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Sunday, December 7, 2014

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ceoConfidential #141, December 7, 2014

TIMELESS TRUTHS

Mentoring is deMeaning >26

>27 POPULAR WITH CEOS

devaluation of the naira >30 SITUATION REPORTS

colgate: the World orld of care >46 TIPOFFS

9 things very successful people never do

• Jeffrey Weiner CEO, LinkedIn

Weiner’s exploits in the social netWork industry

26 CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

in brief essentiALs

10 Questions for...

for entrePreneurs

Moses okafor Sport coordinator, olympic council of aSia

Under promise over deliver

“Formula for success: under promise and over deliver” Tom Peters, 1942American writer and management consultant, best known for co-writing worldwide bestseller In Search of Excellence.

If you continually exceed your clients’ expectations, they have few reasons to look at your competitors.

Think of subtle ways to add value for your customers. For example, a car dealership can deliver your new vehicle with a bouquet of flowers on the back seat as a special unexpected gift. In an instant the dealership generates a wealth of goodwill at a small cost.

The possibilities are endless. Use a little creativity to ensure that your customers get more than they expect in a positive way.

Be careful not to set expectations too high, as you must consistently deliver. If you fall short of customer expectations then the penalty is a possible loss of business.

Sell benefits not features “No matter what your product is, you are ultimately in the education business.

Your customers need to be constantly educated about the many advantages of doing business with you, trained to use your products more effectively, and taught how to make never-ending improvement in their lives” Robert G. Allen, 1948Canadian-American writer on financial investment, author of Nothing Down and coauthor of The One Minute Millionaire.

All products and services are solutions to everyday problems. Your customers don’t necessarily need to know how you’re going to solve these problems, just that you are.

Try to sell the features of tap water: a cold combination of hydrogen and oxygen in a liquid state. Not a very appealing product.

People may be put off by the technical words. But if you promote tap water as an environmentally friendly, refreshing, free soft drink that helps you rehydrate, quench your thirst and keeps you cool, then you are solving their problems.

if You’LL Be...

Phil knight founder/ceo, nike Play by the rules. Be ferocious Knight started selling running shoes out of the boot of his car and in less than a decade, his marketing savvy and uncompromising competitiveness had transformed the athleticshoe industry and made Nike one of the most successful and widely recognized brand names in the world.

Develop a winning mentality The winning ethos he absorbed as a competitive athlete seems to have inspired Knight’s life as an entrepreneur. Knight never competed at the professional level but like any top athlete, he still wanted to win.

Have a vision Knight first came up with the blueprint for what would become the world’s No. 1 athletic-shoe company while working on his master’s degree at Stanford University. He outlined a plan for breaking the stranglehold Adidas had on the running-shoe market by using cheap Japanese labour to manufacture a cheaper, better-quality running shoe.

– By Olujide Olusola

tiMeLess trutHs

Mentoring is demeaning “Mentoring as a whole is little more than one of those management popularities so beloved by consultants. From the perspective of the mentees, there is something demeaning about hitching their boat to an elegant cabin cruiser and being towed along in its wake. From the perspective of the mentor, there is a slight stench of injustice and hypocrisy in selecting a chosen few and lavishing and attention on them.

Any leader worthy of the name makes sure that all people for whom they have responsibility have open and equitable opportunity to develop their abilities to the maximum.”

Dee Hock, founder and CEO, Visa International

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

National Patriotism. It’s time for the citizens to start asking of what they can do for the country and not what the country can do for them.

4. Whom would you trade places with?

Ban Ki Moon. I feel I could do more and not play politics with such an exalted office.

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

I’ll sleep through the night and rise early for business.

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

Travel in future to 2061 and see what the world intends to develop which is not presently in production and start.

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

There are opportunities waiting for everyone if one develops the right skills to ask for them.

8. What have you sacrificed for success?

My time, which I’ll confess can be very demanding to the point where you most times work even while on holidays.

9. What do you consider your favourite achievement?

Discovering my inner-most peace in serving God. 10. What is your motto?

Work hard; play hard and rest well.

group

ceoConfidential ASST. EDITOR Daniel Udechukwu REPORTER Olusola Olujide GRAPHICS Matthew Akhabue

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

Home delivery business. It aids people to buy and order for services without going there in person.

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

Richard MofeDamijo because he is the youth and sport commissioner in my state (Delta State) and since I’m in the field of sports, we could develop a good idea to promote sports development.

ACTInG EDITOR Auwal Sa'id Mu'azu

FOUnDER Sam nda-Isaiah GRP MAnAGInG DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GRP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere Dr. kazeem Durodoye

Interview by Victoria Usman A number of the articles here are sourced from diverse sources.

FEEDbACk & EnqUIRIES ceoconfidential@leadership.ng

CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

27

popular with CEOs Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

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 Forrest Gump

nigerian currency

Farm produce

Devaluation of the naira Recently, the federal government of Nigeria devalued the naira which has been attributed to the continued tumbling of the global oil prices. The economy of Nigeria, the largest in Africa no doubt, will be hit hard by the current development.

Experts in the country have predicted that the devaluation will result to high inflation, huge industry closures and job losses.

Nigeria as an oil-dependent economy has been dealt a heavy blow by the plunging world oil prices in the last few months which have seen foreign portfolio investors pulling out billions of dollars through the bond and equity

bello

markets.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in defence of its action said the action became pertinent owing to dwindling reserves which make it hard to defend the local currency. It said the economy was in a precarious state and that naira devaluation was the best it could do to save the economy from further woes.

On the contrary, analysts have said that the devaluation of the naira would only lead to massive job loss that will emanate from massive industry closure and high inflation rate. The analysts argued that as a result of the importdependent character of

remi bello, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry “The belief is that when the naira is devalued, the pressure on exchange rate will be reduced. yes, theoretically but the one we have been doing in the past has not achieved that aim.”

the economy, the sharp decline in exchange rate would naturally push up the operating cost of enterprises in the economy.

One may be forced to wonder why the governor of the CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who had earlier in the year during his screening at the Senate, vowed that he would never devalue the naira because it would lead to hardship with terrible macroeconomic instability, decide to take such decision. In the words of the governor during the unveiling of his economic blueprint: “Devaluation will hurt the economy. People will lose their jobs; inflation will be high and some industries will close down.”

bismarck rewane,

rewane

CEO, Financial Derivatives Limited “The decision to raise the Monetary policy ratio and the cash reserve ratio on the private sector deposits, as well as the shift in the benchmark mid-point of the currency band are not without far reaching implications.”

Those who know don’t tell and those who tell don’t know.

Michael lewis, Author

hEar alhaji aliko Dangote, chairman, Dangote Group

If it’s a good idea, go ahead and do it.

It is much easier to apologise than it is to get permission.

Grace hopper,

Balanced Scorecard

vision/mission statement into the practicalities of managing the business better at every level.

A Balanced Scorecard approach is to take a holistic view of an organisation and co-ordinate MDIs so that efficiencies are experienced by all departments and in a joined-up fashion.

At the 2014 Fidelity Annual SME Conference with the theme: ‘Positioning Nigerian SMEs For Growth’, renowned business moguls like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh and Nike Ogunlesi will deliver speeches at the event.

Venue of the event is the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos on December 9, 2014.

Computer scientist

TaSTE The effective managers seem to be not those with the greatest degrees of freedom but the ones who use to advantage whatever degree of freedom they can find. henry MintzberG,

Writer

BiZ LinGo A definition often quoted is: “A strategic planning and management system used to align business activities to the vision statement of an organisation”. More cynically, and in some cases realistically, a Balanced Scorecard attempts to translate the sometimes vague, pious hopes of a company’s

A beautiful story about a simple man with good intentions, who accidentally becomes a phenomenal success just by living his life he knows best. He wins medals, becomes a professional pingpong player, takes up running, owns a huge shrimping company and inspires people all across the country.

Fish and Chips

Deep fried batter-dipped fish (usually cod) accompanied by french fries or thick potato chips.

They are flavored with a liberal sprinkling of salt and malt vinegar.

FEEL Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse

Bugatti says its current model is the “fastest production roadster in the world,” having been driven 255.5 mph in April 2013. Bugatti announced earlier in December 2013, it sold its 400th Veyron worldwide since its introduction in 2005.

SMELL If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete. jack welch,

Chemical engineer

No1 Passant Guardant

Called the No1 Passant Guardant, it uses the perfume house’s signature crystal bottle and then ups the ante by covering it in hand-crafted, 24 carat gold lattice-work. As with all the bottles, the top is a crown shape as the design was created in 1872.

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CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The ceoConfidential interview Weiner’s exploits in the social network industry The social networking expert reveals how he inspired his team, the industry, and Wall Street, and helped build LinkedIn into a $25 billion powerhouse.

Interview by Henry BLoDGet

WEINER IN SHORT Jeffrey “Jeff” Weiner is an American businessman. He is the chief executive officer (CEO) of LinkedIn, a businessrelated social networking website. He started with LinkedIn in December 2008 as interim president.

Weiner served in various leadership roles at Yahoo for over seven years beginning in 2001, most recently as the executive vice president at Yahoo’s Network Division. As EVP of Yahoo, he led a team of over 3,000 employees, managing products reaching over 500 million consumers.

While serving Yahoo’s Network Division, he was part of the Search leadership team that directed the acquisition and integration of Inktomi, AltaVista, and FAST as well as the development of Yahoo Search Technology.

In 2014, Weiner was recognised by LinkedIn employees via Glassdoor’s annual survey as among “the top 10 CEOs at U.S. Tech Companies”.

Defining the core of the company is very vital…

I remember we were in the process of recruiting our first independent board member and I was interviewing Leslie Kilgore, who at the time was the CMO of Netflix. She became our first independent board member. She’s amazing.

She said: “So tell me about LinkedIn. How do you describe the company?”

And I gave an answer and I thought it was a pretty good answer. She said: “That sounds pretty good, but that sounds like a lot of stuff. Let me ask it a different way. If you could only build one $1bn business, what would it be?” Came back to the office, and I ended up on the whiteboard, and I drew a target. And above the target I drew our core value proposition, which was connecting talent and opportunity at massive scale. [Later, I said:] “Hiring solutions. Let’s make that our first $1bn business.” I think that was an important decision.

Being a CEO is fundamentally

different…

The more people you’re responsible for, the more your words and the way you communicate those words and your body language and essentially everything you do is taken into consideration by the team. You have to be that much more aware of the way in which you’re coming across. And I think the best leaders maintain awareness of their environment and in real time can course correct. It doesn’t matter if they’re in a one-on-one, a staff meeting, an all-hands, or speaking to thousands of people at a keynote.

They are always aware of the way they are being received. They can course correct so they can ensure that what they’re saying is resonating and that it’s bringing people together.

Deciding what’s fair is personal…

I think oftentimes when determining compensations for people, you have to draw upon your own experience. I think you have to draw upon your gut, your instincts, and what feels

Sunday, December 7, 2014

CEOConfidential

45

WeIner on ConsIstenCy

If you want to get your point across, especially to a broader audience, you need to repeat yourself so often

right and what feels wrong. There’s internal levelling, internal comps, external comps, there’s a lot of market data on this. And I think that’s one place you can start the dialogue, but exactly to your point, regardless of what that data’s telling you, at some point, you have to trust your instincts, you have to trust your values, and you have to say, “I believe this is right, equitable, and fair — or it’s not.” And if not, you step up and you do something about it.

Things to consider before going public...

For starters, before going public, I was asked by one of our board members what kind of public company we wanted to be. And I was speechless.

I had never been the CEO of a public company, I had never taken a company public, and I thought naively that things would just continue going the way they were going. And I said, “Let me get back to you, I need to think about it.”

So I thought about it.

And I came back and the next meeting I said, “We’re going to be the exact same company as a public company as we were as a private company.” Same vision, same mission, same strategy, same long-term focus, same culture, same values — all of which had been codified. And I said: “If we go public, and something changes, one of two things has happened. Either we weren’t ready, or I wasn’t the right person to lead this company.” After the meeting, our CFO and general counsel, being excellent members of the team, pulled me aside and

said, “Come here for a sec.

You know how you said nothing will change? You realise some things have to change.” I said, “What do you mean?” They said, “Well, one of our values is being open, honest, and constructive — and at the all-hands, you’re basically transparent with everything (we do an all-hands every other week). And as a publicly held company, you’re not necessarily going to be in the same position.” And I said, “Why not?” They said, “It’s not the way it works — there’s risks and so forth and so on.”

I said, “No, it’s not going to change. We’re going to play up to who we aspire to be and not play down to the lowest common denominator out of fear of what might happen. As soon as you do that, it’s done.”

You develop trust over time…

That doesn’t happen in one sitting. Because if that only happens once, and people have to make a snap judgment, it’s going to be, “Well what’s that all about?” But the second time, the third time, the fourth time, the fifth time, they’re right a few times, someone else is right a few times, and as we go, we see what worked and didn’t work and we’re course correcting and we’re doing post-mortems and we’re figuring what went wrong. And we’re not lamenting the mistakes, we’re not lamenting the fact that we took the wrong path — we’re learning from them.

An old friend of mine once said, trust equals consistency over time.

Culled from: businessinsider.com

CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

initiatives

29

Lere Baale, lerebaale@gmail.com

Leadership Inspiration for Excellence – (LIFE) series The keys to extraordinary leadership in Africa (II) But there is another way to look at responsibility.

It’s your ability to respond. Embrace that and you embrace your personal power.

If you are accountable for every reaction, every interpretation, every choice, and every perception - then you are completely empowered.

When you see that you choose what to believe, you will discover that you have the power to create a new reality, a personal bias that brings out your own excellence and the same excellence in everyone around you.

When you discover that each obstacle - whether it is other people, the place you live, the job market, the economic landscape or the industry you work in - is a gift offering you a new opportunity to develop empowering beliefs, you will begin to adopt the mantle of authentic leadership.

Leadership starting with yourself impacting

HOW I DID IT

David Cote, chairman and CEO, Honeywell

everyone around you.

An extraordinary level of leadership made possible by understanding the true power of belief.

One of the greatest teachers on leadership, Sharif Khan argues that leadership already exist in latent form within each one of us and require us to look inside and wake it up. The miracle power that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance, under the promptings of a brave determined spirit.

Many motivational experts like to say that leaders are made, not born. We would argue the exact opposite. We believe we are all natural born leaders, but have been deprogrammed along the way. As children, we were natural leaders - curious and humble, always hungry and thirsty for knowledge, with an incredibly vivid imagination; we knew exactly what we wanted,

‘Nobody wants to follow someone who is arrogant.

Be humble as a child and always curious’ were persistent and determined in getting what we wanted, and had the ability to motivate, inspire, and influence everyone around us to help us in accomplishing our mission. So why is this so difficult to do as adults?

What happened?

As children, over time, we got used to hearing, “No, Don’t, and Can’t.

No! Don’t do this. Don’t do that. You can’t do this.

You can’t do that. No!” Many of our parents told us to keep quiet and not disturb the adults by asking silly questions.

This pattern continued from pre elementary school into high school with our teachers telling us what we could do and couldn’t do and what was possible. Then many of us got hit with the big one an institutionalised formal education known as college or university.

Unfortunately, the traditional educational system doesn’t teach students how to become leaders; it teaches students how to become polite order takers for the corporate world. Instead of learning to become creative, independent, self-reliant, and think for themselves, most people learn how to obey and intelligently follow rules to keep the corporate machine humming. Most of our so called leaders in Africa are products of from such background.

Developing the Leader in you to live your highest life, then, requires a process of “unlearning” by self-remembering and self-honoring. Being an effective leader again will require you to be brave and unlock the door to your inner attic, where your childhood dreams lie, going inside to the heart.

Based on our over twenty years research in the area of human development and leadership, here are ten easy steps you can take to awaken the Leader in you and rekindle your God-given passion for greatness so that you can move from success to significance: 1. Humility. Leadership starts with humility. To be a highly successful leader, you must first humble yourself like a little child and be willing to serve others. Nobody wants to follow someone who is arrogant. Be humble as a child and always curious. Always hungry and thirsty for knowledge.

For what is excellence but knowledge plus knowledge plus knowledge - always wanting to better yourself, always improving, always growing.

CONtiNues NeXt week

Honeywell’s CEO on how he avoided layoffs We also faced challenges when our top executives-my direct reports-felt that they, too, should be furloughed, as a symbolic gesture. To me this was mistaken solidarity and short-sighted.

I told them we couldn’t afford to have leaders absent during this period. I also reminded them (and our employees) that as leaders, they received more than half their annual compensation in the form of a bonus, so although employees were losing five weeks’ pay, on average, leaders would be losing far more.

“Trust me–on a percentage basis, you are going to be severely affected,” I told them. The bottom line was that we needed them to stay at work.

By the summer of 2009 people were pretty anxious. They wanted to know how many more weeks of furloughs

might be necessary. We still didn’t consider layoffs, but we did begin looking at benefits costs, to see if we could find ways to save more money without putting people out of work.

I tried to explain to everyone-both employees and my top executivesthat we had three constituencies whose interests we needed to balance: customers, investors, and employees.

Penalising customers wasn’t an option, and product programs had to go forward. So the pain would have to be divided between investors (in the form of lower returns) and employees (in the form of reduced pay). Finding the right balance was a challenge but I think we accomplished that.

Prepared for recovery

The economy stayed soft for most of 2009. During the first nine months of the year, our unit leaders had difficulty making their sales forecasts because demand kept weakening. However, despite lower sales in 2008-2009, the company stayed highly profitable and held its segment margin rates, which is very difficult to do in a recession.

During the fourth quarter of 2009 our sales forecasts stopped going down, and

by January of 2010 my team and I were starting to talk about a recovery. As orders began to pick up, it was clear that we were well prepared in comparison with our competitors: Our inventory and delivery times were better, and because we had held on to our people, we found it easier to win new business.

CONtiNues NeXt week

30 CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

situation reports Compiled by Olujide Olusola

Brand Beginnings Colgate: The world of care

The Colgate-Palmolive Company is an American multinational consumer products company focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products (including toothpaste and toothbrushes).

Under its “Hill’s” brand, it is also a manufacturer of veterinary products. The company’s corporate offices are on Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

Who they are The company operates its business in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment is operated through four reportable operating segments: North America, Latin America, Europe/South Pacific and Greater Asia/Africa, all of which sell to a variety of retail and wholesale customers and distributors.

What they produce Its Oral Care products include Colgate Total, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate Optic White and Colgate Luminous White toothpastes, Colgate 360 manual toothbrushes and Colgate and Colgate Plax mouth rinses. Its Oral Care business also includes dental floss and pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals. It

ManageMenT IDeaS

manufactures and markets a wide array of products for Home Care, including Palmolive and Ajax dishwashing liquids, Fabuloso and Ajax household cleaners and Murphy’s Oil Soap. Its Personal Care products also include Palmolive, Softsoap and Sanex brand shower gels, Palmolive, Irish Spring and Protex bar soaps and Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick and Sanex deodorants and antiperspirants.

Its Personal Care business outside the U.S. includes Palmolive and Caprice shampoo and conditioners. The company, through its Hill’s Pet Nutrition segment, provides specialty pet nutrition products for dogs and cats. It markets pet foods primarily under two trademarks: Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. Oral, Personal and Home Care products include toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouth rinses, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, bleaches and other similar items.

Pet Nutrition products include specialty pet nutrition products manufactured and marketed by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Educational and community involvement In 1890, Madison University in New York State was renamed Colgate University in honour of the Colgate family following decades of financial support and involvement. The Colgate-Palmolive Company has sponsored a non-profit track meet open to women of all ages called the Colgate Women’s Games. The Colgate Women’s Games is the nation’s largest amateur track series open to all girls from elementary school through college. Held at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, competitors participate in preliminary meets and semi-finals over five weekends throughout January. Finalists compete for trophies and educational grants-in-aid from ColgatePalmolive Company at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in February. For more than 20 years, the company supports the Starlight Children Foundation which is a non-profit organisation dedicated to help seriously ill children and their families. The mission is to help children to cope with pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, family activities and education.

The long tail

The internet changes everything; they used to say in the 1990s. That was just before they discovered that it didn’t. But it changes quite a lot of things and one of them – according to the long tail theory – is the ability, over time, to make money out of very small niches.

There was a time when the profitable niche was commonplace, but the age of mass production and mass marketing has crowded it out, most notably in consumer markets. Consolidation has produced powerful retailers. They choose to stock only those items that sell in large

numbers, and have reduced the variety of their ranges accordingly. Many small producers have fallen by the wayside in the process.

This phenomenon has been especially visible in the media and entertainment industries – in book and music publishing and in film production. We live in the world of the bestseller, the blockbuster, the hit. The argument of the long tail is that, in an internet world, niche products can not only survive but their cumulative sales can equal or even surpass those of the hits.

SucceSS nuggeTS

6 extraordinary business lessons from self-made billionaires (2) Billionaires are a whole other class of people, right?

They must be smarter than the rest of us. Stronger.

Luckier. Better.

Wouldn’t you want to understand how they broke through, beat the odds and grew their fortunes into billions?

These six self-made billionaires are generous with their experience and have excellent business advice for you: “As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.”--Andrew Carnegie The Internet has forever changed the way we communicate--and the vast amount of information available about individuals and businesses.

The world is watching.

Even start-up entrepreneurs can find themselves under the microscope, to varying degrees. You may think your actions go unnoticed, but apps like Secret and social networks like Facebook mean nothing is ever really private anymore, not really.

Customers are watching.

Potential investors are watching. They’re not as interested in what you say as what you do. Don’t disappoint!

“If you never want to be criticized, for goodness’ sake don’t do anything new.”--Jeff Bezos Grow a thick skin; you’re going to need it.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is a tech leader many love to hate--he certainly takes his fair share of criticism, and then some.

His company has faced criticism and controversy since its launch, with Bezos’ personal business ethics and management style often thrown into the mix.

Still, Amazon has revolutionized the way we shop online. Bezos understands that changing the game invites criticism.

And he’s okay with that.

If you have a business idea and want to shake up an industry, you’d better get okay with it, too.

World renowned self made billionaires

“Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is. Know your business and industry better than anyone else in the world.

Love what you do or don’t do it.”--Mark Cuban It may seem like everything Mark Cuban has touched has turned to gold, but his upbringing wasn’t exceptional. Cuban grew up in an affluent suburb of Pittsburgh and found his entrepreneurial spirit at just twelve years old, when he sold garbage bags to pay for a pair of shoes he coveted.

After earning his B.S. in Business Administration at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, he did a short stint as a salesperson for a Dallas software retailer-and was fired within a year.

Cuban’s first business, MicroSolutions, sold to CompuServe for $6 million. His next venture was exponentially larger and more lucrative. With a partner, he founded Audionet, which would become Broadcast.com in 1998. A year later, in the dot-com boom, it was acquired by Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock.

The rest, as they say, is history. Cuban has faced his share of controversy over the years, but now owns the Dallas Mavericks and is a star investor on ABC’s Shark Tank. Forbes puts his net worth at $2.7 billion, making him the 652nd richest person on the planet.

Cuban loves investing and business. You can’t argue that he’s not fantastic at it.

Do what you do best or don’t bother!

CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

getting ahead

31

Secrets They Won’t Teach You At Business School Richard Branson, one of world’s most-respected entrepreneurs

The perfect pitch DiFFeRenTiATe oR Die

...have a plan – need money!

Banking is one of many industries where in too many cases any semblance of good customer service has gone the way of the dinosaur. As such, it is an industry that needs to be shaken up by a company that’s ready to take a fresh, new approach.

By no small coincidence therefore, we recently bought the British bank Northern Rock, which we’re rebranding Virgin Money. Our goal is not only to provide better customer service, but to return banking to its place at the core of a community and as the engine of the local economy.

When badly run, banks have a negative impact on business growth and development. In 19841 remember arriving home from Virgin Atlantic’s maiden

Business icons

flight from London to Newark and finding our bank manager sitting on my doorstep, waiting to tell me that the bank was planning to close us down after the weekend.

It was Friday. Fortunately, we rang around our suppliers and managed to deliver enough funds to the bank on Monday morning to avert the crisis. By Wednesday, we had changed banks.

Flash forward to the present and what seems to be a perpetually tough economic situation.

Entrepreneurs who are looking to raise money - whether from banks, angel investors or venture capitalists - face tough conditions.

Your best bet is to keep it simple, and be sure that your new business presentation touches on these five key areas: 1. What’s in it for them?

Occasionally, an entrepreneur hoping to launch their first business puts so much thought into the concept that he or she neglects the financial and legal plan - and unfortunately, this often becomes apparent early in a meeting, when an investor can lack clarity in what exactly the proposed deal is going to look like.

Before you set up any meetings, gather your team and decide on your goals for your business and how much capital you need to inject to achieve them.

Will you accept money in exchange for a stake in the business, or does it make more sense to take out a loan? What conditions are you willing to have tied to those investments? How much in terms of shares of the company or of its future profits would you be willing to give up in return for start-up financing?

Your potential financiers will likely ask these questions, so be ready to give clear, well-reasoned answers.

And as you prepare your presentation, remember that your future backers will want to know how soon they can expect to see a return on their investment as well as possible ‘exit strategies’.

2. Be concrete Winning the trust of an investor means demonstrating a thorough knowledge of your concept or industry and laying out your step-by-step plan for offering something that’s new, innovative and will deliver healthy returns on their investment: aka ‘ROI’. continues next week

A legitimate preference That ‘Whopper’ raises an important point about preferences.

“What other people think is correct”- the principle of social proof-gets even stronger when your claim stands up to scrutiny. The more legitimate it is, the better.

If you’re commissioning your own poll, spend the extra bucks to have a topflight outfit ask the questions.

If you’re citing someone else’s surveys, make sure their reputation means something. (].D. Power and Zagat’s are perfect examples.)

If no one has ever surveyed your particular field, try to convince an industry publication to do it. It’s a good news story for them, and a potentially great preference story for the winner.

Advertising legend David Ogilvy understood the power of the press in that regard. “Roughly six times as many people read the average article as the average advertisement,” he said.

“Editors communicate better than ad men.”

Leadership lessons continues From last week

Even if there was no other discount store within a hundred miles, Walton made sure that every Wal-Mart stayed true to the vision of low costs. Often, they found themselves in price wars with competitors.

Sam Walton Founder, Wal-Mart

reasoned that those applications could not do everything. “A computer can tell you down to the dime what you’ve sold. But it can never tell you how much you could have sold.” The computer, he said, “will never be a substitute for getting out in your stores and learning Be on the ground or in the air getting there what’s going on.” Walton used his plane Walton believed strongly in being out to get around and scout out new store in the field and seeing in person what locations. his stores and his competitors were “I’d get down low, turn my plane up on doing. Even though Wal-Mart is known its side, and fly right over a town .... for best and innovative applications There’s another good reason I don’t like of information technology, Walton jets. You can’t get down low enough

to really tell what’s going on, the way I could in my little planes. Until we had 500 stores, or at least 4.00 or so, I kept up with every real estate deal we made and got to view most locations before we signed any kind of commitment,” he said in Made in America.

Besides scouting new locations, Walton also kept strict tabs on his stores.

Walton called this style of his “management by walking and flying around.” continues next week

32 CEOConfidential

housekeeping

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Compiled by Olujide Olusola

Most creative people in business

Tim and Karrie League Cofounders, Alamo Drafthouse

For making the movie theater fun

Michele Clapton Costume Designer

There is nothing Tim League—who owns an Austin-based alt-cinema institution called Alamo Drafthouse, where alcohol and food are served, and a distribution company called Drafthouse Films—won’t do to get you to see a movie he loves.

To promote Drafthouse’s dark delight about escalating dares titled Cheap Thrills, Tim challenged the director, producer, and star to drink beer until one of them peed his pants. (Tim lost. The video evidence is online.) “It was a fun and creative stunt,” says his wife, Karrie. “But would I say it was a proud moment?”No, pride stems from their recent success: The Alamo opened eight new theaters nationwide in 2013, bringing the total to 17, with plans to hit 50 by 2017. Drafthouse Films’ The Act of Killing had the highest-grossing opening of any documentary in 2013 and was nominated for an Oscar. The Leagues took films from their annual Fantastic Fest, the largest genre-film festival in the U.S., to eight markets. They also hosted the debut of Forever Fest, a gleeful weekend in Austin devoted to programming by and for smart women. And with his widely publicized ban on Madonna, who made headlines after being caught texting during a non-Alamo screening of 12 Years a Slave, Tim is now a champion of proper filmgoing etiquette. “We want people to be excited about going to the movies,” he says, “and we want to make sure that in all Alamo theaters, they know how to behave.”

For designing clothes fit for kings—not to mention queens, night’s watchmen, and wildlings Michele Clapton won an Emmy for the medieval-flavored costumes in HBO’s Game of Thrones, which have inspired fashions at Valentino, Helmut Lang, and Derek Lam. Between seasons she works on film projects, such as Werner Herzog’s Queen of the Desert—about the life of writer and explorer Gertrude Bell (due out in 2015)—and the Memento-like Before I Go to Sleep (out this fall).

Game of thrones is based on books about a fictional world, so you must have had a lot of latitude when creating the costumes.

I love the freedom of Game of Thrones. Developing the visual sense of the character— that’s the essence of all costume design.

The show is set in various far-flung locations, and you make individual collections for each region. How does that process work?

I create the visual rules of each area. I’ll draw sketches to represent each area based on what [materials] they have available, the transport, the climate. I work with the production designers to see what the architecture is. I think that is what’s successful about Game of Thrones: It’s not just fantasy for fantasy’s sake. You can almost imagine that it was real.

But because it’s not historical, nobody can fact-check you, right?

A lot of the book [readers] does. Whenever you read a book, you have images in your head of how people look. And then someone comes along—in this case, me—and designs, and it’s not what’s in your head. People react to that. But I don’t worry because it’s our version and that’s all you can ever do.

In before i go to sleep, you dressed star Nicole Kidman in modern clothing.

In contemporary films, the clothes are so often not noticed. That’s almost the beauty of them—they have to tell the story without being celebrated.

Sometimes that is the hardest to do because everyone thinks they know clothes.

Le-Marie Thompson Founder, Nettadonna

Boris Sofman Cofounder/CEO, Anki

For helping businesses avoid conflict

For revving up robotics with high-tech toy cars

Tech companies often grapple with the issue of conflict minerals: substances mined amid armed conflicts and human-rights abuses, particularly in the Congo. Le-Marie Thompson and her company are combating the problem with their Conflict-Free Electronics platform, an online source (still in beta) for companies—and eventually consumers— to get information about suppliers worldwide. “Most of us engineers want to create cool stuff without guilt that our creations have brought about harm,” she says.

“ConflictFree- Electronics is something I could do to help.”

Robotics and artificial-intelligence company Anki is bringing previously out-of-reach technology to consumers.

Its first product, Anki Drive, is a racing system that lets you control AI–powered miniature cars with a mobile phone. The toy—released in October—is so sophisticated that it could help improve self-driving cars and other machines. “The core problems you face in robotics [have a lot in] common,” says Boris Sofman. “It’s the same types of algorithms and strategies and approaches.” Apple, for one, is impressed: Anki was the only outside company that presented at the keynote of its Worldwide Developers Conference last year.

A Girl’s Guide How to Find tHe ideal Mate

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et cetera ...AND OTHER THINGS DECEMBER 7, 2014

tHe liFestyle oF eating out The Twitterati, P39

Ali Nuhu prays for the deceased

Wish List, P34

Maimuna Ibrahim loves Jimmy Choo

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et cetera

How I feel about... beIng a consultant Kunle lawal-34 My name is Kunle Lawal and I work as Chief Operating Officer at Roswell Solutions; a company that has concerns in branding, consulting and information technology. I am the first of four boys and we were born and raised in Zaria, so naturally we attended schools within the town. I studied Public Administration at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I have always wanted to inspire change and after leaving school, I worked briefly with my cousins in their private companies. In 2006, I left to set up a company with my partner; while that was being set up, I worked as a personal assistant to the minister of Women Affairs.

Today, I work fully at Roswell. Idea generation has always excited me that is why I run operations for the company which involves sourcing clientele, planning a flow chart of operations and development of new services to provide a more holistic service. For direct service to clientele, I handle business plans, feasibility studies, brand development and sometimes training in customer care. Being born into a fully educational family made my journey in the private sector quite tedious, it was a tough call.

I would not have myself anywhere else because I was made for this. It is not about profits, but about being able to change the course of how things are done. That responsibility for the change is my source of satisfaction.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

MaIMuna IBrahIM

WIsH H lIst

Mercedes Benz S Class. That car is a true beauty

The journalist reveals some of her wishes to Zanswat Bowsan

Jimmy Choo shoes. Every woman wants a pair

Belle D’opium perfume by Yves Saint Laurent

a stunning diamond ring.

Diamonds are forever

DILEMMA

hermes handbag. 2014 edition of course

a collection of Christian Siriano dresses

MY girlfriend snores horriblY

In a light-hearted weekly column, we take a wry look at the problems of modern life Hello! Please I have a serious problem. My girlfriend snores a lot. She is a very lovely lady. She is beautiful and is also a “plus size”. We have been dating for a while.

Whenever she comes over to spend the weekend, I don’t get any sleep. Her snoring is horrifyingly loud. How do I tell her that she is a possible hazard to my health and hers also? I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I cannot imagine spending the rest of

et cetera group

my life with a woman who snores like this.

I literally dread her visits; should I break up with her?

Ben from Kaduna

being told they are fat, so you may want to choose your words very wisely to cushion the blow. if she is aware and cocnerned, she may take your words in good faith and try to improve herself. If she doesnt, you Dear Ben, may have to take drastic actions. This is You are in a very dicey situation, my friend. your health we are talking about here. You Snoring is associated with many things, dont play around with that. including weight. There are different ways Ciao! to go about it. You can either suggest you have a dilemma that you that you both start exercising and eating healthy or you take the more painful route want help with? Write to blessing. ukemena@leadership.ng and tell her straight up. Women dont like CONTENT Zanswat Bowsan, Blessing Ukemena DESIGN Matthew Akhabue ACTING EDITOR Auwal Sa'id Mu'azu FOUNDER Sam Nda-Isaiah 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, December 7, 2014

PEOPLE TRACKER

You can send your pictures to xanbowsan@yahoo.com

GORGEOUS Binta Mshelia’s striking beauty is incomparable

GROOVY Joy Tomon rocks in dreadlocks COOL Dorcas Mulfwang’s simple blue dress and slim red belt show a cool taste in fashion

ELEGANT Princess Bimbo Adewole exudes royalty.

CUTE Gloria Adeyemi in Benin traditional wedding attire

SERIOUS! Nafisa Muntaka’s little smile makes her even prettier

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

IT’S TIME FOR

BIG IDEAS CHANGE

SAM NDA-ISAIAH

for PRESIDENT

2015

Share your own Big Ideas through the following channels

www.facebook.com/sam4nigeria

@sam4nigeria

@samndaisaiah

# It’sTimeForBigIdeas

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et cetera

Sunday, December 7, 2014

iNSiDE Story

The Lifestyle Of Eating Out By zanswat Bowsan, abuja

M

any Nigerians grew up in environments where the mother was always at home and ensured that the family was well fed. There was never a time when food wasn’t available; fathers came home during lunch hour to eat a good homemade meal. The fathers were the breadwinners and the mother was always either at home or had a job that was flexible and gave her time to take care of the home. With the change in times, things have taken a different turn; more women are taking on jobs that are very demanding. Women are very active in politics, banking and other positions. There is a shift in roles due to the ever increasing standard of living.

This has caused many families to take on the habit of eating out instead of eating at home.

Kunle Lawal, a consultant spoke with Et Cetera and said “It is all in the name of modernisation. A lot of mothers have forgotten how to be mothers and it is annoying. If you talk they will say you are being a male chauvinist. I know what my mother sacrificed to make me the man I am today. She would have been a professor before 45 years; she eventually became one 10 years later for the sake of her children.

She taught me everything from food to simple manners.

There are little things we overlook as adults that are vital for shaping the future of the young ones coming after us. Teaching children to eat at home and be content is important. Our mothers partied a lot, but family time was family time. Being able to hold the home front earned the women a lot of respect from their husbands. I don’t know what these 21st century women are doing. Eating out should not become a habit.”

What they said...

The Lifestyle Of Eating Out

Vanessa Vinano, banking executive said “At least the kids are getting nutritious meals. Have you considered the fact that the mothers are quite busy working to get enough money to put clothes on the back of those kids and pay their fees? How will you know what they are going through without asking them?

I think it is wrong to assume that they are incompetent just because they buy food instead of cooking. Some women buy food in large quantities and claim they cooked it. I cook when I can. Do you know how tiring it is to be at work all day and then come home to cook? ” Alaye Harry, an entrepreneur also opined “Most women don’t have time to cook in the mornings because of other responsibilities; in the afternoons, she has to rush back to the office after picking the children. More women

“There are little things we overlook as adults that are vital for shaping the future of the young ones coming after us. Teaching children to eat at home and be content is important. Our mothers partied a lot, but family time was family time.”

Kunle Lawal, Consultant

work these days; more women occupy positions of authority at work. More women are separated or divorced, so they have to work twice as hard and take care of the kids.

Cooking happens only at the weekends. These bukkas serve homemade food. It is definitely better than these fast food joints.”

Hadiza Owolabi, a businesswoman said “I have never really liked being in the kitchen; my husband and I have had this understanding while we were dating. I don’t like going to the market. If I were still single, I wouldn’t cook. My children have grown and understand that I am not the average woman. I have a house help who does all the cooking. My husband travels a lot, so I don’t have to worry about him. On special occasions, when we are hosting guests or when my husband is coming home,

I go into the kitchen and whip up a great meal. I really don’t have time to cook; I travel a lot too. It’s just convenient to eat out. There is a wide variety to choose from, the kids and I have time to sit and talk too. I try to keep my children away from junk, but I honestly do not see anything wrong with eating out; look around you!

The world has changed.”

Jimmy Tanko, a tattoo artist also said that “I grew up with a career mum singlehandedly raising us three boys. I never ate out of the house once, even though she was a caterer by profession. Neither did she bring food from work with the thought of using it as a meal for the kids because she was tired after work. Noteworthy is we never had a house help and we all had our chores. But, in fairness, we had a secure living quarters and the school we attended was within the quarters so we could stroll

home, unlock the door, let ourselves in and take the meals out of the fridge, heat them up and help ourselves.”

Dadeino Bafyau, a journalist said “Growing up, we lived in Surulere, Lagos. We schooled in Ikoyi and we had a lot of take outs for lunch because my mum’s office was in Victoria Island. On days we had extra lessons we got probably got home between 7 and 8pm, depending on traffic. I have very fond memories of Frenchies, Mr Biggs and the likes. Breakfast and dinner were home cooked meals and my mum’s food is the best I have tasted so far.

In the end it’s all about what works best. Eating out does have it pluses you know; you get to have a wide taste range.

My only problem with eating out is the calories of which I am also a victim. That’s why I think it should be occasional but if a working mum can balance it out good for her.”

“I think it is wrong to assume that they are incompetent just because they buy food instead of cooking. Do you know how tiring it is to be at work all day and then come home to cook? ”

“Most women don’t have time to cook in the mornings because of other responsibilities; in the afternoons, she has to rush back to the office after picking the children.”

“Eating out does have it pluses you know; you get to have a wide taste range. My only problem with eating out is the calories of which I am also a victim. That’s why I think it should be occasional."

Vanessa Vinano, Banking Executive

Alaye Harry, Entrepreneur

Dadeino Bafyau, Journalist

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

et cetera

Sunday, December 7, 2014

39

THE TWITTERATI CATCH UP WITH WHAT CELEBS HAVE BEEN TWEETING ABOUT

@Karen_Igho

Forget what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you.

December 1 You live and you learn; that’s how the cookie crumbles.

@wandecoal Happy New month y’all... blessings and favour.

December 1 We wish you the same, Black Diamond.

@alinuhu

Innalillahi wa inna ilaihir raji’un. May the soul of those who died in the Kano mosque bomb blasts rest in peace.

November 28 Amen! And may God protect us from these evil men.

@aihot Fear is contagious and transferable; deal with it immediately to stop it from spreading to other areas of your life.

November 30 How do we deal with the fear of Boko Haram?

@KATUNG_ADUWAK

Nothing will make you doubt yourself like negative comments on social media.

November 28 People just use social media for all the wrong reasons.

@MrAyeDee The GEJ campaign theme song of ‘run Jonathan run, your life in the hands of God’ sounds like an ode to a runaway slave #justsaying November 11 Now that you mentioned it, it does sound like an ode to a runaway slave. @magbedu Sometimes I just need to lay on the couch and do nothing for three years.

December 1 Make that three years and a day.

@Gwariboy If you want to know what @R_ELL you truly value, look at May the souls of the how you spend money. deceased rest in perfect December 1 And if I am a heavy spender, what does that say? @ElShederico Kano you’re not alone, we are in this together.

November 28 That was a terrible event. Nigeria needs a divine intervention. @HallyBlondy Speak your heart. If they don’t understand, the message was never meant for them anyway.

November 28 I wish people would just understand that life isn’t as hard as we make it.

@Funmilola

In relationships people tell us everything we need to know but we hear everything we want to hear.

December 1 I wonder why we ask for opinions in the first place.

@abubakar47i How Boko Haram would attack a state capital for 4hrs with little or no resistance is still beyond me.

December 1 This is a huge red flag and says a lot about our security as a nation. Pitiful!

@sifushka You sell the same bag of rice I buy for 4k in the market for 5k and have the nerve to call it ‘Black Friday’ sales.

November 29 Lol! If you want to copy, at least copy properly.

Nigerians are interesting

peace, may Allah come to the aid of the oppressed and may the perpetrators face His wrath.

December 1 I say a very loud Amen to that prayer. @Sir_Rozlah I woke up with blessings from above. A good last month I know.

December 1 A good one with good money, please!

@topeatiba From the top of my head I can count at least one cousin and 3 friends currently stationed in Damaturu. All officers of the Nigerian Army.

December 1 This is closer to home than we think. Let’s stop acting like everything is okay. @simiskeez Black Friday. Ours is not defined by sales but dead bodies. RIP #KanoBlast we will overcome.

November 28 When we should be celebrating, we are burying our brothers and sisters. Enough already. @The_Daywalker_ I’m all about the food this Christmas. Please don’t invite me for any parties if there isn’t going to be any proper food.

December 1 Sending out the memos already, are we?

No excuses, right? @trafels You’re cool with the status quo because your pocket is unaffected and you’ve not lost anyone to the violence.

God dey.

December 1 You should know by now that humans can be extremely selfish. @KoloKennethK When did Immigration fees hike 66% from N15, 000 to N25, 000? #DeepSigh December 1 Does it come with a visa to any country? It just doesn’t make sense.

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et cetera

Sunday, December 7, 2014

LIFE101

A GIRL’S GUIDE

How to Find tHe ideal Mate

For the hopelessly single, finding the ideal mate seems like a daunting, impossible task. However, the truth about finding an ideal mate is actually very simple – it’s simply that many people just don’t know where to look or how to begin. If you’re keen to get out of singledom and into a loving relationship, this article’s geared at helping you work out how to get started on your search. Figure out your own mind first. The first step to finding your ideal mate is a paper and a pen. No, you’re not going to write a personal ad. What you are going to do is list your traits and the traits you desire in

Super Flirt

a mate. Included in this list should be: your personality traits and those of a desired mate, your physical traits, and the desired physical traits your mate will have, as well as interests and hobbies, religion and beliefs (both yours and if your mate must be the same religion or hold a similar belief system or lack thereof), desire for children and your willingness to accept another’s children, your communication style, etc. Turn the list into a profile of what kind of mate you’re looking for. This is a skeleton of a person.

It should not be a list of demands, but rather a basic outline of the soul you’re

looking for. The list needs to be realistic and prioritized.

By looking at the profile, you will see what aspects are important to you that you may not have realized before. For example,suppose you like being outdoors, and exercising, then look for a hiking group - perhaps at a religious group, community group, or a local outdoors club.Be aware of what other people tend to look for in a mate. Since there are numerous studies on what men and women look for in a mate, make use of them so that you can understand what others are looking for. This can allow you to emphasize your strengths

in whichever area, to signal clearly that you’ve got the interesting traits, beliefs, or do the activities that your potential mate is looking for. Some of the most popular things men and women look for in one another are: Women are looking for (in order): Personality, sense of humour, common interests, intelligence, cleanliness, looks, sexiness, getting to know the man through a friend, voice, spirituality, profession, money, talent, and finally, religion. Men are looking for: Personality, sense of humour,intelligence, common interests, looks, cleanliness and sexiness.

Culled from www.wikihow.com

The Tale Of TwO Pebbles Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter.

So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer’s debt if he could marry his daughter.

Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter.

He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag.

Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Take a moment to ponder this. What would you recommend that the girl do?

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

“Oh, how clumsy of me!” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”

The moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty. The girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

SOURCE -academitips.org

How to avoid oH-my-God-i-can’t-believe-i-did-tHat disaster dates

Chin in your palm

Never place your chin in your palm and place your elbow on the table, except you have the lovey-dovey look in your eyes.

not moving

Don’t sit there like a rabbit in a cage. Instead gesticulation and body language makes you look relaxed and in charge.

hands in view

Quit sitting on your hands or dropping them on your knees. Keep your arms in view. It’s okay to cross them as long as you don’t look defensive.

steeple

If you’re nervous on a first date, it’s good to place your hands on the table, palms facing each other and fingertips touching. shows you know what you’re saying.when.Keep smiling.

CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

bottom lines 100

86,600,000

Number of top Nigerian businesses that have contributed to making the country the largest economy in Africa and were given special recognition by President Jonathan.

Approximate number of Nigerians who don’t have any form of insurance cover according to the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.

Cornerstone Q3 profit growth means impressive results IN SHORT Emirates Group halfyear revenue hits $12.9bn The Emirates Group says during the week that despite a challenging business environment, its halfyearly results show steady performance and growth as it recorded $12.9bn in revenue.

It says despite all odds marked by on-going health pandemic concerns, regional conflicts, and weakening global markets, its revenues for the first six months of its 2014-15 fiscal year was up 12 per cent from $ 11.5bn of the same period last year.

Net profit for the Group rose to $607m, an increase of 1 per cent over the last year’s results.

The Group’s cash position as of September 30, 2014, was at $4.4bn, compared with $5.2bn as of March 31, 2014. This is due to on-going investments mainly into new aircraft and other airline related infrastructure projects.

The Group continued to develop and expand its employee base, increasing its overall staff count by 5 per cent to over 79,000 compared with March 31, 2014.

As for Emirates Airlines itself, during the first six months of the fiscal year, it received 13 wide-body aircraft – 6 A380s, 7 Boeing 777s, with 11 more new aircraft scheduled to be delivered before the end of the financial year.

COMPANY

SECRETS

Michael J.Critelli, CEO of Pitney Bowes Inc

Managing director/CEO, Cornerstone Nigeria plc., Ganiyu Musa

Cornerstone Nigeria Insurance plc, a company that sells life and nonlife products in Nigeria, has recorded impressive growth in third quarter (Q3) profit, analysis of the financial statement shows.

For the first nine months through September 2014, the insurance giant recorded an 10.69 per cent increase in net premium income (NPI) to N3.83bn from N3.46bn the same period of the corresponding year (Q3) 2013.

Similarly, gross premium income (GDI) jumped by 6.23 per cent to N4.31bn compared with N4.05bn the preceding year, while gross premium written increased by 8.70 per cent to N4.82 bn.

Of the N4.31bn gross insurance premium income, Conerstone’s non-life segment contributed 71.69 per cent to the total figure; life contributed 26.84 per cent, while the balance went to its Halal Takaful business.

It should be noted that the company is among the few insurers making giant strides in the areas of retail distribution and Islamic insurance using its Takaful

41

window.

In order to deepen insurance penetration and literacy in Africa largest and most populous nation, Nigeria, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in 2013, introduced the Takaful insurance.

Analysts say Takaful insurance will contribute more to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) given the population of Muslims across the country.

This policy is expedient as the Insurance sector 0.6 per cent contribution to the Nigeria GDP is abysmal.

Today, the target market of Takaful in Nigeria is large and recent reports from the few existing window operations indicate the attainment of 70 per cent penetration.

Cornerstone is keeping shareholders on the edge as they will be awaiting dividends as profits spiked. The insurer’s profit after tax (PAT) surged by 98.05 per cent to N605.70 m compared with N305.82 m the preceding year.

Operating expenses were up slightly by 2 per cent to N1.48bn in Q3 2014, from N1.45bn the preceding year, while net underwriting expenses were up by 15.65 per cent to N656.87m.

Total assets increased by 3.67 per cent to N14.67bn in the review period as against N14.15bn last year, while total equity increased by 8.69 per cent to N7.50bn.

In order to increase its share of the market and give and magnify shareholders’ earnings, Cornerstone has received approval from its owners to acquire FIN Insurance Company Limited, one of Nigeria’s insurance firms and a subsidiary of FCMB. The deal would see the Nigerian insurer purchase as much as 3.3bn worth of shares of FIN Insurance Company.

Cornerstone’s share closed at N0.5 on the floor of the NSE, while market capitalisation was N4.41bn.

BoostiNG Sales Partnering with worthy causes helps you make new friends

Causes such as children’s hospitals, humane societies, housing programs, and cancer research each have a following.

This following generates a type of momentum advancing the cause. Adding some type of cause-related component to your marketing approach is good way to energise your ales. To benefit fully from your involvement, you must plan and act strategically.

A locally owned hardware store champions a Habitat for Humanity home build project.

Every aspect of this cause relationship is relevant to its business. It doesn’t get much better than this: 1. Customers are engaged when a clerk asks if they would like to donate $1 to help build a home. They write their name on a special house-shaped card and hang it on the wall.

2. Building supplies are provided to reduce the cost of the build and suppliers get involved by making price concessions.

3. Prospects learn of the opportunity to support the cause through mailings to promote the store.

4. Employees, customers, prospects, and suppliers are invited to participate as volunteers in the home build project.

5. The community hears about the store and the project through the media.

You can’t have too many friends.

Communication in the information age: the leadership factor When Michael J.Critelli, the chairman of the board and CEO of Pitney Bowes Inc., was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin in the late sixties, majoring in communications, he took a course called ‘The Rhetoric of Campaigns and Revolutions.’ As a model for changing people’s behaviour and perceptions over time, the professor focused on Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s four-year campaign to prepare the American public for World War II. That model would serve Critelli well

when he assumed the top job at Pitney Bowes in January 1997. A lawyer by training who joined Pitney Bowes in 1979, Critelli is spearheading the change that will prepare the venerable $3.9bn maker of mailing and office systems, software, and services to compete successfully in the 21st century.

Founded in 1920 by an English addressing-machine salesman named Walter Bowes and his partner, Arthur Pitney, who invented the postage metering machine, the Pitney Bowes

Company created the postage-meter industry. In the process, it emerged as one of corporate America’s most consistently successful firms. For the past fourteen years it has registered double-digit dividend increases and is the only office equipment company to be listed in all the editions of The 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and The 100 Best Stocks to Own in America. Today, it has more than thirty thousand employees, with products, people and services in over two million customer sites around the globe.

42 CEOConfidential

hub Compiled by Olujide Olusola

Sunday, December 7, 2014

3,756

Number of fraud cases recorded in the banking sector involving the sum of N21.79bn in the 2013 financial period according to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation.

L-R: Group managing director, Access Bank Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe, signing the memorandum of understanding, while the managing director/chief executive officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, watches, during the launch of Access Money with Airtel, held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. PHOTO: BENEDICT UWALAKA

L-R: Managing director, Seven Colours Digital Ltd, Shelley Chaudhary; head, HNI & High Value Acquisition Strategy, Airtel, Zainab Baruwa-Abiola; vice president, Data& Innovation, Airtel, Nitin Anand, and managing director, Intel, Olubunmi Ekundare, at the media launch of Airtel’s Catapult-a-Start-up Entrepreneurial Initiative held in Lagos recently. PHOTO: GBENGA OLAJOBI

Tony O. Elumelu, CON @TonyOElumelu “Entrepreneurs and those they inspire are the lifeblood of Africa’s rise”

Aaron Levie @levie If robots in the future work anything like automatic faucets and paper towel dispensers then no one has to worry about jobs being in danger.

Duncan Bannatyne @ DuncanBannatyne tweets Robert T. Kiyosaki Good morning, have a wonderful day, a @theRealKiyosaki wonderful month & a Slavery is now run by wonderful end to the year, the corporations, otherwise peace & love be with you all. known as a job.

fav

$2,000,000,000

Worth of goods imported from Nigeria in the last nine months of 2014 by the Republic of Korea.

L-R: Chairman, Stallion Group, Sunil Vaswani; president, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; PDP national chairman, Adamu Muazu; chairman, Visafone Mr Jim Ovia; vice president Namadi Sambo; president Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President, David Mark; former head of Interim Government, Ernest Shonekan; chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr Oba Otudeko; minister of trade and investment,Mr Olusegun Aganga and others during the President’s Dinner with Top 100 Businesses In Nigeria, held in Abuja recently. PHOTO: REMI AKUNLEYAN

L-R: Discussant, Chief Folake Sholanke SAN; keynote speaker, Mr George Etomi; chairman, Sterling Bank Plc; chairman of the occasion, Ogun state Attorney-General, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu and Chairman, Bicourteny Nigeria limited, Dr Wale Babalakin during a two day seminar to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the NBA Ibadan.

The Standard Club,Chicago From the day of its founding, The attracting a new generation of business Standard Club and its members have and community leaders who value the endeavoured to fulfil the promise relationships, inspiration and personal expressed in the Club’s name, as a satisfaction that this institution makes model, example or criterion. The vision possible. Entrepreneurs, agents of of the founders was to create a change, corporate decision-makers, membership of leaders who cultural advocates and business shared a common bond of visionaries gather at the Club to charitable, social and civic build a lifetime of relationships responsibility. Many of Chicago’s works and to experience a sense of businesses, industries, and belonging that exists nowhere academic and cultural institutions else. The Standard Club is a place exist today as the result of the where distinguished business people, influence and generosity of the founders, professionals, community leaders and as well as the members who have upheld their families gather to experience the best their example. Today, The Standard Club is the city has to offer.

net

CEOConfidential

Sunday, Decemeber 7, 2014

285

Number of engineers issued certificates by the federal government to help boost power generation, transmission and distribution across the country.

191%

Percentage increase in the usage of electronic payment through Point of Sale (PoS) terminals according Nigeria Interbank Settlement System in 2014.

Mark Goldberg

Saudade is a Portuguese word for a feeling that is not expressed in ay other language. The simplest translation is ‘a longing for something that was or might have been.’ And it’s the ‘might have been’ that distinguishes it from more nostalgia. Saudade carries the hope that what has gone may one day return, even as the hoper realises that this unlikely or impossible. You might feel saudede for a lost love, a distant place where you were once happy, a loved one who has died, even feelings and moods that you had in your youth but have grown out of. To listen to a singer in a Lisbon bar belting out the fado with her eyes fluttering half-closed is to get near to the feeling of saudade – and the heart of the Portuguese, both the home-grown lot and their New World cousins the Brazilians. which is not to say that they are forever mooning about in a wistful state, in Portugal there is a strong desire to matar as saudades (kill the saudades) and a popular Brazilian song, the first bossa nova, is ‘Chega de Saudade’ (‘No More Saudade’)

DoING Business Leadership and status with Malays

Paying the penalty continueS FROM LAST WEEK Goldberg was instrumental in the purchase of footballers Attilio Lombardo and Michael Padovano from the Italian football giant, Juventus. He also let it known to the incumbent chairman; Ron Noades that he would be prepared to buy the club if it was up for sale.

Noades the butcher spotted Goldberg the lamb.

What was to follow was pure slaughter.

Noades made Goldberg a ridiculous offer to sell him the club and its Selhurst Park stadium for 30 million pounds. For a club on the verge of relegation, it was an extortionate amount but Goldberg agreed. He went off to find potential investors, but returned to Noades saying he

Percentage rise in net income of Enamelware Nigeria plc for the 2014 financial year.

Saudade

L-R: Managing director, UBA Europe, Ebele Ogbue; Fiona Bruce of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and divisional head, marketing and corporate relations, UBA, Charles Aigbe, at the Annual Banker Awards in London where UBA won Bank of the Year in Africa and other countries awards for Senegal, Gabon, Cote D’Ivorie and Sierra Leone.

BLEW IT

16.46%

YOUR FYI FOR INFORMATION

L-R: Deputy creative director, SO&U, Tunde Bada, account manager, Donatus Okpako, president, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Kelechi Nwosu, director, client services, SO&U, Biodun Adefila and head of art, Deji Atunwa, at the Lagos Advertising and Ideas festival awards in Lagos, recently.

PHOTO: Gbenga Olajobi

HOW THEY

43

could only raise around 22.8milion pounds.

Noades then suggested that Goldberg could purchase just the club but not the stadium (Noades agreed to lease the stadium to Goldberg). Again, incredibly, Goldberg agreed to those terms. However, it soon came to light that Goldberg had only managed to raise 18m pounds – so Noades ended up loaning Goldberg the outstanding 5 million pounds. And actually, the potential investors had also got cold feet, leading Goldberg to sell most of his stakes in MSB and use his own money to buy the club.

Noades agreed to ley Goldberg pay him in instalments over five years. continues next week

People born in high positions are expected to demonstrate leadership capabilities. A good leader is religiously devout, sincere, humble and tactful.

Status is inherited, not earned, and is confirmed in a hierarchical structure in which they have a definite role. Malays are modest and rarely request promotion.

They expect it to be accorded by a caring senior when the time is ripe.

44 CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

entrepreneur 8,000

6

Number of farmers that have benefited from the federal government’s distribution of inputs for cassava farmers in Oyo State.

SMALL BUSINESS 10 ways small business owners can improve their financial literacy continues from last WEEK

There are several organisations willing and able to guide you, including Startup Canada, Communitech, and Futurpreneur.

Taking advantage of these resources will help you make smart decisions, get you on the right track and keep you there.

10. Determine your worth.

How do you price your products or services and how much does an hour of your time cost?

These questions confuse most entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, many business owners guess incorrectly and assign arbitrary numbers. In fact, one in four small business owners (27 per cent) believe they may be undercharging based on the high level of value they provide and are therefore impacting their overall profitability and chances for longterm success.

Worth isn’t just about price or what to charge – it’s about the true value of your business, which involves a combination of factors: your products, services, competitive landscape, and the value your business brings to customers. By educating yourself on your financials, and working with the correct tools and credible professionals, you’ll be on your way to a lifetime of success – without leaving anything to chance.

Age by which Thomas Edison’s experiments with fire were said to have cost his father a barn.

Gabriel Ayino Lending his voice in the real estate industry The Answers Concept Ltd, a real estate management firm, was born out of the sheer determination of the CEO, Gabriel Ayino, to cause a change in the industry. Setting his eye on the ultimate price – success – he channelled all his efforts toward understanding the rudiments of the industry to bring about the desired result.

He shares his sojourn to success: “We are here today by God’s grace, dedication to service, understanding the fundamentals of pleasing our various customers and hard work.

“Looking back at where we were before and the heights we’ve attained over the years, I would have to stress that hard work is very important to the success of any business. It really pays to be diligent.”

Finance, trust and acceptance were some of the challenges the company confronted in its infancy phase. Nonetheless, they turned out to become a chart that has helped in directing the company towards its destination. According to the CEO: “Anyone who has ventured into one business or the other in this country would understand that capital, especially the start-up capital is vital in actualising any money-making establishment.

“Also, fraudsters are on the prowl these days. So earning the trust of any client entails a lot of hard work. So as time went on, we began to earn their trust by being straight-forward in our deals.”

Ayino revealed that he has learnt a lot from his mistakes. One of the lessons he learnt was that ‘failure is a path to success.’

Projecting into the future, Ayino said: “Our projections are bigger each year. One of it is to create other streams of income through real estate transactions.”

The Information Technology graduate from the Olabisi Onabanjo University explains that he will

employ every means within his disposal to bring the set goals into reality. “By placing adverts, partnering with investors and exploring the many opportunities that abound in the internet, the sky is a starting point for us,” he stressed.

Ayino has the following advice for young and aspiring entrepreneur: “Anyone who desires to become an entrepreneur should expect and accept challenges as part of life; this because it will help usher them to the top of their chosen career. Be diligent enough to see opportunities around you.

Above all, trust God the giver of good success.”

Contact Ayino on 08033664454

By Daniel Udechukwu

Concluded

HIS STORY

Tonye Rex Idaminabo, Founder of African Achievers Awards As every right thinking Nigerian, he wanted a shift from what is obtained in the country as well as Africa. With the negative perception consistently hanging on Africa, Idaminabo wanted that to change.it was always his strong belief that people accomplish more when they are properly motivated. And he was motivated.

When people get recognized and rewarded for playing their role in

our continent’s renaissance, they will be inspired to do more and in turn, inspire others to play their own roles.

Upon leaving the shores of Africa, he thought of a platform that could unite Africa icons and bring them to develop Africa, hence the setting up of the African Achievers Awards.

As expected, he had challenges with funding the Awards and this made him to think outside the box

and led him to set up Achievers Media Company which is an event company.

According to him, African Achievers Awards has set its sights on empowering the young and creating a better platform for them, as they are the future with the dream that in 5 years from now, he would have taken the event across more African countries and to collaborate with The African Union.

46 CEOConfidential

tipoffs Compiled by Olujide Olusola

SECRETS OF LONGETIVITY

Sunday, December 7, 2014

25%

Percentage contribution of aviation agencies to the federal government according to the minister of aviation, Osita Chidoka.

Percentage of the land in the United States is devoted to raising livestock.

9 things very successful people never do

How to Undo an Ice Cream Sundae

The 300 calories you take in when you eat an ice cream sundae can be worked off by spending one continuous hour engaging in activities that are part of your daily life: mowing the lawn with a hand mower, gardening, sweeping, and ballroom dancing.

So next time you decide to have that ice cream sundae or indulge in a couple of chocolate cookies, have some household chores lined up or go dancing afterwards. Personally, I’d skip the dessert instead.

BOOKMARK

Leading Change Kotter, John P.

Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation, 2012

How have the issues facing managers and leaders today changed in the last decades? John P. Kotter argues that they have not. In Leading Change, Kotter shows how despite decades of study and learning, many of the fundamental ideas behind leading successful change are still poorly understood. Because the pace of change has significantly increased the consequences of poor leadership can be worse than in the past. The traditional focus on management must now be shifted to leadership in order to build organizations with many leaders who can operate quickly and nimbly and inspire others to do so too. The eight-stage change solution will guide businesses through the sometimes messy process of implementing transformational change in an organisation while offering strategies for building solid twenty-first century organisations.

42%

1. They never let the past dictate their future We all have limitations. We all have challenges. We all make mistakes. The key is to not be constrained by those things but to learn from them.

Easier said than done? It all depends on your perspective. Take mistakes: When something goes wrong, turn it into an opportunity to learn something you didn’t know — especially about yourself.

Remarkably successful people believe their past should inform them but should never define them.

2. They never gossip It’s hard to resist the inside scoop.

When remarkably successful people want to share the inside scoop, they just speak openly about their own thoughts and feelings. That way they’re not gossiping. They’re just being genuine.

3. They never say “yes” when they really mean “no” Refusing a request from colleagues, customers, or even friends is really hard. But rarely does saying no go over as badly as you expect. Most people will understand, and if they don’t, should you care too much about what they think?

Remarkably successful people practice

saying no. They’ve gotten really good at saying no. They know that lets them focus on doing what they really need to do: for themselves and for other people.

4. They never interrupt When you interrupt someone, what you’re really saying is, “I’m not thinking about what you are saying.

I’m thinking about what I want to say ... and what I want to say is so important you need to hear it now.”

Remarkably successful people already know what they think — they want to learn from what everyone else thinks.

5. They’re never late (without an incredibly good reason) You’re overwhelmed. So you’re always running behind. It stresses you out like crazy.

Remarkably, successful people start the day a little earlier. They arrive early to their first scheduled event.

They don’t worry that they’ll waste time — they plan ahead and bring along whatever they need to use any “early” time to get a few simple things done.

Then they feel a lot less stressed and as a result are more insightful, more creative, more decisive, and simply more “on” in everything they do.

6. They never resent

Take it from Nelson Mandela: “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

The same holds for bitterness. And jealousy. And dislike.

When you hold on to ill will, the only person who loses is you.

Remarkably successful people put all that emotional energy into focusing not on what others have done but on what they themselves will do.

7. They never decide they don’t have the time Everyone knows someone who just seems to get a lot more done than other people. It’s the craziest thing.

Figure out what’s important to you.

Strip away all the stuff that isn’t. Then make it happen.

We’re all given the same amount of time. The only difference is how we use our time.

Remarkably successful people use their time.

8. They never fit in (just to fit in) Though entire industries are based on making us think otherwise, no one actually likes us for the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or the house we live in. No one likes us for our titles, either.

Remarkably successful people have decided to simply be who they are. By not trying to fit in or make an artificial impression they know they might lose a bunch of acquaintances, but they know they’ll also gain a few real friends.

9. They’re never afraid to do the things that matter “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” is true, but in some ways a better quote might be, “The only thing we have to fear is ourselves.”

And that makes us hesitate, wait for the right moment, decide we need to think a little longer or do some more research or explore a few more alternatives, and days, weeks, months, and even years pass us by.

CAPITALISM We are smart enough to leave things to the market What they tell you We should leave markets alone, because, essentially, market participants know what they are doing – that is, they are rational.

Since individuals (and firms as collections of individuals who share the same interests) have their own best interests in mind and since they know their own circumstances best, attempts by outsiders, especially the government, to restrict the freedom of their actions can only produce inferior results. It is presumptuous

of any government to prevent markets agents from doing things they find profitable or to force them to do things they do want to do, when it possesses inferior information.

What they don’t tell you People do not necessarily know what they are doing, because our ability to comprehend even matters that concern us directly is limited – or, in the jargon, we have ‘bounded rationality’. The world is very complex and our ability

to deal with it is severely limited.

Therefore, we need to, and usually do, deliberately restrict our freedom of choice in order to reduce the complexity of problems we have to face. Often, government regulation works, especially in complex areas like the modern financial market, not because the government has superior knowledge but because it restricts choices and thus the complexity of the problems at hand, thereby reducing the possibility that things may go wrong.

CEOConfidential

Sunday, December 7, 2014

updates Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

Percentage drop in 2014 full-year earnings the world’s largest primary producer of platinum, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), said last it’s expecting because of the five-month strike that hit its South African operation.

economy

Africa’s infrastructure proving attractive for local, global investors

Africa’s infrastructure deficit unveils an array of opportunities for investments, and these opportunities are being snapped up both by local and global investors. By 2025, the amount of money spent on infrastructure in Africa is projected to reach $180bn per annum, according to a new report by PwC. “The shallow economic recovery in most developed markets has shifted the focus to faster-growing regions. This is also true for the infrastructure development sector,” said Jonathan Cawood, Capital Projects & Infrastructure Leader for PwC Africa.

Cawood noted that the continent’s abundance of natural resources and recent mineral, oil and gas discoveries, demographic and political shifts, as well as a more investor-friendly environment has beamed investor spotlight on Africa.

In the survey for the report titled ‘Capital Projects & infrastructure in East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa,‘ more than half of respondents indicated that their planned spending on infrastructure – both new projects and refurbishment of assets – would increase by more than 25 per cent from the previous year. They said much of their spending would be focused on new development – 51 per cent of all respondents planning to spend more than half of their budgets on new assets.

Mind Over Matter

20%

Break the code to discover the missing letter. Hint: A-Z = 1-26

$32m Amount the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is set to invest in fibre optic backbone network project to improve connectivity within the country.

$6bn

47

70%

Percentage of primary and secondary schools in the UK that now use tablet computers, according to research.

FastJet to grow Tanzanian presence by offering ownership to local investors

Low-priced African carrier, FastJet, plans to increase the stake held in its Tanzanian operation by local investors, as it seeks to reinforce its low cost model in Africa.

The airline has appointed a nominated adviser, Enterprise Growth Market Advisors Ltd for the purpose of the deal. The transaction will be done by placing new shares to local investors to take the proportion of shares they hold in Fastjet Tanzania to a majority 51 percent.

“We are delighted to have found a suitable structure which allows for Tanzanian participation in FastJet Tanzania, whilst providing the opportunity to raise capital from local Tanzanian investors,” said Ed Winter, interim chairman and CEO of FastJet Plc.

mining

South Africa’s Harmony Gold to cut jobs

Harmony Gold, South Africa’s third-largest gold producer and the world’s third largest gold mining company, last Tuesday said it will cut jobs at its Kusasalethu mine, following an intensive performance review of recorded losses since late 2012.

Worth of money US Having suffered various setbacks; strikes, union rivalry, President Barack Obama technical glitches and a shut-down needed to remove illegal has renew call for miners, Kusasalethu has not returned to profitability. Graham Congress to approve Briggs, Harmony chief executive officer, said the company has in emergency aid to begun a 60-day consultation with unions at the mine, which fight the deadly Ebola employs about 6,300 people including contractors.

outbreak

economy Australia reports weaker-thanexpected economic growth for the July-to-September quarter, largely due to a drop off in mining investment.

The International Monetary Fund said last Monday it will resume suspended aid to Mali after the West African country agreed to a tighter scrutiny of its spending.

Russia warns of recession in 2015

The Russian government has warned the economy will fall into recession next year as Western sanctions, in response to its role in eastern Ukraine, and falling oil prices begin to bite.

Russia’s economic development ministry estimates the economy will contract by 0.8% next year.

It had previously estimated the the economy would grow by 1.2% in 2015.

Russia’s reliance on tax revenues from the oil industry makes it particularly sensitive to price movements.

TelecommunicaTions

Nissan profits boosted by US sales

Japanese carmaker Nissan has reported a 25% increase in half-year profits as strong sales in North America helped to offset weaker demand elsewhere.

For the six months to September, Nissan reported net income of 237bn Japanese yen ($2.08bn; £1.3bn).

It said it had seen “strong demand” for its new products, with rising sales in its key market of North America.

Carmakers in Japan have also been helped by a weakening yen, which gives them an edge in export markets.

HUB-WORDS How many words can you make from the letters in the wheel? Each word must contain the hub letter G. Can you find a 9-letter word and at least 25 other words of four letters or more avoiding proper nouns?

LaSt Week’S SOLUtiOnS Mind Over Matter

The letters A-Z are valued 1-26. In each set, the difference between the sum of the two values on the right, minus the sum of the two values on the left, equals the middle value, so the mystery letter is S (19).

HUB-WORDS 9-letter word - AFTERNOON Some other words of four letters or more containing the hub letter N: aeon, anon, ante, earn, fern, font, near, neat, neon, none, noon, note, oner, onto, rant, rent, roan, tarn, tern, tone, torn, atone, front, oaten, tenon, tenor, toner, tonne,ornate, tanner.

48 CEOConfidential

updates Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

Sunday, December 7, 2014

13%

Percentage by which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increased the monetary policy rate .

economy

Falling oil prices: FG to commence comprehensive import substitution

The federal government is set to commence comprehensive implementation of import substitution programme to enhance local production of goods and services.

This is following the plummeting oil prices that have dwindled the country’s oil revenue.

This was disclosed by President Goodluck Jonathan while speaking at the Top 100 Businesses Award Dinner held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, recently.

In an obviously bold move to save the nation’s economy, the president said the policy will finally make Nigeria self-sufficient.

Import substitution industrialisation (ISI) is a trade and economic policy that advocates replacing foreign imports with domestic production. It is based on the premise that a country should attempt to reduce its foreign dependency through the local production of industrialised products.

Jonathan further disclosed that he has directed the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to work with other relevant ministries and agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to execute a comprehensive investment and trade agenda that will increase the production of goods and services that have so far been imported into the country. motoring

Innoson unveils first ‘made-in-Nigeria’ cars

When Nigeria, on October 3, 2013, announced the introduction of a new automotive policy aimed at discouraging the importation of wholly assembled automobile and encourage local manufacturing, it seemed like a tall dream, but building on recent local assembly

N450bn Worth of mobile money transactions in the country on a monthly basis, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

40%

Percentage of gas flared in Nigeria that is enough to provide the country’s total electricity requirement based on the current needs assessment, according to the minister of environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam.

successes by Hyundai and Nissan was indigenous company Innoson’s unveiling of its new brand of cars last week.

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited founded by Nigerian industrialist, Chief Innocent Chukwuma unveiled its new cars – IVM Umu, IVM Umu and IVM Uzo manufactured at the company’s Nnewi plant in Anambra State, South east Nigeria.

70 percent of the parts used in manufacturing the cars were locally sourced, heralding the emergence of a local car manufacturing industry that will in the nearest future serve the region.

manufacturing

SON worries over high volume of imported substandard products

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has expressed worry over the high volume of imported substandard products in the Nigerian market, saying that over 95 per cent of these products come through the seaports, airports and land borders.

Alarmingly, the increased volume of these imported substandard products has resulted to the closure of local companies that are into manufacturing of such products due Worth of goods the to the inability of locally-manufactured goods to compete with Republic of Korea says the low prices that usually go with imported low quality. imported from Nigeria in the last nine months of this year.

Investing

$2bn

Nigerian Mansard Insurance sees change in ownership

The Lagos State government has taken delivery of 32 American fire-fighting vehicles which were procured with a loan from the ImportExport Bank (Ex-Im Bank) of the United States.

As part of it efforts to improve the state of power supply in the country through private partnership, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed agreements to provide $80m of debt financing to Azura Power West Africa Limited, a 450 MW gas-fired independent power project in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

French insurer AXA Group has completed the acquisition of Assur Africa Holding, a company that holds a 77 per cent stake in Nigeria’s fourth largest insurer, Mansard Insurance. The acquisition automatically grants AXA access into Africa’s largest economy and one of the continent’s biggest insurance markets.

Nigeria’s insurance market is the third largest in Africa with Gross Written Premium (GWP) of N313bn ($1.76bn) as at 2013. It is made up of 75 per cent Property and Casualty insurance, and 25 per cent Life premiums.

Manufacturing

Manufacturers to cut jobs, raise prices on back of austerity measures

Manufacturers may respond to austerity measures and devaluation that have hit the Nigerian economy by cutting jobs and raising prices in order to remain afloat.

Continuous decline in oil prices has forced Nigeria’s federal government to introduce austerity measures to cushion possible impact on citizens.

Similarly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced devaluation to save naira, dwindling foreign reserves and the economy in general.

But analysts say the current economic vagaries will have multiplier effects on Nigerian manufacturers who now have to battle high cost of raw materials, funds and other inputs, and will likely respond by seeking ways of cutting costs, which could result in cut jobs, placement of ceiling on employment and higher cost of products.

EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Show

exhibition

Summit

Lagos Fashion Lagos, Nigeria ; February 10-12, 2015

Against All Odds Art Exhibition Surulere,Lagos; December 06-07, 2014

Ports and Harbours West Africa Accra, Ghana; January 26-28, 2015

Nigeria, with the highest population and fast growing and dynamic economy in Africa is one of the future stars in the world which today attracts exporters and investors from all over the world. There is a huge demand for the fashion and ready-to-wear garment industries in the country which is unreluctant to trade all kind of products.

Lagos Fashion 2015 is the best way for the exporters to meet their potential customers face to face and expand their sales channels across Africa where all kind of fashion sector products will be exhibited to an audience of successful and aspirant entrepreneurs.

Blackhouse Media and Mydrim Gallery present Against All Odds, an art exhibition by Zinno Orara, in dedication to his wife, Adaora-Zinno Orara, who is battling breast cancer against all odds. The artist’s wife of 20 years was diagnosed with cancer in 2010.

With over 12 solo exhibitions and 25 group exhibitions in Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Spain, United States and Canada, Zinno Orara’s paintings are present in art galleries all over the world; as well as with some of the world’s most dedicated collectors.

Formally supported by the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority, the Ports and Harbours West Africa summit will focus on operational and construction challenges affecting port expansion, development and efficiency for West African Ports.

Specifically, this summit will examine terminal handling efficiencies and other issues confronting the sector.

49

Sunday, December 7, 2014

business

Bags of Cement

The Politics Of Cement Pricing In Nigeria In this piece, Friday Atufe, writes about the politics surrounding the recent cut in cement prices and the need for stakeholders to work towards the overall reduction of building costs and not cement price alone

Following the merger of Benue Cement Company Plc and Obajana Cement Company to become Dangote Cement, the group now controls 60 per cent of the market share while the others share 40 per cent among themselves

Nigeria’s cement industry can be traced to 1960 when Lafarge WAPCO was established as a result of the country’s vision to gain economic freedom alongside its national independence.

Lafarge WAPCO, formerly West African Cement Plc (WAPCO), was established at a time when the country was solely dependent on cement importation in the ’50s from England into the country.

In a bid to ensure rapid infrastructural development of the young state, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) was established by Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto. It was incorporated in 1962 and began production in 1967 with an initial installed capacity of 100,000 tonnes per annum, using the wet process of production. The need to meet the increasing demand for cement necessitated the expansion of the plant with the commissioning of a second line with an installed capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum in 1985 by, the then Head of state, Major General Muhamma-

du Buhari. In 1992, federal government, in its privatisation and commercialisation programme, divested about 20 per cent of its holding in the company and sold it to the Nigerian public. In July, CCNN was penciled down by Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) for full privatisation with Scancem International of Norway, a member of Heidelberg Cement group appointed as core investor and technical partner of the Company.

Ashaka Cement Plc followed suit with its incorporation in August 1974 and commenced production in 1979 as a cement manufacturing and marketing company under the name Ashaka Cement Company Limited.

The company was initiated by the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank Limited in collaboration with Blue Circle Industries Plc UK (now LAFARGE SA), the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry, Northern Nigeria Investment Limited and the Government of the then North- Eastern State (now Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe

States).

Ashaka Cement Plc became a subsidiary of Lafarge Group in 2001, after the acquisition of Blue Circle Industries Plc and since that time Lafarge has continued to support Ashaka’s operations to improve performance resulting in better returns to all its stakeholders.

The cement industry was relatively “peaceful” with each company controlling its region until Dangote Group of Industries made incursion into it in 1992 with the incorporation of Obajana Cement. The development pushed up production volume from 2.5 million tonnes in 2004 to 10.5 million tonnes in 2010, due to the commencement of production by Obajana Cement and Unicem in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

Over time, following the merger of Benue Cement Company Plc and Obajana Cement Company to become Dangote Cement, the group now controls 60 per cent of the market share while the others share 40 per cent among themselves.

Dangote Cement Plc presently comprises of Obajana Cement plant, Ibese Cement plant, Benue Cement plant, Lagos Cement Terminal and Dangote Onne terminal. Further to plans for an African expansion, Dangote Industries Limited is currently es-

tablishing cement plants and terminals across Africa. Some of the countries include Liberia, Angola, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Republic of Benin, D.R. Congo, Congo Brazaville, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia.

The backward integration policy In a bid to further bridge the gap between supply and demand of cement in the country, President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002 launched the backward integration policy on cement production in Nigeria.

According to the executive director, Projects and Technical of BUA Group, Yusuf Binji, the backward integration policy by the government was a very good policy. About 10 years ago, Nigeria was producing about two to three million metric tonnes of cement, but currently the installed capacity in Nigeria is about 30 million metric tonnes per annum. BUA Group is a leading conglomerate in Nigeria with investments in sugar refinery, flour manufacturing, pasta production and cement production. Some of its subsidiaries in the cement industry include CCNN, Edo Cement and OBU Cement plant.

Owing to its controlling interest in the industry, any action

by Dangote has significant im➔ CONTINUEd ON PAGE

50

50 BUSINESS

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Politics Of Cement Pricing In Nigeria ➔ Continued from PAGE 49

pact on the industry and its op­ erators. First was the war of dif­ ferent grades of cement in the industry, a development which among others made some oper­ ators to reclassify their assets in the country as well as in the Af­ rican continent. Only recently Dangote stirred the hornets’ nest by unilaterally introducing a new price regime for both 32.5 as well as the 42.5 grades of cement.

While we laud the recent price cut by Dangote Cement, we hold the view that in future such decision should be taken by an industry wide group -the Cement Manufacturers Association

The new pricing regime In a move designed to raise the stakes in the Nigerian ce­ ment market, Dangote Cement Plc, recently announced about 40 per cent cut in the price of the essential product. According to the group managing director of Dangote Cement, Mr Devakumar Edwin, the company has pegged the Dangote 32.5 cement grade at N1,000 per 50kg bag, while the higher 42.5 grade is to sell for N1,150 per bag.

The new prices which were ex­ clusive of the Value Added Tax (VAT) represent about 40 per cent discount on the prevail­ ing market price of the prod­ ucts which is currently sold for N1,700 irrespective of the grade, across the country.

Edwin said the move is in line with the company’s commitment to the nation’s dire need for the development of infrastructure and to boost the federal and state governments’ ongoing effort to reduce the near 20 million hous­ ing deficit in Africa’s largest econ­ omy.

“We recognise the need for a dramatic increase in the response to the huge infrastructure and housing deficit in the country, and one of the ways of addressing the issue is bringing the price of building materials down to much more affordable levels especially cement which is within our own control. This is part of our own contribution to the transforma­ tion agenda of the Goodluck Jon­ athan administration and the at­ tainment of key milestones in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” he said.

The GMD/CEO also noted that Dangote Cement Plc would con­ tinue to ensure alignment of its corporate social responsibility with its strategic business ini­ tiatives and also would continue to evaluate its pricing regime in Nigeria’s best interest.

Stakeholders reactions Federal Govern­ ment and stake­holders in the ce­ment sec­ tor have hailed the Dangote Ce­ ment Plc over huge invest­ment in cement as well as the recent slash in the price of the commodity, de­ scribing it as unprec­edented.

The commendation came just as the management of Dangote denied that the price cut was mo­ tivated by monopo­listic tenden­

cies.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Agan­ ga, who led others at a stakehold­ ers’ meeting in Abu­ja, said the decision of Dangote Cement Plc to bring down price of cement was a patriotic one in line with the aspiration of Nigerians and the Federal Government.

According to him, the Fed­eral Government had attracted new private sector investment in ce­ ment sector to the tune of $7 bil­ lion within three years and that government was hap­ py with that.

To buttress his claim, the min­ ister said: “In 2011, the in­stalled capacity in the cement sector was 16.5 million met­ric tonnes per annum, today it is 39.5mmt per annum. We came in, there were about $9 billion investment in the cement sec­tor, but today it is more than $15billion. In 2011, the direct and indirect jobs from the ce­ment sector were less than 6,000, today the sector pro­vides about 2.2 million direct and in­ direct jobs.”

Chairman of the Trust­ ed Shareholders Association, Mukhtar Mukhtar, said the ce­ ment price slash was a posi­tive development for the Ni­gerian economy, adding that it would create jobs, encourage the poor, middle class to build houses and bring down house rent on the long run.

“I want to on behalf of share­ holders commend Aliko Dangote for yet another feat,” he said.

Coordinator of the NGO Net­ work, Mr Muhammad At­tah, said the Dangote Cement deserved commendation, add­ing that the company had in­vested more than any other in the cement sector in the history of the country.

BUA Group commends Dangote over cement price slash Also, in a swift response, chair­ man of BUA Group, Alhaji Ab­ dulsamad Rabiu, has thrown his weight and support behind the Dangote Cement reduction on the cost of unit bag of cement to N1,000.

According to Rabiu, he has al­ ways been concerned about the high cost of cement in the coun­ try and has always advocated for reduction of the cost to en­ able Nigerians have access to the product and realise their dreams of owning their own houses.

He said, “It is against this back­ ground that I commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote for this patriotic initiative which is long overdue”.

He further revealed that he held extensive discussion with Aliko Dangote on this issue in a telephone conversation last weekend and encouraged him on the initiative.

Lafarge Africa Plc Guillaume Roux who also spoke on the new cement pricing in Nigeria, remarked that, “ We

don’t see ourselves as just sellers of cement but providers of solu­ tions to contractors and deal­ ers on a lower scale on the ba­ sis of consistency and reliability,” adding, “we believe what is im­ portant is to develop more and more solutions for construction so that at the end of the day the cost of construction is reduced for our customers.”

As part of the Lafarge group global strategy to develop lo­ cal construction and develop laboratories in each region of its operation, Roux said one of such laboratories would be es­ tablished in Nigeria in 2015.

Already the group had set up five such facilities close to lo­ cal markets in L’Isle d’Abeau in 1990 and in 2012,Chongqing in 2011, Mumbai in 2012, Al­ giers in 2013 and Rio de Janei­ ro in 2014.

The group vice president also said Lafarge hoped to double its production capacity in Nigeria from its current 8 million metric tonnes of cement in the next five years through new investment in Unicem and Ashaka Cement plants, adding that new expan­ sion in both plants is expected to increase production capacity by 5.5 million metric tonnes be­ tween 2016 and 2017.

Leadership investigation LEADERSHIP Sunday find­ ings showed that consumers are not likely to enjoy the bene­ fits of the price cut. It was learnt from a cross section of cement dealers in Lagos that Dangote Cement’s 32.5 grade have yet to hit the market.

According to a dealer in IjuIshaga area of Agege in Lagos State, Dangote Cement is pro­ ducing the 32.5 grade at Oba­ jana in Kogi State while we buy from its cement plant at Ibese which has yet to commence the production of the 32.5 grade of the cement while other dealers said they don’t get it to buy at the price that was announced in the media.

However, the price of the Dan­ gote Cement brand of 42.5 grade is now selling at N1,500 with some dealers saying they were prepared to offer it at N1,450 to any consumer purchasing about 50 bags and above.

The dealers said Lafarge Wap­ co was yet to reduce its price, which was selling at N1,700 at the time of writing this report.

Conclusion While we laud the recent price cut by Dangote Cement, we hold the view that in future such de­ cision should be taken by an in­ dustry wide group -the Cement Manufacturers Association, in a bid to make it all embracing and to have more bite.

Also, the idea of one player dictating price of products in an industry will not augur well for the sustainable growth of the

Jonathan

Okonjo-Iweala

Aganga

Nigerian economy for two rea­ sons: One it is against anti-trust law and also could act as disin­ centive to intending investors coming into the economy.

The cost of cement constitute just about five per cent of the total cost of any construction, therefore effort should be made to find ways of reducing the cost of other building materials in a bid to make such ventures more affordable for the average Nige­ rian.

From the foregoing, the fed­ eral government should create enabling environment for in­ dustries to thrive on a sustain­ able basis.

business

51

Sunday, December 7, 2014

news Falling Oil Prices: Fashola

Asks FG To Cut Pump Price

By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos

Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, yesterday, queried the federal government reluctance to cut the pump price of oil from N97 per litre in the countryin order to correspond with the drop in the global price. Fashola made the statement while addressing hundreds of youths at the Lagos State After School Graduation Development Centre, AGDC, IGNITE Employability Project 5, Ikeja. He lamented that Nigerians were not receiving fair treatment from the government like citizens in other oil producing nations.

The Organisation of Petroleum exporting Countries, (OPEC) had on Friday, on its website, put the oil price at $66.27 per barrel.

According to him, “Now, we

should be enjoying cheap fuel if the price of oil has dropped globally. And even as we import the product, a major component has reduced in price. While this has reduced, the pump price of fuel in the country still remains the same. Something is wrong.

“If the price increases in the country when the price of oil goes up globally, then it should also reduce when the price of oil drops.

“I understand that I am not an economist; they (federal government) are the economist.

But I have some logic and common sense to ask critical questions. For instance, if one buys flour at N10 per kilogram, and the bread is sold at N1 per loaf, if the price of flour drops, the price of the bread should also change”, he added.

Fashola said President Goodluck Jonathan-led administra-

tion should follow the footstep of other countries that have reduce the pump prices of oil products for their citizens.

The governor however noted that the oil sector of the country had not been improved to address challenges confronting the nation especially unemployment, saying “The economy is not doing well. Some of you are compelled to try to survive through whatever means.” Explaining how the oil sector would have addressed the unemployment challenges, He said “If we are trying to build refinery with Dangote in LFZ, Epe; and the construction alone would require 8, 000 workers.

It means that they must get to work and back. So there is need for transportation service. There is need for food. And other services during work. And post construction.

Project director, Cassava Adding Value for Africa II, Prof Kola Adebayo (2nd right), receiving Times Higher Education award for international collaboration of the year flanked by Prof Andrew Westby of Natural Resources Institute (2nd left); Jack Dee (left), a popular UK television-air personality and his colleague (right) who hosted the award held at Grosvenor Hotel, London. PHOTO BY JANE OKEKE

NLI Inducts 17 Leadership Fellows

By Bukola Idowu, Lagos

Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) has inducted 17 fellows amongst who is the founder and chief executive of Chocolate City Group, Audu Maikori.

Speaking at a seminar with the theme: “High-Impact Leadership for a Better Society”, chief executive of NLI, Yinka Oyinlola, stated that leadership is about self awareness, agility and maturity as it is about critical thinking, foresightedness, communication and other soft skills”.

He affirmed that the fellows are already leaders for whom figuring out solution is needless as they will undoubtedly be dealing with different set of challenges that will require futuristic concepts for the challenges of the next decade. With the successful delivery of this maiden fellows seminar, NLI has made a valuable contribution to the development of high impact and value based leaders for Nigeria.

Also among the new NLI inducted fellows are Cyril Azobu, Partner/ Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC); Hadiza Bala Usman, di-

rector Strategy at Good Governance Group; Hakeem Shagaya, founder of KeemmlaStandard Alliance; Hauwa Magoro, senior adviser and technical lead at Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria; Ibrahim Yahaya Dikko, CEO, Open Spaces Nigeria Limited; Juliet Anammah, managing director at Accenture; Kehinde Ojuawo, partner at Law Office of Banwo and Ighodalo; Lamé Verre, petroleum Economics manager at Baker Hughes Incorporated.

Others are Mary Ikoku, head of communication at the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P); Michael Nzewi, founding partner at CardinalStone Partners Limited; Mohammed Garuba; founding partner at CardinalStone Partners Limited; Olaniyi Tayo, director of the Technology Group at Accenture; Reginald Udom, partner at Aluko & Oyebode Law Firm; Safiya Musa, chief representative officer, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Abu Dhabi; Taiwo Oyedele, partner/head of Tax and Regulatory Services at PwC; Yewande Adewusi, head, Mobile Financial Services Unit at Airtel Networks, Nigeria.

Etisalat Empowers 200 Women In Jigawa, Kano States

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

No fewer than 200 women in the North-western states of Jigawa and Kano have benefited from the support of Etisalat Nigeria through its community support partnership programme which was launched recently in the two states.

The programme held in Kano between 25 and 27th November with a graduation and certificate presentation ceremony, witnessed a large turnout of more than 100 women who were trained in various vocational skills including interior decoration, perfume making, shoe crafting and bead making to mention a few.

Speaking at the ceremony in Kano, director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Etisalat, Ibrahim Dikko, explained that the initiative was launched as one of the avenues to empower women in the rural areas. “This is a new initiative of the company aimed at reaching women in the grassroots

at the point of their needs, setting them up in various businesses they require to become self-sufficient. We are poised to making impact in the society and this is one of the steps we have taken to ensure that we touch lives positively”, he said.

Also speaking at the graduation ceremony, Kano State commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Binta Jubril, noted that the state government was exceptionally pleased with the level of commitment Etisalat had shown towards uplifting the lives of women. Hajia Jubril added that: “Although Kano State government had done a lot to support its people economically, such support as this from Etisalat is one of a kind and highly appreciated”.

One of the participants at the training, 34 year old Safina Aminu, noted that she would never remain the same after the training. “Life cannot be the same again. Our eyes are now open to many businesses we can start doing even from inside our houses.

4,000 Nigerians Benefit From Affordable Housing Project – Lafarge

By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Lafarge Nigeria Plc has said 4, 000 Nigerians have so far benefited from its affordable housing scheme project.

The scheme tagged: “Ile Irorun” was initiated by Lafarge Nigeria in response to the challenges of urbanization in the

most populous country in Africa, with a housing gap estimated at about 16 million units.

Speaking to journalists at the “Totally Concrete West Africa” held in Lagos, the general manager, Industrial Performance, Lafarge Nigeria, Mr Lanre Opakunle, said that 4,000 Nigerians have benefited from

the scheme, saying that this is a major step towards the realization of Lafarge’s ambition to help build better cities in Nigeria.

He stated further: “Lafarge’s commitment to building better cities is unwavering, hence we initiated this project to help provide access to affordable

housing for Nigerians”.

According to Opakunle, with the development of the real estate, the mortgage system is beginning to come up that is the way we can have a good growth in cement consumption. In Nigeria, 70 per cent of cement consumption is for individual homes builders with

17 million housing deficiency.

He added that the company has been working with LAPO Microfinance Bank, saying “We provided the professional expertise and LAPO provides the finance as this would bring a sustainable solutions to the needs of local population in terms of housing”.

52

Sunday, December 7, 2014

zonal watch

NIGER STATE KWARA STATE KOGI STATE BENUE STATE NASARAWA STATE PLATEAU STATE FCT ABUJA Saraki Condemns Kano Bombing, Visits victims Women Can Be Elected Governors – Cleric

BY ABdullAhi Olesin, Ilorin

The gubernatorial ambition of Senator Gbemisola Saraki got a major boost at the weekend as a top Muslim cleric based in Ilorin declared that a woman can be elected as a state governor.

Against popular held-opinion among Muslim faithful in Kwara State, the chief Imam of Al-Adabiyya Kamaliyya Central Mosque, Foma, Ilorin, Alhaji Shuaib AbdulRafiu,said that women can aspire and occupy political positions to effect good governance.

He said Islam, as a religion, does not discriminate against women in political appointments.

Delivering his final sermon in a three-part lecture on Islamic views

HeADS FROM THe ZONe

Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang Plateau state government is to embark on reconstruction and upgrading of some Jos township roads at a cost of N4.7 Billion.

Prof. Shuaib AbdulRaheem The former vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin and PDP gubernatorial aspirant has explained that he resigned his appointment as chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) because of his avowed commitment to the service of his people at home.

on Muslim women eligibility for political offices, AbdulRafiu said Islam does not oppose it.

He explained that it is only in a caliphate society where a Muslim religious leader in the form of a Khalifa is the head that a woman could not aspire or occupy political position, adding that women could hold governorship, presidential or other political positions in any secular society like Nigeria.

The cleric, who said he had earlier in life argued that Muslim women could not hold political positions, added further that religious and academic studies in foreign Islamic countries had revealed that women could govern in a secular environment of the world.

BY ABdullAhi Olesin, Ilorin

The chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Dr Bukola Saraki, has condemned the bomb blast at the Kano Central Mosque which claimed 120 lives.

The former governor, according to a statement signed by his media aide, Bamikole Omisore, has also visited the victims of the bomb blasts in Kano.

Saraki who said the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration must take responsibility for security challenges facing the country, however, expressed the readiness of his party, APC to partner with the government in abating the crises.

The former governor of Kwara State spoke with newsmen shortly after he ob-

Kwara Guber: Minister Vows To Unseat Saraki Dynasty

The chairman, senate committee on ecology and environment, dr.

Bukola saraki, Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, emir of Kano, Alh. Muhammadu sanusi and Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi during saraki’s visit to Kano to commiserate with the victims of the Kano central mosque bomb attack. PHOTO BY SARAKI’S

BY ABdullAhi Olesin, Ilorin

MEDIA OFFICE

Why I Quit FCC Job, Prof. AbdulRaheem

BY ABdullAhi Olesin, Ilorin

A gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples democratic Party (PdP) in Kwara state, Professor shuaib AbdulRaheem, has defended the decision to quit his plum job as chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and pursue his political ambition at the state level.

AbdulRaheem, who spoke with leAdeRshiP sunday in ilorin, the state capital, also dismissed insinuations that he had used his tenure as boss of the FCC to empower only ilorin indigenes just as he described as wrong the impression being created of him as a desperate

tained the certificate of clearance from APC screening committee to contest the 2015 senate election.

He urged Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations to join hands with the federal government in sending away terrorism from the country.

“I believe we, as Nigerians, irrespective of political leaning need to support the government in its bid to send away terrorism from the country. As an opposition party members, we are worried over the spate of insecurity in the country, he stated”.

He harped on the need for government at all levels to ensure security of lives and property of people in every part of the country.

politician.

The former vice-chancellor of the university of ilorin promised to make financial prudence his guiding principle if elected as the next governor of the state. he asked nigerians to consider the issue of the crisis that accompanied his leadership of the university of ilorin as a matter for the past, expressing delight that the lecturers affected by his decision then have been re- integrated into the system.

Both sides, he said, were fighting to defend the university system and while he based his decision to sack them on the laws of the university, the law of the

land overruled the university, thus bringing about a situation of no winner no vanquished.

The former FCC boss promised to ensure proper autonomy for the local government system if elected, saying his administration will not operate any form of joint account with councils in the state but only perform a supervisory role for them.

Although he would not take side with any aspirant in the party on some of the internal issues relating to their ambition, AbdulRaheem said he would gladly support any protest in the party meant to defend its democratic goals.

The minister of National Planning, Dr Abubakar Sulaiman, has vowed to unseat the Saraki political dynasty during the next year’s general elections in Kwara State.

Abubakar told newsmen in Ilorin that his major preoccupation as a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is to ensure total victory for the party in the elections.

Also speaking on the perceived crisis among 13 PDP governorship aspirants in state, the minister, said there was no cause for alarm.

He described the proliferation of governorship aspirants in the state PDP as the beauty of democracy adding that the leadership of the party had made moves to get some aspirants to step down before the primaries.

On the continued onslaught of Boko Haram, Suleiman blamed the development on alleged animosity the country shares with Francophone West African countries.

The minister, who said Nigeria should revisit its Francophone policy, added that the issue of Boko Haram insurgency is a political issue and fundamentally, a military issue.

“First, the issue of terrorism is a global issue, regional issue and sub regional issue. Second, the terrorism we have in Nigeria internal and external dimensions to it.

Some of the terrorists are not just Nigerians; they are not operating from Nigeria, they are operating from Nigerian borders and they have some back-ups from neighbouring countries.

“When you look at Nigeria’s history, we have been consistent in the kind of animosity we share with the Francophone West African countries. Nigeria should revisit, for instance, our francophone policy.

Plateau To Spend N4.7 Billion On Reconstruction Of Roads

BY AChOR ABiMAJe, Jos

Plateau State government is to embark on reconstruction and up-grading of some roads in Jos, the state capital.

The state commissioner for Information and Communication, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Badu, who disclosed this in Jos, said the road project would gulp the sum of N4.7billion.

Badu said the state executive council has approved the award of contracts for the dualization and reconstruction of the Central Bank-Hill Station junction, Central Bank-Plateau Hospital, and Bank Road-Constitution Hill (with spurn to Lugard Road) roads to PW Nigeria Limited at the cost of N2, 379, 874, 308.46.

According to the commissioner,

the council also granted approval for the rehabilitation and expansion of Kashim Ibrahim-Area Command road (with spur to Unity Bank and Ahmadu Bello Way. The contract for this project, according to Honourable Badu, was awarded to Messers China U-one Construction Limited at the sum of N1, 84, 923, 323.19.

Other projects in Jos North covered by the SEC’s approval, include the reconstruction of COCIN Sarkin Mangu to the adjacent street at the cost of N224, 596, 890.00, and the construction of PIPC Quarters-Anglu Jos-Domkat Bali road(with spur to Hwolshe, Channel 7, and Nasco quarters, costing N692 and to be executed through direct labour.

53 zonal watch (North-Central)

Sunday, December 7, 2014

news behind the news

Political Thugs On Rampage In Kwara

Minister of National Planning, Alh Abubakar Sulaiman

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

As the 2015 general elections draw nearer, the people of Kwara State have every cause to worry. This is not on account of Boko Haram insurgency, but about the dastardly activities of political thugs.

It’s on record that political thugs had, between November 25 and 29 2014 carried out operations that set jitters down the spine of the people of the state.

The thugs said to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on November 25, attacked the convoy of the state governor, Alh AbdulFatah Ahmed in Kaiama while on his way to the palace of the Emir of that town on a courtesy visit before the eventual flagging off of the Kaiama – Kishi road re-construction.

It was the turn of the National Planning minister, Dr Abubakar Sulaiman and Channels TV journalists, Alh AbdulHakeem Garba, who were at different locations attacked by some thugs of a faction of PDP in Ilorin, during the party’s primaries to pick its candidates for the state House of Assembly election.

While channels TV journalist was attacked at Yebumult hotel, venue of the PDP primaries, the minister of National Planning was attacked at a hotel along Oko-Olowo area in the outskirts of Ilorin over allegation that he attempted to change the venue of the primaries illegally to that hotel facility.

To show the gravity of the Kaiama’s attack on the governor’s convoy, Governor Ahmed promptly lodged a complaint with the state commissioner of police, Salihu Garba, and the police investigation has led to the arrest of one suspect in connection with the attack.

The feelings of the ordinary citizens in the state is that if the governor of the state, a serving minister and a journalist can be brazenly attacked by thugs, then who else is safe

from being attacked by the rampaging PDP’s thugs.

Though, the PDP through its state publicity secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye has distanced its supporters from the attack on the governor’s convoy just as it condemned the act, the party as at the time of this report, has not said anything on the attacks on the TV journalist and the minister of National Planning.

Perhaps, this deafening silence of the party is responsible for the barrage of criticisms that have greeted the attacks on the governor, the Channels TV journalist and the minister.

The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) set the ball rolling by putting the blame on the door steps of suspected thugs of the PDP. The party, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Alh Sulyman Buhari, described the alleged attack on the governor’s convoy as a height of political provocation.

The statement reads: “Apparently bitter and terrified by the rousing reception accorded Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his entourage by APC members and the good people of Kaiama, a member of PDP state executive committee (SEC) led his armed thugs mounted ambush on the road around PDP secretariat which is not far away from the Emir’s palace immediately after the turbaning.

“The armed thugs launched unprovoked attacks on the convoy of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. Many vehicles were destroyed in the convoy while our party members sustained injuries.

“Kwara APC preaches and practices peace, even though all households in Kwara State are quite familiar with the violent antecedents and tendencies of the PDP. We cannot fathom why the few armed PDP thugs on rampage in Kaiama on Tuesday would choose to welcome development with violence.

“We condemn the attack on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s convoy and APC members. It is the height of political provocation.

“The competence of the security agencies in Kwara State is being challenged by the activities of PDP thugs in the state. If the people in the governor’s convoy cannot be immuned from ambush and attack, then, the ordinary people of Kwara State without privileges of police escort are at the mercy of rampaging PDP thugs.

“Security agencies should know that the attack on the governor’s convoy is a signal to the well-oiled violence machinery the PDP intends to launch in Kwara State in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

“We call on the police command and other security agencies in Kwara State to promptly investigate and bring to book the PDP thugs who orchestrated the attack.

“We state that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed represents the symbol of our unity and prosperity in Kwara State. We shall fight with the last drop of our blood to protect his security.

“Kwara APC has issued more than 15 press statements on the violent tendencies of the PDP in the state and nothing seems to have changed about PDP’s threat to peace in Kwara State.

“The police command and other security agencies should not expect Kwara APC to continue to issue press statements after brutal attacks on APC members by a party that is less than 30 percent of our followership base in the state”.

When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed that there was an alleged attack on the governor’s convoy in Kaiama on Tuesday.

He, however, said that he was yet to be adequately briefed about the incident, saying: “I am sure some people would have been arrested.”

Also, Governor Ahmed in a petition addressed to the state police commissioner on his behalf by Alhaji B. S Abdulsalam, the senior special assistant on Security Intelligence, alleged that the hoodlums vandalized two vehicles belonging to the speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly and one Kayode Adams in the governor’s convoy.

The complaint also indicated saying: “At about 3’0clock in the morning of November 25, 2014, suspected PDP youth members in Kaiama destroyed some billboards of Governor Ahmed. The state government identified some PDP stalwarts in Kaiama as the brains behind the unfortunate incidents.

In its reactions to the attack on Channels TV journalist, the correspondents chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state urged law enforcement agencies in the state to ensure adequate protection and security for media practitioners.

Ahmed

News Behind The News

Kwara First-lady Flags Off Empowerment Scheme For Women In 16 LGAs

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

If the governor of the state, a serving minister and a journalist can be brazenly attacked by thugs, then who else is safe?

The wife of Kwara State governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed has flagged off the distribution of empowerment materials worth million of naira to women across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Mrs Ahmed kick-started the scheme with the distribution of materials to 136 women in Asa local government area of the state.

The first lady’s train was also at Oke-Oyi, Ilorin east local government area to distribute empowerment materials to the women in the area.

At Afon, headquarters of Asa local government, eight beneficiaries, each selected from the 17 wards of the council, benefited from several bags of rice, clothing materials, packs of exercise books, insecticide, treated mosquito nets and several big coolers.

Presenting the gifts to the beneficiaries, Mrs Ahmed said she donated the items as part of her contributions to making lives meaningful for children and women in the state.

The gesture, the governor’s wife said, was borne out of her belief that if women are adequately empowered to be self-reliant, their families had been empowered and it would go a long way at reducing poverty in the society.

She added that it was done out of her desire to support the present administration in its efforts to further improve the wellbeing of its citizenry.

While calling for more women participation in politics, the governor’s wife noted that their active participation in politics would give them more recognition and they would always be considered in policy formulations.

Earlier, the commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Ramata Adeshina-Abaya, had said there was no gainsaying the fact that democracy could only yield desired dividends, if women individually and collectively show more commitment to participating actively in the democratic process.

54 zonal watch (North-Central)

Sunday, December 7, 2014

project report

Lawmaker, Gov’s Wife Commission Vocational, Cancer Centres

BY Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Prof Abayomi Omotesho, said the gift would go a long way in preparing the youths for life after graduation, just as he lamented the current rate of unemployment in the country

The chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Dr Ali Ahmad, has commissioned a vocational centre he equipped for the use of the students of the University of Ilorin.

This development came just as the wife of the state governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed commissioned a LEAH breast and cervical screening centre at Okuta in Baruteen local government area of the state, bringing to 28 the number of cancer centres the first lady had commissioned across the state.

Speaking at the commissioning of the University of Ilorin vocational centre, the lawmaker who represents Ilorin East/Ilorin South federal constituency at the lower chamber at the National Assembly, said the primary motive of the project was the need to address the challenges of youth unemployment.

Ahmad challenged Nigerian youths to divert their attention to vocational skill acquisition in order to make them self reliant, saying that unemployment problem, now prevalent among graduates made it imperative for them to channel their efforts to skillful enterprise.

“It is a token to show you that we cherish the future of our youths. As you know education is not just a meal ticket, education is life. If we reduce education to a meal ticket, you are not doing any good service for yourself. Once you gather education, you have prepared yourself for life but your life is one thing and living day-today is another.

“The challenge of living day-today these days is very herculean.

So, before you reach that your destiny, you need to be doing something before you find your foot.

We’ve seen it increasingly as politicians that the first five years of your graduation should not be wasted. But the reality today is that average Nigerian graduate spends his first five years in an unproductive manner.

“But with things like this, really, you are showing the way. Even the Kwara State government has a vocation centre still on the drawing board, may be in the next four, to five years, you would come and see how this thing is performing. So, what I am saying is that learning a skill is something that has become a must for everyone.

“I normally tell the youths, if your father is a tomato seller and you are a graduate, come let us give you, N100, 000, N200, 000, the way you will use the money, your father who is not lettered cannot use if because you have educa-

L-R: The dean, students affairs, UNILORIN, Prof. Abayomi Omotesho; Dr. Ali Ahma, and Kwara State commissioner for commerce and cooperatives, Alh. Atolagbe Alege during the commissioning of UNILORIN vocational centre.

tion, and we are doing this because youth employment is something that we cherish.

“Now the Kwara State government has about N2.2bilion for small scale investors and once you graduate from this centre, you can approach us for assistance,” he said.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, who spoke through the dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Abayomi Omotesho, said the gift would go a long way in preparing the youths for life after graduation, just as he lamented the current rate of unemployment in the country.

“There is a lot of uncertainty, dark cloud in this country”, he

said, adding that “Jobs are becoming so difficult to get. The skills you have would make you survive”.

The centre, according to Students’ Union President, Comrade Ahmed Ishowo, has various sections including tailoring, barbing salon, hairdressing, shoe-making and bag making.

He said the students’ body approached the lawmaker for assistance on equipping the centre, which he responded. The centre, he said, is now functional and for the use of students. Ishowo said graduates of the centre would be empowered with capital to start their own businesses.

At the commissioning of the cancer centre, Mrs Ahmed advised

women to take advantage of the centre to periodically check their breast and cervical status, adding that cancer is not a disease meant for any particular social class.

She enjoined beneficiaries of the empowerment intervention to make the best use of the items given to them to boost their business even as she prayed for God’s guidance.

In his remarks, the chairman of Baruten local government, Alh Mohammed Omar Bio, commended Mrs Ahmed’s efforts in the areas of basic health service delivery including free drugs, eye glasses and medical treatment through the LEAH clinic-on-wheels.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

zonal watch (North-Central) 53

project report

Lawmaker, Gov’s Wife Commission Vocational, Cancer Centres

BY Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Prof Abayomi Omotesho, said the gift would go a long way in preparing the youths for life after graduation, just as he lamented the current rate of unemployment in the country

The chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Dr Ali Ahmad, has commissioned a vocational centre he equipped for the use of the students of the University of Ilorin.

This development came just as the wife of the state governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed commissioned a LEAH breast and cervical screening centre at Okuta in Baruteen local government area of the state, bringing to 28 the number of cancer centres the first lady had commissioned across the state.

Speaking at the commissioning of the University of Ilorin vocational centre, the lawmaker who represents Ilorin East/Ilorin South federal constituency at the lower chamber at the National Assembly, said the primary motive of the project was the need to address the challenges of youth unemployment.

Ahmad challenged Nigerian youths to divert their attention to vocational skill acquisition in order to make them self reliant, saying that unemployment problem, now prevalent among graduates made it imperative for them to channel their efforts to skillful enterprise.

“It is a token to show you that we cherish the future of our youths. As you know education is not just a meal ticket, education is life. If we reduce education to a meal ticket, you are not doing any good service for yourself. Once you gather education, you have prepared yourself for life but your life is one thing and living day-today is another.

“The challenge of living day-today these days is very herculean.

So, before you reach that your destiny, you need to be doing something before you find your foot.

We’ve seen it increasingly as politicians that the first five years of your graduation should not be wasted. But the reality today is that average Nigerian graduate spends his first five years in an unproductive manner.

“But with things like this, really, you are showing the way. Even the Kwara State government has a vocation centre still on the drawing board, may be in the next four, to five years, you would come and see how this thing is performing. So, what I am saying is that learning a skill is something that has become a must for everyone.

“I normally tell the youths, if your father is a tomato seller and you are a graduate, come let us give you, N100, 000, N200, 000, the way you will use the money, your father who is not lettered cannot use if because you have educa-

L-R: The dean, students affairs, UNILORIN, Prof. Abayomi Omotesho; Dr. Ali Ahma, and Kwara State commissioner for commerce and cooperatives, Alh. Atolagbe Alege during the commissioning of UNILORIN vocational centre.

tion, and we are doing this because youth employment is something that we cherish.

“Now the Kwara State government has about N2.2bilion for small scale investors and once you graduate from this centre, you can approach us for assistance,” he said.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, who spoke through the dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Abayomi Omotesho, said the gift would go a long way in preparing the youths for life after graduation, just as he lamented the current rate of unemployment in the country.

“There is a lot of uncertainty, dark cloud in this country”, he

said, adding that “Jobs are becoming so difficult to get. The skills you have would make you survive”.

The centre, according to Students’ Union President, Comrade Ahmed Ishowo, has various sections including tailoring, barbing salon, hairdressing, shoe-making and bag making.

He said the students’ body approached the lawmaker for assistance on equipping the centre, which he responded. The centre, he said, is now functional and for the use of students. Ishowo said graduates of the centre would be empowered with capital to start their own businesses.

At the commissioning of the cancer centre, Mrs Ahmed advised

women to take advantage of the centre to periodically check their breast and cervical status, adding that cancer is not a disease meant for any particular social class.

She enjoined beneficiaries of the empowerment intervention to make the best use of the items given to them to boost their business even as she prayed for God’s guidance.

In his remarks, the chairman of Baruten local government, Alh Mohammed Omar Bio, commended Mrs Ahmed’s efforts in the areas of basic health service delivery including free drugs, eye glasses and medical treatment through the LEAH clinic-on-wheels.

54 feature

Sunday, December 7, 2014

How Suspected Indian Hemp Dealer Butchered Woman, Daughter, Son There is no doubt that violence has become part of our daily lives now but it is always worrisome nonetheless. What is unfathomable is what would drive someone to butcher a woman and her two children. MATTHEW DIKE writes about a suspected drug dealer who, after stabbing a boy, went further and inflicted wounds on the mother and daughter, landing them in hospital If Mrs Helen Okoro, a widow and mother of two had known that picking a quarrel with a neighbor who had stabbed her son would also land her and daughter in hospital, she probably would have just reported the case and allowed the law to do justice.

However, being human, naturally her maternal instincts would kick in and common sense would be the last thing on her mind but the desire for revenge. It is natural for any woman to react that way towards someone who had just stabbed her son.

It was indeed a shock when Mrs. Okoro’s demand to ‘kill her’ was met by her neighbor, known as Babalawo, who had stabbed her son in the head.

In her hysterical state, she screamed that the man should kill her instead of her son. LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that Babalawo had boasted that he would kill the woman and any member of her family that challenged him, and before the twinkle of an eye, he had gone inside and reappeared with a broken bottle in his hand.

Okoro said she thought the man only wanted to frighten or intimidate her so that she would scamper for safety. She said she never envisaged that he meant business until he reached out to stab her in her chest with the broken bottle, making her jump back a little. However, she did not escape as he succeeded in slicing in between her breast and the armpit region.

“I screamed for help but nobody was there to come to my rescue. The man also wanted to stab me in the face, but I quickly used my hand to block it, that was why the broken bottle cut me in the hand.”

The unforgettable pains Continuing, the widow said, “There was blood all over my body. I thought I was going to die. I could not bear the pains so I cried like a baby. I was screaming and rolling in the pool of my blood until somebody called my daughter, Blessing who rushed back home. On seeing me, she cried, thinking that the man had killed me.”

Unfortunately for Blessing, who also believed that the man would not harm her, she got what she never bargained for as the man stabbed her in the hand and she began to bleed.

She never suspected that the man is

not the merciful type.

A visibly shaken Mrs Okoro went on with her narration. “The man is a known Indian hemp seller in the area. He knew I had nobody to run to. He knew I’m from a very poor family. He believed he would kill me and members of my family and nothing will happen. From what has happened so far, if this man kills me and members of my family the police will not do anything.”

Victims not happy with the police.

LEADERSHIP Sunday met the woman and her daughter in Femi Hospital, Bale street, Tolu Olodi- Apapa, in tears, lamenting their agony and humiliation. Their blood pressure ran high, not because of what the man did to them but from how to raise N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) bill the hospital had just presented to them.

“Policemen at Tolu police station have taken sides,” Okoro alleged.

“They were protecting the man and he kept boasting that the policemen there were on his payroll. He might be right, because the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) who is handling the case is doing the wrong thing. He refused to make an arrest and the suspect is walking free. The IPO did not include his name in the statement form. Also, instead of rushing me and my daughter to the general hospital, they abandoned us at Femi Hospital, Bale Street, Tolu, Olodi -Apapa. The medical director of the hospital (Olufemi Ekanado) told my daughter and I to pay N200, 000 before they could discharge us.

My daughter’s bill is N80,000 while mine is N120, 000. I’m a widow and a petty trader. I hawk sachet water, so how can I raise such amount of money? All the money we have at home is about N20, 000 both my money and that of my daughter. My daughter persuaded the doctor to allow her go home and bring the little cash but he refused, saying we must pay all the money. We have been held captive here since November 14, this year when the incident occurred.

The man who inflicted the injury in us did not even come to say sorry.

He never cared whether we survive or die. But God will pay him back.”

A call for help and cry for justice The woman and her daughter appealed that since they don’t have

Stabbed Mrs Okoro

money, government, non governmental organisations and individuals should assist in financing the medical bill. They also begged the Inspector General of Police, Office of the Lagos State Public Defender (OPD), Human Rights activists and other non- governmental organisations to to fight for them, legally.

“I would like either the Federal government or governor Babatunde Fashola-led government to rescue us from this problem. I know Fashola is a very good and kind Governor. He should see us as members of his family and assist us.”

Genesis of the problem Okoro’s words: “We live at Adidas street, Tolu, at the shores of ToluTin can lagoon. Last year, Babalawo had a problem with my son, Godwin who is just 15 -years-old. One day, Godwin was carrying sand for somebody and Babalawo saw him, picked up a bottle and attempted to break my son’s head with it but he was able to escape and ran away from him.

When I heard about the incident, I confronted him but instead of making peace he threatened to kill me and my children. So since then we have avoided him. What led to the problem on November 14th was that I found a pair of slippers in the dustbin and wanted to use it to make a fire. Babalawo saw the slippers with Godwin and challenged him. My son told him they belonged to his mother because I brought it from the dustbin. The wicked and shameless man broke a bottle and gave my son a hot pursuit. When he apprehended him, he stabbed him in the head. People were begging the man to leave the little boy alone but to no avail. When I returned home I was

faced with that situation. When I inquired why he should stab my son, he threatened to kill me. He wore the necklace I gave my son, so I removed it from his neck after he struggled with me to retain it. To my greatest surprise, he picked up a bottle and after smashing it stabbed me close to my breast. I screamed that the man had killed me and as he wanted to stab me in the face, I blocked the bottle with my hand.”

Angry 19-year-old daughter cries out for justice.

Blessing, an SSS 2 student of Ojoku Senior High School, Tolu, OlodiApapa said, “Unless there is no law in Nigeria and unless all poor Nigerians can never get justice, then this man will go scot-free.

“Everybody in the area knows Babalawo is a very wicked man and Indian hemp seller. Police are shielding him because he usually goes to the station to ‘settle’ them. Government should step in, arrest and prosecute this man for multiple attempted murder.”

When LEADERSHIP Sunday visited Adidas street, close to Tolu -Tincan Lagoon, people seemed to be afraid to say anything concerning Babalawo. They either responded thus: “Please go, I don’t know who you are talking about,” or “Please, I don’t know who you are. Go and search for Babalawo yourself”.

Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP Sunday went to the station to see the divisional police officer of the station, SP Mohammed Aminu, but he was available.

All efforts made to get the reaction of the State police spokesperson, DSP Ken Nwosu proved abortive as he did not respond to calls.

The man who inflicted the injury in us did not even come to say sorry. He never cared whether we survive or die.

feature 55

Sunday, December 7, 2014

PWD Insists There Is Ability In Disability Last week, the world celebrated the International Day of Persons With Disabilities (PWD). ruth choji, who participated in some of the activities in the Federal Capital Territory, writes on the need to assist such physically challenged persons in order for them to contribute optimally to national growth and development

M

ost Nigerians applauded when in March 2009, the Senate passed a bill outlawing discriminations against people with disabilities in the society. The law requires government and public institutions as well as individuals to provide convenient access for physically challenged persons. The law, among other things, states: “… public building shall be constructed with the necessary accessibility aids such as lifts (where necessary), ramps and other facility that shall make them accessible and usable to persons with disability. But since then nothing has changed because the bill is still awaiting Mr President’s accent.

But for the average disable person on the streets, it is still a life of pain, rejection, poverty and neglect by loved ones and society. They are most times treated as second class citizen by family and society. Some see them as being possessed by evil spirits while others make them regret why they are still alive.

Danlami Abubakar, born lame on both legs stated that, “being lame is a curse in Nigeria, because most people don’t think we can do anything except to drag our buttocks on the ground. I have a wife with five children. I didn’t go to school but I beg and that way, I take care of my family. I don’t know what happened to me, but I was told that my mother had a difficult delivery and because there was no hospital in our village then, the traditional birth attendant (local midwife), who attended to my mother in the night could not help her. They gave her some herbs which seemed to have helped her but she died few days after I was born and the birth effected my two legs. Although I’m now 43 years old, I still look small because I don’t walk like others.”

Elisha Gyang, a disable technician who hates to be described as invalid said, “being disabled does not mean I am unable to do things able persons do. It is just one of my legs that is paralysed and so people should not use it to describe me. I am more than that. I have got talent and skills and I’m using it to feed my family and dependents. Sometimes people want to use it to pity me but I get angry because I don’t need anybody’s pity, what I want is an opportunity to prove myself.”

Pascal Dimkwat, retired school teacher who became disable through an accident said, “it is unfortunate how disabled persons are

treated in Nigeria. You will not understand the pains until you have a loved one who is disabled or it happened to you. You automatically become an object of pity. Some principals will not even give physically challenged candidates admission because of their disabilities. In so many cases, some families prefer to hide their disabled members because they are ashamed of them while others are treated as objects for charity. My first wife left me because she was ashamed that her husband is disabled as if I brought it upon myself. Our government is not helping matters because they don’t care about the person living with disability. It is only during international days like this that you hear them talk about us and make empty promises that they never fulfil. Most of the vocational training centres set up by government are illequipped and ill-maintained. That is why you see the illiterate ones amongst us begging on the street.

I don’t like the way we are being treated. We all know that Nigeria is a signatory to many international conventions that support equal opportunities for all their citizens.

And this is supposed to include the provision of conducive environment, housing and transportation, social and health services, educational and work opportunities, including sports and recreational facilities. Yet, the same government has not given effect to the provisions of this international instrument by failing to domesticate it through a national legislation as required.

Daniel Amos, another disabled engineer who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday said “physically challenged persons are suffering in Nigeria because of the inability of the government to provide a robust legal framework that will protect and defend the rights of People Living with Disability. People who discriminate against disable persons are not punished. Disable persons are treated like second class citizens at home and in the society.

Most public buildings are inaccessible to disabled persons, not even the schools for disable persons, it is better if one attends a regular school because they will take care of you as a special case. I still can’t understand why Mr President has refused to accent to the ‘Disability Bill’ which was passed by the Senate in 2010, I also know that on February 5, 2013, the amended bill passed its second reading in the sen-

Group of persons living with disability

ate and we all know that, there are over 20 million people living with various forms of disabilities in Nigeria. The physically challenged in our midst must be empowered to help themselves and their families and contribute their bits to the growth and development of the society. If the president will not accent to the bill passed by National assembly on disability, then we should adopt the Nigerian disability degree of 1993 which the military government promulgated which says in section 1A (a) The purpose of this Decree is to provide a clear and comprehensive legal protection and security for Nigerians with disability as well as establish standard for enforcement of the rights and privileges guaranteed under this decrees and other laws applicable to the disabled in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and section 2 says: (1) Disabled persons shall be guaranteed treatment as equals to other Nigerians for all purposes in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Accordingly it shall be the duty and responsibility of organs of government and of all authorities and persons to adopt and promote policies that will ensure full integration of the disabled into the mainstream of the society. (a) Disabled persons are fully integrated into the national economy. (b) Disabled persons shall have equal rights, privileges, obligations and opportunities before the law. (c) Disabled persons are provided equal and adequate education. These are laws that if put into effect will go a long way in coping and alleviating the plight of the disable in Nigeria. We are human beings and deserve to be treated as such.”

On her part, the minster of women affairs and social development

whose purview the persons with disability fall said that, “the Need to work and harness the power of technology to promote the inclusion and to help realise the full and equal participation of Persons with Disabilities in national development efforts will be the main focus, as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2014 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Maina said, “With the theme, “Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology”, this year’s celebration was therefore aimed at highlighting available technologies to support the activities and economic production of Persons with Disabilities, so as to ensure their optimal contribution to national growth and development.

According to the minister a lot of Persons with Disabilities are resourceful and are venturing into various economic empowerment programmes, even as she expressed optimism that they can do a lot more if supported and encouraged, especially with the use of simple and accessible machines.

She therefore enjoined stakeholders to mark the day with activities that will focus on issues related to the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in society and development, both as beneficiaries and agents of change.

United nations General Assembly Resolution of 1992 instituted December 3 of every year as a day for Persons with Disabilities. The Resolution called on member nations and organisations to observe the day every year and intensify their efforts towards improving the situation of Persons with Disabilities.

Sometimes people want to use it to pity me but I get angry because I don’t need anybody’s pity, what I want is an opportunity to prove myself

56 Christian perspective

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Pastor W.F. Kumuyi The Study Of God’s Word info@deeperlifeonline.org

Unchrist-like Judgement Forbidden (3) ➔ FROM LAST two WEEKs

3. Great progress through a passionate ambassador Acts 18:24-28; 19:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:12,13; 3:4-9; 4:57; 16:12-14; John 16:7-13; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Luke 24:45-49.

After a successful ministry at Corinth, Paul departed, and went over all the country strengthening all the disciples (Acts 18:23). Aquila and Priscilla remained at Ephesus. A preacher named Apollos, a Jew by birth, arrived there. He was mighty in the Old Testament scriptures but deficient in his knowledge of Christ, the new covenant and full redemption through the risen Christ. He was an eloquent man, mighty in the scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, diligent, zealous and fervent in spirit, “knowing ONLY the baptism of John”. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him speak, they recognized that he needed further instruction and Christian experiences.

He was teachable, willing to learn and know the Lord more.

Eloquent, mighty, bold, fervent, recognized, industrious and knowledgeable, yet “the Spirit” was missing in his ministry. He was led to go beyond John and come fully to Jesus.

Transparent holiness before profitable ministry Matthew 7:3-5 If there was any time to “Study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”, that time is now, the present day. And if any passage of scripture demands careful study, Matthew 7:1-5 is one of such passages. Knowing that truth sets one free from error and from the consequences of falsehood. To know the truth requires diligent study. Only such diligent study can set us apart and distinguish us from many who corrupt the word of God. Then in sincerity, as faithful children and

servants of God, in the sight of God, we shall speak in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:17).

These verses are often abused and misused by those who think that it is wrong, under any circumstances, to ever pass an unfavourable judgment on the sinful conduct or evil character of others. The Scriptures teach us to “prove all things”, “try the spirits”. In our relationship with the brethren, the Lord commands, “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault.” “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3). The Scriptures further declare, “Shew my people their transgression” (Isaiah 58:1). “Warn the wicked” (Ezekiel 3:17-21), “Warn them that are unruly” (1 Thessalonians 5:14), “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Timothy 5:20). “Put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Corinthians

5:12,13). Our Lord did not mean that it is wrong to reprove the sins and faults of others. Such an interpretation would contradict other statements of Christ and many other parts of the scripture.

Following such misinterpretation would make sin and lawlessness to increase without any restraint and the earth would be “given into the hand of the wicked” (Job 9:24).

1. presumptuous reformers thoughtless of their own behaviour Matthew 7:3,4; Luke 6:41,42; Numbers 12:1-9; Psalm 50:16-21; John 8:3-9; 12:3-6; Mark 2:14-17; Matthew 23:24-33; Romans 2:13,21-24; Acts 11:2-18.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the BEAM that is in thine own eye?” (“but perceivest not the BEAM that is in thine own eye?” Luke 6:41). ➔ TO BE CONTINUED

Brother Gbile Akanni Living Seed trifect2000@yahoo.com +234 806 126 1907

Fresh Fire For Life And Effective Ministry

Do not stand on the platform of your past experience to preach and push, for a miracle. It is not ashes that burn a fresh wood.

It is fire that begets fire

God wants you to be ordinary, He wants you to be humble about it, so that you can pack it out before they identify that you are the one. Because if you carry it out in your official ministerial position, subordinates will not allow you.

And when they do that, they quench your fire. They will make you stagnant.

The Holy Spirit says, “Let him put on other garments.” Let him be ordinary about it. No fanfare so that no eyebrow is raised. You are just an ordinary brother. You are a powerful man of God that God is using at the altar, but now that you are going outside the camp to drop this thing in a clean place, you are an ordinary brother.

People will be looking at you and wondering. So Peter said, “Why are you looking at us as if it was by our power or by our holiness that we have done this thing.

We are men like you.” Acts 3.12 (paraphrased).

You see, when you are handling your testimony, you must become ordinary. You must not spiritualise it; otherwise you will become the next idol. And that is what will make God Himself to release another fire from heaven to quench your fire because His glory, He will share with no man.

When you pray for a woman that has been barren for ten years and she becomes pregnant, do you know that there is the temptation that any day you stand on the altar to preach, you will want to call her out to tell the people what the man of God did for her?

Why did you quickly identify yourself with past ashes? That testimony, as wonderful as it is, is past ashes. You must never leave it on the altar. Let it be outside the camp. Outside the camp, they will meet her and ask how she became pregnant, and then she will tell her story. Then they will come, not knowing who did

it. Always be ready to say, “It is not by my holiness, not by my power, not even by my prayer.

It’s by God’. When you do like that, you will last long with your fire. God will keep you for a long time. In fact, God will be happy to add more wood to your fire. Your hands will do greater miracles when you keep it outside the camp. There is a clean place for your past testimony.

God has a place for all He has done in your life in times past, and it is a clean place. Do not put your testimony in a wrong place.

It will block your burning. It will blow on your face and impair your vision. Carry it away from the altar. Remove your ministerial garment as you carry away the testimonies, the ashes of past burning unto its own place. Do not use that as a basis for future ministry.

The basis for ministry is your current relationship with God at

the altar. It is not what happened last year. It is not what the Lord has done through you now. It is what you are presently, with God. Let us pray that God will help us to keep this rule. It is a law. It has been experimented over the years.

The basis for ministry is your current relationship with God at the altar. It is not what happened last year. It is not what the Lord has done through you now. It is what you are presently, with God. Let us pray that God will help us to keep this rule. It is a law.

It has been experimented over the years. Anybody who worked with it became great. Anyone who defaulted became damaged. Do not stand on the platform of your past experience to preach and push, for a miracle. It is not ashes that burn a fresh wood. It is fire that begets fire. Many servants of God are good on this. Beware! No matter how plenty the ashes are.

These verses are often abused and misused by those who think that it is wrong, under any circumstances, to ever pass an unfavourable judgment

Christian perspeCtive 57

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Bishop Matthew Daniels insight For Living bishopmatthewdaniels@yahoo.com 09029692720, 08111896866

The Inroad To Success

Often, opportunities present selves and because people are distracted, they miss them or give up on them before things fully develop

“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength, but wisdom brings success”. (Ecclesiastes 10:10).

Wisdom is the key to success.

Everyone wants to be successful.

But not everyone is willing to do the hard work and the smart work to get there. Often, opportunities present themselves and because people are distracted, they miss them or give up on them before things fully develop.

Actually, successful people don’t leave much to chance. They are focused and disciplined. They constantly seek new methods to achieve more, in bigger and faster ways. The things you do everyday is what will determine your future. Listed below are few practices that will help you concentrate your efforts on rising above the tide.

1.

Make materialism irrelevant. Establish a bare

minimum for your material needs. Fancy cars and houses are all well and good, but many foolishly focus on the byproducts of success, rather than concentrating on building sustainable success in the first place. When materialism is less irrelevant, you will then enjoy the benefits of success, debt and stress free.

2. Be an active leaner Success can be attracted to those who are active learners.

The higher up the success ladder you climb, the more complex the systems and opportunities that are presented to you. Absorb all the information you can and if you sense a gap you can’t fill, connect with people who have the knowledge you need.

3. Manage relationships People in your life require proper management. Successful individuals attract folk and so they have to carefully regulate

the time they can spend with people. It’s hard to limit the time you share and still make people feel important. Make choices about the people who matter to you and determine how you each can get value from your interactions. Then make sure they understand your limitations so they don’t take it personally.

4. Adhere to your ethical codes Consistency is very important to maintain power and stability.

Really successful people live by rules; they may not be the rulers of others. Their individual view of how the world works is the basis for how they believe people should be treated and they will defend it until their dying day.

Determine your ethical lines and broadcast them loud and clear so people around you know where you stand.

5. Live by design not default Really successful people live

their lives by design instead of default, so if you want to be one of them, dedicate time and effort to determining the plan for your preferred future and execute that plan in a focused and consistent manner.

6. Focus on time efficiency Prioritisation is a key component of success. You can’t reach your pinnacle if you are wasting time on distractions.

Integration of activities frees up time for greater achievement.

Spend your time on activities that are fun, enlightening and productive and soon you’ll have gained hours to reap the benefits of success.

7. Avoid distractions.

You most avoid anything that could potentially cause a shift of mental energy. This means closing out of all social media accounts, blogging websites, or anything that will not enhance your purpose.

Dr. Obinna Iheanyichukwu Life Discovery series obirt@yahoo.com, dovechurchinternational@yahoo.com 08033454006

10 Reasons To Worship God 1. It’s our response to His love.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

(Psalm 107:1) Worship is a giving, not a getting.

We come to worship not to receive a blessing, get more peace, joy, etc.

We worship to respond to God. 2. Worship is commanded.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. (Hebrews 13:15) Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14) 3. Worship dethrones the enemy.

From the lips of children and infants, you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2) Why does praise defeat Satan?

Satan’s sin was jealousy of God. He is still driven by jealousy today (Isaiah 14:13-14). Even if he can’t get people to worship him, his goal is to keep people from worshipping

God. He seeks to draw attention away from God. 4. Worship puts our relationship with God into action and gives it expression.

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name”. (Pslam 66:1-4) Through singing, shouting, clapping, dancing, bowing down, kneeling, lifting hands, or by serving others, we put our worship into an action that blesses God. 5. Worship touches our emotions.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (John 4:23) Our spirit and emotions are the spirit in this passage. When our spirit joins with God’s Spirit in agreement about how great God

is (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). Music touches our emotions like few other things.

6. Worship pleases God. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:16-17) Our prayers and worship rise before His throne like sweetsmelling incense.

7. Worship keeps our relationship with God in perspective.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:34) 8. God deserves to be worshipped.

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hands, are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to

him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker… (Psalm 95:3-6). .9. We worship to prepare for what we’ll do for eternity.

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.”Revelation 15:2-3 10. Worship is for what we are created.

The purpose of ALL of creation is to bring glory to the Creator.

Consider these verses: …the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

Through singing, shouting, clapping, dancing, bowing down, kneeling, lifting hands, or by serving others, we put our worship into action

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

Zainab Jaji Zee’s Corner zeescorner@gmail.com,Twitter. @addazee

Our Tupsy-Turvy World Nigeria is a country where things work when they are upside down. Normal rules do not fit or apply here.

Once we turn things on their heads, then we are more comfortable

There are times, in this country, when I feel that all I am trying to do is catch my breadth between incidents. We have been moving from one crisis in our polity to the next with no respite. The election period is upon us and as usual, all the fighters are out and there is no end to the mud slinging. If anything, the real ‘rofo rofo’ fights have not started. As much as we enjoy seeing all the political juggurnauts slug it out, we also have some serious issues to contend with. Nigeria is a country where things work when they are upside down. Normal rules do not fit or apply here. Once we turn things on their heads, then we are more comfortable.

What has always fascinated me in Nigeria, for instance, is the skewed method of the laws of demand and supply. It simply does not fit here.

In other countries, once there is a demand for goods and services, prices bottom out and the customer in happy. In Nigeria, that is a different kettle of fish. In fact, that

is when ‘shylocks’ put up prices and tell us that the product is hot. It is all part of our tupsy-turvy world.

The irony now is that we have austerity in the midst of a growing economy. How is that possible? We have the largest economy in Africa, yet, we are importing practically everything. Apparently, the powers that-be tell us our economy is growing , yet our currency is being devalued after rebasing the economy.

I don’t understand the complexities of Economics, but I can surely see that things are not adding up.

Unfortunately, these changes are coming in the midst of one of the most hotly contested elections we are likely to have, where the money bags are going to town spraying dollars to delegates in the hope of getting elected. Money is no object it seems when it comes to elections.

Our leaders tell us to tighten our belts whilst they are feeding fat at the table. Some animals are more equal than others, obviously.

This week, the economy of South

Africa, it is said, grew by 1.4% in the last financial quarter. Of course, it would grow considering the services exported to Nigeria and the funds repatriated to South Africa. Nigeria is simply sustaining that economy by, at least, 5%. It seems we cannot get enough of what South Africa has to offer. Hopefully, when the ‘Gencos’ and ‘Discos’ get round to giving us a good enough service, we can then boast of having genuine growth for SME ‘s in the economy. We want first world development using third world attitude, which is unrealistic.

Accepting a tupsy-turvy situation is why it is difficult to move forward.

Our leaders feed us lies and we do not question or challenge anything. This situation has now become the norm for us. It feels like confusion persists in all levels of our country. If it’s not our legislators jumping fences, which I agree with by the way, it is our politicians shifting parties, our religious leaders exchanging words, our courts sacking acting governors and reinstating deputy governors,

our markets being bombed and our children missing out on school due to security upheaval.

For how long do we then accept this awful mess we find ourselves in? Who is to blame? Are we, the citizens, so lethargic as to just give up responsibility for our society? Or perhaps we enjoy the confusion? We can over analyse and put the blame on our leaders, but living in a society where things are always out of sync cannot hold for long. We need stability and consistency in all that we do. Without it, we risk going over the edge to some extent.

There is no doubt that Nigeria is a strong and dynamic country with a lot going for it, once we remove some of the idiosyncrasies. That strength or doggedness, however, cannot continiously be taken for granted.

We cannot rest our progress as a nation on only prayers, hope and salvation. We need to accept that tupsy-turvy needs to be turned on its head to put our nation on the right course.

Hamza Atta Isn't It Funny? hamzolo@yahoo.co.uk 08181091784

If we are still silent, then maybe we have given our tacit approval to all that we witness today and we should brace ourselves for what is ahead

President Goodluck Jonathan became public property, a need was realized to sieve through the mindset of the Nigerian people. In no time, two schools of thought had emerged: those urging us to hark to the message, even if the messenger is/was, himself, of questionable character. The other that nothing credible could come out of the mouth of the former president.

It is a positive development that Nigerians were interested in that letter in the first place. That the public desired, downloaded and digested.

“Before it is too late” had its own merits. And, of course, it took some guts to address such a revealing script to the president of an African country.

Ultimately, the letter indicted more people than the present occupant of Aso Rock; it indicted the addresser and those he copied as much as it did the addressee. This is fact number one. Secondly, the contents of that letter failed to elicit from us, the reaction that was required for our leaders to take us seriously. The recent revelations by our erstwhile minister of Finance pointing out the drop in price of petroleum and how we will need serious stomach

Tacit Approval

infrastructure in tightening our belts for the impact of the blow, I believe, brings the messages of the letters full circle.

It is clear that our external reserves have been depleted. It is also clear that there are no savings from the subsidy removal. All the letters were addressed to President Jonathan alleging varying degrees of corruption, fraud, mismanagement, favoritism and other forms of short practices.

If we did not believe it then, then we have, today, surely seen the PDP’s wings grow. Fayose, our new Ekiti governor, who oversaw, along with thugs, the beating of a high court judge, is now illegally impeaching his speaker with only 9 PDP legislators, without a quorum. Our judiciary is so lethargic. What has happened to his case? Has he gotten away with it? Is that why he is growing these wings and doing things with impunity now?

Is this a democracy?

Last week, the National Assembly was desecrated. As if it was not enough that the IG has taken it upon himself to remove the speaker’s security detail; he has further decided to lock him out of the National Assembly. In

fact, he locked up the chamber and tear-gassed our assembly members.

Does he appreciate that he is a servant that is supposed to uphold the laws that are created by the National Assembly? Does he understand that he is not an employee of any party?

These guys are breaking the structure of our society; the rules by which we have decided to come together. They are breaking the law. A reckless dictatorship is in the making.

We are the turf upon which these rogue elephants are waging their war.

Why do we act as spectators? We have almost come to expect this extremely bad behavior. We curiously seem to just accept it.

Since 1999, an exclusive clique has done with us as they please. I do not know which is more pathetic, the fact that they do not appreciate what their responsibilities is or the fact that we are not bothered by it. The latter is the only reason why a ruling party would regard a situation with dire and direct consequences on the people as a “family affair”. Admitting and reiterating that we did not put them in power is the biggest indictment on us.

There is no doubt that our leaders are guilty and should be criticized, but

we do nothing. Silence is not sitting on the fence or not taking action; silence is an endorsement. We have, by keeping silent, approved the excesses of our leaders. They do nothing wrong because we do not show pain, accept the punishment and hail them for it.

Nelson Mandela (may his soul rest in peace) said, “You know I am not very happy with Nigeria. I have made that very clear on many occasions. Yes, Nigeria stood by us more than any nation, but you let yourselves down, and Africa and the black race very badly. Your leaders have no respect for their people. They believe that their personal interests are the interests of the people. They take people’s resources and turn it into personal wealth. There is a level of poverty in Nigeria that should be unacceptable. I cannot understand why Nigerians are not more angry than they are.”

INEC is toying with our right to vote. Insecurity is all over the land some have been relegated to refugee camps in neighboring countries. If we are still silent, then maybe we have given our tacit approval to all that we witness today and we should brace ourselves for what is ahead.

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

e-train

Why I’m Going On TV – Nike Oshinowo

Former beauty queen and fashion icon Nike Oshinowo has always been on the social radar. The Centenary Pageant host is back on stage with a TV show. In this chat with SAMUEL ABULUE, the mother of two speaks about her personality and new pet project, her TV talk show among other issues Why TV now at this stage of your career?

I like TV. I like watching precisely the kind of show that I am doing now.

I want one show which gives me everything from current affairs to the happening music, movies as well as stars that are doing well like Genevieve, Omotola, while at the same time watching conversations with politicians, business leaders without having to change the channel – LNWNO is that show

Everybody knows me and my hobbies which is sleeping, eating and watching TV. I like TV. I like watching precisely the kind of show that I am doing now. I want one show which gives me everything from current affairs to the happening music, movies as well as stars that are doing well like Genevieve, Omotola, while at the same time watching conversations with politicians, business leaders without having to change the channel – LNWNO is that show. I have a sense of humour.

I also have a strong opinion which will be seen on the show. Nigerians will get to see that Nike Oshinowo is a well rounded human being and I have political views.

What led to your new TV show, Night Out With Nike?

It was something I started working on since last year. Everyone knows that I’m a TV person. I love to watch different varieties of programmes on Tv, the late night shows and all that. I was on vacation with my team and we were just playing around relaxing and the thought of doing something on television came up and it sounded good, my project manager, Didi Ocheja expanded the idea and worked on it and we began to think of the values and bring my personality, what I have done over the years into this. We have a young population in Nigeria and I think I want to be able to reach them.

So what should we expect?

It is a late night show full of different rich varieties. It is an exciting new entertainment and lifestyle late night talk show, showcasing the best of art, culture, music, politics and pop-culture. It is a first of its kind for format and content, ‘Late Night with Nike Oshinowo,’ will eject life and fun into the weekday evenings of our viewing audience, bringing a vast array of local and international acts and celebrities from the world of arts, cinema, music and politics into the viewer’s living room. If you want politics, you will see it there as I will be interviewing politicians and engaging them

Oshinowo

in thought provoking questions. Entertainment of course will be a constant item in there as I take your artistes on different issues. Captains of industries, ordinary people doing great things will have the opportunity to be heard and it has a live audience. Nite-Out With Nike will bring out memories of great Tv shows that we enjoyed back then. Sponsors of the show include First Bank, Arikair. com, AIT and Mumm champagne.

The first episode came out on November 27 on African Independent Television AIT by 11pm and it will get better as the talk show progresses. I’m hoping that people will love the night talk show and make their criticisms known, however constructive.

What are your challenges as an entrepreneur and a fashion icon, and

how do you handle criticism?

Once again, Nike wants to be a man and all that blah blah blah! As reported by the media. I don’t want to be a man, I’m a girl. Nike is a girl. I like being a girl that feels no limits. I was raised up by a man who gave me the training to believe in myself and believe in possibilities. My father trained me to have no limits. The same as any Nigerian but I’m positive minded. I love to do what I enjoy because that helps me to go on.

How can I make things better, how can I leave people better than when I met them? I am a woman but I don’t like to believe there are any limits to my dreams and aspirations. I’m the ultimate girl. I’m told that I’m a fashion icon. I’m told that I’m beautiful but that is not me. I’m someone that loves to live the life. You cannot grow without criticism.

What is the secret of your beauty?

Apart from my DNA and family dynamics, I’m a lover of water. I take a lot of it. And I sleep a lot. The show will reveal more of my lifestyle. I’m hoping that people will tune in to the content and something beyond Nike.

How do you relax?

I lie on the bed, I remove all my cloths and watch Tv till I doze off.

For my daily routine, I exercise everyday from 6am to 7am. I love to sleep. I don’t party. People that know me know that after a certain time in the night, Nike starts to doze. For my kind of personal medical challenge, you won’t party much.

How is it having twins to take care off?

Oh it’s wonderful! Do you have kids of your own? It’s a great feeling.

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

2015 Party Primaries: Desmond In, D-One, KSB Out

However, Kenny Saint Best lost her mandate of becoming the Ikeja 1 Constituency Lagos lawmaker to Folajimi Mohammed, Lai Mohammed’s son as expected

For our entertainers, in the last few days, actor turned producer, Desmond Olusola Elliot is the hero not only among his colleagues in the entertainment world but in Lagos politics. Desmond Elliot, against all odds, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary ticket for Surulere Constituency 1 of the Lagos State House of Assembly, LSHA. However, Kenny Saint Best lost her mandate of becoming the Ikeja 1 Constituency Lagos lawmaker to Folajimi Mohammed, Lai Mohammed’s son as expected. Kenny Saint Best interestingly had been busy campaigning in the media and perhaps in her ward but Lai Mohammed’s son came into the picture only last week.

A visit to the ward at Onigbongbo LCDA at Allen shows starring evidence that Folajimi may have been imposed on the other candidates. The poster of Jimi Mohammed the Law graduate was not even at the ward at Onigbongbo LCDA. That of Hon Wale Odunlami, Taiwo Okesola, Kenny Saint Best and two others were at the entrance of the wall premises. Investigation showed that KSB and others may have been told last week to step down for the three candidates- Jimi, Odunlami and Okesola to contest Tuesday’s primary election. In fact, a call put through to the singer, Kenny Saint Best on the eve of the primary elections into the State House of Assembly showed the voice of a woman resigned to fate knowing that the party stalwarts and decider had ‘selected’ their preferred candidates. In the same vein, showbiz impresario Dayo Adeneye, popularly known as DOne did not win his Odogbolu constituency of the Ogun State primaries. The report surrounding the contest was that D-One was made to step down for Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s aide, Barrister Adebowale Ojulari. Barr Ojulari is Amosun’s special assistant (SA) on Education- talk of compensation based on loyalty perhaps. So KSB and DOne may have to try another time, say in 2019. The primary elections of Abolore Akande aka 9ice into Ogbomoso North constituency of Federal House of Representatives and Kate Henshaw’s Cross River State, House of Representatives ambition has not been concluded as at the time of filing this report. Funke Adesiyan’s winlose status is not yet known as well. The Yoruba actress is contesting Ibadan South constituency of the Oyo State House of

The art of politicking is getting busier now and the men are being separated from the boys. SAMUEL ABULUDE, looks into the recent results of party primary elections which demonstrate different results for our entertainers vying for political office

Desmond Elliot

Dayo D-One

Assembly.

Desmond’s victory, rumours The likeable actor, Desmond Olusola Elliot defeated the incumbent representative of Surulere Constituency 1, Kabiru Lawal to get the party’s ticket for the forthcoming general election. This has earned him respect among entertainers and politicians alike although the rumour making

KSB

the rounds is that Desmond who has two sets of twins, has the blessing and is favoured by the APC leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu which must have given him a standpoint and advantage over others. And perhaps this is truer because politics in this clime borders on who is your godfather and sponsor not your deliverables- what you have to offer the people regarding service and change.

According to PM News, the primary election was peaceful except in Ebutemeta, Kosofe and Surulere where there was tension in the air because Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot was said to have been favoured against the incumbent and two-term member of the house, Kabiru Lawal. Reports have it that Kabiru Lawal may be compensated with the Surulere local government chairman position.

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e-train foreign Sunday, December 7, 2014

Latest Movies WILD

In 1994, Cheryl Strayed decides to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, as a way to heal herself, following her divorce, the death of her mother, and years of reckless, destructive behaviour.

In theaters on December 5, 2014.

Production company: Fox Searchlight Pictures and Pacific Standard.

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski Directed: Jean-Marc Vallée Produced: BrunaPapandr, Bill Pohlad, Reese Witherspoon Duration: 115 minutes

Justin Bieber: Bev Hills Neighbours Rejoice It’s been rainy and gloomy in LA all week, but it’s all sunshine and rainbows for the residents of a Beverly Hills condo ... because Justin Bieber has finally moved out!

Bieber officially cleared out Monday. An email had circulated among tenants, suggesting a party when the day came that Justin was a memory ... so Saturday night should be crazy at the condo.

TMZ said Biebs has terrorised his neighbours since he signed the lease back in June.

June 24 -- Days after Bieber settled in neighbours are already complaining July 3 -- The building hires extra security July 21 -- Cops called to the condo six times in one night for

Justin

Bieber-related problems July 29 -- Cops show up to tell residents how to handle Bieber October 15 -- A Bieber homecoming party is busted up by cops We’ve heard Bieber is looking to rent an L.A. home, but so far nothing concrete.

Chinese Family Sues Realtor, Kardashians

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS “The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.”

In theaters on December 12, 2014.

Production Company: Chernin Entertainment and Scott Free Productions.

Starring: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Ben Mendelsohn, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley Directed: Ridley Scott Produced: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Ridley Scott, Jenno Topping Duration: 150 minutes

ACTION JACKSON

A Chinese man – considered the Asian Ryan Seacrest -- has filed a lawsuit alleging the Kardashians trashed his house in the worst way -- they told America it had bad ‘fengshui’.

Jianxiang Huang and Li Weihong bought the house in Calabasas in 2012 ... right next door to Kourtney. They left it vacant and asked their realtor to maintain it until they eventually moved in.

TMZ said last August, when Jianxiang returned to America to find the house in what he believed was shambles.

Jianxiang sued his realtor, and dropped a BOMBSHELL ... a neighbour told Jianxiang his house was on an episode of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” in January, when Khloe was

The house

looking for a home to escape the Lamar drama. Cameras were rolling when the family trashed the house, saying it had bad fengshui.

Jianxiang was humiliated, saying in his lawsuit 2 million people worldwide -- plus his neighbour -saw the Kardashians bring great dishonour to his house.

He’s suing the realtor for all sorts of things, including “aiding and abetting a trespass.”

3 Cosby Accusers Step Forward, Demand $100m Fund For Alleged Victims

Action Jackson is an upcoming 2014 Indian action comedy film.

In theaters on December 5, 2014 Production company: VW Production.

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Yami Gau tam, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Sanjay Dutt Directed: Prabhudeva Produced: Vic Walia, Gordhan Tanwani, Sunil Lulla

Three more women are speaking out to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault. At a press conference on Wednesday, L.A. attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing the accusers, demanded Cosby place $100 million in a fund for his alleged victims and allow a panel of retired judges to decide whether the women’s claims have merit or not.

Allred – a civil-rights lawyer often in the headlines for cases involving women’s rights and celebrities – proposed that Cosby should waive the statute of limitations on sexual assault claims, which would permit the women to file lawsuits against the beleaguered comedian.

Allred told reporters that she had

Latest Music Russ - No Matter What Release date: December 4, 2014 After a short absence, Russ is back with yet another genre-smashing single with a ton of mass appeal. Delivering a positive message of self-empowerment, the performer alternates seamlessly between rapping and singing over a breezy instrumental that tonally compliments the cover art.

The Summer may be long over, but this one should help make that Fall weather a little warmer.

Quotable Lyrics: No Matter what you do No matter where you stay No matter how you dress You should love yourself today

Alicia Keys - We Gotta Pray Release date: December 4, 2014 In light of the recent decisions in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, Alicia Keys decides to come through tonight and appropriately release her new ballad “We Gotta Pray”.

Backed by heavy-piano keys, the R&B superstar delivers a heartfelt message that reminds listeners to stay positive and to spread unity, peace, and love throughout these tough times. Released as a video, images of protestors are seen holding signs all with various messages pertaining to issues all across the world. It follows up her most recent release “We Are Here”.

Quotable Lyrics: Fire in the air, what the hell goin’ on?

Sirens everywhere, singin’ that street song Violence everywhere, barely holdin’ on What the hell goin on? Do you know who you are?

Do you know who we are?

DezertEez - Dirty Piano Keyz Feat. Inspectah Deck Release date: December 4, 2014 When DezertEez made their HNHH debut alongside Dead Prez back in October, readers were more than welcoming of the trio’s revolution-instigating lyrics and sample-driven production. Their debut mixtape The Realness was widely acclaimed, earning them opening act status for the likes of KRS-1, Dead Prez, and Slum Village, plus a short tour with Wu Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck. Now, the mighty Inspectah returns the favor on a fresh new mixtape single produced by Bronze Nazareth.

Quotable Lyrics: If rate multiplied by time Equals distance In theory, I could travel the Earth With one sentence So I train to go the distance

Chanel West Coast - Looking Forward Cosby

been approached by a number of women who claimed that Cosby either drugged or sexually assaulted them. “Many of those alleged victims contacted me to determine if they had any legal rights that they could assert against Mr Cosby,” she said.

Release date: December 3, 2014 Chanel West Coast first rose to fame (or at least, recognition) with her appearance on the TV show “Ridiculousness,” but has since branched out into music scene as a member of the Young Money roster. Prepping the release of her debut album (due 2015), Chanel comes through tonight and releases her newest single “Looking Forward”.

Compiled by Aderibigbe Tolulope

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

Adamawa PDP Patriotic Front

A

PDP NWC IS RIGHT ON ADAMAWA!

s patriotic and genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the grassroots level are overwhelmed by the thoughtful decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party to move the primaries for various positions in Adamawa State to Abuja. It is a decision that we accepted with happiness and in good faith knowing, fully well, that it was taken in the larger interest of the Party and the good people of Adamawa State.

We loudly applaud the witty and selfless decision reached after exhaustive session of the NWC where our Party leaders demonstrated that the Party is always ready to place the larger interest ahead of that of individuals, no matter highly placed.

The decision to call off primaries in Yola, just like in our sister states of Borno and Yobe, were taken by the NWC with the intent of safeguarding all our party men and women. No man’s ambition is worth the blood of anybody; this is the oft-repeated gospel of our Leader, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The unfortunate circumstances of our time have made public gatherings easy target of bloodthirsty terrorists and it is with trepidation that people presently converge in large number, more so for political events. It is not our wish that we all have to travel the long distance from various parts of Adamawa to Abuja for the primary elections, but safety should take precedence over comfort.

The NWC’s decision is also a welcomed development in line with the very unfortunate show of shame we saw in Adamawa during the controversial House of Assembly primaries. We have seen how agents of State, who should ordinarily provide security cover, engaged in heinous illegality of abduction and assaulting esteemed persons drafted to the state to conduct the State Assembly primaries. That was a nasty experience, as recounted by the Electoral Panel, that no one would want to see it repeated. We are saddened by how self-serving politicians from Adamawa continuously showcase share insensitivity and readiness to rock the boat if the tunes do not conform to their dance steps. The condemnable steps being taken to create bad blood and pitch our peace-loving people with each other just to achieve an individual’s ambition is, to say the least, criminal.

It is with a lot of embarrassment and regret that we see some few self-conceited individuals daily renting the pages of newspapers and the airwaves to rain abuse and aspersions on our respected leaders. This behaviour is no doubt unbecoming of any party man, more so one that is supposedly a leader. It is also unbeknown among the well cultured people of Adamawa State.

It should be pointed out that those against inclusiveness and fair play in the affairs of our party are the people that have always being against the party’s progress and expansion. PDP is bigger than any individual or a small cohort of expired politicians and self-proclaimed elders whose conduct is far from being elderly.

Everyone that has no skeleton buried in Yola, should not be huffing and buffing because the primaries are moved to anywhere else. One with the people should not be afraid for election, anytime and anywhere it is scheduled.

We thank the hundreds of delegates who defied incitement and misguidance of disgruntled individuals and took the tiring journey from Yola to Abuja to exercise their franchise. We shall have peaceful and prosperous election to the embarrassment of the nay-sayers Hamidu M. Aliyu Chairman

Long Live PDP!!!

Peter Nicholas Secretary

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opinion Sunday, December 7, 2014

That Peaceful Protest At Baze University

By Yushau Shuaib

It was supposed to be a visitation for enquiry on new courses when this writer bumped into a peaceful protest by students of Baze university, an Abuja-based private institution over increase in tuition fee.

As the director Academic Planning of the university, Mr Mani Ibrahim was going round on inspection tour on some of the facilities on the campus, I saw some students sitting by the entrance to the school; then I felt something was amiss.

During the short inspection, I admired the quality academic buildings, hostel accommodation, a mosque and a chapel for worshippers. There were also a well-situated shopping mall, bookshop, cafeteria and a bank. The arena accommodates football pitch, basketball, squash, volley-ball, badminton, table tennis and gym.

Also, I discovered that apart from fibre-optic broadband internet with Wi-Fi connection to all campus buildings, there also internet access to over 16,000 full-text on-line academic journals.

Baze university is an institution founded by a forward-looking and progressive young northern entrepreneur, Senator Datti, who would rather invest in education than engage in the usual business of contract and supply of average Nigerian businessman. Interestingly, whereas there is an abundance

of private universities already established by southerners, Baze university is one of the very few established by northerners.

Since the university was established, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed has devoted his energy, time and resources into the development of the university which is strategically located in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.

Apart from creating job opportunities for a greater number of Nigerians, the academic institution now has over 1,500 students pursuing various courses of study. Some of the students are actually transferred from some local and foreign universities.

Modelled after British university system, many faculty members were trained in the United Kingdom including the vice chancellor, Professor Michael Hood. The university currently offers courses in Financial Management, Computer Technology, Arts, Science, Law and is scheduled to launch programmes in Medicine and Engineering by September 2015.

As we were rounding off, I was surprised to see some of the protesting students spotting designer clothing, and blocking a street on the campus with exotic automobiles. Upon inquiry, I was made to understand that the students were protesting an increase in their tuition fee from N1.65 million to N1.8 million annually with effect from January, 2015.

Some of the students displayed placards carrying different inscriptions with the central theme of telling the university to maintain the prevailing tuition fees.

Even in the midst of the protests, Senator Datti, who is also pro-chancellor emerged from his office, calming the students and assuring them that their concerns would be carefully assessed. As a former student activist myself however, I cautioned him against getting too close to the hotheaded students. During students’ demonstrations, anything can happen.

The strikingly-suave gentleman politely brushed my observation aside, insisting that he had to move around to ensure that young individuals don’t resort to actions that could be injurious to their lives or inflict harm on others. It was my delight to accompany and observe him while moving around to calm his wards and prevailing on them not to take their protests outside the institution’s premises.

I jokingly pointed to one of the students wearing a rather expensive wrist-watch and shoes that he was obviously in a position to afford the about N200,000 increment. Hear his retort: “Not all hands are equal. Please don’t judge everybody by the privileged few”.

One student informed me that his mother actually borrowed money to pay for his tuition fees while his elder sisters contributed money for his other expenses like accommodation and

feeding. Another claimed that his younger ones are desirous of coming to the school but that outrageous fees might discourage his parent for the sponsorship.

The proprietor took the pain to explain to some of them the necessity of the increase. He pleaded with them to understand that the school was struggling to be one of the very best in Africa and reminded them of university rule mandating students to issue a one-week notice before embarking on any form of protest. This is to ensure that the authority can arrange for adequate security coverage for maximum protection of protesters.

He explained that the current regime of fees was introduced over three years ago but that inflation has escalated the costs by 31.8% due to falling value of the Naira. He said it was vital for the university to maintain standards and quality, by being able to continue to improve facilities, attract highquality staff, employ key international scholars, bring external examiners from the UK and enhance research.

While regretting management’s decision to reluctantly increase fees, Datti told them that by September 2015, the university will commence Degree programmes in Medicine and Engineering, which are also capital intensive courses.

Yushau A. Shuaib wrote from Wuye district, Abuja

Some of the students displayed placards carrying different inscriptions with the central theme of telling the university to maintain the prevailing tuition fees

2015: A Decisive Moment As PDP Delegates Decide At The Primaries

By Suleman Muhammed

Delegates, therefore, need to put sentiments aside and choose a candidate that is widely acceptable, and has the strong will to deliver

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has consolidated its grip in Kebbi State after the historic decamping of Adamu Aliero almost 15 years ago, which ushered in Saidu Nasamu Dakingari in the helm of affairs of the state. PDP no doubt, with two solid terms in office is the party of choice for the people of Kebbi State.

As the country heads for the polls in 2015, the party’s major concern is consolidating power in the state.

It is pertinent then that the party gets all its acts right to avoid slipping its dominance into the hands of the opposition. PDP, for the last 15 years has coveted the state government house and dared any party to it.

One path the party must tread with all caution is fielding the right candidate, a popular candidate with the people of the state. And judging by the calibre of aspirants that have indicated interest in the state, it is a herculean task. However, one aspirant stands out, in terms of his philanthropic work, grassroots project, honesty, responsiveness, and respect for the rule of law. His manifesto for the people of the state come 2015, particularly for a traditional society like Kebbi State, is poise to higher heights.

His chosen career: Agriculture, sets

the pace for the manifesto. The value addition is that his agricultural career, symbolizes constant interactions with the peasants, a situation which he finds most comfortable.

This candidate is none other than Alhaji Zubairu Abdullahi Turaki (Wazirin Dabai). He is one name that needs not much introduction to the people of Kebbi. His open door policy in both his private life and politics has seen him touch the lives of the people of the state, especially the less privileged in the most positive ways.

Within the short span of registering his political intention, Zubairu has become adept in maneuvering the political jungle and now is the impersonation of political correctness.

His various job schedules gave him ample opportunities to give people with disadvantaged background or people with particular skills or talents the chance to better themselves and contribute positively to the society.

Some of his personal philanthropic activities includes, but not restricted to, rendering assistance to farmers via access to extension services, fertilizer support and seedlings for planting.

Contributions to faith-based organizations, employments to over a hundred (100) qualified youths to several federal, states and other

employable positions is a known fact. He has helped sunk over thirtythree (33) boreholes and repaired over twenty-two (22) others and has organised entrepreneurial seminars and assisted various women groups within the state. Within his official capacity, Alhaji Zubairu Turaki has influenced the development of feeder roads, availability of micro-credit facilities and strong impact of all MDG assisted programs in health, education, water and sanitation to the state in general.

Little wonder, the young man became a political octopus within a short political sojourn in Kebbi State. If track record is anything to go by, then most certainly, Alhaji Zubairu Turaki is the man to beat during the state primaries. There is no iota of doubt, if given the chance, Alhaji Zubairu Turaki will consolidate the gains of Alhaji Saidu Nasamu Dakingari in the last 15 years. He will add to the enduring legacy that the people of Kebbi State are fully liberated.

As delegates prepare to choose the partys flag-bearers, it is pertinent to, once again, draw their attention to the danger of fielding wrong candidate for the party. Not only will it create room for the opposition to lay hold

of the states most exalted position it has coveted for some years now, it will further discredit the party as one that is not people-oriented.

Delegates, therefore, need to put sentiments aside and choose a candidate that is widely acceptable, and has the strong will to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Kebbi State, who are in need for a change. Only a candidate with an indepth knowledge of the plight of the people can deliver the kind of change they sought and for now, there is none better than Alhaji Zubairu Turaki.

The last thing the PDP in Kebbi State needs at the moment is a divided house. 2015 is around the corner and only a candidate that carries the vision of the people can deliver it to the party. It is now left for the delegates to actualise and deliver the dreams and aspirations of the people through their votes.

Kebbi State is a very peaceful state that is blessed with abundant natural and human resources. In addition, that is why so many great men and women, whose contribution cannot be omitted in the history of our dear country Nigeria, and the world at large, have emerged from the state.

Suleman Muhammed wrote from Birnin-Kebbi

64 OPINION

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Plateau 2015: Need For Issue-based Campaign

By Zephania Michael

By February 2015, God willing, the successor of Governor Jang will be elected. The contest is open to eligible politicians from all the political parties. And for more than a year now, those, who believe they possess the credentials to contest have thrown their hats into the ring.

As at the last count, there were about 20 men of timber and calibre.

As the tempo of the contest increases, with the timetable released first by INEC the umpire, political parties and politicians from all walks of live have devised various strategies by which they intend to win, first the nomination to become the flag bearer of their parties and then for the governorship election.

These strategies range from trying to cajole party supporters to pitch their tent with them, to outright blackmail and whipping of ethnic sentiments. There is seldom any focus on issues and strategies that will build on what the incumbent, Governor Jang has done in the past eight years.

The strongest of such arguments is that no Berom person should succeed Governor Jang.

That Plateau North Senatorial district should not contest the 2015 elections. Abuja is awash with visits by lobby teams to stop Governor Jang from determining who succeeds him. Yet, in the political history of Plateau State, there was never a time when the political class came up with the decision to zone the governorship or rotate that position among the three senatorial districts. It has always been whoever can, let him try.

Governor Jang has been accused severally of promoting a Berom agenda.

Yet when you consider the issues critically, what Governor Jang has tried to do throughout his tenure is to promote

fairness among the different groups especially using the local government councils as units of representation. The Beroms are in four local government areas of Jos North, Jos South, Riyom and Barakin Ladi. They are also found in two electoral wards in Mangu and one electoral ward in Jos East. And in both LGAs, they have, at different times, contested and won elections as councillors and have also been appointed as councillors long before the Jang era. May I add also that there are Beroms in both Bokkos and Bassa LGAs as well. So, if you have 17 items to share, there is no way you will give only one item to the Berom because they are just a tribe.

What is baffling, however, is the hate campaign which unfortunately has been lifted to a very ridiculous level by persons who feel they must become governor by all means. Instead of canvassing for support in a way and manner that will build consensus and forge greater unity, the state is being exposed to divisive tendencies that will do no one any good; rather it will further fragment the different ethnic groups and weaken the bond of togetherness.

Are those people trying to prevent the candidacy of Sen Pwajok strangers to Plateau State, or why are they playing the ostrich? It is in this Plateau, that at some point in time there were six persons, who at different times but almost in succession, served as cabinet ministers in Nigeria and the heavens did not fall? Late Gen Joe Garba, Gen Shagaya, Gen Domkat Bali, Gen J T Useni, Late Chief Ezekiel Yusufu, Late Chief Solomon Lar, all of them Tarok from Langtang North LGA, have held one cabinet position or the other on behalf of Plateau State, the heavens did not fall because they are from the same tribe and LGA. Late Chief Solomon Lar, Prof Mary Lar his wife and Barrister Beni

Lar his daughter all served Nigeria as minister, ambassador and presidential aide respectively, and they are all members of one family. Was it because there were no people from other tribes in Plateau State? Amb Fidelis Tapgun served as governor, minister and an ambassador and his younger sister was also appointed minister to represent Plateau State. Again I ask, is it because there were no other Plateau people to serve?

How far can the campaign of calumny and hate against Governor Jang and the Beroms be pushed? Interestingly, those in the fore front of the campaign either have Berom grand mothers, mothers, wives, nephews or nieces, including sons and daughters born to them by Beroms. If the Berom are that bad and cannot rule, then why allow the Berom blood to flow through (contaminate) your off springs? And as I write, many more marriage contracts are being signed between the Berom boys and girls with boys and girls from other tribes in Plateau and beyond, making the argument for strong tribal stances on issues very fluid in the near future.

Are the elders of Plateau, those 50 and above trying to take us back to the dark ages of inter-tribal wars? Our youths are trying to build a greater Plateau with less emphasis on what divides us with more emphasis on our commonality as minority groups in Nigeria rather than small tribes on the plateau, who are known more by other Nigerians as ‘Plateau people’ not by our small small groupings.

Or is it the towering performance of Governor Jang that is sending shivers down the spines of some people that they cannot imagine another Berom governor coming to raise the stakes of performance higher and making Plateau a state to be reckoned with not just nationally but globally?

I am often amused when I hear complaints about Governor Jang developing the Berom areas alone, yet a bulk of the citizens of Plateau State reside within the greater Jos-Bukuru area.

The infrastructure put in those places are not used by the Beroms alone. As a matter of fact, these facilities have greatly improved the networth of the properties of those who reside in these places. A careful census of such houses will reveal that the Beroms are in the minority in terms of ownership. For many brothers and sisters from the central and southern zones, the permanent place of residence is in the northern zone. So, they build their best of houses within Jos and environs.

Even when they build in their villages, it is only to spend few days during festivities, funerals, or political activities like voters registration and elections.

And as soon as they are done, they run back to Jos. So why accuse Governor Jang when we are all beneficiaries of his engineering prowess.

Let’s not forget that it is Governor Jang that has also raised the status of our Local Government Headquarters by ensuring that appropriate infrastructure is developed, 6 kilometers of road in each LGA, upgrade of medical facilities, markets, sporting facilities and educational institutions. Many Governors before Jang paid little attention to developing the LGAs. Will a person who promotes wholistic development and much more be considered unfair? Haba Plateau. What exactly do we want? People who say more and do little because of limited sight and narrow tribal mindedness or people who look at a broader picture and tirelessly work at making it a reality for the common good of all.

Zephania Michael, Public Affairs Analyst writes from Abuja.

Are the elders of Plateau, those 50 and above trying to take us back to the dark ages of inter-tribal wars

Katsina Electricity Project: Another Mssion In Shema’s Vision

By HB NAGADO

The project would bring Nigeria nearer to the target of 20,000MW by 2020 as contained in the vision 20:20:20 document.

Just this Monday, 1st, December, 2014 the Federal government, in conjunction with Governor Ibrahim Shema’s administration sealed an agreement with some technical partners, preparatory to the commencement of work on a 1, 000 megawatts (MW) power plant in the State. This project, is just another one, in the series of many remarkable ones initiated by this administration since its inception in 2007. The project cost, put at $1 billion, is expected to, within the next 30 months supply 300MW of electricity, and then a gradual increase to 1,000MW in the next 3 years.

This project is a trio effort by the federal government, Katsina state government and Strancton Limited. This important project will be fuelled from Niger republic- another strategic decision that further strengthens the already known economic ties between the two neighbours. According to the agreement, natural gas will be converted to liquefy Natural Gas and supplied to the plant as part of efforts to ensure all leakages that could delay the operations of the project are tackled heads on.

Already, an agreement was entered with Greenville Oil and Gas Limited for the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the Kaduna Power Plant.

Experts on energy, oil and gas have

been hailing the project as yet another beautiful idea that was rightly initiated for the good of people and the nation.

The Minister of Power Engineer Nebo while describing this unique project as a master piece , also said “such innovative project is a call for us to take full advantage of gas reserves, by building infrastructure for its utilization, as gas alone can assist the country’s economic development immensely even without oil. While the Minister of State, power Honourable Mohammed Wakil described the signing of the MoUs as proof that the efforts of the Government in wooing investors are yielding positive results. According to him, the realization of the project would bring Nigeria nearer to the target of 20,000MW by 2020 as contained in the vision 20:20:20 document. He added that the local content component of the two MoUs was commendable, as it would ensure that Nigerian Youths take their rightful positions in the future.

Chief Executive Officer of Strancton Limited, Chief Edozie Njoku, the company that will build the project was elated with the opportunity that will be provided by the project, not only to teeming youths in Katsina state and beyond, but to the nation as a whole.

While stakeholders are busy hailing the project’s future impact on the socio-economic development of the na-

tion, Katsina state citizens have been expressing their flurry of enthusiasm with the decision of the state government to bring this gigantic project to the state. Association of Katsina professionals in Abuja described the project as commendable, visionary and clear determination by the Shema administration to bequeath a legacy to the future generations. Alhaji Aliyu Sani, chairman of the association described the project as unique and an opportunity for the present and future.

In the next 30 months, when the first phase of this project is completed, thousands of youths from the state and across the country will be employed and the state’s and the nation’s economy will be boosted by the multiplier effect of the 1000 megawatts project. Experts projected that apart from the mass direct economic potentials of the project to the state, thousands of indirect economic activities will blossom within the state and beyond.

It is estimated that the state’s economy will grow by 40% at the inception of the first 300 megawatts in 30 months, and thereafter, grow by another 30% in the preceding years before the completion period in 2018.

This massive impact on the economy and social correlation indices of the state, the Nigerian nation and even to the Niger republic will no doubt ginger

a chain of socio-economic revival within the sub Saharan African region and beyond. The state, which has been a historical centre of economy and commerce, is billed to re-write its almost forgotten history as an economic route to many African states. All these, are manifestation of visions, visions incubated and developed to maturity by the person of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema. It is therefore, obvious that in the next few years, the state will pride itself as the giant of sub Saharan African in terms of economic viability, socio cohesion, commercial harness and as a significant player in Africa’s economy and politics.

This is not the only viable project initiated by the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema in the last seven years since its inception. Many others, including craft village, solid minerals development, farm centres, electricity projects, infrastructure development, and investments in education, health, security and agriculture have all changed the way and manner of governance in the state. The level of socio-economic development bequeathed by this administration is equal to none since the creation of the state decades ago. This level has placed the state in course to smooth growth and relevance.

Nagado wrote from Unguwar Dabino Dutsin-ma and can be reached at nagado2000@yahoo.com

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

PARTy PRIMARIES fOR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS Section 18 (1) of the Electoral Guidelines for the 2014 Primary Elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) provides that there shall be an Electoral Committee of five persons for each state for the purpose of conducting Party Primary for the 2015 Gubernatorial Election. Section 20 (g) stipulates that the Electoral Appeal Panel shall comprise all members of the National Working Committee (NWC). Gubernatorial primaries shall be conducted on Monday, December 8, while Appeals shall be heard on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

The National Working Committee (NWC) has, accordingly, approved the appointment of the following Party members to serve on the Gubernatorial Committees for states where gubernatorial elections are holding in 2015.

ABIA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Dr. (Mrs.) A. N. Mbah 2. Yerima Hussaini 3. Barr. Abdullahi Jalo 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Baba Iyali

- Chairman - Member - ,, - ,, - Member/Secretary

ADAMAWA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sen. Rufai Hanga 2. Vera Dimka 3. Barr. Sunday Ibrahim Adamu 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Martins Uka -

- Chairman - Member - ,, - ,, Member/Secretary

AKWA IBOM STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Prince Bola Oyebowale 2. Mrs. Kandy Uchendu 3. Shehu Abubakar 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Barr. Cosmos Ugweze

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

BAUCHI STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sen. Stella Omo 2. Sen. Mohammed Bello 3. Barr. Chuks Ajuka 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Arc. Reuben Okoya

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

CROSS RIVER STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Prince Shola Akanmode 2. Boma Iyiye 3. Haj. (Barr.) Fatima Jimeta 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Mr. George Obiamalu

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

DELTA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Hon. Karimi Sunday Steve 2. Chief (Mrs.) Uzo Mwandu 3. Barr. Musa Amagbor 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Sani Toro

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary 1

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

EBONYI STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. HE Ayo Peter Fayose 2. Barr. Chinenye Oji 3. Hajia Hauwa Kida 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Deimma Iyella

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

JIGAWA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Alh. Kaulaha Aliyu 2. Tony Nwoye 3. Barr. Zanna Mustapha 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Hassana Abdullahi

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

KADUNA STATE Electoral Committee

ENUGU STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. King Asara A. Asara 2. Barr. Saratu Umar 3. Engr. Alamu Adeyemi 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Barr. Ukpai Ukairo

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

GOMBE STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba 2. Stella Kanyinabi 3. Barr. Charles Menabo 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Hon. Sani Musa -

- Chairman - Member - ,, - ,, Member/Secretary

IMO STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Terngu Tsegba 2. Barr. Ody Ajike 3. Abdulaziz Abdulkarim 4. Fatimah Saleh 5. Elias Oche

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

Name 1. Chief (Dr.) Steve Oru 2. Mrs. Agape Kramer 3. Barr. Mansurat Ibrahim 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Dr. Araf Sukuyo

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

KANO STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Alh. Ahmed Moh’d Gusau 2. Princess Gloria Adebajo Fraser 3. Barr. Hamza Yusuf Kurfi 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Abdullahi Yelwa -

- Chairman - Member - ,, - ,, Member/Secretary

KATSINA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Abu Muazu 2. Barr. Tanimu Adabson 3. Mrs. Phil N. Egbuniwe 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Adegboye Oyewole

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

KEBBI STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sir Celestine Omehia 2. Hajiya Safiya Rabiu 3. Barr. Baba Lawal Aliyu 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Mr. Chinedu Ochinawata

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary 2

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

LAGOS STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sen. Saidu Umar Kumo 2. Hajia Hadiza Sambo 3. Barr. Harvey Ideoze 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Usman Aliyu Gari

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

RIVERS STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Hon. Etifa Bekeakpo 2. Barr. (Mrs.) Christy Okoi 3. Mrs. Josephine Peter Anyakwa 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Mr. Ferdinand Ibezim -

- Chairman - Member - ,, - ,, Member/Secretary

SOKOTO STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sen. U. U. Dukku 2. Barr. Abubakar Ahmad Fingilla 3. Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Ntunkae Eyo Ita 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Dr. Uche Nwogbo Uche -

- Chairman - Member - ,, - ,, Member/Secretary

ZAMFARA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Ken Emeakayi 2. Habiba Hassan Magazu 3. Barr. Tijjani Mohammed 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Engr. Orus Timi

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

KWARA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Hon. Tom Zakari 2. Barr. Anosike Nnamdi 3. Florence Taiwo 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Hassan Grema

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

NASARAWA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sen. Adolphus Wabara 2. Barr. Ajibola Oluyede 3. Hajia Amina Jambo 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Dr. Kabir Illelah

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

PLATEAU STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Alh. Abdullahi Ohiomah 2. Rifkatu Samson 3. Barr. Garba Ibrahim 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Salisu Magaji

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

BENUE STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Amb. Adamu Saidu Daura 2. Barr. Ann Eyo 3. Safiya Lizzy Ibok Bala 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Akinola Oyegoke

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

3

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

NIGER STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Jibril Martins Kuye 2. Barr. Bashiru Madugu 3. Hajiya Ya Gana Mustafa 4. PDP Ag. State Chairman 5. Chuks Akwitti

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

BORNO STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Dr. Pius Senibe 2. Hon. Uche Ebere Stanley 3. Barr. Anthony Okey 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Iyom Adaobi Obijiaku

TARABA STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar 2. Barr. Doris Onyali 3. Barr. Eric Otojahe 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Emma Ekperikpo

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

OYO STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sen. Abba Aji 2. Dr. Victoria Bellu 3. Hon. Funmi Olasehinde 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Barr. Chigbo Obiakor

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

OGUN STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Sen. Isa Mohammed 2. Barbara Yewande Kuku 3. Barr. Yakubu Abdullahi 4. PDP State Chairman 5. Toks Akerele

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

YOBE STATE Electoral Committee

Name 1. Chief Simon Ngwu 2. Maryam Titi Dada 3. Mahmud Balarabe 4. PDP Ag. State Chairman 5. Barr. Adamu Isyaku

-

Chairman Member ,, ,, Member/Secretary

ELECTORAL APPEAL PANEL 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, CON Prince Uche Secondus Abubakar Mustapha, MFR, mni Elder Bolaji Akpan Anani Chief (Barr.) Olisa Metuh Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe Hon. Abdullahi Maibasira Alh. Buhari Bala, OFR Barr. Onwe .S. Onwe Alh. Adewole Adeyanju Kwon Victor Y. Esq Prof. Wale Oladipo

- Chairman - Member ,, - ,, - ,, - ,, - ,, - ,, - ,, - ,, - ,, - Member/Secretary

The Chairmen/Secretaries of Electoral Committees and Electoral Appeal Panels are required to collect the nomination letters of their members, electoral materials and electoral appeal documents from the office of the National Organizing Secretary, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Plot 1970 Michael Okpara St. Wuse Zone 5, Abuja before proceeding to their States of posting.

4

foreign

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

news ➋

➍ ➊

➌

➊ American, South African

Hostages Killed In Yemen

SANAA, Yemen — An American photojournalist and a South African teacher held by al-Qaida militants in Yemen were killed Saturday during a failed U.S.-led rescue attempt, a raid president Barack Obama said he ordered over an “imminent danger” to the reporter.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula previously posted a video online threatening to kill photographer Luke Somers, prompting a second rescue attempt for him by American forces backed by Yemeni ground troops. But an aid group helping negotiate the release of South African Pierre Korkie said he was to be freed today and his wife was told only yesterday morning: “The wait is almost over.”

In a statement, Obama did not address Korkie by name, only saying he “authorised the rescue of any other hostages held in the same location as Luke.” The South African government did not immediately comment on Korkie’s death.

A senior Obama administration official later told The Associated Press that militants tried to kill Somers just before the raid, wounding him. U.S. commandos took Somers to a Navy ship in the region where he died, the official said.

Lucy Somers, the photojournalist’s sister, told the AP that she and her father learned of her 33-yearold brother’s death from FBI

The late Somers

agents at 0500 GMT (12 am EST) Saturday.

“We ask that all of Luke’s family members be allowed to mourn in peace,” she said from Kent.

Both Somers and Korkie “were murdered by the AQAP terrorists during the course of the U>S> commandos’ operation,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Korkie was kidnapped in the Yemeni city of Taiz in May 2013, along with his wife Yolande. Militants later released his wife after a non-governmental group, Gift of the Givers, helped negotiate for her freedom.

Those close to Korkie said alQaida militants demanded a $3 million ransom for his release.

Somers, who was born in Britain, earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing while attending Beloit College in Wisconsin from 2004 through 2007.

➋ Hollande, Putin Meet In Moscow On Ukraine MOSCOW, Russia — French President Francois Hollande met Russia’s Vladimir Putin yesterday, making a surprise stopover in a Moscow airport in an attempt to defuse mounting tensions over Ukraine.

Hollande is the first Western leader to visit Russia since the beginning of the crisis, which caused the European Union and the United States to impose punishing sanctions on Moscow for supporting proRussian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

“There are times when we need to seize opportunities.

This is such a time,” Hollande told Putin before the two continued to talk behind closed doors.

Putin concurred that there are “difficult problems” at hand, but expressed certainty that the “short, working

French President Francois Hollande and his Russia counterpart Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Vnukovo airport near Moscow yesterday

visit can without a doubt contribute to the resolution of many problems.”

The two are met in Vnukovo airport near Moscow in a terminal used by the Kremlin and other Russian officials, and were thought likely also to have discussed the refusal

by Paris to deliver two massive Mistral-class warships to the Russian navy.

Hollande was on his way home from a visit to Kazakhstan, a day after vowing to work towards a “deescalation” of the crisis, which plunged relations between Moscow and the West to a post-Cold War low as fighting between Kiev’s forces and proRussian separatists in eastern Ukraine has caused more than 4,300 deaths.

➌ Somali Prime Minister Voted Out Of Office

By Lawmakers — Speaker

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Members of parliament voted Somalia’s prime minister out of office yesterday for the second time in a year, move Western donors warned would threaten the war-torn nation’s fragile recovery.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed had been embroiled in a row over a cabinet reshuffle with president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who had overruled the changes.

The prime minister had been in office for just under a year after his predecessor, who also argued about the composition

of the cabinet and been accused of poor performance, was voted out.

“The prime minister and his government are out of office,” Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari said after 153 members of parliament voted against the premier and 80 backed him. “We ask the president to establish a government as soon as possible.”

Western donors, who have poured in billions of dollars to help rebuild Somalia after two decades of conflict, worry the removal of a second prime

minister in such a short space of time will weaken a government struggling to defeat Islamist rebels.

Al Shabaab, which has been driven out of major strongholds in an offensive this year by African and Somali troops, has continued to stage deadly hitand-run attacks.

Highlighting Western donor concerns, the U.S. State Department said in November that “actions to put forward a parliamentary motion for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister do not serve the interests of the Somali people.”

➍ Iran Air Strikes Against ISIS Requested By

Iraqi Government, Says Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran — A senior Iranian official said on Friday his country’s air strikes against Islamic State extremists in Iraq was carried out at the request of the Baghdad government but was not coordinated with the US. The deputy foreign minister, Ebrahim Rahimpour said the purpose of the strikes was “the defence of the interests of our friends in Iraq” who he defined as the Baghdad government and the Kurdish autonomous region in the north of the country, who are both fighting the Isis movement.

“In this matter, we did not have any coordination with the Americans. We have coordinated only with the Iraqi

government,” Rahimpour told the Guardian, in an interview in London.

He said he did not know specific details of the strikes but added: “In general, every military operation to help the Iraqi government is according to their requests.”

“We will not allow conditions in Iraq to descend to the level of Syria, which has been created by foreign players.

And certainly our assistance [to Iraq] is stronger than our assistance to Syria, because they are nearer to us.”

Iranian officials initially denied carrying out air strikes inside Iraq despite video aired by Al Jazeera last week showing vintage US Phantom

warplanes, of the kind the Iranian air force still uses, carrying out raids in Diyala province on November 24, near the Iranian border.

The Pentagon later confirmed Iranian aircraft had been in action, but stressed there had been no coordination with US forces, which have carried out multiple air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq and Syria. The new American ambassador in Baghdad, Stuart Jones, said that, as a neighbour, Iran played an important role in the fight against Isis, adding the US left it to the Iraqi government to ensure US and Iranian efforts did not duplicate each other or clash.

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

Chelsea Beaten At Last Chelsea missed out on setting a club record unbeaten run when Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse struck twice in a 2-1 victory yesterday which rocked the Premier League leaders.

Undefeated in 23 matches in all competitions since April’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, Chelsea proved far

from invincible as 10-man Newcastle survived a late barrage to secure a thrilling victory at St James’ Park.

Few could deny Newcastle deserved it. They lost goalkeeper Rob Elliot to injury at halftime, replaced by young rookie Jak Alnwick, and were reduced to 10 men when Steven Taylor was dismissed

after getting a second yellow card 10 minutes from the end.

Cisse, who replaced Remy Cabella after the break, put Newcastle in front after 57 minutes following a slip by Gary Cahill and struck again on the break 20 minutes later, seconds after Eden Hazard was denied an equaliser by the woodwork.

AFCON Shut Out: Oshaniwa Still In Shock

Managing director, Kaduna refining and petro-chemical company (KRPC), Mr Mohammed Aliyu, teeing-off the 11th Kaduna refining and petro-chemical company Amateur Golf Championship which opened in Kaduna yesterday. PHOTO BY Nan

KPRC Committed to Sports Development In Nigeria – MD The Managing director Kaduna refining and petro-chemical company (KRPC), Engr Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, has said that the company is committed to sports development in Nigeria, this he said was demonstrated by sponsoring various sporting competitions in

their immediate community, Kaduna State and the nation at large.

He stated this while speaking at the presentation ceremony of the 11th KRPC Amateur Golf Championship at the Kaduna Golf Club yesterday.

“We have sponsored compe-

titions in football, tennis, track and field, we also believe that this amateur golf competition that we have sponsored in the last eleven years has helped in identifying some budding golfing talents,” he revealed On his part, Captain of Kaduna Engr Suleiman Adamu

appreciated the untiring efforts of the KRPC for the sponsorship of the tournament in the past 11 years.

He, however, appealed to the KRPC to make the tournament a two-day event so that the strength of the amateur golfers would be better tested.

We Are Ready For The Premier League – 3SC Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan have promised to bounce back into the top flight with a difference after securing a ticket to the elite division.

Club’s media officer, Jubril Arowolo has vowed to justify their promotion when the Nigeria Premier League kicks off.

The Oluyole Warriors got demoted to the lower league two seasons ago after some dreadful performances both home and away but they clawed their way back to the premier league for the Nationwide cadre.

According to Arowolo, the club will not let past mistakes repeat itself as they will do all it takes not to get demoted again.

“We are grateful to God for guiding us back to the premier league. It was not easy at all in the lower league, we must agree and it only took the grace of God for us to achieve our set target at the beginning of the just concluded season,” he told Goal.

“Our players are presently on holiday and very soon they shall be recalled for the start of the new season. We are going to stick with basically most of the players that guided us back to the premier league but we are not unmindful of some areas that are in need of fortification. We shall do that before the start of the season.”

Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa has expressed regret following the Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations ouster.

The Eagles defender has expressed regret following the inability of Stephen Keshi’s men to book a ticket for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea The African champions bungled their chance of defending the trophy they won in South Africa after playing a 2-2 draw against South Africa at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo. According to the Ashdod SC defender, the Cup of Nations blackout is a sad tale and has apologised on behalf of his Eagles’ teammates for letting the country down while assuring that the team will bounce back soon.

“We are all yet to recover from the shock of our inability to qualify for the Nations Cup but that is football for you,” Oshaniwa told Goal.

“We must forget about our ouster and think of what we should do to ensure that we do not have a repeat of what befell us this year.

“We as players will always be ready to wear the country’s jersey and also portray our nation well wherever we are so that no one speaks abusively of it. We are sorry about our inability to qualify and we promise to do our best to ensure that it doesn’t repeat itself again next time,” he concluded.

Premier League results Yesterday’s Matches N/Castle 2 - 1 Chelsea Hull 0 - 0 WBA Liverpool 0 - 0 Sunderland QPR 2 – 0 Burnley Stoke 3 - 2 Arsenal Tottenham 0 – 0 Crystal Palace Man City 1 - 0 Everton

3SC players line-up

Today’s Matches West Ham vs Swansea Aston Villa vs Leicester

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Hart Set for New Man City Deal England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is set to sign a new contract with the Premier League champions.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed on Friday that the England international is ready to commit his long-term future to the club and the improved deal is expected to be confirmed in the next few days.

Hart had reportedly been in discussions with the club over a five-year contract since the close-season.

His present contract, worth a reported £80,000 per week, is due to expire in 2016.

The 27-year-old has been in fine form this season, underlining his status as first choice for club and country, after a spell out of Pellegrini’s side last year.

Pellegrini who was speak-

ing on Friday at a press conference, said: “I always said it is important for this club to keep Joe with us.

“He is a very good goalkeeper and not only a very good goalkeeper; he is a very important player for the squad also. So maybe in the next day you will have good news.”

Hart was axed by Pellegrini in favour of then No 2 Costel Pantilimon in October 2013, after a series of high-profile mistakes and did not regain his place until December.

He went on to finish the season well, but Pellegrini decided to increase the competition for his place by signing a new goalkeeper in Willy Caballero from his old club Malaga.

“Joe is having a very good season. The arrival of Willy Caballero was very impor-

Hart

tant for the club, for Joe, for Willy, for everyone, because he is a very good goalkeeper,” Pellegrini added.

“I think the best way for players to have high performance is when they have important competition. I think that was very useful for him and I am very happy about that.”

Toure Rates All AFCONbound Teams Equal

Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure, has weighed in on the 2015 African Cup of Nations draw that will be staged in Equatorial Guinea.

Ivory Coast has been drawn in group D alongside Cameroon, Guinea and Mali to serve up entertaining group matches.

Yaya acknowledged the fact that there is a paradigm shift in power when it comes to African football and shared his thoughts on their chances on the tournament in an interview with supersport.com.

Toure

“This Afcon is going to be one of those competitions where all the teams go without any assurance of a win.”

“There is no small team in Africa anymore. As for us, we have challenging teams in our group who are used to the competition.

We are going to this Afcon with a group of young talented players who hopefully will learn to be winners, better sooner than later.”

He also took time to thank Equatorial Guinea for hosting the tournament following Morocco’s decision to withdraw due

to ebola.

Yaya is part of an initiative dubbed ‘Africa United’ campaign that aims to fight ebola that has plagued the continent this year on and off the pitch.

“We all should give our best to thank the hosting country for the effort they made by accepting to host the competition in such short notice. We young Africans are thankful for that.”

The Ivorian skipper is set to feature in his 6th African Cup of Nations since he made his international debut in 2004.

sports 71

AMUSEMENT PARK

To geT baCk my youTh, i would do anyThing in The world, exCepT Take exerCiSe, geT up early, or be reSpeCTable — oscar wilde

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

7.12.14 No. 461 N300

Aniebo Nwamu

The Sunday Column

S

The Same Old Tricks

aniebo@leadership.ng

ome of my readers have reminded me of an ultimatum I gave in July: to leave Abuja if the massacre of innocent people in parts of the north did not end by the end of August 2014. I am happy to inform them that I always keep my promises; I am not the typical Nigerian politician. Since August, I have taken steps to live outside of Abuja and work from other towns and cities of the world. In a few days, the rope binding me to Nigeria’s capital city will become even looser. Thanks to ICT, writers and editors can now work from anywhere!

I’m not alone. Many of my kinsmen living in different parts of the country have told me that, when they go home for this Christmas, they will not return until March or later. Others are proposing to travel in the first week of February and not come back until the state of the country becomes clearer.

Some are relocating and not planning to return.

With the recent attacks in Kano and the north-east, no Igbo trader needs to be reminded that home is the best. Indeed, this is a time that calls for wisdom. We know that everyone must die someday, but it is bad for one to die as a result of foolish risk-taking.

My assessment of the situation is that the forces seeking to destroy Nigeria cannot be stopped.

The country and its leaders appear helpless in the face of this unconventional war. Don’t listen to any-

one giving you assurances – terrorism has come to stay in Nigeria.

I have been watching to hear the politicians announce a postponement of the 2015 polls on account of the anti-insurgency battle. But no. What worries all of them is political survival. They want “automatic” tickets. They want to control their party’s “structure” in their states. In their thinking, nothing will stop the polls slated for February.

Meanwhile, the poor keep dying of neglect, hunger and starvation. Over a million Nigerians are now refugees in their own country. Of course, they won’t vote in the elections. Nor will most victims of bombing still lying in hospitals ever get a chance to vote.

None of the 20, 000+ dead of voting age will be resurrected to vote in February.

I see more trouble ahead because nothing has changed in the way politics is played in Nigeria.

It’s the same old ways, the same old tricks. Just watch the party primaries and tell me if there is any iota of democracy in the processes. Delegates are handpicked and bribed. At times, they are forced to take oaths of allegiance on coffins or corpses. And because most of them have been brainwashed or intimidated by poverty to put their votes where their mouths are, we have not witnessed any upset in the party primaries. Needless to say, the general elections have been rigged already.

Should I make predictions? I

0805 410 0220 (sms only)

always forecast the future – and, almost always, I’m vindicated. I hereby prophesy: There is nothing else to expect except trouble.

Bombs will keep exploding even on campaign grounds. Some presidential candidates will not campaign in some parts of the country for fear of being assassinated or given the Abiola treatment. The 2015 polls will go down in history as the worst ever. Neither the PDP nor the APC will accept to lose the presidential election. The armed forces and security agents will back the incumbent government but will find it difficult to suppress the uprising that will follow.

See why many want to relocate to their hometowns in advance of the polls?

The country has drifted mainly because it lacks an effective and efficient leadership. For instance, the National Conference to which over N12billion was committed this year has been forgotten; it became the jamboree that many had predicted. No good bill has been passed by the National Assembly; even the PIB has been stalled. The more money put into “security”, the worse the security situation becomes.

What may pour petrol into the raging fire next year is the economy that has been ruined by greed, monumental theft, lack of planning and lack of productivity.

“Austerity measures” and calls for “belt tightening” do not yet affect the outrageous remunerations enjoyed by politicians. It is the poor

who have no belts that are being asked to prepare for “belt tightening” by paying more for fuel, food and everything else. There are no jobs for the unemployed. Workers, who earn less on account of the reduced value of the naira, are threatened with retrenchment.

Since politics is now the only well-paying job in the country, the desperation of politicians could be understood. Lawmakers now dangling an impeachment threat before President Jonathan are simply clinging to the last bogeyman in their possession. They won’t succeed. But the nation would pay for their selfishness – and for their stupidity.

When I examine Nigerian politics using my crystal ball, I see the harbingers of class suicide knocking at the door. It’s needless telling them to save themselves because a hunter’s dog doesn’t hear the smell of faeces. At a time like this, however, I wish to quote former American president John Kennedy, as I have done before in this space: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” He who has ears, let him hear.

Be my friend on Facebook: Aniebo Nwamu Follow me on Twitter: @aniebonw Like my website: www.eyeway.ng

GHANA MUST GO OKUPE IN SEPT 2013: Call me a bastard if APC survives a year

— News

So They Want To Impeach Jonathan?

The general elections have been rigged already

The feelers from Three Arms Zone, Abuja, indicate that both the Senate and the House of Representatives have collected enough signatures needed to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan and remove him from office. They have also compiled more than enough “impeachable offences” committed by the Nigerian president in the past four years.

Everyone knows the legislators are just exhibiting the worst form of selfishness. The bone of contention is not the attack on House members with tear gas or those “impeachable offences” but the PDP’s failure to award automatic tickets to the lawmakers as promised. I knew the president would never prefer the lawmakers to state governors most of whom

want to displace the senators from their areas. Governors have more electoral value.

Without public support behind them, the lawmakers will be embarking on a wild goose chase.

An attempt to impeach the president during this campaign period may also bring out the beast in the presidency. The lawmakers should watch their backs.

Doyin Bastard Okupe

• LEADERSHIP (ISSN 0331-328X) is published in Abuja by LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Off Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Utako District, Abuja P. O. Box 9514, Garki II, Abuja. Lagos Office: 34/36 Adegbola Street, Anifowose, Off Oba Akran, Ikeja. E-mail: info@leadership.ng, advert@leadership.ng, newsroom@leadership.ng