Ilorin, Kwara State. Beside the chairman is GMD, LUBCON, Chief S. O Owojaiye, while first right is MD, LUBCON, Mr Taiye Williams. PHOTO BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN

KOGI: Wada Tasks Nigerians On Food Security

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

➔ The old boys association of Government Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State plans N1billion infrastructural development for its Alma Mater

The Kogi State governor, Capt Idris Wada has said that food security for the nation’s teeming population is the responsibility of all.

Wada stated this when he received a delegation from World Bank, FADAMA III team on additional financing who were in the state on a threeday sensitisation programme visit to the state.

Represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, the governor described a situation whereby

a nation with about 170 million people still spends a billion naira daily on food importation as unacceptable.

He described availability of food as a security measure that must not be toyed with. He commended the federal government’s initiative of making agriculture a mainstay in the nation’s economy.

The governor who said that his administration has keyed fully into the agricultural transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, added that the state will par-

ticipate in activities geared towards making the nation self-sustaining as far as food production is concerned.

While disclosing that the state is comparatively blessed with crops such as rice, sugar cane, soya beans and tomatoes that can make it a food basket, the governor promised to produce these crops on a large scale.

He pointed out that agriculture, if well harnessed, remains the hope of the nation for growth and development.

The farm is expected to contribute 36,000 metric tons (MT) of milled rice per annum to the domestic market has over 3,000 hectares under cultivation and a further 3,000 hectares on target for 2015. It will therefore contribute to the federal government’s goal to improve rice self-sufficiency.

The farm is also expected to yield 10 MT per hectare based on four varieties of high-yield rice tested in association with the West African Rice

Development Association.

Together, the farm and the mill are boosting small holder rice production in the region through a ‘nucleus and outgrow farming model’ as surrounding rice growing communities are supported by Olam with training, pre-finance, agro inputs and marketing linkages bin order to improve their own paddy yields and realisations, which are then purchased by the company at a fair price.

NASARAWA: Olam Rice Farm Opens In Nasarawa

BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia

Olam International Limited, one of the leading agri-businesses in Nigeria has inaugurated a state-of-theart rice mill at its large-scale, pioneering rice farm in Nigeria.

The integrated rice milling facility which was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in Nasarawa State is situated at the heart of Olam’s 6,000-hecter Greenfield irrigated and mechanised paddy farm.

The chairman, House Committee on Justice and member representing Ilorin East/Ilorin South federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Dr Ali Ahmad has broken legislative records by sponsoring 10 bills which were passed into laws by the House within two days.

This development has set a new national record at the National Assembly for being the first lawmaker to sponsor 10 bills within two days. The 10 bills were passed into law between June 8 and 9, 2014.

The bills sponsored by Ahmad include Maintenance Orders Act (meant for registration of regional courts), the Loan Act, the Bill that will reflect the change in the name of the National Hospital, Abuja, as it is known today from its old name of National Hospital for Women and Children.

Others are military-era laws that have become moribund like the Family Economic Advancement Programme Act, the Family Support Trust Fund Act, and the People’s Bank of Nigeria Act. Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday on the feat he has recorded, Ahmad said that, “This is the first time in the history of the House of Representatives that 10 bills sponsored by an individual would be passed into law within one week.

“The foundation for this ground-breaking exercise was laid in May 2013 when I brought to the notice of the House the continued existence of anachronistic laws in our statute books.

“Then, I particularly drew attention of my colleagues to the fact that the Supreme Court of Nigeria (Afrotec V. MIA) still held that the Sale of Goods Act of England 1893 was still applicable in Nigeria as late as year 2000.

“This is so, despite the fact that the 1893 Act has been repealed and re-enacted several times by the British Parliament. Having sought for the repeal and remodeling of the colonial-era Sale of Goods Act, I was urged by the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to work tirelessly and see that all such embarrassing statutes are expunged from our law books”.

He added that, “The 10 bills are a product of this exercise. Apart from the National Hospital Bill, the others that were worked on by the House may be classified into three.

“The first are laws that apply to Nigeria since the colonial era and which have overstayed their usefulness”.

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAJI’UN

Pa Wada HalIlU EjIga (1914 - 2014)

We, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, (ALGON), Kogi State chapter, received with sadness, the death of Pa Wada Halilu Ejiga, the father of His Excellency, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, the Governor of Kogi State, which occurred on Sunday July 13, 2014 after the ripe age of 100 years.

On behalf of the entire people of our dear state, we wish to express our sincere condolence to His Excellency, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, the Executive Governor, Kogi State and the entire family of Pa Ejiga Wada. We are glad that our father lived a fullfiled life of service to humanity and his community. We pray that Allah in his mercy will grant his gentle soul eternal rest. May Aljanat Firdausi be his final abode.

We pray also that Allah gives his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Signed: Okino Aloysius Faruk Adejo-Audu Umar Zakari Megida Umar David Ina Ogu Musa Major Abutalib Isah Ameh

Isah Abdul Odiba Andrew Labaran Oyigebe Remi Odutola Funsho G. Ibrahim Labaran Ibrahim Usman Baba Aliyu

Salihu Adaviruku Hassan Okehi Yusuf Akerejola Olafimihan Ahmed Ogembe Funsho Daniyan Emmanuel Funsho Makanjuola Ayorinde

63

foreign Sunday, July 20, 2014

news ➌ ➍➎ ➊

An international monitor inspecting debris of the Malaysia Airline plane at the Ukraine crash site. PHOTO BY Reuters

➋

➊ 7 Killed In New Kenya Coast Attack

WITU, Kenya - Seven people were killed when gunmen attacked a bus on the Kenyan coast where previous attacks left 87 people dead, the Kenya Red Cross said yesterday.

The attack happened at Corner Mbaya 5 km from the coastal town of Witu in Lamu county, on Friday night.

Two of those killed were security officials and five were civilians, the humanitarian group said.

Authorities believe many of the passengers on the 52-seater bus fled into a nearby forest.

Al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants from Somalia claimed responsibility for the attack.

“The attack was carried out in response to the Kenyan govern-

ment’s claim that all the areas that have recently been subject for attacks were secured after having deployed troops,” the group said.

Al-Shabab said the attackers were sending a message to Kenya that they cannot stop the group’s operations in coastal areas.

Al-Shabab has vowed to carry out attacks on Kenyan soil to avenge the presence of Kenyan troops fighting the militants in Somalia. In September, four al-Shabab gunmen attacked an upscale in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, killing 67 people.

Al-Shabab has also claimed responsibility for previous attacks along the coast but the Kenyan government claims local political networks are responsible.

➋ China Braces For Typhoon Rammasun China - Southern China is bracing for the arrival of Typhoon Rammasun after the storm blasted through the northern Philippines, leaving at least 40 dead.

Heavy rain and landslides over the past week have already killed at least 45 people in southern China and left 21 missing, the country’s Ministry of Civil Affairs said.

The toll is expected to rise as Rammasun arrives packing wind gusts expected to surpass 90mph.

In Sichuan province, a landslide engulfed a truck and four cars on a road, killing 11 people and injuring 19, according to an official in the province’s Maoxian county.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs said heavy rains and associated floods and landslides over the past week had also killed 34 people and left 21 missing in seven southern provinces. The bulk of these deaths and missing persons were in Guizhou and Hunan provinces.

The ministry said nearly 9,300 houses had collapsed in the rains, and a further 63,000 had been damaged. The rains had also affect-

ed 384,000 hectares of crops and caused direct economic losses of 5.2 billion yuan (£490 million), it said.

Chinese state television showed flooding threatening the picturesque tourist town of Fenghuang in Hunan province, with a historic arched bridge barely emerging from floodwaters. The rain had also reached the capital Beijing and flooded some streets.

In the Philippines, most businesses, shops and banks in Manila reopened a day after Rammasun moved on, but schools remained closed as workers cleaned up debris, which littered roads around the capital.

The eye of the typhoon made a late shift away from Manila on Friday night after its peak winds of 93mph and gusts up to 115mph toppled trees and electricity posts and ripped off roofs across the capital, but Rammasun packed far less power than last year’s Typhoon Haiyan. At least 6,300 people died and more than 1,000 were left missing after Haiyan, one of the most ferocious storms to hit land.

➌ Rebels Destroying Crash Evidence DONETSK, Ukraine - Ukraine has accused Russia of helping separatist rebels destroy evidence at the crash site of a Malaysia Airlines plane shot down in rebel-held territory - a charge the rebels deny.

As dozens of victims’ bodies lay in bags by the side of the road baking in the summer heat, international monitors at the crash site yesterday said they were still being hampered by heavily armed rebels.

“Some of the body bags are open and the damage to the corpses is very, very bad. It is very difficult to look at,” Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) spokesman Michael Bociurkiw told reporters in a phone call from the site.

He said the 24-member delegation was given further access to the crash site yesterday but their movements were being limited by the rebels. The site sprawls 20 sq km across sunflower and wheat fields between two villag-

es in eastern Ukraine.

“We have to be very careful with our movements because of all the security,” Mr Bociurkiw said. “We are unarmed civilians, so we are not in a position to argue with people with heavy arms.”

Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was carrying 298 people from 13 nations when it was shot down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, close to the Russian border, an area which has seen months of clashes between government troops and pro-Russia separatists.

At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the US pointed the finger at the separatists, saying Washington believes the plane was probably downed by an SA11 missile and “we cannot rule out technical assistance from Russian personnel”.

The government in Kiev said militiamen have removed 38 bodies from the crash site and taken them to the rebel-held city of

Donetsk. It said the bodies were transported with the assistance of specialists with distinct Russian accents.

In Donetsk, separatist leader Alexander Borodai denied that any bodies had been transferred or that the rebels had in any way interfered with the work of observers.

He said he encouraged the involvement of the international community in assisting with the clean-up before the condition of the bodies worsens significantly.

Aviation experts, however, have warned not to expect too much from the flight data and cockpit voice recorders in understanding how the plane was brought down.

The most useful evidence likely to come from the crash scene is whether missile pieces can be found in the trail of debris that came down as the plane exploded, said John Goglia, a US aviation safety expert and former National Transportation Safety Board member.

➍ 400 Migrants Rescued, 19 Dead ITALY/MALTA - Italian and Maltese naval vessels assisted by a passing cargo ship rescued some 400 migrants from a smugglers’ boat in waters near Malta and found the bodies of 18 people inside.

The rescue was carried out early yesterday and involved a Danish cargo ship in the waters near Libya

and Malta.

Italian Coast Guard Captain Filippo Marini said one rescued migrant died on board a Coast Guard motorboat, raising the death toll to 19.

Maltese authorities said many of the bodies were in the vessel’s hold.

Italian authorities said engine fume

inhalation was the apparent cause of death.

There was no word on the nationality of the survivors, who were taken to Italy.

Malta said that since Thursday some 5,000 migrants have been rescued by Italy, many with Maltese help.

➎ Syria Aims To Retake Gas Field PALMYRA, Syria - Syrian government forces have launched a counter-attack to recapture a gas field seized by Islamic extremists, activists said, as the death toll from three days of fighting there rose to more than 200 yesterday.

The fighting in the Shaer field, in the desert region of Palmyra in the central province of Homs, has been among the deadliest battles between government forces and the Islamic State group since the start of the Syrian uprising more

than three years ago.

Fighters from the Islamic State have in the past few weeks seized a huge chunk of territory straddling the Iraq-Syria border, where they declared a self-styled caliphate. They have captured much of Syria’s oil-rich eastern province of Deir el-Zour.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian special forces launched an attack late last night on the Shaer field and regained parts of it.

A Homs-based activist who goes by the name of Beibares Tellawi confirmed that troops attacked fighters from Islamic State.

“The fighting today is mostly hit-and-run attacks,” Mr Tellawi said by Skype. “Large numbers of president Bashar Assad’s forces are attacking the field.”

The fate of 90 gas field workers and guards is still unknown, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria.

64 analysis

Sunday, July 20, 2014

As Gale Of Impeachments Sweep Across The Land: Behold The Vulnerable States Impeachment gale has enveloped Nigeria’s political environment. At the last count, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State is gone and the bell is fast tolling for Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State. Opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is raising the alarm saying four of its governors are vulnerable. UCHENNA AWOM writes that indeed the four states are facing the plot, but may not fall after all

T

It could be recalled that early this year, the then newly crowned national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, described his party members as master poachers.

he gale of impeachment enveloping Nigeria’s political landscape has given room for various interpretations, accusations, insinuations and of course threats of recrimination. But what is certain is that a psychological war has been let loose thus creating real and imaginary vulnerable states, whose governors are seating on the cliff.

As expected the opposition are crying blue murder and alleging a carefully choreographed political witch hunt by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against states controlled by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in particular.

The obviously scared, APC is surely facing a serious battle especially after the successful impeachment of erstwhile Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako. They were quick to make reference to statements credited to some top echelon of the PDP in the time past, that they would sure go poaching to retaliate APC,s fishing of its members.

It could be recalled that early this year, the then newly crowned national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, described his party members as master poachers.

What he meant then according to the opposition is crystallizing: That is to say “instigate troublemakers to pester the opposition, induce opposition members to cross over to the ruling party, and suborn state lawmakers to remove opposition governors and install PDP governors. The steamroller is on”.

Already, Nyako who alongside four other colleagues defected from the PDP and joined the newly merged APC is down.

Only last Monday, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly began impeachment proceedings against Governor Tanko Al-Makura. The opposition seems to be walking a tight rope, with the loss of Ekiti State to the PDP in an electoral contest that proved bookmakers utterly wrong. Osun State is on the throws, unless the party fights hard to ward off the predators who have not pretended that it wants the state in its column, no matter what it takes. So there is every reason for the APC to be apprehensive.

Already, there are fears that Edo State governor Adams Osh-

iomhole who has been on the line of fire since after the crisis precipitated by the poor handling of his party ward congresses, which led to the defection of many members of his party to the PDP including four members of the state House of Assembly.

Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi also knows that some of the state’s lawmakers are ganging up against him. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State is also facing a benign threat of impeachment. These five governors have one thing in common: they are APC members.

There are fears that Kano, another APC state, may also have its governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, dragged to the impeachment slab soon. Of particular interest now is the development in Ogun State, though this one may not be linked to the PDP like others, but the PDP standing by like cat, would surely enter the fray at the ripe time.

papers. The governor is swimming against the tide,

Al-Makura

The Vulnerable Governors: Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State The noose is tightening, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Thursday announced that it has served Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura impeachment notice through the media, since he had been elusive to be personally served the notice since Monday.

The governor had been accused of 16 offences summed up as “gross misconduct”.

However, Governor Al-Makura is accusing the Presidency of being responsible for his present travails. His senior special assistant on public affairs, Abdulhamid Yakubu Kwarra, told newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital the development is meant to destabilize APC-controlled states in the country.

“They are threatened by the monumental achievements of the APC administration in Nasarawa State; there is no administration that is as corrupt as the present PDP-led government in the country.

“Authorities in Abuja should stop the bull from entering a china shop. They are opening a new war front; they should address the issue of the insecurity and Chibok girls instead of chasing shadows in the country,” he alleged Notwithstanding his allegations, Al-Makura was reported

Oshiomhole

to have rushed to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday to plead with President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene so that the impeachment noose could be staved off, but the public service of the notice indicated that his plea failed to impress the presidency.

The state seems to be in turmoils and the problem is sliding to ethnic crisis. To dissuade the lawmakers from going ahead with the impeachment plot, thousands of youths had trooped to the streets of Lafia, the state capital, and to the state house of assembly to protest the attempt. But that did not stop 20 out of the 24 lawmakers in the House from endorsing the impeachment notice which was also published in the news-

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole cried out sometime ago that some members of the State House of Assembly have collected huge sums of money from Abuja to effect his impeachment. Since he leveled the allegation, the State Assembly has not remained the same.

The House is divided into two and are holding plenary at different locations. The governor was smart enough not to allow his lawmakers to stray to the other side, otherwise he would have been counting his days. Though the crisis was ignited within his party, APC after their ward congresses. But it seems that the PDP is capitalizing on it to show him the door.

The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had alleged that the PDP offered N75 million to lawmakers to impeach the governor.

PDP however said the allegation was unfounded and a figment of their imagination.

Edo State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke with journalists in Benin, the state capital, on Thursday, said the constitution provided conditions and processes to be followed in matters relating to impeachment.

“It is only the elected representatives of the people who can impeach the governor of a state. If they feel the governor of Edo State has committed impeachable offences, they should look at it.

“However, as for us as a party, we are not interested in his impeachment; he should continue to do the work for which he was elected by the Edo people.

“For us in the PDP, we are looking forward to the elections of 2015 and 2016, when we shall teach the APC a political lesson.

“It is obvious that the APC is afraid of a crushing defeat come 2015 and 2016, hence, it is singing this worn-out tune,” Orbih remarked.

On the alleged offering of N75 million to each legislator by his party for the impeachment exercise, he noted that it was shameful that the APC members talked as if money no longer had value.

“How do you expect the PDP to give that huge amount of money to lawmakers, who have only a few months to stay in office?

“There is no sense spending such money on the legislators.

If we have such money, we will spend it to provide amenities for our people, he said.”

Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State There has been consistent attempt to impeach the governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Anaechi.

A plot to use six renegade mem➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 65

analysis 65

Sunday, July 20, 2014

As Gale Of Impeachments Sweep Across The Land: Behold The Vulnerable States ➔ FROM PAGE 64

bers of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesome Wike, to embark on the impeachment process met with a brutal resistance by the majority faction loyal to the governor.

The violence reaction resulted to a fisticuff that nearly claimed the life of one of the lawmakers. Ever since the Assembly has not held any plenary in the state Assembly. The majority seats in the government house sparingly.

Yet, the plot continues and there is no doubt that its success will obviously excite the presidency. They are fingered of being behind all crisis in the state. There is no love lost between the President and Amaechi, a situation that forced him to dump the PDP and joined the APC. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is on the cliff, but not from the presidency. His trouble is located with his party; APC. There is an internal fight between him and some forces led by former governor of the state and a chieftain of the APC, Olusegun Osoba over the control of the party in the state. On several occasion, the Osoba faction had threaten that they would rather see the back of the governor.

At a point it relapsed to gun fight. At the last count 10 APC members of the State House of Assembly are said to be threatening to defect to the PDP thus making the opposition party to topple the APC. The Assembly of 26 members is heading towards a configuration of PDP=13, APC=11 and LP=3.

The import of the scenario is that if Osoba as is being taunted, moves to the PDP, there may be an attempt to go for the governors bloke especially if the presidency decides to deploy its might.

Rochas Okorocha of Imo State There was also news of plot to impeach the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha gathered moments after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) rearrested the Accountant General of the state, George Ezenna Eche and the Commissioner for Finance, Chike Okafor. The arrest fueled allegation that the PDP is gunning for the head of Okorocha At the time, his spin master alleged that in furtherance of the goal to remove Okorocha from office, the former National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Turkur met with some select members of the Imo State House of Assembly on issues bordering on the political disharmony in the state.

The two officials were arrested due to petitions sent to the commission alleging that a construction company JPROS International Limited was paid over N1 billion for a construction contract.

The company was alleged to

have been paid the full cost of the contract even though work had not commenced on the project.

The contract led to the impeachment of the former deputy governor in the state, Jude Agbaso.

This is the second time the anti-corruption agency has carried out the detention of the two officials over allegations of fraud and abuse of office. The duo were arrested in January and granted bail but were never charged with a crime.

Reacting to the development at that time, Imo State Government reportedly said the continued arrest and interrogation of senior officials of the Imo State cabinet and members of the state assembly were orchestrated attempts to incriminate the governor, and thus prepare grounds for his impeachment.

“What that is happening is not new to us. It is part of the tactics to incriminate the governor and prepare grounds for his impeachment. We know those behind it.

“This has intensified following the comment by the Speaker of Imo state House of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajumogu, that some politicians offered N3 billion to him to facilitate the impeachment of the governor, which he rejected.”

Similarly, the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere had confirmed the plot saying that what was happening was purely politics.

However, the leadership of the PDP in the south-east zone dismissed as “infantile, irresponsible and disingenuous” media reports alleging that the party bribed the speaker of the Imo assembly with N3 billion to impeach the governor.

The party’s National ViceChairman (South-east), Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), in a statement by his Special Adviser, Hon. Osita Igbe, denied the allegation which he said feeds into an emerging picture of politics in the state since April 2011, stating that “it is based on dishonourable propaganda and flagrant disregard for the truth.”

“The allegation in its entirety is infantile, irresponsible and disingenuous. It feeds into an emerging picture of politics in the state since April 2011, which is based on dishonourable propaganda and flagrant disregard for the truth.

APC crying out.

Chieftain of the APC, Nasir elRufai twitted that President “Jonathan’s impunity is endangering the nation. Adamawa APC governor Murtala Nyako was impeached to pave the way for a PDP man to become governor.

“Nasarawa is next. Then, Rivers and Edo. And President Jonathan thinks that all will be well while he violates the constitution and the law. We will see how it all ends. We have been there before!” he wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

A message on the official Twitter page of a former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, stated that with the impeachment of Nyako, it seemed as if Nigeria was “heading towards a one-party state.”

Saraki also raised the alarm that four other governors were already on the firing line.

He said, “It is very unfortunate and I think we are seven months to the end of the tenure. We all need to look at the bigger picture, look at the stability of our democracy. After Adamawa, I think Nasarawa State governor is being served with impeachment notice and three other states are going to be served.

“The bigger issue in this country now is the issue of security and poverty. Some of the issues raised against the Adamawa State governor can also apply anywhere and we need to be mature with our democracy.

“The issue of impeachment should not be our priority at this stage and those of us that love this country will really need to talk to ourselves and be more concerned about challenges before us instead of dissipating our energy on issues that will divide us by overheating the polity and creating problems for ourselves.

Well, while Nyako can be said to be history and may be AlMakura too, the vulnerable governors are said to be more smart.

They were tactical enough to ensure that at the time they were moving to the APC, they ensured that a majority of lawmakers in their state Houses of Assembly accompanied them. In Kano, governor Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso made sure that almost all members of the state Assembly followed him to APC, the same for Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto State.

Only on Wednesday, 17 lawmakers loyal to Amaechi formally defected to the APC less than twenty four hours after Nyako bight the dust of impeachment.

This effectively gave them the buffer against the predators in Presidency and the PDP. It was not so for Nyako who could not even sustain the few including the Speaker now acting governor of Adamawa to stay put in APC. At the time he was impeached, the House was 100 percent PDP. In Nasarawa, Al-Makura is facing a house of 20 PDP and four APC members. The 20 PDP members all signed for his impeachment thus making the odds to be heavily skewed in his disfavour. It should have dawn on them that the PDP must come after them having failed to get the court to force them to vacate the governorship after they left the party on which platform they were elected in the first place.

Survival, at least its instinct remains the major ingredient for power preservation in political power play. Well, how the impeachment gale plays out, will remain an issue that will continue to heat the polity in the days ahead.

Amosun

Amaechi

Okorocha

66 CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Pastor W.F. Kumuyi The Study Of God’s Word info@deeperlifeonline.org

Following Christ Till The End 2 The Master Of True Followers John 13:13,15; Matthew 6:24; Luke 6:40; 2 Timothy 2:19-21; Exodus 21:1-6.

“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” Jesus is our Master. Every believer must acknowledge Him as his only Master who has no rival. Accepting Jesus as Master comes with obligation: “that ye should do as I have done to you.” As our Master and Model, we are to live like Him, obey Him in all things and serve Him. No true believer can serve two masters at the same time. Two masters will have conflicting perspectives, understanding, approaches, outlooks, world-views and projects. It is literally impossible to obey two masters. With Jesus as our Saviour, Lord and Master, we cannot belong to two religions at the same time. Neither can we take money, man, Satan or society to be our master. Our resolve will be

to follow, live, walk, pray, think and act like Jesus. Our yardstick for decision on any issue regarding our faith will be, “what would Jesus do?” Having been cleansed, “sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work”, we will continue to “follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart”.

The covenant between us and the Master will generate commitment from us towards Him. To own Christ as a loving Master who gave us salvation, healing, deliverance and entitlement to heaven will lead to reciprocal bonding to Him. While those who backslide lose all the privileges and blessings they receive from the Master, believers who cleave to Him bear the marks of divine ownership.

The Marks Of True Followers Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23;

John 8:12;12:24-26; Hebrews 12:14.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF....”

Self and the Saviour are opposed to each other. Self with the flesh makes unholy demands for cigarette, alcohol, hard drugs, sinful pleasures/dresses and other things that Christ disapproves of.

True followers of Christ do not give to self the things their Master hates and rejects; they will not accept worldly dressing God forbids (Deuteronomy 22:5). People who claim to follow the Master but live careless and indulgent lives are not true followers of His. God does not have a separate Bible and lower standard for any indulgent group of people. “And he said to them ALL, If any man will come after me, let him ... TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, and follow me.” Opposition, contradiction and persecution with which

unbelievers intend to crush our determination to follow the Lord bring pressure, burden and pain to us. This is the cross Christ instructs us to bear as a mark of true discipleship.

True disciples of Christ do not also walk in darkness. They do not participate in idolatrous feasts, worship and cult activities, because they are done in darkness. They continually yield to the Saviour for transformation. Professing believers who retain sinful characteristics, who are ruled by self, who are uncontrolled by the Spirit and untransformed by the Word are not true followers of Christ. True disciples continue to serve and follow Him; they have undisturbed peace and transparent holiness that make them God’s living epistles. Christ is the Prince of peace; all His disciples do “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Bishop Matthew Daniels Insight For Living bishopmatthewdaniels@yahoo.com +234 811 189 6866

Life Does Not Merely Exist (1)

If Viktor Frankly could write a book that rocked the world while living in a Nazi concentration camp, you can see how much control of your life you have if you choose to

I believe that each of us has a dream living inside our heart. A vision that is deep inside, that speaks to the very soul of our existence. It’s the thing we were created to do, it motivates our highest intellects, and it appeals to our natural gifts and talents.

A dream can do many things for us: • A dream can spark our feelings of destiny; • A dream can predict our future; • A dream can give sound direction; • A dream can add value to our labour; • A dream can increase our potential; • A dream can help us to prioritise.

We all desire to live our best possible life. We want improvement in relationship, finance and everything else. We must take responsibility of our ability in order to have the best of life.

God placed man on earth to live, not to merely exist. Most people go through life on autopilot; that is passing through the motions and allowing each day pass by like the one before it. This kind of people will go through a day like the one before it.

This kind of people will go through a year and another without having really lived a life. It can go on until they reach old age and look back on

life with regrets.

We must know that it is “we”, who need to change in order to live well on earth. I have always been very passionate about living a life of excellence. Incubating great dreams and setting goals, overcoming challenges, getting results, trusting God for bigger things, all things and more are what make living rich and worthwhile.

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I will tell you, I came to live out LOUD,” – Emile Zola Here are few interesting, inspiring and practical tips that can help you change the way you look at the world and to live a better life. Start off by looking at yourself. Don’t compare yourself to any person, but just examine yourself. Ask yourself these questions: • Who I am?

• Where do I presently stand in my life; • Am I maximising my potential?

• What kind of role do I play in others’ lives?

Life is governed by laws, and success in life involves a collection of some basic principles. When you discover and apply these laws and principles, they can instantly and radically change the course of your life forever. Ignorance is deadly; it per-

petuate failure, suffering, poverty and diseases.

All the good advice in the world won’t help you, if you do not have a teachable spirit. “Teachability” is a mind-set, a meek attitude that says, “No matter how much I think, I know I still have a lot to learn”.

Here are few tips of profound wisdom that will help you excel: Discover your purpose, pursue it and cleave firmly to it – Our physical life started when we were conceived in the body of our mother, our real life starts when we start living on our purpose. Know that you are completely responsible for the making of your life. If things are not working well for you, take note and ask yourself what your part in it is.

There is no profit in blaming other people. Do not wait for other people to change. When you change, your world will follow suit. None of your relatives, colleagues, friends or enemies is responsible for your life. You are! If Viktor Frankly could write a book that rocked the world while living in a Nazi concentration camp, you can see how much control of your life you have if you choose to.

Create a life handbook: A life handbook is a book you can write your

purpose, goals, dreams, plans, missions, values and other things that are important to you and that can help you in life.

Develop the right mind set and pay adequate attention to it: The quality and usefulness of your life are determined by the quality and the degree of your thoughts. The setting of our mind, which is actually a product of your thoughts, is what will set your life course for you. Think well, you will live well. Nothing can stop you if you have the right mind-set.

Create your bucket list: A bucket list is a list of things you have envisioned to see and to experience before you die. All of us will die one day. What are the things you want to experience before you leave this earth?

Learn and accept new skills: Try something new every week, constantly improve yourself instead of standing still. Seek to have new experiences; it is gratifying and satisfying. Always ask yourself, “What new thing shall I try this week?” Then, be committed to doing it. The process of improvement is a lifestyle. Breakout from nuts, try something new, start your day differently, take a different route to work, approach your work and services from a new angle, look at things from a new perspective.

True followers of Christ do not give to self the things their Master hates and rejects

67

opinion Sunday, July 20, 2014

NASS, MDAs And Civil Society

By Alaba Thomas

As an executive director in one of the nation’s activist civil society organisations, I have had cause to be part of the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, aimed at exposing fraud, mismanagement and lack of transparency, accountability and due process in the administration of some of the ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies (MDAs) that traverse the vast bureaucratic landscape of the nation. Our organisation, if I might be rather immodest, has left no stone unturned in a yeoman’s effort aimed at instilling administrative and operational best practices in our MDAs and we have not hesitated to expose those agencies or ministries whose top management or senior officials have, to put it mildly, abused the sacred public trust by either embezzling or mismanaging public funds or have tended to operate in a cabal-like manner, where only a negligible few appropriate their agency’s resources for the benefit of their family, friends and cronies, while staff promotions, appointments and favourable posting go to only those

that are deemed loyal to the mafia; other employees are left to wither in despair and frustration as their career progression gets bleaker as the years roll by.

In our self-imposed mandate that seeks to expose, discourage, deter and bring to account those that abuse the public trust and mismanage public funds in the MDAs, our civil society group has had to pay numerous visits to the affected organisations based on complaints and petitions from concerned staff as to the unsatisfactory way and manner their organisations are being run. And our interactions with some of the heads and top management of the embattled MDAs have been quite revealing and disturbing. Take, for example, one of our fact-finding visits to an MDA located in the Central Business District of Abuja. It was like receiving a shocking jolt of electric current running through one’s frail body.

The way and manner we were received in the office of the MD/CEO was quite hostile and inquisitional, and when the MD/CEO actually appeared, his countenance was haughty and full of condescension. He actually acted as if he,

rather than the federal government, was the legal owner of the MDA. He told us that the petitioners (whose identities we declined to disclose for fear of reprisals) were a bunch of “troublemakers and malcontents” who would be dealt with decisively for having the audacity to question his (the CEO’s) absolute authority over the organisation. Our queries and request for information on the operations and finances of the MDA were firmly rebuffed with a parting shot: “It will be attended to at the appropriate time when my staff are less busy.”

To cut the long story short, we have made our findings and forwarded the report to the National Assembly (NASS) and the relevant authorities for appropriate action and sanctions as the case may be.

As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. Our organisation, at a point, decided to pay a visit to the NASS and interact with the top management as part of our searchlight directed at the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. We met with the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa. And what a sharp contrast

and pleasant departure from some of our contentious visits to some of the other troubled MDAs! For one, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa received us cheerfully, openly, and without reservation. He answered every question or enquiry put to him with great clarity, brevity and lucidity. He never dodged or parried any question, but rather went the extra mile to reiterate his ongoing administrative, organisational, and operational reform programme that (we have undoubtedly verified) has repositioned, revitalised, re-engineered and restructured the vast NASS bureaucracy for a more efficient, effective and responsive service delivery to the Nigerian people. With measured erudition and eloquence, the Chiroman Keffi further articulated his vision of raising the legislative paradigm of NASS to the level and even above those of the advanced democracies of the UK, US, Canada, France and Australia. And, to this end, allied institutions and bodies have been established to advance the work of NASS: National Assembly Budget Research Office (NABRO), National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS), NTA Parliament, a state-of-

the-art ICT Centre which provides for a more efficient, seamless and multi-pronged approach to tackling the challenges that face NASS. Indeed, Alhaji Maikasuwa operates a refreshingly open-door, inclusive and collegial leadership style that welcomes ideas, opinions and viewpoints, even dissenting ones as far as they are geared towards moving NASS and the nation forward.

From our interaction with the amiable CNA, a distinguished alumnus of NIPSS, Kuru, Jos (whose public service record, experience and resume is quite awesome, all-encompassing and positively intimidating), he came across as a humble, candid, principled, focused, energetic, forwardlooking, patriotic, detribalised, competent and supremely dedicated public servant, who has cast his lot with the pan-Nigerian project, come rain or shine, thick or thin.

He is indeed a rare breed worthy of emulation by other public functionaries.

Thomas, executive director, Citizens for Accountability Government, wrote in from Abuja

Katsina: An Exemplary Model Of Development

By Hassan B. Nagado Katsina State was created by the administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as the nation strived to improve the living condition of its people. The state’s creation was seen as an opportunity to develop this significant part of the country that borders Niger Republic, a significant trans-Saharan route, and thanks to the foresight of this creator as well as Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, the dreams of the founding fathers are gradually being fulfilled.

Since the advent of the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema as the governor of Katsina State in 2007, the state has seen a tremendous but gradual shift in the development paradigms from a semi-urban town to a full-pledged city that today boasts of complete infrastructure, social cohesion and economic support. Katsina is no more that serene and quite border town struggling to feed itself and provide job opportunities for its people. It has now become a reliable, sustained and strong socioeconomic state, contributing to the overall growth and economic development of Nigeria and the West African sub-region; all these, thanks to the formidable efforts and vision of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema.

The story of this gradual but firm development started in 2007 when the people’s choice emerged.

This calm, calculated and easy-going politician gradually climbed the

ladder of leadership as a young lawyer. His astute grasp of governance was to become legendary when at a tender age he raised astronomically in the law profession to become one of the most respected, internationally-recognised aviation legal minds from this part of the country.

His articulate approach to issues, either in the law profession or community relations, endeared him to so many people, and he was to immediately catch the eyes of electorates when politics returned to the shores of the nation in 1998. His contributions to the emancipation of the common man and his penchant for good governance and creative engagements with the powers that be to ensure transparency, accountability and good governance became legendary and handy.

He was soon dragged, even though reluctantly, into the murky waters of politics, but his dexterity and complex capacities soon saw him raising to the highest ladder of leadership in his state, when after serving with commitments as the state’s chief legal officer, he was to be trusted to take over the mantle of leadership in a state where several more powerful contenders were then battling to be anointed. His emergence was not any surprise to those who worked closely with him. He was always calm, calculative, loyal, assertive and understandably realistic.

These attributes were the reason why even though he was not

then regarded as one of the frontrunners in the race for the gubernatorial seat of the state in 2007, he emerged as the chosen candidate to the reception of all in the state. His candidacy was to become a turning point in the popularity of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which was then being decimated by the battle for the control of its soul, ahead of the election that year. His attributes were to dilute the fierce struggle and fine-tune the energies of the various contending forces into a single front that further strengthened the PDP and led it to one of its finest landslide victory in the 2007 elections.

His administration soon became a darling of the people and the politicians alike, due to its open, transparent, accountable and inclusive governance. The opposition was invited and its contribution in the emancipation of democracy recognised. The state soon started bearing the fruit of statesmanship, craftsmanship and intelligent governance. Infrastructure development through community participatory approach changed the landscape of the state, from a rural state to an urban city state. Katsina town today is not only like any other state capital of the old generations, it has more road networks, more facilities and even greater social amenities scattered in every nooks and crannies of the state.

Realising the significance of education, youth and women em-

powerment, economic growth mechanisms, social cohesion, agricultural revolution, manpower development, alternative energy source, multiple and bilateral cooperation, and sustainable public service reform as the impetus needed for the development of an egalitarian society that will place itself in the nation’s scheme of things, his administration introduced various policies that have since changed the face of governance, community participation and general socioeconomic systems, that today place the state as pioneer in several development paradigms.

Hospitals, which were hitherto glorified diagnosis centres, soon grow into reliable sources of good and affordable health-care facilities. Today, Katsina State can boast of having one of the most modern hospitals, including a world-class orthopaedic centre with 200 beds.

Children, women and the aged health requirements are now available in public hospitals. Patients with complicated kidney failures can now be treated free-of-charge in public hospitals. Complicated health challenges that were to take Katsina State indigenes to either foreign countries or other faraway local cities can now be adequately catered for in the state.

Food security, an important and necessary ingredient for national survival, has been fortified with the restructuring and resumption of more strengthened modern food production skills, improved and

available fertilisers, equipment and well-trained extension farming officers. The state has produced millions of tonnes of agricultural products that can sustain the food needs of the nation since 2007. The education sector is even more restructured to accommodate new teaching techniques, improved welfare of teaching staff, more schools and facilities, improved training and general revolutionising of the sector to conform to modern realities.

Today, more than ever, the state has three universities, a polytechnic, two colleges of education and several other learning centres; all these to cater for the growing needs of the young population and place the state ahead of its colleagues in the federation.

Youth and women empowerment was to be upgraded to a necessity that must be given priority, and today, thousands of youths in the state have been trained and are now self-reliant, pursuing their legitimate earning as citizens of the state.

The roll-call will continue as many facets of the society have been upgraded, revolutionised to make the state more viable, realistic and sustainable. Today, the state under the administration of Governor Shema has become an emulative model for other states which are bent on providing the promised dividends of democracy to their people.

Nagado wrote in from Katsina

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Zainab Jaji Zee’s Corner zeescorner@gmail.com,Twitter. @addazee

From The Valleys Of Swat To The Forests Of Sambisa Exactly a year ago, I wrote an article titled ‘Dear Malala’ on this same column. I was filled with hope for the future of young girls with role models like Malala Yousafzai. So many identified with her fight struggle and courage.

The world stood up and took notice. Last week again we looked up to Malala when she came to the shores of Nigeria to celebrate her 17th birthday, a day now officially designated by the United Nations as ‘Malala Day’. Her purpose of coming was to identify with her ‘sisters’ still under the grasp of Boko Haram. Malala also came with the message of hope for the families of the missing girls and to speak out for the rights of both boys and girls to have access to education.

Call me cynical, but the irony of young Malala being given unfettered access to the highest authorities in our country was not lost on me or many others.

Nigerians watched with awe or disbelief how a 17-year old girl made our president in the

presence of some of his cabinet members and security services give her a briefing on the real situation about our abducted girls in Chibok.

With her mantra of ‘your voice should be your weapon’, young Malala is using her experience at the hands of the Taliban to her advantage. We know her name, and she even promised $200,000 from her fund towards the education of girls in Nigeria.

The president also promised to match her grant and promised that all the released girls would be given scholarships for life. Well, let us hope that the girls will be released in time for this promise to be fulfilled.

We know the name Malala.

Do we know the names of any of the girls that have even escaped? It is important I believe for Nigerians to identify with these girls. Antagonising the BringBackOurGirls movement will not cut it. As Malala is an advocate for the promotion of the rights of each girl, so are the

advocates who stand, day in day out, at the mercy of the elements to identify with this cause. We must recognise that like Malala, they also mean well for Nigeria and want our girls home. To politicise the issue and castigate them is a sign of weakness.

The Taliban in Swat and Boko Haram in Sambisa have decided to go after little girls who cannot fight back. Their philosophy of no access to education must definitely be challenged by all well meaning persons. What is important is for our government to hear the voices of the affected and not to ignore their pains. To give voice to Malala, our government must also give huge support to the Chibok girls, their supporters and family members. Malala was lucky not to be silenced by the guns of the Taliban. So far we have not heard the voices of even the few escaped Chibok girls.

We have been told that our president is meeting the parents of the abducted girls next week.

We want it to be more than just

a photo opportunity; it must be a conversation with the entire country. It must go beyond rhetoric or be couched in political propaganda. I doubt the parents want anything more than to have their girls back home.

With the backing of the United Nations, the glare of the international community and donors, doors were opened for Malala. We want the same for our girls. Their voices are also their weapons. They have also been violated and traumatised as Malala was violated by being shot.

Our girls are just as important as Malala. The forests of Sambisa hold just as much terror as the swat valley. The fight our girls are fighting in that dark forest is just as honourable as the fight fought by Malala to overcome her injuries. We urge the government to honour the pain of the families by simply giving them a voice and listening to their stories. Our girls are also more than the situation they currently find themselves in.

They are the heroines of Sambisa.

Hamza Atta Isn't It Funny? hamzolo@yahoo.co.uk 08181091784

CCTV Cameras

Our CCTV system is yet to detect just one crime – even if it is a pickpocket at Berger Roundabout in Abuja or Oju Elegba in Lagos

The world over, closed-circuit television (CCTV) is used to detect and resolve crimes. From petty offences such as shoplifting to acts of terror, like the Boston Marathon bombing, CCTV has been a useful tool for security agents so much so that it is regarded as the first port of call in detecting crime. It is with such efficacy in mind that Nigerians (especially those of us residing in Lagos and Abuja) welcomed plans by the federal government to install solar-powered CCTV cameras at strategic locations in the two cities.

We received this news with cautious optimism and even raised eyebrows at the fact that they had thought about power and had opted for the solar powered version. The pessimists amongst us waved it aside. To this last group, projects like this are not matched with good intention in Nigeria; therefore it was destined to fail. I remember reading editorials and op-eds of diverse reactions on the matter. Unfortunately, the nihilists carried the day because the CCTV project turns out to be nothing but a big scam – as usual!

We started spotting solar panels and cameras in Abuja and Lagos, followed by a showy display to commission the project. We

thought Judgment Day had finally come for criminals, reckless drivers and traffic offenders. We thought our streets would be safer. We thought terrorists would want to think twice before attacking our cities. We were wrong.

The contract our government awarded was a scam on us. We were told that 2,000 digital solarpowered cameras – 1,000 each for Abuja and Lagos – would be installed. We were told that 37 switch rooms, MW backbone, 37 coalition emergency response systems, 38 video conference subsystems, 37 e-police systems, six emergency communication vehicles and 1.5 million subscriber lines would add bite to our quest for safer cities. We were told that the project would be jointly funded by the Nigerian government and the China Export Bank to the tune of $470 million (about N77 billion).

They told us that our new system would capture images 24/7 and transmit it to its base station for analysis. In 2012, they told us all was set, that the project had been completed. In 2014, our CCTV system is yet to detect just one crime – even if it is a pickpocket at Berger Roundabout in Abuja or Oju Elegba in Lagos.

We have since had several terrorist attacks in Abuja. To what extent would a CCTV security system have helped if it were functioning? What is left of the N77 billion project has been cannibalised. It is incongruous that criminals are stealing what was designed to apprehend them. These things can only happen in Nigeria.

Nothing but nothing is sacrosanct.

Even a measure supposedly put in place to protect life and property is not immune from the impunity of our government officials. Here it is all about me, me, me and nothing but me. Our greed has brought on amorality that is no longer conscious of what is at stake anymore. How do you correct a system that does not know that it is malfunctioning, so much that we don’t seem to care about what is at stake anymore? The survival of an infant, the future of our youth or the security of the citizenry does not matter as long as the proceeds end up in a private bank account.

In any normal society, if two years after project completion these cameras were not functioning, and we are experiencing the type of terrorism, destruction and fear that we currently live under; the officials responsible would have

been arraigned. Here, despite deaths being recorded daily, our leaders profit from it and still walk tall. We budget billions of naira for security each year, yet we know that our army are overwhelmed in the fight against insurgents because they lack adequate facilities and weaponry. Our education and health sectors are in shambles despite the billions we spend on them annually.

A miniscule amount meant for these projects are actually applied. The bulk ends up in private pockets.

Like the CCTV project, we deceive taxpayers by erecting white elephant physical structures. The idea is just an empty shell with no substance, a mirror of what we are as a people.

Yet again the government whose core responsibility is to protect and provide for us has shortchanged us. Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states unequivocally that …the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. These days, that primary purpose has been to enrich a small exclusive club of not up to three per cent of our population while the rest of us are left on our own. What are you going to do about this? Get up and make yourself heard.

Let us hope that the girls will be released in time for this promise to be fulfilled

Sunday, July 20, 2014

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70 sports

Sunday, July 20, 2014

sports

news

NFF Crisis: Maigari’s Group Sue For Peace The Aminu Maigari-led faction of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation has called on all aggrieved members of the board to bury the hatchet and come together for the interest of Nigeria Football.

Speaking after a tension soaked meeting of the two factions on Friday, spokesman of the board, Emeka Iyama said that their meeting was successful and they have all agreed to work together.

“I am happy to announce to you the full resumption of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation. The Management and indeed the Congress is back to the business of the Nigerian football.

“The 12 members of the Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation have been deliberating because one of us travelled abroad and we have resolved to move Nigerian football forward.

All issues that are likely to cause

any conflicts were discussed and we have agreed that we have to make sacrifices to move the game forward in the country.

“We are indeed appreciative to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his quick intervention and also the Minister of Sports for his fatherly role in ensuring the vacation of the (Court) order that have returned the executive committee and all other bodies concerned in the court order,” Iyama said.

Open Championship: Rory In Cruise Control Rory McIlroy is long odds-on with Sky Bet to win the Open Championship as he leads by six shots from Rickie Fowler.

An eagle-bogey-eagle finish sent him surging clear in the closing stages of round three on -16 and he is 1/16 to complete the job

and lift the Claret Jug. Rickie Fowler had managed to get level with McIlroy part way through the third round with the pair locked on -12 but the American slipped back and is his nearest pursuer on -10.

He is 14/1 with Sky Bet while

Sergio Garcia can be backed at 25/1 with Dustin Johnson 28s it is then 100/1 bar.

Punters will perhaps now look to the market without Rory and Fowler is the 11/4 favourite to come out on top.

Garcia and Johnson can be

backed at 7/2 with Victor Dubuisson a 15/2 chance.

Sky Bet’s chief golf odds compiler John Rhodes said: “Rory was very well backed at 16s pre-tournament and he is a big loser for the firm.

“Despite being industry-bot-

tom price on Rickie Fowler at 30s, Sky Bet laid that pre event also.

“A quick glance at the leaderboard shows a lot of the fancied runners up there and with 6 places to pay out for each-way bets, this could be one of the worst Opens for many a year.”

Rory McIlroy. Photo by Joseph apf

How Adamu’s 5-man Delegation Saved Nigeria From FIFA’s Ban

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

Former executive committee member of the Federation of International Football Federation, (FIFA) and Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), Dr Amos Adamu has revealed how Nigeria was able to escape FIFA’s ban from all international football activities.

Reacting to the lifting of the suspension clamped on Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, by (FIFA) following the court order that restrained the NFF executive committee and congress from commanding and controlling Nigeria’s football, he said the directive given to him by the Sports Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Tammy Danagogo to lead a 5-man delega-

tion to Brazil to meet FIFA president, Sepp Blatter was what saved Nigeria from the ban.

He said contrary to speculations that FIFA refused to receive the delegation in Brazil to resolve the vexed issue, they were personally received by the FIFA president himself.

“I certainly know that FIFA will not tolerate such a thing and they were heading to a situation where they will ban us. So when I was told by the Honourable Minister to lead the delegation to FIFA and explain what happened to them, I said we must first get the court order vacated and once we did that, we will not have problem with the world football body.

“I led the delegation of about five

people to FIFA and when we got there, I went to CAF president, Issa Hayatou with the delegation to explain our mission to him. Even before we got there, I had called him to say he should intervene on our behalf so that FIFA will not ban us outrightly. And when we reached there and explained everything to him, he said, ‘FIFA headquarter is just about 20 minutes drive from here’. He immediately directed his personal assistant to call FIFA office to tell the head of National Association that Nigeria’s delegation was there to see the president and when Blatter heard that Dr Adamu was there, he said he will come to meet us in the hotel.

“He left his office and met us in our hotel. We explained everything to

him that it was not the issue of government interference but a member of the football family that went to court. He simply told me that I know the right thing to do and asked me to go and get them to do the right thing after which it will be over. I told him we will do the right thing but that he should give us time to do that and that was how they gave us two more days.

I assured him that within those two days, we will resolve all the issues and get the court order vacated.

“When we came back and reported to the Honourable Minister, I invited Baribote to come and told him to vacate the court order. I pleaded with him that we needed his cooperation to resolve the issue and I am happy that he complied with us and went to Jos

to tell the court that he will not continue with the case and later got the order vacated.

“Before then I was in touch with FIFA, assuring them that we will not exceed the deadline and when the order was vacated I told them to send it to FIFA immediately before 11 pm so that they can receive it before 12 midnight that day. I called FIFA to tell them that the man had vacated the order and that the board had been reinstated. They said no problem as they promised to get back to us by Friday. So, I am happy that the issue is now over but I hear some people saying that FIFA refused to listen to us.

If FIFA refused to listen to us, how did they manage to give us two more days to get court order vacated?”

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Brazil Targets Dunga As Scolari’s Successor Brazil could appoint former coach Dunga to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari as national team boss, media reports indicated yesterday, despite ex-Corinthians coach Tite being considered the long time favourite.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) earlier confirmed it will unveil its choice of Scolari’s successor on Tuesday in western Rio and a clutch of Brazilian newspapers said Dunga, 50, would return for a second spell.

Front-runner, at least until Friday, was believed to be Tite, full name Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, who oversaw wins in the Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup, at Chelsea’s expense, in 2012.

Last Thursday, the CBF took the wraps off a revamped technical commission under new technical coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi, replacing Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach of the Brazil side that won the World Cup in 1994.

Gilmar – not to be confused with the Gilmar who kept goal for the 1958 and 1962 world champions – was a reserve

keeper on the 1994 championship-winning side, which was skippered by Dunga.

Outgoing CBF president Jose Maria Marin, who will give way next year to septuagenarian lawyer Marco Polo Del Nero, said the federation would reflect further on the top job before a final decision.

Dunga, who replaced Parreira in the top job after the 2006 World Cup, went on to lead Brazil to Copa America success in 2007 and then won the Confederations Cup in 2009.

But the former Fiorentina midfielder was fired after a 2010 World Cup quarterfinal loss to Holland.

The CBF would yesterday only reiterate that Marin would present the new man on Tuesday but Rio daily O Dia described Dunga as “close to returning,” highlighting his “good relationship” with Gilmar.

Globo had on its part reported that Gilmar and Dunga had reached a rapid agreement in principle with the CBF electing not to pursue the Tite option.

FOSLA Academy Graduates Pioneer Students

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

The pioneer students of the FOSLA Academy, the only school that combines both educational and football skill have graduated from Junior secondary school (JSS) level into senior (SSS) level following the completion of their JSCE NECO examination.

The school which is privately owned by the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Lulu is aimed at providing youths that are naturally endowed with football talents, the opportunity, to continue their education while pursuing their careers in the game.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held yesterday at the school premises in Karshi, Abuja, chairman of the occasion and former general secretary of NFA, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi said FOSLA Academy is a place to be, stating the School offers students the opportunity to become the best in life and self-dependent.

The proprietor of the school and former NFF president, Sani Lulu who could not hide his joy, said the school will strive for the empowerment of the youths through their knowledge and skills, and using the power of football for the production of intelligent, enlightened, and talented citizens of the country.

He said his vision is to nurture the students who are mostly on his scholarship both in knowledge and skills (football) to international standards to assist in strengthening Nigeria football from the

Lulu

grass root to international standard.

The guest speaker of the occasion, Salihu Muhammed noted that FOSLA Academy do not only give quality education to the students but also prepares them for future challenges. “FOSLA Academy is the kind of school that they don’t just give you education, they give you an actual life experience, they prepare you for the future.”

25 students who are pioneers of the academy graduated into senior secondary school (SSS) class.

Chelsea Seal Luis Deal Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazilian left-back Filipe Luis on a three-year contract from Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old - who is thought to have cost around £15 m - becomes Blues boss Jose Mourinho’s third off-season capture following the acquisition of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona and Luis’ ex-Atletico teammate Diego Costa.

Luis told Chelsea’s official website: “This move is a dream come true for me.

I now have the opportunity to play for Chelsea and also in the Premier League.

“I am looking forward to getting started and giving my best for the team during the coming season.”

Luis was recruited to Stamford Bridge to help offset the departure of experienced fullback Ashley Cole to Roma.

sports 71

AMUSEMENT PARK

nixon’s motto was: if two wrongs don’t make a right, try three — Norman Cousins on Richard Nixon

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

20.07.14 No. 441 N300

Aniebo Nwamu

The Sunday Column aniebo@leadership.ng

I

Virtues like hard work, honesty and dedication have skidded into the cesspool

s there a relationship between the rate of unemployment and the poor work ethic in the country? I believe there is. I see no way of explaining the paradox of having too many people looking for work and having too many employers seeking qualified and dedicated workers. I know Nigeria is full of paradoxes: a country that exports what it doesn’t have and imports what it has; a country where banks lend money to those who already have money but refuse to lend to those who need money; a country where people borrow to buy things they don’t need; a country where the rich grow richer and the poor become poorer; a rich country of poor people. To these should now be added: a country where the majority are jobless and yet the few who have jobs refuse to work.

It is not “Karl Marx’s revenge”, as The Economist once put it. And it is not because workers are poorly paid. As a matter of fact, what an employee needs most from his employer is skills, not riches. As Prof.

Pat Utomi would say, Nigeria is filled with moneyed people but not wealthy people. I don’t mean that earning salary is not important. But a worker ought to strive to make a good product that can fetch money for his employer. It is from the money so made that salaries are paid.

Poor attitude to work was once limited to government establishments. Now, it is getting worse even in private establishments. A young man comes pleading for a job. Once you hire him, he thanks his stars. He works hard for the first week or two and then starts waiting for pay day. I have observed, also, that some workers in big eateries and even “Mama Put” have turned beggars or thieves. On February 14, 2010, I entered one of the exclusive restaurants in town with some relations and threw a bundle of N200 bills to one of the attendants. In my presence, he counted N8, 000 but when I got home I discov-

Workers Of Nigeria, Work!

0805 410 0220 (sms only)

ered he had stolen N6, 000 extra. Each time I have eaten at the big joints, the cashiers have never got the correct change; they have always been in short supply of N100 and N200 notes. If it’s N50, they don’t expect you to bother about the change at all.

The thievery performed by petrol station attendants is commonplace and needs no repeating here. Most artisans I have hired for one job or the other have almost always cheated me.

But I decided to write on this issue after suffering immense frustration in Abuja hospitals yesterday. I have registered members of my family in at least 10 hospitals in the capital city because of one disappointment or the other. Yesterday, I started from a government hospital in Gwarinpa. I knew that doctors were on strike nationwide but I expected resident doctors (who shouldn’t join any labour union) to be at work. I was wrong; the only doctor available was a youth corps member. After paying the consultation fee, I was told to come back after 3pm because the doctor had indicated that he would not see any more patients.

“So if there were an emergency, would the patient live up to 3pm?” I asked. Nobody replied.

I drove to another hospital at Jabi only to learn that there was no doctor to attend to me. At a private hospital in Wuse, there were too many patients and nobody was willing to keep you in the right mood. Yet, there were many young men and women moving about or sitting quietly in a corner – doing nothing.

So disappointed have many employers been that they have felt like closing shop. A restaurateur I know found out that she was losing customers because the cooks and waiters she hired were coming late to work.

And they would dutifully observe the closing time; in fact, they refused to serve customers if it’s five minutes to closing time, and not because there was no food. Another friend, a CEO, confided in me last week that he would be seeking a general man-

ager from a foreign country this year because he could no longer tolerate the work ethic of his Nigerian employees. Apart from those who stole his money at the slightest opportunity, there were those that embarked on ego trip once their designation changed from officer to manager.

An Indian confessed the same thing in my presence, 19 years ago. Employees at a textile firm run by the Indian in Isolo, Lagos, were threatening to stop work because “Management” had refused to approve car loans for senior workers. In brief, this is what Ghandi (let me not reveal his name because he may still be in Nigeria) narrated: I don’t understand what these people are saying. My grandfather was a doctor but he never drove a car until my father, an engineer, bought one for him. I have not bought a car yet for my father who set up this business I’m doing in Nigeria. But my own employees want a car each. Is this how you people live in Nigeria?

I won’t pretend that I don’t know what has been happening to our people. When one of my lecturers spoke of “a revolution of rising expectations”, this is what he meant. We have grown to believe that everybody must go to university, everybody must drive a car, and everybody must be a millionaire. When parents and teachers help candidates to cheat at exams, the message is clear. This young generation of Nigerians have grown to hate work because they have found that there is no dignity of labour in their country. Virtues like hard work, honesty and dedication have skidded into the cesspool. Year on year, we award plaques of honour to thieves and charlatans while hardworking but poor workers are never noticed.

It’s one of the curses of oil. Recurrent expenditure now takes 75 per cent of government’s resources because jobs are being created for idlers. Having a job means having a piece of the national cake, many think. Partly as a result, most workers (even

in the private sector) harbour the impression that jobs are not meant to be done but to produce salaries. I’m yet to understand why an employee at one government agency should earn four times the salary of his mate at another government agency.

Sooner than later, this baggage – having an unproductive workforce – will reach a denouement and the bubble will burst.

Job security will disappear even in the civil service.

As I prepare to leave salaried employment before my 50th birthday, I advise young Nigerian workers to turn a new leaf, for any venture founded on dishonesty is bound to fail. One of the lessons I have learned in about 27 years of working for others is that he who works hard for someone else works hard for himself – it is the same work ethic that he would take to his own work. And hard work doesn’t kill.

It is said that the reward for hard work is even more work.

The battle cry of Marxism or communist revolutions was “Workers of the world, unite!

You have nothing to lose but the chains!” About 150 years after The Communist Manifesto was written, we in Nigeria should say, “Workers of the world, work! The chains are meant for the dogs, not you!”

GHANA MUST GO Nigeria reviving railway system ­— FG

Where?

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